DX LISTENING DIGEST 17-04, January 25, 2017 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 2016 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 1862 CONTENTS: *DX and station news about: Angola, Anguilla, Australia, Burundi non, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany non, India, Ireland non, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, North America, Philippines non, Russia, Saint Kitts, Sri Lanka, Sudan, USA, Vatican, Zambia SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1862, January 26-February 2, 2017 Thu 1230 WRMI 9955 6855 [confirmed] Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 [confirmed] Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Fri 2230 WRMI 5950 6855 11580 [all confirmed; NEW] Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [almost confirmed] Sat 0630 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Sat 1531 HLR 7265-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [barely confirmed] Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM [confirmed from 0426] Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 6855 Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Wed 1000 WRMI 5850 6855 Wed 1415 WRMI 9955 6855 Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB 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-audio-plattform/podcast/glenn-hauser-wor ALTERNATIVE PODCASTS, tnx Stephen Cooper: http://shortwave.am/wor.xml ANOTHER PODCAST ALTERNATIVE, tnx to Keith Weston: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GlennHausersWorldOfRadio NOW tnx to Keith Weston, also Podcasts via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/glenn-hausers-world-of-radio/id1123369861 AND via Google Play Music: http://bit.ly/worldofradio 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 NOTE: I have *resolved* to make DXLD leaner, more selective, as I seriously need to reduce my workload, much of which has been merely editing gobs of material into presentable form. This makes it even more important to be a member of the DXLD yg for additional material which may not make it into weekly issues (gh) DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location, and say something about why you want to join. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** AFGHANISTAN. Weak signal of R Afghanistan External Service Jan 22 1600-1630 6100 YAK 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs Dari(not Urdu) and off air http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/weak-signal-of-radio-afghanistan.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. Hi Glenn, and happy new year, such as it is! Are you aware of anything happening to Radio Tirana? As you know, I use Mike’s Radio World, and it gives me very satisfactory results. But, now, I don’t know if it is MRW or RT itself that is giving me a problem. Up until December or so, MRW presented three links for RT. RT1 was news and talk in Albanian. RT2 was music, mostly rock. RT3 was the foreign language service. An oddity of RT3 was that it only provided sound in one channel of stereo; the other channel was silent. Now: RT1 and RT2 both present the message “service unavailable.” RT3 presents nothing but rock music, and both stereo channels are active. I haven’t checked the N.A. service at, I think, 0230, because I have such terrible SW conditions at this location. Any info will be appreciated (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Tim, Dear Glenn, in reply to your forwarded message, I checked http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana/ http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-2/ http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3/ with the Mozilla Firefox browser both yesterday and today (19 and 20 January) and did not note any anomalies. Kind regards, Hj (Prof. Dr. Hansjoerg Biener - Neulichtenhofstr. 7 - DE-90461 Nuernberg, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, The webstream "RT3" is still webcasting the Foreign Service of R. Tirana - however there does seem to have been a change to the web links. Neither of the links provided by Mikes Radioworld or the (different) link that I have in the WOR Hitlist work any more. The current working link for RT3 is http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3-live/ I'll update the hitlist accordingly on Saturday. 73 - (Alan Roe, Jan 20, ibid.) Reception of English at 2100 UTC on 7465 kHz is very poor here currently. The signal strength is much lower than it used to be, which I assume means that power output has been reduced. I think it will only be useable on a sensitive receiver with an antenna. And a signal of this strength is unlikely to be heard at a usable level in North America. Greetings and Regards from (Noel Green, Jan 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) (7465), inaudible, Jan 24 at 2121 so I check the R. Tirana webstream during English to Europe, http://rtsh.al/radio-tirana-3/ which plays with Flash, but instead it`s in Albanian! And some music, 2130 switch to IS, continuing past 2140 with some interruptions. Hansjoerg Biener had reported ``no anomalies Jan 19 & 20`` to this and the two other streams, but unknown if he checked during this particular broadcast (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENIG DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. 11785, Powerful S=9+25dB signal of CRI English out of European Cerrik-Albania site via long path. Comment at 0640 UT: China president speech on Davos Switzerland economic think conference. Same S=9+25dB signal on sister Cerrik outlet at this hour, latter in Mandarin Chinese at 0706 UT. Two great powerful signals heard out of Albanian relay of CRI. Much stronger than \\ S=9 Nanning on 11875 at same time slot [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ALGERIA [non]. 5865, Jan 19 at 0457, sounds like Qur`an but more melodic than usual, and more than one voice, cut off at 0458*. 0501 recheck, back on in reverent Arabic talk. Partially matches the schedule on Aoki for R. Algerienne via Issoudun, FRANCE, a break at 0458-0500 for a beam change from 160 to 194 degrees, and supposedly from HQ in Arabic, to French, with Arabic not to resume until 0511. 5865 sked continues until 0658 alternating Arabic and French (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. AIR Port Blair 4760.0 even kHz noted at 1152 UT S=9+15dB in eastern Thailand remote post. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. Angola noted on 4949.73 around 0100, with an excellent signal. Good strength, good modulation (Art Delibert, N. Bethesda, MD (near Washington, DC), Jan 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEIST) 4949.74, R. Nacional de Angola, 0204+, Jan 19. Nice to have them back again and today with a solid signal, but bothered the whole time with USB in Spanish, which is the first time I have had this problem (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Angola is still on and off like a firefly, just slightly less regular. Found it back on air on Jan 18 at 1745 and 1840. Wolfie in Germany had it at around 1933, but I found it gone again by 2131. Art Delibert in Maryland USA had it at 0100 on Jan 19, and I also had it at 0125, Jan 19. But seems to have gone again by 0451 Jan 19 [WORLD OF RADIO 1862] 4949.7, Rádio Nacional, Mulenvos. Jan 18, 2017 Wednesday. 1745-1750. Back on air, in Portuguese. Fair. Jo'burg sunset 1705. Jan 18, 2017 Wednesday. 1837-1840. Music and song in Portuguese. Jan 18, 2017 Wednesday. 2131-2133. Nothing heard, no carrier found. AWOL. Jan 19, 2017 Thursday. 0125-0130. Poor. Jan 19, 2017 Thursday. 0451-0452. Nothing heard, no carrier found. AWOL. Jo'burg sunrise 0333 Jan 19, 2017. Thursday. 2108-2109. Nothing heard, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunset 1704. Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 0337-0339. Portuguese music and song. Poor. Jo'burg sunrise 0333 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bill, Sorry, I should have indicated on Jan 19, I had almost fair reception from tune in at 0204, and it was still well heard at 0308. So it must have gone off between 0308 and 0451 (Ron Howard, Calif., DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4949.728, RNA Mulenvos, heard on this European morning around 0531 til 0540 UT, S=8-9 or -74dBm in southern Germany. Fanfare at 0536 UT on Jan 19, male and female announcer talk a lot [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) 4949.7, Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 1832-1833. Talk, but too poor to make out the language. Jo'burg sunset 1704. Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 2202-2203. OMs talking in Portuguese. Poor. Jan 21, 2017 Saturday. 0315-0318. Music and song, can't make out the language. Poor. Jo'burg sunrise 0334 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bill, Angola really loves giving their ID. Jan 21, on 4949.73, at 0504, one ID; at 0505, with two IDs; at 0507, with series of three IDs; at 0508, one ID and 0510, with one ID; poor reception, but clearly able to make out their distinctive IDs (Ron Howard, California, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, ibid.) 4949.7, Rádio Nacional, Mulenvos. Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 2005-2007. Present, but at noise level. Not Readable. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGUILLA. 6090, Jan 22 at 0133, Oh oh, so-called Caribbean Beacon is reactivated after absence since at least Jan 8, both from 6090 and day frequency 11775. DGS is just as distorted as ever, if not worse! So they didn`t take the opportunity to fix the transmitter. // non- distorted 5935 WWCR fed from same satellite. Engineering there leaves a bit to be desired, but if it drive away listeners to this nonsense, some purpose is served. However, back to blocking the other innocent occupants of these frequencies. 11775, Jan 22 at 1406, no signal from so-called Caribbean Beacon on day frequency, altho night 6090 was reactivated earlier this UT date. There is something weak, which per Aoki could be AIR via GOA in Nepali until 1430, and/or CNR1 jamming of a 100-watt Sound of Hope nuisance transmitter on Taiwan possible during very long hours. (The main other 11775 is Algeria via France at 19-21). Still no AIA at 1615 Jan 22. 6090, Jan 23 at 0418 is on again at S9+40 level with distorted DGS, and some no-het CCI underneath, presumably ETHIOPIA. 11775, Jan 23 at 1406 check, again no AIA, but algo, see above. 11775 still off at 2000, no Algeria audible either (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6090, Caribbean Beacon at 2230 with Pastor Melissa Scott preaching – Great signal but muffled audio Jan 24 – It’s actually appropriate that she abbreviates to PMS as she must be suffering a lot not to notice how crappy the audio is and being too stupid to send someone to fix it (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre- fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) O, I get it, but how old is she now, still subject to PMS? (gh, DXLD) 11775, Jan 25 at 2135 check, Caribbean Beacon is still off day frequency. Could be that they are running night frequency 6090 in daytime too? No, not audible there and it should be by now if on. At 2200 neither is on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. FIGHT TO SAVE RADIO AUSTRALIA’S HF RADIO BROADCASTS | TECSUN Radios --- Tecsun Radios Australia owner Garry Cratt was interviewed by ABC Rural yesterday (18/01/2017) about the ABC’s decision to end their shortwave radio transmission after almost 80 years. . . https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/save-shortwave/ Sent from my iPhone (via Charles Harlich, Jan 20, DXLD) I sent off a reply in favor of SW continuance by the ABC. I would urge others here to do so. Thanks for the link. Regards (Paul S. in CT FN31nl, dxldyg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC’S SHORTWAVE RADIO SHUTDOWN STOKES RURAL IRE AMOS AIKMAN, The Australian January 22, 2017 10:06pm http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/abcs-shortwave-radio-shutdown-stokes-rural-ire/news-story/0f3789df61fc7a64f68828e40c91df88 PASTORALISTS have accused the ABC of fomenting a Trump-style rural revolt with a controversial decision to axe shortwave radio services, which are crucial to some bush residents, to help fund its growing buffet of digital offerings to listeners in cities and towns. The move, which has attracted severe criticism from MPs on both sides of politics but which the broadcaster has declined to reconsider, highlights tension around managing director Michelle ­Guthrie’s push to accelerate her organisation’s shift onto digital platforms. All three Northern Territory shortwave transmitters are due to be switched off on January 31 ­following an announcement made unexpectedly late last year, which will bring to an end almost a century of ABC shortwave radio broadcasts. While estimates suggest that only a few hundred to a few thousand people still listen to ABC programs over shortwave, some of them say they rely on it for all practical purposes for virtually their only access to news and current affairs. James Christian, 32, lived around the corner from Malcolm Turnbull in the posh Sydney suburb of Point Piper before he traded harbour views for life in the desert, taking a job on his uncle’s cattle property where he is now also ­trying to make a go of his own ­pastoral business. Napperby Station, about 230 km by road northwest of Alice Springs, has no mobile coverage, only one painfully congested ­satellite NBN connection shared among about eight people, and lies beyond the reach of all metropolitan radio frequencies (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. SHEPPARTON SITE OFF THE AIRWAVES by Barclay White January 21, 2017 0 Comments http://www.sheppnews.com.au/2017/01/21/70270/site-off-the-airwaves It helped our troops during World War II and spread impartial news in the Pacific region for decades, but Shepparton’s shortwave broadcasting facility’s future is uncertain. The ABC announced last month that it would stop broadcasting shortwave transmissions in to the Asia Pacific, putting an end to more than 70 years of continuous shortwave transmissions. Opening in 1944, the transmission site in north Shepparton was first used to spread morale-boosting broadcasts to troops in the Pacific and, after the war it was the grunt that helped push ABC’s Radio Australia broadcast beyond our shores. The final Radio Australia shortwave broadcast will go out on Tuesday, January 31, in a decision the ABC said was about moving away from outdated technologies. ‘‘Savings realised through decommissioning this service will be reinvested in a more robust FM transmitter network and an expanded content offering for the region that will include English and in- language audio content,’’ an ABC spokesperson said.International listeners will still be able to listen to Radio Australia through a web stream. Just what the shutdown means for the broadcast towers beyond January 31 was still uncertain. When asked by The News, the ABC said the towers were in the ownership of Broadcast Australia, which was part of BAI Communications. A spokesperson for BAI Communications said the future of the site was not decided yet. ‘‘At this stage Broadcast Australia has made no plans in respect to retaining the infrastructure in place, and the decision to retain or decommission the redundant sites and equipment will be taken by Broadcast Australia in due course,’’ the spokesperson said. If the site was decommissioned it would be a sad day for Australia, according to former transmitter operator Rodney Champness. He worked at the facility for seven years and believed it was still a vital piece of national infrastructure that could not be replicated by web streaming. ‘‘In those countries we are aiming at they can get the internet, but it is expensive and for many people their wages are not high enough to afford it,’’ Mr Champness said. ‘‘They don’t have a lot of money and shortwave radio is cheap.’’ Shepparton was chosen in the 1940s for a few reasons, including the relatively flat terrain which was beneficial for broadcasts, and its location, away from inland cities and domestic flight routes. ‘‘It’s away from the coast so Japanese or German aircrafts could not easily get to it, and the building was blast proof for the bombs from that era,’’ he said. If the site was decommissioned, it would be a sad day for Australia and especially for Shepparton, he said. ‘‘I just think it’s an icon, and people don’t really even realise it’s there,’’ Mr Champness said (via Artie Bigley, DXLD; also via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Opinion --- RADIO AUSTRALIA SITE A VITAL LINK by Shepparton News January 21, 2017 5 Comments http://www.sheppnews.com.au/2017/01/21/70273/radio-australia-site-a-vital-link Recently I heard that the HF radio transmission site at Shepparton, known as Radio Australia, is to be shut down. I believe this is mostly due to budget cuts to the ABC by the Federal Government. The ABC uses this site to broadcast services into Asia and the Pacific Islands. The site is owned by a private company, Broadcast Australia. The ABC pays Broadcast Australia to use the transmission site at Shepparton, but it does not own the facility. I understand the ABC needs to cut back on some services it provides and make use of the latest technology. This makes sense except in the case of the Shepparton facility. The Shepparton transmission site has the capability to direct radio signals into specific countries as we see fit. This is unique to this site, as no other site can reach the countries this one can. In my time as district manager at the Shepparton site, I recall some instances where the Shepparton site was called upon to direct radio signals to specific targets. At one point the Fiji Government shut down the local Australian ABC transmitter. Shepparton sent radio into that country to keep Australians informed during that time. When there was a coup in the Solomon Islands, once again we sent signals into that country. We also sent radio signals into Myanmar at the request of the Australian Government. Another task that the Shepparton site fulfills is to send signals into northern Australia in times of need, for example during Cyclone Larry when the Northern Territory radio service was beamed back to the tropical north from Shepparton. The Shepparton site is in a location that has good weather and is politically stable. This makes it an ideal tool for widespread information broadcasting. The ABC would argue that this HF radio service is old technology and can be replaced by the internet or satellite services. This is true. However, the ABC and the Federal Government do not control the internet or satellite services in other countries and therefore they are not reliable. HF radio broadcasting from a secure location is very reliable. So why remove this service? Does the Federal Government understand the value of this international radio service? I hope that in writing this letter, its value will become clear to those who have the power to make decisions. The Australian Government is in the position of being ‘hands off’ the ABC’s management of services, and I would agree for every service it provides except this one. Radio Australia Shepparton should be partly controlled by the Australian Government, not just the ABC. I plead that this broadcasting site remains in service and continues to provide northern Australia and oversees services for Australians home and abroad. You could also argue that long-range radio lets the world know we are here, and gives Australians both in our home country and overseas vital information in times of need. — Gary Baker, former district manager at Radio Australia, Shepparton By Shepparton News January 21, 2017 JOIN THE DISCUSSION [comments:] Avatar Scott • 3 days ago I am listening to Radio Australia right now, at 7 AM, from Tulsa, Oklahoma in the U.S. I am located over 9,000 miles from the transmitter, and all that I need to hear the signal is an inexpensive portable shortwave radio. In early morning the signal booms in to my hometown, and I prefer to get my news from it. Radio Australia's programming is free of the polarizing bias of my country's Democrat versus Republican slants on the news, and has a global coverage lacking in my local news sources. I also like the non-news programming; the music and information and discussion shows. If a non- Australian may weigh in on the decision to close Shepparton, I say: please don't! Avatar Israel • 3 days ago Thank you Gary. I will be so happy if the decision makers does something. I am from Tamil Nadu in India and have been listening to Radio Australia for 30+ years. Malcom Frazer first curtailed the services in the late nineties. Of late I have been listening RA at 12065 from 1000 hrs. Does this signal come directly from Shepperton? I pray for at least Shepperton's continuance. Israel sw listener, Pollachi, Tamilnadu,India. Avatar peakie • 3 days ago Radio Australia kept me (better) informed inside China during June of 1989 and the TianAnMen Square troubles all over the country. Better than the BBC or VoA. Radio Australia (used to) boom in to North America every local evening, and we would get the best of international radio, (better than BBC) and the estimable shows from Radio National. Further, the Canadian prime minister, Brian Mulroney, said that he started his morning listening to Radio Australia. It is very silly to shut the service down and become "invisible" to the world. Avatar mark • 2 days ago For democracy to continue to thrive and the thoughts of freedom for some this service is of extreme importance. It is OK for the ABC or governments to say we will provide this via the internet but it is not available to most of the people in Asia and pacific islands. Many have no infrastructure and others have the internet controlled. Just look at China. Also the importance of the service in times of emergency. I do not understand the reliance on technology only we need back up systems that work. Look at the effect of the fires in SA that left thousands without power for weeks? Communication are of the highest importance in times of need and yet we are spending $billions on building subs? Maybe one less would keep this running or is someone looking to develop this land for residential purposes down the track? Avatar Fred boerner • a day ago For what it is worth, I know of at least four other people, plus myself, that listen quite frequently to get the news from someplace other than sources here in America. The signal blasts in here quite well for most of the mornings. Think of what it could do if it was actually beaming to America. I know this is a low point in the sunspot cycle, but LOTS of folks still listen to shortwave. Seems like you never hear from them until it is too late. In this case, I hope that the outcry from the people that take time to write will make a difference. Just think of the ones that may not listen every day or take the time to write (like the other people I know that listen here in Arkansas). As for short wave here in the states....well, I do not need to get my soul saved. I want to hear what is going on in other parts of the world, along with some music. That is what you provide. By the way, the music program on Saturday morning with the country music was a blast! even my son enjoyed it. And he is 12 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD, and via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. BILL SHORTEN CALLS ON TURNBULL TO SAVE ABC SHORTWAVE RADIO BROADCASTS https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/27/bill-shorten-calls-on-turnbull-to-save-shortwave-radio-broadcasts-in-nt Labor leader says reasons to shut down service ‘do not account for the reality of service availability in remote areas’ Bill Shorten urges PM to work with ABC management, local stakeholders and Labor ‘as a matter of urgency’. Photograph: Glenn Hunt/AAP [caption] Helen Davidson in Darwin Friday 27 January 2017 01.46 EST Last modified on Friday 27 January 2017 01.58 EST The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has called on the prime minister to step in and save ABC shortwave broadcasts in the Northern Territory, claiming the broadcaster’s reasons to shut them down “do not account for the reality” of life in the outback. In December, the ABC announced it would cease transmitting local radio broadcasts through shortwave radio in the Northern Territory and parts of the Pacific at the end of January. It did so without community consultation and sparked a backlash from users who say the service is vital in remote areas. Federal politicians from both major parties in the NT have lobbied the ABC to reverse its decision. On Thursday, Shorten wrote to Turnbull, asking him to work with ABC management, local stakeholders and Labor “as a matter of urgency to ensure the continued provision of shortwave radio service in the NT beyond 31 January 2017.” “The ABC’s claim that the majority of listeners will be able to access ABC services via AM/FM radio, digital radio and online streaming, or via VAST [viewer access satellite television] platform does not account for the reality of service availability in remote areas,” wrote Shorten. “This helps to explain why listeners and users of the ABC shortwave in the Northern Territory have been unequivocal in voicing their concern at the Coalition’s failure to intervene in this matter. This includes emergency services workers and cattle growers. “I am also deeply concerned that the ABC took this decision without satisfactory consultation with affected listeners, community representatives and emergency service workers and agencies. ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie has since acknowledged shortfalls in this regard.” Outback residents and workers have told Guardian Australia the service, which broadcasts ABC local radio beyond the reach of AM and FM signals, is vital for several reasons, including the mental and emotional wellbeing of people who spend their waking hours on the land. They have also said the alternatives repeatedly proffered by the ABC do not fill the gap. Satellite radio requires a set-top box and a stationary dish, and both digital and online radio are unavailable beyond signal reception. Others have expressed concern they will also lose ABC emergency broadcasts during fires, floods, and in other situations. The ABC refuted the assertions, and said weather updates and emergency alerts could still be heard through HF broadcasts by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Royal Flying Doctors Service. At a meeting last week with Guthrie, the NT Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy and the shadow communications minister, Mark Dreyfus, failed to sway the ABC to reverse its decision. Nigel Scullion told Guardian Australia he had written to the ABC asking it to reconsider, and other federal ministers including Julie Bishop and Mitch Fifield have also expressed their concern. McCarthy told Guardian Australia there were “contractual issues” at play in the ABC’s immovability. Guardian Australia understands the infrastructure – which is considered ailing and expensive to maintain – is managed under a contract due to expire, and the ABC is thought to be unwilling to sign on for a long-term contract renewal. A spokeswoman for Fifield said the decision was a matter for the ABC and not related to government funding. “The ABC has legislated independence to make operational decisions free of political involvement. However, the government has asked for some further information.” (via Gavin, Australia, via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Exact shutdown times for Radio Australia and NT Shortwave broadcasts? Hi Louise and Nick, I was wondering whether you know what time all ABC shortwave broadcasts end on January 31? If you could let me know ASAP that would be great! Nick, I am sure you may have heard by now the reaction from listeners as to the fate of RA and the NT Shortwave Service and I know that anything I say is not going to change the decision. However, I need to state to you that it was an extremely short-sighted decision to shut these services down. For example, people in the NT do not necessarily have constant access to VAST services especially when not working anywhere near their homes (as is the case on the large outback stations, for example). As for Radio Australia, the ABC is letting down the people of the Pacific by shutting down their shortwave services. Shortwave may be an outdated technology, but it is effective in all conditions and crosses borders without interference from “compromised” governments. For instance, I can’t see RA’s FM transmitters in Fiji remaining on air when they have their next coup. The next point I need to make is in reference to your statement to The Australian newspaper dated 22 January 2017 posted online on 23 Jan at http://about.abc.net.au/statements/statement-to-the-australian-sunday-22-january-2017/ Apart from a number of other misinformed remarks which I will not approach at this stage, I refer to your comments about the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Vatican ceasing transmissions. Yes, they have regularly shut down services in various languages to various regions due to costs, but all 3 are still broadcasting on shortwave. The BBC has recently announced plans to introduce new services in Korean to North Korea (i.e. broadcasting to people who need outside information) and the Voice of America (as well as numerous other radio stations funded by the US Government) still broadcasts in many languages to Asia and Africa. As previously stated, my opinions are not going to matter or really be heard but I had to make my point to you. Thank you both for reading my email, and please let me know what times RA and ABC NT planned to shut down on Jan 31 so I can listen in for a final time. Regards, (Brian Powell, Australia, to Louise Alley and Nick Leys at ABC, cc to DXLD) [Later:] Hi Glenn, You should have received an email that I BCC’d you in, in regards to Radio Australia. I thought you would like to see what I had to say to their inquiries personnel. Nick Leys has recently made a statement in “The Australian” newspaper (linked in said email) that is full of inaccuracies and really sums up the total ignorance of the powers-that-be at the ABC. I felt I had to make my point even though it won’t change anything and probably won’t be heard. Please feel free to publish my email to Nick and Louise Alley on the next DXLD text version if you think it is appropriate. P.S. How convenient. Automatic Reply from Louise Alley (ABC RADIO QUERIES) states she is on leave until 6 Feb! Must be on stress leave haha Regards, (Brian Powell (Base QTH – Southern suburbs of Sydney Australia. Base setup Winradio G305e w/ Buddipole. Mobile setup Baofeng GT3TP, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Does anyone have any word as to when exactly RA and ABC NT plan to shut down on Jan 31? They may have announced it on air but I haven’t heard anything. My opinion: RA Potential shutdown times are: UTC 1300 on 30/1/2017 (i.e. AEDST midnight 31/1/2017) UTC 2100 on 30/1/2017 (AEDST 8 am 31/1/2017) UTC 0000 on 31/1/2017 (AEDST 11 am 31/1/2017) UTC 0900 on 31/1/2017 (AEDST 8 pm 31/1/2017) UTC 1300 on 31/1/2017 (AEDST midnight 1/2/2017) Any other ideas? My guesses for the Northern Territory txrs are either at midnight local or at transmitter changeover times (0830 or 2130 UT – 6am/6pm ACST). I have emailed the ABC to find out if they have any clarification. Once I find out, you will all know too. Regards, (Brian Powell (Base QTH – Southern suburbs of Sydney Australia. Base setup Winradio G305e w/ Buddipole. Mobile setup Baofeng GT3TP), dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn! R. Australia loud and clear this morning (Jan 24th) at 1130 UT with news about the Trans Pacific Partnership. Loudest I've heard them in some time. A good 5-9 plus signal with a bit of fading. It's too bad. Like all the other broadcasters abandoning Shortwave. Many fond memories of RA --- listening to the sound of the Kookaburra interval signal in the early morning as a high school kid. Those were the days!! 73 and Cheers! (Al, VE3NXP, Woodstock, Ontario, Stephens, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably 9580 Nothing heard on 4835 kHz in Brisbane at 0645 UT. When is the ABC NT service on shortwave final cut date? [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2325, ABC NT Tennant Creek, S=9+5dB in Thailand. 1203 UT. Hill Billy music. 2485, ABC NT Katherine a little stronger S=9+10dB, same program, 1205 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) AUSTRÁLIA, 4835, VL8A, Alice Springs, Territ.º do Norte, 0910-desvan. total 1000, 21/1, inglês, texto; 35432. 2325.0, 1920-1938 20/1, VL8T, Tennant Creek NT. English, chatter. Not // to VL8A 4835. Fair on 22/1, 1830. 14331 CGS 2485.0, 1918-1935 20/1, VL8K, Katherine NT. English, talks. Seemed to be // to VL8A 4835. Adjacent utility QRM. Better on 22/1, 1830. 25332 2485.0, 1840-1912 22/1, VL8K. Chatter in ABC R Overnight, songs, phone number announcements. Deteriorating. // 2325 VLT & 4835 VL8A. 35343 9580, R. Austrália, Shepp. VIC, 1145-1345, 21/1, emissão em inglês dirigida ao Pacífico, entrevista, ..., noticiários, música; 45433. Sinal em perda, e, mais tarde, sob alguma QRM. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12085, Radio Australia at 2102 with news. Seemed to have left this transmitter on late today, past listed 2100 s/off, checked again a few minutes later and still on. - Poor, 17840 was good, no other frequencies audible, Jan. 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia. CommRadio CR-1a and 50 ft wire connected to Sony AN-1 active antenna. Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at the Ontario DX Association Facebook and Yahoo groups, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15240 is the 12085 day frequency (gh) ** AUSTRIA. 5970, Jan 24 at 0233, choral singing at S7-S9, 0237 M&W talking about Pakistan. It`s AWR in Punjabi, due east from Moosbrunn, 0230-0300 following 0200-0230 Urdu (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BANGLADESH. Bangladesh Betar adds Chinese language to its overseas broadcasting --- Alongside with Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Nepali, the Chinese language will be added as the 7th language in Bangladesh Betar’s external program broadcast. A proposal in this regard is in progress, according to the department of External service of Bangladesh Betar unit director Kamal Ahmed. Full story at : http://southasianmonitor.com/2017/01/20/bangladesh-betar-add-chinese-language-overseas-broadcasting/ --- (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dx_sasia yg via DXLD) ** BHUTAN. 6035.002, Bhutan BS S=9+10dB in eastern Thailand at 0105 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, 0050 - 0115 UT Jan 23 in eastern Thailand SDR installation, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [and non]. Long article on Radio Biafra and the history of Biafra's fight for independence from Nigeria. The man fighting for independence of the tiny West African nation of Biafra... from a council flat in Peckham by Colin Freeman, 21 January 2017. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/21/man-fighting-independence-tiny-west-african-nation-biafra-council/ Posted by: (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 3310, R. Mosoj Chaski, Was surprised to find this suddenly go off the air as soon as I rechecked them at 1025:22. Was fairly good earlier. 25 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6134.83, R. Santa Cruz. Excellent signal this morning with usual full canned ID in Spanish by M over instrumental music at 1001, then into lovely rustic flute music. 25 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3325, Jan 22 at 1420, JBA carrier half a sesquihour after sunrise here, NBC surviving the 7.9 earthquake nearby? However, RRI Palangkaraya is also on 3325, and Boug is normally off the air earlier. Can anyone confirm NBC still on? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4774.9, Rádio Sora de Congonhas at 1055 in Portuguese with a man with excited talk with a mention of “Sora” – Fair but noisy with CODAR Jan 25 (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) I have brought this up before, but --- I would sure like to hear that ID myself --- ``Radio Sora`` --- I have always suspected it was a mistake, that someone did not hear the first part of the word, ``Difusora``. It would make sense for that word to precede, sometimes, at least informally, the real name of the station, Congonhas. WRTH listing does not say Radio Sora. That comes from the Aoki list, ``R. Sora de Congonhas``, where lots of outdated info is preserved as if current, but at least this station is really on the air. I find contradictory info about the URL for its website: http://radiocongonhas.com.br http://radio-congonhas.com.br http://www.radiocongonhas.com.br But no connexions to any of those. Perhaps they don`t really care since they are active on FB, which I do get: https://www.facebook.com/radiocongonhas But from what I can see, no print reference to a ``Radio Sora``, and no hits searching the FB page on Sora (not even as part of Difusora). Anyone? Surely Brazilian DXers could clarify this once and for all. BTW, non-Brazilians should realize that ``nh`` is pronounced ``ny`` as in canyon like the Spanish ñ, or the French and Italian gn (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BRASIL, 4775, R. Congonhas, Congonhas MG, 2206-2222, 21/1, música, propaganda religiosa; 44333. 4864.3, R. Alvorada (presumed), Londrina PR, 2207-2215, 22/1, texto; 15331, QRM pontual de sinal telegráfico. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Programas DX ______________________________________________ Radio Legal ao Vivo Programa Falando de Rádio Domingos às 19:45 hs BR [Sun 2145 UT] Link: http://www.radiolegalaovivo.org/ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ Rádio Aparecida Programa Encontro DX Sábado: 19:00 hs BR [Sat 2100 UT] Frequências: 5035 6135 9630 11855 kHz ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ Rádio Transmundial Programa Amigos do Rádio Sábado: 04:30 hs e 23:30 hs BR [Sat 0630 & UT Sun 0130 UT] Domingo: 16:15 hs e 20:30 hs BR [Sun 1815 & 2230 UT] Frequências: 11735 9530 5965 kHz (Ulysses Galletti, Jan 19, radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6089.96, R. Bandeirantes. Found the Caribbean Beacon off when I checked the band at 0740 and this here with talk by M, although it was a little too weak to determine the language. But I did hear the usual Kitty Cat meowing at 0743, 0744, and 0746. And at 0748, it peaked enough to tell it was definitely Portuguese. Trailed off a bit after 0800. 12 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) [and non]. 6089.960, Brazilian Bandeirantes at 0615 UT, S=8 or -81dBm, and co-channel poor and tiny Ethiopian Amhara HoA music on 6090.003 kHz at 0618 UT Jan 19. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6160.04, Super R. Boa Vontade. Quite audiable at 0916 t/in with live studio W announcer in Portuguese with mentions of "Deus é amor", espírito, and Cristo. Also bom dia. 0917 clear mention of Boa Vontade. Very rarely get IDable audio on this. CKZN mixing in by 0930. Although still audible at 0945, CKZN way on top. Heard the same programing quite well on the Pardinho Brazil web receiver. 25 Jan. 11895.08, Super R. Boa Vontade. Found as soon as I turned the receiver on at 0906 with children`s choir, then W host in definite Portuguese. Faded pretty quickly. Came back later at 1009 (while listening to Gaúcha) and noted the same studio W announcer as heard earlier and also on 6160.04 and the Pardinho Brazil web receiver. Very fady signal, but sometimes fairly decent easily readable on peaks. Looked like the only stations on 25m were from Brazil at this time!! 25 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 11915, R. Gaúcha. Shocked to find this on at 1009-1030 in apparent news program with M and W hosting (mainly M announcer) in Portuguese. Mention of Gaúcha near end of ad block just as I tuned in, and again later. Time ticks noted at 1015 and 1030. Oddly, this was in the clear here, but was extremely weak way in the background under Taiwan in Indonesian on the Pardinho Brazil web receiver. Seemed to be a negligible 3 or 4 hertz above 11915. Having not heard it in many months, I thought this was either long gone or temporarily inactive. I see one of the last loggings was from Manuel Méndez in early October, so maybe it's been off since then. Nice to see it's still around. 25 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** BULGARIA [and non]. SECRETLAND, New schedule of Brother Stair on 9465/9700 via SPL Secretbrod 1458-0200 9465 SCB*100 kW / 306 ENAm English Mon-Fri, ex 1458-1655 1545-0200 9465 SCB*100 kW / 306 ENAm English Sat/Sun, ex 1805-0200 1802-2001 9700#SCB 100 kW / 306 WeEu English Daily, ex 1800-2001 #1940-2000 9700 SMG 250 kW / 114 N/ME Latin/Rosary Sun Vatican Radio *Sat/Sun via same transmitter are broadcast R Warra Wangeelaa, PAB and R Santec 1500-1530 15515 SCB 100 kW / 195 EaAf Oromo Sat Radio Warra Wangeelaa 1430-1445 15205 SCB 100 kW / 090 SoAs English Sun Pan American Broad. 1500-1530 15190 SCB 100 kW / 090 SoAs English/German Sun Radio Santec http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/updated-schedule-of-brother-stair-on.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #987 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 20, 2017 via DXLD) Radio Biafra & Brother Stair via SPL Secretbrod on Jan 21 1500-1601 15325*SCB 100 kW / 195 deg WeAf English Radio Biafra 1602-1800 15325*SCB 100 kW / 195 deg WeAf English Brother Stair^ 1800-1808 15325 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg WeAf open carrier and off air 1800-2000 9700 SCB 050 kW / 306 deg WeEu English BS TOM-NO SIGNAL ^ // freq 9465 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg ENAm English BS TOM is on air * 1530-1615 & 1630-1700 dead air, instead of R Biafra & Brother Stair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-biafra-brother-stair-via-spl_21.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. SECRETLAND, R. Santec, The Word, The Cosmic Wave via SPL Secretbrod on Jan 22: from 1500 on 15190 SCB 100 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Eng/Ger Sun & no signal from 1520 from 1520 on 15325 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to WeAf English Radio Biafra also no signal from 1540 on 9465 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg to ENAm English Sa/Su BS TOM is on the air! from 1602 on 15325 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to WeAf English Daily BS TOM is on the air! http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-santec-word-cosmic-wave-via-spl.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURUNDI [non]. 11550. Jan 19 at 1832, Radio Publique Africaine, Issoudun, in French. Woman and man announcers talk. On-air and just barely audible, 25331. Parallel on 11550.00 kHz by Twente WebSDR, S7- S9, wider S9 and fast interruptions after 1844 UT (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo, Paraíba, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000 & Twente WebSDR, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) FRANCE, Radio Publique Africaine via TDF Issoudun, ex Madagascar on Jan 21 1800-1830 11550 ISS*250 kW / 145 deg Kirundi, ex MDC 250 kW / 295 deg 1831-1858 11550 ISS*250 kW / 145 deg French, ex MDC 250 kW / 295 deg * with typical "tweet" of Issoudun http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-publique-africaine-via-tdf.html (Ivo Ivanov, Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) ** CANADA. 2598-USB, Jan 23 at 0446, YL in French intonation, S7 = noise level. Per Canadian CG sked in DXLD 16-43, final weather broadcasts before frequencies resuming in 3 hours are from: 0437 2598 VCF Les Escoumins from site Natashquan QC 50 08 40 -61 48 00 and also, but unheard: 0437 2749 VCF Les Escoumins from site LaVernière QC 47 21 26 -61 55 36 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 15034-USB, Jan 21 at 1508, Trenton Military robot is stuck in loops, over and over and over: ``Break, Halifax, Halifax, no report received. Break, Shearwater, Shearwater, no report received. Break, Greenwood, Greenwood, no report received. Break, Gander, Gander, no report received.`` At 1525 retune, another pair from another quartet of NRR`s, Winnipeg, Edmonton. At 1526 UT: ``Time: 1425 zulu``, so they are STILL announcing time 61 minutes slow. They must not be reading my previous reports, risky business not to do so. At 1527 the aviation non-weather moves on to NRR`s in same format from Comox, Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford. At 1537: Prestwick, Keflavik, Lajes, Shannon. At 1559, back to Abbotsford, Comox, Victoria, Vancouver. Breather for me. 1811: Gander, Halifax, Shearwater, Greenwood. 2112: still/again same quartet. 2214 ditto. CHR transmissions have been totally useless all day! And no one at station notices to fix it. Pity the poor Canadian taxpayer, let alone flights in urgent need of VOLMET! Or maybe there really aren`t any? 6754-USB, Jan 22 at 0130, yup, CHR night frequency, poor S7, is also still ``no report received`` from Lajes, Shannon, Prestwick, Keflavik. 15034-USB, Jan 22 at 1615, for at least the second day in a row, CHR, Trenton Military is totally dysfunxional, ``no report received`` over and over and over, from Gander, Halifax, Shearwater, Greenwood. 15034-USB, Jan 23 at 1424, for at least the third day in a row, CHR, Trenton Military continues totally dysfunxional, ``no report received`` over and over and over, from Edmonton, Calgary, Cold Lake, Winnipeg. 1425 introduces ``terminal forecasts`` but same quartet devoid of any info. 1426, mis-timecheck as ``1325 zulu``, no reports received from: Comox, Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford; ``repeating aviation weather``, ditto. Usual good S9 signal now, but before 1400 I had zero signal, not on or totally unpropagating? 15034-USB, one more check Jan 23 at 2000: no change. 6754-USB, Jan 24 at 0213 check, CHR, Trenton Military is still stuck, at least the FOURTH DAY IN A ROW, with ``No report received``, looping from Halifax, Shearwater, Greenwood, Gander. 15034-USB, Jan 24 at 1521, ditto here with good signal; no signal at previous 1449 check. Where are Shearwater, Greenwood, Abbottsford, Comox, Cold Lake, among the lesser-known aerodromes? Shearwater is on the eastern side of Halifax Harbour, NS. I don`t find Greenwood on a Rand McNally map or index, but coördinates put in somewhere near Wolfville on the opposite north coast of NS, NW of Halifax. Abbotsford (note spelling) is near Vancouver BC, but not on my map. Comox is about halfway up the east coast of Vancouver Island. Cold Lake is in northern Alberta, NE of Edmonton, on the Sask border N of biprovincial Lloydminster. 6754-USB, Jan 25 at 0455, CHR, Trenton Military, still nothing but ``no reports received``. At 0456 still announcing own time 61 minutes slow, as ``0355z``. 15034-USB, Jan 25 at 1527, for at least the FIFTH DAY IN A ROW, CHR with ``no reports received``; good signal now while there was no signal earlier at 1506 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CJBN-TV Kenora to go dark Jan 27 --- CJBN-TV, the only TV station in Canada's smallest TV market, Kenora, ON, Channel 13 will go dark on Jan. 27th. The owners have decided to pull the plug. It's still analogue - but there will be no digital replacement. CJBN-TV is an affiliate of the Global network (Bill Hepburn, Jan 19, WTFDA gg via DXLD) DTV [non] ** CHILE. 5825, R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Enero 20. 2348-2359 UT. Música de coros metodistas pentecostales. SINPO: 55555. 5825. R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Enero 21. 2347-2359 UT. Música de coros pentecostales hasta las 2357, luego despedida de la emisión con datos de la emisora, lectura de los estatutos de la Iglesia y una especie de gong final. SINPO: 55544 5825, R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Enero 25. 2301- UT. Predicación con audio sobre modulado. SINPO: 45423 con fading pronunciado. Desde las 2337, se pierde de manera total la emisora debido al ruido ambiental. (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 70 metros de largo, QTH: Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6925. RCW. Enero 21. 0000-0010 UT. Hora local y TU, luego noticias de Radio Francia Internacional. SINPO: 45444 (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 70 metros de largo, QTH: Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 9835, 1508+ 13 January. Firedragon (7415) + KPRZ (1210 x 2) and not even a hint of a blip of a smidgen of usually well- heard Sarawak FM (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL380/6m X wire [v2.0], via Robert Wilkner, NASWA yg via DXLD) i.e. local mixing product with San Marcos 20/10 kW station; FD not really on 9835 (gh) ** CHINA. 11620, Similar strength [to Kurdistan 11600, S=9+10dB] of nice smooth China pop music of CNR 5th program from Beijing site, played at 0659 UT. What a great music selection, on unusual 16 kHz wide broadband signal [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ** CHINA. 12035, Jan 20 at 0044, Chinese at fair S7 level, which is better than most signals on 25m, including weak RHC and WRMI. HFCC shows this is not a jammer! But CRI, 00-01, 500 kW, 200 degrees from Xian to SE Asia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ALBANIA ** CHINA [and non]. 6105, CNR1 at 2247 in Mandarin jamming RTI (also In Mandarin) with a man with excited talk then a woman with talk at 2251 with an oriental music bridge at 2254 and into a man with talk – Fair to Good Jan 24 – As the editor of the shortwave loggings columns for the ODXA, I used to get a lot of loggings of this one as their jammed broadcasters whether that was VOA, RFA, or RTI with program details like I mention above along with 5+1 time pips on the hour. It took a while to educate them. Then again, going back to the 90s when we first encountered Firedrake programming, we couldn’t understand why RFA would transmit that kind of a program. How naïve we were back then. 5990, CUBA, CRI at 2307 with a man with “CRI News” with correspondent reports – Fair to Good signal but low level audio with occasional transmission breaks Jan 24 – If I were in charge of CRI, I would being giving royal crap to RHC for the crappy service they are serving up. It’s too bad the CBC was so short-sighted as they had a great customer in CRI for their Sackville transmitter site (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** CHINA. Since 0938Z and ongoing: "Foghorn-fart" OTHR QSA4/5 from 14342-14352 kHz around 6 seconds on, around 37 seconds off. I suspect China at most distance wise given the propagation, even for 500 kW. 73 es 77 de (VK5EEE Lou, Jan 17, INTRUDERALERT mailing list via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Thursday, January 19, 2017 6:49 AM Subject: Re: [INTRUDER ALERT] China OTHR? 14340-14349 14340-14349 ca. 4 seconds then 22 seconds off since 0544Z suspect PRC 73 es 77 de VK5EEE – (Lou, ibid.) QRG: 14355 kHZ - date: Jan. 19th - time: 0800 UT --- Chinese OTH radar "Foghorn" with bursts - 66.66 sps - 10 kHz wide - burst duration 3.8 sec. 66.66 sps are typical for Chinese radars! This seems to be, what Lou observed. Attach: Chinese "Foghorn" 73 Wolf [not Büschel, but via him, DXLD) ** CONGO-Brazzaville. 6115, R. Congo, Brazzaville, 1852-1908, 22/1, francês, texto, anúncios vários, música lig.ª africana, informações várias; 34432, QRM adjacente. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6115, Radio Congo ??? Brazzaville ??? Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 2015-2018. Not sure about this one. Sounded French, but according to EiBi and Aoki it doesn't fit for time. Maybe an extended transmission? Poor. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Re 17-03, 770 Artemisa & Rebelde ``I think we have a new station or a change on 770 in Cuba. On Jan 7 the BCB Logger carried the following report from Mark, a DXer in Indiana: ``Jan 07 23:08 770 Cuba presumed. Blasting in like a local. ID something like “Radio Arbenita”; no “Rebelde” heard. but “de la revolucion” heard several times. -- Mark in IN (74.118.118.170)```` Clearly they don't bother to read DXLD or the NRC. Artemisa has been here for nine months, as first reported by Arnie Coro and first logged by me as in the following from the archives. And it is a dedicated transmitter, with Rebelde remaining on 770 as well. Plenty of logs made and reported after this as well. If anyone would just read: ``770, CUBA, Radio Artemisa, Artemisa, Artemisa. 2301 April 18, 2016. After reading Arnie Coro's post via Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest edition 16-15, about this testing at 10 kW omni-directional, I began checking at 2108. Nothing but a weak WJBX, North Ft. Myers, FL (despite 10 kW daytime) with Spanish ESPN Deportiva, but something threshold in Spanish constant talk under, not parallel the only previous Cuban listed on 770 -- Rebelde -- on checked 670, 1180, 1620 or 5025 (all presumed not carrying Rebelde FM). Recheck at 2301, indeed Artemisa on the grayline, doing well with traditional Cuban vocals, female announcer, parallel fair-poor 1000 kHz. Then at 2320, a poor parallel also pulled on 1320 kc/s, and at 2334, a poor 1020 kc/s also parallel to complete all the active Radio Artemisa MW channels. Six (I think) time pips a few seconds ahead of 2330, female Artemisa ID, back to Cuban traditional vocals. And again in just ahead of local sunrise, 1029 April 19, 2016 with male IDs, he and a female announcer with morning newscast and local events, fair and parallel 1000 kc/s through 1038 tune-out`` (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC- R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 1020, Radio Artemisa, Bahía Honda, Artemisa. 1116 January 21, 2017. Cuban folk songs, female DJ, very good with weak Reloj under. Parallel 770 and out-of-control wobbling 1000. 1050, Radio Victoria, Las Tunas, Las Tunas. 1107 January 21, 2017. Female DJ, old Cuban vocals, ID. Very good. 1080, Radio Surco, Ciego de Ávila, Ciego de Ávila. 1100 January 21, 2017. Male, then about five seconds of the national anthem abruptly cut, ID, fill music. Parallel 1140 kHz. Radio Cadena Habana dominant atop. Coming out of an overnight relay (Progreso?) with bad cut-over at anthem time? 1110, Radio Angulo, Holguín, Holguín. 1043 January 21, 2017. Female with local events talk, music fills. Some WBT co-channel (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5040, RHC Bauta NOT ON AIR at 0545 UT Jan 19, totally off 6000 S=9+15dB, RHC English, 0550 UT Jan 19, -60dBm in southern Germany. Talk on company in New Orleans. Midst 0553 UT QRM by buzzy audio of 10 kHz wideband BBC ASC 6005 kHz crash start their sce on adjacent. President of Gambia, and Sierra Leone comment. Press conference of Obama in Wash. DC White House noted at 0555 UT. \\ RHC 6060 kHz S=9+20dB -57dBm audiowise distorted quality, news on Cuban education level in Latin America talk at 0610 UT. FBI agent activist of 1975 year, mentioned by Obama. Some more refugees stranded and registered from Africa into Italy. \\ 6100 RHC editorial comment of the day, 2 x 6.6 kHz wide signal into southern Germany. Given website address and twitter also FM fq in local La Habana at 0620 UT. Latino prisoner - some agent from Óscar López, a Puerto Rican national of 35 years in prison released from governor. Some ute SCRATCHING NOISE of S=9+5dB noted nearby 6101 to 6106 kHz fq range (Wolfie Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6100, Jan 19 at 0526, RHC English is dead air on what is normally their best signal when managing to modulate. 6165 is OK but undermodulated as usual; 6060 is overmodulated/distorted as usual; 6000 is OK; 5040 is OFF, as Wolfgang Büschel also noticed (however I get a JBA carrier on 5040, from what, exciter?) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 11860, Jan 19 at 1355, Republic of Yemen Radio still with good S9+10 signal, but some CCI. I think it must be spur from RHC 11840, which is S9+30 and emitting its usual first-order S9 spurs on 11830 & 11850, but also weaker ones further 20 and 30 kHz out where they are not blocked, on 11870, maybe the JBA carriers on 11820, 11810. They`re all gone at 1400*. We are now halfway thru the B-16 season, and Arnie *still* has not replaced the A-16 schedule at http://www.radiohc.cu/interesantes/frecuencias when 11840 was on air only in the tarde. 17730, Jan 20 at 2235, RHC is open carrier/dead air, still at 2253. Supposed to be in French at this time. 15370, Jan 20 at 2237, RHC Spanish with correct 5:37 TC, apologizing for ``dificultades`` preventing `Informativo Nuestra América` but instead a bit of Moncada group music, and ordinary noticias titulares. Rare to hear them apologizing for SNAFUs, but in the studio they don`t know how mixed up the transmitters can be, lest they be apologizing all the time! 6000, Jan 22 at 0135, RHC English is JBM, much softer than // 6165, both with same strength of S9+25, the latter being much louder but more fadey. 5025, Jan 23 at 0425, R. Rebelde is absent; and 4765 is a JBA carrier, not R. Progreso? Propagation this band is OK, with 5040 RHC English S9+40! 17750, Jan 23 at 1429, S9+10 of dead air, then JBM IS and talk, but there is NO signal on normally much louder // 17730; while // 17580 is on at S9+10 with good mod. 5025 & 4765, Jan 24 at 0303, both Rebelde and Progreso are OFF; 5040 RHC still on. 4765, Jan 25 at 0449, R. Progreso is on with sports news review, but 5025 R. Rebelde is off. Recheck at 0653, 5025 is back on, and so is 5040 RHC in English (4765 of course quits circa 0500). 6060, Jan 25 at 0454, RHC is already in English instead of Spanish here, English not supposed to start until 0500, but occasionally much earlier. Modulation as usual distorted; // 6000 undermodulated while // 6165 is much better. 6100 not on quite yet. 6000, Jan 25 at 0659, RHC is restarting an English hour early with ``Ed Newman`` lamenting that today (Jan 24?) is the anniversary of the death of fellow RHC announcer ``Langston Wright`` twelve years ago of cancer at age 54. (He was the hijacker who fled after an Albuquerque cop-killing.) 0700 sudden switch to Spanish on 6000, likewise on 6060 and stronger 6165; while a quick check of 5040 and 6100 finds them continuing in English after 0700, but all will cut off shortly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. NUMBERS STATION, Reception of Cuban Spy Numbers HM01 in 9 MHz, Jan 18: 0658-0749 9330 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri 0758-0849 9065 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri 0858-0949 9240 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri 0958-1049 9155 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-cuban-spy-numbers-hm01-in.html Reception of Cuban Spy Numbers HM01 in 11 MHz, Jan 18: 0858-0949 11462 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Tue/Thu/Sat 0958-1049 12180 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Tue/Thu/Sat http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-cuban-spy-numbers-hm01-in_19.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #987 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 20, 2017 via DXLD) NUMBERS STATION, Reception of Cuban Spy Numbers HM01 in 9 MHz, Jan 25: 0658-0749 9330 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri 0758-0849 9065 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri 0858-0949 9240 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri 0958-1049 9155 secret / hidden tx ?Bejucal? Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-cuban-spy-numbers-hm01-in_25.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DJIBOUTI. 1431.00, 2215-2235 and 0010-0025 20 and 22.1, R Sawa, BBG relay, Djibouti Arabic ann by man and woman, Arab pop songs, 2215 and 0015 ID's: "Radio Sawa", commentary about Jordan, English song by woman: "Dancing in the Night" which afterwards was explained by a man in Arabic, verse by verse 44444 QRM Iran and Italy (Anker Petersen, my latest loggings from Skovlunde, Denmark, on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 6050. HCJB. Enero 22. 0040-0105 UT. Canto como especie de mantra, luego una lectura bíblica basada en la primera carta a los Tesalonicenses en idioma Waodani con algunas palabras en español. A las 0054 se vuelve a escuchar el mantra y al final una reflexión en el mismo idioma. A las 01 hay avisos en español, para pasar a un espacio en idioma quechua con música en el mismo idioma. SINPO: 54454 con leve QRM de una emisora china (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 70 metros de largo, QTH: Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) New updated schedule of HCJB Voice of The Andes on 6050: 0930-1400 on 6050 QUI 010 kW / 018 deg to CeAm various*, ex 0830-1500 0930-1400 on 6050 QUI 010 kW / 172 deg to SoAm various*, ex 0830-1500 2100-0230 on 6050 QUI 010 kW / 018 deg to CeAm various*, ex 1900-0500 2100-0230 on 6050 QUI 010 kW / 172 deg to SoAm various*, ex 1900-0500 * including Cofan/Chapala/Spanish/Shuar/Quechua/Waodani & other langs. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/new-updated-schedule-of-hcjb-voice-of.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #988 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 24, 2017 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. GERMANY, Reception of HCJB Voice of The Andes, Jan 25: 0706 & 0731 on 5920 WNM 001 kW / 145 deg to SEEu German http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-hcjb-voice-of-andes-jan25.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Thread: ISDB-TB was announced as the standard DTV for El Salvador Reverting the adoption of the ATSC standard of several years ago, today was anounced by the Salvadorean president and the SIGET director the ISDB-TB standard for the terrestrial TV in the country. In March will be prepared the operative plan to begin transmissions in 2018. The plan include FM but I can't find any info related to its standard. Anyway I only have a portable ATSC TV set y my brand new TV is an ISDB-TB, ja ja. Saludos (Humberto Molina, San Salvador, Jan 19, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/124917/2017/01/19/Gobierno-anuncia-transicion-de-senal-analogica-a-digital-para-radio-y-TV En la SIGET tomaron la decisión correcta al homologarse con los otros países centroamericanos, aunque si hay televisiones con ATSC en el mercado habrá que asegurar la disponibilidad de convertidores (por ejemplo con salida HDMI). En cuanto a la radio creo que se subirán los servicios de la radio pública, como en Colombia, a la TDT. Se usa así en Japón también, donde originó este estándar (Raymie Humbert, AZ, ibid.) ¡Hola Raymie! Si, efectivamente, la homologación con Centroamérica fue uno de los criterios. También escuché que se prevé el subsidio de cajas convertidoras para televisores NTSC con salidas analógica; si es así y hay en el mercado para compra les puedo enviar algunas para que puedan hacer DX desde USA a Centroamérica ;-) Saludos (Humberto, Jan 20, ibid.) Sí, pero dada que ya circulaban televisoras ATSC en el mercado, habrán usuarios que no entienden... "Compré una tele digital ¿¡y no funciona con este sistema!?" (Raymie, ibid.) That's amazing, Humberto. Still, hang onto that ATSC TV; if you can connect an outdoor antenna, KCWX DT 5 in TX is in your range for Es. Also FCC plans to open up more RF 2-6 TV stations in a few years. cd (Chris Dunne, FL, ibid.) Hi Chris! Yes I will keep the ATSC TV, just need a god outdoor antenna. Saludos (Humberto, ibid.) ISDB-TB uses "segmented" transmission. The TV channel is divided into 13 430KHz-wide "segments". Within each segment, OFDM modulation is used with up to 432 carriers (same modulation as the European DVB-T standard except DVB-T uses the entire channel as a single segment). ISDB touts a "1seg" feature. The first segment is used to transmit a low-resolution channel intended for viewing on cellphones. (the first segment is actually #0 and is located in the center of the channel) Similar to the now essentially defunct ATSC-MH scheme, 1seg is more robust due to the narrower bandwidth (and due to the lower data rate, it takes less battery power to decode it). I'm having trouble locating details but I *think* the radio thing involves using 1seg for audio-only programs. 416Kb/s of bandwidth is available which is enough to transmit eight radio stations if you don't care too much about quality, or four if audio quality is important (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) Thanks for the info, Doug! Very interesting, that explains something I observed with the auto setup scan of my ISDB TV, when is auto scanning appears "Scanning Radio Channels" or something similar. Saludos (Humberto, ibid.) Thanks to all for your info and comments. Just for historical records here is a pic with the 31.1 ATSC test channel from May 2016 :-D http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?11165-ISDB-TB-was-anounced-as-the-standar-DTV-for-El-Salvador (Humberto, ibid.) ** ERITREA [and non]. Nothing noted of Eritrea and Ethiopia 'radio war' on 7146v kHz and/or 7175/7185 kHz range this Jan 24 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non-log]. 7146.55, VOBME 1 and 7175/7180/7185, VOBME 2, both unheard on Jan 24, at 1516; significantly the previous jamming of these frequencies that started at 1501, are no longer being heard, so even the jammers realize they are off the air now (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Voice of Eritrea (possibly?), Jan 20 (Friday). Noted that the transmitter was continually drifting upwards today; 0402 on about 7234.69v; at 0423 about 7234.84v and finally at 0432 on about 7234.95v; would seem to be the same transmitter as used by Radio Ethiopia, that I have recently heard drifting around this frequency at about 1445 UT. Am IDing it based upon the drifting frequency, was in vernacular and Aoki lists 0400-0430 on Mon-Wed-Fri, although I did hear them at 0432, but was clearly off the air at 0444 check, so do believe might be Voice of Eritrea, but would like to get stronger confirmation from others. BTW - Sunrise at Addis Ababa was at 0346 UT on Jan 20 (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re the morning fade-out path from Ethiopia across Medit, Europe, northern Atlantic towards USA and CANADA. Propagate in northern winter season, in end Oct - mid Feb even late fade-out of 7.23 MHz here in southern Germany around 0800 - 0815 UT. wolfie (Wolfgang Germany, ibid.) Hi Glenn, Am very grateful to Thorsten Hallmann for his insightful expertise regarding African stations. He indicates a strong likelihood that my reception was actually the "Voice of Peace and Democracy" and not the "Voice of Eritrea." In part he wrote: "I believe that MWF 0400-0435 is the same transmission as in the evenings MWF 1800-1835, and it's not the one IDd as Voice of Eritrea a few years ago (TTSat 1800-1835 on 7235v and irregularly on 8000 counter-7999.4 ERI) at that time, but it's Voice of Peace and Democracy (of/for Eritrea) as listed for the evenings. Both AOKI and EIBI seem to be wrong listing "Voice of Eritrea" for certain days. ID for Voice of Eritrea was (roughly transliterated) just Dimtsi Ertra, this one seems to be Dimtsi ..??.. Demokratsi Ertrai. It's surely the same transmitter as for RE, constantly drifting upwards throughout the day from roughly 7234 to 7237." Certainly the 0400-0435 schedule would fit nicely with my reception. Please note that Thorsten's updated website has a wealth of info about the current reception of African SW stations. http://www.muenster.org/uwz/ms-alt/africalist/ As always, I very much appreciate his helpful input! (Ron Howard, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NEXT to POWERHOUSE 7240.0 kHz BSKSA Riyadh's Persian service of S=9+55 or -22dBm (!!) transmission noted again the Radio Ethiopia Gedja outlet, much varying by 20 to 25 Hertz at 'feeled' center frequency of 7236.351 kHz. 1330 to 1344 UT on Jan 22, on Doha Qatar ME remote SDR installation. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 5950, V. of the Tigray Revolution. Although the carrier came on around 0254, the flute IS didn’t start until 0302. Fair at best (7 Jan.) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ETIÓPIA, 5950 Voz da Revolução do Tigrê, Geja Dera (ou Geja Jawe?), 1925-1940, 21/1, língua local, texto, canções do chamado Corno de África, chamadas de ouvintes; 33432, QRM adjacente. Melhor (!) sinal em // 1359 Mekelle. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [and non]. GERMANY, Poor signal of Voice of Oromo Liberation via MBR Nauen on Jan 22: 1700-1730 on 11810 NAU 100 kW / 139 deg to EaAf Afar Oromo Wed/Fri/Sun + jamming http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/poor-signal-of-voice-of-oromo_22.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. 5938-5978, Jan 23 at 0420, approx. range of splatter at modulation spikes out of 5960, NHK in Japanese, which is 500 kW, 290 degrees from Issoudun at 03-05. Haven`t noticed such a problem from this transmitter before, and I hope, not again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, again Jan 25, not quite so bad (gh) Additional frequency of R France International from Jan 14: 2000-2100 on 11995 ISS 500 kW / 165 deg CeAf French, very poor signal 2100-2200 on 11995 ISS 500 kW / 165 deg CeAf French, inactive tonight parallel freq 7205 ISS 500 kW / 198 deg NWAf French live till 2100 UT parallel freq 9790 ISS 500 kW / 188 deg WCAf French live till 2100 UT http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/additional-frequency-of-radio-france.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GAMBIA [non]. Radio Free Gambia? One would think given the current tense situation in The Gambia that Radio Free Gambia might be making a re-appearance on SW. But I presume nothing has been heard from this station lately. Correct? -- (Richard Langley, NB, 0335 UT Jan 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) yes ** GERMANY. 6070, Italian Broadcasting Corporation at 2155 in Italian with the end of instrumentals then a woman with talk and off at 2159 – Poor to Fair Jan 25 – This is a 10 kW transmitter made from amateur radio equipment by amateur radio operators who got a broadcast license. One program is from DARC – the German equivalent to the ARRL or RAC. The amazing story is at: http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-darc-program-debuts-on-ham-operated-german-shortwave-outlet (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre- fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Reception of Hamburger Lokalradio on 9485, Jan 15: Media Network Plus 1100-1130 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB World of Radio #1860 1130-1200 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-hamburger-lokalradio-on_15.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #987 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 20, 2017 via DXLD) Reception of Hamburger Lokalradio on 9485, Jan 22: PCJ Media Network Plus 1100-1130 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB GH World of Radio #1861 1130-1200 on 9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat CUSB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-hamburger-lokalradio-on_22.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Re: 9900 kHz 1200 UT. Shortwaveservice Testtransmissions coming up 21.01.2017 12.00 UTC 9900 kHz in Richtung western Russia Heute mal weltweit geloggt: 9900 kHz, 1203 UT S=8 bei Uwe's SDR Schätzchen in Ost Thailand. NIL in Japan und Michigan Detroit USA remotes. 1205 UT New Delhi excellent signal S=9+30dB oder -45dBm !!! 10 kHz weites audio signal, Christian wunderbar, heute nichts übermoduliert. Die Dame bei der Ansage in russischer Sprache auch schön klar in der Aussprache, gehört um 1207:45, 1212:25, 1215:01, und 1217:27 UT usw. Schwach S=5-6 Signal in Spanien, Greece, und südliches Italien. Etwas besser S=7-8 in Irland, Grenoble France und Rimini Italien. S=9+5dB in Holland und Belgien um 1210 UT, gleiches Signal in Polen und in München um 1217 UT. S=9+10dB in Ungarn und Steiermark um 1215 UT. S=9+25dB -44dBm proper Signal im Nordosten von Finnland bei Maunos Schätzchen. Dagegen die SDR's in zentralem Finland wie immer schwach S=7-8, (meine Annahme, die haben keine gescheiten Antennen an ihren teuren Perseus connected, wie in Schweden auch teilweise) S=6-7 in zentralem Norwegen. um 1221 UT. Leider ist die remote Unit direkt in Moskau Russland heute nicht im Netz angeschlossen, also kein Rapport vom Zentrum des Putinlands, dort hat's wohl gefühlte S=9+35 bis +40dB - nehme ich an. 73 (wolfie, 1241 UT Jan 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very good signal as picked up by the U. Twente receiver today (Saturday, 21 January) on 9900 kHz. Carrier was on before 1150 UT. After the initial sign-on announcement in English, frequent (every few minutes) announcements, during the non-stop pop music, were just made in Russian (I think) except for the final announcement in English. Transmitter went off at about 1259:50. In the few seconds between the end of the Shortwave Service audio and transmitter cut-off, faint audio could be heard -- too weak to speculate on language. My Saturday morning routine typically precludes live SW listening so I used my automated scripts to record the test. However, before pulling out of my driveway, I snapped the attached screen dump of the Twente reception via my iPhone (-- Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Test transmission of Shortwaveservice, Jan 22. Good signal, but at 1245 unmodulated carrier with powerful signal on 9899.7 kHz. Videos: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/upcoming-test-transmissions-of.html -- 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Equipment: Sony ICF-2001D 30 m. long wire, dxldyg via DXLD) Re: 9900 kHz test serie, Jan 21 / 22, at 12-13 UT to Russia european target Sent: Saturday, Jan 14, 2017: Subject: 9900 kHz 12.00 UT. Shortwaveservice Testtransmissions coming up 22 Jan. 2017 1200 UT, 9900 kHz in direction of western European Russia Today checked the test transmission again worldwide: 9900 kHz on Sunday Jan 22. today much less strong signals observed on various remote SDR posts, compared against proper signal yesterday Saturday Jan 21. 1202 UT Uwe's SDR net unit with wrong IP 1. address ? in Eastern Thailand -- NOT ON NET TODAY. No access available. 1207 UT, S=8-9 in Brisbane Queensland Australia, -73dBm. 10 kHz wide broadband transmission. 1207:40 UT announcement of Russian language female presenter. S=4 -93dBm like threshold and noise in Tokyo Japan remote SDR unit. Peak visible fluttery, but lower than threshold, in Michigan Detroit USA remote installation. 1213 UT NIL signal in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 1215 UT Jan 22, New Delhi much poorer signal S=9+15dB or -59dBm today, compared to yesterday Saturday Jan 21 excellent signal of S=9+30dB oder -45dBm !!! 10 kHz wide broadband audio signal. 1217 UT in Doha Qatar Middle East only S=7 -79dBm signal, deep fades. 1217:30 UT Russian language presenter with program and address. 1219 UT on Zakynthos Greece, only local electrical noise disturbtion heard here, nothing of single day Music/Russian test station could be heard so far. Fair to poor S=7-8 or -82dBm signal in Madrid Spain, in Grenoble southeastern France and at Rome Italy installations. In Genua Riviera Italy much lesser strength, S=6-7 or -88dBm. 1227 UT local noisy signal of S=7-8 only in Ireland and same at Amsterdam The Netherlands. S=9 in central Belgium at 1231 UT, similar lesser signal strength today at Warsaw Poland and west of Munich Bavaria remote post at 1233 UT. S=9+10dB or -65dBm strength in Hungary and far eastern Austria at 1235 UT. 1239 UT BEST SIGNAL of ALL on today`s test transmissions outlet observation posts: S=9+20dB -53dBm proper signal in northeastern Finland. But as usual rather poor S=6-7 or -87dBm on this Swedish installation in central Sweden at 1241 UT, just behind Moscow and St. P. main target. 