DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-128, October 24, 2007 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 2007 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1379 Thu 0600 WRMI 9955 Thu 1430 WRMI 7385 Thu 1500 KAIJ 9480 Thu 2330 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0630 WRMI 9955 Fri 1100 KAIJ 5755 Fri 1100 WRMI 9955 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 Sat 2130 WRMI 9955 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 [Note: this year, the DST/UT time shift occurs Nov 4] Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1515 WRMI 7385 [ex-1500] Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [confirmed Oct 15] Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies to 0500] Mon 0830 WRMI 9955 Tue 1030 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 7385 Wed 0730 WRMI 9955 Wed 2300 WBCQ 18910-CLSB WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULE: 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 For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** ABKHAZIA. ABKHAZIA MEDIA OVERVIEW - OCT 2007 | Overview by George Ballantine of BBC Monitoring on 24 October Background Abkhazia, a territory on the Black Sea coast, broke away from Georgia after an armed conflict in the early 1990s. However, its self-declared independence has never been recognized internationally and the conflict, which ended with a cease fire in 1993, has not been resolved politically. Abkhazia has been subject to isolation for more than a decade, so communication with and access to information from the outside world has been severely restricted, and mass media together with the main institutions have suffered severe consequences. But even if the first internet access was established in the capital Sukhumi only in 2001, there is now a degree of diversity within the media, mainly in the press. Nevertheless, the most important sources of information for the majority of the population still remain Russian TV and the Abkhazian state TV. The Abkhaz authorities operate AGTRK, a TV and radio network, and publish newspapers in both Abkhaz and Russian. Georgian TV and radio stations can be received across much of Abkhazia and the main Russian TV networks are rebroadcast in the territory. There are several private and opposition Russian-language newspapers. Newspaper and magazine publishing is hindered by a lack of money and the scarcity of paper and printing facilities. Television Abkhazia has four local broadcasters: AGTRK, Abaza-TV, TV3 and Triada. However, the broadcast media in Abkhazia are firmly in the hands of the authorities, which operate AGTRK television and radio network. The government channels usually do not cover topics that are challenging to the authorities. Regular live broadcast TV debates were discontinued at the time of the 2004 elections without any explanation. However, since the beginning of 2007 a few live programmes have been broadcast, one with the president and journalists, and some with electoral candidates in the run-up to the 4 March parliamentary elections. Television broadcasting time is limited to four hours in the evening, with 15 minutes of Abkhazian-language news and 15 minutes of the same news in Russian. There is only one private television station, Abaza-TV, previously called Inter-TV, which still has to resolve issues related with licensing. It does not broadcast news or current affairs programmes and its coverage is limited to the surroundings of the capital city Sukhumi. The Sukhumi population has also access to TV3, which broadcasts only films and advertising, and no news. There are also local television stations in a few towns which provide local news but not comprehensive coverage. In addition to Abkhazian television, all households have access to Russian television (Channel One, Kanal Rossiya, NTV and RTR Kultura), which constitutes an important source of information, especially about Russian politics. Kultura shares a transmitter with AGTRK and pays for the rebroadcasting. Channel One and NTV show Abkhaz commercials in lieu of payment. Recently, people who want to have a greater choice of channels have also started getting satellite dishes. However, they are expensive and few can afford them. Radio Radio Soma http://www.radiosoma.com is an independent FM station which began broadcasting on 107.9 MHz in Sukhumi and surrounding area in 