DX LISTENING DIGEST 18-07, February 13, 2018 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 2018 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 1917 contents: Argentina non, Armenia, Bonaire and non, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and non, Germany, Iran and non, Japan, Korea South, Kurdistan non, México, Nigeria and non, South Carolina non, Turkey, UK and non, USA, SWL Fest, Sony drops SW, propagation outlook. Ready for first broadcasts Feb 14: SHORTWAVE AIRINGS of WORLD OF RADIO 1917, February 14-20, 2018 Tue 2030 WRMI 9455 7780 [1916 replayed] Tue 2130 WRMI 9455 [1916 replayed] Wed 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [1916 replayed? inaudible] Wed 1030 WRMI 9455 Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v [1916 replayed altho 1917 available 20 h ago] Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Thu 2230 WRMI 5850 Fri 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sat 0730 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [Bulgaria confirmed] Sat 1531 HLR 6190-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio [England confirmed] Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sat 2230 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB [confirmed] Sat 2300 WRMI 7780 [confirmed] Sun 0200 WRMI 7780 Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB Hamburger Lokalradio Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v-AM Area 51 Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 9455 Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 Tue 2030 WRMI 9455, 7780 [or #1917?] 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 IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!! WOR IO GROUP: Effective Feb 4, 2018, DXLD yg archive and members have been migrated to this group: https://groups.io/g/WOR [there was already an unrelated group at io named dxld!, so new name] From now on, the io group is primary, where all posts should go. One may apply for membership, subscribe via the above site. DXLD YAHOOGROUP: remains in existence, and members are free to COPY same info to it, as backup, but no posts should go to it only. They may want to change delivery settings to no e-mail, and/or no digest. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ The change was necessary due to increasing outages, long delays in posts appearing, and search failures at the yg. Why wait for DXLD issues? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our io group without delay. ** AFGHANISTAN. MW Khost location? An old IBB-BBG Khost transmitter in Afghanistan discussion of June 2009 appeared again, due of a new Bing Maps image now. (Alan Davies-Asia, Febr 5, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Deewa Radio MW Khost 621 kHz 200 kW, assumed fact location on old R Afganistan radio Khost site in June 2009 year: 33 18 15.72 N 69 53 52.75 E ? [...] Yes, correct, this is my entry in April 2010, some 15.6 kilometers away distance in between: 33 14 06.82 N 69 48 34.34 E AFG_Deewa Radio MW Khost-Tani 621 kHz 200 kW 8_April_2010_see BingMaps Google Earth image between 1984 and 2018 years are all still veiled dimly (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Febr 5, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) The 621 Khost transmitter is/was also carrying Radio Mashaal, which Pakistan recently banned (gh, DXLD) ** ALASKA. 529 kHz, 1528-, SQM and FDV, Feb 3. It's not often that I can hear both TWEB broadcasts from Alaska, but this morning the normally very strong SQM from Level Island, with Sitka TWEB is cochannel, with also strong cochannel FDV Nome, with their TWEB. I can also hear someone on 530, also unusual for this time of the morning (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. 670, 0514-, KDLG [Dillingham, 10/10 kW U1], Feb 4. Excellent reception with Anna Marie and Sasha hosting a local (?) program called, 'Thunderstruck' with a very interesting selection of music! 'Don't take your guns to town, son. Leave your guns at home, Bill'. Fun to sit back and just listen to these interesting Alaskan AM stations. In our mornings, they normally carry NPR programming, so it's fun to listen to something different! Way over cochannels. At 0530, interviewing 'The Super Suckers' 830, 0500-, KSDP [Sand Point, 1/1 kW U1; at the south end of the Alaskan Peninsula before it breaks up into the Aleutian Islands], Feb 4, Low modulation, but with local ID giving local ads for jobs, and sponsors (mainly several airlines). Cochannel QRM, but mostly dominating. Into music at 0503. Very much a small community station! I believe the cochannel is KNCO in Grass Valley, CA. 850, 0821-, KICY [Nome], Feb 4. Very good reception in Russian with Christian programming. Listed as from 0800. Cochannel a sports channel, presumably KHHO Tacoma. Sure enough, they announce at 0800 that they're changing their beam towards Russia, although I didn't notice any change in signal strength. Into Russian. At that time, about equal to KHHO. 850, 0412-, KICY, Voice of the Arctic, Feb 4. Rather than religious broadcasting, there's Nome basketball action tonight. Local ads for Hanson's Safeway (strawberries, 'just' $4.99 a pound, etc!). 'Maggie Miller, number 44 with socks up to her knees, braided hair, etc'. Play by play action. Bering Air local helicopter service (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. 6110, USA, KNLS at 1500. Familiar IS to M in (listed as) Chinese (but!-not), Kool & The Gang cut, W with good ID. Shortwave Info lists as Chinese; this is surely Russian. VG, Feb. 12. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ALASKA [non]. MADAGASCAR. 9810, Feb 10 at 1956, ``KNLS`` theme music, poor with flutter, i.e. MWV Russian hour concluding, 100 kW at 355 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA. DAB + in Algeria --- Hello, TDA launches its first Experimental Station for Digital Terrestrial Radio in T-DAB + Mode First in Algeria. On the occasion of World Radio Day, the TDA pilot station in Tamentfoust, dedicated to terrestrial digital radio in T- DAB + mode, will enter into service this Tuesday, February 13, 2018. This station will broadcast a bouquet of four channels at Center and east of the capital. The official launch of this 600-watt pilot station will coincide with World Radio Day and will contribute to TDA's mastery of this latest- generation technology. Objective: to ensure the migration of broadcasting from FM analogue radio to terrestrial digital radio (RNT). This station will use T-DAB + (Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting), which is the latest digital version of FM. TDA will broadcast, on a trial basis, a bouquet of four EPRS radio channels: Channel I, II, III and Jil FM youth radio in the Center and east of the capital, 68% of the population of the wilaya of Algiers. This digitization process is part of the TDA strategy of migration to all-digital broadcasting in Algeria. As a reminder, a first demonstration broadcast took place during the Study Day on the digitization of broadcasting on March 26, 2017, in DRM mode from the Ouled Fayet medium wave broadcast center, Algiers. The Digital Radio World (DRM) standard is the digital version of the AM radio. Thus, these two standards, T-DAB + and DRM, will eventually replace the FM and AM broadcast modes respectively. Thus, Algeria joins two other countries on the African continent: South Africa and Tunisia to test digital terrestrial broadcasting. More information on the benefits of RNT on https://www.tda.dz/news Source: facebook page of TDA Regards (via FERHANE Amine, Algeria, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. 6105, Feb 12 at 0654, RTA via FRANCE with Arabic song, not Qur`an. As of Feb 2-3, Ivo Ivanov had concluded: ``FRANCE, Telediffusion d'Algerie with Holy Qur`an Service via TDF Issoudun Feb 2-3, no more French & National Chaîne 1`` http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2017/10/telediffusion-dalgerie.html Updated winter B-17 of TDA Telediffusion d'Algerie via TDF Issoudun can be found here`` --- but this may not have been a permanent change; needs further monitoring (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also WESTERN SAHARA [non] FRANCE, Telediffusion d'Algerie with Holy Qur`an Service via TDF Issoudun on Feb 2-3 2100-2159 on 5905 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg to NWAf Arabic, no more French & Nat. Chaine 1 2100-2159 on 5940 ISS 500 kW / 160 deg to CEAf Arabic, no more French & Nat. Chaine 1 0600-0659 on 6105 ISS 500 kW / 198 deg to NWAf Arabic, no more French & Nat. Chaine 1 Updated winter B-17 of TDA Telediffusion d'Algerie via TDF Issoudun can be found here http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/telediffusion-dalgerie-only-with-holy.html Telediffusion d'Algerie via TDF Issoudun, Feb 4 2146-2151 on 5905 ISS 500 kW / 194 deg to NWAf French 2146-2151 on 5940 ISS 500 kW / 160 deg to CEAf French http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/telediffusion-dalgerie-in-french-via.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #1057 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Feb 7, 2018, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4949.75, Radio Nacional de Angola, Mulenvos, 1914-2008, 12- 02, Portuguese, male, female, news, “Rádio Nacional, as notícias”, “Luanda”, “A República de Angola”, “O Presidente da República”, at 1930: “Rádio Nacional de Angola, 20 horas 30 minutos, programa esportivo da noite”, sports, at 2000: “21 horas, programa de informação pública da Rádio Nacional”. 25322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. IGLESIA CATÓLICA OBTIENE EN ANGOLA PERMISO DE RADIODIFUSIÓN NACIONAL La Iglesia Católica en Angola logró obtener un permiso de radiodifusión nacional para Rádio Ecclésia, la emisora de la Conferencia Episcopal, tras décadas de controversia y numerosos obstáculos burocráticos. Resultado de imagen para Radio Ecclésia [capción] La señal de Rádio Ecclésia podrá superar sus actuales límites de la ciudad capital de Luanda en un hecho que representa el fin de “una larga injusticia”, según expresó el vocero de la Conferencia Episcopal de Angola, Mons. José Manuel Imbaba. La voz de la Iglesia Católica podrá llegar a través de la radio a todo el territorio de Angola. “Le damos la bienvenida a la decisión del Presidente de la República y lo felicitamos por esta valentía política”, indicó el portavoz, según informó Signis. “Ahora nos queda a nosotros remangarnos y hacer lo correcto para que la voz de la Iglesia sea escuchada a lo largo del país”. En una rueda de prensa, el mandatario anunció su decisión, sustentada en la confianza que la Iglesia Católica le inspira. “Esta es la radio de una Iglesia que consideramos seria. Ampliar la difusión nos ayudará, posiblemente, a sortear la proliferación de sectas que han aparecido en nuestro país en años recientes”. La concesión del permiso se destaca como un logro notable debido a que los Obispos han tomado posiciones críticas frente al gobierno sobre todo en problemáticas como la corrupción administrativa. La posibilidad de emitir Rádio Ecclésia a todo el país “es quizás la mayor victoria de la Iglesia en Angola en los últimos tiempos”, según explicó a The Tablet el P. Tony Neves, Provincial portugués de los Padres del Espíritu Santo. “La radio sigue siendo el principal modo de comunicación y la expansión de las transmisiones de Ecclesia significa que una serie de valores, incluida la libertad de expresión, podrá circular por el país. Pastoralmente es muy importante para la Iglesia, pero es aún más importante para la gente de Angola”. Al haber sido colonia portuguesa, Angola recibió la fe católica en 1491 con la llegada de los primeros misioneros. El primer asentamiento del país fue la hoy capital Luanda, fundada en 1575, y desde ese año se registró un notable crecimiento de la Iglesia que llegó a tener sus primeros 20 mil miembros para 1590. Actualmente se calcula que casi diez millones de ciudadanos (un 56% de la población total) profesa la fe católica en el país (tomada de http://es.gaudiumpress.org/ con información de Signis, The Tablet y Business Africa, GRA blog via DXLD) Long ago R. Ecclésia was on SW, presumably with nationwide coverage+ (gh, DXLD) ** ANGUILLA. 11775, University Network; 1557-1602+, 2/4; Tune-in to very low-key guitar tune, not the usual knee-slapper gospel; U.N. phone #; 1600 into Dead Dr. Gene. SIO=444 with rat-a-tat QRM 6090, University Network (presumed); 0534-0544+, 2/5; Rev. Barbie talking about lonely pastors who listen to get their spiritual food. Said that famous “smoke blowers” [fellow cigar-puffers? gh] came to visit Dr. Scott. SIO=444 with transmitter hum? (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11775, Feb 7 at 1937 check, CB is still off. 11775, Feb 10 at 1525, no signal from CB/TUN/DGS/PMS. Have not heard this for a few days now, nor 6090 at night; but you never know if and when it will pop on next. 6090, Feb 12 at 0653, PMS is back in business; also 11775 at 1523 Feb 12 check (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) University Network heard 12 Feb from 0750 UT tune-in on 6090 with the unmistakable voice of Pastor Melissa Scott, followed at 0800 by the late Dr Gene Scott (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, WOR iog via DXLD) 6090, Caribbean Beacon at 0814 with DGS lecture. OUTSTANDING signal. No problems here when they are on. Feb. 12. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) ANGUILLA, British Empire: 11775.0025 kHz measured on Feb 12 at 1040 UT. First heard brisk dynamic religious soul music till 1053 UT, when male sermon prayer came on air. Talk on "Temple of Jerusalem, Palestine", Israelis, muslims etc. etc. Scheduled here according to HFCC database 10-22 UT at 320 degrees azimuth towards US. Measured S=7 fair signal in central Florida, grayline across Dom. Rep. and Cuba. S=5 in dark nightly northwestern MI and NY states. S=9+15dB in southerly European Grenoble France remote server. S=8 in northerly Belgium. 73 wb df5sx [non] Nil signal from Anguilla at 0615 UT Feb 13. 6089.999 very weak signal under threshold, probably Amhara ETH at 0625 UT. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [non]. 9395, Feb 7 at 1929, WRMI still playing World Music fill instead of RAE in German. At 1946 it`s the Cuban Milonga. 9395, Feb 8 at 1945, WRMI with music fill instead of RAE in German, one month after it was supposed to commence. Remonitored across hourtop 2000, no break, no ID but ME world-music plays on. New sked grid updated Feb 7 still claims RAE Deutsch & Italiano to be on 9395 at 19-21 UT (which would have been M-F only). 9395, Feb 12 at 1900, day after day I have checked this WRMI for the RAE German relay as has been scheduled since January 8 --- and finally, today, success!! The RAE sounder fires, and opens in German. 1952 music I fear might have defaulted back to Okee, but it`s still RAE, ``Argentina al Mundo``, Spanish ID at 1956. At 2000 RAE sounder again, and opening Italian. At 2029 recheck amid the DX program mentioning various kHz, and something about Tajikistan; so this is the ``Friday`` edition aired on Monday, which seems to be the standard delay (at least) in various languages. Once again, Feb 13 at 1914 check, music, but it`s RAE as IDed in German at 1915; and 2029 recheck a tango and Italian announcement (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see USA: WRMI for more RAE Argentina in German still heard on 6005 kHz via Shortwave Service from 1000 UT Tuesdays to Saturdays (reconfirmed Feb 8). (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 18-06: online schedule of RAE --- That's a pretty bad hiss they have on their studio output. Apparently today, Saturday, the studio is dark and abandoned, hissing away alone with the time signal duly coming up at 2000. The observed schedule is almost the one that has been published about two years ago, before their own shortwave transmitters had been shut down. Only discrepancy are the half-hour schedulings that never showed up in publications. By the way, does someone know the actual arrangement for the WRMI relay that is a complete failure for a full month now? Are they paying for nothing here? Perhaps the lowest service level at which no one at Okeechobee will raise a hand as long as no one at Buenos Aires takes any action? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 2018 UT Feb 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASCENSION. 5875even, Some ASC relays this morning on proper signals in Germany. 65deg, S=9+25dB at 0535 UT. Female presenter on interview about Paris French radio matter of sacked dismissed radio director. Followed by Mogadisho muslim bomb attack. \\ 5925 kHz also ASC but lower S=9+5dB on 114deg azimuth antenna. \\ 6005 kHz at 27degr S=9+35dB. Mostly all 11 kHz wideband signals. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 5045, Ozy Radio at 1509 UT Feb 10 with ad for Tecsun Radio, Kookaburra call and Waltzing Matilda and ID. Request for reception reports and then Australian pop music. Very Good. Also in nicely Feb 11 at 1540. 73 (Mick Delmage, near Lamont, Alberta at the Moman antenna farm, Perseus SDR and many antenna choices, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 5055, 0845-, 4KZ, Innisfail, Feb 4. What the heck, it's only about 15 minutes until LSS at the transmitter site, so I've decided to stay awake to see whether there's a dawn enhancement, and sure enough, the signal is improving compared to 15 minutes ago. Now at fair level with mostly music. 'Downtown' playing at 0848 (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5055, Radio 4KZ at 0800 UT Feb 11 with traces of audio. Got up too late to hear them this morning. 73 (Mick Delmage, near Lamont, Alberta at the Moman antenna farm, Perseus SDR and many antenna choices, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. 6155, 0602-, Radio Oesterreich International, Feb 3. Very good reception in German with news. Brings back happy memories when they were in English, and even with a DX program (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Austrian SW Panorama, to which I was a contributor (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 693 kHz, 1656-, tentative Bangladesh Betar, Feb 3. Tentative logging at fair level with what sounds like Sub Asian music, which just may be // to 4750 (way under China). It's been a few years since I've heard them here (and in the past, only on disturbed days, and then at very good levels here). (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX- pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. TWR WATS CELEBRATES TEN YEARS OF RADIO MINISTRY On 1 February 2018, TWR West Africa Transmitter Station (WATS) celebrates ten years of reaching across barriers of darkness, fear and hopelessness in the West African region by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing hope and providing spiritual guidance to the people in this region [...] (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Togo). [...] Beside the English broadcasts, the station airs its programmes in [...] languages like Hausa, Igbo, Twi, Yoruba, Fongbe, Jula, Bambara, Kanuri, Lukpa [...]. At its humble beginnings, the transmitter [rather: building] was built with hand-made cement block bricks by Garth Kennedy and a team of local labourers. Garth, a quantity surveyor by profession initially started working at TWR planning the re-design and expansion of the studio/office building for TWR in Abidjan to replace the studio/office in the home of Abdoulaye and Elizabeth El hadj of Timbuktu. The Kennedy family were the first TWR missionaries to serve at the West Africa Transmitter Station. To see the medium wave transmitter turned on, and hear those first few words being broadcast into an area with more than 190 million people, was something very special to Garth and the team. excerpts from https://www.twrafrica.org/index.php/see/news/616-twr-wats-celebrates-10-years-of-radio-ministry (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) WTFK?? 1566 kHz ** BIAFRA [non]. WRMI(RAE) webcast, via which I have just confirmed WORLD OF RADIO, at 0500 Feb 12 switches to Radio Biafra --- sounds like same old program from months ago, probably zombie file not updated for a sesquimonth or more, and may well be run every night. At one point near end at 0530, YL claims the frequency [via France] was ``724`` instead of 7240. She has a lot of trouble with ``these numbers``. WRMI not on 11530 nor 9955 at this hour, no R. Biafra on SW. 0530 to World Music fill (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BONAIRE. 800, PJB, TransWorld Radio, Kralendijk, FEB 1 0240 - Religious talk and inspirational music for Cuba. "Escuchando Radio Transmundial" announcement at 0254. Bottom dropped out at 0300 with pattern change to south. It was the prevalent, if not dominant signal before the pattern change, local XEROK nulled (Robert Vance; El Paso TX; WiNRADiO G33DDC, various indoor and outdoor loop antennas, NRC IDXD Feb 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) See also MEXICO: XEROK 800, Trans World Radio, Kralendijk. 2320 February 3, 2018. English gospel vocals, male with mention of "TWR 800 AM" a couple times and twrbonaire.com, back to English gospel. English gospel screamer from 2329 (Terry L. Krueger, All times/dates GMT, Clearwater FL, IC-R75, NRD-535, longwires, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Carriers along with TWR: 799.983 ? 799.9985 VOWR already audible at 2000 UT in Finland Europe. 799.9995 WPLK Palatka FL 800.000 TWR Bonaire *2130- UT 800.001 ? *2150v- UT 800.0015 CKLW Windsor ON 800.002 CJBQ Belleville ON 800.009 ? (Mauno Ritola, Finland, mwoffsets Feb 4, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Attached is the legal, notified maximum radiation nighttime pattern for PJB3, Bonaire. This dates from well before the RJ-81 Agreement, and so was grandfathered when that agreement was promulgated. As I noted earlier, this data was taken directly from the ITU database a couple of days ago. (Glenn - I got the software fixed so it would plot this "1 tower augmented" pattern.) http://www.w4uvh.net/PJB3Patternplot.pdf I would not be surprised to see that the new 4 tower parallelogram pattern is consistent with this one, at least in terms of not exceeding its maxima. This pattern was not subject to the provisions of the NARBAs because those agreements did not apply to most of the Caribbean, or to Central and South America, or (in this case) to Mexico. I also attach a copy of page 1 of the final NARBA (from our library's original edition copy!), showing the limited signatories. [viz.: NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL BROADCASTING AGREEMENT concluded among the Governments of the following countries: Canada Cuba Dominican Republic United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Territories in the North American Region (Bahama Islands and Jamaica) United States of America] There are lots of other anomalies in the western hemisphere, some with the color of international notification, and some not! Note for example that the later NARBA was agreed to by the UK, but not for all of its Caribbean territories (or Belize, formerly British Honduras). I thought it would be helpful for you to see the actual polar plot pattern - even with my familiarity with this subject, I find a visual display is often more intuitive than a table of numbers! (Ben Dawson, WA, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I just returned from a Caribbean cruise, where I made a point of checking 800 during local evenings. PJB was local quality near the southeast corner of Cuba at 0210 1/29, giving contact info and RTM/Transmundial IDs. The carrier dropped for 1-2 seconds a few times as though they were having technical issues. Further south, the signal was not nearly as strong near the coasts of Colombia, Panamá and Costa Rica. Near Panamá, 800 had a battle between 3 stations at least once when I checked. PJB was local quality again near Grand Cayman and the SW corner of Cuba on 2/3 and 2/4 respectively (with traces of another station in the background). No carrier drops, so the earlier problem had apparently been fixed. It sure sounded like 450 kW with a directional pattern, being near their primary target (Bruce, now back in Seattle, Portzer, Feb 8, IRCA via DXLD) Wo die neuen 450 kW von Bonaire ankommen ist mir nicht klar. Hier in Salzburg war die letzten Tage nur VOWR aus Kanada mit 2.5 kW auf 800 kHz gut zu hören, obwohl andere Sender beispielsweise aus Kuba mit viel geringerer Leistung im ganzen Band zu hören sind. 73 (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, 3 Feb, ADXB via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Zielgebiet ist Amerika. Welche Antenne sie benutzen um das nötige Vor/Rück Verhältnis zu bekommen weiß ich allerdings nicht. LG (Harald Suess, Feb 8, ibid.) Ich bin im März auf Curaçao und schaue mal, wie der Empfang dort ist. Eventuell mache ich auch einen Tagestrip nach Bonaire. Das geht allerdings nur per Flugzeug (Markus Weidner, Feb 8, ibid.) Subject: Fw: [A-DX] TWR Bonaire 800kHz, --- zum 2. Mal. -- jetzt vollständig --- siehe AM 800 kHz pattern von der TWR Bonaire Anlage. Es gibt 3 Schaltstellungen mit Maxima Signalen. Bonaire - Salzburg azimuth ist 43.4 Grad, 8380 km Die Minimas schließen Europa südlich Murmansk ein: 020 bis 110degr 240 bis 270degr Die Hauptstrahlrichtungen sind max English/Spanish 270 bis 380/020 degr (325) Spanish 170 bis 240degr (205) Portugiesisch 110 bis 200degr (155) Minima 020 bis 110degr von Cayenne über Africa, Azoren, Europa bis nördlich Island-Narvik-Murmansk. Minima 240 bis 270degr West Kolumbien, Galapagosinseln, Pazifik. 325degr Hauptkeule Bahamas, Guantánamo, Flórida, Alabama, Missouri, Montana, Alberta, Vancouver. Lobe-Grenzen: Östlich New Brunswick, Grönland, Island, Narvik- Murmansk. Westlich Guatemala, Belize, Méxiko, Hawaii. 205deg Hauptkeule Richtung Kolumbien, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivien. 155deg Hauptkeule Venezuela, Manáus, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, São Paulo. 73 wb FYI: TWR Bonaire pattern 800 kHz, --- see TWR Bonaire PDF attachment. 3 independent minima/maxima switch signals. Bonaire - Salzburg Austria Europe azimuth is 43.4 degrees, 8380 km distance apart Minima includes Europe south of Narvik-Murmansk (Norway/USSR) 020 to 110degr 240 to 270degr The mainlobes are max English/Spanish 270 to 380/020 degr (325) Spanish 170 to 240degr (205) Portugiesisch 110 to 200degr (155) Minima 020 to 110degr from Cayenne/Suriname eastwards across Africa, Azores, Europe to northerly of Iceland-Narvik Norway-Murmansk USSR Minima 240 to 270degr West Colombia, Galápagos Isls, Pacific Ocean. 325degr Main Lobe towards at Bahamas, US-Guantánamo, Coro-Land, Florida, Alabama, Missouri, Montana, Alberta, Vancouver, Pacific. Lobe borders: East of New Brunswick, Greenland, Iceland, Narvik/Norway / Murmansk / USSR. West of Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Hawaii. 205deg main lobe towards Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia etc. 155deg main lobe towards whole Venezuela, Manáus Brazil, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, São Paulo Brazil, Atlantic Ocean. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Feb 8, ibid.) Glenn, Everyone should understand that the pattern is (1) an antique, (2) not an actual radiation pattern but a "limits" pattern showing the maximum expected radiation from any of the three (?) original configurations, and (3) the present 4 tower box parallelogram pattern(s) may have been designed to be within these limits, but they also might not have been. What the pattern shows, however, is that if the new pattern is within those limits, it still can radiate very substantial signal toward the three maxima directions. The British OFCOM is being very circumspect these days about operation of stations on UK "overseas territories" to the point that at least 1 Caribbean station which was not in compliance with the RJ-81 Agreement is no longer operating, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more instances of that (perhaps 1610?). But I have no idea about the Dutch government's communications regulatory overview of their overseas territories. I know that the Curacao-Bonaire regulator has not always been strict, but I don't know what controls from den Hague are in place. Even within the Netherlands itself, the high power MF operations at Flevoland were designed for 600 kW but never did operate at that power level because the ITU notification was only 400 if I remember correctly (I'm at home and don't have the access codes to look from my home computer). (Ben Dawson, Hatfield-Daswson, WA, Feb 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) According to TWR Bonaire, there may be slight changes to the schedule, but it should be now like this: 2130 – 2300 Caribbean 50 kW Spanish 2300 – 2400 Caribbean 225 kW English 0000 – 0300 Northwest 440 kW Spanish 0300 – 0500 Caribbean 225 kW Spanish 0500 – 0800 Caribbean 100 kW Spanish 0800 - 1000 Brazil 440 kW Portuguese 1000 - 1100 Caribbean 225 kW Spanish 1100 – 1200 Caribbean 100 kW Spanish 1200 – 1230 Caribbean 50 kW Spanish 73, (Mauno Ritola, Feb 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Okay, the TWR MW power / time slots difference details you were told here, what told your TWR Bonaire technician source about performance, target allocation, direction, power amplification with 4 masts - or non-directional single mast radiation. My guess: > 2130 – 2300 Caribbean 50 kW Spanish non-dir > 2300 – 2400 Caribbean 225 kW English 205 degr > 0000 – 0300 Northwest 440 kW Spanish 325 degr > 0300 – 0500 Caribbean 225 kW Spanish 205 degr > 0500 – 0800 Caribbean 100 kW Spanish non-dir > 0800 - 1000 Brazil 440 kW Portuguese 155 degr > 1000 - 1100 Caribbean 225 kW Spanish 205 degr > 1100 – 1200 Caribbean 100 kW Spanish non-dir > 1200 – 1230 Caribbean 50 kW Spanish non-dir 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non] Glenn, It's also important to note that prior to the abrogation of the most recent US/Mexico bilateral agreement as a result of the Rio 1981 Agreement for all of ITU Region II, NO, that is not one, US station was allowed to operate nighttime on 800 kHz. (Unlike 1050 and 1220, also "Mexico Class A" clear channels where there was one each US nighttime operation, in NYC and Cleveland respectively). And the Canadian CKLW operation dates from an earlier time, and may well have come about, like several other Canadian operations on Mexican class A channels, as a result of negotiated grandfathered situations under earlier North American agreements when there may not have been any actual agreement between Canada and Mexico. "Specially negotiated" quid pro quo of some sort appears to have been the case for the US nighttime operations on 1050 and 1220, with some concession to Mexico as the tradeoff. So whining and sniveling by US nighttime operators on 800 kHz from any real or perceived nighttime interference from TWR Bonaire which may occur is sort of like some kinds of downstream water rights uses - you may have enjoyed a status quo condition for a fairly long time, but that doesn't mean you were entitled to it (ben Dawson, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ben, Tnx for your continuing enlightening discussion of this. I am not aware of any ``sniveling and whining`` by 800 stations, are you? I was merely raising the possibility in light of the new situation. Because of this, do you think the FCC would deny increased-power STAs to them, unlike all those FL stations vs Cuba? (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) TWR VS. HEALTH CONCERNS OF LOCAL PEOPLE http://www.twrbonaire.com/news/view/423/2018/02-06/effect-radio-waves-new-transmitter-twr February 6th, 2018 --- Effect Radio Waves New Transmitter TWR Kralendijk - TWR would like to address concerns the people on Bonaire may have regarding the effect of radio waves of this new 440 kW transmitter. What changed this year at TWR (Trans World Radio)-Bonaire? On January 30, 2018, Trans World Radio put into operation a new 440 kW transmitter. Before that time, TWR used a 100 kW transmitter. A transmitter turns electrical signals into radio waves. What are Radio Waves? Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic waves, the same kind of waves as e.g. visible light, but with a longer wavelength and much lower frequency. Radio waves travel at the speed of light and have been used for communicating across long distances for almost 100 years. Is this the first time TWR Bonaire broadcasts on 440 kW? No, Trans World Radio had been broadcasting at higher power (500 kW) for 35 years, from the year 1964. In 1999, TWR decided, for financial reasons, to downscale to a much smaller transmitter. This transmitter did not reach countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Caribbean Islands very well, therefore TWR recently restored the power back to 440 kW. Are there health risks? In 1997, KEMA *) measured the field strength of the 500 kW transmitter. KEMA reported, “The electric and the magnetic field strength measured outside the TWR fence is very low, much lower than the limits mentioned in the European and American standards”. Measurements by Trans World Radio on February 6th, 2018 confirm that this is still the case. *) Kema: KEMA (Keuring van Elektrotechnische Materialen Arnhem) NV, established in 1927 was a global energy consulting company headquartered in Arnhem, Netherlands. It offered management consulting, technology consulting & services to the energy value chain that includes business and technical consultancy, operational support, measurements & inspection, and testing & certification services. On 22 December 2011, DNV GL acquired KEMA's shares, creating a global consulting and Certification Company with 2300 experts located in over 20 countries (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3325, NBC Bougainville. Feb 9 with above average reception; in Pidgin; 1112-1125 announcers chatting about "Climate change . . . communications . . ."; pop Pacific Islands song; 1133- 1201* discussion about the Bougainville Yumi Wan Festival held last month and about the referendum to be voted on next year regarding their independence; suddenly cut off. My audio at http://goo.gl/uHpDzD (two minutes of talk - one minute of music) 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1112-1148, Feb 11, Sunday. No religious songs here (see PNG - NBC Madang); DJ in Pidgin/Tok Pisin playing pop songs; Bob Seger - "Old Time Rock n Roll" 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1115-1153*, Feb 13. Reception above the norm; DJ in Pidgin/Tok Pisin playing a mix of pop Pacific Islands songs and western hits songs (Every Mother's Son - "Come on Down to My Boat," etc.); local time checks; item about next years referendum for independence (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Madang ** BOUVET ISLAND [non]. Glenn, By the way, the Bouvet DXpedition team is headed to Cape Town, not back to Chile for safety reasons, decision by the ship's captain. Too bad they had to abandon the project after so much trouble and expense. 73, (Art Peterson, CA, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That certainly makes sense, with engine problems, CT being the closest land, in fact almost twice as close as Punta Arenas: 1386 vs 2512 nautical miles. So why didn`t they depart from RSA in the first place? Prevailing winds? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4885, Rádio Clube do Pará, Belém, 0615-0633, 11-02, Brazilian songs, program "Clube da Madrugada", ID "Clube da Madrugada, o melhor musical para você, aqui no Rádio Clube". 25332 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, WOR iog via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6040.672, ZYJ200, Rádio Evangelizar, Curitiba PR, S=7 music program, female singer at 0546 UT. 6059.831, ZYE726, SRDA, Super Rádio Deus é Amor, Curitiba, PR. S=7 near equal signal of RHC Bauta co-channel even frequency. 9564.922, ZYE727, SRDA, Super Deus é Amor, Curitiba PR, S=5 poor signal sermon talk at 0622 UT on Feb 8. 9674.921, ZYE971, R. Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP, very poor S=3-4 signal, male BrasPort presenter heard, 0624 UT. 9725.371, exRB2, ZYJ200, Rádio Evangelizar, Curitiba PR, JBA threshold poor S=3 signal level, 0630 UT on Feb 8. 9818.637, ZYR96, R. Nove de Julho, São Paulo SP, threshold S=3-4 signal level, noted in southern Germany at 0640 UT on Feb 8. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4774.887, Feb 10 at 0727, poor signal with talk, Spanish from Perú or Brazuguese from Brasil? More like the latter. Music playing in background. Both are very close to 4774.9. WRTH shows R. Congonhas at 0800-0100, but during DST for one more week only in Minas Gerais, it could be starting one UT hour earlier. This is confirmed by Brandon Jordan`s ``LA Bandscan for s/off and s/on times Jan 23 2018 0145-1220 UT: 4774.9 B R. Congonhas, Congonhas-MG *0707 4774.9 PRU R. Tarma, Tarma 0207* *0946`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA [and non]. Shortwave Radiogram, 10-11 Feb includes an item about World Radio Day on 13 February. Most of the show is in MFSK32, with four images. There will also be an experiment comparing the Olivia 8-2000, 8-1000, and 8-500 modes: does it help to concentrate the data in narrower slices of bandwidth within the 2000+ Hz available in a shortwave broadcast sideband? Details and schedule: http://swradiogram.net/post/170688809937/shortwave-radiogram-10-11-february-2018 (Kim Elliott, Feb 9, WOR iog via DXLD) The reception here was too good to notice a difference. In any case, the experience of the last few years says: Concentrated data are more advantageous with very weak RF signals, against pure noise. A wide and interleaved mode is more favorable in the case of audio QRM, strong and deep fading and multipath. Here is the AF spectrum of SWRG number 34: http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-02-10.htm#SWRG The guy in the picture (for the next WORLD RADIO DAY) looks like he's having trouble with a jammer on the same frequency. ;-) Some trouble was in the second radiogram of BSR. The MFSK16 signals were on a crooked audio frequency, with no previous RSID. In addition, the signal wobbled by more than 10 Hz, here was the MFSK AFC required. Then there was a systematic text error: each 2 missing symbols (combination of letters, spaces or line breaks) after various special characters. Then 40s of audio data were missing in a MFSK image, filled up at the end with the following text-audio. And then at the end still pure html source code. It definitely works more elegantly, as we know it from the SWRG. Here is the digital spectrum #2 of Broad Spectrum Radio, January 2018 Edition: http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/SW_Radiogram_2018-01-20.htm#BSR_2 (roger, germany, WOR iog via DXLD) ** CANADA. Some more NDB logs after TA carriers: seems I get more from Canada than the US! in random tuning; IDs per dxinfocentre.com: 284, Feb 8 at 0656, QD and dash: The Pas, Manitoba 317, Feb 8 at 0659, VC and dash: La Ronge, Saskatchewan 351, Feb 8 at 0700, YKQ and dash: QC FORT RUPERT - WASKAGANISH --- where is that? At the SE corner of James Bay not far from Ontario 245 kHz, Feb 11 at 0712, MCW dash and YZE, which is at Gore Bay, Ontario. Where`s that? On the north shore of Manitoulin Island, between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. I`m pulling it under a stronger signal from FS, also on 245 but a different pitch; see U S A 223 kHz MCW, Feb 11 at 0709 UT tuned to 224, I get a dash and beacon ID starting with Y-, but too weak to be sure of next two letters. Dxinfocentre.com shows the only one around here is YKA in Kamloops BC. If it`s 3 letters starting with Y and a dash, chances are it`s Canadian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn: You may have heard YKA Kamloops but I think YYW Armstrong, Ontario, is more likely. It is hugely dominant on 223 kHz (+400 Hz for the CW ID) here in Michigan. See: https://www.classaxe.com/dx/ndb/rna/signal_list 73, (Andy Robins, Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, ibid.) YYW 223 Armstrong ON is also on the dxinfocentre.com list. Don`t know how I overlooked it. There are two Armstrongs in ON, one on the QC border south of James Bay, and the other somewhere north of Thunder Bay. Coordinates for YYW point to the latter. Dxinfocentre includes coordinates for stations, classaxe does not, but the latter does include powers, 100 watts for this one, 500 W for much further YKA. Classaxe also shows state/provinces/countries where each has been logged, and OK could be added to YYW if it were a bit more definite. About this Armstrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong,_Thunder_Bay_District,_Ontario and even its airport, but WTFK?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Airport More beacons at bedtime; see also USA: 218 kHz, Feb 13 at 0708, RL and dash: Red Lake, Ontario, N of Kenora, 500 watts, now heard in OK; maybe no OK monitors at classaxe? 248 kHz, Feb 13 at 0709, WG, Winnipeg, Manitoba; 250 W, add OK 346 kHz, Feb 13 at 0711, YXL and dash: Sioux Lookout, Ontario; 1000 W 351 kHz, Feb 13 at 0713, YKQ and dash: Ft Rupert - Waskaganish, Quebec; 500 watts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. (690 kHz): "The Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to change the authorized contours of the English-language radio programming undertaking CBU Vancouver, British Columbia, by changing the antenna pattern and decreasing the daytime and nighttime transmitter power from 50,000 to 25,000 watts. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application. The CBC stated that these technical changes are required due to damages sustained by a recent fire and that they should result in a similar coverage area, as most of the Radio One AM reception in the area is duplicated by the Radio One FM signal from CBU-2-FM Vancouver. The licensee added that proposed changes will ensure excellent coverage in Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective once the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 7 February 2020. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website." 7 February 2018 https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-52.htm (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Feb 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBU 690 to 25 kW http://nwbroadcasters.com/ See item Feb. 7 (Eric Floden, Ottawa Ont., IRCA via DXLD) Whoa! Gonna get clobbered nightly by Mexicana on 690 (Colin Newell - Victoria - B.C. CANADA -, ibid.) I vaguely recall that many years ago, CBU 690 was only 10 kW and I was wondering why it wasn`t full 50 kW? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. ROMANIA(non), Reception of IRRS Radio City via RadioCom, Feb 10: 0900-1000 on 9510 SAF 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu German Sat, weak/fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-irrs-radio-city-via-rou.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 10, WOR iog via DXLD) This could also be filed under IRELAND [non], or ITALY [non] (gh) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS. 415 kHz, Feb 12 at 0724 UT, CBC beacon ID on MCW; no, not Canada, but Cayman Brac (West End), 1000 watts and not reported before from OK per https://www.classaxe.com/dx/ndb/rna/signal_list (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHILE. 5825, R. TRIUNFAL EVANGELICA. Feb 7. 2300-2330 UT. Música pentecostal. Desde las 2324, saludos y devocional. SINPO: 35232 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL 660; ANT: Dipolo; QTH: Ovalle, Chile, condiglista yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. 7360, Feb 8 at 1956, Chinese instrumental music, not Firedragon, S9-S7 and off at 1957*. Would be more interesting propagation if direct, but listed as concluding a bihour in French, 150 kW aimed 310 degrees also USward via ALBANIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. EAST JAMMERSTAN: 9455, Crash & Bang music jammer; 1703, 2/4; No other audio evident. RFA Marianas & WRMI listed (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 9860, Firedragon station, at 1700. Frodge's "crash and bang music" station, obviously to obliterate Radio Free Asia via Mariana Islands (Saipan). S-9, Feb. 10. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. TAJIQUISTÃO. 11895. Fev 11, 2018. 0140-0200, Radio Free Asia, Dushanbe-TJK, em Tibetano. Locutor e locutora falam; 0152 Trecho de uma canção e comentário sobre ela, suponho; Outra canção; 0158 Inicia-se jammer da CNR1 (Nas outras frequências da RFA, neste horário, todas já estão bloqueadas pela CNR1, com exceção de 11895 (!). RFA com sinal e modulação satisfatórios nesta frequência, 35433. (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier, Local da escuta: Cabedelo-PB, Brasil (UTC- 3), Receptor (es): Sony 7600GR, Antena: Longwire, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. 21699.991, RFA Mandarin program via Tinian Island, 06-07 UT, S=9 signal; 21700.000 and 21700.002, two CNR1 spoken jammers accompanied, CNR1 checked against 17890 kHz CNR1 Beijing. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Frequency changes of IBB Radio Free Asia [all jammed services --- gh] http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/frequency-changes-of-ibb-radio-free-asia.html USA (non), Frequency changes of IBB Radio Free Asia 0100-0200 NF 7520 DB 200 kW / 060 deg CeAs Uyghur, ex 7480 0100-0200 NF 17585 TIN 250 kW / 309 deg CeAs Uyghur, ex 17540 0100-0200 on 15270 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Mon, ex Daily 0100-0200 NF 15150 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Tue, ex 15270 0100-0200 NF 15170 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Wed, ex 15270 0100-0200 NF 15210 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Thu, ex 15270 0100-0200 NF 15310 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Fri, ex 15270 0100-0200 NF 15325 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Sat, ex 15270 0100-0200 NF 15335 TIN 250 kW / 295 deg CeAs Tibetan Sun, ex 15270 1000-1100 NF 17790 LAM 100 kW / 077 deg CeAs Tibetan, ex 17830 1500-1600 on 7415 TIN 250 kW / 303 deg EaAs Chinese Mon/Wed, ex Daily 1500-1600 NF 7400 TIN 250 kW / 303 deg EaAs Chinese Tue/Thu, ex 7415 1500-1600 NF 7440 TIN 250 kW / 303 deg EaAs Chinese Fri, ex 7415 1500-1600 NF 7520 TIN 250 kW / 303 deg EaAs Chinese Sat/Sun, ex 7415 1600-1700 on 11800 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Mon, additional 1600-1700 on 11785 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Tue, additional 1600-1700 on 11805 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Wed, additional 1600-1700 on 11860 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Thu, additional 1600-1700 on 11885 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Fri, additional 1600-1700 on 11890 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Sat, additional 1600-1700 on 11775 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg CeAs Uyghur Sun, additional ??????????? ?? Observer ? 4:53 PM (via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA NATIONAL RADIO DRM TEST "Yuanfang come Chou Chou" on shortwave Beijing China on 9830 and 17565 kHz, from Monday Jan 29 onwards. - original source path from China via drm.org website item on {This follows from an updated review posted on hfcc.org} Capture the CNR test broadcast on 17565 kHz at 0300 UT, of user 'zfyoung' from GuangXi Province posted this on DRM Software Radio Forums ... via Alokesh Gupta VU3BSE India twitter item 30 Jan 2018, CHINA NATIONAL RADIO TESTS DRM China National Radio short term DRM test on 17565 kHz. 9830 kHz from 2025 to 0200 UT 17565 kHz from 0200 to 0730 UT 9830 KHz from 0730 to 1805 UT via Lukas Polaka, Czech Republic via Hubert in Austria, Herbert in A-DX ng discussion on Febr 5: This original message from the Mandarin - German automatic translator from Google speaks of 30 kW power in DRM mode. That was already be in 2005year also. By the way, this is the site with the Beijing Frequency Tests. CNR again tested the launch of DRM digital AM broadcasting, item of 2018- 01-29 This week, China Voice once again tested the launch of DRM digital AM broadcasting [sic!]. The test signal was launched on Monday (January 29, 2018). The specific frequency and launch period are as follows (time is Beijing time): 04:25-10:00 9830 kHz 10:00-15:30 17565 kHz 15:30-02:05 9830 kHz [Beijing Time minus 8 h = UT] According to the message "Yuanfang come Chou Chou", the Voice of China DRM broadcast signal was launched in Beijing with the target area being South China. The original analog signal power of 100 kilowatts, is transmitting digital signals on reduced power only 30 kilowatts open. Use DRM signal decoding software can solve the following information: (CNR, via drm.org, via India, Czech Rep, Austria, A-DX ng Jan 28 - Febr 6, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Comment on drm.org portal website. Once again a repeat, my opinion about the worldwide DRM consortium: That item from the DRM Worldwide website, who as an organization in infirmity for 17 years. With a Romanian/BBC background Director-General, a lot of luxury hotel convention events happened in the past, the money burned from government, university or ITU organization, and generate the transmitter gear manufacturer. The Czech author: Lukas Polaka, who does not know the connections or backgrounds on DRM matter, but has the message from actual tip given Alokesh Gupta (a 'glowing' Indian DRM supporter) and into the CZE Telecom digital site then via Hubert in Austria read the tip out. Alokesh Gupta received the tip from the end of January from a domestic Chinese user 'zfyoung' from GuangXi Province posted this on DRM Software Radio Forums At http://www.drm.org DRM Worldwide site has reported everything for years, what has been going on for 15 years in the vapor district of DRM. A lot of hot air. Fits to the DRM Schedule File of the website from the year 2015 Russia items. Voice of Russia DRM transmission actually: (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Febr 6, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Re: China National Radio DRM test On Januar 29 some China DRM mode request entries seen in HFCC database file. 17800 kHz DongFang on Hainandao Island location, not far from Vietnam border at 18 55 39.62 N 108 39 46.55 E and 18 54 38.81 N 108 41 09.49 E This is usually one of the China Jamming stations, two cloned ALLISS antennas are visible, see Google Maps images. The clone units copied by the Chinese of Thomcast/Tales/Ampegon Schifferstadt Germany product. 17800 0100 0900 43NW,44NE DOF 30 16 0 216 1234567 291017 250318 N=DRM Zho CHN CNR RTC #15100 15580 0100 0900 43NW,44NE DOF 30 16 0 216 1234567 291017 250318 N=DRM Zho CHN CNR RTC #15099 MW CRI Foreign sce CRI / RFI on MWs 684 and 1296 kHz in Dec 1998 appeared. The first delivered original ALLISS antenna erected in far North Eastern China location at QIQ Qiqihar CHN 47 20 47.09 N 124 16 07.32 E of Thomcast/Thomson/Tales/Ampegon like from Mannheim or now Schifferstadt Germany, that in April 2003 year. 11695 0100 0900 43NW,44NE QIQ 150 220 0 146 1234567 291017 250318 N=DRM Zho CHN CNR RTC #15095 The first CRI DRM mode tests ran in the summer of 2005, but were subsequently veiled in the HFCC database table of HFCC/ABU version schedule in the following years, i.e. handled by the Chinese ladies engineers from RTC China frequency management, at the HFCC FMO conferences. --- or were not really in DRM mode on the air but generally be used as jamming digital noise 20 kHz block jamming against V of Tibet, AIR, VoA or RFA, SOH, BBC Uighur or even BBCWS-English, etc. etc. history of 2005 year: > But instead DRM experimental sites Dongfang [150 kW] and Qiqihar > [CRI Russian 500 kW in A-05] missed on HFCC B-05 planning table. The jammers from China are located at large plants in Urumchi, Kashgar, Xinjiezhen Baoji, Shijiazhuang Pingshan Hebei, Xingyang, Qiqihar Heilongjiang, and DongFang Hainandao Island. In addition, there are some small plants in the big cities as local misery (wb df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Febr 5) DRM Test on shortwave Beijing 9830 and 17565 kHz, item of Jan 29, 2018. Testet DRM 9830 kHz auf Kurzwelle, - der 100 kW Beam von Peking suedwaerts in 175degr azimuth, jetzt um 17.00 UT war in Horishima Japan eindeutig CNR1 Programm b u t [a b e r] im AM Modus zu hoeren, S=8 oder -77dBm signal dort, oder schwaecher in Tokyo oder Seoul, geht nach China Ortszeit bis 26.05 Uhr, d.h. minus 8hrs = 1805 UT Ende. Hier in Deutschland liegt aber eher ein S=6 RTTY Signal darueber: uebliche typische 850 Hertz Distanz auf dem fq Paar 9829.570 kHz und 9830.420 kHz. [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 6, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) [Summarized briefly by gh on WORLD OF RADIO 1917] ** COLOMBIA. 760, HJAJ, Barranquilla, Colombia (presumed); 0506-0605+, 2/3; Mainly under XEABC(presumed) with tropical music & mentions of “Colombia”. Not a new one (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) while WJR was unexpectedly off (gh, DXLD) [and non]. 760, Feb 3, 0725 Radio Cadena Nacional; WJR off the air. Two stations in Spanish battling it out on the frequency, one with female talk, the other a male with music. Very weak RCN ID in Spanish at 0730. At 0808 two males in English talking about the President & economy suddenly appears. WJR back on with low power? English talkers off at 0818, back to SS music, weaker than before. WJR back on at 0821 with Red Eye Radio program, ads. 0823 off again, SS music in noise. 0843 WJR back on at apparent full power for the rest of the evening (Bill Carney, Grand Ledge MI, MARE Tipsheet 9 Feb via DXLD) See MEXICO ** CUBA. ARC late, late news --- De allra flesta provinsstationerna på Kuba strömmar nu sina program på nätet. Jag har inte kollat alla, men ett halvdussin finns på plats idag, 12 februari. Att det är ett propagandavapen framgår tydligt om man kollar på Radio Guamás hemsida: den är helt på engelska! (Henrik Klemetz, ARC mv-eko 12 Feb via DXLD) Most of Cuba's provincial stations now stream their programs online. I have not checked everyone, but half a dozen is in place today, February 12th. The fact that it's a propaganda weapon is clearly visible if you look at the Radio Guamás website: it's all in English! (Henrik Klemetz, Googly translated from svenska, ibid.) ** CUBA. NUMBERS STATION, Weak signal of Cuban Spy Numbers HM01 Feb 6 0755-0850 on 11635 secret tx probably BEJ 50 kW Spanish Tue/Thu/Sat http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/weak-signal-of-cuban-spy-numbers-hm01.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 6-7, WOR iog via DXLD) Good signal of Cuban Spy Numbers HM01 in 31mb on Feb 9 0655-0750 9330 secret tx probably BEJ 50 kW Spanish Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/good-signal-of-cuban-spy-numbers-hm01.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 9, WOR iog via DXLD) Blots out the BS on WBCQ now that schedule is extended all night; WBCQ seems to be oblivious to this longstanding other 9330 occupant (gh) 9330, Unidentified numbers station at 0656. Had been monitoring very strong OC for a few minutes before the Spanish female began with numbers. Snafu: at first, they were running two separate offset tapes of numbers, but got it corrected after a minute. 0659, long pause then, "2222222". (I have not heard this before). More numbers, another long pause at 0702-0703. Three 5-digit number groups, then back to OC until 0704, then same thing again. (Is this more of "something is always wrong at Radio Cuba" - GH ?). At 0706 "2222" then more OC. Very long OC beginning at 0714 until 0717 when only two number groups were sent before the next OC. Notably absent were the digital tones, making me wonder of this was an HM-01 signal where the digital part wasn't being sent (by mistake?). Long OC beginning 0720. Resumed at 0725, but with odd echo like sound to audio. AH ! - at 0729, we got the digital tones running again. Typical HM-01 until 0747, when it went back to strong OC. Went completely down at 0754. NOTE: I conferred in real time with Powell Way (SC), who couldn`t copy the station at all at his QTH. VG, Feb. 12. 9155, CUBA, Unidentified numbers station, at 0945. Strong open carrier until 0955, then female with 5 digit number groups in Spanish. Went on thru the hour. S9+ Feb. 11. 11635, CUBA, Unidentified numbers station at 2240 mixing Spanish female 5 figure number groups and digital tones. Outstanding signal, Feb. 9. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) ** CUBA. 6005-6040, Feb 7 at 0651, jammer spike spurs out of 6030 against Radio Martí, are spreading further than usual, QRMing i.a. 6005 BBC WS Ascension (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6100, Wed Feb 7 at 0650, RHC English is very poor here, both in signal level and undermodulation; in fact, it`s bothered by splash from 6105 Algeria via France, at 05-07. RHC // 6165 is JBM; // 6000 slightly more modulated; // 6060 as usual far louder; and // 5040 even better and less harsh than 6060. Something`s always wrong at RHC. I had intended to check whether Arnie`s Tuesday/mit-week `DXers Unlimited` was back after suspension for surgery; did anyone notice? 15440 & 15300, 15510 & 15230, 15580 & 15160, 15649 & 15090, 15020, Feb 7 at 1450, RHC-FM spurblobs out of 15370-AM are indeed back today after a day off yesterday. This time spaced at almost 70 kHz intervals, ensuring one will land right on another intentional RHC frequency, 15230. This time I have arranged them (mostly) in pairs, first-, second-, third-, fourth-order. I wonder if it`s simply a matter of how the transmitter is tweaked, perhaps by different operators, one of whom does it correctly occasionally. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On 6 and 7 February (UT), here in Palm Desert, Radio Habana Cuba had a strong well-modulated signal on 11950 kHz with the audio of the "Mesa Redonda" (Round Table) TV program starting at about 0000 UT. The RHC IS and the "La Bayamesa" Cuban anthem preceded the program. For those who don't know, "Mesa Redonda" addresses current Cuban and foreign issues with the participation of a panel composed of journalists or other personalities from politics, culture, sports, etc., depending on the topic that is being addressed (from the program website). (-- Richard Langley, California, 0103 UT Feb 8, WOR iog via DXLD) It’s a simulcast of the show on a couple of the Cuban satellite TV channels at 30w Ku. Back in the day Fidel himself would appear on the show on occasion! Unlike shortwave, nothing is usually wrong on the ICRT channels (Jay Novello, Wake Forest NC, ibid.) 15085, 15155, 15230, 15300; 15440, 15510, 15555, Feb 8 at 1502, RHC spurblobs out of 15370 are extremely distorted and wider than usual, will not even decode in FM mode tuning. Frequencies very approximate, the outer ones JBA. Something`s always wrong at RHC. 15570, 15509, 15440, 15302, 15233, 15163, 15095, 15030, 14952, 14897, 14818, 14744, 14674? Feb 9 at 1457, RHC-FM spurblobs out of 15370-AM transmitter at these very approx. centers up to 10 kHz wide. The closest ones are strongest, and the furthest ones barely detectable by the F# tone if nothing else. At first scan, 15570 is a trace, but at 1507, now it`s strong, plus further-uppers, 15642, 15710, so everything is constantly fluxuating. Also today, there seems to be a general hash level across the entire 19m band, including between the blob peaks. Readable FM audio only on the closer ones, for `Sonido Cubano` music show. By 1600, 15370 and its constellation are off, while 15230 is uncovered still on AM for another minute until 1601* 6100, Feb 10 at 0725, RHC English is OFF this frequency; while 6165 & 6000 are undermodulated, 6060 good but with het. 15579, 15510, 15443; 15298, 15229, 15159, 15094, 15023, 14952, 14881, 14810, 14740, 14670! Feb 11 from 1503, RHC-FM spurs out of AM 15370 transmitter, at these very approx. centers, each spreading up to 10 kHz wide. Intermittently, clear FM program audio cuts on the closer ones, otherwise mostly noise --- wiggle that patchcord! Fortunately, the tenth-order 14670 one is very weak and CHU can still be copied. That leads to an average separation of 70 kHz, a bit more than usual. 6000, Feb 12 at 0650, RHC is suptorted, but summarizing upcoming content including `DXers Unlimited` with Arnie Coro --- as if this is a restart of the one-hour broadcast, off-time? Arnie had been away recovering from surgery, but I can`t listen any further tonight. Did anyone hear DXUL resumed on any Sunday/UT Monday broadcast, and was it new or a repeat? Or was this a canned announcement failing to remove out-of-date info? 0652 into `Weekly Review`, best modulation on 6060 while 6100 & 6165 are also undermodulated. Somethings are always wrong at RHC. 15507, 15438, 15302, 15234, 15166, 15098, 15030, 14962, 14894, 14826, Feb 12 at 1521, RHC-FM spurs out of 15370-AM detectable circa these peaks at approx. 68 kHz intervals, the closer ones audible in FM detexion, the further ones at least with the F# tones. Not much above 15507 or below 14826. Something`s always wrong at RHC. 15508, 15438, 15302, 15233, 15162 approx., Feb 13 at 1541, RHC spurs out of 15370-AM are not very strong today and only the closest are audible, up to S9 but not demodulating in FM mode tuning. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Came across of RHC Sp 11950 kHz at 1410 UT Feb 13. 24 kHz wideband signal noted in NY and Detroit MI remotes. S=9+10dB signal. Female Spanish language presenter 'Territorio Libre' ... '...Revolucion Cuba...' \\ same program on 11760 RHC Bauta non-directional antenna, S=8-9 11840 RHC Titán Quivicán San Felipe, 250 kW carrier strong, but low modulation, main audio block visible on SDR software at 17.2 kHz wideband, in peaks 32 (!) kHz wide. S=9+10dB in NY and Detroit MI remotes. 9535 kHz low 50 kW Bejucal, much audio distorted transmission towards central America, - at Panama to Baja California target on Pacific coast. S=8 signal at 1425 UT. 11650 kHz backlobe of 110degr Antilles northern South America target, S=5 fluttery signal. 15230 kHz RHC more Titán Quivicán San Felipe outlet towards Amazônia, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, S=9 backlobe to MI US state. at 1427 UT. 15370 kHz best Bauta signal in northern states, S=9+20dB in Detroit MI and NY state. 20 kHz wideband audio block visible. 17580 RHC weak S=5-6 backlobe fluttery towards 160 degrees. 17730 RHC weak S=5-6 backlobe at 130 degrees fluttery. and at 1434 UT onwards, a lot of these RHC 15370 fundamental kHz outlet - as SPURIOUS signals irreg. wandered 3 kHz from central fq like on 15790, 15720, 15649, 15580, 15510, 15439, 15300, 15231, 15161, 15091, 15021, 14953, gap, 14746, gap, 14631 kHz. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS [non]. 9455 // 9955, Feb 7 at 1441, WRMI with `FG Radio`, latest episode apparently filling with Brahms symphony. Heard same at another late tune-in, Feb 6 at 1456 until cut to Okeechobee Ocean ID at 1459.5 and 9955 off*. To hear it from the start, let`s round up all the current airtimes for FG Radio: Tue 1445 9955 & 9455, Wed 1430 9955 & 9455, Wed 2100 9455, Thu 0245 9955, Thu 2245 9455 & 9955, Fri 1015 9455, Sat 0445 5985. 9955, Tue Feb 13 at 1449, FG Radio via WRMI with news items including something about paving all the roads in Malta, finished at 1453 and again playing classical music fill for rest of quarter hour, from a Brahms symphony, I think (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK. Good reception here of World Music Radio (WMR) on 5840 kHz with world music and occasional ID’s. 73's (John, Faversham Kent UK, Hoad, JRC NRD-525 + Wellbrook ALA1530LF, 1638 UT Feb 10, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) 5839.994, Probably exciter poor string visible of Stig Hartvig of Music Radio in Denmark installation, S=5 at 0532 UT. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Jeg ser flere mærkelige ting om WMR i SWB denne gang. Måske kan du i næste SWB bringe dette: In SWB 1894 there are some misunderstandings regarding World Music Radio (WMR). First of all, WMR is not a pirate station, but a legal, licensed radio station broadcasting from Denmark. WMR has been a legal station for tens of years. You need to go back to the 1960's and 1970's when WMR was an unlicensed station in The Netherlands. So this is really old information claiming WMR is a pirate station. And no, the transmitter site is not Karup. That was in 2004-05. The transmitter site - since relaunching on January 7 2018 at 0000 UT is near Randers, Denmark. And the broad-casting hours are 24/7, so no reason to write "still on at 2200". The power is only 100 W into a simple Inverted V aerial, so reception is rarely good very close to the transmitter site and very far from the transmitter site. Reception varies according to time of the day. By midday reception is good in most of Scandinavia, Germany, Benelux and parts of the UK. After dark hardly any reception in Northern Europe, but sometimes fair reception in Central Europe and weak reception in Southern Europe. So far only one reception report from outside Europe has been received by mail. There is no on air date for 927 and 15805 kHz yet. More information on http://www.wmr.radio and hthtp://www.facebook.com/WorldMusicRadioWMR/ Best 73s, (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, SW Bulletin Feb 11 via DXLD) ** EAST TURKISTAN. CHINA, 3950, Emissora de Xinjiangue, Urumqui, 1725- 1737, 09/2, mandarim, canções ligeiras, texto; 35443. [The Q in Chinese transliteration like Urumqi is not a k- sound and has no need for an intrusive -u- to follow it in any language. I keep seeing that -u- stuck in when writing in English too --- gh] 3990 idem, 1737-1748, 06/2, uigur(e), texto, canções ligeiras; 35433. 3990 idem, 2315-2325, 09/2, uigure, canções; 45433. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EAST TURKISTAN. 9469.981, CHINA, Kazakh service on odd frequency. PBS Xinjiang at 0615 UT S=7, from Urumqi northwestern China site. From same site: 9510even, PBS Xinjiang from Urumqi in Mongolian language, S=6. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** EGYPT. 864 -- the Egyptian powerhouse is delivering Qur`anic singing to Victoria this evening 0251-2 UT; sounds pretty similar to the KiwiSDR on Zante in the Ionian Islands. best wishes, (Nick Hall- Patch, Victoria, BC, Canada, 0300 UT 12 Feb, IRCA via DXLD) 864 was knocking down the walls at 0348, but presumably that was its swan song as local sunrise approached in the Nile Delta; it's gone now. Loudest TA I've heard in quite awhile (Nick, 0409 UT, ibid. via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** EGYPT. Reception of Radio Cairo with fair modulation, Feb 4 2115-2245 on 9899.6 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-radio-cairo-in-english.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #1057 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Feb 7, 2018, WOR iog via DXLD) 9570, Feb 8 at 1941, S9-S5 JBM signal, no doubt R. Cairo as scheduled in JBM German (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rather: Radio Cairo in Arabic, instead of Italian/German on Feb 8: 1800-1900 9575 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg WeEu, instead of Italian on 9540 1900-2000 9570 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg WeEu, instead of German on same: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/radio-cairo-in-arabic-instead-of.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 8, WOR iog via DXLD) 9569.996 kHz, seldom well heard Radio Cairo German service outlet, noted on Feb 9th at 1940 UT, some 3.5 kHz audio bandwidth, S=8 signal noted here in southern Germany. Female voice presenter. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WOR iog via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Bata, 0545-0608, 10-02, African songs, at 0600 news, Spanish. Very weak, best on LSB. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, WOR iog via DXLD) 5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, *0523-0605, 13-02, open today with program “Panorama Nacional”, male, female, Spanish, information and greetings to listeners, songs. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ERITREA. 7140, 0351-, Voice of the Broad Masses 1, Feb 4. Very strong reception in presumed Tigrinya with talk by OM. Surprisingly strong. Right on the grayline at this time, so perfect timing. Into HOA music at 0354. The listed 2nd channel is just a messy blob between 7172 and 7188 kHz. Not sure if this is a sick transmitter, jamming, or a combination of both. Very strong there, as well. Maybe an IS or signature tune, and into presumed news. Slowly fading with the transmitter entering LSR (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Confirmed on Feb 5th on both (but with different programs in vernaculars) 7140, 7182 kHz, sign/on at 0445 UT to closedown at 0601 UT, sign/on at 1320 UT (IS, ID), closedown at 1829 UT (with National Anthem). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Febr 9, BC- DX 10 Feb via DXLD) 7140.021, Asmara with HoA music program, poor S=5 this morning at 0600 7181.556, Asmara a little stronger here on channel, political news on Israel, Palestine, Syria, at 0601 UT, followed by HoA native mx program from 0605 UT. S=6-7 level. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) 7181.55, Feb 11 at 0515, S7 talk and drumming, as VOBME is still propagating on its signature split frequency; no QRDRM jamming audible, and nothing heard from the other one on 7140. As in WRTH 2018 page 514, the ``7180asm`` transmitter also carries clandestine for Ethiopia, Ginbot 7 Dimts Radio, at 0300-0330 Tue/Thu/Fri, and 0330-0400 Sunday; 1500-1530 Thu/Fri/Sun and 1530-1600 Tue, all // MW 837/840 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7140.0, VOBME 1 (presumed), 1528, Feb 12. Nice to find no jamming here at all; in vernacular with HOA music. [non-log] 7181.52, VOBME 2, at 1528, Feb 12. Clearly off the air and no jamming here either. 7140.0, VOBME 1 (presumed), 1428, Feb 13. In the clear before the jamming started; in vernacular with HOA music; noted at 1508 with heavy jamming. 7181.52, VOBME 2 (presumed), at 1428, Feb 13. On the air today after being silent yesterday; no jamming at first, but by 1508 heavy jamming (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good signal of VOBME 2 & VOBME 1 Dimtsi Hafash on Feb 13 VOBME 2 Dimtsi Hafash from 1400 on 7181.5 ASM 100 kW / non-dir to EaAf Amharic, good signal VOBME 1 Dimtsi Hafash from 1404 on 7140.0 ASM 100 kW / non-dir to EaAf Tigrinya, weak/fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-vobme-2-vobme-1-dimtsi.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 12-13, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 6090, Feb 7 at 0358, HOA music and talk, S9+10, R. Amhara clear in the absence of Dead Gene Scott; may it ever be so. Except if Radio Nigeria Kaduna were active from *0400 as in NDXC/Aoki, it would apply a het upon it. WRTH 2018 page 306 shows it daggered from *0430, the only possible Nigerian domestic SW station left (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No trace of Kaduna in the evenings for more than a week. At least those evenings I checked the channel, which were several but not all. Guess the recent repairs weren't very sustainable as there were only very limited periods of activity since. 73 (thorsten hallmann, germany, Feb 7, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 11575, Radio OMN (Oromia Media Network), at 1600, Feb 12. In vernacular with ID; 1603 hit with strong white noise jamming; almost fair. [non-log] 11600, Radio OMN, clearly off the air here Feb 12, from 1600+; also no jamming here; 1606 tuned away and still a clear frequency (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. BRB Radio Voice of Independent Oromiya via TDF Issoudun, Feb 4 1600-1630 17850 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg EaAf Oromo Sun, poor & weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/brb-radio-voice-of-independent-oromiya.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #1057 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Feb 7, 2018, WOR iog via DXLD) BRB Radio Voice of Independent Oromiya via TDF Issoudun, Feb 11 1600-1630 17850 ISS 250 kW / 130 deg EaAf Oromo Sun, weak to fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/brb-radio-voice-of-independent-oromiya_12.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 11-12, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. GERMANY, Reception of Voice of Oromo Liberation via MBR Nauen on Feb 11 1700-1730 11810 NAU 100 kW / 144 deg EaAf Afar Oromo Wed/Fri/Sun, good http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-voice-of-oromo-liberation_12.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 11-12, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Reception of BRB Voice of Amara Radio via TDF Issoudun on Feb 4 1700-1800 15360 ISS 250 kW / 120 deg EaAf Amharic Mon/Wed/Sat/Sun good http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/brb-voice-of-amara-radio-via-tdf.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #1057 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Feb 7, 2018, WOR iog via DXLD) ** FRANCE. GERMANY(non), Pirate station Studio 52 via MBR Issoudun, Feb 9: 1500-1600 on 5970 ISS 100 kW / 021 deg to WeEu Dutch, weak/fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-pirate-studio-52-via-mbr.