1244 UT S=5-6 or -92dBm signal in central Norway remote SDR unit. Unfortunately today on test transmission day no remote SDR unit connected on worldwide Perseus SDR net, i.e. no access to St.Petersburg or Moscow European Russia remote access installations possible so far. At 1245-1250 UT heard twice NOISE QRM station appearance nearby some 416 Hertz lower on 9899.584 kHz. 1259:30 UT final announcement in English language by Christian, and Shortwaveservice pause signal chimes / carillon play followed, TX SWITCH OFF suddenly at 1300:01 UT. 73 wolfie df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Test transmission recorded using the U. Twente receiver. Similar signal strength to Saturday's test, possibly slightly weaker, but a different start-up pattern so possibly a different transmitter site. The sign-on procedure might be a clue as to the site. Snapshot waterfall attached. 1155:37 UT carrier on as recording begins 1155:52 carrier off 1156:40 carrier on 1158:27 test tone on 1158:42 test tone off 1159:54 IS begins 1200:16 Beginning of final time pip 1246:17 Approximate start of 416 Hz interference tone (plus harmonics) 1248:17 Approximate end of 416 Hz interference 1259:59 Transmitter off Note that Wolfy had previously reported the 416 Hz QRMing tone originating from a carrier 416 Hz lower in frequency (-- Richard Langley, NB, Jan 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Upcoming test broadcasts of Shortwaveservice via unknown transmitter: Jan 21-22: 1200-1300 9900 unknown transmitter* to EaEu Music and announcements 1200-1300 9900 unknown transmitter* to EaEu Music and announcements Jan 28-29: [later: these postponed one week] 1500-1600 6015 unknown transmitter* to WeEu Music and announcements 1500-1600 6015 unknown transmitter* to WeEu Music and announcements * most likely to be via Secretbrod: to EaEu 030 deg and to WeEu 306 degrees http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/upcoming-test-broadcasts-of.html (Ivo Ivanov, Jan 13, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1861, DXLD) No, the Shortwaveservice broadcast next two weekends are not from Bulgaria. The test tomorrow will be same time same frequency but another transmitter location. Posted by: (Christian Milling, Jan 14, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1861, 1862, DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Frequency change of Deutsche Welle from Jan 27: 1330-1400 NF 11620 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Dari, ex 15430 parallel freq 9580 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Dari // frequency 15215 TRM 250 kW / 335 deg to WeAs Dari 1400-1430 NF 11620 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex 15430 parallel freq 9580 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Pashto // frequency 15215 TRM 250 kW / 335 deg to WeAs Pashto http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/upcoming-frequency-change-of-deutsche.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz and 9935 kHz, Jan 18: 0700&1110 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#3 0700&1200 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to ENAm Greek*tx#1 * including Arabic & Serbian 0804-0812; Albanian 1155-1158 UT 0900-1120 live transmission with several breaks on 9420. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/voice-of-greece-on-9420-khz-and-9935_18.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #987 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 20, 2017 via DXLD) Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz and 9935 kHz, Jan 18: from 1858 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 nothing on // 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 from 1956 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 nothing on // 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 from 2021 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 from 2021 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/voice-of-greece-on-9420-khz-and-9935_19.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9420.006, V of Greece Avlis (but not 9935 or 11645 kHz noted in Australia at this hour). Heard in Queensland remote SDR unit at 0649 UT, S=9+15dB armchair signal via long path way via Azores, Colombia, Easter Island southern Pacific [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) 9420, Sunday Jan 22, VP S2 signal, but recognizable as Orthodox chanting, as VOG is starting to make it. Hope this uppick as spring oncomes, nice music violating Separation of Church and State (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voice of Greece on 9420 and 9935 kHz, Jan 25: 0700-0807 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#3 and off 0700-0707 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to ENAm Greek*tx#1 and off * including news bulletin 0752-0758 UT in Arabic & Serbian http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/voice-of-greece-on-9420-khz-and-9935_25.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume you mean -0807 also on 9935? (gh, DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4055, Jan 22 at 0142, TGAV is OFF! Had been reliable for quite a while. 0202 recheck, now carrier is on at S9+20 (vs storm crashes to S9+30), but dead air. Maybe they`ll be back in business in time for another late start of an `Antena DX` rerun circa 0215 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. Guinea (Conacry): el 01/01/2017 se escuchó en 9650 kHz, la Radiotelevisión de Guinea (RTG), en francés, a las 2240 UT. SINPO 4/3. Música africana, salsa en español y menciones constantes de Conacry. Noticiero a las 2200. Nos sorprendió hallar a esta emisora en dicha banda y con señal tan fuerte. ¿Alguien sabe si es buena verificadora? ¿Hay que escribir sólo por correo postal o también se puede contactar por correo electrónico? Mil gracias de antemano. ¡Muchos 73 y buen DX! (Adán González, Catia La Mar, estado Vargas, Venezuela, Jan 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hace varios meses que Guinea se reanudó en 9650. No me acuerdo de informes sobre QSLes, pero tal vez alguien responda después de publicarse tu pedido. 73, (Glenn to Adán, via DXLD) Lo de Guinea me sorprendió gratamente: señal fuerte, estable. Ojalá alguien pueda brindar info sobre la política QSL de RTG (Adán, ibid.) Is Guinea QSLing, and may one report by e-mail or only p-mail? What is their policy? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. What AIR service is heard weak 1400-1600 on 7500 kHz? Tipped by Hiroyuki Komatsubara . Thanks (Mauno Ritola, Jan 23, dx_india yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) It`s AIR Urdu Service on 7500 instead of 7520. Noted last night (23 Jan 2017) and even today morning. Thanks to Pradip Ch. Kundu for the alert also. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, ibid.) But now in the evening back to 7520 kHz? (Mauno, Jan 24, ibid.) Yes they are back on 7520. Yours sincerely (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, ibid.) 7500 kHz subcontinental singer heard at 0414 UT on Jan 24 observed in Doha Qatar SDR rx remote unit, S=8-9 signal strength. Thanks dear Pradip and Jose (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) ** INDIA. 7270, AIR Chennai Tamil Nadu, S=8 -75dBm audio peaks at 0427 UT, Hindi/English announcement, heard in Doha Qatar remote unit. As scheduled right TX SIGNING OFF switch at exact 0430:08 UT. 7289.993, AIR Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, S=8 at 0433 UT Jan 24 7420.003, AIR Hyderabad Hindi service at 0444 UT on Jan 24, S=8-9 signal noted in Doha Qatar Middle East (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. SPECIAL BROADCASTS BY AIR FOR REPUBLIC DAY 2017 India is celebrating its 68th Republic Day on 26 Jan 2017. All India Radio will broadcast special programs in connection with the Republic Day celebrations as follows: 25 January 2017 (Wednesday): Eve of Republic Day [evidently based on monitoring two years ago: gh] Monitoring observations of President's Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the nation on Eve of Republic Day in English & Hindi on 25 January 2015 (Sunday) from 1330 UT (1900 IST) onwards through All India Radio 1330 UT (1900 IST) onwards Hon’ble President Shri. Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the nation in Hindi & English. This will be broadcast by all stations of AIR on MW, SW, FM. Shortly after this broadcast, the local stations will broadcast their translations in local languages. SW frequencies: kHz kW Station 4760 7 Leh 4760 8.5 Port Blair 4800 50 Hyderabad 4810 50 Bhopal 4835 10 Gangtok 4895 50 Kurseong 4910 50 Jaipur 4920 50 Chennai 4950 50 Srinagar 4970 50 Shillong 5010 50 Thiruvananthapuram 5040 50 Jeypore 5050 10 Aizawl 6030 250 Delhi 9380 250 Aligarh 9865 500 Bengaluru MW Frequencies : http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/mw/freq.htm FM Frequencies : http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/fm/airfreq.htm 26 January 2015 (Thursday): Republic Day: Running Commentary of Republic Day parade from 0350 UT (0920 IST) onwards: Hindi: 7520 (Delhi 250 kW) (Cancelling External Service in Urdu normally broadcast at this time on these frequency). 13695 (Bengaluru 500 kW) English: 6030 (Delhi 250 kW); 17715 (Bengaluru 500 kW) Also MW/FM frequencies as per above mentioned links. The following regional stations will change from their Morning frequencies on 60 Meters (4 & 5 MHz frequencies) to their daytime frequencies between 0335-0350 UT (i.e. much earlier than usual) as follows: 6000 Leh 6085 Gangtok 7230 Kurseong 7295 Aizawl 7315 Shillong 7325 Jaipur The following stations are already scheduled to be on air daily at this time and will also relay the running commentary. 6110 Srinagar 7270 Chennai 7290 Thiruvanthapuram 7380 Chennai 7390 Port Blair 7420 Hyderabad 7430 Bhopal 9865 Bengaluru Please send your reception reports on line at: http://pbinfo.air.org.in/feedback/ or by email to: spectrum-manager@air.org Live streaming of the above programs is available in: http://allindiaradio.gov.in/Default.aspx Those who would like to watch the programs on Doordarshan TV can check DD National Channel: http://www.ddindia.gov.in/Pages/Home.aspx https://www.youtube.com/user/DoordarshanNational DD News Channel: http://webcast.gov.in/live/ More details about India’s Republic Day are in: http://www.knowindia.gov.in/republicday/ Happy Republic Day to all DX India members! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india/ Join dx_india facebook group at : http://www.facebook.com/groups/dxindia/ 73, (Jose Jacob & Alokesh Gupta, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Jan 25, on the eve of the 68th Republic Day, a live address to the nation by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. http://goo.gl/MnxUlr 1330: ID and intro in English; National Anthem followed by president's speech in English. 1347: ended English portion with the usual "Jai Hind"; played NA again; president repeated speech in Hindi, which ended at 1404. // frequencies: 4760 AIR Port Blair - not heard; off the air today; no carrier. 4800 AIR Hyderabad - not heard; only CNR1 noted here. 4810 AIR Bhopal - very poor; by 1355 was better. 4835 AIR Gangtok - not heard; only ABC noted here. 4896 AIR Kurseong - off frequency; only open carrier; no audio. 4910 AIR Jaipur - only open carrier; no audio. 4920 AIR Chennai - heard with QRM; mixing with PBS Xizang. 4950 AIR Radio Kashmir, Srinagar - stronger than usual with open carrier, but no audio; noted audio hum. 4970 AIR Shillong - heard, but not as strong as usual. 5010 AIR Thiruvananthapuram - heard. 5040 AIR Jeypore - heard. 5050 AIR Aizawl - heard with respectable signal, but as usual mixing with BBR (China). 9380 AIR Aligarh - heard. [At 1318 AIR IS followed by the usual national song, “Vande Mataram.”] 9865 AIR Bengaluru - heard. (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. When actually checking for the CRI relay station in Mali (13645 kHz), I came across All India Radio on 13640 kHz in Farsi and Arabic. It was interesting for me to note that at 1730 the Arabic programme of All India Radio started with 15 minutes of Qur`an recitation. You will remember that the British crown colony once split up along religious lines (Muslim West and East Pakistan, Hindu- dominated India) and several wars were fought about mostly Muslim Kashmir. After independence India was constituted as a secular state, although in a move to remove European colonial influence politicians promoted a return to what they considered the traditional Hindu culture. In more recent years, Hindu (fundamentalist) parties took up this cause. 170124 13640 1725 2401, All India Radio: Farsi, 1730 IS, Arabic, 15 minutes recitation of the Qur`an, 1745 start of a long talk (tune out 1801) 25422 (Dr Hansjoerg Biener 24 January 2017) IIRC, there are still more Moslems in India than in Pakistan, so why not? Why: they just don`t get it --- in order to be fair to all, do not Violate Separation of church/mosque/temple from State (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3325 even, music at S=9+15dB strong level, 1159 UT noted in Thailand. Female announcer at 1159 UT looks like Indonesian. Time pips late 1200:09 til 1200:13 UT, Warta Brita information mentioned [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. WRN World Radio Network? Does anyone know if the World Radio Network is still available for listening? The webpage is gone; and I heard it was bought by Babcock International. But their website doesn't appear to give options for listening. I heard some were still getting it on their wi-fi streams. But I don't see a schedule anywhere. Anyone know anything? Is this still a viable option for catching international broadcasts? Thanks! (B-T-M, Jan 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, the North American stream still works, I just checked it: http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8000/ despite the lack of websites. Why wifi? I`m merely listening on my desktop with Winamp. 73, (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO also on WRN: Sat 1830 UT, UT Mon 0230, ibid.) Wi-Fi radios use an intermediary - a curated directory that specifies the streaming URL. Some "stations" do not publish direct URLs any more but will privately provide the URL to the directory service providers. By the way - one of the SWL Fest sessions will include ideas on how to suss out URLs when the stations mask them (Richard Cuff, Allentown PA USA, ODXA yg via DXLD) Here in the UK, WRN is still available on the Virgin Media cable TV service (channel 920). I find it a convenient way of listening to World of Radio at 1000 on Saturdays. As I write (2025), it is carrying KBS, with Virgin's programme guide (which I have always found to be accurate as far as WRN output is concerned) showing Israel, Vatican, Pacifica, Sweden, DW and RNZ coming up later this evening (Chris Greenway, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) I asked about the web site and they are working on it, it should back soon, maybe next week (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Jan 25, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8000 Stream-Name: WRN English North America - wrn.org http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8002 http://193.42.152.203:8040/wrndeueu.ogg.m3u Once upon a time: German Service http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8004 Stream-Name: WRN T18 Feeder (former french service) http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8006 Stream-Name: WRN Russkij http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8008 Stream-Name: WRN Sawt Al Alam (Voice of "pain" ?) http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8012 Stream-Name: WRN Africa, Asia and Pacific http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8020 Stream-Name: WRN Multilingual (11.35z NHK in asian language, -Indonesian?- ) http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8022 Server Status: Server is currently down. http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8026 http://193.42.152.203:8040/wrnengeu.ogg Stream-Name: WRN English for Europe (11.45z KOL Israel/Jerusalem) http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8030/ // stream on :8020 Stream-Name: Radio Dijla (Roger, Germany, ibid.) Anyone know of have a scedule for the N. American Stream? (B-T-M, dxldyg via DXLD) http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/stationgrid.pl?stationid=25 http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8000/ Stream-Name: WRN English North America - wrn.org http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/stationgrid.pl?stationid=5869 http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8012/ Stream-Name: WRN Africa, Asia and Pacific http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/stationgrid.pl?stationid=4086 http://shoutcast.wrn.org:8026/ Stream-Name: WRN English for Europe (roger, germany, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRANIANS PROTEST AGAINST BROADCAST JAMMING, POINT TO HEALTH CONCERNS http://www.voanews.com/a/iran-protest-jamming-health/3691220.html Glenn, Just FYI in case you missed this news item. Regards, (Dave Zantow N9EWO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. 9500, Jan 23 at 1418, S4 talk in uncertain language, fanfare and off 1420*, smacking of VIRI, and so it is, per HFCC in Urdu, due east from Sirjan (not until only 1350 as in Aoki) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7370even, VoIRIB Sirjan transmission, morning "Al Quds TV" political comment and phone-in at 0440 UT on Jan 24. Tremendous S=9+55dB POWERHOUSE strength, \\ 7380.001 via IRIB Zahedan relay site, different audio sound, but very same program of S=9+40dB audio strength (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. Transmissions of RTE Radio One via BaBcoCk Madagascar are cancelled 1930-1958 5820 MDC 125 kW / 315 SoAf English M-F probably from Jan 2 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/transmissions-of-rte-radio-one-via.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, Jan 19, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1682, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.rte.ie/radio/page/138551-rte-radio-in-africa/ refers only to web audio anymore. So it seems that they cancelled the use of the WRN satellite channels, too. Does Babcock still maintain this product at all? http://www.wrn.org is dead (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 20, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. NHK gives local IDs between programs near the top of the hour (often 5 minutes after the TOH) and gives them especially at sign-off in the case of NHK 2. At the end of programming at 12:40 local time, they give the TOH ID followed by the national anthem and music box. I believe there are two instances of TOH IDs shown in my radio project. NHK has perfectly synched stations, unlike others in the region, and you can hear multiple TOH IDs overlapping on some frequencies when they do ID. (-Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide http://www.beaglebass.com/dx/seoul/ Jan 20, IRCA via DXLD) Bill, my experience is as follows: NHK 2 network: local IDs at 1319 UT and at sign off, which of late has been at 1540 UT. Now, not all locations give IDs. I've gone through the exercise of listening to each frequency, and some just have dead air instead of an ID. On frequencies with multiple locations, it's fun to hear several stations ID. The NHK 1 network IDs locally at 0959. I have less information about that, as I'm usually sound asleep, and reception is usually not that great into Masset, compared to the morning for the NHK 2 broadcasts. 73 (Walt Salmaniw, ibid.) ** JAPAN. Low powered JG2XA HF-Doppler (HFD) Project Hi Glenn, Have not checked on JG2XA for a long time, but Jan 25 could not help but notice that one of their frequencies was clearly off the air, that was 5006. At 1412 was in fact hearing CW on 8006, but 5006 had no signal at all. Last year I consistently heard a format of CW during a portion of every minute, but not so today. Now there are many minutes (5?) between their CW transmissions, with just an open carrier (dead air) between the CW. A major change (Ron Howard, Calif., Jan 25, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6145, Jan 19 at 1349, S8 weak signal from Sea Breeze, Japan, recognizable YL with English intonation, still on Thursdays and not yet QSYed again (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) JAPAN, Weak signal of Shiokaze Sea Breeze Jan 19 1300-1400 on 6145 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu 1600-1700 on 6110 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/weak-signal-of-shiokaze-sea-breeze-on.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. BELGIUM(non), Additional broadcasts of Living Water Ministry Broadcasting: 1500-1558 9650*unknown probably PUG NEAs Korean Tue/Wed/Thu, ex Wed# * co-ch 9650 CON 050 kW / non-dir WeAf French Radio Guinea Conakry # probably from Jan .3 & from same date at new time 1500-1558, ex 1530-1628. http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/additional-broadcasts-of-living-water.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #987 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 20, 2017 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. TAJIKISTAN, National Unity Radio via RED Telecom Dushanbe, Jan 19 1200-1500 on 7520 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to NEAs Korean, fair to good http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/national-unity-radio-via-red-telecom.html UZBEKISTAN, Voice of Wilderness via RED Telecom Tashkent, Jan 19 1330-1530 on 7615 TAC 100 kW / 070 deg to NEAs Korean, weak to fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/voice-of-wilderness-via-red-telecom.html UZBEKISTAN, North Korea Reform Radio via RED Telecom Tashkent, Jan 19 1430-1530 on 7590 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, fair to good signal http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/north-korea-reform-radio-via-red.html UZBEKISTAN, Voice of Martyrs via RED Telecom Tashkent, Jan 19: 1530-1700 on 7510 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean/English, weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/voice-of-martyrs-via-red-telecom.html UZBEKISTAN, Radio Free North Korea via RED Telecom Tashkent, Jan 20: 1200-1300 on 9355 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, weak signal http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-free-north-korea-via-red-telecom.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are RED Telecom? WRTH 2017 International section shows national transmitter operators are different, neither named RED Telecom. Perhaps it is an external broker for both, as there does seem to be coordination rather than competition (Glenn Hauser, oK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA. 4925, V24, Korean #s Station 1438-1442* 13 January. Poor- but-there with Korean number-groups. First day reactivated was 11 Jan. according to info from "Poyfull" on http://www.radio.chobi.net (& thanks Poyfull!) (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL380/6m X wire [v2.0], via Robert Wilkner, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 1566, Jan 19 at 1331, detecting the HLAZ/FEBC Jeju carrier from the NW, I`m standing by from 1343 for the cutoff antenna change from Japan beam, which I do perceive at 1344:30*. It comes back on in a few seconds with weaker signal toward China, but I don`t need to hear that (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11600, Denge Kurdistan program to all-Kurdistan, also S=9+10dB probably long path via Pacific, at 0656 UT on Jan 19. 10.8 wide audio signal. Kurdish woman chorus at 0657 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) Which site? 7455, PRIDNESTROVIE, Denge Kurdistane at 2054 in Kurdish with haunting male vocals with string and woodwind accompaniment then a kind of fanfare at 2100 and a man with ID and possible news headlines and into a man with possible news in depth – Good Jan 19 (Mark Coady, Selwyn, Ontario, Drake SPR4 Receiver, Drake TR7, Kenwood TS440S, and YouKits TJ5A Transceivers, AEA AT-300 and MFJ-941E Manual Tuners, LDG Z-100 Plus Auto Tuner, 40 meter and 80 meter off centre-fed dipoles, ODXA yg via DXLD) Denge Kurdistan on 11600 & 7455 kHz, Jan 22 1500-1600 on 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish 1600-1930 on 7455 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish 1930-2130 on 7455*KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish *no signal Jan 19-21, today was back on air at 1932 UT and no signal again at 2030 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/denge-kurdistan-on-11600-and-7455-khz.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7350even, MOLDOVA, Radyoya Denge Kurdistane, from Grigoriopol site in Pridnestrovie, to all Kurdish National people countries like Eastern Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran too. S=9+35 or -40dBm powerful voice into Middle East, professional sounded female presenter, speedy like machine gun spoken (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably Jan 24, circa 0445 per adjacent logs ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4819.912, Second transmitter of Birinchi radio from Bishkek, at 1155 UT Jan 20. \\ 4010.220 kHz. at 1157 UT on Jan 20. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 till 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 6130-, Jan 19 circa 1245, JBA carrier definitely on the low side, surely RNL Vientiane, as JRX in Brasil has logged it on 6129.97 and Wolfgang Büschel via remote to Germany on 6129.975, i.e. 25-30 Hz low, as explained on WORLD OF RADIO 1861 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6129.971, Lao National Radio from Vientiane, Lao language female presenter, at 0110 UT, S=9+35dB or -40dBm signal strength. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 0105 til 0123 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6129.984 - some 13 Hertz upwards, compared to 0110 UT early morning log. Lao National Radio from Vientiane, Lao language at 1107 UT on Jan 20, S=9+35dB signal strength [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6129.965, Lao National Radio from Vientiane, at 0042 UT on Jan 22, talk communication of female interview presenter, and male. Very powerful S=9+35dB or -36dBm, nice strong propagation signals this morning. 8.5 kHz broadband signal [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 22, 2017, dxldyg via DXLD) 6129.966, LNR Vientiane S=9+35dB powerful at 0104 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, 0050 - 0115 UT Jan 23 in eastern Thailand SDR installation, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6129.979½, LNR Vientiane much S=9+35dB powerful at 1026 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1010 til 1030 UT on Jan 23, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6129.970, Lao National Radio Vientiane, S=9+35dB powerhouse, female presenter (-- as every day -- wb. ) endless speech, 0354 UT on Jan 24, like 8 kHz wide mx audio broadband, but spoken-microphone part only 6.4 kHz wideband. Followed my modern Hill people mx / singer (Wolfgang Büschel, Some logging of Eastern Thailand SDR remote post at 0330-0406 UT Jan 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. 6049.99, ELWA, gospel pop-like music from 2326. No sign of HCJB. 2336 live M announcer with happy new years greeting, possible mention of Liberia, “God bless you and Happy New Year to you”. More music. Closing announcement by same M with ”ELWA Radio” ID, then NA and off at 0002. 7 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 6049.991, Centered frequency, S=6-7 signal from probably ELWA Monrovia Liberia. Unstable in frequency 2-3 Hertz wandering around [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) c. 0600? ** LIBYA. 675.00, 2105-2115 22.1, Voice of Homeland, Benghazi, Arabic conversation between man and woman, mentioning Libya - no longer on 677 kHz, 22432 strong QRM from Saudi Arabia on 675 kHz (33433) (Anker Petersen, my latest loggings from Skovlunde, Denmark, on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, wbradio yg via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. Reception of WCB Madagascar World Voice World on Jan 18 1800-1900 9570 MWV 100 kW / 355 deg to EaEu Russian tx#1 KNLS, good 1900-2000 9495 MWV 100 kW / 355 deg to EaEu Russian tx#1 KNLS, good 1900-2000 11945 MWV 100 kW / 355 deg to N/ME Arabic tx#2 R. Feda poor Wrong announcement in Russian: one broadcast, instead of two broadcasts http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-wcb-madagascar-world-voice_19.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17640 1800-1900 36SE,37,38W,46,47W MWV 100 310 -15 218 Eng MDG MWV WCB 17640 WCB program from Madagascar heard today Jan 19: poor and tiny S=4 in remote SDR in Doha Qatar at 1809 UT. but S=9 or -73dBm across the Atlantic Ocean in Detroit Michigan mid USA. Four children on radioplay, ID and address in Zimbabwe given at 1810 UT. 2 x 4.9 kHz wide audio signal seen on the SDR screen in Detroit. I guess this bcast is very strong to be heard in target in West Africa, Central Africa, and Northwestern Africa at ITU zones 36SE,37,38W,46,47W. 9570 kHz WCB MDG in Russian noted as S=9+15dB signal in Doha Qatar when tuned-in at 1801-1805 UT on Jan 19. 10.1. kHz wide audio band visible on Perseus SDR screen. 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of WCB Madagascar World Voice World on Jan 18 1900-2000 9495 MWV 100 kW 355 deg to EaEUR Russian tx#1 KNLS, good 1900-2000 11945 MWV 100 kW 355 deg to NE/ME Arabic tx#2 R. Feda poor [as per Ivo ivanov] Checked the 355 degree outlets from 19 UT on Jan 19th onwards: 9495 kHz Russian service towards western Russia, central Europe, but Arabic 11945 kHz rather to North West and North Eastern Africa, Sahel zone, all Africa north of equator. 9495 kHz 1908 UT S=8 in Brisbane remote Australia unit. 1911 UT S=8-9 on eastern Thailand remote post close to Cambodian border. 1912 UT nothing heard in Delhi India, poor in Doha Qatar. 1913 UT S=9+10dB or -62dBm in Poland. S=9+20dB in Belgium, Madrid Spain, Greece, southern Italy and Genau Riviera Italy. S=5 in central Sweden. 11945 kHz Nothing heard in eastern Thailand nor in Brisbane Australia. S=7 fair in Warsaw Poland remote set. nil - nothing in middle Sweden. S=9+5dB or -65dBm signal in Belgium, S=9+10dB in Manchester England location. S=9+20dB in western coastline of Republic Ireland on Atlantic, same level also on Zakynthos Greece island. S=9+30dB proper signal closer to African northern coastline at Calabria/Sicily Italy and also northerly at Genua Riviera Italy remote SDR installation. 73 wolfie (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) 17640, Jan 21 at 1814, MWV English is on today, but only fair signal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of WCB Madagascar World Voice World Jan 22 1800-1900 on 9570 MWV 100 kW / 355 deg to EaEu Russian tx#1 KNLS 1900-2000 on 9495 MWV 100 kW / 355 deg to EaEu Russian tx#1 KNLS Again wrong announcement in Russian: one broadcast instead of two http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-wcb-madagascar-world-voice_22.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17640, African Pathways Radio (Mahajanga) 2030-2037+ 22 Jan. Fair signal with program preview for the next 1/2-hour ["Creation Moments: Could Leviathan be a dinosaur?", featured hymn: "Just As I Am"] and contact info: APR website or p-mail to 605 Bradley Ct., Franklin, TN 37067 (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA PL380/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 6050, Asyik/Salam FM (via RTM Kajang) 1444-1503* 19 Jan., 1453-1501* 20 Jan. After being off since before the new year, Asyik/Salam popped back up-poor signal overall, but the 1500 transition from Asyik to Salam is easy to understand [1+1 pips, TC, Salam FM jingle followed by Negara Ku]. Salam FM still pulling the plug mid-word during the program intro, however. 11665, Wai/Sarawak FM (via RTM-Kajang) 1533-1605+ 22 Jan. Also showing up again are these guys -- nice signal with Malay/English eclectic music mix (Sinatra, CCR, Hank Locklin) to 1558, then transition to Sarawak FM at TOH // 9835. First heard 21 Jan. at 1522+, but JBA, so no details (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL380/6m X wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050.027, Clear strong ID of "Asyik FM" at 0114 UT on Jan 20, nice music program selection from Malaysia, RTM Kajang bcast outlet, very powerful S=9+35dB, underneath tiny weak PBS Xizang Lhasa western China, on even 6050.0 kHz [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 0105 til 0123 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050.026, odd frequency. Clear strong "Asyik FM" at 1114 UT on Jan 20, nice music program selection from Malaysia, RTM Kajang outlet, very powerful S=9+35Db [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050.027, Clear strong female presenter on air of "Asyik FM" at 0031 UT on Jan 22, Malaysia, RTM Kajang outlet, very powerful S=9+30dB or - 46dBm, underneath tiny weak PBS Xizang Lhasa western China, on even 6050.0 kHz. Dull karaoke singer performance in Malay started at 0036. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 22, 2017 via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) 6050.026½, unstable 1-2 Hertz, RTM Kajang FM program, S=9+30dB. 0115 UT. 73 wolfie [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, 0050-0115 UT Jan 23 in eastern Thailand SDR installation, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050.026½, unstable 1-2 Hertz, RTM Kajang FM program S=9+25dB. 1023 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1010 til 1030 UT Jan 23, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050.026, RTM K-L Kajang site, FM relay noted at 0351 UT at S=9+10dB level (Wolfgang Büschel, Some logging of Eastern Thailand SDR remote post at 0330-0406 UT Jan 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6050, Asyik FM, via Kajang, 1452-1500, Jan 24. With the usual Tuesday "Bollywood" show of pop songs in Hindi. Had been off the air for a while. At 1500, the start of Salam FM, till 1502*, Jan 24. Time pips (1+1 and mixing with time pips of PBS Xizang [TIBET]); brief ID ("Salam FM"); choral NA (Negaraku – Lagu Kebangsaan Malaysia); Islamic programming in vernacular; suddenly off, leaving TIBET in the clear, with decent reception. BTW - Now all the SW Malaysian stations are active; 9835 Sarawak FM and also Wai FM on 11665. Has been a while since all three were broadcasting at the same time (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALI. 5995, R. Mali, Kati, 2230-..., 23/1, francês, texto; 55444, mas com um nível de modulação extremamente baixo. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 540, XEWA, Los 40 Principales, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí. 1133 January 22, 2017. "Don't Talk Anymore" by Charlie Puth & Selena Gómez, into other English language pops. Presumed site, or is it the lower power Monterrey? (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD- 535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 690, XEMA, La Mejor Zacatecas, Fresnillo, Zacatecas. 