1998. The bulk of the station's output consists of music programming, but it also rebroadcasts both BBC World Service and Voice of Russia news daily. Moreover, the station also carries news and live talk shows with invited guests. It is a very popular station. The broadcaster has a 300-watt transmitter, purchased with assistance from Conciliation Resources, a London-based NGO operating in Abkhazia. Apsua Radio (AGTRK) is part of the Abkhaz Television and Radio Company. It broadcasts local news in Russian and Abkhazian, in the mornings and evenings. At other times it rebroadcasts material from Russian radio stations. The station is reported to have a 5 kW shortwave transmitter and has been heard on 9495 kHz and 9535 kHz. It also broadcasts on FM 102.4 MHz. Apsua Radio is a successor of the clandestine Voice of Abkhazia which began broadcasting on 4 April 1992, a few months before the Georgian- Abkhaz war. A total of nine FM broadcasters have been noted active in Sukhumi: Two local broadcasters (Radio Soma and Apsu Radio); two unidentified Turkish stations, two Georgian broadcasters (Green wave radio and Imedi radio) and three Russian stations (Radio Planeta, Radio Shanson and Avto Radio). Press There are five private newspapers (weekly Nuzhnaya Gazeta, weekly Chegemskaya Pravda, Ekho Abkhzii, Forum and weekly Novi Den) and two governmental ones (Republika Abkhazia and weekly Apsny). According to the Sukhumi Media Club, Abkhazia has no daily paper, as all the newspapers are published only 2-3 times a week. All Abkhaz papers say they have problems with distribution outside the capital. Nuzhnaya Gazeta, Chegemskaya PravdaSome and Ekho Abkhzii are independent newspapers, while the others support either the vice- president or the president. Overall, there is a degree of diversity among them. Newspapers are printed in both Russian and Abkhazian languages, although Russian is predominant. The opposition print media display overt criticism of the authorities, but their output is sometimes considered to be unethical, unprofessional and non-constructive. Both the private and state media have limited finances, but the private media in particular suffer from lack of resources. This is due to the fact that the advertising market is very small and people's purchasing power is very low. Although private newspapers are relatively popular compared with the state papers, the overall circulation of the print media is low. Among the factors contributing to this are distribution difficulties. There is also a scarcity of paper and printing facilities. Other regular publications include Panorama, a bi-monthly newspaper supported by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting in London, which contains news from across the Caucasus region but with a particular focus on Abkhazia. Grazhdanskoe Obshestvo (Civil Society) is a regular publication produced by the civil society activists reporting on the activities of Abkhaziain NGOs. Communications and the internet A significant improvement in communications occurred when Abkhazia's first mobile phone network started operating in 2003, and a second one was launched in the autumn on 2006. Internet access is slow and unreliable because the landline telephone network is in very poor condition. Use of the internet is mainly restricted to privileged sections of the population in urban areas. In Sukhumi and Gagra there are also public internet cafes and reportedly one is due to be open in Gudauta in the near future. News agencies Abkhazia's state news agency, Apsnypress (www.apsnypress.info), produces about half a dozen reports per day and is also responsible for the accreditation of foreign journalists. The agency also publishes some official statements. Apsnypress has an information sharing agreement with Georgian news agency Kavkas-Press. The director is Manana Gurgulia. Legal framework The Law on Mass Media adopted in August 2004 by the parliament has set out, for the first time in Abkhazia, a right to information. The law also set out the procedures for the registration of media organizations and detailed restrictions on ownership and content. It also set out the "rights and obligations of journalists". Under the law, foreign citizens, foreign organizations and non- residents of Abkhazia are prohibited from owning any shares in a media organization. The law explicitly forbids censorship although it provides