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 9, WOR iog via DXLD) Studio 52 on air now (1540 UT) --- Studio 52 in Dutch, not French with huge signal via Issoudun on 5970 kHz Feb 9th from 1520 UT tune-in (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, WOR iog via DXLD) [non] Now in this frecuency I send news in German (Dario Gabrielli, 1613 UT, ibid.) I listen to the Id that seem CRI panorama. Can be? (Dario Gabrielli, Italy, 1618 UT Feb 9, ibid.) Yes - CRI in German via Albania signed-on at 1600 UT (Studio 52 signed-off at 1600 also) (Alan Roe, ibid.) Online stream still active though at http://stream.spdns.org:8000/; (Rémy Friess, Germany, 1734 UT, ibid.) See their website https://studio52radiogroup.jimdo.com for further information. 73's (John, Faversham Kent UK, Hoad, JRC NRD- 525 + Wellbrook ALA1530LF, Hoad, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) ** GERMANY. JAMSHID BARZEGAR IS THE NEW HEAD OF THE FARSI SERVICE AT DEUTSCHE WELLE PRESS RELEASES --- DW Farsi service: DW strives to strengthen freedom of speech and audience reach in Iran Jamshid Barzegar is the new head of the Farsi service at Deutsche Welle in Bonn. The renowned journalist with a PhD in political science was previously senior Iran analyst and Farsi editor at the BBC in London. Barzegar's aim is to further develop the news offerings for Iran and make use of social media to reach even more users. “I am honored to join this team of brilliant journalists at DW and shape the programming for Iran,” Barzegar said in Bonn. “My experience as managing editor at BBC and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has now given me the unique opportunity to develop DW’s offerings and to convey democratic values. Germany’s international broadcaster has a long and successful history of building bridges throughout the world. To be a part of the DW family is a strong motivator.” DW Director of Programming Gerda Meuer: “Iran is one of the most heavily regulated target markets of Deutsche Welle and the blocking of our programs there by the government is completely unacceptable. Fortunately citizen use of tools to bypass censorship is widespread and objective information from international sources is in high demand.” “Under the direction of Jamshid Barzegar, our Farsi service will reach our target audiences with a profile-oriented program,” said Meuer. “It is very important for DW to contribute to improving freedom of speech in Iran.” Barzegar has been working as a journalist for almost 30 years. He first worked for numerous print media outlets in Tehran, then for the BBC in London and Vienna. He has produced, among other things, eight TV documentaries on Iran. After two years with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, he returned to the BBC in 2008, where he was responsible for the Persian-language radio and online service for Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Barzegar has been a frequent guest on television and radio broadcasts and is the author of several books. Date 07.02.2018 Author Vera Tellmann Permalink: http://p.dw.com/p/2sEss (via Dr Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Atlantic 2000 will be on the air this weekend: - Saturday 10th of February, from 0900 to 1000 UT on 6070 kHz - Sunday 11th of February, from 1400 to 1500 UT on 6070 kHz + streaming at the same time on our website: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr Detailed reception reports will be confirmed by eQSL. Reports to: atlantic2000international@gmail.com Good listening! -- Visit our website : http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr (via Mike Terry, Feb 9, WOR iog via DXLD) ** GERMANY. SDXF Special Broadcasts on Channel 292 for WRD [see also WORLD OF HOROLOGY] Hi All, Just a reminder for anyone who isn't aware, Channel 292 are carrying a special World Radio Day broadcast from the SDXF in Sweden during their programmes tomorrow (13th February), the times are as follows (all UT): 0700 - 0800 SDXF Sveriges DX-Förbund 6070.0 kHz 1800 - 1900 SDXF Sveriges DX-Förbund 6070.0 kHz 2000 - 2100 SDXF Sveriges DX-Förbund 6070.0 kHz Sandwiched in between the 1800 and 2000 broadcasts is the weekly 'From the Isle of Music' show. Channel 292 are also showing two special tribute to EMR/Tom Taylor on Sunday 18th of February as well, the times for these are (UT): 0730 - 0900 EMR Tribute 6070.0 kHz 1430 - 1600 EMR Tribute 6070.0 kHz 73 for now, (Alan Gale, England, Feb 12, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) See also SWEDEN [non] ** GERMANY. 6150, 0003-, The Mighty KBC, Feb 4. Good reception already, despite 90 minutes before LSS in Masset. A good channel. No adjacent or cochannel interference noted. S6 signal. Not a problem with no local noise! Best heard on my due North mini-Beverage (just connected this afternoon). (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 9420 - surprisingly nearly EVEN frequency from V of Greece, Avlis, discussion on economical and energy matter in Greece, Macedonia border area, call the region area dispute between former Yugoslavia / Serbia and Thessaloniki etc. S=9+25dB at 0612 UT Feb 8. Nothing on 9935 kHz channel. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) How far off had it been? Not much, I think (gh, DXLD) 9420.002, as monitored lately V of Greece Greek service from Avlis now nearly exact even frequency, S=9+20dB signal into Germany, two men discussion on 'politicos' matter. 0650 UT on Feb 13. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, WOR iog via DXLD) ** HAITI. Re 18-06, Commando Solo: Programming from the 1030 kHz channel was heard by several listeners in Europe. As a part of the earthquake relief project, the American military delivered 50,000 portable radio receivers that gain their power from solar energy and the hand crank mechanism (Adrian Peterson, IN, AWR Wavescan Jan 28 via DXLD)`` This is incorrect. The transmission was on 1035 kHz, the former split channel 4VEH used. It was easily heard here in Clearwater, and was verified in person when the aircraft was briefly at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa. My QSL includes the frequency and is signed by [then] Lt. Col. Jim Zambo, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, for a July 16, 1994 reception (Terry Krueger, FL, Feb 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It is correct: it was heard for example in Finland on 1030 kHz on 19th January 2010. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, ibid.) 1994 was Operation Uphold Democracy. They were on 1035. Heard well here. Verified directly from the source and got to tour the inside of the plane. Also verified for 530 broadcasts to Cuba (Terry Krueger, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So we are talking about two separate operations, more than a sesquidecade apart, the first on 1035, the second on 1030 (gh, DXLD) *I* know that, but original report referred only to latter one with the year clearly mentioned and still Mr. Krueger said, that the report was incorrect. It wasn't. (Mauno, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK, you win ** HAWAII [and non]. NBC News Left Field Report Says Hams “Could Save Our Lives” in a Disaster === ARRL 02/08/2018 A team from NBC News’ nascent digital news unit Left Field was in Hawaii to visit with some radio amateurs to produce a report when the false nuclear missile alert happened on January 13. Left Field’s report points out how much we rely on cell phones and 21st century technology…and what we would do if these suddenly were no longer available. Amateur Radio operators “are standing at the ready and may save us all,” NBC Left Field said in the tease to its YouTube version of its report. Accessible directly from NBC News, the report, with Left Field’s Jacob Soboroff, runs 7:22. http://www.arrl.org/news/nbc-news-left-field-report-says-hams-could-save-our-lives-in-a-disaster “Ham radio is one of the ways you’d be able to hear what’s happening,” when conventional telecommunications systems fail, Soboroff told his viewers. Among those interviewed in the piece are ARRL Section Manager Joe Speroni, AH0A, and Section Emergency Coordinator Kevin Bogan, AH6QQ. NBC News says its Left Field unit “is a new internationally minded video troupe that makes short, creative documentaries and features specially designed for social media and set-top boxes.” (via Mike Terry, WOR iog via DXLD) ** INDIA. 11560, Feb 7 at 1534, AIR news in South Asian English, accent hard for us to understand, interspersed with longish clips in Hindi? apparently Moji; S9-S7 with flutter. Per HFCC it`s 500 kW, 325 degrees from Bengaluru, at 1300-1715. But WRTH 2018 pp. 471-472 says Panaji, GOA, at 1530-1545 English, following 1315-1415 Dari & 1415- 1530 Pashto. Jose Jacob`s definitive but azimuthless updated schedule http://qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm says all of that is via Bengaluru, Karnataka, certainly likely from strength and normal modulation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9445, Feb 7 at 1941, AIR GOS, South Asian song, fair with flutter, 1944 English times and frequencies, ``goodbye``, 1945 into Hindi hour, but English to resume at 2045. Nothing audible yet on // 7550 but usually audible later in our afternoons. HFCC shows azimuths are 325 and 300 respectively, both for Europe (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9900 kHz der 500 kW Sender aus Bangalore? Ja Hindi language program, 1615-1730 UT - Richtung Ostafrika Madagascar, Abrutscher an der PC Tastatur in Bangalore? 9950 kHz registriert. \\ ungerade 12024.966 kHz aus Goa Panaji an der Westkueste. - es ist immer etwas los mit der indischen Fq-Buerokratie ... bei der heutigen Leere der Baender muesste es doch was Leichtes sein, sich auf laengere Zeit ausgesuchte Kanaele zu sichern [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 9, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9940.041, usual AIR Kingsway odd fq outlet in Nepalese, weak and tiny signal on European winter path S=4-5 at 0702 UT on Feb 13. According to Aoki / HFCC list 102 degrees azimuth out, is not favourable for European DXers. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, WOR iog via DXLD) ** INDIA. In Austrian-German A-DX ng we had a discussion on an UNID 11945 kHz till 1630 UT on previous day Feb 7. {likely Gavar Armenia bcast signal ? distorted quality} > re 11945 kHz. My comment - today Feb 8: nothing heard today 1600-1630 UT. b u t instead: INDIA, but on the AIR frequency 11560 kHz Russian 1600-1715 UT scheduled, noted a big powerful S=9+25dB carrier-only signal, no modulation at all, and the transmitter wandered hefty of my tune-in at 1633 UT on exact 11560.042 kHz measure, - up to 11560.055 kHz within few minutes. Still carrier only noted at 1652 UT. That's not the high quality 500 kW unit signal usually from Bangalore, - Made in Switzerland BBC firm product -, my guess is, that today old Kingsway or Khampur wreck were on air on 11560v kHz. For example in 41 and 31 mb, AIR Kingsway signals were always odd fq of plus 60 ... 300 Hertz like on Nepalese or Urdu service. Like 'our' recent Cuba comment, let's say: "it's always something wrong on AIR transmission outlets". Far away from excellent China RTC service transmissions. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Feb 7, WOR iog via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5040, AIR Jeypore, 1155, Feb 13. Another day of live coverage of the India vs RSA cricket match from South Africa; segments in English and Hindi; 1208 brief break for news headlines in English, then back to coverage; mostly fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [nonish]. 4760, 1701-, AIR, Feb 5. Not sure which of the AIR stations signs off at 1700, but this one did following announcement, where I could make out 'kHz'. Fair to good reception. Transmitter cut at 1701 (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ANDAMAN ISLANDS or KASHMIR ** INDIA. DRM: See DIGITAL BROADCASTING abottom ** INDONESIA. 3325, Pro 1 RRI Palangkaraya, 1441+, Feb 13. Segment of all western pop songs; Billy Joel - "Just the Way You Are," Bobby Vinton - "I Love How You Love Me," Stevie Wonder - "I Just Called To Say I Love You"; 1501 local ID; back to more pop western songs. Still is the only active Indonesian SW station (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. 'EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS DEAD': CANADIAN SPACE SLEUTH DISCOVERS LOST NASA SATELLITE http://nationalpost.com/news/world/canadian-space-sleuth-discovers-nasa-satellite-not-a-piece-of-space-junk ROBERTS CREEK, B.C. -- An amateur astronomer in British Columbia has made a discovery that has gained the attention of NASA. Scott Tilley, a 47-year-old electrical technologist, sneaks time away from his family when he can to search for spy satellites using radio frequency signals and a contraption of remote control cameras and antennas on the roof of his Roberts Creek home on the Sunshine Coast. He was sleuthing through space on Jan. 20 when he found something unusual. A signal lead him to discover a satellite called IMAGE, or Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration. It was no longer talking anymore and it was just a piece of space junk NASA launched the science probe in 2000 to image the Earth's magnetosphere and produce images of plasma populations. But contact with the probe was lost in 2005 and the mission was abandoned in 2007. "Everybody thought it was dead," explains Tilley. "It was no longer talking anymore and it was just a piece of space junk." [caption?] But he says the signal he found showed the satellite was alive. And it was sending data. With the help of friend and fellow astronomer Cees Bassa, Tilley calculated that IMAGE had been trying to call home for more than a year. But its messages were lost among the din of other chattering satellites. Tilley was thrilled about the finding and wrote about it on his blog and on Twitter. He even sent NASA a message but got no reply. This image provided by NASA shows several tiny satellites shortly after launch photographed by an Expedition 33 crew member on the International Space Station. NASA/AP Photo [caption] It wasn't until a few days later, when he reached out to a scientist who had developed IMAGE, when the frenzy erupted. "I had dozens of emails from all the different researchers and people who were involved in IMAGE and they were all very excited," says Tilley. Then he heard from a mission director at NASA and gladly shared his information. A news release on NASA's website this week confirmed that IMAGE was found by an unnamed astronomer. "The NASA team has been able to read some basic housekeeping data from the spacecraft, suggesting that at least the main control system is operational," it said. Scientists and engineers from the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland are to analyze its data over the next two weeks, NASA added, but the satellite's age poses a problem. "The types of hardware and operating systems used in the IMAGE Mission Operations Center no longer exist, and other systems have been updated several versions beyond what they were at the time, requiring significant reverse-engineering." The discovery has also been mentioned in Science magazine. Tilley says he hasn't been offered a job with NASA -- even though he'd jump at the chance. But he is happy knowing that NASA would collaborate with a Canadian who has been searching space since he was a kid by fiddling with his father's short-wave radio. "I'm appreciative of the fact that these very talented people doing an amazing job for all of us would be open minded enough to listen to somebody just out of the noise." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) WTFK?? ** IRAN. 1197, 0135-, IRIB, Feb 5. Almost certainly Iran with Qur`anic sounding chants. Too bad I missed the BOH to time pips. Fair to good at times. Directly over the Pole path (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini- DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH says 50 kW R. Ardabil, Moghan (gh) ** IRAN [and non]. The usual annoyance this evening of hearing a number of TA carriers in Victoria, with some occasionally quite strong, but never quite delivering audio. Except 1575. The unholy Iranian buzz jammer is making sure that Farda isn't heard (well, it wasn't being heard anyway). This jammer is fading in and out, and sounding just like it does in eastern Europe, or if you're unlucky, on the east coast. Audio. From Iran; and that's it. best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, Victoria, BC, Canada, Feb 7, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) Iranian 1575 jammer nightly reception here in MA: https://app.box.com/s/mrmcy3t7l48p8ay4qwqr7vlmuix03vlg [non] Other audio links for this year: http://www.qsl.net/wa1ion/doc1/audio_2018.htm (Mark Connelly, WA1ION, South Yarmouth, MA, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, ibid.) Thanks, Mark. That's definitely what was heard here. My first thought was that a new frequency specific noise source had turned up until I realized that it was fading up and down. Qeshm looks like a perfect site for a jammer to keep the Iranian citizens from getting too over- excited by Farda's programming. I'll bet there is a nice directional array there. How long has that been running? It's been a couple of years since I DXed from the east coast, and I don't recall it. best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, ibid.) The Iranian buzzer on 1575 was very loud in the mornings in Masset at times last weekend, gents. Mark, that's EXACTLY the buzz I heard in Masset, but mine was much louder at times! 73 (Walt Salmaniw, ibid.) 1575, the buzz jammer is getting quite, ah, "good", but underneath is Farda, quite poor, but woman, man, and man on phone seemed to be following the Farda webstream by about 10 seconds. best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, Victoria, BC, Canada, 0239 UT 12 Feb, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) Farda site is UAE, 24h (gh) ** ITALY. There is a new low powered medium wave station from Italy on 1485 kHz: Radio Feltre Stereo. It is broadcasting from the area of Belluno, a city in the North East Italian region of Veneto. A number of Italian MW stations have got their license some months ago. Among them, for example, Free Radio AM from Trieste near the border with Slovenia which in the last days has put into operation a new transmitter with an output up to 2.5 kW. Some others, instead, were not successful in obtaining a license like Challenger Radio on 846 kHz but its owner Maurizio Anselmo has announced an appeal. However it should be also mentioned that despite a large number of licenses issued, only a few stations have really started broadcasting. This means they risk to lose the license (Antonello Napolitano, WRTH fb group 5.2.2018 via ARC mv-eko 12 Feb via DXLD) ** ITALY. Please be advised that Marconi Radio International (MRI) will be on the air today Friday, 9 February 2018 as follows: 1730-1930 UT. The frequency is 7720 kHz (USB mode). Reception reports to this E- mail address: marconiradiointernational (at) gmail.com Last but not least, we need your help! If you are a DX blogger, or use social networks, please post an announcement on your own blog and/or Facebook or send out a tweet. You can also forward this message to a friend (MRI, 1258 UT Feb 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Their publicity is always on short notice, in this case 4:32 ahead. While we doze, Manuel Méndez usually posts them ASAP to the WOR iog, in this case at 1316 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) 7720 USB, Marconi Radio International, 1810-1820, 09-02, Italian, radio news. Very weak. 15321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, WOR iog via DXLD) Marconi Radio International (MRI) will once again be on the air tomorrow Tuesday, 13 February 2018 to celebrate the “World Radio Day” as follows: 1430-1630 and 1730-1930 UT on 7720 kHz (USB mode). Reception reports to this E-mail address: marconiradiointernational (at) gmail.com (MRI Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 1575, 1712-, AFN, The Eagle, Feb 4. Excellent reception this morning, occasionally fading down to have a loud buzzer, presumably the Iranian jammer. What was interesting this morning was there are clearly two cochannel AFN stations heard. Until 1704, there was sport news, with a slight delay between the two identical feeds. At 1704, 'AFN The Eagle' ID, and into music. At 1716 PSA, which were not the same on the 2 feeds, but back at 1718 into music, again in parallel, but with a slight delay. Big question is who is the second? Either Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi prefecture with listed 1 kW, or Sasebo, Nagasaki prefecture with 250 watts. Both of the latter are not ideally located for reception across the Pacific, unlike Misawa which is located on the east coast of the country, so a perfect water path. At 1728, two PSAs again. One was about West Point, and the other was from a commanding officer, discussing priorities for 2018. That should make it easy to differentiate between the two! 1575, 1803-, AFN, Feb 4. I'm quite certain that at this hour, I'm hearing all 3 AFN feeds, as they were all present and in // with delays on each of them. Definitely more than just 1 cochannel. An 'out of this world' effect! Into music at 1804:45. Still fair level, several hours after my LSR (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. JG2XA is now off the air --- As for Ron Howard's question about JG2XA in DXLD 1806: HF Experimental Station JG2XA has been inactive both on 5006 and 8006 kHz since the summer of 2017, due to the trouble of transmitter. The station has been operated by Professor Ichiro Tomizawa of University of Electro-Communications, located in Chofu City, 25 km west of Tokyo, using amateur 200 W transmitter. Although the station is licensed until June, 2022, it will be difficult to resume the transmission, because Mr. Tomizawa will retire the university this year (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 13, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. 9680, Sat Feb 10 at 1507, nice piano recital of Clair de Lune, then Liebestraum, whence? At first I was thinking Voice of Hope Africa which is on now weekends; after all, they have a jazz show, so why not classical? But no proselytizing interrupts and schedule shows Jack van Impe, certainly not this unless default fill for missing program. Could be CNR1/jammer? No, that`s echo-talking on 6180 at 1514. I try to // 13680 for Zambia but JBA carrier there. 1523 still piano on 9680 but fading and fluttery; 1529 announcement seems Japanesely intoned. Aoki/NDXC has the answer, at 1455-1700, NHK Japanese due west from Yamata. VOHA could have chosen a clear frequency but instead confronts China, Taiwan, Japan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {? In order to match the 80s? 9680 - 11680 - 13680?} 6190, Feb 12 at 1427, song could be in English; 1429 NHK `Sakura`` theme and 1430 Chinese. It`s NHK as scheduled going from Korean to Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KIRITIMATI. 846, 0601-, Radio Kiribati (non), Feb 5. A no show for my four days in Masset, and regularly checking each evening. Should have been an easy catch here, if they were more regular (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. 9435, Voice of Korea at 1600. Right on thru the hour with quavery voiced singer, patriotic vocal music, just like KCBS (but not // to 9665). VG, Feb 12. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Does anyone know how to contact The Voice of Korea? Their e-mail vok@star-co.net.kp doesn't seem to work and I'm not sure if letters will even arrive to their address. (Eduardo Peralta, Argentina, WOR iog via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. NORTH KOREA`S EERIE CODED MESSAGES RETURN TO AIRWAVES AHEAD OF OLYMPICS By Henry Holloway, Daily Star (online), Great Britain https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/680817/North-Korea-Winter-Olympics-2018-Kim-Jong-un-Spies-Numbers-Station-Audio-Pyeongchang-Nuke NORTH Korea`s bizarre coded radio messages have returned to the airwaves ahead of the Winter Olympics sparking fears over what the signals might mean. Gentle music followed by a stern voice reading out orders apparently from a spy`s code book have once again been drifting over on shortwave radio from Kim Jong-un`s kingdom. Known as numbers stations, this activity has reappeared in the weeks before the so-called Peace Olympics takes over Pyeongchang, Daily Star Online can reveal. Recorded by an amateur radio operator all the way over in the US, the unsettling radio message seems meaningless to anyone but the intended listener. North Korea has been on a ``charm offensive`` as it cozies up to the South ahead of the games, with the two enemies due to march together at the opening ceremony under the banner of a united Korea. Fears remain over Kim`s intentions however, and the reappearance of the numbers station will only fuel suspicions of the North. Daily Star Online has obtained audio of the latest transmission from the numbers station - known as V15 - which has been sounding off ahead of the Winter Olympics. Orchestral music plays on the broadcast, which is carried by Radio Pyongyang, before a woman`s voice begins to speak. She begins to bark repetitive orders, appearing to give questions and answers from a textbook with corresponding numbers and page numbers. The voice is not automated, and appears to be a real North Korean operative reading out the numbers live. Four of these messages have been recorded over the past 20 days in the run-up to the Olympics. For around six-and-a-half minutes the woman reads out the repetitive codes before signing-off and being replaced by eerie distorted operatic music. This was recorded back on January 20 and came drifting across the 2.5 mile-wide wasteland that separates North and South Korea. It was captured at around 11.45pm, according to the radio operator who made the recording. Numbers stations are designed to give spies secret orders using a cipher book, which is full of codes that allow them to work out their orders. Another two messages were also detected, one on January 25, February 3, and February 8. This practice was prolific during the heady days of the Cold War, but it appears Kim still keeps his agents tuning in. North Korea is believed to have spies operating in neighbouring South Korea, with which it has remained technically at war with since the end of the Korean War in 1953 (via Mike Cooper, Feb 12, DXLD) WTFK??? Comments from WRTH Facebook: Chris Kadlec: This report is lopsided. South Korea regularly broadcasts numbers stations on multiple frequencies regularly. I could easily pick them up at home. The only difference is the fashion in which the two must decode the messages, with North spies instead using a book. Plus, the North broadcasts numbers station content on their existing full-powered MW frequencies by taking a brief 6-10 minute break into Pyongyang signals and then returning to their regular programming, which South Korea is not as stupid or brazen to do. Chris Kadlec: This is V24 which broadcasts very likely from NIS headquarters in the south suburbs aiming northward. The quality is poor as the night I was bothering with it, the original schedule wasn't followed, so I went about my business but then they came on with an old schedule just as I was getting ready to go out to the club, so it was recorded in downtown Seoul. I featured this one 2 hrs 50 min. into my Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide documentary last year. Song = ?? "?? ???" 3890, 3890 ?? ????. ?? 13 ? ?? ??????. (Agent 3890, 3890, receive a message. The number of sets is 13, the message of which I will send you.) 324 10 969 78 932 99 461 58 607 33 943 52 246 44 052 42 440 48 449 14 109 64 990 68 958 72 ?? ?? ??????. (I'll send the message again.) 32410 96978 93299 46158 60733 94352 24644 05242 44048 44914 10964 99068 95872 ?????. (That's all.) http://www.beaglebass.com/temporary/V24.MP3 " Also note V24 info at http://radio.chobi.net/DX/SPYnumBBS/?res:7#RES - (Ron Howard, WOR iog via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. Frequency change of National Unity Radio via BaBcoCk Dushanbe: 1200-1500 NF 9885 DB 100 kW / 071 deg EAs Korean, ex 7530, re-ex 7520 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/frequency-change-of-national-unity.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 10, WOR iog via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 1566, 1650-, HLAZ, Feb 3. Surprised to hear Russian at this time, instead of the normal 1730 to 1800. Superb reception. So presumably has changed to 1630 to 1700? A seasonal change? A morning that goes on and on. Still superb reception when checked at 1857 UT (10:57 AM local). 1566, 1630-, HLAZ, FEBC, Feb 5. Happened to be parked on 1566 right at 1630, when the transmitter cut, revealing a Chinese speaker. HLAZ was off for 1 minute, and suddenly came on at 1631, equally strong to when they went off, and into Radio Teos in Russian. Exceptionally strong, of course! (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1566 HLAZ now with VOA --- I happened to be listening to HLAZ via a Korean Perseus remote SDR and noted VOA Korean (? I think?) programming. Constant mentions of VOA and giving website address. All this at 1750 tune in. No sign of any jamming. HLAZ ID mentioned before the TOH. Presumably back to HLAZ programming after the TOH. Very strong, of course! They are regular into Masset during the Fall until Spring period up to noon local time. Every day, except when there's a big geomagnetic storm. Then, I might expect Australia or India on that channel! 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, 1805 UT Feb 13, IRCA via DXLD) Walt, 1566 plays Echo of the Gospel in the 2 am local hour (assuming your given time of 1750 would be UT). The program is produced by 106.9 // 1188 Incheon and usually airs in the 4 am hour on that station. 1188 runs VOA in the overnight hours, but not at that specific time. If something got mixed up with 1188, that could send VOA to 1566, though I doubt that. Both stations run English programming sometimes, and some of the Korean programs are bilingual as well. Perhaps you stumbled upon it right at the right time. I've noted that many times, at least until Pyongyang upped its power and made FEBC a real pain in the rear end to listen to. But the online schedule shows no VOA. The best you could do would be to listen to the 1566 stream of the program when it comes on and see if you hear English. I always say I want to listen to a program stream, but I get sidetracked by shiny things and forget. (-Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, IRCA via DXLD) Was I imagining that I heard the sound of some kind of throbbing jammer on 1566 this morning at 1500 UT? I`ve never heard HLAZ being jammed - but there have been reports of it (Colin Newell - Victoria - B.C. CANADA - Feb 13, ibid.) I can confirm that RFA and VOA are now being relayed on 1566 kHz via HLAZ, Jeju, South Korea. RFA is on 1000-1100 UT and VOA is on 1700- 1800 UT (Bill Whitacre, IBB Monitoring, ibid.) Violating Separation of Church & State (gh, DXLD) HLAZ has never done a great job with their website and schedule updates, though it seems to be top-notch since FEBC redid their websites rather recently. I still haven't listened to the stream due to being asleep whenever I should remember it, but the website was never updated accordingly. I wonder if this is just a temporary schedule change with the Olympics and diplomacy and whatnot - sort of throwing shade [sic] at the north for all that is happening now, though given FEBC in Incheon, which has always run both RFA and VOA, though for almost the entire night, the change really is no surprise. I guess we'll wait and see. My check of all radio news and local and world news in English and Korean yesterday yielded absolutely zero results. [non] As for jammers, Pyongyang has always been on 1566 and that sound should break through easily if you're getting any piece of it. It's parallel the massive jammer on 1467 in Haeju. You can find numerous clips of both jammers, which I lived close to, on my website and floating around wherever I've been (any links posted to here in the past are long-since broken I'm sure). But interestingly, 1188, though about 20 miles from the border with VOA and RFA, has never been jammed that I was aware of. I could hear the 972 jammer from atop the downtown skyscrapers in Seoul; if 1188 was jammed, I'd have heard it. So with all the inconsistencies, who knows what's going on or their intent. I'm basically out of the DX scene now, so aside from helping out out of boredom, I'll leave investigation up to those who can hear it (-Chris Kadlec, Seoul AM Radio Listening Guide, IRCA via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 4885, 01/16 at 2220, Echo of Hope 2, Seoul. Korean. YL talk; a VOA ID (I think that this is broadcast as part of programme giving guidance on other news broadcasts), more YL talk. A little music and then talk continues. Nice "VOA" ID repeated several times at 2256 UT. 25332 (Alan Roe, UK, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 5920, Voice of Freedom, 1236, Feb 9. Live coverage of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, given in Korean, French and English; usual N. Korea jamming, but still fairly readable due to VOF strong signal cutting through the jamming; 1300 into VOF programming, but still talking about the Olympics. Opening ceremony coverage via KBS relay? My six minute audio at http://goo.gl/XBEma7 5920, Voice of Freedom, 1612, Feb 12. Very good reception; no jamming. Four minute audio at http://goo.gl/Bvaqe7 6045, Voice of Freedom, ex: 5920. Feb 13 is the first day back on this former frequency; 1110 with fair reception; checked at 1212 to find the usual CNR1, et al. mess; 1506, as usual, found strong carrier here before they start up their audio again close to 1600. The jamming was still down on ex: 5920. Regarding my VOF audio clip from yesterday (Feb 12) - Thanks again to Amano-san for the informative translation of my audio. He is most helpful !! http://radio.chobi.net/DX/bbs/?res:2898#3050 "It is a very clear audio! Ron-san. I heard the audio of that 4 minutes. http://goo.gl/Bvaqe7 00:00-03:17 This program is "Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Focus" in "News plaza". *** 03:14-03:10 Female Korean: "Jigeumkkaji, Pyeongchang Dong-gye Ollimpig gyeong-giui chojeom-eul bonaessseubnida." In English: "Until now, Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Focus was sent." 03:17-04:00 This program is "Weather and topics" In addition, I checked all the programs between *1551-2006* on Feb 11. Reference - http://radio.chobi.net/DX/bbs/?res:3051 Most of each program is full of topics of the Olympic Games. Pyeongchang Olympic theme song flowed to the first song of "Happy Republic of Korea" program from 1900. My audio at 1903'21"-1904'36", Feb 11 http://radio.chobi.net/DX/bbs/img/3052.mp3 We Go pyongchang - http://youtu.be/umx-Fq1NFCc " (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. 9630, KBS World Radio at 1645 UT Feb 10 in English with Weekend Playlist of K-Pop music. Fair to good // 9515 Poor and 9640 Good. Also heard Feb [11?] at 1600 to 1700 good on 9630. 73 (Mick Delmage, near Lamont, Alberta at the Moman antenna farm, Perseus SDR and many antenna choices, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Russian edition KBS World Radio sent a keychain with the symbols of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Prize for winning the quarterly quiz. So they sent a full schedule of all language services of the station and a separate schedule of the Russian service. The envelope was sent on January 12, 2018. http://freerutube.info/2017/12/29/qsl-kbs-world-radio-yuzhnaya-koreya-noyabr-2017-goda/ (Dmitry Elagin, Saratov, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx", via QSL World, Rus-DX 11 Feb via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 4810.00, CLANDESTINE. Dengê Welat (New name, ex Dengê Kurdistanî, according to Ivo Ivanov), via Noratus, Armenia, 0327-0430, 6.2. Kurdish dialect opening ceremony with shouting by men, women and children, 0331 military song mentioning Iran several times, 0333 folksong about "Irane", men shouting, 0340 man preaching, 0342 string music and woman talking, mentioning "kilometre" and "radio", 0355 military song, 0400 man and woman talking and crowd shouting - no ID heard. 