1200 January 22, 2017. Man with "La Mejor" slogan, anthem from 1202. XEN usually dominates here (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC- R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 770, UT Mon Jan 23 at 0438, ``desde todo el equipo de Luces de la Ciudad`` birthday greetings; on to actividades ``en el sector chino de nuestra ciudad`` for Chinese New Year imminent, also mentions Zona Rosa (which I suppose exist elsewhere than the DF), boletos disponibles. Typically this would be XEACH, Monterrey NL, with KKOB/KKOB easily nulled. This is during the local-content cutaway from `La Hora Nacional` aprovechado by many stations, but they seem to think ``nuestra ciudad`` is sufficient identification. There might be same programming on 570, 630, 900, 990, 1050, 1140, but no exact matches (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week --- It's been a relatively quiet week, but I feel it's worth pointing out that not only is XHAS on the verge of losing Telemundo, XETV is going to be stripped of The CW come this fall — with the network migrating to a subchannel of KFMB. This is sort of on the edge of my remit, but it's worth covering simply because this is the most change in one go San Diego television has had in a long time. The result is that two of the beacons of stability in Tijuana/San Diego television, the oldest continuously operating English-language TV station in Mexico and the last Telemundo affiliate on Mexican soil, face uncertain futures. XHAS: An Affiliation Stripping In 1990, XHAS, which had served as the XEW local outlet in Tijuana since coming to air in 1981, was bypassed in favor of the newly built XHUAA channel 57. Having already faced some strife with Televisa over its local programming (including a really PRI-critical newscast called Síntesis) and loss of local ad time, XHAS affiliated with Telemundo, making it the network's third Mexican affiliate on the border (after XHIJ and XHRIO, which signed in 1988). That affiliation's end is less about XHAS than it is about NBC. The network just built new studios for KNSD in Kearny Mesa. It has been aggressively investing in local television in this decade, including new Telemundo news operations in places like Philadelphia and Boston. It has expanded news at all of its O&Os, reversing the cuts and centralization made to Telemundo news in the late 2000s and more. (Their newscasts, at least here in Phoenix, are more modern than Univision's competing offerings and a far cry from where they were in 2010 or 2011 when local news production was just being restored.) A new "Telemundo San Diego", in all likelihood on KNSD's second digital signal, brings the operation in-house at nice, new facilities and allows for increased synergy with KNSD. In a way, this maneuver is akin to NBC Boston's creation. It is the network attempting to take control of its own property in a desirable market within the context of the aggressive investment into NBCU's local television stations. XHAS is currently operated by Entravision Communications. Entravision holds very long-term contracts for the operation of XHDTV, XHAS and XHRIO — into 2030, 2035 and 2038, respectively. Entravision, however, is not a Telemundo operator anywhere else. It is minority owned by Univision and has served the purpose of complementing Univision's owned-and-operated station portfolio, including the Univision station in San Diego (KBNT-CD), with a deal running through 2021. There are not that many Hispanic programming sources available to XHAS. Notably, Estrella TV owns its station in the market. XETV: Where To Now? XETV also faces a dilemma. In the last ten years, the station has had the rug pulled out from under on two separate occasions. In 2008, Fox opted to pull its affiliation and hand it to KSWB, taking XETV by surprise. (They would later cite concerns about cross-border authorization as an explanatory factor.) XETV then became a CW affiliate and in January 2016 even rebranded itself as "CW 6". With no affiliations to seek and declining ratings for its news output, a larger change could be coming. Some of the speculation flips XETV to Spanish, potentially as an independent, or even a Univision outlet. In this latter scenario, the recent permission given to Televisa to increase its equity stake in Univision comes into play. Univision would, however, need to break a contract that runs through 2021 in order to do this. (It could conceivably happen that Univision winds up on XHAS, simply because doing so does not require a different owner.) It's also worth noting that Bay City Television, the American-side business that handles XETV's news, commercial production and sales, is one of the few units of Televisa whose costs are dollarized. If you haven't seen the peso lately, it's been at all-time lows against the dollar because of one Donald J. Trump. https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/USDMXN:CUR An independent is kind of an oddity since Televisa already has one in Tijuana, XEWT, which is everything you expect from a Televisa Regional outlet: local and state newscasts, a few time-filler archive shows from Televisa's many hours of programming, and local lifestyle and sports shows, plus the odd Liga MX fixture. (Notably, their late news airs in the 10pm hour, later than on most local stations in Mexico.) In part, this juncture for XETV owes itself to the glut of news operations in San Diego. When XETV came on the market with news at the end of 1999, San Diego already had full news departments at KFMB, KGTV, KNSD, and independent KUSI. In 2008, KSWB's affiliation with Fox led it to launch a full news department. SD now has six in English alone when markets are generally able to support fewer news operations than they had ten or twenty years ago. A conversion to Spanish, particularly if the accompanying news operation more aggressively targets the SD side of the market, would face only two competitors (the new Telemundo San Diego and whatever Entravision continues). XETV over the years has had to constantly reinvent itself, depending on the networks it was able to broadcast and the decisions it had no control over. It lost ABC, Fox and now The CW primarily because of its Mexican status and also because XETV has no scale to American station group operators. The ABC loss came because a struggling San Diego UHF yelled at the FCC for not living up to its word of supporting UHF development and ensuring an American U had priority over a Mexican V. That UHF station was KCST, today's KNSD. The Fox loss came because the network realized its relationship with Tribune mattered more than that with Televisa, whose other two Fox affiliates had already disappeared in 2002. The CW loss has come because of...who knows, especially given that KFMB is not part of a station group. What is clear is that XETV in its current state is not lasting much longer (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, Jan 23, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) The 19th was the first day in a short window (through the end of the month [January 2017]) for stations in second-wave migration areas to put in their applications showing interest in migrating. And, of course, Radio Educación's already on the case. https://twitter.com/RadioEducacion/status/823711907446013952 As a reminder, the preference order for second-wave migration goes like this: 1. Stations that are part of the Federal Executive, including Radio Educación (I call this "federal preference" and it also exists in TV. Ask the Universidad de Occidente.) 2. Concessionaires that hold no FM stations in the coverage area 3. If there are still available frequencies, stations with fewer FMs in the coverage area, with only one migrant per economic interest group (GIE) Here's what that might look like in each coverage area: Central Guanajuato (1) - There are some AMs left in Salamanca and Rancho Godoy. One, however, is independent and likely to be deemed the station to migrate: XEZH-AM 1240. Guadalajara Metro (8) - GDL has 26 AM stations fighting for eight spots. Notable independents and non-AM holders include XEGDL 730, ABC Radio (2 AMs) and Radio Fórmula (3 AMs). With just one FM, Grupo ACIR is next in line with its station, XEMIA. That accounts for four, so the other four spots will be given to these FM groups with two stations apiece: MegaRadio (2 FMs - XHRA, XHLS) Grupo Radio Centro (2 FMs - XHDK, XHVOZ) Promomedios (2 FMs - XHBIO, XHGEO. XHMBM might not count in this analysis.) Televisa Radio (2 FMs - XEHL-FM, XEBA-FM) Radiorama plays itself out of this picture as it has three FMs. Mexico City Metro (2) - Radio Educación, by federal preference; one commercial AM, probably from ABC Radio, Radiorama, Radio S.A., Grupo Radio Digital/XEOC, Capital Media, Cadena RASA, or even ZER or the Universidad Anáhuac. It is worth noting that if stations tie in such a manner, a drawing is held to pick the migrant. [blue emphasis, as corrected:] The Universidad Autónoma Chapingo has the potential to displace any commercial migration here too, should it seek to migrate its station, but not letting any commercial stations through to FM would be a *very* bad look for the IFT. Toluca Metro (2) - Toluca has three commercial AMs. Capital Media owns XECH 1040 and XEXI 1400. Radiorama operates XEQY 1200. Neither have FMs in Toluca. Puebla Metro (5) - Radiorama's XEZAR 920 and ABC Radio's XEEG 1280 are shoe-ins as neither owns FMs in Puebla. XEPA is sort of independent and could also migrate. Simply because of the amount of available stations, Grupo Oro, Grupo ACIR and maybe Cincoradio are likely to get one FM each. Mexicali (1) - This one might come down to Radio Fórmula XERM versus ABC Radio's XEABCA or XEMMM. XEAA could be in the running given GRC has shed XHMUG. Most of the rest are owned by one of the two Radiorama affiliates or MVS. Monterrey Metro (4) - There are many contenders in this one. Radio Fórmula has no FMs here, so it is likely to get one of the four frequencies. Grupo ACIR hasn't had an FM here in a long while, so their XEOK is also likely to move. [blue emphasis, as corrected:] The same applies for XEWA/Monterrey, owned by Televisa Radio. The last frequency will be interesting to see as most of the other AMs in Mty are owned by a handful of groups with a bunch of FM. Nogales (6) - There are 5 AMs. They're all going to migrate. There's even an extra frequency! San Luis Río Colorado (2) - The OIR group has a monopoly on the AM stations in this town, so they will likely pick two and migrate those. This cluster includes XEEH 1520, XECB 1460, XELBL 1350 and XEMW 1260. XEMW and XEEH are the weaker stations, while XELBL and XEEH are both daytimers. Ciudad Camargo, Tamps. (2) - Another case in which there is an extra frequency. The only AM here is XEZD. Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamps. (4) - There are *two* extra frequencies here! XEWD 1430 and XEHI 1470 are both shoe-ins to migrate. Matamoros incl. Guadalupe, Tamps. (1) - For one frequency, XEO, XEAM and XEMT are all in the mix for this one allotment. The "Guadalupe" station is XEMT. Reynosa (2) - XERI, XERKS and XERT are the Reynosa stations that can benefit from this migration. XERKS and XERT are part of Radiorama. XERI is owned by Antonio Gallegos González. Given the common ownership of the Radiorama stations, only one will be allowed to migrate alongside XERI. Río Bravo (1) - Separation of RB from Reynosa may benefit Grupo Gape, which owns XEFD, XEOQ and XEOR. The competitor is Ernesto Montemayor Ibarra's XEGH, which recently began carrying a simulcast of XHCAO-FM and may have played itself out of migration. (Corrections thanks to RadarDX) [blue emphasis in two places above] Last edited by Raymie; 01-24-2017 at 02:25 PM (Raymie, Jan 23, ibid.) Also to be considered: Guadalajara Metro - Doubt: Is XELT owned by Televisa Radio?. Mexico City Metro - Grupo Radio Digital. Also why not: XENET, XETUL or XEUACH. Monterrey Metro - Televisa Radio. Doubt: Is XECT operated by NRM Comunicaciones? (Radar, DF, ibid.) You're right on XECT which bumps them down the chain as there are multiple FMs. I'd forgotten about XEOC and XEWA/Monterrey. As to the stations you mention... I'm not sure if federal preference spreads to the states. I'm also believing that failing to migrate any commercial stations would not look good in the nation's capital. And who knows if XENET's concession was renewed. The Universidad Autónoma Chapingo does appear to be federal, however, and depending on its structure could usurp a frequency. They did once attempt to get a TV station in the late 2000s, too. XELT is a strange case. The concession is still held by Televisa Radio and the 2011 renewal was signed for by Alberto Sáenz Azcárraga. I assumed it to be Televisa Radio in this case (Raymie, Jan 24, ibid.) Also missing include: Mexico City Metro - Cadena RASA and Capital Media. Toluca Metro - With few possibilities to XEGEM 1600. It seems to me that the federal does not apply to states, in the case of institutions dependent on states. Last edited by RadarDX; 01-24- 2017 at 01:45 PM. (RadarDX, DF, ibid.) I didn't think so on the states question. The thing is that the SEP created the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. However, migrating Radio Educación and Radio Chapingo leaves no room for commercial stations. They'd be attacked in the national press for not letting through a commercial station in the nation's capital (Raymie, Jan 24, ibid.) ** MONGOLIA. 7469.877, RFA Tibetan via MR relay at Ulanbataar, 11-12 UT, at 1121 UT S=9+15dB strength from the northern RFA relay. Rather weak CNR1 jamming on even 7470.0 kHz [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. Back on, Medi Un, 9575, R. Mediterranee Int. Jan 21 0618- 0724, 25221-45433, Arabic and French, News and talk and music, ID at 0710 and 0712 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, RX, IC-R75, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9575, Jan 23 at 2001, Radio Medi 1, Nador, in Arabic. Man announcer talks; 2004 A song; 2010 Man and woman talks. Medi 1 continues with transmitter problem, presumably. Today, presents a good signal, but a very poor modulation, 45442 (sometimes, 45441). (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier (JRX), Cabedelo-PB, Brazil, Tecsun S-2000, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) Radio Medi 1 was back again on shortwave on Jan 23: 0000-2400 on 9575 NAD 250 kW / 110 deg to NoAf Arabic/French http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-medi-1-was-back-again-on.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. CHINA vs INDIA vs MOROCCO, CNR-1 Jamming vs AIR vs Radio Medi 1 on Jan 24 1200-1330 9575 NAD 250 kW / 110 deg to NoAf Arabic/French Radio Medi 1 1200-1330 9575 unknown tx / unknown to CeAs Chinese China Nat. Radio 1 1215-1330 9575 BGL 500 kW / 038 deg to CeAs Tibetan All India Radio http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/cnr-1-jamming-vs-air-vs-radio-medi-1-on.html MOROCCO vs JAPAN, Radio Medi 1 vs Radio Japan NHK World on Jan 24 1530-1600 9575 NAD 250 kW / 110 deg to NoAf Arabic/French Radio Medi 1 1530-1600 9575 YAM 300 kW / 290 deg to EaAs Chinese R.Japan NHK World http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-medi-1-vs-radio-japan-nhk-world.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9575, Radio Médi Un at 2127 in French, male DJ playing pop music and doing lots of talk over music. - Good, Jan. 24 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, British Columbia. CommRadio CR-1a and 50 ft wire connected to Sony AN-1 active antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. Log MRMS from Myanmar-Burma in 31 and 41 mb - NIL at this hour. 6164.993, Thazin Radio, from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar. MRMS program at 0107 UT on Jan 20, S=9+20db or -51dBm. 6029.995, Thazin Radio from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar. MRMS program at 0118 UT on Jan 20, S=9+35dB or -41dBm strength 5985.100 ! ! ! real exact on this odd like keyboard glitch frequency, noted at 0121 UT Jan 20. 7 kHz wide signal from probably Yegu / Yangoon bc site. S=9+30dB or -47dBm strong and powerful. Fluttery. Distance to your remote SDR location is the closest! 5914.990, MR from new capital site at Naypyidaw, in Burmese at 0123 UT on Jan 20, S=9+20db or -53dBm signal [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 0105 til 0123 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6164.993, Thazin Radio, from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar. MRMS program at 1103 UT on Jan 20, S=9+35db. Nothing noted on Yegu 5985 kHz channel, totally empty channel 1115 UT. 5914.990, MMR MR from new capital site at Naypyidaw, in Burmese at 1119 UT on Jan 20, S=9+35dB powerhouse at this time slot 9729.996, too high for Yegu MMR to eastern Thailand post path, only weak tiny S=6 signal in skip zone at 1128 UT on Jan 20. But much stronger S=9 on remote Delhi India SDR post. 7200v, nothing observed here of former MR Yegu / Yangoon channel, totally covered by TWN Chinese and CNR1 jamming too. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Wolfie, Could it be that Myanmar's exact frequency transmitter (5985.00) is having problems now, as you noted them off the air on Jan 20? Could they have reactivated the old mothballed off frequency transmitter, to fill in while they repair the 5985.00 transmitter? Just speculating! Jan 21, heard on about 5985.15, at 1441, in vernacular with on air phone chat; seemed not nearly as strong as the exact frequency transmitter; by 1541, very weak signal. Needs more monitoring to determine what is happening here. Thanks, Wolfie, for your alert that something different was going on! (Ron Howard, California, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MYANMAR/CHINA/MALAYSIA Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 2350 Jan 21 till 0045 UT on Jan 22: Noted on MMR Yegu 5985.100 (!) exact kHz channel again, from probably former capital Yangoon bc site [WORLD OF RADIO 1862] 5985.100, and 6029.994 kHz both Myanmar Radio channels are the most powerful this Jan 21 / 22 night: S=9+35dB or -38dBm, 8 kHz wideband audio signals. 6029.994, via Thazin Radio from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar. TX break 0027 til 0028 UT on Jan 22, main power problem? Also heard 5914.990 kHz at 2358 UT on Jan 21, S=9+25dB signal, via MR from new capital site at Naypyidaw, in Burmese. But I don't know what happened, main power problem, irregular breaks noted, transmitter was still OFF air, when checked at 0013 UT and 0026 UT. 6164.994, MR S=9+30dB or -46dBm, around 0015 UT on Jan 22. Thazin Radio from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar. Latter QRM by even 6165.0 kHz CNR6 Amoy program from Beijing capital site. Nothing noted from Myanmar Radio on 7200v, nor 9 MHz channels at this hour. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (wb df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 22, 2017) (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DXLD) 5914.989 S=9+20dB 5984.999½ S=9+20dB - not plus 100 Hertz anymore! 6029.993½ S=9+35dB 6164.992½ S=9+20dB [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, 0050-0115 UT Jan 23 in eastern Thailand SDR installation, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 23, 2017, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1010 til 1030 UT on Jan 23: 5914.990, S=9+25dB, MR from new capital site at Naypyidaw, in some vernacular? language. 1036 UT on Jan 23. co-ch 5915.0 weak tiny signal underneath CRI Russian language from Huhhot in northeastern China heard. Nothing noted on Yegu Yangoon 5985 kHz channel, totally empty channel at 1020 UT hour. Also 6030 from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar totally empty at this hour, but co-ch CNR1 Chinese program heard. 6164.993½, Thazin Radio from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar, powerful, S=9+35dB, like Karaoko amateurish local singer. 1040 UT. 7344.992½, Probably Thazin Radio in some Burmese/Golden Triangle vernacular, noted at S=9+35dB powerful level, at 1017 UT on Jan 23, underneath but co-ch CNR1 Beijing program heard. Much stronger than 31 mb noon signal. Probably til 1125 ... 1130 UT? 9460, only CRI Chinese Nanning powerful signal noted at 1015 UT. 9729.996, Yegu Yangoon heard at 1011 UT, rather lower fair S=9 to S=9+5dB, due of 31 mb noon skip zone in mid winter [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1010 til 1030 UT on Jan 23, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception of Myanmar Radio in English on 5985 kHz, Jan 23: 1530-1700 on 5985 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs English, fair signal http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-myanmar-radio-in-english.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Some logging of Eastern Thailand SDR remote post at 0330-0406 Jan 24: 9729.999, Myanmar R Yegu Yangoon, S=9 at 0335 UT. Burmese pop music, female smooth voice singer in 70ties era style. Nothing noted on empty channel 9590 MMR at 0340 UT. 9459.990½, Thazin Radio in Burmese from Pyin Oo Lwin site in northern Myanmar, scheduled 0330-0700 UT, noted at 0344 UT on Jan 24, S=9+20dB or -52dBm signal strength. Modern guitar pop music program, 10.8 kHz wide audio transmission range. 5914.989, Myanmar Radio from new capital site at Naypyidaw, in some Vernacular? language. 0404 UT on Jan 24. Scheduled 0230-09 UT. S=9+5dB in peaks, fluttery noon condition propagation (Wolfgang Büschel, Some logging of Eastern Thailand SDR remote post at 0330-0406 UT Jan 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR [non]. 11795, Jan 23 at 1408, S9 tonal language conversation, and some squeal on the modulation. It`s RFA Burmese, 1230-1430, 250 kW, 280 degrees via TINIAN per HFCC, no longer Iranawila, Sri Lanka, as in Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAMIBIA. 7156-LSB, Jan 23 at 0449, V51B, Andre, working K0OL in English. QRZ.com lookup has lots of photos of his antennas, mostly quads, and says SWL reports are welcome for QSL: ``Andre Pretorius V51B, P.O. Box 626, Oranjemund, NAMIBIA, Africa``. O, that Namibia, the one in Africa. I suppose he`s an Afrikaaner with that Latinate name (Glenn Hauser, OK, the one in North America, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. 11725, UT Sunday Jan 22 at 0655, RNZI is wrapping up TED talks. It`s SHAMEFUL that not a single US SW station, private or public, is willing to broadcast such excellent programming as available on public radio in the US. We have to get it from NZ!!!! Is it every Sunday at 0605 UT? Check the RNZI program schedule, click on Sunday and this is the link with correct date: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/schedules/international.20170122 Trouble is, the page stays on the current day`s sked, which is Tuesday! So we have to go to RNZ National for correct daily info including for Sunday night NZDT: 7:05 PM. The TED Radio Hour A crafted hour of ideas worth sharing presented by Guy Raz (NPR) http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ted 0655 UT, RNZI announcer mentions 7.9 earthquake in Bougainville, music fill until news at 0700. Usual VG signal. 0705 mentions possibility of tsunami in PNG, Solomons. 0706 on to next show, one of my favourites, but it starts too late for CST zone: 8:06 PM. Sunday Night with Grant Walker [until 0900 UT] An evening of music and nostalgia (RNZ) [song requests back to 1940s] http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday-night 11725 now, and normally, has the best signal on 25m after 0600, often even better than 11780 Brasil. Australia is essentially useless on too-high 15 and 17 MHz frequencies (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. 539.834, Radio Corporación, Managua. 1118 January 22, 2017. Good in passing with Spanish sermon on a Sunday morning (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7254.94, V. of Nigeria. 0758 usual drum IS, then W announcer in English with ID, gave her name, program rundown, then ID "You're listening to the English service of Voice of Nigeria...", and M with program intro giving website at 0800. Fair signal. 12 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 7254.922, V of Nigeria, crystal clear signal of their Hausa service at 0629 UT on Jan 19. S=9+10dB -62dBm signal in southern Germany. At 0629 UT short talk of Gambian 'two' presidents matter. ID at 0630 UT by male presenter. Flute interval signal and W African drums before a lady announcer took over. 9 kHz wide broadband audio this morning, interview of a pupil and woman around 0633 UT [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Radio Dandal Kura International via BaBcoCk, Jan 19 0500-0700 on 7415 ASC 250 kW / 055 deg to WeAf Kanuri, weak signal 0700-0800 on 15480 WOF 200 kW / 165 deg to WeAf Kanuri, very strong http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/radio-dandal-kura-international-via.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. UNIDENTIFIED. 7320, at 2042, male DJ playing oldies, including Connie Stevens and Mac Davis, ID sounded like “BRX Radio”. - Fair, and very poor at 2054 check, Jan. 19 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, BC, CommRadio CR-1a, 50 ft wire connected to Sony AN-1 active antenna. Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at the Ontario DX Association Facebook and Yahoo groups, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. Relay Station 5150. Friday, January 20, 2017, 1833- 2200, 5150 am. With pop/rock music mix and very good sound. Occasionally, various digi sounds and other sound bytes such as from the Lincolnshire Poacher, are heard in between the music, but mostly mash-ups of rock songs. Nice s7/s9 AM signal. Off at 2200. (Will-MD) Unid. Friday, January 20, 2017, 2244, 5150 am. Rock and psych music. Schlitz Beer commercial at 2252. Monkees "Circle Sky" at 2313. This doesn't appear to be the same transmitter as the "relay station" logged earlier. Fair to good, s5/s7. (Will-MD) XLR8. Friday, January 20, 2017, 2312, 6930 usb. Rock/punk music, fair signal, s5 (Larry Will, Mount Airy, Maryland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6930-USB, Jan 20 at 2246, S8 pirate music, vamping two notes alternating with a lot of percussion, then more melody. By 2256 much louder now hitting S9; 2301 insert ID ``X-L-R-8``, more music. Larry Will in Maryland was also hearing this at 2312, S5 rock/punk music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6940-USB, Jan 22 at 0127, soul music at S9+25 (which is louder and stronger than the ``Mighty`` KBC via Germany on 6145), must be Wolverine Radio. Yes, 0133 echoing ID as such, and into SSTV for 3 or 4 minutes, after which at 0137 frequency change announcement repeated, to ``4020, let people know on chat groups, see you there in a couple of minutes``, and off 6940. 4020-USB, Jan 22 from *0140, Wolverine Radio just moved from 6940; about same S9+25 level, but more storm noise down here, so no improvement for us (nearest lightning storms are in SW and S Arkansas/N Louisiana). ID comes after a bit of music first, then some big band music. One song had mentioned pants; was that the theme tonight? 0146 ID, ``Baby, It`s Cold Outside``, another ID at 0155, and still going past 0210+. Fortunately there is no MARS net on 4018, but one on 4041, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. New 5790.0-AM, (ex: 5792.0), Station YHWH, 0208+, Jan 19. Definitely him, but unreadable at my location on the west coast, while Dave Valko on the east coast had much better reception and seemed to hear something like "You're listening to station YHWH"; definitely something new, as in the past the station was heard by me suppressing all their IDs (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 5790, PIRATE (NA) (religious) YHWH. At 0303 got an ID sounding like "You're listening to station YHWH", then a mention of "...e-mail address ??WH...". Religious talk with many mentions of Yaweh. Unfortunately there was some noise just on the upper side and I had the tuner bypassed. Good on peaks. 19 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 7405, Religious pirate [ex-R/S YHWH] 0214-0236+ 21 Jan. Usual anti- organized religion monolog. Fair signal but random deep fades which might be transmitter glitches or Satan messing with the propagation (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA, PL380/6m X wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7405-AM, Jan 22 at 0150, [Station YHWH] is already on with usual stuff, citing Jeremiah XXII:5, S6-S7 and partially readable past 0210. 7405 was one of the first frequencies I discovered upon his 2015 reactivation, Dec 2 at 0447 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7405.0-AM, Station YHWH, 0323 & 0346, Jan 24. As Glenn as already reported, this religious pirate was up here this night, but for me unreadable; by 0402 off the air. This would be an early closing down for him, so did he change frequency? I did not find him again. Jan 23, was on 5790.0-AM, at 0215; weak, but slowly improving (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7405, Jan 24 at 0224, here`s Martin K. Elliott with his Yahweh screeds, S7 with ACI from 7410 Romania, so LSB tuning is better. Still on at 0301. I suppose depending on MUF he uses this rather than 5792/5790. Someone recently heard him ID again as ``Station YHWH``, so no longer need to put that in brackets. BTW, Mon Jan 23 at 2200, I noticed WBCQ, 7490, talking about ``Yawah`` rather than ``Yahweh``, but it`s still YHWH, i.e. the `Remnant Ministry` program sponsored by `Financial Survival`, following its own hour on same (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. EDITORIAL: LONGTIME JOURNALIST FROSTY TROY WAS AN OKLAHOMA ORIGINAL --- Enid News & Eagle Editorial Board 7 hrs ago http://www.enidnews.com/opinion/editorial-longtime-journalist-frosty-troy-was-an-oklahoma-original/article_4a3341ed-5264-54b3-8e6b-7edecf971cc0.html Gov. Mary Fallin issued a poignant statement Thursday on the passing of a true Oklahoma original. Although she is a Republican, Gov. Fallin acknowledged the death of a man considered a liberal, yellow dog Democrat. Frosty Troy was a diligent journalist with decades of experience reporting on our state’s elected officials. The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame inductee covered the state Legislature for a half- century, which included the administrations of 10 governors. Troy, who died Thursday at age 83 after an extended illness, influenced generations of budding journalists. He would often talk about holding public officials accountable and stressed treating them fairly but at arm’s length. KOSU reporter Michael Cross told NonDoc that Troy was nonpartisan when dispensing praise and criticism. “That goes back to the old school of journalism,” Cross told the media website. “I think, right now, there’s too much of a fear that you can’t hold the politicians to task because for some reason they’re above everybody else. Frosty was never that way. He was a strong believer in the First Amendment and the power of the press to hold all elected officials accountable for their words and their actions.” Troy published the Observer for decades before the digital age and the advent of social media. An Observer obituary described its founding editor as a “diminutive firebrand.” The Korean War veteran wrote for the McAlester News Capital, The Lawton Constitution, the Muskogee Phoenix and the now-defunct Tulsa Tribune. Troy was best known for his staunch support of public education. “Every autumn the most beautiful thing happens in America,” Troy once wrote. “The school doors open and there’s a teacher in front saying, ‘Come on in. We don’t care who you are or what side of town you came from or who your mommy and daddy are. You do your best and we’ll do our best.’” The monthly Observer began publishing Oct. 17, 1969, with Frosty and Helen Troy at the helm for nearly four decades. In 2016, veteran journalist Arnold Hamilton and his wife Beverly bought the award- winning publication. Troy’s last Observer column was printed in 2013. “Nationally, he was revered for his Okie eloquence — one of the state’s most sought-after public speakers since Will Rogers, booked by diverse groups ranging from educators and social workers to union laborers and Chambers of Commerce,” according to the Observer. David Blatt, director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute think tank, described Frosty as a “a fierce advocate for ordinary Oklahomans and a tireless (if often blustery) denouncer of political hypocrisy and corporate irresponsibility.” Robin Maxey, communications director of the president’s office at the Oregon state Senate, said Troy was remarkably upbeat for an Oklahoma progressive. “It was Frosty who would signal to the governor and all of us that a press conference was over by simply saying ‘thank you, governor,’ on behalf of the press corps,” wrote Maxey, a former Capitol Bureau reporter for this publication. “You were an Oklahoma original and will remain an icon in my eyes.” R.I.P., Frosty (Enid News & Eagle Jan 23 via DXLD) Radio angle: Frosty used to do a point-counterpoint commentary with some conservative, Neva Hill, on KOSU. She`s still on, vs a person from the ACLU, standard disclaimers. I am a proud longtime subscriber to The Oklahoma Observer (on paper) which in recent years has been pushing its online version. The Observer makes it almost bearable to reside in Oklahoma. See http://www.okobserver.net A 9+ minute video interview with Frosty: https://player.vimeo.com/video/68265513?autoplay=1 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. To Manager of OETA: I cannot ignore what has happened this month, just so you know that some viewers care --- Has there been another overall budget cut? We miss among others: Texas Parks & Wildlife, Daytripper, Tracks Ahead - Tho Tracks was full of repeats --- is another season upcoming later? The TX shows were so fully ``sponsored``, it`s hard to believe OETA had to pay for them? NHK World News! We never missed this, despite it being delayed 7 hours. I guess they have removed OKC from their weather maps. Glad that BBC is usually available live at 4 pm, and another chance at 5. Moving prime-time repeats to afternoons on OKLA instead of mornings is better for us, but now the stuff on OKLA mornings is pretty much disposable. We also watched most of the 10 pm-midnite Sunday evening shows on OKLA, and lamented when various were previously removed. Now they are all gone. Evidently you are filling time with more and more repeats of OETA produxions, which is understandable, except when we remember how much else is available out there from other stations. The fillers at breaks concerning parking meters, space pioneers, etc., etc., drive us nuts and dashing for the mute button, not because they are bad, but because they have been run into the ground long ago. If anyone at OETA actually watched the output continuously, surely they would feel the same. PLEASE, just play some music or even dead air for a minute would be a great improvement. With the exception of Sherlock, and Doc Martin (if ever we get to new episodes), we are not interested in Downton and all the other British dramas, occupying so much airtime. Online schedule: some OETA-only productions lack any content info, like interview shows with people we have never heard of. Even if we have the name, we still don`t know what they are about. PBS shows, Charlie Rose and Tavis Smiley never have any guest info either, just generic blah blah. Such info would be a big help in planning viewing, as not every guest/topic is of interest. Best wishes, Glenn Hauser, Enid (to OETA Interim Manager Mark Norman, via DXLD) ** PERU. 4775. R. TARMA. Enero 22. 0020-0030 UT. Hombre da avisos de la ciudad de Tarma y luego un espacio de huaynos serranos. SINPO: 44343 con leve QRM de otra emisora en la misma frecuencia (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 70 metros de largo, QTH: Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) = R. Congonhas, Brasil ** PERU. 5025. R. QUILLABAMBA. Enero 22. 0030-0040 UT. Un programa con saludos, llamados telefónicos y solicitud de canciones de ritmo tropical. SINPO: 54555 con algo de sobremodulación (Claudio Galaz Toledo, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 70 metros de largo, QTH: Barraza Bajo, Comuna de Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 5980, Jan 20 at 0105, R. Chaski, JBA carrier until cutoff at 0105:39.5*, which is 14 seconds later that last check two nights ago, Jan 18 until 0105:25.5*, now averaging 7.0 seconds later per (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980, R. Chaski, Cuzco, 2221-2229, 23/1, castelhano, texto, música; 23431, QRM adjacente. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5980. R. CHASKI. Enero 24. 2339-2349 UTC. SINPO: 42432 con mixtura de heterodinos muy fuertes que no permiten identificar la emisora. [Is date on following correct, since it follows above item? -- gh] 5980. R. CHASKI. Enero 24. 0020-0031 UT. Música instrumental, luego avisos de la emisora como: “Red Radio Integridad” e informaciones sobre recursos bíblicos y libros disponibles en la oficina en Lima y de actividades de Iglesias Bautistas de la zona. Luego himnos corales hasta las 0031 cuando comienza el Programa: “El amor que vale”. SINPO: 43433 con marcado heterodino. También se monitorea 6010, 6025 y 6050, todas las emisiones tienen heterodinos o las emisoras chinas están presentes con mejor señal (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL-660, ANT: Hilo de 40 metros de largo, QTH: Ovalle, IV Región, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 11570, Jan 25 at 1352, Korean talk, ``until next time, goodbye``, and into country music. I bet it`s VOA after a language lesson, so on that hunch I check 9800 and find them //. Both are 21 degrees from Tinang, i.e. aimed right on toward North America beyond (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 9455, Jan 20 at 2255, ``Jesus Saves`` IS and unID language announcements alternating, poor S6 on an abandoned WRMI frequency, so this is FEBC, 100 kW, 280 degrees from Bocaue, 2300-2330 in Iu Mien per Aoki. Time to learn about another tongue only the missionaries care about broadcasting: per EiBi readme.txt, spoken by 400 kilopersons each in Vietnam and S China, a.k.a. merely Mien, abbr`d MIE or [ium] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES [non]. UNIDENTIFIED. 11630, Jan 24 at 1442, talk in SW or S Asian language, VG at S9+10/20. Something new, as not noticed here before. Radio Kuwait has been completely silent on SW for a couple years, but was recently reported to be getting its transmitters refurbished. And has continued to make imaginary HFCC registrations including this: ``11630 1015 1600 47,48,52 KBD 250 230 12 207 1234567 301016 260317 D 11635 Ara KWT RKW MOI 3022`` (11635 is a data entry number, not a frequency reference). Ivo Ivanov also dredged up the A-15 Kuwaiti schedule which included: ``1015-1600 11630 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg CeAf Arabic Holy Qur'an Sce`` Perhaps this led Mark Coady, ODXA to log this as Radio Kuwait, without an ID: ``11630 KUWAIT Radio Kuwait at 1439 in Arabic with a man interviewing a woman then a music bridge at 1441 and back to the interview with mentions of "Iraq" and "Iraqi" – Fair Jan 22 Coady-ON`` I`m not so sure yet that it`s really R. Kuwait on 11630, and it certainly did not sound like Arabic to me, and even more certainly, not Qur`an. If it is back here, many of its other frequencies may also have resumed. The only other station listed on 11630 anywhen is CNR17 in Kazakh, but not at this hour. 11630, Jan 25, I am checking earlier for yesterday`s unID after 1430. Nothing from before 1400 until *1428:28 S9 carrier; 1430 familiar IS, theme, and clear ID as Radio Veritas Asia, mentions Pakistan, times and frequencies, and pronounced in English www.rveritas-asia.org --- so it`s RVA Urdu service on new frequency, ex-15330 where it used to be well-heard too, even tho it`s via VATICAN, relayed eastward back to Pakistan rather than direct from Palauig. Just another example of Santa Maria di Galeria`s capability to radiate very well in wrong direxions. 1458 recheck, it`s already off, probably a minute earlier as scheduled. I check the website, go to Urdu sexion, and do they have the new frequency in their program guide? Of course not! http://www.rveritas-asia.org/urdu-program-guide RVA subtitles itself as ``Voice of Asian Christianity``, which is rather cheeky, considering that it`s only the voice of a sub-sect, Roman Catholicism. BTW, what do they think of murderer Duterte? So 11630 now is NOT KUWAIT, reactivated yet, as some might think (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequency change of Radio Veritas Asia, Jan 25: 1430-1457 NF 11630 SMG 250 kW / 089 deg to SoAs Urdu, ex 15330 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/frequency-change-of-radio-veritas-asia.