an exemption which allows any official who has given an interview to approve the report before publication or broadcast. More recently, in August 2006, a commission was created by the government with the aim of regulating the use of television and radio channels by broadcasters. Media freedom After the presidential elections in 2004, licensing restrictions prohibiting private broadcasters from airing news or political content were lifted. However, independent media have increasingly been barred from attending government meetings, while correspondents from state media have been admitted. Another factor hindering the development of local independent media is the lack of qualified journalists. The faculty of journalism at the state university retains, according to Chegemskaya Pravda editor Inal Khashig, a "Soviet-style of schooling" and very few journalists graduate. Source: BBC Monitoring research 24 Oct 07 (via DXLD) ** ALASKA. Some Information on KIAL-AM 1450 Unalaska Hey everyone, I was FINALLY able to track down someone at KIAL 1450 and get a few answers concerning some of their operation. These answers came from KIAL 1450's General Manager Lauren Adams. If anyone posts on radio-info.com, do a search on "KIAL" and a thread over on the Community Radio/Part 15 Board will show up. KIAL was discussed there I believe. If someone could post this there, I'd appreciate it. I have Lauren's permission to share this. My questions are in black, Lauren's answers are in blue [originally]. Regards, Paul B. Walker, Jr., SC, http://www.walkerbroadcasting.com -- Paul Walker: Does 1450 STILL use a longwire type antenna? Lauren Adams/KIAL: As I understand, and granted my knowledge of longwire antennas is limited, no. We have a whip antenna. Paul Walker: Also, I notice on your History About KIAL page you mentioned KIAL was granted a permit to go to 4,200 Watts or 5,000 Watts? Lauren Adams/KIAL: Our application was for a 4,200 watt station. We did receive the permit but couldn't find a suitable piece of land (because of salmon streams, etc.). Instead, we've filed for an FM construction permit as of Oct. 19. Sounds like it's time to update our website. Paul Walker: How come KIAL-AM and Channel 8 don't show up in the FCC"s database? Lauren Adams: Channel 8 is operating as a low-power television station. We do have an FCC permit to operate this station, not sure why we're not on the FCC database but I will check it out. KIAL is one of the only (and perhaps THE ONLY) stations in the country that is still operating with a letter of authorization. That's why it's so important that we get our proper FM permit. Not sure why we're not on the FCC database but I will check it out. Paul Walker: I just read the FAQ section of your website, and an intrigued by the fact KIAL is still operating at only 50 Watts. I'm slightly intrigued by KIAL, but I can guess that being in Rural Alaska presents its own unique set of challenges. Lauren Adams/KIAL: 50 watts is not nearly enough, obviously. There are many places in the community that our station cannot reach. We have fingers crossed about the FM permit, however. The 4200 watt AM would have been ideal, and would have reached other communities in our region. Since that was ruled out, however, an FM permit is the next best thing. As you are well aware, this is the first time in many years that a window for FM CPs has opened. ********************************* A note from me, Paul Walker. KIAL does have a website, http://www.kial.org and does stream its air signal online! (Paul Walker, Oct 23, ABDX via DXLD) NRC 2007-2008 AM Log has this listing: ``1450 K#11, Unalaska, AK, A=timezone, U1 4200 4200, P O Box 181, 99685-0181, 907-581-1888 -- New Not on Air`` K#11 meaning call not yet assigned, I suppose. In the cross-ref there is no KIAL listed on MW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks, Paul. I had hoped that they would get their 4200w as it would be a neat station to hear. I have Sand Point when they were operating with 250 W and the old AFRTS Adak with 250-300 W using a longwire antenna. Very little chance of logged KIAL with 50 watts. Hopefully they can boost their AM signal in time, but they may turn off the AM in time with the new FM on the way. Much appreciated for the update. 