45444. [+ same], 4810.00, Dengê Welat, via Noratus, Armenia, *0325-0337, 8.2. Abrupt s/on with Kurdish people shouting, ann, 0327 Kurdish military song by choir, 0329 ID by man and woman: "Dengê Welat", 0330 military song by choir with Iran in each sentence, 0333 ann twice mentioning Kurdistan, Turkey and Iraq, 0334 local song. 45333 (Anker Petersen, Skovlunde, Denmark, AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, NASWA Flashsheet Feb 12 via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ARMENIA, Dengê Welat in French via CJSC Yerevan, Feb 12 from 1000 on 7520 ERV 300 kW / 192 deg to WeAs French, live http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-denge-welat-in-french-via.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 12-13, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) French?! Maybe some event involving Kurdistan? (gh) CLANDESTINE, 7520, V. of Welat, Feb 12 1355-1407, 25332 Kurdish, Kurdish music and talk, ID at 1358, ID as "Radyo Denge Welat" (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD-525, NRD-345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. Reception of MOI Radio Kuwait General Service, Feb 6 from 0745 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic, good: From several days no signal of MOI Radio Kuwait as follows 0800-1000 on 7249.8 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to WeAs Persian 1355-1600 on 11629.8 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Holy Qur'an. BUT 1055-1325 on 9749.8 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg to NEAf Gen.Sce is on air http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-moi-radio-kuwait-general.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 6-7, WOR iog via DXLD) Very good signal of MOI Radio Kuwait on Feb 9 1000-1200 on 17760 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/very-good-signal-of-moi-radio-kuwait-on_9.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 9, WOR iog via DXLD) Radio Kuwait su 9750 kHz in DRM --- Ciao a tutti. Ho ascoltato Radio Kuwait sulla frequenza di 9750 kHz dalle 1200 alle 1300 UT il giorno 10 febbraio 2018 con segnali ottimi e demodulazione DRM impeccabile. Allegata una clip audio. Mi sono astenuto dall'allegare anche lo screenshot perchè non significativo ed anonimo. Condizioni di lavoro: RX Yaesu FRG-7000 e antenna dipolo. Downconverter (DRM2) autocostruito. QTH: Messina. Buoni ascolti. (Giovanni Lorenzi, -- ITALIAN AMATEUR RADIO STATION I T 9 T Z Z ESCLUSIVAMENTE [sic] IN TELEGRAFIA Sito web> www.webalice.it/it9tzz [1] QRZ.com page> www.qrz.com/db/it9tzz [2] bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. [re 18-06] See receiving station of VoA Monrovia. Direct signals from Bethany OH and Greenville NC, also from Woofferton and Ismaning Munich. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) With a Google Earth dated 2009 but framed as 23.07.2012. wb marked on it apparently outlining 3 rhombix pointed to those feeders (gh, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG [and non]. Transnational Radio History Summer School. visits to Luxembourg and Europe Number One Transmitter sites The Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) is delighted to announce a Summer School on Transnational Radio History, hosted by the University of Luxembourg / C²DH, and including two full-day excursions to the historic transmitter sites of Europe 1 (in Berus, Germany) and Radio Luxembourg (in Junglinster, Luxembourg). The Summer School is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Saarland / Germany and the Ministry of Culture of Luxembourg in the context of the European Year of Culture 2018. https://www.c2dh.uni.lu/thinkering/cfp-international-summer-school-transnational-radio-history Posted by: (Mike Barraclough, Feb 9, dxld yg via DXLD) see also PROPAGATION ** MADAGASCAR. 11610, 2124-, Madagascar World Voice, Feb 4. Very good reception in Mandarin. Always amazes me how well Madagascar comes into North America. Remember that RNW also propagated well when they were on from there (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also ALASKA [non] ** MALAYSIA. Fair to good signal of RTM Sarawak FM on Feb 12 from 1402 on 9835 KAJ 100 kW / 093 deg to SEAs Malaysian: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/malaysia-fair-to-good-signal-of-rtm.html Weak/fair signal of RTM Wai/Limbang FM, Feb 12 from 1405 on 11665 KAJ 100 kW / 093 deg to SEAs Malaysian http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/weakfair-signal-of-rtm-wailimbang-fm.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 12-13, WOR iog via DXLD) ** MARSHALL ISLANDS. 1098, 0904-, V7AB, Feb 4. A tentative logging as I heard a BBC ID, and V7AB has 'some BBC programming'. Fair level. I wonder, too, about Newstalk ZB in Christchurch with 5 kW as a possibility (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6185, 0550-, Radio Educación, Feb 3. Excellent reception with a live guitar concert until about 0545, followed by some dead air, but back with excellent PSA and local IDs. Best heard on my SW directed DKAZ. At 0600:25, went into a vocal version of the Mexican National Anthem. Full ID at 0602:00. Carrier cut at 0602:25 (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 630, XEFB La F-B 630, Monterrey, Nuevo León. 1140 February 3, 2018. Spanish ballad, male "La F-B 6-30 A-M, enfermos de fútbol, Radio Centro Monterrey" and mention of "el grupo Radio Centro Monterrey." Into soft Spanish ballad. Parallel station website stream with delay. 710, XEMP, Radio 710, México, DF [sic]. 1212 February 3, 2018. Mexi- tune, male studio chatter with phones ringing in the background, mentioning the date and tomorrow's Super Bowl, "Escucha Radio Sietediez" into commercials and those weird government parties PSAs. Very good in the 1220-1230 peak. Parallel station website stream and about 20 seconds behind. 780, XEFST, La Poderosa, San Fernando, Tamaulipas. 1203 February 3, 2018. Very good in passing with Mexi-ballad, slogan. 1410, XEBS, Bandolera 1410, México, DF. 1118 February 3, 2018. Mexi- tune ending, male canned slogan, which is also dumped on top of some of the songs near the conclusion. Parallel Streema feed, though about 50 seconds behind. Excellent at times. Already on 25 kW day power? (Terry L. Krueger, All times/dates GMT, Clearwater FL, IC-R75, NRD- 535, longwires, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 739.95, XEQN, Torreón, Coah. FEB 5 0313 - Full ID at this unusual time, with call letters, address, mention of R. Fórmula. Fair on LSB. They've been on this off-frequency for years (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge CO; Drake R8, 4-foot box loop, NRC IDXD Feb 9 via DXLD) And tears up KRMG at times here (gh, Enid) ** MEXICO. 760, XEABC Mexico DF [sic] (presumed); 0506-0605+, 2/3; 2M+W Spanish chit-chat between Mexitunes with mentions of Mexico & “Capital del país” spot; feature at 0533 with spooky music & Halloween sfx; 0552 back to Meximusic & chit-chat; Mexican anthem at ToH and back to music, chit-chat & phone calls. Mainly on top over weaker Spanish till about 0557 when dropped away, but back on top at 0602; peaking to S20!; WJR off, tnx to tip from Jerry Coatsworth. New if XEABC (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also COLOMBIA ** MEXICO. 800, XEDD, Ojo de Agua, NL, FEB 2, 0135 - Prevalent with terrible audio distortion, norteño music, talk by man and woman, and time checks. ID at 0144 with XHDD (92.9 FM) mentioned first. Another ID at 0200. Dropped out at 0205, leaving PJB and KDDD in there (Robert Vance; El Paso TX; WiNRADiO G33DDC, various indoor and outdoor loop antennas, NRC IDXD Feb 9 via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. 800, Feb 12 at 1333 UT, nulling KQCV OKC, no sign of XEROK, but another weak station in English. Ten minutes after sunrise here, long before sunrise in Juárez. Altho other lowband XEs are not heard either, XEROK should be detectable if anywhere near rated 50 kW. Need to check earlier (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 800, Feb 13 at 1307, checking for XEROK, with KQCV OKC nulled --- not a trace; only CCI is another weak station in English. If on from Juárez, must be very reduced power. 870, Feb 13 at 1311, XETAR, time chex and ID in Spanish, La Voz de la Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua; other usual Chihuahuans still audible on 700, 710, 720, 730 --- but no 800 XEROK (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 1350, XELBL, San Luís Río Colorado, Sonora. FEB 2, 1309 - ID with "Theme From the Magnificent Seven" background music; ID included call letters, power (8000 watts), and address (just partially readable); XE anthem followed. They always play the anthem about this time. Fair at best with interference (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge CO; Drake R8, 4-foot box loop, NRC IDXD Feb 9 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Just going through last Sunday morning recording I made at 6am, found this one new station so far. 1350, XECTZ, Cuetzalan del Progreso PUEBLA, 02/04, first noted WWWL New Orleans with their gospel programming at 1159. WWWL dropped in signal level, then the Mexican National Anthem was heard in the background. At 1201 I heard indigenous type music briefly, then male says "La Voz de La Sierra Notre [sic] ….. ", then female says "Transmite ….. potencia…… punto com punto mx", at fair level NEW Regards, (James Niven, Austin, Texas, nrc-am gg via DXLD) ** MEXICO. RAYMIE`S MEXICO BEAT this week --- [no DTV/TDT] Tijuana. One of the largest and most developed markets in the country. But of course, one with few frequencies. International coordination. It's been years since a new station opened here. But a station closure? In Mexico? In Tijuana, opening up a Class C1 frequency!? Stop the presses!!! And the classical music! https://www.facebook.com/XLNC1FM/posts/10155669311936865 Unfortunately, XHLNC-FM is calling it quits as of March 1. The reasons why are unknown at this time (edit: lack of funds), though the streaming is staying alive. The 104.9 frequency will be extremely valuable if they want to assign the concession to another party. This is the Tijuana area's lone social, non-educational station (XHITT is social, but that's just because it's owned by a patronato). XHLNC-FM: The Last Link to Califórmula XHLNC-FM was something of Víctor Díaz's legacy gift to the two Californias. Califórmula, the successful broadcaster he created using Mexican stations, his family's connections to the radio business, and American-style administration and formatting, was slowly unwinding. Díaz was retiring — he would pass on in 2004, having sold the stations slowly (Clear Channel picked up the US rights to 90.3 and 99.3 — which later had to be sold to MVS — while Grupo Imagen snatched 104.5). The concession for XHLNC remained in the hands of his daughter, Martha Margarita Barba de la Torre. It was permitted as XHTNA-FM 90.7 in January 2000, picking up the reins from an online station started two years prior. XHTNA-FM soon changed its calls to XHLNC-FM, after XLNC1, the name of the online station. It broadcast from the Califórmula FM tower, still used by its former stations and now by Imagen TV in Tijuana. The problem for XLNC was north of the border, namely mixing of grandfathered KPFK off Mount Wilson in Los Angeles with its signal [over-powered]. To pursue a power upgrade, XHLNC had to move, not just frequencies, but tower sites. In June 2007, XHLNC-FM got the necessary domestic and international approvals to take its stick to Cerro Bola, in the municipality of Tecate, and become a Class C1 station on 104.9 MHz. On February 10, 2008 —*ten years ago tomorrow — XHLNC launched its higher-power signal and joined XHHIT-FM 95.3 atop Cerro Bola. (XHPRS- FM would eventually make it three's company when it moved in 2010.) And that's where we've been ever seen. Now, XHLNC will go dark. The implications are rather massive, given the rarity of FM radio frequencies in Tijuana, the fact that not even the obvious open ones (97.7) have been reassigned, and the cultural hole XHLNC will leave both north and south of the border. That 104.9 frequency is mighty tempting for a private university, a social wolf, or all sorts of other projects. Given the timing, if XHLNC surrenders its permit later this year, it would probably not appear until the 2019 PABF, and it could be a while from then until it's awarded to another group. If they want to keep the frequency active, XLNC1 should consider transferring the concession to another noncommercial entity. Last edited by Raymie; 02-12-2018 at 07:06 PM. (Raymie Humbert, Phœnix AZ, originally Feb 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) There's been a surprising amount of station activity in the last few days. Tests began today for XHPTAC-FM in Tacambaro, Michoacán, pretty quickly after getting the tower up. Additionally, one of the first Article 90 clears has moved to its new frequency. XHCBJ-FM Cancún is now on 101.9 MHz, as the IFT instructed them to move to clear the reserved band. They moved on February 5. While most A90 clears don't have other changes, XHCBJ had been unable to operate with its normal facilities. In fact, their registered tower site had no tower! We now finally know why. The tower hadn't been restored after being blown down...by Hurricane Wilma --- in 2005! https://www.facebook.com/sqcs.radioytvdeqroo/videos/vb.569989359877051/798171053725546/?type=2&theater They were also joined this week by XHDRD-FM in Durango, which has moved from 106.1 to 104.5, and XHYW has also made its move to 98.9 (Raymie, Feb 13, ibid.) The theme of World Radio Day this year was Sports and Radio, and I think it is an interesting one in Mexico given that there are extremely few sports radio stations. The roster of sports stations in Mexico is thin. There's XEX-AM 730 and its Guadalajara semi-satellite, XEHL 1010. Also in Guadalajara is Frecuencia Deportiva, now on XEDKT 1340. Monterrey has RG La Deportiva on 690. In Tijuana/San Diego, the ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes affiliates (XEPE and XESS) are both Mexican stations. That's not to say sports programming isn't on just these stations, and I think that's where the difference is. Mexican stations are more likely to have shows that break format than their counterparts north of the border. Sports shows appear on all sorts of stations in all sorts of cities. Not only do sometimes multiple stations in Liga MX cities offer live radio coverage of games, which is especially vital given that the FMF (national soccer federation) does not permit many TV broadcasts of home games, but there are sports talk shows on radio stations, both commercial and noncommercial. Local sports sometimes gets coverage and airtime on even the smallest of stations (Raymie, Feb 14, ibid.) Re XEX 730 sports above; even they aren't 24/7 sports/sports talk. They play EE classic rock/pop in the overnights. cd (Chris Dunne, Pembroke Pines FL, Feb 14, ibid.) Even XERG and XEFB have music at night/weekends. There is no case in have sports talk in dead hours (Gargadon, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, ibid.) With XEGMSR-AM 620 apparently on track to hit the air at the end of the month, it's been beaten to the punch by Tabasco's only IFT-4 FM station. XHPJON-FM is owned by two women doing business as FM Comunicación Efectiva; it is the first commercial radio station to operate in Jonuta, Tabasco (and its 124 communities). Radio Río is on the air. It is broadcasting on 94.3 MHz. https://facebook.com/Radio-R%C3%ADo-943-FM-160535288054104/ [tagline] Este programa es público, ajeno a cualquier partido político. Queda prohibido el uso para fines distintos a los establecidos en el programa (Raymie, Feb 14, ibid.) ** MONGOLIA. 12085, Voice of Mongolia, Ulaan Batar, *0900-0915, 13-02, tuning music, English, ID “The Voice of Mongolia”, “Welcome to The Voice of Mongolia in English”, news, comments, songs. 25432 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5985, Myanmar Radio, 1221-1235, Feb 12. Monday edition of "Say It In English"; repeat of the very same dialogue I heard last Monday (Feb 5), with "Mr. Harris" & "Tom." 9730, Myanmar Radio, 1111-1131*, Feb 12. In vernacular; off with their usual singing ID jingle; mostly fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST)" ** NICARAGUA. 8989 [USB?], El Buen Pescador Pastor (presumed); 2312- 2322+, 2/3; Poor at QRN level; only pick up a word here & there, such as “La Palabra”; sounds more enthusiastic than in the past (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -- ---, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. [Re ETHIOPIA [and non:] 6090.94v, Kaduna Nigeria wurde nicht mehr gehört in den letzten Wochen; Rumen in Bulgarien am 17. Dez. und Dave Valko am 13. Dez. sind die letzten Berichte. Bodo hat bei seinem Besuch im November folgendes gesagt: die alten Harris Made in USA Anlagen sind total SCHROTT. {ha, ha, ha, man hätte halt die ollen Pinochet Anlagen aus Santiago Chile gebraucht als Ersatzteil-Träger kaufen sollen, ha, ha, ha, kleines Spässle das - - , wb.} Die Mittelwelle Kaduna 594 kHz wurde am 2. Januar 2018 in Mainz gehört und beim wwdxc glaubwürdig berichtet. 73 (wolfgang büschel, Feb 7, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. 7254.922, Voice of Nigeria in Hausa language from Abuja, nice music program to West Africa, S=9+15dB at 0557 UT. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) 7254.92, V. of Nigeria, Feb 08, 0657-0703, 35332 French, IS from 0657, Opening announce at 0658, News (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD- 525, NRD-345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Must be long-path for him, a lot longer than to OK (gh) Reception of Voice of Nigeria in English via Abuja Feb 9 0800-0900 on 7254.9 AJA 250 kW / 248 deg to WCAf English, weak/fair: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-voice-of-nigeria-in_9.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 9, WOR iog via DXLD) 7254.923 kHz measured here in southern Germany, S=8 signal, V of Nigeria Abuja, Hausa language male and female presenter, Nigeria mentioned at 0644 UT on Feb 13. Sounds like a two way signal echo, - another one takes across the globe path? 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WOR iog via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. 11530, Feb 7 at 1928, WRMI ID/IS loop before programming to start at ``top of hour``. 1931, R. Herwa International is underway mentioning its nemesis, Boko Haram. Usual VG signal even over here. 1939 recheck, dead air! for at least most of a minute I stayed with it. 1958 I`m back on computer just in time to check UTwente SDR for // 9580 via FRANCE: yes, there it is, with same language until 2000* without any RMI ID; 11530 over there was maybe a trace (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Herwa International via TDF and WRMI on Feb 8 1930-2000 on 9580 ISS 100 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa/Kanuri, good 1930-2000 on 11530 YFR 100 kW / 087 deg to WeAf Hausa/Kanuri, weak http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-radio-herwa-international_9.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 8, WOR iog via DXLD) 11530, Feb 8 at 1939, R. Herwa International via WRMI is VG, and this time I try for // 9580 via Issoudun, FRANCE direct --- and I do hear a weak signal sounding the same. Next task: try to measure the asynchrony. 11530, Fri Feb 9 at 1953 check, R. Herwa International via WRMI; and seems // 9580 FRANCE but just too weak on direct reception. Question is whether these will be off Sat & Sun like 11530 was last weekend. 11530, Feb 10 at 1942 check, R. Herwa International 1930-2000 via WRMI is VG on the air this Saturday, unlike last weekend. Also JBA carrier on 9580, presumably other relay via FRANCE. 11530, Feb 11 at 1931, R. Herwa International via WRMI is on again this Sunday, having taken Sat-Sun Feb 3-4 off (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. USA [sic], 6940, 0003-, Clever Man Radio, Feb 4. ID noted at 0025. Fair to good reception. Stronger than another pirate noted on 6930 USB (not their at 0022 recheck). 6930-USB returned again before 0100, including a couple of SSTV images. The first was difficult to see, but the second (at 0101) came across better with the skull and cross bones, but I still can't make out the words on the image. Will need to wait until I'm home to see what HF Underground states! (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX- pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 530, Feb 8 at 2005-2010+ UT, I monitor our local station which I have not bothered to log for a long time. Incredibly boring program of a few PSAs played over and over, viz.: 1, Lock your doors and windows, trim bushes, get an alarm to discourage burglaries: from ncpc.org and US DOJ = National Crime Prevention Council (if Drumpf hasn`t eliminated it yet) 2, teach children to beware of internet, ncpc.org, USDOJ, Ad Council 3, discouraging sending nude pictures of yourself lest your dad see you topless, www.cybertipline.com, DOJ; really salacious-sounding 4, are you an embarrassment on the dance floor? Then consider adopting a child from foster care, 888-200-4005, HHS and Ad Council [non sequitur] 5, (kid voice), asthma attack prevention, www.noattack.org, 1-866- noattacks, EPA, Ad Council. 1-866-noattac is sufficient! After 5 minutes they start repeating, as reconfirmed Feb 9 at 1705- 1710+. An amateur ID with heavy background noise interrupts one of them but not always at the same spot, ``Enid, Oklahoma, you are listening to K-530-AM, operated by Vance Air Force Base``. There used to be a bunch of other PSAs, which may or may not appear at different hourparts, such as what to do when a hurricane hits (Enid!?) You may notice that the subjects of these helpful advisories have nothing to do with the USAF or anything military. K530AM presumably exists to deal with genuine emergencies such as a plane crash or terrorist attack, but I have my doubts. There is also an electronic sign on a street approaching the base advising of its existence. It`s generally audible on caradios around Enid, but unfortunately happens to be 430 kHz away from 960, which is 430 kHz away from 1390, our two local broadcast stations, a mixing product which gets boosted under powerlines even near Vance. K530AM is obviously a made-up call. I can`t think of any DX loggings of this, presumably circa 10 watts. Richard Allen nearby cannot help but have heard it, but I am unaware if the few other Okie DXers in Tulsa, Shawnee or Hooker have ever reported it. Like any other 10-watt TIS/HAR station it`s barely possible to DX by skywave. A few miles away, it can`t overcome ordinary household noise level, and at night it is easily nullable to get Cuba. I believe I have heard it on the road close to NW OKC. I am reminded to draw attention to K530AM, since looking at seemingly exhaustive list of TIS/HAR and ordinary broadcasters on 530 at: http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=3&kHz=530 we see it does NOT exist! In OK there are only two, in OKC, WNWU499 with no further info. And WPTZ990 on MLK Drive (neither of which I have heard on visits). Listings are in order by callsign, not location, so you have to search on ``OK``. Yet I am credited as one of the sources, and have reported K530AM a number of times in past. The fact that it is not in an FCC database, as under USG/DOD military control, should not make any difference. So please add it to the list! Northward from here, there is a Kansas Turnpike Authority station near South Haven on 530, which relays Wichita NOAA Weatherradio, and I have also reported, but nothing from Kansas on 530 is listed either. There are a few others further up the Turnpike. 530, Feb 10 at 0735, quick check of K530AM, Vance AFB, as I am about to do a TA carrier bandscan, finds it is still running the hurricane- preparedness PSA despite Enid being 500 miles inland (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I sent this directly to Günther Lorenz, got bounces and tried another address; finally a week later, this reply Feb 17: ``Glenn, thanks for finding my working email address. My lorenzsoft.de mail accounts currently do have hiccups. Contact info on website has been updated, and K530AM and the Kansas station have been added to our database. Unfortunately, our listings of non FCC-controlled stations is far from complete. Your detailed report was much appreciated. Best regards, Günter`` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. 1230, KADA, OK, Ada – Format to Rock (ex-SPT); slogan to “Pirate Radio 102.3,” adds // K241BM-96.1; drop nets, delete Grp= The Ref. [consequently:] 1400, KREF, OK, Norman – Slogan to “The Ref,” adds // K253AY-98.5; delete Grp= The Ref (AM Log update, AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) Apparently this means that KADA was the only station relaying KREF, thus constituting a ``group``, but not any more (gh, OK, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Extensions to existing STAs granted: 1520, KOKC, OK, Oklahoma City – Granted STA extension, U1 10000/10000, 35-20-01/97-30-18. (AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) Will they never restore to 50/50 kW U2?? Still listed as such in NRC AM Log, which apparently does not deal with STAs even if they have been in effect for years (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 1580, Feb 12 at 1345 UT, quick headlines on Radio Oklahoma Network, from newsroom of News9 (KWTV 39 OKC), back to Triple Play Sports, KOKB Blackwell OK. Quite an affiliate list here of RON: http://radiooklahoma.net/affiliates.php showing sub-networks each station takes; and bleeds into all neighboring states except Colorado, via border stations, or at least into extra-statal DMAs (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. The latest issue of mv-eko from the Arctic Radio Club does not include a single new log of any OK MW station, but there are extensive QSL reports with verie signers, some of them illustrated. They are all undated, so no idea how far back they go but seems unlikely all would be recent: TBV – Tore B Vik: KOKL Okmulgee OK 1240 - Brooks Brewer - General Mgr. KTBZ Tulsa OK 1430 - Brett Gilbert Dir. of Engr. & IT – Tulsa Market KGFF Shawnee OK 1450 - Mike Askins General Manager/Program Director KMFS Guthrie OK 1490 – John Trent KEBC Del City OK 1560 - Kevin Christopher Tyler Media BOS – Bo Olofsson: WKY Oklahoma City OK 930 email v/s Jeff Couch, PD WBBZ Ponca City OK 1230 email v/s Dave Land, Chief Engineer (Tnx JOB!) KGHM Midwest City OK 1340 email v/s Britt Lockhart, Dir of Eng KREF Norman OK 1400 email v/s Patrick Roberts, CE (Tnx JOB!) KWHW Altus OK 1450 email v/s Cameron Dole, Morning Host KEBC Del City OK 1560 email v/s Buddy Wiley, Co-Operations Mgr JOB – Jan Oscarsson: WBBZ Ponca City OK 1230 epost v/s Dave Land, Chief Engineer (Tnx Patrick!) KGHM Midwest City OK 1340 epost, foton v/s Britt Lockhart, Director of Engineering som även gav mig mailadressen till CE på KREF! (Tnx!) KREF Norman OK 1400 epost v/s Patrick Roberts, Chief Engineer, som även skickade ett cc till mig: “Hi Dave! Jan received WBBZ in Sweden!” (Tnx!) KWHW Altus OK 1450 epost v/s Cameron Dole, Morning Host/Operations Manager (Tnx BOS!) KGHM Midwest City OK – 1340 kHz [logo illustrated] Mr. Jan Oscarsson, I admire your ability to decipher the audio among all of the noise. Undoubtedly a skill you have acquired from all of the DX-ing experience. It is a pleasure to confirm your reception of KGHM, 1340 AM, licensed to Midwest City, OK, USA. KGHM is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Its programming consists of sports, including national (Fox Sports Radio), local sports talk and some play by play. KGHM operates at 1000 watts and utilizes a Nautel J1000 transmitter and a 300’ tower located in central Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Attached is a picture of a new concrete transmitter building being installed beside the base of the tower. It was installed in 2014. (The small red metal building to the right is only used for storage.) Thank you for your report and best of luck DX-ing! Britt Lockhart, CPBE | Director of Engineering iHeartMedia Direct 405-841-0258 | Fax 405-858-1440 1900 NW Expressway, Suite 1000 | Oklahoma City | OK | 73118 KTOK | KGHM | KBRU | KXXY | KTST | KJYO | ONN | VSA | Yancy | First OK AG | iHeartRadio --- tnx JOB WBBZ Ponca City OK – 1230 kHz [logo illustrated] Mr. Jan Oscarsson, I too admire your ability to decipher the audio among all of the noise! It is a pleasure to confirm your reception of WBBZ, 1230 AM, licensed to Ponca City, OK, USA. KGHM is owned and operated by Sterling Broadcasting. Info about WBBZ - http://www.poncapost.com/wbbz-history Thank you for your report and best of luck DX-ing! Dave Land Chief Engineer for WBBZ radio. tnx JOB (ARC mv-eko 12 Feb via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 91.7, Feb 12 at 1832 UT, I tune in KOSU OKC for the second half of `Fresh Air`; instead I hear an automated ID and timecheck for ``one o`clock`` by Jennifer Reynolds, and the opening teaser for `The Takeaway`, which is the 1:06 pm = 1906 UT program, and throwing to the news almost on the hour --- and, and --- dead air for almost 30 minutes! until the world catches up to the real 1901 UT and, finally, here comes the news. Obviously nohuman is minding the store at KOSU, maybe because it`s lunch hour, or maybe because they always depend on the automation to do the right thing --- but the clock must have been way off. I don`t know whether the `The Takeway` billboard was really advance for today, or left over from a previous day. Could be the show is always recorded earlier. This is not the first time that KOSU has had a serious programming problem (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [non]. 5850, WRMI, English, Broad Spectrum Radio with discussion of 'shit-hole' countries, then music from those shit-holes to show not ALL Americans consider other places in such crude terms. Then digital text including a crypto currency offer & info about Reality Winner (person, who blew the whistle on the Russia/RNC/Trump connection & currently in jail awaiting charges on leaking a classified NSA report -- can't say I've ever heard of her!) The 'issue' with BSR's digital text & photos is that the audio tone was 'wandering' upward, starting at 900 Hz & ending at close to 920 meaning you had to keep adjusting things to make the text come in properly! Exactly the same as the broadcast last week. I guess this is a monthly show. [and there should be another one now for February, but the January show still hasn`t shown up on BSR website. I would like to hear it, but not at 2 am; if I were picking a single time to be on WRMI, that would not be it! --- gh] See also BULGARIA [non] At 0800 into SW Radiogram, with the usual mix digital text & photos including stories about North Korea steps up mobile phone detection; White House criticizes NBC reports from Bridge across Yalu River. Inline image 1: Lester Holt on NBC from DPRK. North Korea; Canadian radio amateur finds lost NASA satellite & an image of the super blue blood moon: Inline image 2 Global Scale auroral imager the lunar eclipse At 0830 into AWR Wavescan, with items about now defunct SW stations and into a talk with Allan Weiner re the plans for WBCQ including a discussion of analog vs digital. Then Rudy Espinal ID and carrier off. 4+54+4+4+. // 7730 was much worse 43+4+43 with my local QRM clobbering it. 0702-0900* 5/Feb, FLDigi for the digital stuff (Ken Zichi, Williamston MI, SPR4 & SDRplay + SDRuno + randomwire, MARE Tipsheet 9 Feb via DXLD) ** OMAN. Radio Sultanate of Oman in Arabic, insread of English, Feb 8 from 1409 on 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu Arabic, good signal from 1439 on 15140 THU 100 kW / 315 deg to WeEu NO SIGNAL/TX IS OFF http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/radio-sultanate-of-oman-in-arabic.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 8, WOR iog via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. NBC Madang (3260), Feb 9, noted 1203 with start of the NBC News in English; suddenly off at 1209*. 3260, NBC Madang, Feb 11, at 1104 noted off the air; a check at 1132 was back on again; 1150-1202 in Pidgin/Tok Pisin with Sunday religious music show; 1202-1212* relay of "NBC National Radio" in English; had been a long time since I last heard National Radio programming. Feb 12, Madang off the air 1030+ (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5025, R. Quillabamba, Quillabamba, 2240-2250, 05/2, castelhano, informações várias, mensagens, canções índias; 33432, QRM de CUBA. Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5025, R. QUILLABAMBA. Feb 7. 2340-2350 UT. Rezo del rosario. SINPO: 45444 (Claudio Galaz, RX: TECSUN PL 660; ANT: Dipolo; QTH: Ovalle, Chile, condiglista yg via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9925, Radyo Pilipinas World Wide 1740 Feb 11 in Filipino with pop music and news items. ID at 1801 and more news items. // 12120 kHz both very good. 73 (Mick Delmage, near Lamont, Alberta at the Moman antenna farm, Perseus SDR and many antenna choices, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. Extensions to existing STAs granted: 1030, WOSO, PR, San Juan – Granted STA extension, D1 300, unipole at 18-26-55/66-04-37. (AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) I thought this one was off the air from before the hurricanes; not in WRTH 2018; maybe bear-ly on the air now. NRC AM Log 2017-2018 still has it as 10/10 kW U3, NWS/TLK ``Listen Smart``. Was/is main/only English language station in PR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. Extensions to existing STAs granted: 1300, WTIL, PR, Mayagüez – Granted STA extension, U1 1000/1000 from CP tower/site (AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 6130, R. Romania Int., 2/5, 0105-0145, in English. The History Show recalls that some of the most popular jokes during the Communist regime were the ones featuring the fictional radio station Radio Yerevan. 43343 (+) 2/6, 0105-0150; this week’s Business Club forum brings disappointing news: economic development indicators continue to keep Romania at the bottom of the European hierarchy; out of the 28 EU countries, Romania ranks next to last in terms of GDP per capita, and that the IMF says only Bulgaria fared worse.; 43333. (+) 2/7, 0110-0145; in the Society Today segment, the profession of youth worker is discussed; this has only been regulated in Romania since 2012, when it was first included on the official list of occupations. SIO 322 (+) 2/8, 0100-0140; Travellers' Guide focuses on Prahova Valley, the most developed mountain area of Romania, which has a wide variety of ski slopes; castles, monuments, and even a few workshops that make clothing are just some of the many attractions located here. 44333 (+) 2/9, 0100-0135, in the segment "The Future Starts Here", a discussion regarding the 28 EU foreign ministers who are continuing their work to add the Republic of Moldova to the organization through the association agreements with Brussels, further strengthening economic ties. SIO 322, with a marked increase of fading and QRN by 0125 (Ronald Sives, South Plainfield, NJ, ETON field radio and 66 ft. random wire, NASWA Flashsheet Feb 12 via DXLD) 6145, 0532-, Radio Romania International, Feb 5. Very little DRM exists anymore. Tonight, I can clearly see the RRI DRM signal, and decodes as 'Galbeni TX1' at 20.96 kbps (a very high bit rate), so no go on any audio, despite the strength. The only other DRM signal I saw on this visit was RNZI's on 5975, but I didn't come around to decoding it. Sad state of affairs, indeed (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX- pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9770drm, RRI Bucharest, English service via Galbeni site in DRM mode 10 kHz digital DRM data block visible, plus much broader block of distortion audio noise at unbelievable 60 kHz wideband! 0635 UT on Feb 8. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Frequency change of Radio Romania International, Feb 8: 1700-1756 NF 7370 GAL 300 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Romanian, ex 7375 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/frequency-change-of-radio-romania.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 10, WOR iog via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Good signal of GTRK Adygeya / Adygeyan Radio, Feb 2 1800-1900 6000 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg CeAs Adygeyan Fri http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/good-signal-of-gtrk-adygeya-adygeyan.html Fair to good signal of GTRK Adygeya - Adygeyan Radio on Feb 5 1800-1900 6000 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg CeAs Adygeyan/Arabic/Turkish Mon * co-ch 6000 BEI 100 kW / non-dir EaAs Chinese CNR-1 till 1805 UT http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/fair-to-good-signal-of-gtrk-adygeya.html (DX RE MIX NEWS #1057 from Georgi Bancov and Ivo Ivanov, Feb 7, 2018, WOR iog via DXLD) Fair signal of GTRK Adygeya / Adygeyan Radio, Feb 11 1900-2000 on 6000 ARM 100 kW / 188 deg to CeAs Adygeyan Sun: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/fair-signal-of-gtrk-adygeya-adygeyan.