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Another programme on RRI that I particularly enjoy is the always interesting History Show. On Monday 19 December, the topic was the “1989 Romanian Revolution and the Revival of Democracy”. This was a thoughtful look at the events in Eastern Europe in 1989. Here are a few extracts: “Around the mid-19th century, the word 'revolution' started to refer mainly to an overthrow of old ideas and practices, a renewal of society overall. Politics underwent a sea change, both in terms of political ideas, and in terms of promoting change, as often as possible. Revolution was believed to be the engine of history [….] “Historians and political scientists saw the 1989 revolutions in Central Europe, which came as a natural effect of the dramatic drop in living standards, as a return to democracy. The revolutions in 1989 are no longer seen as founding events for social upheaval, but for building democracy. In 1989, the understanding of the word revolution went back to the original meaning, that of 'revolving' back to a starting point, a significance given to it by the Glorious Revolution in England in 1688. The 1989 revolutions are glorious revolutions because they put an end to tyranny and returned dignity to political man. “Political scientist Ioan Stanomir believes that the date of 22 December 1989 has all the features of a founding moment, or, in this case, as he puts it, a re-founding moment: ‘[….] 22 December is similar to Janus, an event with two faces. On the one hand, it is the process of celebrating freedom; on the other it is the moment when the drama of the terrorists begins. Were it not for the terrorists and the deaths that occurred in conditions very hard to clarify to this day, 22 December would most likely have had a different future. Let us not forget that there is a cemetery of the Heroes of the Revolution, and that the people buried there are there mostly as a result of the action of the mysterious terrorists after 22 December 1989.’ The last two sentences in the script as published in the web version didn’t make it to the on-air reading, but are certainly of particular note: “The passing of time makes people get used to certain living standards and freedom is now seen as an essential right. Nevertheless, history reminds people the fact that things have not always been like that […]”. As always, the History Show was a fascinating programme and is highly recommended. It is included in both the hour-long and thirty minute transmissions on Mondays. Until next month – good listening (Alan Roe, Listening Post, Jan BDXC- UK Communication via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RT’S PROPAGANDA IS FAR LESS INFLUENTIAL THAN WESTERNERS FEAR --- The Kremlin-backed network inflates its viewership with YouTube disaster videos --- Jan 21st 2017 http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21715031-kremlin-backed-network-inflates-its-viewership-youtube-disaster-videos-rts-propaganda PRODUCERS at RT, the Kremlin-financed media weapon formerly known as “Russia Today”, must have been glowing. More than half of the report on Russian electoral interference which America’s intelligence agencies released on January 6th was devoted to warning of the network’s growing influence. The report noted the “rapid expansion” of RT’s operations and budget — now $300m a year — and cited impressive audience numbers listed on the RT website. The channel, whose professed mission is to present the Russian point of view to foreign audiences, claims to reach 550m people worldwide, with America and Britain as its most successful markets. Conclusion: RT is part of a “Kremlin-directed campaign to undermine faith in the US Government”. That is no doubt true, but whether it is succeeding is a different question. RT has a clever way with numbers. Its “audience” of 550m refers to the number of people who can access its channel, not those who actually watch it. RT has never released the latter figure, but a 2015 survey of the top 94 cable channels in America by Nielsen, a research firm, found that RT did not even make it into the rankings. In Britain last month, it captured just 0.04% of viewers, according to the Broadcast Audience Research Board. On Twitter and Facebook, RT’s reach is narrower than that of other news networks (see chart). Its biggest claim to dominance is on YouTube, where it bills itself as the “most watched news network” on the platform. As the intelligence report fretfully notes, RT videos get 1m views a day, far surpassing other outlets. But this is mostly down to the network’s practice of buying the rights to sensational footage, for instance of Japan’s 2011 tsunami, and repackaging it with the company logo. RT hopes that the authenticity of such raw content will draw viewers to its political stories too, explains Ellen Mickiewicz of Duke University. This sounds like a canny strategy, but it does not work. RT’s most popular videos are of earthquakes and grisly accidents. Among the top 15, the closest to a political clip is one of Vladimir Putin singing “Blueberry Hill”. RT is not all strongman serenades. It broadcasts loopy conspiracy theories and fake news stories that encourage distrust of Western governments (the CIA created Ebola; the 9/11 attacks were an inside job; Ukraine crucifies babies). Ofcom, Britain’s media regulator, has rebuked the network, and NATO has called for counter-messaging to combat its propaganda. But the conflation of RT with Russian hacking and espionage has made it out to be a 10-foot monster, says Samuel Charap, a Russia analyst. In fact the Kremlin cut its funds by 10% last year as it struggled to balance the federal budget. With awestruck reviews from American spooks, however, money may flow more freely in the future. This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Putin’s prevaricating puppets” View all comments (70) (via Gerald T Pollard, NC, ibid.) ** RUSSIA [and non]. RT FACEBOOK RESTRICTIONS FOLLOW COMPLAINT FROM RFE/RL PROJECT --- World 14:50 19.01.2017Get short URL 643507 According to the notification from Facebook, the ban the RT broadcaster from uploading videos, images and links to its page on the social network has taken place because of an alleged copyright infringement, the RT press service stated. MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A recent decision of Facebook to temporarily ban the RT broadcaster from uploading videos, images and links to its page on the social network has followed a complaint filed by one of the projects of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the RT press service said Thursday, citing a notification from Facebook. RT © Sputnik/ Evgeny Biyatov RT Facebook Ban Coinciding With Trump Inauguration Favors Rivals - Press Union Earlier in the day, RT reported that its Facebook page had been blocked until January 21 from leaving posts containing videos, images and links because of copyright infringement claim and the ban would last until Saturday morning, effectively preventing RT from broadcasting US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Facebook. "According to the notification from Facebook, [the ban] has taken place because of an alleged copyright infringement. The complaint has been received [by the social network] from the Nastoyashchee Vremya TV channel — a project of the US RFE/RL, which gets the financing from the US Department of State," the press service said. RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan has told RIA Novosti that she is not surprised by the partial ban of the broadcaster's Facebook account (via A. Burnette, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Fair to good signal of Adygeyan Radio, Jan 22: 1900-2000 on 6000 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg to CeAs Adygeyan Sun http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/fair-to-good-signal-of-adygeyan-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) 6000, R. Adygeyskoye (tentative). Signal here from the start at 1925. Sounded like a W announcer once at 1940. Maybe music at 1955. W announcer at 1958. Signal went off at 2000:03 on schedule. Seemed strong enough on peaks, but modulation must have been really low. Heard on a micro-DXpedition. 15 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ARM --- ITU call means Armavir Krasnodar oblast broadcast center north of Caucasus in Russia, Yerevan Armenia fits as ERV, ITU call instead (wolfie Büschel, ibid.) ** RWANDA [non]. 15420, CLANDESTINE, R. Itahuka (via Madagascar). Big OC came on at 1757, but went off the air at 1800 just as the program started with Afro pop music. Came back on at 1800:35 followed seconds later with M in mid-announcement in presumed Kinyarwanda with ID. Into apparent political feature with same M and a different deep-voiced M with mentions of Rwanda and America. Also had some sound bites from remote reporter. 14 Jan. 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** SAINT KITTS & NEVIS. Heard that Rick Wiles was to be on Jim Bakker show today. Watched same. Rick Wiles has now received a license to broadcast from St. Kitts and is in the process of moving his studios and equipment there. Bakker is still being secretive about his shortwave network that is to run from there but did announce that it was to be named ETCN for End Times Communication Network. He did ask for people to pony up a hundred bucks apiece to get started with the project. Said people would be known as founders of the network. At the rate they're going we'll all be dead before anything actually happens (John H Carver, Jr., Mid-North Indiana, Jan 25, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The license refers to the 10 kW on 820 kHz from Conaree, a F.pl. per WRTH 2017, owned by Flowing Streams Ministry, Vero Beach FL, Son Power Radio. This is also how the 9395 24/7 WRMI transmitter should be denominated, with `TruNews` [non] only its flagship program. 825 was previously called Radio Paradise, and now that is a program on 9395 too, so might reapply it to 820 (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) ** SAO TOME. 4960, Jan 23 at 0627, S6 open carrier or JBM? Past 0630, off at 0632. VOA Pinheira is scheduled until 0630 in French M-F, break, and then 0700- daily in Hausa, both 100 kW at 30 degrees. 4960, Jan 25 at 0653, open carrier fading S8-S5; 0701 still dead air. Something is very wrong with this IBB transmitter, supposed to be in Hausa after 0700; nor have I been hearing French as scheduled before 0630 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. ILHAS SALOMÃO (presumed), 5020, Solomon Is. BC (presumed), Honiara, 1911-desvancimento total 1955, música pop', texto; 25331. Dado o desparecimento do sinal, àquela hora, e de crer que o sinal até tenha sido das Salomão. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) date missing RE: 8.0 quake hits Bougainville --- Hi Glenn, Jan 23, was able to check Solomon Islands, SIBC, on 9545 and found usual programming 0445- 0501*; ABC news at 0500 (// RA on 17840, which was very strong), mentioned going off SW at the end of this month (Ron Howard, California, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Jan 24, heard SIBC, the Voice of the Nation, with extended schedule on 9545; 0500-0530 with ABC news & sports, followed by RA's "Pacific Beat," with Bruce Hill (info about 2019 referendum to determine Bougainville's independence, etc.); // RA on 15240, 15415 and 17840; at 0530 no longer //, went to their own programs; DJ in Pijin playing pop songs (Tina Turner with "I Don't Wanna Fight," etc.); series of commercial announcements in English ("Back to school . . . Telekom," etc.); several "SIBC, the Voice of the Nation" IDs; after one hour of listening, finally came up to mostly fair reception; still on the air when tuned out at 0615. So this extended broadcast was nothing out of the ordinary (Ron Howard, California, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND. 7119.996 kHz, on lower frequency side, Hargeysa from Somalia, S=9+20dB signal noted in Doha Qatar remote unit at 0420 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably Jan 24 7120, R. Hargeisa, 1510, Jan 24. Call-to-prayer for the Islamic Maghrib prayer, just after sunset; their sunset today was at 1506 UT (6:06 PM at Hargeisa), while my sunrise was at 1515 UT, so good greyline reception (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7285, Jan 19 at 0512, interview with American- accented Ford spoxeman in English about recalls for some vehicle safety issue. The YL interviewer speaks Afrikaans and I don`t think she is translating him. Another bilingual interview Radio Sonder Grense doesn`t hesitate to air, as presumably every Afrikaaner also understands English. S9 signal could have been mistaken for a major broadcaster when in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. The Overkiller on expanded WBCQ schedules: see USA; and via BULGARIA, q.v. ** SRI LANKA. Reception of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation SLBC City FM, Jan 25: 1630-1730 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to N/ME Sinhala and off air, ex 1630-1830 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-sri-lanka-broadcasting.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA [and non]. SRI LANKA STATE BROADCASTER, MILITARY TO GET SOME VOA TRANSMITTING ASSETS --- Jan 19, 2017 09:43 AM ECONOMYNEXT - Sri Lanka's state-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and the military will get some equipment from a closed Voice of America relay station, which is being dismantled. The Voice of America made its last broadcast from the relay station in Iranawila, Chilaw on June 10, 2016, amid budget cuts and declining viewership for shortwave radio listening. The VOA station had two 500 kiloWatt Marconi transmitters and six 250 kW transmitters when it began operations over 16 years ago, according to publicly available data. Full story at : http://economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_state_broadcaster,_military_to_get_some_VOA_transmitting_assets-3-7120.html Related: US to close Voice of America station in Sri Lanka and hand over land to government http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/Jan19_1484806793CH.php Sri Lanka VOA shortwave station has 4.2 MW of thermal power: US embassy http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_VOA_shortwave_station_has_4.2MW_of_thermal_power__US_embassy-3-7121.html -- (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Jan 19, dx_sasia yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) As they were aiming at viewers, no wonder they didn’t have an audience (Paul, NZ, Cumbredx via DXLD) Well, viewership was never a strong point of shortwave radio listening anyway (Alexander, Netherlands, ibid.) ** SUDAN. Sudan on 7205/9505 --- Yesterday, Jan. 18, from 1810, I found a strong carrier with very low modulation and music only, signing off at 1904. 7205 was empty at that time, but not much later Arabic talk appearing here, also undermodulated. Today, Jan. 19, at 1610, modulation was much better on 7205 but disappearing at 1613. 9505 was clear at 1610 but at 1613 straight after sign-off on 7205 a strong signal appeared with French talk, but very low audio level. So likely Sudan resumes with external service broadcasts, probably different schedule, maybe simply everything 30 minutes earlier than it used to be. 73 (thorsten hallmann, germany, Jan 19, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi out there, Sudan has resumed its external service Voice of Africa on 9505, including English. Tuned in to news in English today just before 1730, later followed by musical programmes in unidentified language(s). After 1910 dead air, interspersed with sporadic announcements in Arabic probably meaning "You are listening to Voice of Africa from Sudan" and a few words more. Sign-off was 1920 and soon resuming broadcast on 7205 with different format in Arabic. 73 Thorsten Posted by: (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, Jan 20, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9505.002 kHz V of Africa, Omdurman --- 9505.002kHz_VoAfrica_Omdurman_1648UTC_S9_15dB.mp3 680KB Save listen to the S=9+15dB recording, taken in Rome central Italy at 1648 UT today Jan 21. Music modulation is strong, but microphone signal level is very low modulated. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wolfie, Excellent recording!! My observations today (thanks to Thorsten's tip!): Jan 21, at 1558 with repetitive African music and singing (sounded like Voice of Africa IS - http://goo.gl/8174Kk 1603 seemed to start programming; very poor, but slowly improving; by 1610, seemed to be African accent, but unable to ID language; by 1618 was able to tell was certainly in French, but not very readable. Maybe with better conditions/propagation, might be able to extract more informative details (Ron Howard, California, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9505, Voice of Africa on Jan 23, with different intro format than heard Jan 21. No IS heard today; transmitter suddenly on at *1600, followed by African music 1601-1610; then mostly monologue in French till tuned out at 1625; at times almost fair; much better today than my 21st reception. This made possible by the excellent tip from Thorsten's Hallmann! (Ron Howard, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7205even, Omdurman Arabic program, S=9+25dB signal in Doha Qatar. Political comment heard at 0422 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably Jan 24 9505, Voice of Africa, *1605, Jan 24. My three receptions here have all been with different sign on times; today on with carrier at decent level, but no audio; totally unlike yesterdays reception that had good audio level for their clear French programming; today by 1621 had the impression there was some very faint audio, but so far down within the open carrier that I could not guess at the language (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 6120, Jan 23 at 0506, American English religious discussion about children at S9+, i.e. TWR Manzini, 50 kW, 233 degrees at 0501-0700 for B16 in Aoki (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 6105, Radio Taiwan International (Presumed), 1303, 1/16/17. Man, 1305 fanfare, 2 female announcers into 2 male announcers then a female over tinkly music (reminded me of music for children). Not // CNR 1 jammers on at the same time. Fair. Interesting that this and a VoA Mandarin broadcast on 6045 were heard about this time without jammers audible here (Mark Taylor, Madison, Wisconsin. Equipment: Perseus, SDRPlay, RTL2832 V3 dongle for SDR’s; Eton e1, Grundig Satellit 800, Tecsun PL 660, and various other portables for physical radios; 40 meters dipole, 100’ long wire, Mini whip, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 7445.004, Rather proper signal from VoTWN [sic] Paochung in English, S=9+35dB+ powerhouse at 225degr azimuth, economic market report at 1119 UT on Jan 20 [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Log at eastern Thailand remote SDR unit at 1100 til 1205 UT on Jan 20, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. 9100, Sound of Hope, 1445, Jan 24. Poor; not jammed; // SOH on 6230 (also unjammed); in Chinese; clearly not Echo of Hope - VOH, as it was not in Korean and not // 4885. As Glenn has been pointing out recently, we have to be careful as to which station is being heard. Thanks Glenn! (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. From the PCJ Radio International website: PCJ Radio International will present a special program for Chinese New Years Eve for the Year of the Rooster. Extra MW/FM and shortwave frequencies have been added North America 0100-0200 UT Frequency: 11580 kHz Date: January 26, 2017 [UT Thursday; should also be on 6855! gh] 0100-0200 UT Frequency 7570 kHz Date: January 27, 2017 [UT Friday] (-- Richard Langley, Jan 21, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not stated, but I seriously suspect these are all via WRMI (gh, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Weak to fair signal of Voice of Tajik, Jan 23 1300-1400 on 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir to CeAs English http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/weak-to-fair-signal-of-voice-of-tajik.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No luck trying to hear that in North America (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND. 9390, Radio Thailand at 2030 with gongs, ID “This is HSK- 9 Radio Thailand World Service.”, into PSAs. - Poor, Jan. 19 (Harold Sellers, Vernon, BC, CommRadio CR-1a, 50 ft wire connected to Sony AN- 1 active antenna. Editor of World English Survey and Target Listening, available at the Ontario DX Association Facebook and Yahoo groups, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. The Voice of Turkey Letterbox programme is now broadcast on every other Wednesday and repeated the following Saturday - this was announced in today's Letterbox in answer to my question to them and confirms what I heard recently. So, the broadcast cycle is every two weeks from Wednesday 18 January, repeated Saturday 21 January - next scheduled Wednesday 1 February and Saturday 4 February. 73 (Alan Roe, UK, Jan 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12035, Jan 21 at 1426, VOT English hour is still on with IS alternating with language IDs, presumably Kazakh, which is scheduled to start at 1430 on 9785 (a frequency I can`t remember to check for presence when this happen time and again). 12035 is marred by splatter 12030-12115 from that horrible mess on 12050 which is WEWN. 12035 is still on for the 1430 precise timesignal and opening in presumed Kazakh. I wasn`t attentive exactly when 12035 finally went off, but it was circa 1442 after which 9785 presumably came up very late. Way to go, incompetents at Emirler! 6080, Jan 23 at 0419, VOT English is S9+10, fair signal but not easy copy; more of a problem than co-channel VOA São Tomé is splatter from distorted 6090 Anguilla reactivated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7240.004, V of Turkey, English, "Question of The Month", at 0424 UT on Jan 24. 11 kHz much broadband wide tremendous signal of S=9+55dB or powerhouse -22dBm !!! (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9785, Jan 25 at 1435, VP talk, presumably VOT in Kazakh as scheduled, having failed to prolong wrong frequency 12035 today past 1425v*. Had my doubts as this is not very far off-frequency as required by Emirler, only 9785.005 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA [non]. 15240, Sat Jan 21 at 1741, WWRB with good signal but dead air instead of R. Munansi clandestine. 1814 recheck, now poor carrier, but some modulation. 15240, Sunday Jan 22 at 1615, JBA carrier; by 1752 up to S9+10 with presumed Luganda talk from R. Munansi via WWRB (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BFBS TO END NATIONAL DAB RADIO TRANSMISSIONS Radio Today By Roy Martin 20 January 2017 http://radiotoday.co.uk/2017/01/bfbs-to-end-national-dab-radio-transmissions/ Forces radio station BFBS will come off the national digital radio multiplex Digital One in March after carrying out analysis over the costs. The station told RadioToday that it can no longer justify the cost of the platform, but the radio service will continue as normal with no job losses. BFBS is owned by Services Sound & Vision Corporation and operates a number of international stations plus various local community FM stations across the UK. BFBS Radio will continue on Sky, Freesat and online. The finance for Forces Radio BFBS being on D1 is provided by SSVC out of its own charitable resources as the station carries no commercial advertising. “Like all charities we have to assess the value we get from everything we spend and measure it against all the demands on our resources,” the station said in a statement. Glyn Jones, Commercial Manager for Digital One told RadioToday: “It’s always sad when a station stops broadcasting on Digital One, especially for its listeners and the programme team. But we recognise the financial pressures BFBS faces and know the charity’s Trustees have only taken this step reluctantly.” We asked about a possible replacement for BFBS on D1, where space is limited, to which Glyn said: “We can’t confirm anything about what will replace BFBS and any changes need Ofcom’s approval. But I’m always keen to hear from new people wanting to join the 30+ commercial stations on national digital radio.” Posted by: (Mike Terry, Jan 21, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** U K [non]. 7445, Jan 19 at 0507, BBCWS coverage of Gambia crisis, ECOWAS forces ready to intervene, interview expert from Michigan State U., unlike VOA on 7460 which has already moved on to other African news. And BBC is much stronger, 250 kW at 114 degrees from ASCENSION (at 06-08 switches to weaker South Africa site). (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12095, South Africa. BBC WS relay. Meyerton. Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 2010-2013. Football commentary. Cameroon v Burkino Faso from Libreville, so must be the African Cup of Nations. Good but boring. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3885.27-AM, WA1HLR, Timtron in Maine discussing equipment as usual, QRM from another carrier about 3884.82; and his alternating contact, also AM, is on another frequency, 3884.70, WA1KNX. If I copied that correctly, he is not in New England at all, but MC GORRILL, DEAN H, 5445 S. Butts RD, TUCSON, AZ 85757. If they disdain SSB, too bad they don`t zero-beat their AMs. Anyhow, WA1HLR`s ham transmitter has a much stronger signal than any WBCQ broadcast signal now. I imagine that when he`s at WBCQ, he hooks up to one of those antennas, as there is no limit to antenna gain hams may legally use, only to transmitter power (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3908-LSB, Jan 23 at 0455, pileup of at least 3 stations at once, plus some CW QRM. One group are trying to have net QSOs, while repeatedly interrupted by apparent loop saying exactly the same thing, ``W6WBJ, to become a full member of the organization, please``. W6WBJ per FCC ULS is: CROWELL, WILLIAM F, 1110 PLEASANT VALLEY RD., DIAMOND SPRINGS, CA 95619. He seems to be calling the NCS, KJ6JKA, who is: Young Jr, Willard E, 8362 Edam Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. The organization mentioned is WARFA, Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association, and this is it: http://warfa.org/ ``"Communicating With The World Through Friendship" on 3908 kHz Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 8 pm PT (standard [0400 UT Mon/Wed/Fri] or daylight) Established in 1976, this group of amateur radio operators started as a RV owning fishing group. They would visit various locations in California and drop their lines for that big catch`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4041.0-USB, Jan 22 at 0203, Army MARS net with YL NCS AAA7RD, call copied fonetikaly, vs storm noise level, check-ins not readable. This page http://usamars.us/rgn7/ says that call applies to the unnamed Region 7 Director, i.e. IA/KS/MO/NE. However a 2012 World Radio Online article photo caption identified that call with one John Halladay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MULTIPLE STATIONS HIJACKED WITH PROFANE ANTI-TRUMP SONG January 20, 2017 For the second time in less than a year multiple radio stations had their signals hijacked. This time the stations that were corrupted aired a loop of YG & Nipsey Hussle “F*** Donald Trump &... Read More https://radioinsight.com/headlines/110432/multiple-stations-hijacked-with-profane-anti-trump-song/ 1 Comment Eric Jon Magnuson January 23, 2017, 12:56 pm I didn’t come across it until last night, but the Courier-Journal did get some additional comments from WCHQ’s PD… http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/01/20/local-radio-station-hacked-anti-trump-song/96853106 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. BBG ANNOUNCES NEW ACTING BOARD CHAIRMAN --- January 25, 2017 WASHINGTON - The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) today announced the unanimous election of Kenneth Weinstein, who has served as a Board Member since October 2013, to the position of Acting Board Chairman, effective immediately. Mr. Weinstein takes over from Mr. Jeff Shell, who served as Chairman of the Board since August 2013. Mr. Shell, the Chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, will continue to serve as a Board Member. "This transition illustrates BBG's commitment to ensuring high caliber, accomplished leaders in the agency," said outgoing Chairman Jeff Shell. "Ken is a consummate professional and a wonderful person to boot, whose contribution to the Board has been invaluable. He is the perfect person to work with CEO John Lansing as he continues to lead key reforms and advance growth at BBG." In his acceptance of the Chairman role, Mr. Weinstein said, "Working to advance the mission of BBG throughout the world is truly an honor, and I am excited to work with my fellow Board Members and with CEO Lansing in this new capacity. CEO Lansing's leadership has been crucial to our continual progress here at BBG. During his tenure, the agency's total audience grew by 52 million to an estimated total 278 million people weekly, in 100 countries and 61 languages, even as he leads internal reforms that tighten processes, save money, and cultivate impact. I and other Board members continue to support John's leadership, having voted on January 19 to reaffirm his authority, without objection, and I look forward to working together. I also want to thank Jeff Shell, whose unmatched dedication and strategic leadership of the Board have been critical to the transformation of the agency." Kenneth R. Weinstein is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Institute, a think tank focused on promoting American leadership and global engagement for a secure, free, and prosperous future. A political theorist by training whose academic work focuses on the early Enlightenment, Mr. Weinstein has written widely on international affairs for leading publications in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including Bungei Shunju (Japan), Le Figaro (France), Le Monde (France), The Wall Street Journal, and the Yomiuri Shimbun. He has been decorated with a knighthood in Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication as a Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Mr. Weinstein previously served by presidential appointment and Senate confirmation on the National Humanities Council, the governing body of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Mr. Weinstein graduated from The University of Chicago (B.A. in General Studies in the Humanities), the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (D.E.A. in Soviet and Eastern European Studies), and Harvard University (Ph.D. in Government). Additionally, on January 24, the Board noted the resignation of public diplomacy expert Matthew Armstrong, who served on the Board since August 2013. In noting Mr. Armstrong's resignation, Mr. Weinstein stated, "Matt was a pleasure to work with and his accomplishments are many. I wish him the best in his future endeavors." (BBG PR Jan 25 via Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) ** U S A. TRUMP MOVES TO PUT HIS OWN STAMP ON VOICE OF AMERICA - POLITICO http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/donald-trump-voice-america-234078 (via David Cole, Sent from my iPhone, Jan 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) Viz.: Recent actions have raised fears that Voice of America could serve as an unfettered propaganda arm for President Donald Trump. | Getty Trump moves to put his own stamp on Voice of America [caption] The president dispatches two aides to the broadcasting agency that came under fire over the weekend for its Trump coverage. By Tara Palmeri 01/23/17 06:13 PM EST President Donald Trump on Monday dispatched two aides to scope out the studios of Voice of America, heightening concerns among some longtime staffers that Trump may quickly put his stamp on the broadcasting arm that has long pushed U.S. democratic ideals across the world. The arrival of the two aides – both political operatives from Trump’s campaign – comes after Voice of America received blowback over the weekend for sending out a series of tweets about White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s claims about inauguration crowd size that looked to some like an endorsement of his false statements. The news outlet later deleted one of the tweets. The concern among some staffers is especially acute because Trump’s administration is getting control over the broadcasting agency just weeks after Congress moved to eliminate the board of directors that had served as an integrity check on the organization, instead consolidating power with a CEO position appointed by the president. As POLITICO reported last month, that change – along with a prior shift that allows the network to legally reach a U.S. audience -- had stoked fears among some agency officials that Voice of America could serve as an unfettered propaganda arm for the former reality TV star. On the first Monday of his administration, Trump, who has flirted with the idea of launching his own TV network, deployed two “transition officials” who will evaluate the managers and studios of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which has an annual budget of $800 million and includes Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcast Networks. Spicer to press: 'Our intention is never to lie to you' Trump campaign New Hampshire state director Matthew Ciepielowski and Wisconsin communications director Matthew Schuck will be “temporarily assigned” to the CEO suite at the BBG where they will work with senior management “to ensure an open, transparent and seamless transition of the BBG to the Trump Administration,” according to an email by CEO John F. Lansing to staff obtained by POLITICO. The timing of their arrival is not necessarily unusual – the Obama administration also sent transition officials to the BBG during his transition in 2009. But some senior staffers have already expressed reservations about the backgrounds of Trump’s political operatives. Schuck, a 2012 graduate from Montgomery College, was a staff writer for the right-wing website the Daily Surge until April 2015. “There’s concern among the journalists about what these guys are going to be doing,” said the senior VOA staffer. “People are hanging tight, seeing what will happen.” A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment. Public scrutiny of the broadcasting agency’s articles has already started. Voice of America director Amanda Bennett explained that she pulled a tweet on VOA’s official account that featured Spicer’s erroneous statement that “this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period — both in person and around the globe,” following blowback from the account’s 905,000 followers, some of whom argued the agency shouldn’t be promoting his comments without a fact check. “Irony is that VOA's reason for existing was to provide truth to those who lived where the government controlled the press,” tweeted Stuart Stevens, a former advisor to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, in response to the tweet. Other Twitter followers called the network “pure propaganda” and “embarrassing,” and urged the network to have “self-respect” for tweeting out Spicer’s words, without additional fact-checking. Spicer continues feud with the press over MLK bust Bennett also said she temporarily pulled a story about an ethics complaint lodged against the Trump administration because it didn’t have a response from a Trump representative. The story was reposted later with a comment from Trump’s attorney Sheri Dillon. Bennett said she was not ordered by the Trump administration to pull the story or the tweet. “Ever since I arrived here in April I have been extremely firm that we need to follow absolutely the best journalistic practices – which include a diligent focus on facts and objectivity,” Bennett told POLITICO in an e-mail. “For the last nine months, we have been routinely pulling stories that do not meet those standards and asking that they be redone, or that additional reporting be done.” In a phone conversation later on Monday, Bennett added, "I know that everyone is looking to say that we're being manipulated by the Trump administration, we're absolutely not.” The Broadcasting Board of Governors is the largest public diplomacy program by the U.S. government, reaching an audience of 278 million by broadcasting in 100 countries and 61 languages. The agency was created in 1942 during World War II to send pro-democracy news across Europe, as it aimed to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda. The agency has since evolved into a more traditional news operation, while still pushing out the virtues of democracy worldwide. Early last month, a provision buried into the National Defense Authorization Act called for disbanding the bipartisan board of the BBG, pleasing critics who said the part-time board was ineffective but alarming others who feared an accountability layer was being swept away. A former board member said on Monday that the editorial team may have not received marching orders from the new administration but that they’re aware of the new power of Trump’s team to take over the organization without the firewall of a bipartisan board. “They’re clearly just trying to stay in stead with their new bosses to keep their jobs,” said the former BBG board member. “If they’re starting to turn this into Pravda before they are even told to.” The status of the board is in limbo, however, since Obama added a signing statement to the NDAA, saying it was unconstitutional to get rid of the board because it violates his constitutional right of appointment. Another uncertainty is that Lansing can be replaced at any time for a CEO appointed by the president. At the editorial level, there’s been caution against posting stories that don’t have a response from the Trump administration, according to a senior VOA staffer. “I think there’s going to be more of a focus on making sure that we’re balanced,” the staffer said. Bennett said she met on Monday with Trump’s representatives, Schuck and Ciepielowski, who she said will not be involved in news decisions. "I met with them, we gave them a briefing. We're going to be showing them around,” she said. “If people are concerned, a lot of people have been through transitions before and this is standard procedure. We gave them the briefing book." When asked if she had any concerns about their prior jobs, she said, "They are who they are. They are filling a function that is exactly the same as it would be in any administration." And Bennett, who is also a political appointee who could be replaced, said Voice of America is not changing course under the new administration. "We are trying to do the best journalism we can, and follow the highest journalistic standards is the only way we're going to operate,” she said (Politico via David Cole, DXLD) I posted this in 3 of the largest FB groups devoted to SW: I would like to speak to members of this group, and I am posting this on a few other radio-related FB groups, to address the wave of recent press reports, and some editorials, including by the Washington Post, fanning hysteria about what Donald Trump might do with the Voice of America. So, I ask for your patience and certainly appreciate feedback on this. Many have likely seen the Politico pieces about this issue. There was a major Washington Post editorial in December, and many media outlets have picked up this story. First, anyone concerned about full disclosure by media should know that both Politico pieces were written by the same person, a reporter who spent about four months as an intern at VOA. This reporter acknowledged that I had made a "good point" suggesting that Politico had an obligation to acknowledge this connection, however brief it was. Politico never did so, unless I have missed it. The MSNBC report by Rachel Maddow that aired January 25th that many also have seen, contained a number of significant errors and was misleading in other ways. VOA current and former employees have since communicated displeasure to MSNBC about that report and asked for corrections. The 2017 defense authorization bill was signed not by Donald Trump but by Barack Obama before he left office. Yet, a wave of articles and editorials since the election have implied that this was some sort of plot to enable Trump to achieve a "takeover" of VOA and other BBG- managed media. It was not. US government-funded media have been mismanaged for decades. This is particularly true of VOA, which of course has its permanent corps of defenders, as does the Broadcasting Board of Governors which replaced the old U.S. Information Agency in the 1990's. Congress was fed up long ago with dysfunction at BBG, and specifically at VOA. Bipartisan legislation to restructure BBG was passed at one point in the House. But direct lobbying of Congress by BBG officials succeeded in blocking a vote in the Senate. Eventually, some key aspects of restructuring ended up in the defense bill signed by --- Barack Obama in December. The Obama administration was fed up with VOA and BBG, which have fumbled along for years. They issue what many observers believe to be highly-inflated audience figures. In 2016, BBG notched another year of being rated among the worst places to work in the federal government. As painful as it is for me to say this, having spent so many years there, VOA and the larger BBG have long been ripe for downsizing, at minimum. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle remain disgusted with the BBG and seemingly endless employee morale issues there. Recent articles are also hypocritical since commercial media organizations have long viewed VOA and its parent agency the BBG, as propaganda outlets, a view that is still widespread among members of the Washington press corps. Are there many reasons to be concerned about Trump administration treatment of media? Yes. But to hold VOA and its parent agency out as journalistic paragons of virtue, and imply they are just the same as non-government media, ignores basic facts. Whether under Obama, or now under Trump, USG paid journalists, of which I was one, can no longer pretend they are just like their friends working for commercial media. The Obama administration endorsed a whole ]of[ government approach in countering foreign disinformation. That does not, and cannot, exclude participation in that goal by VOA. Whatever the Trump administration decides to do with broken U.S. government funded media, it is hard not to think that taxpayers also do not expect VOA and its parent agency to be a key part of that effort, and that fact should not be lost on anyone. Also, changes in the Smith Mundt law did not somehow mean VOA is now "broadcasting" to Americans. This is yet another inaccuracy. VOA material is still not purposely produced for Americans. (Daniel Robinson, Former White House, Congressional, Foreign Correspondent, Voice of America (1979-2014), Sent from TypeApp, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VOA coverage of the competing crowd estimates is here: President Trump Tweets About Protests, Inauguration Ratings President says celebrities 'hurt cause badly' http://www.voanews.com/a/trump-march-react/3686945.html The voanews.com website also carried this AP item: Factcheck: Trump and Spicer's Statements on Inaugural Crowd Size President Donald Trump’s speech Saturday at the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency turned into the latest battle in, as he put it, his “run... http://www.voanews.com/a/factcheck-size-of-trump-inaugural-crowd/3686759.html And this video excerpt of the Spicer news conference: White House Spokesman Spicer Holds News Conference http://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-spokesman-spicer-holds-news-conference/3686736.html (via Kim Elliott, dxldyg via DXLD) This was actually treated at length in a NY Times story this morning. First time I’ve seen a reference to the VOA in The Times in quite some time: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/22/business/media/sean-spicer-donald-trump-alternative-facts.html?ref=politics The salient parts of the article seem to imply some initial confusion in the VOA’s reportage before it righted itself. "Voice of America, the government-funded news operation that broadcasts American journalism beyond the country’s borders, pointed out Mr. Spicer’s inaccuracies and ran an article from The Associated Press fact-checking his remarks. Still, that came only after the organization initially posted a string of Twitter messages that quoted Mr. Spicer without context, prompting questions about whether it was endorsing his comments. Voice of America’s director, Amanda Bennett, said that there had been no instructions or interference from the Trump administration and that Voice of America had quickly decided it needed to provide more explanation. “Internally, there was like an explosion of direct messages saying you’ve got to do something about this,” Ms. Bennett said in an interview on Sunday. That led to a course correction on Twitter, including the deletion of one tweet that appeared to support Mr. Spicer.” (John Figliozzi, Sarasota, FL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) A Problem with Much More than Just DX --- Re: VOA coverage of the competing crowd estimates is here ... And a now unconcealed threat against those who are perceived as left- liberals is here: http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/bbg-officialdom-burrowing-in/ If certain people worry for their reputation abroad (with, maybe, the exception of Poland) they should better dissociate themselves from this blog. Sorry, but in my opinion this post is really the step too far that forces me to speak up (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Bureaucracy Warning Sign --- BBG Officialdom Burrowing In US GOVERNMENT INTERNATIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION WAR LOST By The Federalist Before we get to our main topic --- Out Of Commission! By practice, the Voice of America (VOA) marks its anniversary on/or about February 1 each year. The year 2017 would mark the agency’s 75th anniversary. Agency employees and others were surprised to learn that the activities planned for the anniversary celebration had to be cancelled. Why? The explanation making the rounds is that the auditorium of the Cohen Building is: “Out of commission.” We’re not sure what the situation is as no further details have been provided. The Cohen Building, like all Federal buildings, is maintained by the General Services Administration [GSA], but it is up to BBG officials to plan for such events ahead of time and to be prepared for all eventualities. As usual, they obviously did not plan. Nothing unusual at this agency. Dysfunctional management of the “practically defunct” (Hillary Clinton’s words) agency aside, with the passage of time, sustaining enthusiasm for this kind of observance presents other challenges. The agency which governs the Voice of America has lost a significant portion of its luster and together with VOA has been long drifting toward obscurity. It doesn’t help to be labeled: “Regular Bottom Feeder” ; “Going Backward” Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson “Federal Insider,” The Washington Post, September 20, 2016. “Dysfunctional” (Heritage Foundation scholar Helle C. Dale) “Practically Defunct” (Hillary Clinton) “Broken” (US statesmen, diplomats, media experts and journalists interviewed by former BBG member S. Enders Wimbush and former Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty executive Elizabeth M. Portale) “Truly Rudderless” or Leaderless (Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Ed Royce) It also doesn’t help to have garnered – and done so with great diligence – the reputation of having become one of the worst agencies in the Federal government. Cumulatively, the atmospherics inside the Cohen Building are dark at best. The postponement of the 75th VOA anniversary adds to it. Nevertheless, senior agency officials will do their best to put on a big display which they will dutifully march off to the Cohen Building auditorium to watch – reminding us ironically of government-staged events in some foreign countries where most people would rather not live if they had a choice. Add to that the agency approaching artistic groups from among the ethnic communities in the Washington, DC area to provide entertainment without compensation for their time and effort. For most of the working staff, they don’t see much of the doings. At best, maybe bits and pieces, because after all, somebody has to be working inside the Cohen Building while the managers go off to do their preening in the auditorium. But now – there’s no auditorium! It’s “out of commission.” You honestly can’t make up this kind of stuff. Of late, whatever these apparatchiks touch turns to… Well, you get the picture. Burrowing In Throughout the Federal Government, there has been a flurry of vacancy announcements in advance of the Trump administration. This is nothing new. It has been going on for years when administrations change. It’s something that leads people to remark that the bureaucracy is another branch of government and seemingly one that revels in the lack of accountability. But the stated intention of the new administration to freeze hiring has added a sense of urgency. The Broadcasting Board of Governors (or whatever US Government international media will be called in the future) is no exception. Given the agency’s earned reputation for being rotten to the core, one has to believe the intent is to burrow in people representative not as much of the previous administration but rather to preserve the bureaucracy’s agenda. The last thing this is intended to do is to make the agency run better. The intended outcome is to perpetuate business as usual and by extension to undermine any attempt to bring about necessary reforms to the agency that are long overdue. This agency is all about mission failure. It can no longer be relied upon to carry forward the principles of the VOA Charter with any measure of effectiveness. We remind readers that back in her days as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton rightly labeled this agency as defunct: the negative characteristic which the agency has excelled in. Ironically, its inability to function effectively may have contributed to Secretary Clinton’s unsuccessful presidential aspirations. It is no secret that Vladimir Putin has a visceral dislike of Secretary Clinton. Amid all the chatter surrounding the election, there was a great cacophony of disinformation and misinformation, some of it generated by the Russians but also by many other actors, casting both Clinton and Donald Trump in highly negative terms. Countering foreign disinformation is part of what the agency is supposed to do. It failed miserably. Add to that the rather public display of contempt for the incoming administration by Federal career employees in the VOA newsroom as part of its “VOA Follies” presentation during the Christmas holidays. In so many words, the agency is its own worst enemy. But back to “burrowing in:” Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has hiring practices by Federal agencies on the radar. You can read an article on the subject here: http://www.fedsmith.com/2017/01/11/house-committee-questions-federal-agencies-recent-hiring-sprees/ Chaffetz sent out a letter to various Federal agencies. The letter notes, in part, “The accelerated hiring timelines create the appearance that some federal agencies are pushing to fill as many slots as possible without regard for identifying and hiring the most qualified applicants.” Anyone with long experience regarding BBG/VOA knows that “pre- selection” for promotions is a major concern, especially when you see the telltale sign of a short window to apply and other indications. And when you couple these concerns with what you see in the agency’s performance and its horrid standing in the Federal employee workplace surveys, it moves “appearance” to one of high probability And the dead giveaway that things are amiss when you see agency memoranda about staff changes among supervisors and managers. It’s like a perpetual game of musical chairs: individuals bounced as language service chiefs or other posts to become “senior advisers.” Some of these individuals have garnered a stellar reputation for being “demolitions experts:” they go somewhere in the agency, things blow up, they do a tour as a “senior adviser” and then go elsewhere in the agency to replace someone else on the “demolitions team” who gets in a tight spot. Recycle and repeat. Congressman Chaffetz concentrates on some of the larger Federal agencies in his letter. However, he would be just as well served by looking at agencies like BBG/VOA which are perpetual bottom feeders in the annual workplace survey. Get the staffing pattern and grab a highlighter. See how many managers there are as compared to the number of line employees. See how long these managers have been with the agency, encumbered management positions and look at their grades and salaries. It’s the proverbial gold mine of information: a good bit of which the agency would rather not have someone look at, especially someone knowledgeable of the cast of characters on the Third Floor of the Cohen Building. We already know that there is an anti-Trump sentiment rife in the VOA newsroom. With this in mind: People laughed when Mr. Trump announced he would run for president. People laughed at Mr. Trump’s performance during the debates. People laughed at Trump’s election campaign. People gave Trump not a snowball’s chance of winning the presidential election. Voice of America management had two pre-written “Clinton Wins” broadcasts on the election night, and none for the possibility of Trump’s victory And now he is the new occupant of the Oval Office in the White House. Moral of the story: Don’t underestimate the guy: Particularly when you lose all sense of caution and decide as Federal employees in the VOA newsroom to ridicule the man, his wife, and his daughter in the “VOA Follies” in a Federal building on U.S. government time and taxpayers’ money, or in posts to their Facebook pages where they identify themselves as Voice of America (Federal government) employees. Not very wise, by any objective measurement. There is a thing called “accountability.” This agency, its officials and some among its employees should be held accountable, both with regard to performance and to conduct. The Federalist, January 2017 (via DXLD) and another: http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/voice-of-america-removes-trump-bingo-game-after-bbg-watch-report/ (via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. 7460, Jan 19 at 0505, report on Gambian political crisis, then about the SPLM in Sudan South. It`s VOA via BOTSWANA; much weaker than 7445 BBC, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4930, Botswana. VOA relay. Selebi Phikwe. Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 2005- 2010. OM singing. ID at 2008, program is “Music time in Africa” Good. Jo'burg sunset 1704. 909, Botswana. VOA relay. Selebi Phikwe. Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 2002- 2010. Om singing, ID at 2008, Music time in Africa. Poor. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOA Radiogram this weekend is mostly MFSK32, with some Olivia 64-2000: VOA Radiogram, 21-22 January 2017: Make shortwave great again http://voaradiogram.net/post/156136559672/voa-radiogram-21-22-january-2017-make-shortwave (Kim Elliott, Jan 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also WRMI ** U S A [non]. Thailand ------------ QSL received from IBB Thailand transmitting station. The frequency 15760 kHz, reported to at manager_thailand [at] tha.ibb.gov, I waited 30 days reply. It is necessary to mark "reception of VOA", but this is not true (and I is not the first time!). In fact, it was the reception Mashaal Radio Pashto zone Pakistan tribes, and the station is part of RFE / RL structure. Pictures: http://dxsignal.ru/qsl/new/IBB_Thailand_170116_1.jpg http://dxsignal.ru/qsl/new/IBB_Thailand_170116_2.jpg From the very Mashaal Radio, seems to answer to the reports do not wait. I wrote to shown on their website e-mail mashaalradio [at] rferl.org - answer "No such User" wrote via facebook - in response molchok In principle, the angry sense. No - the station is quite narrow specialization, and the reception so far from target their territory is hardly interested (Dmitri Mezin, RusDX Jan 22 via DXLD) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: confirmed Thu Jan 19 at 2130 on WRMI 11580, good. Since WBCQ has just expanded the Brother Scare hours on 9330, which TOM website vaguely designates as ``24hr Mostly``, I`m a bit concerned that WOR will no longer be appearing at 0030. But UT Fri Jan 20 I can still hear me on 9330.102v-CUSB, poor signal on the R75; at 0045 check on NRD-545, S6-S4 vs noise level of S5. Wolfgang Büschel was also checking various remote receivers in North America, and could not hear 9330! Next: Fri 2230 WRMI 11580 to NE, 6855 to WNW, 5950 to S [NEW] Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to SW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to SW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: confirmed Friday January 20 inaugurating a new tri-frequency time, after a Rudy Espinal WRMI ID, at 2230 on 6855 & 5950 at S9, and // 11580 at S9+22. (After 2300 they all split apart: 5950 AWR Spanish, 6855 music, 11580 Viva Miami Spanish). WOR also confirmed UT Saturday Jan 21 after 0030 on WBCQ 9330, fair at S8. Next: Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to SW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to SW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn, How are you? I hope very well. Here is my audio report of World Of Radio 1861 on SW for B16 period. Hamburgher Lokal Radio, Goehren, 7265 kHz - January 21, 2017, 1531-1534 UT in English, QRM China Radio Inter. SINPO 12532. My listener details are: Nino Marabello, Treviso, Italy, Receiver: TECSUN PL-365; Antenna: indoor aerial long wire 9 mt. I have heard three minutes of program World Of Radio 1861 by Glenn Hauser without a strong interference of CRI in Hindi. I have attached an audio report 1.0 MB in MP3 format. Thank you in advance. 73 from Treviso, Italy (N. Marabello, http://acquamarina.blogspot.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY for more WOR via HLR logs WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: I missed it on UTwente, but Nino Marabello, Italy, confirms at 1531 Sat Jan 21, WOR 1861 audible for a few minutes vs Hindi from China on 7265-CUSB. I do confirm the next SW airing, Sat Jan 21 at 2330 on WBCQ, 9330.125v-CUSB, S9+10. Next: Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: confirmed UT Sunday Jan 22 at 0429 on WA0RCR, 1860-AM, Wentzville MO, about four minutes in, so did not start until 0425; fair vs storm static crashes. Also confirmed UT Monday Jan 23 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330-CUSB, very poor. Also confirmed starting at 0402 UT Monday Jan 23, S8 on Area 51 via WBCQ 5129.82. Also confirmed at 0447 Jan 23 the UT Monday 0430 on WRMI 9955, very poor S4-S5 vs pulse jamming; tnx a lot, Arnie! Next: Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: confirmed UT Tuesday January 24 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, JBA. Also on WRMI 7730 at S9+30 but undermodulated. Next: Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: I'm not hearing the WRMI signal of WOR at 2130 UT on 15770 kHz today [Tue]. JBA spurt at 2134 for less than a minute. If this transmission is meant for north eastern North America, it's not making it. Best. Charlie (Charles Harlich, Sent from my iPhone, Central NJ, Jan 24, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** U S A. WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: confirmed Tuesday January 24 at 2130 on WRMI 15770, good, better than usual here if still aimed NE; someone NNE of Okee reported it poor. Also confirmed here Tue Jan 24 at 2300 on WRMI 9955, 100% copy but vs moderate jamming, maybe abating a bit during this hour-break between Radios Libertades; tnx a lot, Arnie! WOR 1861 also confirmed UT Wed Jan 25 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB, very poor. Also confirmed Wed Jan 25 at 1415.5 on WRMI 9955 (after gh WRMI ID, apparently the only time it ever plays, but always), no jamming, S9+10 // 6855 S8. Next: Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW WORLD OF RADIO 1861 monitoring: confirmed Wed Jan 25 at 2200 on WBCQ 7490, fair-good. [and non] WORLD OF RADIO 1862 monitoring: confirmed Thursday January 26 at 1245, the first airing at 1230 on WRMI 9955; S9+10 with a trace of jamming; also on // 6855 at S9 but sounds much weaker vs noise (could it be DRM from Kodiak 6850??) and 6855 is fading down. Next: Thu 2130 WRMI 11580 to NE Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Fri 2230 WRMI 11580 to NE, 6855 to WNW, 5950 to S [NEW] Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB to SW Sat 1530 HLR 7265-CUSB to SW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2330 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to SW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 1200 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Tue 2130 WRMI 15770 to NE Tue 2300 WRMI 9955 to SSE Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Wed 1030 WRMI 5850 to NW, 6855 to WNW Wed 1415.5 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 6855 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9330.18v-CUSB, UT Thu Jan 19 at 0448, WBCQ is still on, with Brother Scare! Nothing on 5130v, so this is a change for the Wednesday-night-only displacement from 7490, due to Hal Turner on that frequency once a week at 0200-0400 UT Thursday, but BS would not normally be on at 04-05 anyway due to `Financial Survival` [sic] on 7490. Shift from 5130 to 9330 for this is not yet shown on WBCQ schedule. Not synchro with BS on 5890 WWCR or 7570 WRMI, but at 0457 I note the same anti-Moslem topic, maybe half a minute behind the otherstations. 0500 chime and quick legal WBCQ ID interrupts 9330, back to more BS. 9330 is still BSing at 0540 around 9330.06; 0634 check by when it`s drifted to about 9330.08. Better watch out for Cuban spy numbers on 9330 which appear around 0700, but no clash yet at my final check 0653, until when? EiBi shows Spy starts at 0654! on days 1/3/5/7 = Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun, so no problem on Thursday. 9330.153v-CUSB, Jan 19 at 2101, WBCQ is unusually on the air at this time, with Brother Scare! I bet he has been on all night and all day as I first noted past 0653. Still BS at 2304 check but faded to very poor level. Checking the Overcomer website: Altho it still shows all the deleted WRMI frequencies, and among WWCR, on ``3.125``, it now shows for WBCQ: [columns out of alignment on page, and even more so when copied:] ``WBCQ 7.490 USA Sun Mon-Fri Mon, Tue, Thru [sic], Fri Saturday Daily 0000-03002200-2300 [sic] 0100-0300 0100-0400 0400-0700 [it appears these times are based on EDT conversions, not EST!] 8pm-11pm 6pm- 7pm 9pm-11pm 9pm-Midnight Midnight-3am 9.330 USA Daily 24hr Mostly 24hr Mostly 5.130 USA Daily 24hr Mostly 24hr Mostly`` Yes, 5129.8 WBCQ is also on now at 0046 Jan 20 with BS. Still at 0105, while 9330 is still with Blalock the Blaster during this hour. I`m not checking again until 0616, when I find BS still on 9330, but very poor, also 5129.8 VP; and 7490 is still on but with narration about Xmas and other holidays, which I soon recognize as Jean Shepherd! At 0700 WBCQ ID and switch 7490 to TOM. Now at 0700, 9330 is occupied by huge S9+20 signal from Cuban spy numbers as scheduled 4 nights a week including Friday, and WBCQ cannot be detected underneath it but probably still on. Brief awakening at 1020, so I check again: 5129.8 with BS; nothing audible on 7490; 9330+ with JBA carrier. At 1525, 1539, 9330 is still BS. As of 1725 UT Jan 20, there is nothing on the WBCQ website about these expanded BS hours on all three frequencies! Allan Weiner had said he and Dr Becker would be broadcasting from the inaugural in Washington ``all day`` Jan 20 on 7490 and 9330. 7490 of course belongs to WWCR until 1600 and WBCQ is registered for 7490 not until 1900. The ceremonies start circa 1630. So check WBCQ again at 1653: 9330 is still Brother Scare! 7490 is on with a weak signal, music, not live coverage of the inswearing. O well. A few TV networks are covering one of the most disgusting events in American history (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7490, UT Fri Jan 20 at 0046, WBCQ with `Broad Spectrum Radio` at S9+25, but fading down before finished. Sounds like Amy Goodman now in an excerpt from `Democracy Now!`, report on commutation of Chelsea Manning`s sentence (so why prolong it until May anyway?). Then James Branum quoting RHC website about commutation of López. JB provided in advance these ``Abbreviated show notes: In this episode… 1. News and Commentary about Obama’s last minute Presidential commutations and pardons, including those of * Chelsea Manning, the longest held whistleblower in US history * Óscar López Rivera, Puerto Rican freedom fighter 2. The activist community’s response to the inauguration of President Trump, including this weekend’s protests marches… 3. The moral necessity of ongoing nonviolent resistance… or download now at: http://broadspectrumradio.com/2017/01/19/bsr-magazine-show-discussing-obama-commutations-of-manning-lopez-rivera-and-others-nonviolent-resistance-to-trump-regime/ or via our android app`` 9330v-CUSB, Jan 20 at 1850, WBCQ is still BSing, i.e. The Overcomer, nothing special from the inauguration, as Allan Weiner allegedly had planned; and 7490 is off, altho something was barely audible there a couple hours earlier. At 1945, 9330 is still BS. After 2100, 7490 is on with usual Financial Survival show. At 2232, I time 9330 BS running 9 or 10 seconds behind himself on 7780 WRMI; while 7490 is amid usual Friday show, `Behavior Night` of early recorded music, S9+30; and 5130 is not on yet. At 2301, 5129.8-AM is now on with BS, and during this hour, Brother HyStairical is on all three `BCQ transmitters, plus 7490, 9330.06. He is talking about Bush and Blair as if they were still in office, and gives the date as Wednesday October 10. What year would that be? It could have been 2001y or 2007y. Railing against the imminent imposition of a New World Order to be controlled from Germany; yeah, right. Meanwhile I`ve heard from webmaster Larry Will about added BS hours: ``Hello Glenn, Brother Stair has once again bought up all the available time on WBCQ. Robert at the station shared with us the revised transmitter schedule for each of the WBCQ services. You can infer from this that Brother Stair will be on these frequencies if that service is not already dedicated to other programming. I'm assuming that the WOR broadcasts on 9330 will continue, though I will follow up with Robert to be sure. I'll get the online schedule updated shortly. Regards, Lw`` And Robert had sent this: Shortwave: Daily transmitter schedule - as of Thursday 1/19/2017 [EST] << 9330 >> 7 days ...... ON 24/7 ............ OFF << 5130 >> 7 days ...... ON 6pm ............. OFF 6am [23-11 UT] << 7490 >> 7 days ...... ON (see below) ..... OFF 3am [ -08 UT] Mon ....... ON 4pm (Melody) [21- ] Tue ....... ON 3pm (WHVW) [20- ] Wed ....... ON 4pm (Melody) Thu ....... ON 4pm (Melody) Fri ....... ON 4pm (Melody) Sat ....... ON 6pm (JP) [23- ] Sun ....... ON 5pm (Marion) [22- ] [Note: Start times may change for monthly shows - None scheduled currently] Thanks, Robert, -- W.B.C.Q.`` 7490, UT Sat Jan 21 at 0106 tune-in to WBCQ for `Allan Weiner Worldwide` and hear acting president Thump`s inaugural address, contracted, as the applause has been edited out (except where it overlaps). Finished at 0117, it`s not AW, but Brad and Valerie filling in this week from the echoey GRITS studio, inviting calls to 1-508- 316-3975. They go on to critique the Leader, certainly not what AW himself would have done; no calls yet, so 0123 to a song parodying Trump. GRITS` own time is UT Mon 00-01 on 5130v, i.e. vs 60 Minutes on CBS, so we should listen to their podcasts linked via: http://gritsradio.blogspot.com/ Stands for Ghost Riders In The Sky. Now, 5130 is off, and 9330 is Blalocking (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330-CUSB, Jan 21 at 1741, poor signal but dead air instead of Brother HyStairical from WBCQ, now allegedly 24 hours. And to think, we could have been hearing Damascus, if Assad had kept his SW service going on 9330. With 5130 also on air 12 hours each night, BS except when other stuff such as Area 51 is already scheduled, that appears to end Allan`s ``Radio Jennifer International`` service, active only briefly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Additional transmissions of Brother HySTAIRical via WBCQ: 1800-2300*on 9330 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB 0300-0800*on 9330 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB 2300-2400*on 5130 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB [sic] 0500-1100*on 5130 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English in CUSB [sic] 0500-0800 on 7490 BCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm English AM mode *24 hours according to BS TOM schedule, but this is impossible! http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2017/01/additional-transmissions-of-brother.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330 is in fact more like 24 hours, except for previously scheduled programming, so always on the air. 5130 is NOT CUSB, but AM, altho another/backup transmitter has been used in the past in CUSB. The AM transmitter stays close to 5129.82. 7490, Jan 23 at 0410, WBCQ but a JBA carrier, and no signal on 9330v- CUSB, while WINB is only JBA on 9265 (but 5129.82 is fairly audible with WOR). Very low MUF tonight: WBCQ needs to hurry up and get 3250v into full service, full power; but not going to this winter. See also WA1HLR log 5129.8-AM, Jan 24 at 0031, this WBCQ is BSing at S9+20; 7490 with other programming is lesser at S9+10, and 9330 with WOR is JBA --- the upper two frequencies generally become unusable as the evening progresses; and the lower, if on and propagating, faces increasing noise levels depending on storm positioning. As of 1700 UT Jan 24, the online WBCQ Program Guide still hasn`t been updated to show all the additional BS hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. [Re 17-03:] WRMI 11580 kHz Monitored Sunday Evening Schedule Here is a list of "System D", unattended recording, fast forwarding in mp3directcut last Su/Mo/Tu Sunday z-time 2000-2015 Religious program, may be: "his prayer for you" 2015-2030 Holy Gospel 2030-2100 DIGIDX # 44 (instead # 45) 2100-2200 Your weekend show 2200-2300 Religious program: Worship in your home 2300-2330 DSWCI, "Last AGM, part 2" (as in the past weeks!, instead of Wavescan) 2330-2400 DIGIDX # 44 (instead # 45) Monday z-time 0000-0100 Religious program: Worship in your home 0100-0115 Viva Miami en Español 0115-0130 Made in Italy 0130-0200 Religious program: Evangelical Holiness 0200-0230 Radio Ukraine International in English 0230-.........World Music Problems with the Internet Stream Monday z-time 2000-2100 Your weekend show 2100-2200 La Rosa de Tokio 2200-2230 Famagusta Radio Cyprus [should be 15 minutes --- gh] 2230-2300 Religious program: Christian New Age Radio 2300-2315 Viva Miami en Español 2315-2330 Religious program: Bible Prophecy 2330-2400 Radio Ukraine International in English (with Mailbag) Tuesday z-time 0000-0030 Wavescan 0030-0100 WOR 1860 0100-0115 Viva Miami en Español 0115-0130 Hymns 0130-0200 Wavescan 0200-0230 Radio Ukraine International in English (with Mailbag) 0230-.... World Music Wednesday evening, among other things, time somewhat unclear: FG - Famagusta Gazette Radio PCJ Radio Int'l with Focus Asia-Pacific Switzerland in Sound All "System D", no specific frequency, usually: 0000-0100 7730 kHz 0100-0230 11580 kHz 2000-2100 11580 kHz 2100-2200 15770 kHz 2200-2300 5950 kHz 2300-2400 11580 kHz (roger, germany, Jan 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6855, Fri Jan 20 at quick check 1021, WRMI with Ray Robinson speaking, so must be a Wavescan segment, // much stronger 5850, rather than FG Radio as scheduled. 7730 & 7780 are in BS now. Skedgrid shows System F at 10-11 both on 5850 and 6855, i.e. WORLD OF RADIO Wednesdays at 1030 should also be on both frequencies now. 7730, Jan 21 at 0656, this WRMI is unusually absent, while BS on 7780 is VP, 7570 is VG, and 6855 is P with music, 5850 G with World Music. For the record, 7730 is back on Jan 22 at 0146 check, along with 7780, 7570 all BSing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: A Problem with DigiDX? No DigiDX program yesterday (22 January) via WRMI on 11580 kHz at 2030 UT. Instead, we were treated to a broadcast of this week's VOA Radiogram (#199). It turns out that Stephen Cooper is just swamped with work-related activities lately, leaving no time to produce his DigiDX shows. Hopefully, they will return soon. Interestingly, one of the items in the Radiogram was about the inauguration of U.S. presidents. Has the VOA covered in its newscasts yet the lying by Sean Spicer about the turnout for the Trump inauguration? (Richard Langley, Jan 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And speaking of the inauguration, the choice of the closing music of VOA Radiogram (or interlude music chosen by WRMI) was interesting and may allude to the next four years and the next election. It was "Woyaya" by The 5th Dimension. And in case you forget the lyrics, they start out: We are going Heaven knows where we are going We know within We will get there Heaven knows how we will get there We know we will It will be hard we know And the road will be muddy and rough ... (-- Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 9955, Jan 23 at 0413, WRMI music is poor S6-S7 vs pulse jamming. Yet, 9790 CRI via CUBA manages S9+40 signal (and no jamming! tho habitually undermodulated). Similar distance and slightly further south. Bigger transmitter and higher-gain antennas aimed our way make all the difference. 9955, Jan 25 at 1445 on WRMI following WORLD OF RADIO is `Viva Miami` in Spanish, but not the episode about visiting Portugal, rather a new one on República Checa, where Jeff & Thaïs went before? Portugal in mid-December (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 12105, Jan 19 at 2058, NO signal from WTWW-3. Others, 9930 and 9475 are nominal. 9930, Sat Jan 21 at 1941, WTWW-2 is just now ending `Theater Organ of the Ozarx` and on to `Amateur Radio Newsline #2047 for Jan 20`. Hummy distorted signal. 5085, UT Sun Jan 22 at 0205, repeat of TOOTO is also airing, with cabaret conversations in the background, S9+50 but some storm noise from Arkansas still audible, as well as the spurs circa 5072.1 and 5097.9 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTWW-2, Fair signal this evening on 5085 kHz, tuning in just before 0200 UT for Bob Heil's "Theatre Organ from the Ozarks" with just the built-in whip antenna on a Sony ICF-SW7600GR indoors here in NB. Occasional deep fades, though. Followed at the bottom of the hour by "Amateur Radio Newsline" until about 0301:30 UT and then into country music (Richard Langley UT Sun Jan 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST 12105, Jan 24 at 0259-0302+, dead air at S5, no doubt WTWW-3 still on and propagating; while 9475, WTWW-1 is S9+15, and 5085, WTWW-2 is S9+35 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Good signal of WMLK Radio, Assemblies of Yahweh on Jan 18 1700-2200 on 9275 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu English Sun-Fri Wrong frequency announcement: 9475 kHz, instead of 9275 kHz and 04-09 morning 9475 MLK 250 kW / 053 deg to WeEu, ALSO IS WRONG! http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/good-signal-of-wmlk-radio-assemblies-of_19.