73, (Patrick Martin, OR, NRC-AM via Paul Walker, ABDX via DXLD) Patrick: I highly doubt they will ever be able to get up to 4200 W. Doing such would require a "regular" broadcast tower, something they've wanted to do, but can't, due to the land issues, and those land issues aren't something that I think will change anytime soon. (Paul Walker, ABDX via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA [and non]. 9032 kHz USB is used for aircraft south of 60 degrees, on their way to McMurdo ice field. Operation Deepfreeze operates out of Christchurch NZ. Aircraft use the "Ice" callsign, e.g. "ICE-ZERO-TWO". Each Ice flight for the season is numbered sequentially. The season is now under way, until March. Aircraft initially maintain contact with Auckland Radio on 8867 USB. At 60 south, they switch to 9032 and attempt to contact McMurdo. They are usually given weather information and told the current orientation of the runway. The ice runway is a rather large flat ice area and the runway is simply orientated into the wind, wherever that may be. So it's an unusual airport in that the runway can be orientated in any direction! Often, there are VIP aboard. For example, last season, NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark and Sir Edmund Hillary traveled to Antarctica on an ICE flight. It's during this season that some medevac operations are carried out also. Note that the NZ Antarctic Base is Scott Base which doesn`t have its own airport. But it is a relatively short helicopter ride across from McMurdo Base (a US installation.) ICE flights typically depart Christchurch, NZ, in the local morning time (around 1900 UT) and take about five hours to reach McMurdo (depending on aircraft type of course.) (Mark, Auckland, New Zealand, Oct 21, UDXF yg via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. R Austria Int'l 9870 at 0119 in English. Unusually jittery. Good signal along with AIR Vividh Bharati. 23 October (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. 6035.00, Bhutan B.S., 1457, Oct 23, E female DJ closing selection of hiphop &rock ballads: "Moving on to the last track for today", lost as AWR carrier appeared 1459:30. Could also faintly hear co/channel Vietnamese which I presume must have been Yunnan PBS on a different schedule than the one listed by Aoki which mentions 1415 s/off. Can anyone confirm? (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A rádio Globo de São Paulo tem desligado os seus transmissores de OC sempre às 1654 (horário de Brasília), sem qualquer aviso e no meio de qualquer transmissão com corte repentino há muitos meses nas suas duas freqúências de OC em 9585 e 6120, respectivamente na faixa dos 31 e 49 metros. Alguém saberia dizer o porquê deles desligar tão cedo? 73 (Édison Bocorny Jr, Oct 23, radioescutas yg via DXLD) = 1854* UT now ** BRAZIL. Olá pessoal, Somente para aviso, a R. Brasil Central está de volta nos 4985; escutei aqui no meu QTH hoje 23/out/2007, das 19h às 20h UT com um sinal muito bom. Ainda não tenho informações sobre o motivo da interrupção que houve nessa frequência. BRASIL, 4985 23/10 19h-20h R. Brasil Central, Goiânia, 45444 TPM, Mx, Id, Px "Na beira da mata". -- QRA: (Thiago Pereira Machado [PY2002SWL] QTH: Riacho Fundo-DF, Brasil [GH54XC] http://www.bsbdx.blogspot.com radioescutas yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re 7-119: CKZU - Vancouver ID for Parry Sound [Ontario]: Hi Glenn - Here is the answer to what I heard. Ron Dear Ron: We appreciate your interest in CBC Radio. There are times in the CBC Radio schedule when local staff of regional stations insert their own local frequency information in appropriate windows between programs. In case that doesn't happen for any reason, the network feed to each region has a generic ID announcement that rotates among various frequencies of all our Radio One stations across the country. In this case the generic ID happened to select the Parry Sound location, which is what you heard at the times you mention. Thank you for writing to CBC (Kim Belle, Communications Assistant, CBC Audience Relations, via Ron Howard, CA, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Audio problem with CRI: Time 0313Z, 9790.0. Serious intermittent audio. No problem with carrier, but very intermittent audio (Rick N6NKN, WPE9IVH/6, WA6051SWL Zolla, UT Oct 22, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be via Cuba, 305 degrees in English; noticed the same around 0430 when in Cantonese (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Our