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 11-12, WOR iog via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7345, 0009-, NVK Radio Sakha, Feb 4. Somewhat distorted signal at strong level. Wonder whether this is due to a cochannel, but all I can see on the Perseus waterfall is a smeared signal over almost 80 Hz (the carrier, that is). Not in Russian, but Yakutian with a discussion. I surely don't think it's Tunisian Radio (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7345, R. Sakha, Feb 12 1146-1206, 32332-33333, Yakut, Talk and music, ID at 1202 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD-525, NRD-345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7345, NVK Radio Sakha, Yakutsk, 0445-0501*, 13-02, female, Russian, songs, at 0500 time signals and close at 0501. Very weak. 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) NVK Radio Sakha eQSL from Yakutsk, in east Siberia re: - - - - - - - DX LISTENING DIGEST 18-03 Hi Glenn, Extremely pleased to receive a nice eQSL from NVK Radio Sakha. It's a very rare treat to get any Russian QSL nowadays. In 3 weeks for a report, in Russian, using Google translator, sent to: nvk-qsl @ mail.ru Am grateful to Shaikh Jawahar and Pradip Kundu, for posting copies of their eQSL to WRTH Facebook. Very helpful. Copy of my eQSL at http://goo.gl/fKjv1K (Ron Howard, CA, WOR iog via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Altaiskiy kray. Barnaul. ----------------- January 31, 2018 in Moscow, a regular meeting of the Federal Competition Commission of the Federal Service for Television and Radio Broadcasting. As a result of the competition for obtaining the right to carry out terrestrial broadcasting in the city of Barnaul on FM frequency of 89.2 MHz, MAINSTRIM LLC was recognized as the winner with the concept of retransmission of the radio station Humor FM. Radio "Humor FM" appeared in September 2005 and became the first fully humorous radio station in Russia. The basis of the format of the station are hits of modern humor - from the classics of variety genre to the most fashionable currents of the comedy format. Here you can also hear the popular Russian popular music. On the air "Humor FM" there are fragments of rating humorous TV shows - KVN, "Evening Urgant", "Nasha Russia", and in the role of the leading and heroes of the headings of the radio station are many famous star persons. Currently, "Humor FM" is broadcast in more than 150 cities, as well as on the Internet. The radio station is part of the holding company GPM- Radio (Gazprom-Media). Today it is one of the most popular network radio stations in the country. Daily audience "Humor FM" has 5.3 million Russians over 12 years old (MediaScope, Radio Index - Russia, January - June 2017). The official website of radio station is http://www.veseloeradio.ru "Humor FM" radio station already worked in Barnaul until the summer of 2017 and enjoyed steady popularity among the citizens, but the owners of the frequency decided to "rejuvenate" the audience and changed the network partner. Experts suggest that after the broadcast starts, "Humor FM" will quickly return to itself Barnaul listeners and become one of the leaders of the radio market. myaltai.com http://onair.ru/main/enews/view_msg/NMID__68301/ (via Rus-DX 11 Feb via DXLD) ** RWANDA. RWANDA SHUTS RADIO FOR DENIGRATING WOMEN 13 February 2018 - 08H00 http://www.france24.com/en/20180213-rwanda-shuts-radio-denigrating-women KIGALI (AFP) - Rwanda's media watchdog has ordered a US-owned Christian radio station shut for three months after a "vile" sermon against women, it said Monday. The radio station, Amazing Grace FM, broadcast a sermon by local pastor Nicolas Niyibikora on January 29, in which he called women dangerous, evil and against the plans of God. The broadcast sparked outrage and prompted separate complaints from the National Women's Association and the Women's Journalist Association to the Rwanda Media Commission, which oversees journalist ethics. "The sermon was denigrating women in the most vile manner," commission chief Edmund Kagire said in a statement on Monday, demanding the station and preacher "issue a public apology for the damage they have caused." The radio station is owned by American evangelist Gregg Schoof, who has been previously warned for airing inflammatory shows. Schoof said he condemned any denigration of women. Rwanda has exerted strong control over its media since the 1994 genocide when hate speech on radio stations were used to encourage killings. (c) 2018 AFP (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** SAINT HELENA. DOKUMENTÄR OM ST HELENA. En dokumentär om St Helena kan hittas via https://swling.com/blog/2018/01/dw-documentary-about-the-south-atlantic-island-of-st-helena/ (Lennart Weirell via NORDX via SW Bulletin Feb 11 via DXLD) ** SAIPAN. Stations informing the FCC that they are silent: 1080, KCNM, MP, Saipan – Silent Nov. 8 (2017), tower damaged in Typhoon Soudelor (AM Log update, AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) ** SAIPAN [and non]. 17660even, CHINA/MARIANAS bad mixture of CNR1 spoken jammer against US IBB RFA Mandarin program from 17660.038 kHz Agignan Point Saipan relay at 0602 UT. 18 kHz wideband jamming signal. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 11820+, Feb 7 at 1936, huge signal in Arabic speech, peaking 60 dbu on the PL-880 with eaves wire on the porch. At first I figure it has to be something new from Greenville, but no, only thing sked her HFCC is BSKSA, 500 kW, 320 degrees USward but intended for Europe, from Riyadh, at 1800-2300. It`s much stronger than two other Saudi services for/about Yemen, 11745 & 11860, but both of which are better than usual at this hour. At 2006, I try 11820 on UTwente, and find it Qur`aning, typically off- frequency plus, best circa 11820.3; 2008 Saudi ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or was it 11820.03 9675, Feb 10 at 1952, Türkish recitation with musical background, good modulation, S9 fading to S6, 2000 ``Burasi ---`` ID. It`s BSKSA at 18- 21, 500 kW, 340 degrees from Riyadh also USward, overkill for a nearby target (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9714.923, BSKSA Riyadh. Near East HQ prayer in progress at 0628 UT on Feb 8. S=5 fade-out fair signal. Log on Feb 8 at 0530 to 0640 UT, taken here in southern Germany [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Feb 8, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) 15284.989, BSKSA Swahili, 04-07 UT schedule, 0549 UT S=7. 15170.058, BSKSA Riyadh HQ prayer in Arabic, S=6 at 0551 UT. 17739.985, BSKSA Riyadh Arabic 1st program music selection, 0557 UT, but suffers by bad mixture with sign-off CRI Vietnamese from Xian. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** SENEGAL. 6535/USB, Dakar, 2343, 2/4; ATC working aircraft calling Dakar-Dakar; working Argentina 114 & two others within 4 minutes (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE [and non]. 7465, BBCWS at 1545 in (listed) Pashto, with M and over RTTY CCI deedle deedling. Good, Feb. 12, Satellit 750, SW- 2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA [non]. New QSL International Radio of Slovakia / http://dersi.rtvs.sk/clanok/149416?name_url=qsl-2017-2018 (Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia / "deneb-radio-dx", via QSL World, Rus-DX 11 Feb via DXLD) Slovak national dresses of girls on QSL-cards RSI! Verification cards of "International Radio of Slovakia" (RSI) in 2018 are dedicated to Slovak folk dresses of girls, while it is known about two issued QSL with such themes. This was told on February 4 in the issue of the "Feedback" column on the RSI. "It will be a series representing Slovak folk dresses of girls. So far, two types of cards have been issued. The first - with a photograph of the girl in the wedding wreath, - in Slovak this parta, - rich decorated headdress with flowers, ribbons, glass beads, beads, lurex. [Wikipedia: ``Lurex is the registered brand name of The Lurex Company, Ltd. for a type of yarn with a metallic appearance. The yarn is made from synthetic film, onto which a metallic aluminium, silver, or gold layer has been vaporised. "Lurex" may also refer to cloth created with the yarn.`` – gh] And the second - the bride's cheating, when a young wife during the wedding at midnight puts on a crap [sic], in Slovak - cepiec ", - said the head of the rubric. "International Radio of Slovakia" broadcasts daily on medium waves in Moscow and the Moscow region at a frequency of 738 kHz. Reports are accepted at: Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska, Mýtna 1, P.O.Box 55, Bratislava 15, 817 55. An electronic mailbox is available for reception: rsi_russian @ slovakradio.sk (Igor Kolke, Moscow, Russia / https://kolkeradio.blogspot.ru/ Rus-DX 11 Feb via DXLD) Incidentally! Also via WRMI. Current skeds seem to show: Daily? 0000-0030 Slovak 7780, 5850 Daily? 0030-0100 English 7780, 5850 Daily 0030-0100 Spanish 5950 Daily 0330-0400 Spanish 9955 Daily? 0330-0400 ?? 9395 ?? 0430-0500 Spanish 9455 [presumably not weekends & // 9955?] Mon-Sat 1130-1200 Spanish 9955 Mon-Fri 1330-1400 Spanish 9955 [also 9455] Sat/Sun 2100-2130 English 7780 (Glenn Hauser, OK, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020, SIBC, Honiara, 0815-0910, 13-02, carrier and some comments and songs detected. Extremely weak and strong QRM from Rebelde, Cuba (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S- 8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. SOMALIA, 7120, 0338-, Radio Hargeisa, Feb 4. Good reception, but only with the over the Pole Beverage (W/NW BOG is not quite as strong), with talk in Somali (presumed). In daylight, so should check earlier at 0330 or 0300 for a better chance for a decent ID (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) does not sign on until 0330 (gh) 7120, Feb 7 at 2000, since I have UTwente SDR running on 9580 for Herwa, once it`s off, quick retune to here and hear a few seconds of HOA music, then good carrier with dead air until a few seconds before 2004*. So that was Radio Hargeisa on its extended schedule. Need to check it some time at 1930 whether there`s really news in English as per WRTH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 9980, WWCR Nashville TN (presumed); 1635- 1647+, 2/4; Brother HyStairical the recently incarcerated Overfondler with repeat program about going astray, iniquities & his “31 days”; implied that he’s been falsely accused & read supportive letters. “If you’re hating the prophet, you’re hating God.” “Somebody send me a million dollars!”. B.S suggested we send him e-mails, so he can keep us up updated. SIO=454 (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330v-CUSB, Feb 7 at 2151, Brother Scare is still here on WBCQ, as heard earlier this morning (but nothing audible from neighbor 9265 WINB). AND he is *still* going UT Feb 8 at 0030 when I check for WORLD OF RADIO. Poorly audible, but I think he says at this opportune moment that he is now on 9330, 24 hours a day! By 1600 UT Feb 8, there is nothing about this on The Overcomer website, still claiming no SWBC at all, tho he never left WBCQ or WWCR; nor anything on the WBCQ website. 9330, Feb 8 at 1456, JBA signal with hardly any carrier; by 1531 there is enough reduced carrier to measure it on 9330.179. 5129.82, Feb 10 at 0027, this WBCQ is on with music; by 0032 it`s Brother Scare giving phone numbers to listen in America and Europe and website for online hearage. And then says that his 24-hour SW broadcast has changed to 5130. Recheck 5129.84 at 0733, same announcement, claiming thrice that 5130 is ``24-hours``! Possibly an exaggeration, as that would mean the end of Area 51, and Larry Will seems confident that will really continue. Maybe the deal is, BS will fill in all other available time on 5130v. At 0753 Feb 10 a similar announcement except this time instead of SW info he refers to Global Star satellite. Is any of this on the website by now? The homepage now says that *most* SW has been discontinued, while the radio schedule page has nothing about what still exists, and refers only to four other satellites and streaming [and phoning!], and ``will not be broadcasting on AM/FM radio and Shortwave.`` This is a LIE, as Overcomer was never off WWCR or WBCQ; after his Dec 18 arrest, Brother Lester`s WHRI dropped him immediately, followed shortly by Brother Jeff`s WRMI, Spaceline Bulgaria, and eventually in January by Brother Dave`s WWRB. But the cash flow from psychophants eager to forgive his tribulations must be picking up, at least for all that satellite time (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7490, USA, WWCR, 2/11, 1508-1515. Brother Stair alert! He's going on about something, can't quite decipher thru the noise, but it must be somewhat current -- whether he's live or not is unclear, but he does speak the words "on shortwave" and "February 2018". This double-edged sword appears to be back. SIO 211 (Ronald Sives, South Plainfield, NJ, ETON field radio and 66 ft. random wire, NASWA Flashsheet Feb 12 via DXLD) I think that is a new time; had not been on this WWCR frequency before. Now Feb 1 schedule shows Sundays only at 1500-1600 Overcomer Ministry. Surprised it isn`t Saturday, hour when the live Sabbath service airs everywhere else; a replay of that? (God`ll get ya for worshipping It on Sunday) (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5130 at 2347 Feb 11: Tuning in early for Area 51. Brother Scare talking about the raid on the compound, talking about how he's being persecuted. Refuses to go into details about the raid as "they're not important". What's important is that they're trying to "discredit me and tear down this ministry". It's an "attack by the wicked to deprive the poor of their salvation" and so on. "I'm not a false prophet. I was ordained before my birth. I will not go away. Spew out your hate while God gives me his love and mercy". At the end of the broadcast Scare said he was only on 5130 then said that from phone calls and emails he heard that he was also on WWCR at times. Broadcast ended with a phone call praising God for getting him out of jail and thanking God for providing a laborer like "Allan" to support him in his time of need. I can die in peace now --- Have finally witnessed the power of the Lord. When listening to the tail end of Brother Scare the signal strength on 5130 was 20 over. When Area 51 started signal dropped to S7! :) (John Carver, Mid-North Indiana, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Overcomer Back at WRMI --- Latest schedule at WRMI website now has the Overcomer on at the following times: 5850 0200-0500 7730 0100-0400 7780 1700-2000 9395 1500-1800 (Peter W Hansen, Feb 13, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) So there you have it: his departure from WRMI was a financial, not ethical decision. Other droppers, WWRB and WHRI may now be salivating. 5130-, Feb 13 at 0038 check, Brother Scare is audible on this WBCQ. See also USA: WRMI! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN [and non]. 1575, 0523-, SER Network, Feb 5. Fair to good reception. I did a bandscan from the top to the bottom, and there are a fair number of audios heard, and plenty of carriers. The latter unless otherwise noted. Nothing really strong, though, and all heard on the over the Pole North Beverage: 1584, 1566, 1539, 1503 (hint of audio), 1494, 1485 (SER with faint audio), 1458, 1368 (hints of audio ? Manx Radio), 1341 (either BBC Ulster or SER), 1224 (either RNE or Romania), 1215 (Absolute Radio, of course), 1125, 1107, 1098, 1089, 1053 (Spain vs UK or Romania), 1044 (SER fair strength), 1026, and 909 (UK or Spain). (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 15390, Feb 9 at 1958, REE is very distorted as usual, weaker but clear on // 15500. Why in the world do they keep running a transmitter so defective? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7205, 0334-, Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation, Feb 4. Fair reception, but only on the direct over the Pole Beverage in Arabic. Cochannel ham traffic as well (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini- DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 6120, Feb 10 at 0509, M&W in English scripted dialog, fair, from TWR scheduled 0501-0700, 50 kW, 233 degrees from Manzini. There is nothing but South Africa in that direxion, included in CIRAF 57 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. GERMANY, 6070, Swedish DX Federation via Rohrbach, *0701-0800, 13-02, Special program about the “World Radio Day 2018”, “You are listening to a program from the Swedish DX Federation celebrating World Radio Day”, comments in Swedish and English, pop songs. Slight QRM from CFRX, Canada on the same frequency. 33433 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) See also GERMANY; W OF HOROLOGY ** TAIWAN. 15295.056, one of the powerful SoH Sound of Hope Chinese opposition dissent radio broadcast. S=5 at 0547 UT. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. The MRI was not lucky in Russian and at a new frequency of 5935 kHz 1700-1800. Up to about 1723, Iran sounds in Indonesian, and local radio from the PRC appears before the end of the program. Again a bad choice on the TDF of France, but the truth has already disappeared the continuous sound of the ratchet (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Rus-DX 11 Feb via DXLD) Does he mean MRT? (gh) [and non]. 7445, RTI at 1140 with "Feast meets West" show. PRC jammer came on with the pips at the ToH to jam the Chinese service that starts then, but left the English broadcast alone. F/G Feb. 10. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) TAIWAN/FRANCE, Radio Taiwan to cancel SW broadcasts? The French language team of RTI has announced the end of the SW transmissions from March 25, 2018. They didn't mention if this decision will affect other languages but it seems that French and Spanish will be affected (Jean-Michel Aubier, France; dxld / wor Febr 3 via BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) But German language section not affected, according to recent call from Taipei (Wolfgang Büschel, ed., ibid.) ** TAJIKISTAN. Reception of Voice of Tajik in English on Feb 11 1300-1400 on 7245 DB 100 kW / non-dir to CeAs English, good: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-voice-of-tajik-in-english.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 11, WOR iog via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. TAJIQUISTÃO. 11895. Fev 11, 2018. 0140-0200, Radio Free Asia, Dushanbe-TJK, em Tibetano. Locutor e locutora falam; 0152 Trecho de uma canção e comentário sobre ela, suponho; Outra canção; 0158 Inicia-se jammer da CNR1 (Nas outras frequências da RFA, neste horário, todas já estão bloqueadas pela CNR1, com exceção de 11895 kHz !). RFA com sinal e modulação satisfatórios nesta frequência, 35433. (DXer: José Ronaldo Xavier, Local da escuta: Cabedelo-PB, Brasil (UTC- 3), Receptor (es): Sony 7600GR, Antena: Longwire, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 1575, 1652-, VOA, Feb 3. Bengali with excellent reception, and just a hint of AFN [JAPAN] cochannel. Many mentions of 'VOA', 'phone number', 'internet', etc. Slight buzz noted when VOA fades down. Not sure the source of this. Rechecked at 1705 and VOA now off, and 'AFN Radio' clearly heard. Fair to good level, though, only (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 13744.96, R. Thailand, Feb 13 0034-0039, 45444, English, News, ID at 0035 (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD-525, NRD-345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. AFGHANISTAN [non]. 15759.970, THAILAND, US Mashal Radio in Pashto language via Udorn Thani Thailand IBB-BBG relay site, S=6-7 at 0522 UT. Endless male voice talk. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) TIBET [non]. 15559.971, THAILAND, VoA Tibetan program 05-06 UT, heard at 0528 UT on Feb 10, via IBB-BBG relay site in Udorn Thani. Poor S=4- 5 and covered by 15560even kHz CNR1 spoken program jammer from China mainland, later S=9+5dB on upper channel edge. 16 kHz wideband audio. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) Note both almost exactly same offset (gh) ** TIBET. 4905, 1602-, PBS Xizang, Feb 3. Holy Tibet program in English with the usual YL. Fair to good level, but a bit undermodulated. Stronger than // 6200. Also // 4920 (good reception, but cochannel to AIR which is stronger), 6025 (poor), and 7255 (fair). Others listed not heard here (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX- pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non]. 21610even, CHINA, CNR1 spoken program jamming against underneath 21610.005 RFA Tibetan service from Tinian, S=8 in Brisbane Australia, day by day frequency change: 21610Sat, 21620Sun, 21480Mon, 21490Tue, 21500Wed, 21510Thur, 21530Fri. [time?? lost] 21680even, UAE, RFA Tibetan via Al Dhabbaya UAE relay site, S=9 powerful signal at 0635 UT, well heard ahead of CNR1 jamming underneath Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** TINIAN [and non]. 21480even, CHINA, CNR1 jamming in Mandarin, against US IBB-BBG RFA Tibetan S=8 at 0623 UT, latter on odd fq 21480.035 kHz from Tinian Island, 14.5 kHz wideband audio signal visible. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) ** TONGA. Tonga in path of worst cyclone in the country's history. Cyclone Gita: 'I really fear for Tonga' https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/350226/cyclone-gita-i-really-fear-for-tonga (via Mike Terry, Feb 12, WOR iog via DXLD) http://goo.gl/t1vx33 Tropical #CycloneGita has observed warming temperatures inside of its eye over the past few hours, a sign of strengthening. The dangerous storm will begin impacting #Tonga over the next several hours. Tue-Wed: south of #Fiji Thu-Fri: south of #Vanuatu [unfortunately R. Vanuatu is currently off the air on SW - Ron] Fri: south of #NewCaledonia (via Ron Howard, 0953 UT Feb 12, ibid.) ** TURKEY. V of Turkey's Letterbox programme heard today Friday 9 February (contrary to expectation that this week was the off-week for the programme). Next edition announced as in "two-weeks time" - so that would be Friday 23 February (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, Feb 9, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) 17530.013, Voice of Turkey Emirler worked Overtime, scheduled here only in English [sic] to SE Asia at 0500-0555 UT, but heard also extended (or by technician nonchalance) in Hausa/Swahili schedule on 15235 kHz - new introduced 0600-0755 UT, heard when tune-in at 0608- 0620 UT. S=8 signal in downunder Australia. Log on Feb 10 at 0500 to 0640 UT, taken in remote SDR unit at Brisbane Queensland Australia: [selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz] (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) TRT 17530 kHz worked OVERTIME --- TURKEY, When checked 22, 19, 16, and 13 mb on remote unit in Brisbane Queensland Australia came across of un-scheduled 17530.013 VoTurkey Emirler outlet, broadcast from new \\ 15235 kHz Hausa / Swahili language outlet at 0600-0655 UT / 0700-0755 UT, S=8-9 signal noted in downunder. Usual registration 17530 kHz is 0500-0555 UT English program towards South East Asia at 105deg azimuth. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, 0700 UT Feb 10, WOR iog via DXLD) There has never been an English broadcast from TRT at 0500. Instead it`s Malay on 17530, as in WRTH 2018 page 495. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Yes Glenn, correct, was discussed as an English item during B-17 conference, and changed like 'NEW' late in November real requests as Erdogan's privileged muslim target area services on 17530 0500-0600 UT Malay/Indonesian [mixture?] 15235 0600-0800 UT Hausa/Swahili [sequentially] 15390 1300-1400 UT Urdu 9410 1400-1500 UT Russian (Tatar and Caucasian muslim area target) 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, ibid.) Voice of Turkey on 3 new languages on shortwave, Feb 12 0500-0555 on 17530 EMR 500 kW / 105 deg to SEAs Malay, very weak 0600-0655 on 15235 EMR 500 kW / 210 deg to CEAf Hausa, weak/fair 0700-0755 on 15235 EMR 500 kW / 210 deg to CEAf Swahili, weak/fair http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/voice-of-turkey-on-3-new-languages-on.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 11-12, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Re: Tom Taylor / Barry Stephens tribute being planned for broadcast on 18 [sic] February Update from Mark: EMR - One More Time For Tom Taylor is a tribute programme written and narrated by Steve Silby and produced by Mark Stafford. The first broadcast will be ... SATURDAY 17th FEB On 3975 and 6160 kHz Alternating during the day. From mid morning UK time. SUNDAY 18TH FEB On 6070 kHz Between 8 and 9 AM UK Time MONDAY 19TH FEB On 3975 and 6160 kHz Alternating during the day. From mid morning UK time. Various repeats during the week. ADDITIONAL VERY HIGH POWER BROADCAST FROM ANOTHER SITE; DETAILS TO FOLLOW Streaming from Saturday 17th Feb on to the first week of March. Streaming details to follow (Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. 1215, 0133-, Absolute Radio, Feb 5. Always the bell weather [sic] station for TA (trans Polar) MW DX. Saving the best, perhaps, until the last day. Good reception at our local SS. Activity started over 90 minutes ago, with numerous carriers and weak audio. Chance for some decent TA activity tonight? Perhaps (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Time Up for Absolute? I would hate to see this one go. http://www.a516digital.com/2018/02/absolute-radio-requests-reduction-in.html (Mike Bugaj, Enfield, CT, Feb 10, nrc-am gg via DXLD) CONSULTATION ON REDUCTION OF ABSOLUTE RADIO MEDIUM WAVE COVERAGE Ofcom has today published a consultation on a proposed variation to Absolute Radio’s national analogue radio licence. Absolute Radio is seeking to reduce its medium wave (AM) coverage across the UK, from 90% to 85%. The station would continue to be available to listeners in the affected areas via DAB digital radio, via television on the Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media platforms, and via the internet. We are now seeking views from interested or affected parties which must be submitted by 26 February 2018. We will take all responses into account before reaching a final decision. The consultation can be found at https://www.ofcom.org..uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/absolute-radio-proposals-to-reduce-am-coverage Extract from the consultation: On 17 January 2018, Ofcom received a formal submission from Absolute Radio proposing to introduce two changes to its AM network that, taken together, would reduce coverage to c. 85.4%. These changes are: a) reducing the transmitting power at five transmitter sites by 3dB as soon as possible following Ofcom’s approval, which would reduce total coverage from 90.5% to 88.7%; and b) closing 12 transmitter sites from May 2018, which would further bring total coverage down to 85.4%. These transmitters are located at Plymouth, Redmoss (Aberdeen), Hull, Torbay, Redruth, Hoo (Kent), Greenside Scalp (Dundee), Wallasey, Pirbright (Guildford), Chesterton Fen (Cambridge), Rodbourne Sewage (Swindon) and Sheffield (via BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) UK Absolute Radio changes likely --- "Absolute Radio (UK) is wanting to reduce its medium wave coverage across the UK from 90% to 85%. The Bauer station says that continuing to provide 90% population coverage is no longer ‘reasonably practicable’ and if permission is not granted for the reduction, it would result in Absolute Radio having to close down the entire AM Network." Ofcom has published a 22 page consultation document with responses wanted before 2nd March. Download the consultation document here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/111003/Absolute-Radio-proposals-to-reduce-AM-coverage.pdf tagTag photo Summary of Absolute Radio’s request and rationale 4.1 Absolute Radio has proposed to reduce the power by 3dB at the following transmitter sites in its network: • Brookmans Park (serving London and the northern home counties); • Droitwich (serving the West Midlands); • Moorside Edge (serving the North West and Yorkshire); • Westerglen (serving Central Scotland); and • Washford (serving South Wales, Avon and Somerset). 4.2 In addition, Absolute Radio has proposed to close the following 12 transmitters: • Plymouth; • Redmoss (Aberdeen); • Hull; • Torbay; • Redruth; • Hoo (the Medway area of Kent); • Greenside Scalp (Dundee); • Wallasey; • Pirbright (Guildford); • Chesterton Fen (Cambridge); • Rodbourne Sewage (Swindon); and • Sheffield. 4.3 Absolute Radio has calculated that, taken together, these changes would lead to the adult (aged 15+) UK population coverage of its licensed service being reduced from 90.5% to 85.4% (see map at Annex A6 to Absolute Radio’s submission for the affected areas). 4.4 Absolute Radio argues that, in the context of the long-term decline in listening to AM radio (and, in particular, to music radio on AM), it is no longer practicable in commercial terms for it to continue to serve 90.5% of the UK adult population. Absolute Radio says that the cost savings, including electricity costs, which would accrue from its proposed changes would reduce the total annual transmission costs for its AM network by just over half. This, according to Absolute Radio, would make it financially viable for it to continue to provide an AM service to the remaining 85.4% of the UK adult population (via Steve Whitt, Feb 9, MWCircle yg via DXLD) The five sites where there would be a power reduction are all of the main ones for Absolute: Brookmans Park, Droitwich, Moorside Edge, Washford and Westerglen. The proposed 3dB reduction is of course a halving of power (it just doesn't sound so dramatic for the layman!). A map from Absolute showing the areas they expect to be affected is at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/111005/Annex-6-Absolute-Radios-submission.pdf [on last page 12 when it finally load --- gh] I would expect that, if Ofcom approve Absolute's cutbacks, TalkSPORT will make a similar application (Chris Greenway, BDXC-UK yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) Absolute Radio threatens AM service shutdown --- Absolute Radio is wanting to reduce its medium wave coverage across the UK from 90% to 85%. The Bauer station says that continuing to provide 90% population coverage is no longer ‘reasonably practicable’ and if permission is not granted for the reduction, it would result in Absolute Radio having to close down the entire AM Network. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/02/absolute-radio-threatens-am-service-shutdown/ Regards (James Welsh (Merseyside UK), BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) Absolute Radio (UK) is wanting to reduce its medium wave coverage across the UK from 90% to 85%. The Bauer station says that continuing to provide 90% population coverage is no longer ‘reasonably practicable’ and if permission is not granted for the reduction, it would result in Absolute Radio having to close down the entire AM Network. Absolute Radio proposes two steps – the first to reduce the power at 5 major AM sites by 3dB, and step two, to close 12 small AM sites, and thereafter to operate a 20 site network. In a document to Ofcom to support its request, Absolute Radio points out the BBC is closing 13 of its 50 local AM transmitters carrying BBC local radio, and that the radio scene has changed dramatically since the national AM music licence was awarded to (Virgin) them 25 years ago. Some of the equipment in use at transmitter sites is also 25 years old and to maintain the network could be commercially unviable. Ofcom is consulting on the proposal and the closing date is 2nd March 2018. (Radio Today 9.2.2018 via Mike Terry, MWDX 10.2.2018 via ARC mv-eko 12 Feb via DXLD) ** U K. DIGITAL LISTENING IN THE UK HIT NEW ALL TIME HIGH; 49.9 PER CENT --- By Endre Lundgren February 8, 2018 http://www.radioassistant.com/2018/02/digital-listening-in-the-uk-hit-new-all-time-high-49-9-per-cent/ Q4 figures are in from the British radio market and it shows and all time high for digital listening. The RAJAR listening figures show a new record digital share of 49.9 per cent, a percentage share growth of 10 per cent compared to 45.2 per cent in Q4 2016. The growth in digital was driven primarily by commercial radio stations that grew more than the BBC. The public service broadcaster grew to 48.3% from 45.5% in Q4 2016, with BBC Radio 4 exceeding 50% digital listening for the first time at 50.7% and a new record audience for its sister station, BBC Radio 4 Extra, reaching 2.26 million listeners. The majority of digital listening was via DAB digital radio that has 36.3 per cent of all radio listening and 72.8 per cent of all digital listening. Online and apps are the digital platforms that have the fastest growth in the fourth quarter to an 8.5 per cent share of all radio listening and 17 per cent of digital listening. Interestingly for the first time all individual age groups under 65 have digital share of over 50 per cent (via MIke Terry, WOR iog via DXLD) ** U K. BFBS Gurkha Radio --- York on 1251 kHz seems to be silent or on micro-power. Previously I noticed a seeming reduction in strength so I wonder if they have a technical problem. According to: https://www.facebook.com/GurkhaRadio/ dated 1st Feb They have switched frequency BFBS Gurkha Radio - York 2 Signal Regiment, Imphal Barracks 1134 kHz Monitoring suggests that if they are on 1134 they are very weak. I need to check closer to York during daylight hours. But this website still says 1251 kHz https://www.forces.net/radio/stations/bfbs-radio-gurkha 73 (Steve Whitt, York?, Feb 11, MWCircle yg via DXLD) I visited Fulford in York this afternoon and found no sign of BFBS Gurkha Radio on any frequency. Definitely not on either 1251 or 1134 kHz. Maybe in the process of moving? 73 (Steve Whitt, Feb 13, ibid.) ** U K [non]. I am seldom monitoring during the 05 UT hour, but it proves to be a rich one for BBCWS offbeam reception. A bandscan starting at 0504 Feb 11 finds news on all these: 5875 S9+10, 5925 S9+25, 6005 S9+15 with RHC 6000 splatter, 6190 S8; none found on 7, 9 or 11 MHz bands until 0521 even 12095, averaging S5 and the SSOB on an otherwise almost dead band. Despite the over-generous S-meter readings, none of these are armchair as would be the case if BBCWS were still deliberately broadcasting to North America. Sources: 5875, 125 kW, 65 degrees from ASCENSION 5925, 125 kW, 114 degrees from ASCENSION 6005, 250 kW, 27 degrees from ASCENSION 6190, 100 kW, 15 degrees from SOUTH AFRICA 12095, 250 kW, 19 degrees from SOUTH AFRICA (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Re: BBCWS at 0500: I usually listen at this hour, and here in Houston 5925 is usually best with a fair to good signal, with 6005 slightly weaker (little to no slop from RHC.) 5875 tends to be poor unless overall reception conditions are quite good. 6190 is JBA, no useful reception. An hour earlier at 0400 9915 Madagascar is hit or miss, often decent signal but fades during the hour as the sun rises higher over the transmitter site. No usable reception on other frequencies. Of course, my local KUHF 88.7 has BBCWS 0400-1000 UT, but at 0500 programming is different from SW; "The Newsroom" instead of "Newsday." (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. R. I. P. ASWLC'S STEWART MACKENZIE 1933 - 2018 Stewart's wife Evelyn announced today that he passed away sometime last night. He had been in the hospital the past week and just when he was about to be discharged for home, he experienced complications and was retained for a while, then sent home with hospice care. I know his absence leaves a large hole in the shortwave radio universe, especially in this quarter. Thanks to Stewart, Clara launched as the ASWLC's answer to NASWA's Charlie Loudenboomer back in the day and I for one won't forget that. Luvz ya forever, Stewart. Evelyn has requested to be put in touch with a Bill Fisher of the ASWLC, but to my way of thinking she might be meaning John Fischer Jr, ASWLC's Americas editor. If anyone in this Group can assist in any way, by all means contact me. Thanks (Clara Listensprechen, Feb 11, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) obit I am very sorry to hear about the loss of Stewart. He was always beyond enthusiastic about promoting and supporting DXing, in every way possible. I especially remember how he paid special attention to my kindergarten-age daughter, making her feel like a VIP, during our visits to ASWLC annual picnics back in the early 2000s. Now that I'm a Grandpa, I always think of Stew when I'm doting on my own Granddaughter. I knew him for around forty years or so; my sympathies go out to Stewart's entire family. We were lucky to have him as long as we did (-- GREG HARDISON, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, ibid.) I've passed the word to fellow Michigan ASWLC editors Harold Frodge and Pat Rady. Does anyone have contact info for Kannon Shanmugam? Last I knew he was a 'well known lawyer' in the Washington DC area .... doubt he's still involved in the hobby, but I bet he'd want to know. 73 (//Ken Zichi, MI, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, ibid.) Another great has gone to the great beyond. Stewart was one of the first names I encountered when starting in the hobby during the late 60s. He was quoted for years on DX Partyline, as I recall. R.I.P., Stewart (Walt Salmaniw, BC, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) So sorry to hear of Stewart's passing; the "old guard" is going the way of DXing, it seems. I remember going to Stewart’s home in Huntington Beach a couple of times in 1967 before I was buried in graduate school in Monterey in 1968 and on one occasion helping him assemble the month’s ASWLC journals. I really enjoyed interacting with him and was a member of ASWLC for a few years. Stewart, Henry "Chad" Chadbourne, Ed Shaw and Bill Sparks were my California DX partners in those heady days of great DX! (Bruce W. Churchill, 2491 Palo Vista Rd Fallbrook, CA 92028-9690, Shortwave Listener since 1952, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very sorry to hear about Stewart’s passing. I hadn’t heard about him for many years but in the 1960s, during the heyday of the ASWLC and my SWLing activities, we were in regular contact. I only got to meet him once, in 1969 when on a “road trip” to the West Coast to celebrate graduating from college. I was always impressed by the countless hours he spent in his dedication to the club and the hobby. RIP, Stewart (Bob LaRose, W6ACU, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 245 kHz MCW, Feb 11 at 0712 UT, beacon FS, which is Sioux Falls - Rock SD, per dxinfocenter.com; underneath it at a different pitch I pull out YZE in Ontario; see CANADA. Is Rock the name of an airport? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn - it's the name given to the beacon but its proper name is "ROKKY" This site is more up to date when it comes to ndbs, updated daily: https://classaxe.com/dx/ndb/rna/signal_list (Steve, VE7SL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 417 kHz, Feb 12 at 0722 UT, beacon IC on MCW --- but none listed, rather IY at Charles City IA. There is only one dit/dah difference between C and Y. Beacons at bedtime, following CANADA, q.v.: 353 kHz, Feb 13 at 0713, LI: Little Rock AR (I was hearing this tuned to 351, under YKQ at a different pitch) 356 kHz, Feb 13 at 0801, OD: must have been ODX, Ord, Nebraska, only call including OD around this frequency. Maybe I also wrote X as I was half-asleep with a sometimes partly dry pen (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3200, 1508-, KVRI, Feb 3. Weak channel, heard only on the NW BOG at fair level. Not in English. OM with talk. No one is listed here at this time. The only station listed at all is TWR Africa, but only between 0430 and 0600 and Africa is in daylight. Solved the mystery! It's 2 x 1600 from Blaine, WA, the super powerful Hindi station. Interesting that it was gone a few minutes later (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13565, Feb 9 at 1513, K6FRC HIFER beacon barely audible with CW IDs over and over. Figured this would be a good time for its 1.8 milliwatts, as KVOH is inbooming on 17775-; both Californian, altho Patterson is 258 miles = 415 km from Simi Valley (or if driving, 298/479) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO AMATEUR NAMED AS NEXT PRESIDENT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY 02/12/2018 http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateur-named-as-next-president-of-harvard-university Lawrence S. Bacow, KA1FZQ, of Brookline, Massachusetts, has been selected to become the 29th president of Harvard University, the home of W1AF. Selected from among a field of some 700 candidates, Bacow will take office on July 1, succeeding Drew Faust. “Larry Bacow is one of the most accomplished, admired, insightful, and effective leaders in American higher education,” said William F. Lee, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, in making the announcement over the weekend. “This is a pivotal moment for higher education — a time full of extraordinary possibilities to pursue new knowledge, enhance education, and serve society, but also a time when the singular value of higher education and university research has too often been challenged and called into doubt. Such a time calls for skillful leadership, strategic thinking, and disciplined execution. Larry will provide just that.” The son of immigrants and holding three degrees from Harvard, including a PhD in public policy, Bacow was a long-time faculty leader at MIT, his undergraduate alma mater, where he rose to the position of chancellor. He also served for a decade as the President of Tufts University. Currently he is the Hauser Leader-in-Residence at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. In a Temple Emmanuel From the Gates newsletter commentary last November, Bacow confessed to being an “uber nerd” while he was growing up in Pontiac, Michigan. “I was a ham radio operator. I used to get my kicks building radios out of Heathkits — some of you are old enough to remember them.” Bacow said his reading outside of school was “confined to Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Scientific American and some obscure magazines known only to fellow ham radio operators called QST and 73.” ARRL Roanoke Division Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, said he once worked Bacow on 2 meters when the academician was sailing off the coast of Maine many years ago, after Bacow had been named the president of Tufts University, Morine’s alma mater. “Larry’s a great guy and is supportive of ham radio,” Morine told ARRL. Bacow’s father Mitchell also was a radio amateur — W8JYZ and N4MB. He died in 2007. — Thanks to Harvard University and to Bill Morine, N2COP (via Artie Bigley, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** U S A. Good news for Greenville --- Glenn, Greenville is getting three new (new to us) transmitters. The removal of the original Continental 420a Doherty 500 kW transmitter has started with GB3. The transmitters are en route and are Continental 419F transmitters. No date on when they will arrive as far as I know. But there is hope for Greenville after all. More news as it comes. 73 (Glenn Swiderski, NC, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Great; what station are they coming from? (Glenn to Glenn, via DXLD) I think from Sri Lanka after they shut it down. 73 (Glenn Swiderski, ibid.) BBG proposed FY2019 Budget The Broadcasting Board of Governors (VOA, etc.) has released its fiscal year 2019 budget proposals and operational plan. Link: https://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2018/02/BBGBudget_FY19_CBJ_2-7-18_Final.pdf I've only had a chance to skim through everything, but some key points: Addition of three "newer" transmitters at Greenville for Radio Marti broadcasts. I am guessing that "newer" means units brought in from other sites that are being closed. Closure of the Poro, Philippines site in 2018 (or is this already gone?) More consolidation of broadcasts at the Kuwait transmitting station with additional transmitters and antennas. Big cut to the operational budget of Radio Martí with more sharing of resources with VOA Spanish. So more frequencies, but programming cuts. Further phasing out of shortwave operations except for areas where "shortwave is still relevant." Large cuts in radio to the Middle East; more emphasis on social media. Once again, vague proposals on closing more SW transmitter sites, but no specifics. Investment in automation to further cut operational costs. Much, much more in the proposal, which has around 140 pages (Stephen Luce, Houston, Texas, Feb 13, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) To the extent that I can tell from looking at our budget justification over at the Treasury Department and the line item my work unit in the IRS gets paid out of, there are pretty much cuts across the board. For example, there is a force of a little over ten thousand Customer Service Representatives staffing the various phone lines at the IRS but the budget proposal has us losing a little over 20% in FY2019 which is expected to save around $300 million when all costs are included. The functions of those employees would be terminated and all associated costs would be removed in a full cost-recovery assumption like that. The cuts are mostly intended to fund the upcoming infrastructure bill without raising taxes. When I get in tomorrow I'll probably have better notes from SecTreas and the Commissioner. I'm way down the food chain in the phones operation at IRS so I may or may not be part of the cut. I'm trying to get ahead of it by transferring out if I can. IBB rarely has anything I can seemingly slide over to (Stephen Michael Kellat, KC8BFI, Ashtabula, Ohio, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. 2040 UT on Feb 9th - I'm hearing VOA with African Beat back at this time on 6195 kHz via Botswana - has the extended Zimbabwe programming finally ended? (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, Feb 9, WOR iog via DXLD) Hi Alan, Thanks to your log, tuned into VOA on 4930 (Botswana), on Feb 10, at 0248, to find just their carrier (recently had been hearing their extended schedule, with their programs as early as 0042 here); 0259 ID & "Yankee Doodle": 0300 "VOA News" in English. So yes, seems they have indeed ended their extended schedule (Ron Howard, California, ibid.) Reception of Voice of America in English on Feb 9: 0600-0700 on 6080 SAO 100 kW / 000 deg to WCAf English, weak 0600-0700 on 9550 SAO 100 kW / 124 deg to CSAf English, poor 0600-0700 on 15580 BOT 100 kW / 350 deg to CeAf English, good Extended broadcasts of VOA from 0700 to 1400 UT are cancelled: 0700-1400 on 4930 BOT 100 kW / 020 deg to SoAf English/Shona/Ndebele 0700-1400 on 6080 SAO 100 kW / 138 deg to SoAf English/Shona/Ndebele 0700-1400 on 15580 SAO 100 kW / 100 deg to SoAf English/Shona/Ndebele http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-voice-of-america-in.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 9, WOR iog via DXLD) ** U S A. GRETA VAN SUSTEREN GETTING HER OWN SHOW ON VOICE OF AMERICA | Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/greta-van-susteren-getting-her-own-show-voice-america-1082556 Sent from my iPhone (via David Cole, Goodwell OK, Feb 7, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) Viz.: Greta Van Susteren Getting Her Own Show on Voice of America 3:19 PM PST 2/6/2018 by Jeremy Barr Paul Morigi/Getty Images Greta Van Susteren [caption] The former Fox News, CNN and MSNBC anchor is a VOA contributor and is doing the show on a volunteer basis. On Wednesday morning, Voice of America will debut a new show from contributor Greta Van Susteren called Plugged In With Greta Van Susteren. Van Susteren joined VOA as a contributor this fall, and is doing her new show on a volunteer basis. The show will be broadcast on television outside the U.S. and streamed online here [no link; how about SW radio???]. A veteran of the Big Three cable news networks, Van Susteren left MSNBC after her show was abruptly canceled in late June. "Because it is VOA, it is not just three minutes with a guest and good-bye," Van Susteren told The Hollywood Reporter in an email. "We get to really explore the issues." A blurb about the show on Voice of America's YouTube page describes it this way: "Plugged In With Greta Van Susteren examines various aspects of United Sates policy by interviewing policy makers and discussions [sic] with opinion shapers. After hosting news programs for CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, Greta Van Susteren brings her interviewing skills and curiosity to VOA for a weekly 30 minute dive into America’s relationships with the world." Van Susteren posted photos of her rehearsing for the show on Instagram on Tuesday. The first show will focus on North Korea. Since leaving MSNBC, Van Susteren had expressed interest in returning to television but said that the right opportunity for her might not exist. As a VOA contributor, Van Susteren has conducted several notable on- camera interviews, including with Vice President Mike Pence, and anchored the network's State of the Union coverage last week. The show will be formally announced tomorrow in advance of the premiere. "VOA is so much bigger than domestic cable and I am thrilled to be part of them," she said. Read More Greta Van Susteren Exiting MSNBC https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/greta-van-susteren-exiting-msnbc-1017990 (via DXLD) “PLUGGED IN WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN” DEBUTS WASHINGTON, D.C., February 7, 2018– “Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren,” a new foreign policy program on the Voice of America, debuted this morning with host Greta Van Susteren at the helm. Washington, D.C. “I’m thrilled to be working alongside the journalists at VOA,” said host and contributor Greta Van Susteren. “They know the world.” Through a compilation of her recent VOA interviews with Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, today’s “Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren” examined North Korea and the danger it poses not just to South Korea but to the United States and the world. “We are delighted to have Greta as a contributor to VOA” said VOA Director Amanda Bennett. "We admire her passion for foreign affairs and for the kind of straightforward, objective, fact-based news that VOA offers." Each week on the 30-minute “Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren,” she will examine all aspects of U.S. policy through interviews with policy makers and discussion with opinion shapers. Van Susteren brings to VOA her interviewing skills and curiosity honed during her time hosting news programs for CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. “We want ‘Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren’ to have roots in social media. What better way than to broadcast live on Facebook,” said Steve Redisch, the show’s executive producer. “Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren” airs live every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EST [1530 UT] on Facebook with multiple airings via satellite. Mandarin, Persian and Russian language versions of “Plugged In with Greta Van Susteren” will also be available on VOA satellite and digital channels. About Voice of America VOA reaches a global weekly audience of more than 236 million people in more than 40 languages. VOA programs are delivered on satellite, cable, shortwave, FM, medium wave, streaming audio and video on more than 2,500 media outlets worldwide. VOA’s seasoned journalists are experts on topics trending in the United States and globally. The Voice of America is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (VOA PR Feb 7 via Hj Biener, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: Recorded WOR --- For past 3 weeks or so, seems to be an editing problem in WOR audio files on worldofradio.com. Some segments of the program are repeated multiple times, leaving no space to carry the end of the program within the 30 minutes. This week, for instance, bits on absent HF service for central Australia motorists repeated several times (Derek Lynch, Ireland, Feb 7 to gh via DXLD) Derek, I`ve had (only) one other complaint about this recently and it occasionally happens when I try to check them. Or rather mp3 on the winamp player, I can start playing, but if I skip forward I keep hearing the first part repeating instead of where it ought to be into the program on the timer. I have no idea what causes or what to do about it, but I know my files seem OK when I first produce them. I have just tried again by hitting the WOR 1916 mp3 stream button at http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html And it works fine, as I spot-check, skipping thru the file advancing a few minutes at a time. So I suspect the problem is not with my original files, but somewhere in between or at your end. Have you tried the real files as well as the mp3s? Or using a different player for the mp3s? (Glenn to Derek, via DXLD) Anyone explain why this happens and how to avoid it? (gh) ** U S A [and non]. Best two next times to hear new WORLD OF RADIO 1916: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7490 Thu 2230 on WRMI 5850 WORLD OF RADIO 1916 monitoring: confirmed Wednesday February 7, S9+10 at 2200 starting on WBCQ 7489.992v --- BUT recheck 2206, it`s dead air! I keep monitoring and no modulation past 2230 so `Goddess Irina` is also affected. There was also a break in transmission of about a sesquiminute until resumed at *2221. (Recheck at 0027 Feb 8, still/again? DA on 7490; must be a serious problem). 9330, UT Thu Feb 8 at 0030, VP signal when WOR is supposed to air, but instead am still hearing reactivated sex molester Brother Scare, who has been on 9330 all day, say that he is now on 9330, 24 hours a day! There is nothing about this on the TOM or WBCQ websites. Awaiting confirmation from Allan. If correct, thus ends a 2-year span of daily WOR broadcasts on 9330 WBCQ, which Allan surprisingly gave us in Feb 2016. Easy come, easy go. I can only hope there is some spare time for us on the other transmitters now. Next: Thu 2230.5 WRMI 5850 to NW Sat 0729 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 1531 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2300 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0200 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 9455 to WNW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 to NE, 9455 to WNW [or #1917?] WORLD OF RADIO 1916 monitoring: not confirmed Thu Feb 7 at first check circa 2235 UT, 5850 WRMI not on air! But OK in progress at 2242 check, VG S9+10, and finished at 2259.5 so playback must have started on time at 2230.5 even if transmitter not on yet. (And R. Tirana relay follows, JIP at 2300.5.) WOR 1916 confirmed, UT Fri Feb 8 at 0030 on WBCQ, 9330.1v-CUSB, fair - -- despite having been replaced by Brother Scare 24 hours earlier who I thought said he was now on 9330, 24 hours. Well, back to normal today. So never mind my assumption that our 9330 broadcasts were deleted. All we can do is keep monitoring to hear what may happen next. BTW, I can`t help but notice that no other DX program host to my knowledge, in English or any other language, keeps reconfirming and reporting on their own broadcasts; why not? I consider this essential to keep up with what`s really happening, as stations make changes without notice, and there can always be technical problems. Next: Sat 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 0729 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 1531 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2230 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 2300 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0200 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to WSW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 9455 to WNW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 to NE, 9455 to WNW [or #1917?] WORLD OF RADIO 1916 monitoring: not confirmed UT Sat Feb 10 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330: JBA carrier. Brother Scare has switched to 5130 due to problems with the 9330 transmitter, so it may remain iffy whether WOR airs audibly or at all. See SOUTH CAROLINA [non] and USA: WBCQ. Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, reports: ``GERMANY, Reception of World of Radio via HLR on 6190 CUSB, Feb 10 http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/reception-of-world-of-radio-via-hlr-on.html 0730-0800 6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat, fair/good`` GERMANY, 6190, Hamburger Lokalradio, Goehren, 0730-0800, 10-02, English, Glenn Hauser's DX program "World of Radio nº 1916" (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Lugo, WOR iog via DXLD) Alan Gale, England, reports Sat Feb 10: ``Hi Glenn, I can confirm that HLR was carrying World of Radio on 6190 at 1530 UT today. As per usual it was battling it out with the Orientals, but it was audible right up to 1559 when it was flattened by an Interval Signal. 73 for now, Alan`` WOR 1916 not confirmed by me, the Sat 1531 on HLR Germany 6190-USB, not checked on UTwente SDR until 1555 Feb 10, hearing only Vietnamese from CRI Beijing and mixing Mongolian from PBS Xinjiang, Urumqi, not a bit of English from gh or anyone. 1556 CRI theme and off leaving Mongolian alone; *1558 hit by ACI from 6195 BBC chimes, for 1600 Farsi via Oman (and obviously the extension to *1500, same parameters registered in HFCC effective 1 Feb has not really taken place, a slight benefit for HLR would-be listeners). Before 1600, 6190 is back on with Chinese song and 2+1 timesignal. Next: Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2230 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Sat 2300 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0200 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to WSW Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 9455 to WNW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 to NE, 9455 to WNW [or #1917?] WORLD OF RADIO 1916 monitoring: Not confirmed, Sat Feb 10 at 2235 & 2257 chex, on WBCQ 9330: no signal. Usually it would be audible at this hour if on the air. This transmitter reported to be down with problems, so there may be no 0030 otherday broadcasts either TFN. Confirmed, Sat Feb 10 at 2300 on WRMI 7780, fair S9-S6. Also confirmed UT Sun Feb 11 at 0200 on WRMI 7780. Also confirmed on WA0RCR, MO, 1860-AM, S9+10, UT Sun Feb 11 ending at 0449, so started circa 0420. Next: Mon 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 9455 to WNW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 to NE, 9455 to WNW [or #1917?] WORLD OF RADIO 1916 monitoring: missed checking UT Mon Feb 12 at 0030 on WBCQ 9330, but probably still off. Confirmed UT Mon Feb 12 from 0400 on Area 51 webcast, and audible at 0412 on WBCQ 5129.84. Confirmed UT Mon Feb 12 at 0430 on WRMI(RAE) webcast, but 9455 < 9955 are JBA carriers. Next: Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 to NE, 9455 to WNW [or #1917?] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO 1916 monitoring: not confirmed UT Tue Feb 13 after 0030 on WBCQ 9330v-CUSB --- but a JBA carrier, unlikely from anything else, and if so, presumably airing WOR. Much weaker << than neighbor 9265 WINB, << 9395 WRMI. I missed checking 7730 WRMI at same time, but John Anderson reports: ``7730: Just listened at 19:30 EST on Monday 2/12. The transmission comes in great in Winterhaven, CA`` Still running behind in getting all material together in time for Tuesday broadcasts, so 1916 continues repeating: confirmed Tue Feb 13 at 2030 on WRMI 7780, VP in noise, much better but only fair on // 9455. Also confirmed Tue Feb 13 at 2130 on 9455. Once again at 0030 UT Wed Feb 14, 9330 JBA carrier, so WBCQ may be on with WOR at low power and/or hardly propagating. WORLD OF RADIO 1917 contents: Argentina non, Armenia, Bonaire and non, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and non, Germany, Iran and non, Japan, Korea South, Kurdistan non, México, Nigeria and non, South Carolina non, Turkey, UK and non, USA, SWL Fest, Sony drops SW, propagation outlook. Ready for first airings Feb 14: Wed 1030 WRMI 9455 to WNW Wed 2200 WBCQ 7490v to WSW Thu 0030 WBCQ 9330v-CUSB to WSW Thu 2230.5 WRMI 5850 to NW Sat 0729 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 1531 HLR 6190-CUSB to WSW Sat 2030v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sat 2300 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0200 WRMI 7780 to NE Sun 0410v WA0RCR 1860-AM ND Sun 1130 HLR 9485-CUSB to WSW Mon 0400v WBCQ 5130v Area 51 to WSW Mon 0430 WRMI 9955 to SSE, 9455 to WNW Tue 0030 WRMI 7730 to WNW Tue 2030 WRMI 7780 to NE, 9455 to WNW [or #1918?] Tue 2130 WRMI 9455 to WNW [or #1918?] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9330.108v-CUSB, Feb 7 at 1536, this unscheduled WBCQ is on again, with reactivated Brother Scare post-jailing, but still charged with sexual molestation, etc., running 20 seconds ahead of incomparably stronger 9980 WWCR. Still going at 1926 recheck, poor. Too bad 9330 tests are no longer radiating WBCQ-FM programming, AWWW or WOR repeats (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7490 & 9330, WBCQ: drastic problems and programming changes: See SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. USA [and non] WORLD OF RADIO monitoring. 7490, Feb 7 at 2205-2230+ and Feb 8 at 0027 recheck, dead air from WBCQ; by 0057 it`s faded to a JBA carrier so can`t be sure if air is still dead or not (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9330.2, Feb 8 at 1939, very poor signal from WBCQ, can`t tell if BS but presumably on extended (test?) schedule. 9330.159v-CUSB, Feb 9 at 0639, gospel huxter going on and on about Noah, not BS, and seemingly not from TOM at all, as BS is running on unparallel 5890 WWCR. By 0658 this UT Friday, Cuban spynumbers are way atop WBCQ on 9330, S9+20. 9330, Feb 9 at 1432, nothing audible. 7490 webcast, Feb 10 from 0100, `Allan Weiner Worldwide` says he is not going to be political and proceeds to praise acting president Drumpf ``who is actually doing something``. I cannot listen any further, but John Carver provides his weekly summary of what ensued: ``Show started approximately on time on 5130. Allan and Angela in the studio in FLA. Talk opened with a defense of Trump and confusion about why people dislike Trump so much. Believes that we should cease construction of new roads and simply maintain what we have. Touched on the loss of Fred Flintstone and Ramsey by the station. Said he'd received several emails asking about them. Said he's not sure what happened unless it was burnout. Said they both got flaky on him and were really upset about transmitter fire as if it was his fault. Said that Fred had gotten just plain nasty to him in emails and posts and that he has been nothing but supportive of Fred and his illness, even giving him free airtime at times. He said that Ramsey also got very upset about being moved to another transmitter after the fire and made a big scene about it. Says he has no idea what the real problem is. Allan announced that Jeff White of WRMI had donated a fifty thousand watt transmitter to the station. It's sitting on a trailer at Allan's house in FLA and he will be taking it to the station in the spring. Says the transmitter will have to be completely rebuilt so it will still be a while before it is ready to go after he gets it to the station. [Would that be WRMI`s original Wilkinson inherited from Radio Clarín, Dominican Republic, the one moved to Okee from Hialeah? ---gh] Stated that most of the money donated so far had gone for clean up and repairs of transmitter building and paying his electrician, so wants people to continue to donate so they can buy the parts to rebuild the transmitter. He announced that Brother Stair is moving to 5130 as the transmitter on 9330 went down this morning and needs some major repair. Stated that Brother Stair should have the charges against him dropped after the way the government conducted the raid on the compound, saying that he has suffered enough already. Said this is no way to treat a prophet of God. Then read an email that was a joke about the tax system in this country. Phone call at 0141 from Mr. Transistor, Norm, interrupting the reading of an article from Kim Andrew Elliot about CRTs and analog TV. Signal dropped to S5 with a fair bit of noise making some parts of the discussion hard to copy. Talk with Norm was mostly about difficulty of receiving a good digital TV signal over the air, especially in rural areas. Reading of emails began at 0152. One emailer took Allan to task for promoting hate with some of the programs that air on his station and also for his defense of Brother Stair. Allan again explained the free speech policy of the station and assured the writer that he did not agree with everything that everyone said on the broadcasts. He also pointed out that until Brother Stair is convicted by a jury of his peers he is innocent and he is appalled by the rush to judgement that is so popular in this country at the moment. Show was off the air at 0200 and 5130 went into Brother Stair. While I didn't listen to much of it, it did sound like something recent. John, Mid-North Indiana`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5130v, Feb 10 at 1453, maybe a JBA carrier, as WBCQ is allegedly running Brother Scare now 24 hours on this frequency. Of course it will be useless here so far away in the daytime. See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Is he aware or does he ever mention that he is still on WWCR bigsigs, not curtailed at all? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5129.846, Noted a voice of pastor prayer in English like Brother Stair sound, S=8 here in Europe at 2115 UT on Feb 10, WBCQ requested channel. And hit by a nearby ute fax like machine signal on 5131.956 kHz peak. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, WOR yg via DXLD) 5129.9 here total signal S5 with noise while listening with LSB. Signal is just 'marginal while carrier is just audible (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, 2228 UT Feb 10, ibid.) 5130, Feb 10 at 2257, WBCQ audible with BS, presumably having been on air all day. By 0005 UT Sunday Feb 11 check, Timtron is heard, so BS still cedes to Area 51 programming rather than the ``24 hours`` he claims. Recheck at 0458, 5129.85 with a song not BS and unreadable announcement with a crowd, S9+5/15, perhaps `Lost Discs Radio Show` as on 5130 sked, no ID, 0500 cut back to BS in progress. Now he`s praying someone will give him 10 megadollars, not just one, so he can ``finish his work``. Hey, me too! (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. From the Isle of Music, February 11-17, 2018 More of Alejandro Falcón and his new album Mi monte espiritual; also some great music from Yunior Terry, Yosvany Terry and Estrellas de Areito. 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100 kW, Sunday 1500-1600 UT on SpaceLine, 9400, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK) 2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UT on WBCQ, 7490 kHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire. 3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UT and Saturday 1200-1300 UT on Channel 292, 6070 from Rohrbach, Germany. The transmission from Space Line, Kostinbrod Bulgaria is aimed East. The Tuesday transmission from Channel 292 is occasionally audible in Western Russia depending upon propagation conditions. From the Isle of Music is not available for listening on demand but some broadcasts can be heard online during the time of the broadcast using Web SDRs or the WBCQ website (during their broadcast) if you are not receiving the radio signal. Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Sunday, February 11 Episode 49 of Uncle Bill's Melting Pot sends us to Canada and Scotland with a slice of Swiss. Sunday, February 11, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM - 6:30PM Eastern US) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe. Thanks for all you do for radio! (William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer, Tilford Productions, LLC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. 5129.85, Feb 12 at 1419, JBA carrier, must be WBCQ now all-day with BS. Expanded schedule means it is now barely possible to collide with the only other OOB station on 5130, which Aoki/NDXC currently shows as: ``5130 Afghan Christian R. (R. Sadaye Zin[dagi]) 1500-1800 1234567 Pashto/Dari 100 ND Bishkek KGZ 4252N 07459E TWR b17 R. Maranatha`` That`s nighttime in Kyrgyzstan, but full daytime in Maine and most of America. Maybe Bishkek could be heard on west coast if not WBCQ. You won`t find this in WRTH under Kyrgyzstan; but consult the cross-ref on page 520 which leads, where else, to CANADA! on page 460, whence this service is based (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBCQ Shortwave Radio --- News Release: February 12, 2018 Listeners say WBCQ international shortwave is their most favorite radio station ever. WBCQ began shortwave broadcasts almost twenty years ago from a small farm located in northern Maine. The station is dedicated to total free speech over the air and defends the right to speak of all its broadcasters. WBCQ leases airtime to a wide diverse group of individuals and organizations. Many world famous people and groups have bought airtime on this famous station. It's amazing how many people we have had, and continue to air, thru out the years and the positive effect on many lives the programs have had says Allan Weiner the station owner and director. WBCQ has been voted many time the "best shortwave station in the world" by millions of its listeners worldwide. And the best is yet to come. Big things are afoot at the station that will change the course of radio for years to come continues Mr. Weiner. "We are totally dedicated to shortwave radio a true beacon of free speech and information Weiner says. Just keep listening and watch this summer. The station is heard on 7490, 5130, and 9330 international shortwave. It this era of eroding privacy radio is the only true information source and WBCQ is the best station for the truth, Weiner concludes. Contact WBCQ for more information at wbcq.com (Allan Weiner, Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5850 [WRMI], 0100-, VORW Radio International, Feb 2. Voice of the Report of the Week signing on at superb strength into Masset. My first logging for this short visit to my cottage. Monologue, into music (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9455, Feb 7 at 1929, WRMI with different music, Oldies, than World Music instead of RAE German on 9395; but of 9455, the // 7780 is inaudible, off? Minimum propagation however at midday. At 1940, 9455 starts VOA News relay with Steve Miller. Hope they stayed with it for full 5 minutes, unlike me (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also: ARGENTINA [non], NIGERIA [non] 21525, Feb 7 at 1943, R. Africa Network via WRMI is poor-fair with fades, unusually better than the JBA carrier; maybe some sporadic E is trying to build up. YL in political comments about Trump, nuclear war, Iran. Via WRMI grid, we find the link which in turn eventually leads to its program schedule grid https://www.radiopanam.com/listen/schedule/ which is in PST (UT -8), repeating 4-hourly (and in a month will it then be PDT UT-7?). So what`s on Wednesday at 9:43 am PST? `Power of the Word`. Sked is dated January 2018, but I am wondering if it really match what go out on 21525, rather than a webcast? That has autolaunched from the Listen page, whether I want it or not. There doesn`t seem to be anything African-orientated about the programming, but then, what would you expect from an organization called Pan- American Broadcasting? Oh, under the Impact tab there`s a Radio Africa Network page but which leads to nothing but a <4 minute YT propaganda video. Will WRMI ever be mentioned there? Yes, starting at 2:30 with shots of the antennas and control room (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7780 // 9395, Wed Feb 7 at 2203, WRMI playing Oldies: ``One Night in Bangkok``, 2205, ``I Get Around``, instead of `The Power Hour`. 7780, Feb 8 at 1945, can`t detect even a carrier from this WRMI, which had been scheduled on air all day with Oldies. Now I suspect it`s off between 15 and 20. Recheck 1958, now 7780 is on // stronger 9455 Oldies, in preparation for the 20-21 UT variety programming hour. 7780 is off again at 1515 Feb 9, while 9395 // 9455 go back to Oldies. O, the skedgrid at http://www.tinyurl.com/WRMIfqs has just been updated as of Feb 7, indeed showing a 7780 break at 15- 20 (except Sundays 16-20). What else has changed? It implies 7780 at 13-15 is on air Sundays only with religion, leaving `The Power Hour` repeat weekdays at 13-15 to be on 9395 only. `TPH` live M-F at 21-23 is still supposed to be on 7780 // 9395, but most of the time if you really listen in, it`s not! 9395, Feb 8 at 2115, Biermann ID breaking Oldies for VOA News with Ann Ball. She makes three stumbles in the first minute which also includes an axuality of some newsmaker. 