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) It is to say the least, irresponsible of WMLK to resume broadcasting, yet keep playing years-old, totally outdated schedule announcements. But they are really hurting only their own credibility, let alone that of their peculiar program content (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. 7505, Jan 19 at 0504 tune-in to suptorted music at S9+20, so WRNO must be back on after a few nights` AWOL --- but this cuts off in less than a minute before I have a change to measure it; slightly off- frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Wolfie, Jan 21 (Saturday), tuned in at 0431, on 7505v, to hear stilted Chinese; 0454 closing announcements in Chinese and English with program ID ("Praise for Today"), along with full IDs for WRNO; after the program, at 0456, gave another full WRNO closing for the evening ID, in English. So the "Praise for Today" show, in Chinese, is in fact observed Thursday and Saturday, close to 0400-0500 UT (Ron Howard, California, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7505v, Jan 22 at 0150, 0210, no show from WRNO tonight, but a JBA carrier, presumably INDIA. 7505vv, Jan 23 at 0410, WRNO is still AWOL. 7505v, Jan 24 at 0222, WRNO is on, YL gospel huxter at S8-S9 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nearby US WRNO sermon program, female pastor ministry ? - 7504.869 kHz, but unstable frequency, wandered 10-20 Hertz up and down. S=8-9 in Doha Qatar, S=9+20dB signal strength in Spain and Germany at 0409 UT on Jan 24, - 2 x 5.3 kHz wide audio transmission (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15555-USB, Jan 23 at 1537 and 2000 chex, no signal from WJHR. Really, I haven`t heard it in quite some time. Due to low power and lousy propagation, not always evidence it`s off, but when did anyone last hear it? Nominal sked is 14-22 UT daily. Last logs preserved in DXLD, or in my inbox were Dec 27: ``15555, USB. WJHR, Radio International, Milton FL; Dec 27 at 1625. English. Full ID at 1703, OM Bible discussion. Audio: https://clyp.it/ufuv5von (Dino Bloise, Miami [FL], USA), JRC 545 + Longwire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) And strong here in NB at about 1945 UT. But I have to ask the question: How many listeners does he have? (-- Richard Langley, ibid.)`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15555-USB, Jan 24 at 1731, WJHR is barely audible, but this dead gospel huxter confirmed still active (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fair to weak reception of WJHR Radio, Jan 24 1359 & 1505 on 15555 JHR 050 kW / 005 deg to WNAm English USB http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/fair-to-weak-reception-of-wjhr-radio.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 600, TEXAS, KTBB, Tyler. 1150 January 22, 2017. Outdoors program, advert for some rolling outdoors event in Deer Park, Ft. Worth, Austin and mention of Austin Community College. Talk about a new double barrel shotgun. Parallel station website stream (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 690, KANSAS, KGGF, Coffeyville. 1202 January 22, 2017. Fox News, weather for South Coffeyville (just across the border in OK; apparently those in KS are shunned) and Tulsa at 1205, then "And now, When Radio Was" with Fibber McGee & Molly, Molly chatting of course with Mr. Gildersleeve. Briefly local level (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1110, ALABAMA, WTOF, Bay Minette. 2144 January 16, 2017. With my local WTIS off since apparently December 31 pending slight site shift and CP to move to 1100 kHz and go 10,000/150 watts from 10,000 day only, letting this one show daytime now with a clear and fair signal, white preacher demanding all to respect God (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1190, MISSISSIPPI, WMEJ, Bay Saint Louis. 1212 January 21, 2017. Urban Gospel, MLK quote at 1214. Parallel station website stream. WAMT co-channel with the usual Haitian programming. I miss the old days, when this was Delta Blues and always off-frequency on the low side when under former calls, the heritage and appropriate WBSL (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD-535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FINNISH RADIO ENTHUSIASTS PICK UP KBUR BROADCAST 4,229 MILES AWAY http://www.kbur.com/2017/01/17/finnish-radio-enthusiasts-pick-up-kbur-broadcast-4229-miles-away/ (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) It`s in BURlington, USA, but which one? Certainly not Vermont. Some searching on the website finally uncovers it: IOWA. It`s a 760-watt graveyarder on 1490. Strange as it may seem, overseas DXers often have better luck catching a GY which barely peaks above the noise, than those of us closer with hundreds of stations competing from much closer range. Story has a link to their clip, almost incomprehensible (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1580 KFCS CO, Colorado Springs 1/19 0120-0145 dominant with some signs of KGAL, running program titled “Great Music of the Church” with mostly light classical orchestral but at least one female choral piece; only break at 0139 with long piece on the use of Biblical quotes in LBJ inauguration and request for donations at station’s 800 number; 0255-0306 all alone out of paid religious program into muffled call letters and “Colorado Springs” at 0258 then local spots and promos before “USA Radio News” 0300-0305 then call letter ID (Jon Pearkins, Edmonton AB, Sangean HDR-18, Western DX Roundup, IRCA DX Monitor Jan 28 published Jan 24, via DXLD) ** U S A. 101.1 MHz, UNIDENTIFIED, 1904 UT January 16, 2017. Someone here with Jesus talk, something PSA-ish for "Youth Radio" and only occasionally popping up between WJRR Cocoa Beach (but really Bithlo) Active Rock and WAVV Naples with EZL/jazz. I was checking the channel to see if W266CW, the translator since 11/25/2016, is off the air as would be required since WTIS, 1110 kHz has been silent since 12/31/2016, with a CP for moving to a nearby site and changing frequency to 1100 kHz, thus going from daytime only 10 kW to 10,000 / 150. The Christian talk was far too weak to be them considering my office reception proximity to the translator site. 107.7 MHz, FLORIDA, W299CI, Tampa. 1910 UT January 16, 2017. Happened upon this one, a translator for WAMA 1550 kHz with Mexi-tunes, "La Ley 107 punto 7 y 15-50 AM" liner. FCC dB says since 11/28/2016. ******************************** Florida Low Power Radio Stations: https://sites.google.com/site/floridadxn/florida-low-power-radio-stations ******************************** (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater FL, NRD- 535, IC-R75, active loop, wires, Times/dates GMT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PIRATE RADIO STATION OPERATOR IN WORCESTER IS FINED $15K Sunday Posted Jan 22, 2017 at 7:06 PM Updated Jan 22, 2017 at 11:51 PM By Steven H. Foskett Jr. Telegram & Gazette Staff http://www.telegram.com/news/20170122/pirate-radio-station-operator-in-worcester-is-fined-15k WORCESTER - The Federal Communications Commission has taken action against a Worcester man for operating a pirate radio station. The FCC imposed a $15,000 penalty last week against Vasco Oburoni of Worcester for illegally operating an unlicensed radio broadcast station at 102.3 FM from an antenna on the roof of the Christian Praise International church building at 52 Ward St. According to the FCC, the steep penalty was warranted because it had repeatedly warned Mr. Oburoni he was in violation of FCC rules. The agency said Mr. Oburoni tried to appeal the penalty after it proposed the $15,000 forfeiture in November. According to the forfeiture order announced last week by the FCC, Mr. Oburoni continued to operate the station as recently as Dec. 13, when two agents from the Boston field office traveled to Worcester and confirmed the pirate radio station was still broadcasting. FCC documents indicate Mr. Oburoni had been warned before November that he could face enforcement action. The agency first sent him a field notice and warning letter in July 2015. Mr. Oburoni at that time admitted he was operating the station, according to the FCC. The Boston field office first received a complaint about the unlicensed broadcasting in the Worcester area from WKLB-FM, 102.5 FM, according to the FCC. The agency used mobile direction-finding techniques to identify the source of radio frequency transmissions (via Mike Terry, UK, dxldyg via DXLD) ** U S A. VCU INSTRUCTOR STUMBLES ONTO THE RADIO GIG OF A LIFETIME - The Washington Post By Gregory S. Schneider, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/vcu-instructor-stumbles-onto-the-radio-gig-of-a-lifetime/2017/01/10/2af2d20a-d6a6-11e6-9f9f-5cdb4b7f8dd7_print.html RICHMOND -- If you're a public radio listener, you've been hearing an unlikely Cinderella story lately and probably didn't realize it. A new voice popped up after Thanksgiving on the underwriter spots -- those promos for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, or Pajamagrams. It's a man's voice, joining Jessica Hansen, who's had the solo gig for about two years. The new voice belongs to Chioke I'Anson, 37. He's a philosophy- quoting, motorcycle-loving, African American-studies instructor from Virginia Commonwealth University. And he's still a little stunned at how he got what amounts to one of the highest-profile jobs in all of radio. Rewind about a year, and I'Anson is sitting in a bar in Richmond with a friend, Kelly Jones. She has an idea for a podcast, she says. Yeah, sure, I'Anson says; we should do that sometime. He had done radio before, but the on-air stuff was mostly behind him. He did some production work for a local public radio show in Richmond, but otherwise, he'd gotten his PhD, he was teaching, and now and then he'd present papers on motorcycles and philosophy (he can explain why German philosophy shreds the idea that motorcycling without safety gear represents personal freedom). But Jones was persistent, and she put together a proposal, and they immediately had some success. The podcast network Radiotopia picked their project as one of 10 semifinalists in a national call-out for new ideas. The concept is clever. Called "Do Over," the still-unreleased podcast will feature I'Anson and Jones talking to guests about what life would be like if they could go back to one crucial moment and do things differently. Armed with the Radiotopia win, they applied for a workshop at NPR for aspiring podcasters. It was a chance to share ideas, get a little training, see how it's done in the big leagues. They got in. At the end of the summertime NPR workshop, each team was supposed to make a presentation. NPR staffers had been rounded up to watch – among them, Israel Smith, who was only vaguely familiar with what was going on. But when I'Anson got to the microphone, he snapped to attention. "As soon as he opened his mouth," Smith recalled, "I was dumbstruck by the quality and the richness and the presence in his voice. I literally started bouncing up and down in my chair." This is the public radio equivalent of a Hollywood producer finding his next big star at the soda fountain: Smith is senior director of promotion and audience development, and happened to be kicking around the idea of bringing in a second person to help handle the increasing demand for voice-over talent. Even though they don't get named on-air, the underwriter voices are among the most widely heard on NPR, reaching 30 million listeners week in and week out. A couple of years ago, when NPR decided to find a new voice to replace the man who had done the underwriter spots for three decades, more than 400 people from all over the country sent in audition tapes. But this time, once Smith heard I'Anson speak, he didn't look further. "As soon as he was done, I ran up to him and just said, `Give me your contact info.' And he looked at me like, `Who the hell are you?' " I'Anson was thrilled by the attention, but didn't let himself believe it was serious. "It was a few months later, really, before he said, `Hey, I got this job for you,' " I'Anson said. "I didn't really think that much about it because . . . it's best to just kind of go about your life." Getting the job was both a big change and no change at all. "I went from just being a guy with a microphone to being on every NPR station in America," he said. At the same time, it didn't disrupt his academic career. He spends every weekday morning recording spots for NPR, then spends the afternoon in class. And while he hasn't yet started getting voice-recognized in public, he's a celebrity to his friends. "Those Pajamagram things ran a lot leading up to Christmas, and I would get text messages from my friends just straight picking on me," he said. " `Hey man, do you have some pajamas I can get?' or `I'm thinking of getting some pajamas for my cat.' " Because he seems to be on a roll, the good news didn't end there. NPR chose "Do Over" along with two other podcasts to get $10,000 grants, some professional advice and consideration for NPR sponsorship. Meanwhile, I'Anson is planning a spring semester class called "Podcasting While Black," drawing on the oratorical lessons of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass and others to arm the next generation with the tools for this new medium. "It's an exciting time," I'Anson said. "It's kind of a merger of all the things I've ever been interested in. If I also got to teach a motorcycling class, we'd achieve full unity." (c) The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Changes in San Diego DTV market: See MEXICO: Raymie`s Beat ** UZBEKISTAN. 5895, BBC (Tashkent), *1500-1520 13 January. Nice to hear Central Asia, even if it's "just" BBC, // 7465 (Kranji) with world news to 1506 and followed by tech. news (Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, PL380/6m X wire [v2.0], via Robert Wilkner, NASWA yg via DXLD) See also KOREA NORTH [non] ** VANUATU. 7259.96, R. Vanuatu. 0754 noted a W talking, almost able to copy. Same W heard in Pidgin on the Freemans Ranch Australia web receiver (12 Jan.) 73 (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S loop, and 153 foot Delta Loop, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) 7259.939, signal peak visible around 0635 UT, VANUATU ?? seemingly long path from Pacific, Easter Island, Colombia, Azores long path into Germany ? Yes, -- confirmed also on Edmonton Alberta remote installation. And very same BSL Radio Vanuatu Port Vila. Vanuatu station ID by men at 0642 UT on Jan 19. S=8 or -78dBm signal easily armchair signal heard in Brisbane Queensland in Australia remote unit [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 19, dxldyg via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 9635 even frequency of VoV 1st program, from Son Tay site, S=9+5dB signal noted in Eastern Thailand remote SDR unit. 6020even, VoV 4th program hill people program from Dac Lac - Buon Ma Thuot site, S=9+10dB at 0357 UT on Jan 24, and accompanied by usual two symmetric spur signals on 6006.630 and 6033.370 kHz. 5975even, VoV 1st program from Son Tay site, S=8-9 signal in Eastern Thailand remote SDR. News reader at 0400 UT. 5925even fq, VoV 2nd program from Xuan Mai site, S=8-9 signal in Eastern Thailand, News at 0402 UT. Scheduled 03-06 UT. 7210even, VoV 1st program at 0406 UT on Jan 24, from Dac Lac - Buon Ma Thuot site, S=9+10dB signal level in neighbouring Eastern Thailand SDR unit post. 73 wolfie df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Some logging of Eastern Thailand SDR remote post at 0330-0406 UT Jan 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9839.826, Jan 25 at 1356, tonal talk at S4, no doubt always off- frequency VOV. However it`s scheduled to go from English to Japanese at 1400, both 100 kW at 57 degrees, favorable for us, as in Aoki ``9840`` not dealing with off-frequencies (nor does EiBi in this case), but better than HFCC with no Vietnam entries at all. VOV has fixed some of their off-frequencies, so maybe this one will be too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN [non]. 11860 Country ??? Radio Yemen / Sana'a, Location ??? Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 1833-1834. Arabic, music and song. Poor. Jo'burg sunset 1704. Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 2200-2202. Arabic, YL and OM talking. Poor. Jo'burg sunset 1704. Jan 21, 2017 Saturday. 0320-0323. Nothing heard, but a weak carrier was found. Jo'burg sunrise 0334 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST 11860, Jan 24 at 1427 and still 1441, Republic of Yemen Radio (via SAUDI ARABIA?) is VG with music at S9+10, but marred by IADs every few seconds (intermittent audio dropouts) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Jan 18, 2017 Wednesday. 1840-2125. Nothing heard, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunset 1705. 5915, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Jan 19, 2017 Thursday. 0335-0355. Nothing heard, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunrise 0331. Jan 19, 2017. Thursday. 2108- 2109. Nothing heard, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunset 1704. Jan 20, 2017. Friday. 0337-0339. Nothing heard, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunrise 0333. Fourth consecutive day ZNBC1 is off air: 5915 Zambia, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Jan 20, 2017, Friday. 1455-1510. Nothing heard, no carrier found. Should be audible by now in Jo'burg. Jo'burg sunset 1704. Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 1830-1832. AWOL, no carrier found. Jan 20, 2017 Friday. 2200- 2202. AWOL, no carrier found. Jan 21, 2017 Saturday. 0315-0316. AWOL, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunrise 0334. 5915, ZNBC1, Lusaka: Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 1804-1806. AWOL, no carrier. Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 1906-1907. AWOL, no carrier found. Jan 22, 2017 Sunday. 2003-2005. AWOL, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunset 1704. 5915 Zambia, ZNBC1, Lusaka. Jan 23, 2017 Monday. 0405-0406. AWOL, no carrier found. Jo'burg sunrise 0336 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, R. One/ZNBC. Thanks to Bill Bingham (RSA) for constantly monitoring this one that remains silent. Jan 24, noted still AWOL at 0307 & 0347. Jan 24, at 1626, after CRI had signed off, found Zambia was no longer being heard here via long path, as it had been recently. Totally off the air now! (Ron Howard, Calif., dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. NEW WEEKDAY SCHEDULE FOR VOICE OF HOPE - AFRICA --- Morning broadcast to be replaced with afternoon/evening broadcast from 1700 to 2200 UT on 4965 kHz (omni) and 6065 kHz (to West Africa). I received the following personal message from Ray Robinson: "I have seen a few messages lately, regarding the non-appearance of ZNBC-1 on 5915 kHz in their early mornings. You may be aware of the rolling power outages called 'load shedding' the electricity utility in Zambia, ZESCO, continues to impose daily throughout the country. The outages are at different times in different areas, but at the Voice of Hope transmitter site, the outages have been effect from 6-10 am local (0400-0800 UT) since September. "The ZNBC shortwave site is only a few miles from ours, and it would be logical they are on the same outage schedule. I know from when our staff visited their site a few months ago to buy some distilled water for our transmitter cooling systems before our own still was up and running, that ZNBC's genset is not currently operational, and I don't believe they have the budget either to repair it, or to buy diesel for it, if it was repaired and functional. "My guess is they have decided it is not really worth the effort to broadcast for the hour or so from 0245 UTC until whenever the power goes out. (This is just my speculation.) They do use 5915 later in the day after the much cheaper hydro power returns, but of course by then, the propagation conditions do not favor inter-continental reception. "As for Voice of Hope - Africa, we had expected the load shedding to end by December (two months into the Zambian rainy season), but alas the outages are continuing, with no sign of any change soon. Our own weekday morning broadcasts on 9680 and 11680 kHz have been entirely powered from our genset since September. This is expensive, and unsustainable. "We have therefore decided to make a schedule change from next Monday. Instead of broadcasting weekday mornings from 0500 to 0800 UT, we will switch to weekday evenings from 1700 to 2200 UT, extending the duration of the broadcast from three hours to five. The last two hours will be 'Night Light' presented by Stephen Mdoma, reprising a program he used to present late nights years ago when the station was known as Christian Voice. "We will be using the frequencies 4965 kHz (omni) and 6065 kHz (to West Africa), which may also afford better opportunities for reception in ECNA after local dusk. The program schedule on our website will be updated this weekend. We plan to re-launch the morning broadcasts once the load shedding ends. I thought you might like to know. http://www.voiceofhope.com "Ray Robinson, Vice President, Global Operations, Strategic Communications Group - Voice of Hope, Los Angeles and Lusaka" I presume that the weekend schedule (Saturday and Sunday 1200-1700 on 9680 and 13680 kHz?) is unchanged but am checking (-- Richard Langley, NB, Jan 19, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So far as I can tell, ZNBC1 have a more serious problem at present. They appear to have been completely off air for at least the last three days. When we had load shedding in South Africa a couple of years ago, it did considerable damage to domestic electronic equipment. It isn't beyond the bounds of possibility that some of the electronics at ZNBC1 has been damaged by load shedding. It isn't the power going off that causes the damage, but the surge when it comes back on. Just speculating! (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D, Jan 20, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bill & Ray, Here is a story today about Europe helping Zambia. Wonder if it will really help. The comments below the article seem to think not! https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/01/20/eu-gives-zambia-65-million-euros-electricity-transmission-improvement/ (Ron, California, Jan 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Ron, Interesting article, thanks very much. Personally, I'd be surprised if it made any difference at all. There seems to be no point in improving transmission and connection facilities for more customers, when ZESCO keep telling us the problem is caused by lack of rainfall to drive the generators at Kariba. Or, depending on which articles one reads, lack of maintenance at Kariba for many years. I'd like to be proved wrong! Regards, (Bill Bingham, ibid.) I very much agree with Bill. Last time I was in Lusaka, I got chatting over breakfast to a contractor who was staying at my hotel. He was an American who worked for a power utility in the U.S., and had been seconded to ZESCO under some sort of international agreement. He said the lack of maintenance throughout the ZESCO network was criminal, not just at the Kariba dam. At our transmission site, we have a three phase supply which is constantly out of balance. Our voltage regulator works overtime! The contractor said ZESCO should have their own voltage regulators every few miles throughout their network, so they can guarantee the voltage delivered to each customer. Otherwise, the voltages on the power lines get less and less with distance and after each customer connection. The reality - there isn't a single voltage regulator anywhere in the country, in the public power grid. And the general mentality is, let's wait until something fails completely, then we'll fix it (maybe). The turbines at Kariba have been poorly maintained since independence in 1964, and several of the concrete spillways are badly cracked and in danger of breaking apart. And, the rates charged for the electricity are incredibly low (about 1/10th of what we pay in California), so the utility can never really build up any capital to able to address the problems, even if it had a mind to do so. It's a sad situation, and even though the rains have been much better this year, I don't see anything changing with regard to the load shedding anytime soon (Ray Robinson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Looks like Christian Voice/Vision knew what they were doing, pulling out of Zambia (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 9680 Zambia, Voice of Hope, Lusaka. Jan 21, 2017 Saturday. *1206-1255 (on and off monitoring). Crash start at 1206, id and frequencies at 1207, into music and religious song including words “I walk with you my Lord”. YL with markets and currencies at 1211-1214 with a promise to come back to commodities after the next song. YL gave next weeks new frequencies at 1255, with apologies for the inconvenience. Good. Jo'burg sunset 1704. 13680 Zambia, Voice of Hope. // 9680. Lusaka. Jan 21, 2017 Saturday. 1225-1233. Same YL finishing off the markets report she started earlier. OM with id and frequencies at 1233, into another song. Much weaker and more fadey than 9680, barely audible at times. Not surprising, since it is targetted at West Africa. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Updated schedule of V of Hope Africa, English from Jan 23: 1700-2200 4965 LUS 100 kW / 000 deg SoAf Mon-Fri tx#1, new additional 1700-2200 6065 LUS 100 kW / 315 deg WeAf Mon-Fri tx#2, new additional 1200-1700 9680 LUS 100 kW / 000 deg SoAf Sat/Sun tx#1, unchanged 1200-1700 13680 LUS 100 kW / 315 deg WeAf Sat/Sun tx#2, unchanged 0500-0800 9680 LUS 100 kW / 000 deg SoAf Mon-Fri tx#1, cancelled 0500-0800 11680 LUS 100 kW / 315 deg WeAf Mon-Fri tx#2, cancelled http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/updated-shortwave-schedule-of-kvoh.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #988 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, January 24, 2017 via DXLD) 4965 // 6065. Zambia, Voice of Hope. Lusaka. Jan 23, 2017 Monday. *1657-1725. First day of new schedule to avoid load-shedding. Transmitter on with sine wave at *1657, into music and id loop until 1700 then religious programming. Both 4965 and 6065 are noisy (atmospheric QRN) and fadey. The West African stream on 6065 has been the best of the two in Jo'burg from sign on until 1715. As of 1725ut, 4065 is slowly deteriorating and 6065 slowly improving. Jo'burg sunset 1704 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fair signal on 6065 kHz at 1715 UT using the U. Twente receiver today (23 January). Best in LSB to avoid splatter from 6070 kHz. Also can be heard, although somewhat weaker, in parallel on 4965 kHz (-- Richard Langley, NB, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fair signal here at 1735 UT tune in on 6065 kHz, SIO 333 with Christian music and "bible teachings". Nothing heard on 4965 at this time (Russ Cummings, AOR7030+, 18m long wire, North Ferriby, East Yorkshire, UK, Jan 24, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Both frequencies audible here at 2015 UT tune-in. 6065 kHz strongest SIO 343 // weaker 4965, SIO 252. Christian songs with English station ID at 2017 UT. 73 (Alan Pennington, AOR 7030plus, longwire, Caversham, UK, Jan 23, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) https://playdxblog.blogspot.it/2017/01/voice-of-hope-africa-da-lusaka-su-4965.html (Giampiero Bernardini, dxldyg via DXLD) Good signal here in NB today (25 January) at about 2130 UT on 6065 kHz. Some co-channel QRM. Will review recording to try to identify source (Richard Langley, ibid.) ** ZANZIBAR. 6015, ZBC Radio, Dole. Jan 20, 2017. Friday. 0359-0402. Drumming and time pips, Swahili talk. Poor. Jo'burg sunrise 0333. Jan 21, 2017 Saturday. 0318-0320. OM monologue in Swahili. Fair. Jo'burg sunrise 0334 (Bill Bingham, Johannesburg RSA. Drake R8E, Sony ICF2001D. dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST TANZANIA, Reception of Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation ZBC in English on Jan 22 1745 & 1808 11735 DOL 050 kW / non-dir CeAf Swahili, incl. English 1800-1810 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/reception-of-zanzibar-broadcasting.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Pacific JBA MW carrier search January 19, UT: At 1327: 774-NW, 792-WSW At 1329: 1098-W At 1331: 1566-NW [See KOREA SOUTH] LSR in Enid today: 1341 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 840, Jan 23 at 0437 UT, Spanish station in total null of WHAS. I figure it`s KVJY Pharr TX, as heard a few times before, but what I get does not match up to last known info about it. ``La mejor alternativa, 107.9, la palabra de dios, levantando una nueva generación``, into praise music. As of November, logged by Terry Krueger, KVJY was // Ultra 104.9 FM, with pop music format. http://www.ultra1049.com/ still appends 840 on its home page. Maybe has really changed format/FM relayer again. Slogans and format do not match up to any likely Mexicans either. The 107.9 in the RGV is KVLY EDINBURG TX 100.0 kW, 257.0 m, MIX 107.9 ADULT CONTEMPORARY, per WTFDA Database, and no match to // 840. Note the similarity in calls http://mix1079.net/ but ownership is different. If this is the source for 840 now, it too would have to be a drastic format-change. There are only two other US 840s this could possibly be, both of which are listed as religious, but not Spanish, and are daytimers: KDLF Ball LA, and WBHY Mobile AL. 840, Jan 24 at 0215 UT, I`m trying to get an ID for the Spanish religious station previously heard, but reception tonight is not so good. WHAS can be almost nulled with the DX-398, and occasional peaks of the Spanish station, but heavy IBOC noise from 830 WCCO, unlike last time with no IBOC or auroral conditions weakening CCO; even tho it`s worse on the hi side of 840, I still hear the noise using LSB tuning. And of course that does not null at the same angle as WHAS. There is also some other CCI music, probably Cuba. That or WHAS is making a SAH of about 5 Hz. Initially 0215 UT heard mentioning ``palabra de dios``. Another peak at 0248 UT, taking oración requests for ``protección divina``; lots of names mentioned, but no locational references. (As if some nonentity individuals need help from some radio station to get a DXing God`s attention!) Fades again including past 0300 UT hourtop when I quit for now; in fact, I wonder if it has signed off. Prime suspect remains KVJY Pharr TX in format flip. Perhaps an RGV DXer could clarify this, Steve (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WCCO, or, as it is referred to by some of the people that have worked there: Double You Slee Zee Oh! (NM7X, Jan 19, ABDX via DXLD) Whose call letters stand for We Can't Control Ourselves! [??] 73, (Rick Dau, South Omaha, Nebraska, ibid.) 840, Jan 25 at 0459 UT, another try to ID the Spanish religious station here. Gives phone number at least thrice, 480-467-4626, but no ID caught as IBOC noise grows (WCCO must have been in a fade); WHAS nulled leaving usual SAH with the unID. Trouble is, AC 480 is suburban Phoenix AZ, and a reverse lookup leads to one Carleen Hansen, in Scottsdale. There are no 840s in AZ or anywhere near, so if phone correct, must be a program carried elsewhere, such as suspect KVJY Pharr TX (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi, Last Saturday evening, around 1900 UT, I could listen to an UNID station on 3340 kHz with Latinamerican music and weak signal. I thought it could be Radio Misiones Int from Honduras and I contacted the station, but they have answered that they haven't been on air on SW for several years. Anybody knows which was this station? Any idea? Thanks in advance! (Artur Fernández Llorella, Catalonia, My DX blog: http://maresmedx.blogspot.com.es/ HCDX via DXLD) Artur, And surely there would be no propagation at 1 pm local time from Honduras to Catalonia, nor from anywhere in Latin America. My guess would be a pirate from Europe, e.g. Greece or Netherlands, 2 x 1670. Check that frequency for a match. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) As for propagation, Glenn may be right.. but stranger things have happened (Paul Walker, AK, ibid.) Agreed - at 1900 UT in the winter time, anything is possible - but it is more likely that it was a 2nd harmonic of an American station if there was no fading or other ionospheric quirks (Colin Newell, BC, ibid.) At that UTC time in Spain - a second harmonic of an American station - would be a real strange propagation (Jari in Finland Savolainen, ibid.) Let`s start with the *least strange* possibility as I originally suggested – harmonic of Europirate (gh, DXLD) An easy listening try: tonight at 1930 UT on Jan 24: all over Italy remote stations, two strong signals of very same pirate music program, fundamental 1670.006 kHz S=9+20dB strength in Perseus SDR net units, and harmonic 3340.011 kHz S=8 signal too. Muy cerca de Cataluña. Saludos wolfie df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5122.50-USB, Jan 20 at 0703, weak 2-way in Russian, or maybe Ukrainian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5755.00, Jan 20 at 0102, JBA carrier. No broadcasters are scheduled here; could it be YHWH? Not on 5792 at the moment, but earlier than he usually starts, and Ron Howard says he had shifted to 5790 when last heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7676.50-USB, Jan 22 at 0147, non-intruding 2-way in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9130, Jan 23 at 1422, weak talk at S2-S3; nothing listed in Aoki, but perhaps a new jammed Sound of Hope frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. EGYPT [sic], station with Egyptian music on Jan 19 0930-0940 on 9400 unknown tx / unknown to UNID, poor/weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/01/unidentified-station-with-egyptian_19.html 73! (Ivo Ivanov, QTH: Sofia, Bulgaria, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15300, Tue Jan 24 at 1448, open carrier/dead air at S9- S7, still so at 1518. I have logged YHWH here around 21 UT; otherwise France is the only 15300 station, but not scheduled at this hour; except for VOA São Tomé, 14-15 Sat/Sun only in Kirundi. Maybe that or some other IBB site testing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15436-USB, Jan 21 at 1508, INTRUDER, 2-way in Spanish, too close to 15435 BSKSA`s 500 kW aimed 320 degrees right at us. Spanish also has music in background sounding like off-tuned, as if bleed from Saudi, but it`s talking. Then music from Riyadh adds to the mess. Still going at 1528. I continue to be amazed that no other SWBC monitors ever report these in-band, usually Spanish, intruders. They may not be identifiable, but at least one of us is documenting them. Log editors are no help either, by not publishing them, as if off-topic? 