FM Radio Station --- Dear Mr. Hauser, This is Radio Station of Jiangsu Institute of Trade and Economic FM76Mhz. Greeting from Lenfant Lee from Nanjing, I'm a announcer of our radio station of our college; we broadcast on 76 and 86.3 MHz everyday in English, Japanese and Chinese. But our antenna broke down and burned one of our transmitters, so we stopped our transmission these days, and asked for the transmitter company to repair it this weekend. And we planned to buy some new microphones, headphones, and new audio cable. The output power is about 30W of the transmitters; we will provide verification letters to the DXers who send us the reception report when the FMDX appears. Regards. Your sincerely, Lenfant Lee ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Li Meng, 401-6-4, No. 7 Yuhong Road, Hebei District, Tianjin 300240, China. Please pay a visit my QSL album at http://picasaweb.google.com/lenfant.lee/QSL (Lenfant Lee, Oct 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Another check for the REE 17850 spurs, Oct 23 at 1850: nothing detectable on 18105v or 17595v, but REE Noblejas on 17595 by itself. It axually sounded louder than 17850 during silly ballgame, but the meter said 17850 was a stronger signal, the weaker modulation making the difference. However, 17850 was not as strong as it has been in past when the spurs were audible, so not certain they have really been suppressed beyond audibility (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. ¿ES LA DICTADURA DE LOS CASTRO UN NEGOCIO EN EL EXTRANJERO? Por Guillermo Morales Catá Supongamos que mañana se viene abajo, de golpe, la dictadura de Fidel Castro. ¿Qué pasaría con los medios de comunicación, Organizaciones No Gubernamentales, asociaciones y empresas tantas que viven y se forran de desacreditar al régimen? ¿Hacia quién, qué o quienes dirigirían entonces sus mensajes aquellos hoy viven del gran negocio de hacer dinero a costa de la falta de libertades en Cuba? Probablemente “redimensionarían” la política empresarial que hoy tienen montada. Informes de la propia administración norteamericana admiten que en el último año se han aprobado 80 millones de dólares para “solventar” y “promover” la libertad de Cuba. A eso habría que sumarle los 35 millones de subvenciones que se reciben por las trasmisiones de Radio y Televisión Martí y otros 10 millones, que entrega la Agencia de EE.UU. para el “desarrollo”. Hablamos de 125 millones de dólares. ¡Se dice tan fácil! . . . http://www.cubanuestra.nu/web/article.asp?artID=9745 (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently a Sweden-based, rather than Niue-based, exile group (gh) ** CUBA. Si amigos! Your radio is tuned to Radio Havana Cuba, 46 years on the air at your service. I still remember when our first 10 kW Swiss built Brown Boveri transmitter went on air as an experimental station on the 24th of February of 1961. And that was our first high power transmitter, because when we began to operate, we started by using a 1 kiloWatt Gates short wave rig that had a 4-1000A output tetrode, modulated by a pair of 833 triodes. As the steel towers for the antennas had not arrived yet from Switzerland, and we needed to put the station on the air, we made our first two antennas using wooden poles from the local power company! Today, at the Bauta transmitting station West of Havana, we have new 100 kW transmitters, that have already replaced the original ones!!! So I am sure that you will be picking up our station in a much better way now!!! (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Oct 23, HCDX via DXLD) ** CUBA. RHC 13680 transmitter out of whack again Oct 23 at 1307. There were spurs all over the band, such as 13532, 13581, 13606, 13631, 13729, 13778. These are approximate centers of big noisy blobs. Only the ones closest to 13680 had audible RHC modulation, such as 13631 and 13729. The others had noise of the same pitch. I am sure if it were not for my local electrical noise level I could have detected even more of them further out. These were all distinguished from the separate RHC intentional frequency 13760, which was slightly out of synch due to different site and/or feed routing. But wonder of wonders, this time, Radio Tirana lucked out, and was getting through clearly on 13750 as none of the RHC spurs happened to land close to it! R. Prague, 13580, was not so fortunate [in B-07, Prague