9395 // 9455, at 01-02 is a variety programming block, including a new `Grateful Dead` hour on UT Tuesdays, as opposed to plain old `Oldies` on UT Wednesdays (and `Countdown to Xmas` UT Mondays, `Jazz from the Left` UT Thursdays). BTW, nonexistent 11580 is still shown on the program grid in several blox. 9455, Feb 7 at 1945, Bob Biermann Oldies ID claiming to be on 9455 and 9395! There are so many exceptions to this, that canned IDs saying that need to be carefully managed. See also ARGENTINA [non] 9395, Fri Feb 9 at 2112, WRMI is axually broadcasting `The Power Hour`, instead of Oldies music, and continues to do so for rest of this hour at least, at further chex: 2129.5 announcing a 5-minute break for commercials (tnx, I`ll go away during; not that I will really resume listening at 2134.5 except to confirm it still runs), and still2 past 2157. 9455, Sat Feb 10 at 1948-1950, VOA news, 1950 ID and 1951 back to Oldies on WRMI. From 2000 it should switch to diverse programming block // 7780. 7780, Sat Feb 10 at 2258, WRMI ending VOA News relay with Ann Ball, so must be in Oldies service, 2259 ID and a minute of ``It Had to Be You`` before cutting to WORLD OF RADIO at 2300. 9455, // 9955, Mon Feb 12 at 1445, WRMI opening `Viva Miami` (tho I am not sure he calls it that any more; no standard ``Miami Vice`` opening theme), Jeff & Thaïs in Spanish, another repeat of their visit to Selangor State on the west coast of Malaysia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9395, Feb 13 at 1758, Brother Scare is reactivated on WRMI! Very poor but recognizable; not audible on // 7780 but could well be on and not propagating at midday. As Peter W Hanson tipped us, WRMI website schedule updated Feb 12 shows Overcomer revived at different times than before, fortunately displacing nothing but some Oldies: 5850 0200-0500 7730 0100-0400 7780 1700-2000 9395 1500-1800 So now we know: his disappearance after arrest in December was for financial rather than ethical reasons. 9395 // 7780, Feb 12 at 2129, WRMI with Oldies ID, not Power Hour. Also Feb 13 at 2131, WRMI with Oldies again on these frequencies instead of `The Power Hour`; including VOA News starting at 2143. O, the latest WRMI sked has removed TPH from this 21-23 block as well as 13-15. It had been showing sporadically, last heard Feb 9 all during the 21 UT hour as I reported (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9475, WTWW Lebanon TN; 1655-1703+, 2/4; Gospel tunes to ToH WTWW ID spot, into religihuxter with 2/4/18 program, not Permanently Passed Pastor Pete Peters. SIO=4+33 with fast pipper QRM, 200+ pips/minute. Suspect transmitter artifact, as audio a bit fluttery (Harold Frodge, Midland MI, USA, Drake R8B + 185' RW, ----- All logged by my ears, on my receiver, in real time & without the aid of a computer! -----, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9475, Feb 7 at 1442, WTWW-1 with rapid carrier dropouts, this time amounting to 6/second or 360/minute, higher than last count. At 1940 it`s only about 5/second, or 300/minute. Hasn`t Ted noticed? 9475, Feb 8 at 1456, WTWW-1 is still rapidly cutting off and on, roughly 8 times per second, but I can tell the rate itself is varying slightly. On BFO it seems the carrier is shifting rather than cutting off completely. At this fast clip, it`s hard to tell which. For several days now, and Ted is apparently oblivious to this serious defect. 9474.974, Feb 8 at 1942, WTWW-1 with SFAW, carrier is steady now without the fast hiccuping heard the past few days. It`s always off- frequency-minus. Still OK Feb 9 at 1451. 12105, Feb 8 at 1948, surprised to find WTWW-3 on the air, as almost daily bandscans have found it missing since Xmas. Now it`s S9+20 of gospel country music, and as usual, carrier is wobbling slightly and modulation is somewhat distorted. But, I measure it right on 12105.00! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) and not since ** U S A. 17774.990, Feb 9 at 1509, KVOH is S9+30; other days it`s a JBA carrier if any this early. Is this entirely due to propagational variations? See also K6FRC 17775, Feb 10 at 1943, YL preaching in English, undermodulated but strong, KVOH reconfirmed with new Saturday-only English broadcast, unlike a week ago when it was JBA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 4840, WWCR (presumed the one) at 0940. Monitored until 0945 with nothing but strong, open carrier. Some xmtr hum. Was ist los hier? Feb. 11. Satellit 750, SW-2000629, Slinky and other outdoor wire antennas. 73 to all, and Good Listening.....! (Rick Barton, Peoria/Sun Cities, AZ, WOR iog via DXLD) Kein sprechend? Scheduled at 0930 Sundays is ``God`s Half Hour``: there you have it, evidence (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. ARMENIA/ESTONIA/MOLDOVA: Five different programs of TWR were confirmed on Feb 5th on MW at 1910 UT as follows: on 999 kHz in Ukrainian; on 1548 kHz in Bulgarian, both from MDA via Radiotelecentr (PRTC) transmitter Grigoriopol Maiac; on 1035 kHz in Russian from Estonia; on 1350 kHz in Hebrew via old USSR sidefire directional antenna; on 1377 kHz in Farsi both from CJSC Yerevan Gavar Armenia (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Feb 9, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews, BC-DX 10 Feb via DXLD) see also BONAIRE! ** U S A. This may or may not be interesting or useful to you. I heard on KSKY 660 kc. They said they're going to simulcast a local talk show here in Dallas to the 1160 AM station in San Antonio. It will be the Mark Davis show; the first hour will be broadcast in San Antonio as well as Dallas. Eventually Salem Radio Group is going to take an hour from a local talk show in their area and simulcast some miscellaneous Salem broadcasts towns (Mark Sills, TX, Feb 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST ** U S A. Glenn, In case you are interested. Hugh Hewitt talks about being on WXME 780 AM in Maine. Sent this to Allan: HI Allan, Just to let you know that I couldn't sleep this morning so at 6:00 AM EST, tuned into the start of Hugh Hewitt show. He stated his show with the topic of his show now being on WXME, your station on 780 AM. He went on for a couple of minutes about how proud he was being on in this part of Maine and the friends he has visited over the years there. Just in case you are interested (Artie Bigley, OH, cc to DXLD) ** U S A. Applications for CPs filed: 850, WKVL, TN, Knoxville – Applies for CP with D1 1000, CoL to Maryville TN, using WGAP-1400 tower at 35-45-40/83-58-57. (AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) Quite a comedown; back in my day in K-town, 850 was 50 kW WIVK (gh) ** U S A. 1020: WCIL - WPEO - KDKA --- Hi all, I posted this query in 2013, and no one responded, so I'll try it again. Anybody know the answer? As a kid DXer in the early 1960s, I heard both WPEO and WCIL faintly but clearly ID under our powerhouse local (50 miles away) KDKA early one wintry morning. Quite a thrill, catching their calls during brief pauses in KDKA's audio, and catching both the same morning! At the time, there were only 4 USA stations on 1020: KDKA, WCIL, WPEO, and (as I recall) KPOP in LA. I wondered at the time, and I still wonder: why on earth would the FCC, around 1946, allocate 2 stations on 1020 so close together in one state (bizarre), and on a channel that otherwise was clear for east coast and west coast? Does anyone know the history of this strange allocation? (Fred Schroyer, Waynesburg, PA 15370, 12 Feb 2018, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. 1280, Feb 12 at 1334 UT, ``KSOK, Cowley county`s station for the hits, 103-3, The Mix`` from Ark City KS. Not really: 103.3 is K277CK (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Applications for CPs filed: 1410, KQV, PA, Pittsburgh – Applies for CP with U1 5000/75, using WEDO-810 tower at 40-21-51/79-48-46. (AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) ** U S A. 1510, FLORIDA, WWBC, Cocoa. 1207 February 6, 2018. Gospel brokered blocks, male canned ID 1229 with mention of at least two (three listed) FM translators, with calls and frequencies, into "Turning Point" brokered show opening with a demand for money mailed to them. Some WLAC co-channel still, they with syndicated Fox Sports "Outclick" talk show (Hauserspeak for "Click Out"?). Sad that they run such instead of live and local on morning drive. It was an unidentified, until a break with local traffic and ID, and confirmed the programming on their website (Terry L. Krueger, All times/dates GMT, Clearwater FL, IC-R75, NRD-535, longwires, active loop, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1540, Feb 12 at 1340 UT, no sign of a het from KGBC Galveston TX, which sometimes jumps to 1540.1+; just KXEL English mixing with ESPN-D Spanish from KZMP The Metroplex. And it`s too early for 1520 KYND to be heard stunting under KOKC, as owner said he wasn`t turning it on until 8 am = 1400 UT (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Extensions to existing STAs granted: 1580, KQFN, AZ, Tempe – Granted STA extension, D1 10000 from KXEG-1280 tower (AM Switch, NRC DX News Feb 19, published Feb 11, via DXLD) ** U S A. 1710, Feb 8 at 0611 UT, seems Spanish talk, then soft song; 0651 UT screaming gospel huxter, so Retén lo que Tienes, persistent Bâton Rouge pirate (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What`s up Glenn, I see that pirate Retén lo que Tienes in my area on 1710 AM https://www.radioretenloquetienes.com/ is starting to be a pest for you. That pirate is a real pest here too on 1710 AM. Their broadcast location is about nine miles from my location. That pirate was broadcasting on 107.7 FM here but went dark and silent for about two months now on 107.7 FM (amfmtvdtvbrla, Southeastern Louisiana, Feb 3, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) tnx to FCC NOUO ** U S A. DON IMUS TO LEAVE HIS CURRENT RADIO GIG ON MARCH 29 (not his choice). NOW readers identified the precise moment – 7:22am Eastern time – when the I-Man told his audience on Cumulus talker WABC/770 and his Westwood One affiliates that Cumulus and he aren’t going to the end of 2018. He’s not thrilled about it, even though he’s 77 and still endures the punishing hours required of a morning-drive broadcaster. But he understands, says the New York Daily News - Imus explains to listeners that “They have a responsibility, as far as [the Cumulus] bankruptcy, to try to cut costs, to save money and figure out a way to make the thing work.” He’s actually confident that management can do that, and a fan of CEO Mary Berner. Cumulus predecessor Citadel hired Imus for WABC after he lost his job at MSNBC and CBS Radio’s sports “Fan” WFAN New York/660 in April 2007. That uproar was about his crack that the Rutgers women’s basketball team looking like “nappy-headed hos.” But Citadel’s Farid Suleman was a fan, and rescued his radio career. (Also his TV career, which continued on the RFD channel and, from 2009-2015, Fox Business Channel.) (via Tom Taylor Now Newsletter, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** U S A. FALSE ALARMS HIGHLIGHT WEAKNESSES IN NATIONAL ALERT SYSTEM In this Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 photo Jeremy DaRos, who received an erroneous tsunami alert on his phone, poses on the waterfront in Portland, Maine. “People need to trust the alerts they’re pushing out,” he said. “This is important stuff, and to have two incidents in the span of a month is just unacceptable.” (Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press) [caption] By Michael Rubinkam | AP February 10 Weather junkie John Grosso knew it was highly unlikely a monster wave was barreling toward the Connecticut coast. Still, when a tsunami warning appeared out of the blue on his phone Tuesday, he felt a twinge of fear. His co-workers, who got the same alert, asked whether they should evacuate. It turned out to be a false alarm, a computer glitch. The damage? An erosion of trust. “Now I have to check every single time, God forbid, there’s a tornado warning, a tsunami alert, pick your poison,” said Grosso, 25, a social media manager from Stamford. “I have to look at it and go, ‘Is it a test? Was it sent in error?’ And I could be wasting precious time in case it was real.” . . . https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/false-alarms-highlight-weaknesses-in-national-alert-system/2018/02/10/f670e968-0e67-11e8-998c-96deb18cca19_story.html?utm_term=.364f57e485b4 (via Blaine Thompson, Indiana Radio Watch Feb 12, via John Carver, DXLD) ** U S A. PRESIDENT`S BUDGET ELIMINATES PUBLIC MEDIA FUNDING Protect My Public Media provides this letter to senators and representatives: You may send it to your own via https://protectmypublicmedia.org I am writing to express my concern about the President’s call to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and to urge you to support full funding for public broadcasting in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 and FY 2019 budget and appropriations process. I am a strong supporter of my local public radio and television stations, which are critically important to me and my community. I urge you to support funding for: - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, at least $445 million in FY 2020 and $445 million in FY 2021, which supports the local public service work of my community’s public television and radio stations; - The Ready To Learn program, at least $27.7 million for FY 2018 and $27.7 million in FY 2019, which provides funding for highly-researched children’s educational content that has been proven to close the achievement gap; - And public media’s interconnection infrastructure program, at least $20 million in FY 2018 and $20 million in FY 2019, which serves as the backbone of our nation’s emergency alert system; maintains the connection between our local public broadcasting stations and other stations throughout the country; and maximizes the programming and services available to our community. The federal investment in public media amounts to $1.35 per American per year and represents .01% of the federal budget. Eliminating funding would have a negligible impact on our nation’s debt but a devastating effect on our community. Without federal funding, local stations could be forced to go off-air or to cut essential programming and services Americans count on. Cutting funding could lead to the loss of emergency notifications and AMBER alerts; broadcast services; cutting-edge educational noncommercial children’s content; local public affairs and news programming, innovative classroom resources; rich, local culture and music genres; and professional development and workforce training for teachers, caregivers, veterans, and other job seekers. These essential services are too valuable to lose. As a constituent who highly values the programming and services of my local stations, I strongly urge you to support full funding for public media in the FY 2018 and FY 2019 budget and appropriations process (via Glenn Hauser, Feb 13, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ** VATICAN. Unscheduled transmission of Vatican Radio in Spanish Feb 6 1400-1405 on 11625 SMG 100 kW / 184 or 234 deg to Af Spanish and off: http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2018/02/unscheduled-transmission-of-vatican.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News, February 6-7, WOR iog via DXLD) 11615, Feb 7 at 1533, good S9-S7 in presumed Amharic, newish service from Vatican News, mentioning Vatican, Catholic, Zuma in news headlines with frequent stinger. Another example of how well SMG can ``serve`` audiences in opposite direxion of intended, 113 degrees (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) // 13765 ** VENEZUELA. Re BONAIRE, other stations on 800: Glenn: -- "....but no Venezuelans." Does this woodenize the MWList entry for YVTB/800 in Maracaibo (100/50 kW)?? Many thanks & 73z – (GREG HARDISON, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I guess so. Not in the WRTH 2018 which I think is what I checked. A quick scan down the callsign column does not find a TB on any other frequency. Not in 2017 either. Maybe it went afoul of Chávez/Maduro regime. Or had all its copper vandalized (Glenn to GREG, via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 9636.00, V. of Vietnam, Feb 09, 2338-2351, 24332-34333, Vietnamese, Talk, // 7435 kHz (SINPO: 25332) 9635.82, V. of Vietnam, Feb 10, 2316-2323, 34433, Vietnamese, Talk, // 7435 kHz (SINPO:35333), (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD-525, NRD- 345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So VOV are capable of broadcasting on-frequency, certain days (gh) 9635.81, V. of Vietnam, Feb 11, 2348-2354, 34343, Vietnamese, Talk, // 7435 kHz (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD-525, NRD-345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 1550.0, 1232-1303* 09/2, ALG, POLISARIO Front (cland.), Rabouni. A[rabic], talks, songs, no anthem at closure. 35343 1550.0, *1703-... 09/2, ALG, POLISARIO Front (cland.). Anthem, A, prayer, 45444 (Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, JRC NRD-545DSP, PERSEUS & DRAKE R-E; Advanced Receiver amp.; raised, 4 loop K9AY, 30 m 180º/0º mini-Bev., 80 m 300º/120º Bev., 200 m 270º/90º Bev., 270 m 145º/325º Bev., 300 m 225º/45º Beverage, via radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 5915, Zambia Nat. B.C., Feb 10, 1600-1610, 23332, vernacular, Fish Eagle's IS, ID, drums, local music and talk, ID as "Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation" (Kouji Hashimoto, JAPAN, IC-R75, NRD-525, NRD-345, SATELLIT 750, ANT, 130m Sloper Wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5915, Zambia NBC Radio 1, Lusaka, 1932-2040, 12-02, vernacular comments, male, female, African songs. 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 13680, 1643-, Voice of Hope Africa, Feb 4. Listed as Sat/Sun only. A very good MUF for this early in the morning, allowing for fair to good reception of an American preacher. A shame that there's not more local programming! Good + level on both the NE/SW ALA loop, and due North Beverage. Much improved to excellent level by TOH. A few seconds past 1700, the American pastor was cut off with a sign off announcement (also, American accented announcer): 'From Zambia, this is the Voice of Hope Africa Service, broadcasting on frequency 9680 kHz, world pastoring the gospel of Jesus'. This was followed by about an 1100 Hz tone, until transmitter was cut at 1701:39 (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX-pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13680, Voice of Hope Africa at 1620 UT Feb 10 in English with "Song In The Night" program of pop music with religious messages. America's "Lonely People" and Sarah McLaughlin, etc. Good. 73 (Mick Delmage, near Lamont, Alberta at the Moman antenna farm, Perseus SDR and many antenna choices, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. 11735, ZBC at 1800 UT with Interval Signal and time pips to 1800:15 Feb 10. Time check and English newscast. Back to Swahili at 1808. Excellent; nice to not have to deal with any OTH radar this day. 73 (Mick Delmage, near Lamont, Alberta at the Moman antenna farm, Perseus SDR and many antenna choices, WOR iog via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZANZIBAR. TANZANIA, 6015, Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation, Dole, 0507-0528, 13-02, vernacular comments. Very weak. 14321 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Pacific JBA MW carrier search on the rotatable DX- 398, Feb 12 at 1319-1327: 558-?, 594-WSW, 702-WSW, 774-NW, 828-NW, 846-NW, 882-?, 936-WSW, 1098-W, 1566-NW. Our sunrise today 1323 UT. Immediately after above at 1327-1330, I switch to the R75 & longwire, but the only one still audible is 1566, presumably Korea South (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Trans-Atlantic JBA MW carrier search turns up lots of them, Feb 7 at 0657-0706: 531, 558, 585, 603, 621, 639, 666, 684, 693, 729(2), 774, 783(2), 801, 855*, 882, 909*, 936, 1017, 1044, 1053, 1089, 1098, 1116, 1125, 1152, 1188, 1197, 1215*, 1296, 1305(2), 1368, 1458, 1485, 1539, 1575(2). *stronger ones but not enough for audio on any of them. Trans-Atlantic JBA MW carrier search. Lots of reports from even the west coast of carriers earlier this evening, UT Feb 8, so I make an effort to do my bandscan an hour earlier than I usually do; on the R75 with E-W longwire. First in USB mode, 9 kHz steps, 1 kHz below the Eurafrican frequencies to hear the 1 kHz het they produce, Feb 8 at 0552-0600: 531, 558(2), 585, 603, 612, 621*, 639, 666, 684 (vs IBOC), 693(2), 711, 729(2), 747, 774*, 837, 855, 873, 882, 909, 836, 972, 999, 1008, 1017, 1026, 1044*, 1053, 1089, 1098, 1152, 1179, 1197, 1215*, 1296, 1341, 1413, 1521, 1539, 1575, 1584. *the stronger ones but still no audio Then I do it again in LSB mode, stepping 1 kHz above the carrier frequencies, Feb 8 at 0606-0610: 531, 549, 567, 612, 621, 639, 666, 684, 693, 711, 747, 774, 801, 846?, 855, 882, 936, 954, 1044, 1053, 1089, 1098, 1116, 1125, 1152, 1215, 1305, 1503, 1521, 1575, 1584, 1602. Looking at others` reports, I think that a lot of these are coming from the UK or Spain, on the frequencies they occupy. I am being especially observant for the known off-frequency stations circa 595, 711, 917, 1053, but no luck yet (except for 711+ Western Sahara recently). (Local spur circa 595 from KZLS-1640 I had such fun tracking down a couple years ago is not heard lately even in daytime, just rechecked Feb 8 at 1659 UT.) Trans-Atlantic JBA MW carrier search continues to be very productive except for being too weak for any audio: Feb 9 at 0659-, USB tuning 1 kHz below, R75 preamps off: 531, 558, 585, 603, 612*, 621, 684, 693*, 738, 774 (vs IBOC noise from what? Not WBBM, something from 760?), 783, 801, 846, 855, 882, 909*, 936, 954, 999, 1008, 1035, 1044, 1053, 1089, 1098, 1125, 1152, 1188, 1197, 1215*, 1224(2), 1296, 1306, 1314(2), 1341, 1413(2), 1485(2), 1503, 1521, 1539, 1575, 1602. * = stronger ones. (2) means I can hear an unsteady het indicating more than one carrier beating on slightly different frequencies. Additional channels missing could well be due to temporary fades as I go by. Trans-Atlantic? JBA MW carrier search, Feb 10 at 0735-0744 UT, R75 in USB mode 1 kHz below, pre-amps off: 585, 612, 621, 675, 693, 702, 882, 909, 972, 999, 1044, 1062, 1089, 1098, 1215, 1413, 1422, 1503, 1512*, 1584. The sun is upping over Europe, but all these haven`t quite faded out yet. OTOH, by now the sun is just setting upon Wellington, so NZers could propagate, tho most of them are lower-powered. Trans-Atlantic JBA MW carriers: not a complete bandscan but checked a few spots and heard carriers or hets, Feb 11 at 0521+ on 621, 0530+ on 1044(2), 1125(2), 1215. BTW, Absolute Radio, surely source of the 1215 signals, has applied to ``reduce AM coverage by 5%``. Try to figure out what that mean from this 22-page pdf via Hansjoerg Biener: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/111003/Absolute-Radio-proposals-to-reduce-AM-coverage.pdf WRTH says they have 14 stations on 1215 totaling 560 kW on this ex-BBC frequency (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. U S A, 1520 kHz, 1618-, unid, Feb 3. Who's off channel here? I see two channels. The nominal channel is KKXA, Snohomish WA with 50 kW, but there's a cochannel on 1520.080. Ideas? 1520 [KKXA], by the way is an IBOC channel (Walt Salmaniw, Masset BC mini-DX- pedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 1710+, Feb 7 at 0709, two very weak carriers here, one very slightly on hi side, like 1710.002, the other further up, like 1710.025, one with JBA music, from a couple of pirates (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Spanish Station on 1710 kHz --- Initially there was a thread on this topic almost eight years ago. The station was never identified or located. http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?5192-Unid-Spanish-Station-on-1710-kHz& I been hearing this unidentified middle-aged male Spanish religious preacher, sometimes it is a middle-aged sounding Spanish female giving a sermon, then Christian contemporary music. The signal strength ranges between good and weak. So far this station has been heard in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Long Beach Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania back in 2010. Today, another AM-DXer reported to me that he had heard it for thirty minutes this afternoon during a power outage near Waterbury, Connecticut. I'm curious if any AM-Dxers west of Harrisburg or Scranton, Pennsylvania has heard it. If so, the possible direction. It seems the station comes in better using a vertical antenna (GACTVDX, Easton PA, Feb 9, WTFDA Forum via DXLD) It's not the one in Baton Rouge LA? This one has a stream: https://www.radioretenloquetienes.com/ It has been widely reported lately, I believe. My local 1700 WJCC would make this a hard catch for me. c d (Chris Dunne, FL, ibid.) Nope, it's not that one. Their audio stream does not match what I am hearing tonight. This eluding station is somewhere west of the TIS WQFG689 in Jersey City, NJ (GACTVDX, Feb 9, ibid.) I doubt that the station is west of Hoboken. There have been 2 or more Spanish music pirates on 1710 out of NYC for several years. I'm pretty certain that's what's being heard. I'm just far enough, and without an outdoor antenna, that I normally hear neither, but if Hoboken is in, there is usually SS QRM. But there have also been reports in prior years of a 1710 SS pirate in Tidewater, VA (Russ Edmunds, 15 mi NW Philadelphia, PA, WB2BJH -- Grid FN20id, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 1710 kHz, 4.2 0700, WQFG, okänt QTH. Det finns 5 listade med samma callsign. Den hördes bara sporadiskt, dock hördes callet klockrent. Får nog förbli OID (1710.003) AN (Arne Nilsson, Sweden, ARC mv-eko 12 Feb via DXLD) Translation: UNIDENTIFIED. 1710 kHz, 4.2 0700, WQFG, unknown QTH. There are 5 listed with the same call sign. It was only heard sporadically, but the call was heard clockwise. May be unID (1710.003) AN (Arne Nilsson, Sweden, ARC MW echo via DXLD) They are of course TIS stations, and the MWList shows they are all related in NJ so would not worry too much about which one DXed TA. USA WQFG689 Lincroft/Hackensack Avenue, NJ * 0.01 USA WQFG689 Jersey City/OEM intersection Summit / Laidlaw, NJ * 0.01 USA WQFG689 Kearny/Davis Avenue, NJ * 0.01 USA WQFG689 West Bergen/College & Culver Streets, NJ * 0.01 USA WQFG689 Secaucus/Meadowview County Hospital, NJ * 0.01 Did the clockwise IDs omit the three numbers? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6135, Feb 10 at 1456, quite a carrier amid heavy North Korean noise, but no program modulation at all detectable; carrier continues past 1502+. We were wondering if this could be Madagascar via longpath, in the absence of a Juche jamming target, Voice of Freedom on some other frequency. Nothing else is known on 6135 at this time. Maybe the carrier is part of the jamming in this case? There are remnant traces now of much weaker LP signals from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan on 7237, 7140, 7181.55, 7205. Madagascar used to turn 6135 off at 1500 sharp. 6135, Feb 12 at 1424, jamming at first seems free of carrier, then a rather strong but rough one amid the noise. Replying to my previous Feb 10 log, Ron Howard says, ``Hi Glenn, Back on Jan 27, at 1420, had a brief period of time that the N. Korean jamming was not active on 6135. Heard a definite carrier, but too weak to dig out any audio. Jamming started up again at 1422. So the carrier for sure was separate and distinct from the N. Korea jamming. Have not found another instance of the N. Korea jamming being silent before 1500. Ron California`` And Mauno Ritola, Finland, replied to that, ``I think it is Madagascar running open carrier for some reason. 73, Mauno`` But from here it seems the carrier is too strong for a long-path signal from Madagascar (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 9968.9-USB, Feb 10 at 1506, 2-way in colloquial Spanish, intruders? The first words I recognize being ``c*ño`` and ``p*ta``. One is tempted to think that most mejicanos are foul-mouthed, if they can`t even clean it up for public transmissions, but bathe in anonymity. QRM from splatter out of the BS Sabbath service clapping on 9980 WWCR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 12105, Feb 9 at 1955, JBA carrier as I am checking whether WTWW-3 be on the air again like yesterday. Surely it would be stronger if on, as neighbor 12160 WWCR is S7-S9. Or maybe it`s WTWW exciter only? Per Aoki/NDXC, the only other user of 12105 is RFA Tinian in Burmese at 1230-1430. And it still shows the long-gone language rotation for WTWW 12105 when it was `Bible Worldwide`. HFCC and EiBi agree about Tinian, and EiBi has eliminated WTWW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACKNOWLEDGED ON WORLD OF RADIO 1917: Financial contribution to DXLD (Geoffrey Wolfe, NSW, not necssarily in US funds, via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FUTURELY: Hey Glenn: All the best for 2018 - really appreciate the great radio related information you provide throughout the year! 73, (Mike Beu KD5DSQ Austin, Texas, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) For your hard work (John Spicer, with contribution via paypal to woradio at yahoo.com) One may also contribute by MO or check in US funds on a US bank to: Glenn Hauser, PO Box 1684, Enid OK 73702 Glenn, thank you for over 4 decades of information! (Leonard Rooney, with a contribution via PayPal to woradio at yahoo.com) Note from Gilles Letourneau: Thank you Glenn for all you do (also via PayPal) I enjoy listening on 7730 at 19:30 EST Monday Feb 12 from Winterhaven, CA (John Anderson, via PayPal) Unusual reception report for QSL --- JPG 3 MB http://www.w4uvh.net/WORQSLRodriguez.jpg Hi Jeff, This guy treated an envelope like a postcard, writing on both outsides of it, nothing enclosed. The frequency is a bit off, no doubt due to the cheap receiver. If it was Tuesday at 2130 UT, it must have been 9455. The content details anyhow look correct. And he also heard Radio Biafra. I would not reject his QSL request due to the uniqueness/originality and enthusiasm of this report. Can you send a WRMI/WOR QSL to him? Thanks, (Glenn, Feb 10, to Jeff White, via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2018 WINTER SWL FEST PROGRAM AND FORUMS SCHEDULE FURTHER UPDATED! This is to notify that the (still) TENTATIVE 2018 Winter SWL Fest Program and Forums Schedule, to be held 1-3 March 2018, has been updated again on the Fest’s official web site-- www.swlfest.com — with a change to the timings of forums on Thursday (Richard Cuff, John Figliozzi, 2018 NASWA Winter SWL Fest Co-Chairs, Feb 10, dxldyg via DXLD) WINTER SWL FESTIVAL, MARCH 1-3, 2018, PLYMOUTH MEETING, PENNSYLVANIA The shortwave and DXing world is gearing up for the 31st annual Winter SWL Festival. This year’s schedule of activities and forums looks great. CIDX will be well represented again this year with Mickey Delmage and I representing CIDX’s Board of Directors. Montreal area members Alan Roberts and Janice Laws will also be there. We are always happy to meet up with many of our U.S. members who attend the event, many of whom first joined CIDX at Winterfest. If you’re going to be there, please stop by the CIDX display and say hello. One of the highlights of this year’s Winterfest will the FILM SCREENING OF “SPECTRES OF SHORTWAVE” – An experimental documentary film by Amanda Dawn Christie about the RCI shortwave radio towers in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada. Images captured on film are accompanied by personal stories told by people who lived near the towers. For over 67 years, the Radio Canada International (RCI) shortwave site broadcast all over the world. In 2012, budget cuts necessitated the decommissioning of this site. The film is the **Winner** Prix de la vague – meilleur documentaire (best documentary) international category – FICFA 2016 ** Official Selection ** Atlantic Film Festival 2016 To top it off, AMANDA DAWN CHRISTIE, Interdisciplinary Artist and Filmmaker; Assistant Professor (Intermedia and Cyber Arts) at Concordia University, Montreal, and the creator of the film, will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday evening banquet. She will discuss the making of the film. So it should be another great festival. See the details below. We hope to see you there. Until next month… 31st (!!) Anniversary - Winter SWL Fest March 1st-3rd, 2018 Doubletree Guest Suites, 640 Fountain Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA http://www.swlfest.com The Winter SWL Fest is a conference of radio hobbyists of all stripes, from DC to daylight. Every year scores of hobbyists descend on the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburbs for a weekend of camaraderie. The Fest is sponsored by NASWA, the North American Shortwave Association, but it covers much more than just shortwave; mediumwave (AM), scanning, satellite TV, and pirate broadcasting are among the other topics that the Fest covers. Whether you’ve been to every Fest (all 30, starting with the first year at the fabled Pink & Purple Room of the Fiesta Motor Inn) or this year’s will be your first, you’re sure to find a welcome from your fellow hobbyists. Get all the details on registration and hotel reservations on the Winterfest webpage. (Feb CIDX Messenger via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) Winterfest Time --- Those in the know know it is time for the annual trek to Plymouth Meeting, PA for the SWL Winterfest. I am looking forward to seeing your faces in the place. This year I am sharing the moderation of a Forum with renowned SW hobbyist and VOA personality Dan Robinson. We’re calling it “Shortwave Memories”. A look at the things that made our hobby fun when we started out and what maintained our interest through the years (Skip Arey, Ham Radio Report, ibid.) DX-PEDITIONS ++++++++++++ MASSET MINI-DXPEDITION 2-5 FEBRUARY, 2018 I`ve just returned from a brief visit to my 2nd home and cottage of the north-west coast of British Columbia, and due south of Ketchikan, AK, the nearest larger center. Results are always interesting, no matter what the time of the year. On this visit, for the first evening and morning, I laid down my stalwart W/NW BOG, approximately 750? [feet? meters?] in length, and my large diameter ALA 100LN loop, aimed NE/SW. On the 2nd and subsequent days, I erected the SW directed DKAZ antenna, while on the final 2 days, I hooked up the due North mini- Beverage of about 450? terminated directly into the ocean. All performed very nicely, but as usual, my favourite all around antenna remains the BOG. Conditions to Australia remained mediocre this time. Neither 1017 [Tonga] nor 846 [Kiritimati] seemed to be propagating well, if at all during our late evenings, so I wondered whether they were on at all, or not. TP propagation to Asia was superb on Sunday Feb 4th. My highlight is hearing all three Japanese AFN transmitters on 1575 with echoes; very strange! Almost always, it`s only Misawa audible. Occasionally, an echo from one other, but to hear all three with echoes, is downright rare! Equipment in the shack: two laptops, each feeding one Perseus, with each being able to toggle between antennae. Also an AOR 7030+ receiver. Hope you enjoy my report. Errors are my own, of course, so please send corrections to me! 73, (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, IRCA via DXLD) Many logs from Masset scattered in this issue countrywise. BTW, I`ve always assumed that name would be pronounced in English, but could it be French? (gh, DXLD) KONA, HAWAII DXPEDITION-- EXTENDED TP-DX MIX RECORDINGS During December's trip to the west coast of the Big Island the TP-DX propagation was radically different from the watered-down version currently being tolerated on the west coast. Instead of a few Asian big guns reaching modest audio each morning there were wild DU-TP snarls every evening, along with intense frequency fights between Asian co-channels on several frequencies. Linked below are several extended mix recordings that were the most memorable for the trip, all featuring two transoceanic stations fighting it out at potent levels. If anyone is feeling bored with his MW-DXing hobby, I would strongly recommend a trip to Hawaii as the ultimate, permanent cure! 1) 1440-Kiribati Vs. JOWF (Sapporo, Japan) These two stations were equal-strength competitors from around 0800 UTC until Kiribati's sign off at 1007, carrying on a running battle for supremacy each evening. On December 19th Kiribati switched its sign off time from 0936 to 1007, resulting in an 11 minute recording of the frequency fight (without a Kiribati sign off) starting off at 0931 https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/9eg4ip5jb5pvqsm6m5l1i0e5b05cs8gw 2) 621-Tuvalu Vs. China (Heilongjiang?) The pesky Chinese station was a major problem for the exotic DU after 0800 UTC each evening, but North Korea's Japanese service was almost equally troublesome. As if that weren't enough Tuvalu came down with a distorted audio issue on December 18th, which continued until I left. In this 8-minute recording China plasters the distorted Tuvalu sign off routine at 1003 on 12-18, but Tuvalu manages to get the (garbled) National Anthem out by itself. China quickly reclaims the frequency after Tuvalu's sign off https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/msy64393v8ty1qxq6hi8kixflb32beqx 3) 819-KCBS (Pyongyang) Vs. South Korean Jammer The North Korean "flagship" station's ancient music gets pestered by the South's "Beehive" Jammer at 0921 UT on 12-19. The jammer is apparently a low- powered transmitter designed to cover only the Seoul metropolitan area, but its range included Kona, Hawaii on most evenings https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/luw8m6wabvlj4y6seylzwpx18vfavmw3 4) 1593-CNR1 (Changzhou, China) Vs NHK2 Synchros Despite running 600 kW the Chinese station could never quite put away the pesky Japanese 10 kW duo. In this typical recording at 1003 on 12-20 CNR1 builds up some potent strength but the NHK2 English lessons never go away https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/m8ob9bccityvus66cdv4jlwbr0bbfrcw 5) 909 Mix (All UnID) One of many potent "mystery mixes" from the Kona trip, this recording at 0956 on 12-18 features multiple Chinese voices, including various children chanting at an S9 level for the last two minutes -- maybe CNR6 and others? https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/3f746ufu3x0gjiwe2fi05j2jo3pkav4d 73 and Good DX, (Gary DeBock (DXing in Kona, Hawaii with a 7.5 inch loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralight + 5 inch "Frequent Flyer" FSL antenna, Feb 9, IRCA via DXLD) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ Specialprogram på World Radio Day den 13 februari 2018 Sveriges DX-förbund, SDXF, kommer att sända ett specialprogram via Channel 292 i Tyskland på World Radio Day den 13 februari på 6070 kHz. 0800–0900 CET (0700–0800 UT) 1900–2000 CET (1800–1900 UT) 2100–2200 CET (2000–2100 UT) Vi är tacksamma för rapporter till qsl@sdxf.se (Alf Persson, SW Bulletin Feb 11 via DXLD) WORLD RADIO DAY - 13 FEB 2018 -- RADIO AND SPORTS This year, the theme of World Radio Day, Tuesday February 13, is: 'Radio and Sports'. http://www.diamundialradio.org/home (via Mike Terry, Feb 7, WOR iog via DXLD) I click on Events Near You, and a world map shows the closest pin to me is Austin TX, a station I used to listen to online, not on radio: KOOP Celebrates World Radio Day Radio is the mass media [sic] reaching the widest audience in the world. Join KOOP Radio and the Community Council in celebrating World Radio Day. Tune in at 1:30 on Monday, February 13, when our guests will share their experiences using radio to build communities through sporting events. 