15436-USB, Jan 22 at 1504, INTRUDERS 2-way in Spanish here again 24 hours after last log; today, not much signal from 15435 BSKSA. Another 24 hours later, Jan 23 at 1508, no SSB and BSKSA is quite strong at S9+10 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1862: Happy Holidays, Glenn! Your dedication to this hobby is remarkable and appreciated (Robert Lazar, with a generous contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY, one or two a week: Enjoy listening on WBCQ [9330] at 0030 UT 12/30/16 from Winterhaven, CA on Grundig Sat750 (John Anderson, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com Tnx to Robert Waybright for a PayPal contribution to woradio at yahoo.com Thanks to Ron Howard for a check to P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 Always enjoy listening to you Glenn (Robert May, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Note from Frank Orcutt, BallisticProse Trading Company: ``Thank you for all your years of selfless service to the DXing community, Glenn`` with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com Hope your late January weather isn't terminally awful &, as always, big props to you for keeping DXLD @ the forefront of SW news. Cheers (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas & Moonlight Beach, CA, PL380/6m X wire) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ AFRICALIST My Africalist homepage got an update today: http://www.muenster.org/uwz/ms-alt/africalist/ 73 Thorsten Posted by: (Thorsten Hallmann, Germany, Jan 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) WEBSITE FOR COVERAGE MAPS I don't know how many of you are familiar with the following website, but I particularly like it because it is the only place I know that you can get FM coverage maps showing the 70 dBu city grade contour. You do have to click on "Show Advanced Coverage Map" to get it. http://www.fccdata.org/ (Bob Smoak, Bamberg, SC, Jan 24, ABDX via DXLD) UPDATE TO WTFDA FM DATABASE Mike Bugaj and I have been busy adding the Central American countries to the WTFDA FM database over the past several weeks. I believe Mike has another couple weeks on Honduras and it will be complete. Then it`s just maintenance. I just thought I would share some interesting factoids to help the users of the WTFDA FM database appreciate the data that has been entered. Belize has almost 50 FM stations in the database. Costa Rica has almost 80 FM stations in the database - they have a ton of low power repeaters on the same frequency as the main station, so they were not listed. El Salvador has almost 230 FM stations. Guatemala has a little over 450 FM stations. Honduras has just under 800 FM stations. Nicaragua has just over 350 FM stations. Panamá has just under 200 FM stations. In Guatemala, there are almost 200 FM radio stations that are considered to be *illegal*. They operate without a license. Most are connected to Mayan culture and its a great TABOO to run interference with the Mayan culture. The United Nations has been watching this for several years now, after the 1990s and early 2000s saw a lot of ethnic bloodshed in Guatemala. In Guatemala you don't rat on unlicensed stations to the government. Unless you fancy the idea of a bullet in your head. And it would probably come from some government official that supplements his income with radio payola - pay me and I won't shut your station down. There is a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts (Cultural Survival) that works closely with third world radio broadcasting groups. They know who most of the ethnic radio stations in Guatemala are. To protect those stations, they won't publish that information. To understand the dynamics of how many FM stations are in each country, in relationship to the size of the country, here are comparisons to the US, based on square miles.... Belize is slightly smaller than Massachusetts. Costa Rica is slightly smaller than West Virginia; El Salvador is equal to Massachusetts; Guatemala is slightly smaller than Tennessee; Honduras is slightly smaller than Tennessee; Nicaragua is slightly smaller than the state of New York; Panamá is slighly smaller than South Carolina. In the WTFDA FM database, all of the stations have their secondary departments or provinces with each listing, which in scale to the US, are equivalent to an average US county. Some interesting current facts from the IfItWereMyHome.com website, comparing life in the US to that of Central America: If you lived in Belize, its 2 times more likely you would be unemployed from the work you do; If you lived in Costa Rica, you would make 75% less doing the same job you do; If you lived in El Salvador, there would be 10 times greater chance of being murdered; If you lived in Guatemala, you would probably die 8 years earlier than in the US; If you lived in Honduras, you would have 22 times greater risk of being murdered***.....and you thought El Salvador was bad; If you lived in Nicaragua, there would be a 90% likelihood you would commute by bicycle, bus, or your legs; If you lived in Panamá, there is an 86% greater chance you would be living in a house without electricity. ***On January 23, 2017, the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa issued a national warning for US citizens wanting to travel to Honduras. Violence targeted against US citizens is at an all-time high, especially in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. The United Nations press office has elevated those two cities to the top five most violent cities in the world. And you thought the plethora of LPFMs, religious satellators, and IBOC was bad. Now you know part of the rest of the story. Last edited by Jim Thomas; 01-26-2017 at 01:55 PM. Reason: Corrections (Jim Thomas, Springfield, MO, Jan 24, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) RADIO PHILATELY +++++++++++++++ Re: RADIO STAMP COLLEXION FOR SALE Forwarded from Neil Carlton: As a follow-up to my correspondence last week, this is just a short note to let IRCA members and friends know that scans of my radio stamp collections, along with inventories and references, are now available for viewing in a GoogleDrive folder. AWR QSL Stamps, 1 file, 14 pages, illustrated history of Adventist World Radio's verification stamps EKKO Album 1 to 18, 18 files, scanned images of all 106 pages EKKO Stamps Pages 1-6, 1 file, scanned images of additional pages Listening To Radio, 16 files, scanned images of all 92 pages Listening To Radio, Table of Contents and Inventory, 1 file, 4 pages Radio In The Mail, 80 files, scanned images of all 566 pages Radio In The Mail Inventory, 1 file, 104 pages, cross referenced by country Radio Stamps For Sale, 1 file, 10 page illustrated notice Radio Stamps For Sale Summary, 1 file, 2 page outline Welcome To Radio Stamps For Sale, 1 file, 2 pages Access to the folder is available on request to (no spaces). This morning I answered an inquiry from Uruguay. I`d be grateful for your assistance in sharing this information. Thank you, Neil Carleton, 3 Argyle Street, P. O. Box 1644, Almonte, Ontario, K0A 1A0, Canada (via Lynn Hollerman, Lafayette, LA, Jan 23, IRCA via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS The coexistence of pinyin and Chinese characters highlights the role of emotion in language decisions Jan 19th 2017, 15:42 | From the print edition FEW people live to 111. Fewer still leave as big a mark on linguistic lives as Zhou Youguang, who died on January 14th. . . http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21714970-coexistence-pinyin-and-chinese-characters-highlights-role-emotion (via Gerald T Pollard, NC, DXLD) limited free access RETURN TO BABEL: THE RISE AND FALL OF ESPERANTO http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/a-language-to-unite-humankind (via Gerald T Pollard, NC, Jan 24, 2017, DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ NORTH DAKOTA RESETS THE DEBATE OVER TIME ZONE DISPARITY By JAMES MacPHERSON Associated Press Jan 19, 7:13 PM EST http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_NORTH_DAKOTA_TIME_ZONES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-01-19-19-13-08 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Residents of a largely rural corner of North Dakota are fiercely opposing a plan that would move them into the same time zone as the rest of the state. Few subjects set off a parochial debate in North Dakota like a move to reset the clocks. A bill under consideration in the Legislature would not only move southwestern North Dakota from Mountain time to Central but also scrap daylight saving time altogether. DAYLIGHT SAVING DO AWAY Sen. Dave Oehlke of Devils Lake and three other Republican senators from Central time zones are pushing a bill that would put an end to daylight saving time and make Central time the state`s official time zone. Oehlke, the bill`s primary sponsor, told the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday that the idea came from his constituents, who complained about having to readjust their schedules on everything from sleep to taking medication. "It`s hard for people to get back on track," Oehlke said. "I just think`s a good idea not to have to disrupt your life and change your clock every six months." Should the Legislature reject daylight saving time, North Dakota would join Arizona and Hawaii as the only states that don`t fall back or spring forward. CENTRAL TIME SUPPORT With more business conducted with Bismarck and Fargo - both Central time communities - backers say some people in Mountain time areas find it hard to order supplies or get technical support. Supporters also estimate four business hours are lost every day between the two time zones - one each in the morning and evening and the difference in lunch hours. And backers of a switch to Central time say some children in the Mountain time zone must get up an hour earlier to attend classes at nearby schools in the Central time zone. DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS? In North Dakota, many refer to Central time as "fast time." Central time is one hour ahead of Mountain. A dozen of North Dakota`s 53 counties, all of them west of the Missouri River, are either partially or wholly within the Mountain time zone. Other states also are divided into differing time zones. South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas all have sections in both Central and Mountain times. Some states that straddle the Eastern-Central and Mountain-Pacific divides also share time zones, but perhaps none are as confusing as North Dakota. The division between Central and Mountain time at one time in North Dakota roughly followed the Missouri River, but a few counties have switched solely to Central time beginning with Oliver County in 1992, after voter approval. The switch to Central time by some counties and not others has made the current time-zone line appear as if it were drawn with a squirt gun. Williston, which is nearly on the Montana-North Dakota border, is in Central time. Yet Dickinson, which is much farther east, is on Mountain time. Even odder are the neighboring cities of Watford City and Killdeer. Watford City is on Central time, while Killdeer, about 45 miles southeast, is on Mountain time. DOES ANYONE REALLY CARE? The idea of one time zone has been proposed in the Legislature several times over the years, but has not gotten enough support. All it did was pit bigger cities against those set in their ways in southwestern North Dakota, said Sen. Bill Bowman, a Republican from Bowman, a ranching community in the state`s southwest corner. Bowman, who has served 26 years in the Legislature, said he and others have likened time-zone legislation to stepping into "piranha-infested waters." "It upsets people when we are wasting our time on this, and when we should be working on budget and the needs of our state," he said. "There are a lot of people, and a lot of cowboys in my district, who just want to be left alone and I represent those people." Said one letter to Bowman from a constituent opposing the legislation: "Please don`t cater to those city people. Central time has slowly crept to the west and it really needs to stop" (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM Only one fleeting ref under USA: WOR 6850 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB See UK ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See UNIDENTIFIED: 840 re WCCO +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DTV See also CANADA; EL SALVADOR; MEXICO; USA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FCC SPECTRUM AUCTION - RESULTS OK -- I googled "Round Four Spectrum reverse auction results" and got an FCC page that to call 'incomprehensible' would be an understatement. What the heck IS the status of things? Can anyone explain how to read this? https://auctiondata.fcc.gov/public/projects/1000 A 'simultaneous translation into English would help. If this is meant for the 'public', well, heaven help us all! (KV Zichi, J.D. Jan 18, WTFDA gg via DXLD) While the fourth round of the auction continues, the forward auction bidding (by wireless providers) today was sufficient to ensure that this fourth round will be successful --- and that all DTV channels from 38 to 51 will no longer be available for DTV. I got this late breaking news from this article: http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0002/auction-closes-at-xxx-billion/280166 This info KV references on the FCC web site is above me. Just rest assured, the auction will be completed probably next week; then remaining stations will be reassigned (repacked) in a new table of allocations. I am wondering if many full-power stations are choosing to relocate to VHF-Lo, after all the problems such stations have had with urban coverage. I know my local WRGB-6 wishes they had been able to stay on their UHF transition channel (39). As much as the repacking will negatively impact DX in the long-run, initially there'll be lots of stations on new channels that will lead to lots of new loggings! Also, nearby stations choosing to go dark will leave the air fairly soon, opening up such channels for distant DX (Chris Lucas, Poughkeepsie, NY, Jan 18, WTFDA gg via DXLD) Amazing; It will be a wild ride for DXers before it all settles down. We may have more Es targets! (Mike Glass N9BNN, Lebanon, Indiana USA, Digital - Zenith DTT901, HDHR-US VHF - Antennacraft CS1100 at 38 feet AGL UHF - 10' parabolic dish w/CM4220HD feed at 30 feet AGL Preamps - HDP-269(VHF), RC 9261(UHF) HDHR-US for real time DX at: www.n9bnn.ham-radio-op.net/TV1/ Current count at Lebanon, IN: DTV 480 starting 4/20/2014) Indy count May 2007 to Feb 2014 - 208 analog, 390 digital, ibid.) Thanks Chris! That is sort of what I assumed but seriously, it is quite 'user hostile' if you aren't into all the jargon! Since my location in mid-Michigan is already pretty densely 'packed' with channels in use, I'm curious to see how they are going to manage with 13 fewer channels available (especially since there are stations on 11-12 of those 13 channels nearby!). I would not be shocked to see 'joint operating agreements' with stations operating on 'subchannels' but that is also going to mean fewer choices since those subchannel stations will be giving up their second and third streams to accommodate another broadcaster if that is the case! Once again, the public is losing something while the political donors like AT&T and Verizon get to print money with what was a public good. But this is progress, right? [??] (KV Zichi, J.D., ibid.) I am concerned, of course, about what this auction will mean for TV DXing. Fourteen UHF channels gone is a real threat. My wife, daughter and I are all concerned about what this will mean in the programming available for all of us. I anxiously await hearing what stations will go off the air and those that will remain. The channel assignments will also determine what amount of CCI will result. The reduction of channels available via antenna here will also be determined by the amount of CCI generated as a result. It doesn't look good but more information is needed to help estimate the damage that will result (Dave Pomeroy, Topeka KS, ibid.) I posted a topic thread on the WTFDA Forums about ATSC 3.0, the spectrum auction and the future of DTV dxing recently. I questioned why ATSC 3.0 signals are supposed to be so much easier to receive than ATSC 1.0 signals. Doug Smith W9WI posted a very interesting comment to this regard, which is worth reading: http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?11170-ATSC-3-0-the-Spectrum-Auction-and-the-future-of-DTV-dxing&p=42371#post42371 (Jim Thomas, WTFDA gg via DXLD) ATSC 3.0, THE SPECTRUM AUCTION AND THE FUTURE OF DTV DXING I just read today on an electronics blog that the major television manufacturers globally are seriously contemplating REMOVING tuners from future television sets. The general remarks about this on that blog were aimed at these three factors - The *possible* impending transition to ATSC 3.0 in the United States; Since the abandonment of NTSC in most countries, no single digital transmission standard has been established globally; The desire for inter-connectivity of wireless devices to large format video displays. The implications are that the electronics industry does NOT want to go through another expensive transition (ATSC 1.0 > ATSC 3.0) in such a short time. This means your television viewing experience becomes an à la carte adventure. You start with a monitor a.k.a. video screen. Then you add the devices you are interested in. Some people watch OTA TV. You add the appropriate HDTV interface component (ATSC 3.0 tuner module/USB dongle/etc.), along with any other devices you care to have in your entertainment mix. I have a friend in Denver that is on Comcast for internet ONLY. They gave him an ATSC 1.0 tuner box complimentary when he signed up. It`s still in the manufacturer box, stuck away somewhere in a closet. He DOESN'T watch OTA television. He DOESN'T pay to watch TV. He gets his entertainment via internet. The real curiosity of this post is because ATSC 3.0 is a reality and will be deployed sooner than we think - AND - the Spectrum Auction is a reality. Everything above RF 38 in the United States is going to go somewhere else. And I also understand that the FCC has NOT mandated to broadcast television stations that they HAVE to switch to ATSC 3.0, like they did with NTSC going to ATSC. So - what is going to happen to the future of DTV DXing???? Does anyone really know? TV Technology posted this story WAYYY back mid 2015, getting us ready for ATSC 3.0: http://www.tvtechnology.com/expertise/0003/getting-ready-for-atsc-30/276660 The ATSC organization posted this on their blog in early December 2016, regarding WHY: http://atsc.org/newsletter/why-atsc-3-0-opportunity/ And finally, the people that are following this very closely, HD Guru, posted this update on ATSC 3.0 on December 19, 2016: https://hdguru.com/decision-on-atsc-3-0-hdr-now-expected-in-january/ When you do the research on ATSC 3.0, its easy to figure out what the technology will do for multiple video/audio streams that ATSC 1.0 can NOT do. What I am having a hard time finding through research is WHY the ATSC 3.0 signal will be EASIER to decode than ATSC 1.0 signals. If ATSC 3.0 is using the SAME terrestrial broadcast approach, what makes reception better? And IF that is true, with the reduced amount of spectrum from the auction, the bottom line question is --- Aren't we looking at impending chaos with decode reliability when signals are enhanced due to Tropospheric scatter/ducting or Sporadic E reception? I especially appreciate any comments from the engineers in the know on this subject. I forgot to add this link, which is a *rant* about ATSC 3.0, courtesy of Solid Signal, the company that sells all of us antennas and various electronic items: http://forums.solidsignal.com/content.php/4355-ATSC-3-0-is-coming-and-you-should-not-care Last edited by Jim Thomas; 01-22-2017 at 09:48 AM. Reason: Additional comments (Jim Thomas, Springfield, MO, originally Jan 21, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) For one, the modulation scheme is far less prone to errors. ATSC 1.0 uses 8VSB modulation. All the other digital television standards (DVB- T/T2, ISDB-T, DTMB and ATSC 3.0) use OFDM modulation (used for cellular and other signals as well) instead of 8VSB (Raymie Humbert, AZ, Jan 22, ibid.) 8VSB, like analog, uses a single carrier. That carrier carries all 19 million bits of data broadcast each second. If something interferes with that carrier, the entire datastream is lost. There is error correction in the protocol -- it can recover from some amount of data loss -- but if the interference happens too often or goes on too long, the error correction can't keep up. ("interference" includes noise and multipath) OFDM uses *multiple* carriers. Thousands of them. Each carrier carries a small part -- less than 1% -- of the datastream. As many as a few hundred of these carriers can suffer interference and the error correction will still be able to keep up & deliver a viewable stream. Local stations use OFDM on their live trucks (indeed, they use the same DVB-T standard used by OTA stations in Europe, though obviously at far lower power and about 3 times the frequency). The reliability is pretty stunning. So why didn't we use OFDM for ATSC 1.0? Sinclair asked the FCC to allow stations to choose OFDM *or* 8VSB; the FCC declined. IMHO a mistake. There is a downside to OFDM though. OFDM, 8VSB, and analog are not frequency-modulated modes. The transmitted power is continuously changing. The peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) for OFDM is higher than for 8VSB. This means that many of the components in the transmission system must be larger for the same power level. For example, the feedline carrying the power up to the antenna must be large enough in diameter that the peak voltage doesn't cause it to arc over. The transmitters in our live trucks are multimode. They're capable of delivering 12 watts of analog FM power - but only four watts of OFDM (though I should say, that 4 watts of OFDM delivers a full quality signal at the same distance as the 12 watt analog signal). There is another feature in ATSC 3.0 that improves decoding reliability: hierarchical modulation. Three bitstreams are transmitted simultaneously: a few bits of a low-resolution stream (roughly what you'd watch on your phone); a medium-bandwidth stream (roughly SD quality); and a high-bandwidth stream. (4K) The lower bitrate streams can take more data loss and still decode; the higher bitrate streams deliver a better picture but can't tolerate as much interference. So it's a *bit* like analog: in the presence of interference the picture doesn't go away entirely, it just loses some quality (Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View, TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ WHAT DO I DO IF I WANT A NEW SHORTWAVE RECEIVER? There is a much longer answer to his 'what do I do if I want a new receiver' question. I will be taking this (and much of the comments provided by MAREs Paul Dobosz, Don Hosmer, Tom Root [Thanks guys!]) for the next 'Q and A' column in the printed bulletin, but for now let me just quote at length from Paul D's comments: "In today's marketplace I would be hesitant to purchase an expensive legacy receiver due to lack technical support unless it is something that you can repair yourself. Many of the radios like JRC's and the discontinued Yaesus, Icoms, Kenwoods, and Drakes are difficult to find parts for and you could easily wind up with an expensive receiver that is not repairable at a reasonable cost without scavenging parts from a radio that is being parted-out. The much older equipment is actually more repairable than the stuff that is 10-20 years old since they use more generic non-proprietary components that are easier to find and are easier to replace if they go bad. "Today's crop of new receivers are moving toward software defined designs that employ a DSP in either the IF or directly digitize the incoming signal and process it via DSP algorithms. This new crop of receivers has tremendous capability and can be re-flashed to take advantage of improvements in firmware. "I have the transceiver version of the new Icom receiver that is just hitting the market this spring. It is a true SDR that digitizes the incoming signal directly from the antenna jack and and has the ability to decode digital signals and display them on the color LCD touchscreen display. It has waterfall real time spectrum monitoring and the DSP noise reduction and filtering is amazing. The receive only version of the Icom 7300 will be even better suited to listening only than the transceiver. The sensitivity and audio quality are excellent and as a receiver alone, it is first rate. I suspect the receiver only version will come in around $1k since the transceiver is $1400 but is well worth the price in my opinion. "I'd be patient and go for the SDR if I were in the market for a tabletop radio. If you want something more tried and true, you could go with a legacy receiver but the technology is at an inflection point and I think the older receivers will rapidly start losing value over the next 2-3 years as the new radios eclipse them. That will make for some bargains for the "dream receivers" that people couldn't previously afford but I'd be afraid to buy an expensive legacy receiver until the dust settles and the SDR's start displacing legacy receivers and used market prices stabilize at their new price point. (Disclaimer: I recently sold all of my restored vintage high end receivers and cashed in before the bottom fell out of the market) "My take on your question ... YMMV" MANY pearls of wisdom in this Tom, perhaps the BEST advice? Buy a portable now, enjoy it for what it is, and wait a year or two before taking the plunge into SDRs --- Either that or buy an olde Hammarlund/Hallicrafters/Collins hollow state set and enjoy THAT for what it is! :) kvz (Kenneth Vito Zichi, ed., MARE Tipsheet Jan 20 via DXLD) SD RECEIVERS ALL OVER THE WORLD Might be some redundancy, didn’t check for that but I did try radios on both sites: http://websdr.org/ http://sdr.hu/ (Richard, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ SHOWING THE HF INTERFERENCE PROBLEM FROM ETHERNET OVER POWERLINE DEVICES --- rtl-sdr.com 18 January 2017 Over on our YouTube channel we’ve uploaded a new video that shows how bad the interference from Ethernet over Power devices can be. Ethernet over Power, Powerline Networking, Powerline Communications or ‘HomePlug’ is a technology that allows you to use any of your household power outlets as an internet Ethernet port, completely eliminating the need for runs of Ethernet cabling. They are capable of high speeds and can be used anywhere in the house assuming the two plugs are on the same power circuit. Unfortunately these devices tend to wipe out almost the entire HF spectrum for anyone listening nearby. As household powerline cables are not shielded for RF emissions they radiate in the HF spectrum quite heavily. In the video we demonstrate what the HF spectrum looks like with one of these devices used in the house. The particular device used was a TP-Link brand adapter, and a WellBrook Magnetic Loop antenna was used outdoors, with the null facing the house. An Airspy R2 with SpyVerter was used to view the spectrum. The video shows that even when the network is idling there are several brief bursts of noise all over the spectrum. Then when a file is downloaded almost the entire spectrum is completely wiped out. Interestingly from the video it appears that the amateur radio frequencies are actually carefully notched out and those frequencies remain relatively clean. Most manufacturers of these devices appear to have worked with the ARRL to please ham radio enthusiasts, but SWLers will likely be in trouble if any of these devices are used in your house or neighbors house. Showing the HF Interference Problem from Ethernet over Powerline Devices - http://www.rtl-sdr.com/showing-the-hf-interference-problem-from-ethernet-over-powerline-devices/ Posted by: (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ PAT DYER'S WEBSITE Folks, A few of you have asked what happens now to Pat Dyer's website. Some wanted a memorial site on the wtfda.org server. I have been in contact with the ARRL guys and they gave me the info I needed to get into his site and download it. I uploaded it this afternoon to http://wtfda.org and put a link to it on the front page of wtfda.org. The address for it is http://www.wtfda.org/pjdyer They asked that I do not use his ham calls in the address. What they intend to do now is put a redirect link on their end to point to our website. Some links don't work. I have no idea if they worked on qth.net but if I have some spare time I'll check his directories to see if those pages still exist somewhere (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, Jan 21, WTFDA gg via DXLD) GLOBAL HF RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION FORECAST ISSUED ON SUNDAY JANUARY 22, 2017 AT 1500 UTC For my hamateur radio and SWL friends around the globe: Feel free to redistribute this "not for profit" solar, space and geomagnetic weather discussion and HF radio wave propagation forecast, as long as you redistribute it in its entirety and give me credit for it. Also feel free to leave a "LIKE" every time you access this discussion and forecast as it's the only method I have to gauge the usefulness of it. HAMATEUR & SW BROADCAST HF BANDS: NORTHERN HEMISPHERE RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION- 80-60 (75-60) meters- fair at night and poor at day, 40-30 (41-25) meters- fair at night and fair at day, 20-17 (22-16) meters- very poor at night and fair at day, 15 (13) meters- very poor at night and poor at day, 12-10 (11) meters- very poor at night and very poor at day. SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION- 80-60 (75-60) meters- poor at night and very poor at day, 40-30 (41-25) meters- fair at night and poor at day, 20-17 (22-16) meters- fair at night and fair at day, 15 (13) meters- poor at night and fair at day, 12-10 (11) meters- very poor at night and very poor at day. Received RF signal strength scale- Very Good- +1 over S9 Or Greater Good- S7-9 Fair- S4-6 Poor- S1-3 Very Poor- S0 Meter Band Equivalents Ham & SWL [SWBC] 160-> 90 80-> 75 60-> 60 40-> 49, 41 30-> 31, 25 20-> 22, 19 17-> 16, 15 15-> 13 12,10-> 11 Please keep in mind that this is a relatively simplified HF radio wave propagation forecast, so as to keep it easily understandable by the average radio enthusiast. Globally HF radio wave propagation conditions are most evenly balanced during the fall and spring equinoxes and most diametrically opposed during the summer and winter solstices. Conditions also change daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and by decade, as the sun rises and sets at different times and at different angles from the ecliptic, as well as by radio wave frequency. This is due to changes in the maximum usable frequency (MUF), lowest usable frequency (LUF) and F layer critical frequency (FoF2). The D and E layers also come into play through RF radio wave signal absorption and refraction. And then there is sporadic E (Es) radio wave propagation that can really throw a wrench into the gears so to speak. Things like sporadic E (Es) radio wave propagation and lightning storm static can impact HF radio wave propagation in an unpredictable manner and mostly bad. Ongoing solar, space and geomagnetic weather goings on also impact HF radio wave propagation conditions in a negative manner. Solar Space & Geomagnetic Weather Conditions On Saturday January 21, 2017- Solar activity was high. Earth's magnetic field was unsettled. The solar flux index (SFI) was 83.9 83.2 83.9. The official daily sunspot number (SSN) was 67. This was the highest daily SSN since November 30, 2016. In 2017 there were 10 days with a daily sunspot number (SSN) of 0. In 2016 there were 32 days with a daily sunspot number (SSN) of 0. Sunspot group #12625 was located near N01W47, with a simple alpha magnetic signature. Sunspot group #12626 was located near N08W35, with a simple alpha magnetic signature. Recently emerged sunspot group #12627 was located near N07E16, with a simple beta magnetic signature. Recently emerged sunspot group #12628 was located near N12E34, with a more complex beta-gamma magnetic signature. It is capable of releasing medium sized M class solar flares. There were one as of yet unnumbered sunspot group located near N17E13. As we move forward towards the next solar minimum between solar cycle #24 and #25 the number of days with a 0 daily sunspot number will dramatically increase. Eventually most every day for many many months will see a 0. In 2008 I forecasted solar cycle 24 to be the weakest in the past 100 years and that came forecast verified. I also forecasted that solar cycle 25 would be virtually non existent, similar to the Dalton type solar minimum that occurred in the early 1800's. One earth facing small C9.0 class solar flare occurred. It was associated with newly emerged sunspot group #12628. No earth directed coronal mass ejections (CME) occurred. No earth directed collapsing magnetic filament eruptions occurred. The 3 hour interval planetary K index (Kp) which was at unsettled to quiet geomagnetic conditions 3 2 2 2 1 2 3 3. The maximum and minimum planetary A index (Ap) ranged between 18 and 4, which was at active to quiet geomagnetic conditions. The background x-ray flux was B2.43. The horizontal component (Bz) of earth's magnetic field was -0.1 nT south. No energetic proton events greater than 10 MeV (10+0) occurred. The maximum and minimum solar wind speed was 497 and 447 km/s. There was a recurrent trans equatorial earth facing coronal hole #786 (#780). There was a recurrent trans equatorial earth facing coronal hole #787 (#781). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Kp geomagnetic indices are- 0-2- quiet 3- unsettled 4- active 5- minor geomagnetic storming 6- moderate 7- strong 8- severe 9- extreme 10- our atmosphere just got cooked off like on Mars and we are all dead. The Ap geomagnetic indices are- 0-7- quiet 8-15 unsettled 16-29- active 30-49- minor geomagnetic storm 50-99- major 100-400- severe >401- our atmosphere just got cooked off like on Mars and we are all dead. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL GUIDELINES CONCERNING CORRELATION OF PROPAGATION INDICES TO ACTUAL HF PROPAGATION CONDITIONS- NOTE!!! The propagation indices "interpretations" are my personal intellectual property. Therefore the radio wave propagation indices interpretations contained herein is copyrighted © 1988-2017 by Thomas F. Giella, W4HM, all rights reserved. Reproduction of information herein is allowed without permission in advance as long as proper credit is given. All 14 of the following indices have to occur as described below in order to see the best global high frequency radio wave propagation possible. 1.) Dropping geomagnetic field indices numbers are better, Kp of 0 best. 2.) A daily sunspot number of 150 or higher, 200 or higher best. 3.) A daily sunspot number of greater than 100 for routine stable formation of the E Valley/F Layer ducting mechanism. 4.) Previous 24 hour Ap index under 10, fewer than 7 for several days consecutively are best. 5.) Previous 3 hours Kp index fewer than 3 for mid latitude paths, fewer than 2 for high latitude paths, 0 for several days consecutively is best. 6.) Energetic protons no greater than 10 MeV (10+0). 7.) Background x-ray flux levels greater than B1 for several days consecutively, greater than C1 best. 8.) No current STRATWARM alert. 9.) Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz with a (positive number) sign, indicates a lesser chance of high latitude path aurora absorption/unpredictable refraction or scattering of medium frequency RF signals, when the Kp is above 3. 10.) A -10 or better towards a positive number Dst index during the recovery time after a geomagnetic storm, as related to the equatorial ring current. A positive number is best. 11.) Rising positive T index number. The T Index tracks with the F2 layer critical frequency (foF2) and sunspot number (SSN) and indicates the capability of the F2 layer to refract RF signals. 12.) Galactic cosmic rays decrease to -3 units below zero and trending towards zero. 13.) Energetic electron flux levels no greater than 2 MeV (2+0). 14. A solar wind speed of less than 300 km/s for several days consecutively. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Disclaimer - Note! I use error prone RAW public domain data from the NOAA Space Environment Center, other U.S. government organizations and educational institutions, to produce my comprehensive radio wave propagation forecast. This data is gathered and made public by the U.S. Government using taxpayer $$$ (including mine). However the propagation forecast that I produce from the RAW public domain data is my personal intellectual property. Therefore this radio wave propagation forecast contained herein is copyrighted © 1988-2017 by Thomas F. Giella, W4HM. Feel free to redistribute this solar, space and geomagnetic weather discussion and HF radio wave propagation forecast, as long as you redistribute it in it's entirety and give me credit for it. Also solar, space and geomagnetic weather forecasting is still an inexact science. The forecasts are not official but for educational and hobby related purposes only and are subject to human error and acts of God, therefore no guarantee or warranty implied (Thomas Giella, Jan 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s not clear how often he issues these; none received since (gh) PROPAGATION OUTLOOK FROM PIG as of Jan 20: Geomagnetic field will be: quiet on January 26, quiet to unsettled on January 27, 31, February 1, 3, quiet to active on January 28 - 29, mostly quiet on January 30, active to disturbed on February 2, 4 - 5 (via Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1862 via DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2017 Jan 23 0615 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 16 - 22 January 2017 Solar activity was at low levels due to a C9/1f flare observed at 21/0726 UTC from Region 2628 (N12, L=173, class/area Dao/210 on 22 January). Region 2628 was responsible for additional C-class flaring on 21 January. The rest of the period was at very low levels. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels with high levels observed on 16-17, and 20-22 January. The largest flux value of the period was 3,090 pfu observed at 16/1935 UTC. Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels over the period. Solar wind parameters were indicative of background conditions to start the period. Early on 18 January, wind speed began to increase as a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) became geoeffective. Wind speed reached a maximum value of 651 km/s at 19/0320 UTC and total field peaked at 17 nT at 18/0605 UTC before gradually decreasing throughout the remainder of the period. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels on 16-17 January, quiet to active levels on 18-19 & 21 January, and quiet to unsettled levels on 20 & 22 January. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 23 JANUARY-18 FEBRUARY 2017 Solar activity is likely to be low with a slight chance for M-class flares on 23-31 January and 14-18 February due to the flare potential in Region 2628. Very low levels are expected on 01-13 February. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels with high levels likely on 23-27 January, 01-13 February, and again on 16-18 February due to CH HSS influence. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 23, 27-31 January, 01-07 February and 14-18 February with G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels likely on 03 February due to recurrent CH HSS effects. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2017 Jan 23 0615 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 2017-01-23 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2017 Jan 23 85 8 3 2017 Jan 24 83 5 2 2017 Jan 25 82 5 2 2017 Jan 26 80 5 2 2017 Jan 27 80 12 4 2017 Jan 28 80 15 4 2017 Jan 29 78 8 3 2017 Jan 30 77 10 3 2017 Jan 31 77 12 4 2017 Feb 01 76 16 4 2017 Feb 02 76 18 4 2017 Feb 03 75 20 5 2017 Feb 04 75 16 4 2017 Feb 05 75 12 4 2017 Feb 06 75 10 3 2017 Feb 07 75 8 3 2017 Feb 08 76 5 2 2017 Feb 09 77 5 2 2017 Feb 10 77 5 2 2017 Feb 11 77 5 2 2017 Feb 12 77 5 2 2017 Feb 13 78 5 2 2017 Feb 14 79 15 4 2017 Feb 15 81 10 3 2017 Feb 16 83 10 3 2017 Feb 17 83 8 3 2017 Feb 18 83 8 3 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1862, DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ WHY WE NEED A STRONG EPA For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency has protected the health of people and birds, but the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the agency threatens this crucial work. From DDT to climate change, here are just some of the ways the EPA has kept our drinking water clean, our breathing air clear, and the environment safe for birds and wildlife. Read more: http://www.audubon.org/news/why-we-need-strong-epa (via gh, DXLD) ###