remains on 13580 to NAm but shifts to 1400-1430; it`ll be a few years before they dare use 21745 again]. Since this and other problems keep on happening with RHC transmitters, we can only wonder if the dentroCubans are 1) unaware, 2) unable or 3) unwilling to fix them? At some perverse level of management, has it been decided that the more frequencies RHC can occupy, the better, so why worry? This clearly brands Cuba as an outlaw nation insofar as international frequency management cooperation, and its `engineers` are obviously incompetent or are so demoralized that they take no pride in their work. If they can`t fix it, the least they could do would be to close down the transmitter and scrap it. There are still plenty of others, as we know all too well, plus all the transmitters dedicated to jamming which might be repurposed for voice-modulated broadcasting. Altho I am absolutely certain that these spurs exist, since I hear them on multiple receivers, and have not been challenged, it would be nice if some other monitors would take note and report them as well. Quite possibly they also occur around other Cuban SW frequencies I have not yet encountered. Note: I do not enjoy having to make such comments, and would be quite pleased if RHC cleaned up its act, so I would have no reason to. The same can be said for all the other transmission deficiencies I unavoidably encounter if I tune around at all. Oct 24 at same time, 13680 was OK without the spurs; you never know from one day to the next (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 530, Radio Rebelde; 2017-2057 14 October, 2007. Surprised to hear the pipeline-fed Noticias Nacional de Radio at this time (on a local Sunday). A few weeks ago, NNdR extended an extra 15 minutes past the normal daily airing time (1300-1330 Cuba local). Didn't think to check last Sunday to confirm this was a one-off (as the 1600-1645 GMT airing appeared to have been). (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. RADIO PRAGUE - Valid: 28 Oct 2007 - 29 Mar 2008: UTC kHz kW Area kHz kW Area CZECH 0930-0957 11600 100 SW Europe 21745 100 E Africa/M East 1030-1057 15710 100 S Asia 21745 100 W Africa 1200-1227 11640 100 N Europe 17545 100 S Asia/Australia 1330-1357 6055 100 C Europe 7345 100 W Europe 1630-1657 5930 100 W Europe 15710 100 C&W Africa 1830-1857 5930 100 W Europe 9400 100 Asia/Australia 2030-2057 5930 100 W Europe 9430 100 S&E As/Australia 2200-2227 5930 100 SW Europe/SAm 9435 100 SAm/SW Europe 0030-0057 5930 100 S America 7345 100 N America 0230-0257 6200 100 N America 7345 100 S America 0330-0357 6200 100 N America 7345 100 ENGLISH 0100-0127 6200 100 NAm 7345 100 0200-0227 6200 100 N America 7345 100 0400-0427 *4) 5990 250 NAm W 6200 100 N America 7345 100 0430-0457 9890 100/100 E Africa/SW Asia 0800-0827 7345 100 NW Europe 9860 100 1000-1029 *3) 9955 50 Car/ SAm 15710 100 S Asia 21745 100 W Africa 1130-1157 11640 100 N Europe 17545 100 E Africa/M East 1330-1357 *1) 9750 35 C Europe Fri, Sat DRM 1400-1429 11600 100 S Asia 13580 100 N America 1500-1527 *3) 7385 50 N America (central part) 1700-1727 5930 100 NW Europe 15710 100 C&W Africa 1800-1827 5930 100 NW Europe 9400 100 Asia/ Australia 2100-2127 5930 100 NWEu (NAm) 9430 100 S&E As/Australia 2230-2257 5930 100 N America 9435 100 C&W Africa 2330-2357 5930 100 N America 7345 100 FRENCH 0700-0727 5930 100 W Europe 7345 100 SW Europe 0830-0857 9860 100 W Europe 11600 100 SW Europe 1430-1457 11600 100 SW Europe 13580 100 N Africa 1730-1757 5930 100 W Europe 15710 100 C Africa 1930-1957 5930 100 W Europe 9430 100 SWEu/NWAf 2300-2327 5930 100 N America 7345 100 GERMAN 0730-0757 5930 100 W Europe 7345 100 Europe 1100-1127 7345 100 C Europe 9880 100 W Europe 1300-1327 6055 100 C Europe 7345 100 W Europe 1300-1327 *1) 9750 35 C Europe Fri, Sat DRM 1600-1627 5930 100 W Europe 1730-1757 *2) 5940 250 W Europe RUSSIAN 0500-0527 5980 100 E Europe 9890 100 E Europe / SW As 1230-1257 6055 100 E Europe 17545 100 E Europe / SW As 1530-1557 5930 100 E Europe 9450 100 E Europe / SW As 1900-1927 *6) 5830 250 E Europe 1530-1557 5930 100 E Europe 9450 100 E Europe / SW As 1900-1927 *6) 5830 250 E Europe SPANISH 0900-0927 11600 100 SW Europe 15255 100 1030-1057 *3) 9955 50 Caribbean/ S America 1500-1527 11600 100 SW Europe 13580 100 1900-1927 5930 100 SW Europe 9430 100 2000-2027 5930 100 SW Europe 9430 100 2130-2157 5930 100 SW Europe/SAm 9435 