91.7 FM or streaming online http://www.koop.org/ Ahem, Feb 13 was on Monday LAST year, 2017. So is all this info out of date? No, this is about the 2018 theme of sports, so ??? (gh, DXLD) Kim: I usually don't think of "diversity, peace and development" when I hear a football game on the local radio station. Nevertheless, for more information: http://www.diamundialradio.org/home (Kim Elliott, SW Radiogram via roger, WOR iog via DXLD) Hans i Norge, Ydun i Danmark, Mauno i Finland, Ziad Aqeel i Jordanien, Larisa i Bela-rus, Drita i Albanien, Shaikh Jawahar i Saudiarabien, Nourie på Filippinerna, Ying Lian i Kina.... Vår kärlek till världsradio förenar oss bortom världens hårda realiteter. Radion har funnits i hundra år men den lever med problem idag. Kanske måste den röd-listas. Den ligger i politikens och ekonomins händer, men vi som vunnit vänskap genom den vill se den leva vidare. The link of friendship through radio, without ideologies, faith or world outlook --- Hans in Norway, Ydun in Denmark, Mauno in Finland, Ziad Aqeel in Jordan, Larisa in Belarus, Drita in Albania, Shaikh Jawahar in Saudi Arabia, Nourie in the Philippines, Ying Lian in China... and others. Our love for World Radio unites us, far from the hard realities on the earth where we live. Radio has existed for a hundred years but faces problems today. Perhaps it should be put on the Red List. It is in the hands of politics and economy, but we who have won friend-ship through radio want to see it living and prosperous (Ullmar Qvick, Sweden, SW Bulletin Feb 11 via DXLD) I believe that ``Ying Lian``, who signs correspondence from CRI`s English sexion, is a collective name for that particular work unit; how impersonal, but fooling many in the West where a collective name is unthinkable (gh, DXLD) NOW BRUSSELS WANTS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SUMMER TIME [sic] By Jonathan Stearns February 8, 2018, 6:59 AM EST https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-08/it-may-be-time-to-end-summer-time-european-assembly-says The European Parliament said Europe should consider ending daylight- saving [sic thruout] time because of potential benefits for human health. The European Union assembly urged the bloc's regulators to re-evaluate the merits of the decades-old practice of capitalizing on natural daylight by putting clocks forward by 60 minutes between late March and late October. The 28-nation Parliament called on the European Commission, the EU's regulatory arm, to conduct a "thorough assessment" of bloc-wide legislation on summer-time arrangements and, "if necessary, come up with a proposal for its revision." The resolution approved on Thursday by the Strasbourg, France-based assembly also said the EU should maintain a unified time regime even after any end to daylight-saving time, which the bloc began to regulate in the 1980s by harmonizing national practices. The goal was to prevent divergent approaches from undermining the European single market for transport, communications and commerce. The non-binding resolution points to an October 2017 EU Parliament study saying that, while daylight-saving time benefits the transport industry, helps outdoor leisure activities and reduces energy consumption, it is associated with disruptions to the human biorhythm. The Brussels-based commission offered a non-committal, if not dismissive, answer. Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc told the 751-seat Parliament that the benefits to human health resulting from longer daylight must also be taken into consideration and that the appetite in EU national capitals to change the current legislation is limited. Any commission proposal to amend the European law on summer-time arrangements would need the approval of a majority of EU national governments as well as the bloc's Parliament -- a process that can take more than a year. The assembly's study says that the idea of daylight-saving time is attributed to a late British builder named William Willett, who wrote a 1907 pamphlet called "The Waste of Daylight," and that the practice was first instituted in 1916 by Germany and followed by other European countries and the U.S. to conserve energy for their World War I efforts (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Standard rejoinder: daylight cannot be ``saved``, only SHIFTED by clox. The very name is a BIG LIE (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) TIME MAY BE RUNNING OUT FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS [sic!] TIME (AT LEAST IN EUROPE) "Earlier this week the European Parliament voted 384 to 153 to review whether Daylight Saving Time is actually worth it." https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/daylight-saving-time-isnt-worth-it-european-parliament-ministers-say/ (via Kim Elliott, Feb 13, WOR iog via DXLD) Hi Kim, http://www.dw.com/en/european-parliament-votes-for-review-of-daylight-saving-time/a-42510308 Millions of working-class people prefer to spend longer evenings after hours spent daily in the companies, in order to visit the swimming pool area or the popular beer garden, and serve the recreation of the whole people. This in the context of climate change and high temperatures, from April to well into the month of October, here in Germany now. Now, as a parliament member commission of the 27 / or-+England-28 EU member states in Brussels will be constituted set up. And will discuss the matter for few several years. After that, it needs a decision or approval from a l l 27 European EU states and their parliaments. A decision against the summer time would further aggravate the disgruntlement of the German population with the decisions of the Brussels bureaucracy imply, and drive further votes for right-wing extremist parties into the German parliament Bundestag. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: WHAT'S IT GOOD FOR? EUROPEAN LAWMAKERS ASK https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/world/europe/europe-daylight-saving.html Image --- A worker at sunrise in Pamplona, Spain, last month. Daylight saving time was first introduced in Europe and the United States after World War I as part of an effort to conserve energy and decrease the use of fuel for lighting and heating. Credit Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press [caption] By Ceylan Yeginsu Feb. 9, 2018 LONDON -- European Parliament members have joined the chorus of skeptics about daylight saving time who argue that the practice of springing our clocks forward and then turning them back every year does more harm than good. The European assembly voted 384 to 152 on Thursday on a resolution calling for the European Commission, the European Union's executive arm, to evaluate the current system and "if necessary, come up with a proposal for its revision." The resolution was nonbinding but echoed global concerns about the possible hazards of changing the clocks. Increasingly, health experts have questioned whether it's worth the hassle to switch year after year. "Numerous studies have failed to reach a conclusive outcome but indicate negative effects on human health," the European Parliament members wrote in their proposal, which was debated for an hour on Thursday. Daylight saving time was first introduced in Europe and in the United States in the World War I era as part of an effort to conserve energy and decrease the use of fuel for lighting and heating. The general aim is to provide extra evening daylight in the summer and extra morning daylight in the winter. The practice still has benefits, some experts argue, allowing the public to commute to work in the morning light and giving them an extra hour for outdoor leisure activities during the summer. But Karima Delli, a French member of the European Parliament who backed the resolution for a review, said that putting the clocks forward during the summer left people feeling tired and increased the risk of accidents. "Studies that show an increase in road accidents or sleep trouble during the time change must be taken seriously," Ms. Delli said, adding that the argument about energy saving was obsolete. The European Union's transport commissioner, Violeta Bulc, urged Parliament to also consider the benefits of longer daylight on human health. She added that allowing the 28 member states to apply uncoordinated time changes would be "detrimental to the internal markets." Britain, which is negotiating its exit from the bloc, sets its clocks to Coordinated Universal Time in fall and an hour ahead in spring. (New York is generally five hours behind Britain; Western Europe is an hour ahead.) But lawmakers in the British Parliament have previously proposed using daylight saving time year-round, in part to save energy and also to reduce accidents. That move would essentially take an hour of light from the morning and add it to the afternoon. That bill was met with fierce resistance in places like Scotland, where residents argued that they liked the afternoon gloom just fine. Other foes of the change argued that changing the clocks to match the time in Europe would require abandoning Coordinated Universal Time and would be a sign of the further erosion of British sovereignty. Supporters of the proposal, however, included groups representing cricket players, people with seasonal affective disorder, pub owners, dog breeders and environmentalists. Last month, Finland called for daylight saving time to be scrapped after a petition against the system gathered 70,000 signatures. In 2014, Russia moved to permanent winter time after a medical investigation found that permanent summer time created stress, health problems and an increase in road accidents in the mornings. Turkey, on the other hand, decided in 2016 to switch to daylight saving time, arguing that summer time all year round made for better use of daylight. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the new measure would "prevent confusion." The decision prompted opposition from parents, who said their children were being forced to commute to school before sunrise in the winter. Daylight saving time has also stirred debate in the United States, where joint research by Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University found that the loss of one hour of sleep during the summer led to more traffic accidents. Another study, by the Brookings Institution, suggested that making daylight saving permanent in the United States could save it millions of dollars a year in social costs by reducing crimes such as rape and robberies in the evening. Some studies have even suggested that conflict in relationships could be helped if the practice of moving the time forward and back each year were to end. The European Commission will debate the Parliament's proposal. Any decision to amend the law would need full approval from all European Union member states, and the process could take up to a year. A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A7 of the New York edition with the headline: Daylight Saving Time: What's It Good For? Europeans Ask. Related Coverage Daylight Saving Time: Why Does It Exist? (It's Not for Farming) March 11, 2016 Scots Tell London, Hands Off Our Clocks Jan. 20, 2011 Clock Time and Sun Time Dec. 31, 2012 My Dinosaur's Jet Lag Helps Explain Why a Time Change Is Hard March 13, 2016 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) If you want an hour more of daylight in the evening, get up an hour earlier in the morning and do everything during the day an hour earlier --- don`t try to fool yourself and force everyone else to mess with their clox (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- IBOC See UNIDENTIFIED: TA carriers; 1520 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DAB See ALGERIA; UK ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DIGITAL BROADCASTING --- DRM See also ALGERIA; CHINA; ERITREA; KUWAIT; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ROMANIA Drm.org 5 February 2018 DRM WELCOMES INDIAN REGULATOR’S RECOMMENDATION ON FUTURE DIGITAL RADIO BROADCASTING http://www.drm.org/drm-consortium-welcomes-indias-telecom-regulators-trai-recommendation-on-future-digital-radio-broadcasting/ The international and not-for-profit Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium congratulates the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for recommending, on February 1st, the way? for a smooth transition from analogue to digital radio broadcasting services, without disruption to the existing FM radio services – read here. The document shows the benefits and potential of digital radio for all current and future broadcasters in the FM band (VHF band-II). The auction of frequency allotments of 200 kHz bandwidth each,? within the existing spectrum configuration,? is seen as a good way to enable and promote digital broadcasting. This approach enhances the overall capacity of the FM band by inserting the new digital radio transmissions in the gaps between existing analogue FM stations, innovatively using spectrum that otherwise would be wasted. With this approach the current analogue transmissions as well as the Phase-III FM roll-out are protected. The open ITU-R standard DRM – already adopted and on-air nation-wide in India on the AM bands – fits perfectly in these new digital FM band allotments. Within the ?200 kHz bandwidth, DRM transmissions can carry up to 6 audio services along with a large number of advanced added- value services such as traffic updates,? and free-to-air multilingual text information based on Journaline. The larger number of additional radio services within the VHF band-II will thus increase the overall listenership by also addressing so far underserved niche audiences. This way, DRM-based services fulfill the aspirations of the private FM broadcasters, Community Radio Stations, Government, as well as of all the Indian radio listeners. We are also encouraged by the recommendation that the Government should grant fiscal incentives for the first three years to manufacturers of digital radio receivers, a necessary and welcome step for making digitisation a reality. Already today India has developed into an international centre of excellence with regards to DRM receiver technology, from chipsets to radio sets to automotive receivers. (via Mike Terry, Feb 7, WOR iog via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SONY SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS WILL COME TO AN END SONY Japan declared in January that they ended the production of ICF-SW35 shortwave receiver. They also declared in February that they end the sales of another shortwave receiver ICF-7600GR at their on- line store. Probably they will declare the end of its production soon. ICF-SW35 has been on sale since 2000, ICF-7600GR since 2001. This means SONY will completely withdraw from the shortwave receiver market. Remaining SONY shortwave receivers are ICF-EX5MK2 and ICF-M780N, both are exclusively for the reception of Radio Nikkei, tunable to only 6 fixed shortwave frequencies of Radio Nikkei, Japan (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, Feb 11, via Wolfgang Büschel, WOR iog via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) Old CRT TVs "Behind a nondescript Manhattan storefront, Chi-Tien Lui is stockpiling objects many people wouldn’t think twice about trashing: cathode ray tube televisions. The first floor of CTL Electronics — whose clientele includes the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney, and other museums across the country — is lined with a rich mix of vintage TVs, from tiny boxes to big, looming screens. In his bedroom upstairs, Lui has a 1930s mechanical television, an early image transmission system that passed light through a spinning metal disc. In his workshop, there’s a grid of old screens that once sat inside the Palladium, an iconic New York nightclub that closed in 1997. 'They used to have 16 of these, rotating in the club — everybody danced underneath,' Lui recalls. 'When they went out of business I took all the equipment back. And right now, I’m restoring them.' ... " https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16973914/tvs-crt-restoration-led-gaming-vintage (via Kim Elliott, VA, WOR iog via DXLD) HIGHER FM POWER Ah Yes. Remember the "good ol days" when the NAB argued against LPFM, claiming that the result would be "massive interference" Then they decided that filling the band with translators was perfectly OK. Why worry about 6 kW going to 12? After all, they used to be 3 kW and nobody complained when they got bumped to 6. It almost seems silly to suggest 12. Why not give everybody 100 and let the marketplace forces settle the issue? Just kidding. 73, (Mike Gorniak, MN, NM7X, ABDX yg via DXLD) The Twin Cities is getting terrible now. Not worth Dxing FM anymore. Gone are the days when 100.5 was occupied occasionally by Oklahoma City (Todd Skaine, ibid.) BBC NEWS: NUMBERS STATIONS: THE 'SPY RADIO' THAT ANYONE CAN HEAR I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it: What role does rock band Dire Straits play in international espionage? For decades, people around the globe have been able to listen in to mysterious spy broadcasts from all over the world with just a radio. Gordon Corera has been investigating the strange world of number stations. Video produced by James Reevell. http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-42819704/numbers-stations-the-spy-radio-that-anyone-can-hear 73's (via John, Faversham Kent UK, Hoad, JRC NRD-525 + Wellbrook ALA1530LF, BDXC-UK yg via DXLD) CHASING TRANS-ATLANTIC NDBs Glenn: I've noted your interest in non-directional radio beacons. Chasing NDBs has occupied about 75-percent of my DX bandwidth since 2001. Most recently I've been hunting trans-Atlantic, African, and South American NDBs using a remote SDR installed by a friend in far northeastern Maine, right on the border with New Brunswick. This has a 1,000' "BOG" (beverege-on-ground) antenna on the Atlantic seashore. It is unterminated, so bi-directional, with major lobes at 75 and 255 . Following is a log of selected NDBs I've heard with this receiver since 1 January 2018. Over the years, using my own equipment in southwestern Michigan, I have managed to receive two Portuguese NDBs along with another in the Azores, and one in Cape Verde. Hearing this sort of thing is a lot easier when you and/or your receiver is on the ocean shore, though. A note on the "LSB" and "USB" figures below. These are the "offsets" for the CW ID in relation to the nominal carrier frequency. Chasing extremely weak NDBs - and most TA's and deep South Americans are - requires the use of CW filters on the order of 10-15 Hz. That's where knowing the offset(s) of a particular NDB comes in handy. To pick one example from the log: you'll hear the ID of RK on 355 kHz in Reykjavik, Iceland, at 353.97 kHz (i.e., 355 kHz - 1030 Hz). "DAID" = "dash after ID," as with the Canadian beacons. It's worth noting that most NDBs in Canada suppress their lower sidebands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YYYYMMDD UT kHz ID LSB USB Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 20180210 0223 265 YKO --- 380 Akulivik, QC Canada 20180206 0244 272 GLS 1020 --- Galápagos (Ecuador) 20180107 0304 274 SAL 0 0 Sal Island, Cape Verde 20180205 0255 277 YLC --- 400 Kimmirut, NU Canada 20180105 2346 279 SI --- 400 Simiutaq, Greenland 20180210 0226 285 UHA --- 400 Quaqtaq, QC Canada 20100105 2348 298 KU 400 400 Kook Islands, Greenland 20180106 0155 309 GPI 400 400 Guapi, Colombia 20180115 0211 310 AMN --- 1030 Almería, Spain 20180106 0001 314 GH 400 --- Nuuk/Godthåb, Greenland 20180205 0130 319 ECV --- 1020 Colmenar Viejo, Spain (50w) 20180107 0311 323 TAB 420 --- Crown Point, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago 20180111 0125 327 POR 1030 --- Porto, Portugal 20180119 0320 328 HB 400 --- Sisimuit, Greenland 20180205 0102 328 HIG 1050 --- San Sebastian, Spain (200w) 20180115 0234 331 SC 1020 --- Santa Cruz de Flores, Azores 20180115 0241 332 FAR 1010 --- Faro, Portugal 20180114 0255 337 MY --- 370 Mygennaes, Faroe Islands 20180107 0054 338 PST 1030 1030 Porto Santo, Madeira 20180119 0121 341 BZ 400 --- Biarritz/Bayonne/Anglet, France (25w) 20180205 0225 344 MN --- 1070 Menorca, Balearic Islands (Spain) 20180114 0250 345 CSD 400 --- Daouarat, Morocco 20180204 0143 347 NQY 400 400 Newquay, England 20180107 0010 351 PD 1020 1030 Ponta Delgada, Azores 20180210 0053 355 RK 1030 --- Reykjavik, Iceland 20180105 2338 359 NA 400 400 Narsarsuaq, Greenland 20180106 0137 360 HT 1030 1030 Horta/Faial Island, Azores 20180206 0430 360 OAS --- 1010 Andoas, Perú 20180117 0219 361 CFN --- 400 Carrickfin/Donegal, Ireland 20180106 0123 365 PAL 1020 --- Palma, Ecuador 20180121 0101 365 VR 1030 --- Gran Canaria/Las Palmas, Canary Is. 20180129 0212 367 JV --- 400 Ilulissat/Jakobshavn, Greenland 20180131 0420 368 SX --- 400 Skookum/Cranbrook, BC Canada 20180106 0134 369 ZDX --- 1010 St. John, Antigua 20180206 0348 370 AYA 1050 --- Ayacucho, Perú 20180106 0133 371 STR 1000 --- Sintra, Portugal 20180105 2337 372 OZN 400 400 Prins Christiansund, Greenland 20180206 0531 372 YCO --- 420 Coppermine, NU Canada 20180106 0013 375 VM --- 1040 Vestmannaeyar, Iceland 20180107 0328 376 BJA 410 400 Beja, Portugal 20180208 0035 376 HIE 1040 --- Valverde/El Hierro, Canary Islands 20180105 2344 380 FIL --- 1020 Horta/Faial Island, Azores 20180105 2340 382 SF 410 --- Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 20180106 2356 382 LAR 1020 1010 Arruda, Portugal 20180125 0240 384 SLG 410 --- Sligo, Ireland 20180204 0157 384 ADX 1040 --- Andraitx/Mallorca, Balearic Islands 20180115 0137 385 PTP 400 --- Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe 20180107 0000 389 CP 1020 --- Caparica/Lisbon, Portugal 20180115 0114 389 PX --- 400 Perigueax/Basillac, France 20180107 0335 391 DDP 1030 1030 Dorado/San Juan, Puerto Rico 20180111 0107 392 KF --- 1020 Keflavik, Iceland (DAID) 20180205 0155 394 IZA 1020 --- Ibiza, Balearic Islands (Spain) 20180105 2343 395 FOY 410 390 Foynes, Ireland 20180205 0116 395 B 1030 --- Bilbao, Spain 20180117 0235 398 MT --- 400 St. Nazaire/Montoir, France 20180208 0255 399 UP --- 320 Upernavik, Greenland 20180115 0059 400 AG --- 400 Agen/La Garenne, France 20180115 0035 401 COA --- 1020 La Coruña, Spain 20180115 0411 402 UIA 1670 --- Camagüey, Cuba 20180107 0041 404 LRD 1030 1020 Lérida, Spain 20180205 0159 404 AGO --- 410 Angouleme/Brie Champniers, France 20180125 0300 406 YLJ --- 400 Meadow Lake, SK Canada 20180205 0232 406 TW 400 400 Toulouse/Blagnac, France 20180115 0117 410 C 1040 1020 La Coruña, Spain 20180130 0022 410 XV --- 400 CCGS Henry Larson** (1) 20180105 2311 415 CBC 420 380 Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands 20180106 0222 415 SLS --- 1010 Salinas, Ecuador 20180115 0128 417 CVT 400 400 Madrid/Cuatro Vientos, Spain 20180106 0058 420 PI --- 1010 Pico Island/Madalena, Azores 20180106 0100 421 GE --- 1020 Getafe/Madrid, Spain 20180122 0331 424 PIS --- 1010 Zagreb/Pleso/Pisarovina, Croatia 20180122 0404 426 GBG --- 1020 Gleichenberg/Graz, Austria 20180107 0258 428 GC 1030 --- Santa Cruz de Graciosa, Azores 20180205 0237 428 BST 0 0 Lanvéoc/Poulmic, France 20180205 0333 432 HMB 0 0 Hammam Bou Hadjar/Oran, Algeria 20180106 0228 433 VON --- 1000 Vigo, Spain 20180205 0452 470 BK 1030 --- UNIDENTIFIED (likely Boufarik, Algeria) 20180107 0406 520 BHZ 1030 --- Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Notes): (1) Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker between Quebec & Newfoundland. 73, (Andy Robins, Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s certainly impressive. This is pure DXing --- no program content to distract one (gh, DXLD) RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE – THE INVISIBLE BATTLEGROUND https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06m5gCnJcXg This 1961 US Army film, MF11-9416, is a public domain film from the US National Archives. This 30-minute film looks at the efforts and facilities at the electronic environmental test facility, Fort Huachuca, to solve radio interference problem of the field army. Maybe we can get some tips on how to solve the problem on our radios at home! (YouTube Video of the Month, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) GERMAN REGULATOR TAKES ACTION OVER RADIO INTERFERENCE The DARC reports that in 2017, the Federal Network Agency BNetzA withdrew about 460,000 products on the Internet, which could cause radio interference or electromagnetic incompatibility A Google English translation says: "The trend of recent years has it that many unsafe products reach the German market via the Internet. Many of these products come from the Far East. We also end offers of unsafe products even where the dealers do not cooperate with us, "explains Jochen Homann, President of the Federal Network Agency. He adds: "Our market surveillance is a contribution to consumer protection, which also has a preventive effect." In 2017, the Federal Network Agency ended 665 offers of unsafe products that could cause radio interference or electromagnetic incompatibility. A total of around 460,000 products were affected. The trend from the past few years suggests that there are many unsafe products on the Internet. In 2016 537 offers were closed. The number of affected products was then higher, as among other things 744 000 FM transmitters were blocked. Among the approximately 460,000 products were 388,000 wireless headphones, which use security-relevant police radio frequencies and therefore may not be operated in Germany. The Federal Network Agency is also increasingly conducting anonymous test purchases to test products that are not voluntarily made available. In this context, 52 products were reviewed. All of these products had abnormalities and distribution on the respective platforms was therefore suspended. This involved a total of 14,700 devices, e.g. Drones, smart home or LED products. More and more products are ordered by consumers online directly from third countries. That is why the Federal Network Agency works intensively with Customs. In 2017, customs reported more than 16,000 suspicious shipments to the Federal Network Agency. These reports totalled around 240,000 products. In 86% of the reports, no release of the products was granted for the European market. The proportion of eye-catching products thus remains at a consistently high level. In 2016, more than 10 000 suspicious consignments were reported by the customs authorities, covering a total of around 270 000 products. In 2017, the Federal Network Agency reviewed about 3,000 products in the German retail sector. Of these, about 1000 were also metro-logically tested in the laboratory. Overall, some 800 regulatory measures were taken. Further information on the market surveillance of the Federal Network Agency can be found at http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/marktueberwachung In addition, consumers can find out about specific products on the European Market Surveillance information and communication system https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/icsms/ The Federal Network Agency shows products that have been withdrawn from circulation in a traveling exhibition. Current dates are published at http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/wanderausstellung DARC http://darc.de/ (via Technical Topics, Editor: Don Moman, VE6JY, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ THE LUXEMBOURG EFFECT [Edited Message Follows] http://wshu.org/post/luxembourg-effect#stream/0 Members, I am delighted that after having personal approval from the author I can pass his work on the Luxembourg effect to you. The Chief Engineer of WSHU, Paul Litwinovich replied to my direct email to him. Unfortunately after a move of site the station over which he supervises will no longer be included in my spreadsheets. The new site for 1260 kHz further to the North of the old site (in Westport CT) has dropped below the 1 kW threshold. Thanks to Mike Terry on WRTH Facebook website for first alerting me to this instructive article. 73 and 88 (Dan Goldfarb, 12 Feb, mwmasts iog via DXLD) SOLAR STORMS CAN AFFECT COMMUNICATION ON EARTH Weekly Observer By Anastasios Manaras February 3, 2018 https://theweeklyobserver.com/storms-can-affect-communication-earth/31621/ United Kingdom Space Agency is funding a spacecraft to monitor the huge solar storms that could damage communications on Earth. Britain plays an important role in the mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), which aims to give early warning several days before a catastrophic solar storm. Storms occur when the sun is emitting overheated radioactive material and may disrupt modern technology by causing geomagnetic storms that affect satellite and navigation, communication systems and electricity networks. A recent ESA study estimated that the potential socio-economic impact in Europe from a single extreme weather phenomenon could reach 15 billion. However, much of this interruption could be avoided. The mission, called Lagrange, predicts a spacecraft positioned at a fixed point between the Sun and the Earth. Lagrange points are areas between two large bodies where gravitational forces are balanced, allowing the object to “park” between them. The three teams, developing the spacecraft, and the instruments are from Britain. The University of London, Airbus UK and the Council of Science and Technology. “Space Weather is the fifth most serious risk in the UK’s latest National Hazard Register, as a high-risk, medium-risk risk for our daily lives in the UK,” said Dr. Jonny Rae (UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory) who helps design. “At the same time, we are significantly expanding the number of business satellites through new technologies and services for applications such as mobile phones, television, navigation, financial services and insurance, as well as Earth observation, early warning systems,” he added. Satellite communications activity may affect satellite navigation services, such as Galileo, due to the effects of weather conditions on the upper atmosphere. This in turn can affect aviation, road transport, shipping and any activities that depend on exact placement. On the ground, airlines may also deal with aircraft electronics damage and increase radiation doses to crews at altitudes over long distances. Space impacts on the ground may include damage and disturbances in power distribution networks, increased corrosion of conductors and degradation of radio communications. In the past there have been several major geomagnetic storms that could cause significant damage to our modern electronic world today. In 1989, the east coast of America and Canada was left without electricity for nine hours. In 2003, Sweden also experienced a power failure for the same reasons. In 1859, a huge solar storm, called “Event Carrington,” caused damage to telegraph systems around the world, in some cases causing electric shock to operators. There was such an impact that some telegraph systems continued to operate, even though the power supply had been interrupted (via Mike Terry, Feb 8, WOR iog via DXLD) :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2018 Feb 12 0146 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 05 - 11 February 2018 Solar activity was at very low levels on 05, 08-09 and 11 Feb while low levels were observed on 06-07 and 10 Feb. All of the period's activity originated from Region 2699 (S07, L=165, class/area Dai/240 on 10 Feb). The largest observed event was a C8 flare observed at 07/1347 UTC. No Earth-directed CME activity was detected during the period. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels the entire period. Geomagnetic field activity was at predominately quiet levels under a nominal solar wind regime. Isolated unsettled intervals were observed on 05, 09 and 10 Feb. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 12 FEBRUARY - 10 MARCH 2018 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels, with a chance for M-class activity, through 16 Feb due to the flare potential of Region 2699. Very low levels are expected from 17-28 Feb. A return to very low to low levels, with a chance for M-class activity, is possible from 01-10 Mar after the return of old Region 2699. 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 on 12-25 Feb, with a chance for high levels on 19 Feb, due to influence from recurrent CH HSSs. Mostly normal levels are anticipated on 26 Feb - 10 Mar. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on 15-18 Feb, 20-22 Feb and 04 Mar, with isolated active periods likely on 16 Feb. This activity is due to influence from recurrent CH HSSs. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2018 Feb 12 0146 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 2018-02-12 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2018 Feb 12 78 5 2 2018 Feb 13 78 5 2 2018 Feb 14 78 5 2 2018 Feb 15 76 8 3 2018 Feb 16 76 15 4 2018 Feb 17 72 12 4 2018 Feb 18 70 10 3 2018 Feb 19 70 5 2 2018 Feb 20 70 8 3 2018 Feb 21 70 10 3 2018 Feb 22 70 8 3 2018 Feb 23 69 5 2 2018 Feb 24 69 5 2 2018 Feb 25 69 5 2 2018 Feb 26 69 5 2 2018 Feb 27 69 5 2 2018 Feb 28 69 5 2 2018 Mar 01 72 5 2 2018 Mar 02 75 5 2 2018 Mar 03 75 5 2 2018 Mar 04 78 8 3 2018 Mar 05 78 5 2 2018 Mar 06 78 5 2 2018 Mar 07 78 5 2 2018 Mar 08 78 5 2 2018 Mar 09 78 5 2 2018 Mar 10 78 5 2 (SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1917, DXLD) ###