100 2330-2357 *4) 6000 250 Car/ SAm 0000-0027 5930 100 S America 7345 100 *5) 11665 250 0130-0157 6200 100 C America 7345 100 0300-0327 6200 100 C America 7345 100 S America 0530-0557 *3) 9955 50 Caribbean/ S America Transmitters at Litomyl 16E10 49N48. Relays: *1) via Rampisham, 02W38 50N48 *2) via Krasnodar, 39E00 45N02 *3) via Miami, 80W22 25N54 *4) via Sackville, 64W19 45N53 *5) via Ascension, 14W23 07S54 *6) via Duchanbé, 68E50 38N40 (Oct WWDXC DX Magazine via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Re 7-127: UNID on 15645 + bubble jamming Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity in Amharic: 1500-1600 NF 15645 ARM 250 kW / 188 degrees to EAf Daily, ex 15660 73 from (Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Dear friends, I just came to know from my reliable source that Deutsche Welle Bengali service is going to discontinue their monthly DX programme "Antenna" from new B07 winter season. I don't think anything is going to change writing to them. So, this is for your information only. Good Bye "Antenna". Thanks, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Glenn: Below is the way Voice of Greece's English programming went during the B-06 season, updated with the new B-07 frequencies; times are UTC. We'll see what happens on Sunday. Perhaps Babis can check it out with the Program Department. 0700-0800 Every day 12105 English Language Program. 1405-1500 Saturday 9420 15650 Hellenes Around the World (Katerina Interviews in English). 0300-0400 Sunday 7475 9420 12105 Hellenes Around the World (Katerina Interviews in English). 1105-1200 Sunday 9420 15650 Greek in Style (Musical Program in English). 0012-0110 Monday 7475 9420 12105 Greek in Style (Musical Program in English). (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, USA, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9870, AIR Vividh Bharati, Bangalore; 1544-1614 21 October, 2007. Hindi pop vocals, Hindi male. Fair. I long for the signals via the old 10330 channel, site and antenna pattern. A day without quality AIR is like a day without good, non vegetarian Indian food (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Dear Friends, Here are changes of All India Radio B-2007: 9585 Delhi Khampur (ex 10330) 1615-1715 Russian 11620 Delhi Khampur (ex Bengaluru) 1330-1500 English 11735 Bengaluru (ex Aligarh) 0215-0300 Pushtu, 0300-0345 Dari 13710 Bengaluru (ex 13695) 1000-1100 English, 1115-1215 Tamil, 1215- 1245 Telegu 15235 Bengaluru (ex 15410) 1000-1100 English 15235 Panaji (ex 15410) 1115-1200 Thai The B-07 AIR complete SW schedule is available at: http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. Dear DXer Friends: You can access the official website of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India at http://mib.nic.in/ and also about Community Radio Station Services in India at http://mib.nic.in/CRS/CRSmainpg.htm With regards, (Hari Madugula, YOUNG STARS RADIO CLUB, Hyderabad, India -- We're on the web: http://www.geocities.com/ysrc_india/index.html dxldyg via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Radio Republik Indonesia is being heard from tune in at 1405 (Oct. 23) at very good strength and hum on about 11784.88. The programme is in Indonesian and appears to be the external service. News and commentary were heard until about 1415, then a programme of Indopop til 1430, and what seems a travelogue followed. This frequency only becomes usable at 1400 after VOA and Chinese jamming ceases and hopefully RRI has not been transmitting their earlier external programmes here! There is no trace of RRI on 9525 - only CRI in Russian (sched 1400-1500). (Noel R. Green, (NW England), Oct 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Noel, at 2020 UT noted VOI on 11784.84, and also nearby supposedly R Guaíba, Porto Alegre on 11784.67 in Portuguese. Bad propagation, nothing from Tinian and Chinese jamming at this slot TODAY. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Wolfgang, I was watching a SBG at 2020 so didn't hear this. However, about 11784.84 finished Indonesian at 1500 (heard from 1405) on the 23rd and the carrier finally went off at about 1505. But I heard RRI open again on this frequency at 1600 in Arabic. It was actually on air from before 1600 with a very nice sounding introduction and ID in English. And so I assume it continued with the usual European services. I don't hear it on air today (24th) at 1200 - only multi-Chinese jammers. 73 from (Noel Green, England, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. How to build your own Sputnik The BBC news website has an item on building your own satellite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7049002.stm http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2007/build_your_own_sputnik.htm Radio Amateurs have been successfully been building satellites which have been successfully deployed in both high and low Earth orbits for over 45 years. One group are currently building an Interplanetary spacecraft P5A to take Amateur Radio to Mars. Amateur Radio mission to Mars http://www.southgatearc.org/news/september2007/amsat_p5a_video.htm (Trevor, M5AKA, monitoringmonthly yg via DXLD) ** IRAN. A Decent night here in the North Atlantic for DX: (Nice Surprise) IRAN, 1035 kHz, 22/10 2048 UT, Radio Sarasarye with Arabic news and several ID's (*NEW ONE*) (Allen Willie, VO1001SWL St. John's, Newfoundland, Land of the COD, PUFFINS and ICEBERGS, ABDX via DXLD) WRTH 2007 shows 1035 as 50 kW from Yazd, carrying R. Iran, the primary domestic service, which surely is only in Persian, and nothing like Sarasarye mentioned. Where did you get this ID? EMWG http://www.hermanboel.eu/emwg/online-mw1.htm lists only this for Iran on 1035: IRN - Radio Payam, Yazda (20/50 kW) - ID: "Inja Yazda Radio Payam" And the only 1035 stations likely to be in Arabic are: MRC - RTM-A, Rabat (5 kW) - 24h //540 kHz G - BBC R. Sheffield/BBC Asian Network, Sheffield (1 kW) - BBC Asian Network: Mo-Fr 1900-0100, local px Sa-Su 1900-0100 WRTH also has R. Jordan, Amman, 20 kW on 1035, but it`s not in EMWG. Any of these lower-powered possibilities would also be a good catch. I hope everyone understands that I raise such questions because surely everyone wants to know in the long run what was really being heard. We all make mistakes, myself included, and when I do I hasten to correct myself. Or maybe there is a source of info I don`t yet know about, and would like to access (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Thanks for the info, Glenn, on that station I heard mistakingly thinking it was Iran. It sure sounded like the name each time they mentioned Radio (name) but maybe I need to turn up my hearing aid a few decibels more. Nice to have good help and assistance from folks like yourself. Appreciate it, Thanks 73 (Allen Willie, ibid.) Since you didn`t explain `Sarasarye`, I Googled it and found that it means `nationwide`, apparently part of the ID of Iran`s main national radio network, which 1035 apparently carries, even tho that name is not given in WRTH in connexion with it, but I do find it once on page 249 as part of the ID of another network, Fahrang (cultural), so it seems it could be applied to any of the national networks. In the EMWG I only find two passing mentions of apparently the same word transliterated differently as surasari, again not in connexion with 1035. But networks and announcements are certainly subject to change, so maybe you could have heard Yazd, Iran on 1035. If you have a recording, and want to pursue this, there are some groups with members who could probably help ID the language if not the specific station. Could it have been Persian rather than Arabic? Of course if they were reciting the Qur`an, which they probably do quite a lot, that portion would have been in Arabic. Some other online references a few years old show Sarasarye in the name of numerous other Iranian MW station frequencies (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unfortunately I didn't record the signal this time on 1035; I'll keep tabs on it and see if I can get another chance to copy it. 73 (Al, VO1001SWL, ABDX via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. May I advise country collectors that Jamaica was heard with an awesome signal in Stockholm this morning by Torolf Johnsson. On 700. Perhaps they´ve erected a new mast in the wake of last month´s hurricane (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Oct 23, realdx yg via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 9595, Radio Tampa, 1115-1130 Steady music until 1124. At 1124 male gives ID, "Radio Tampa" enclosed within Japanese language comments. Following that, a female in Japanese language comments. Signal was good (Chuck Bolland, October 24, 2007) Clewiston Florida USA NRD535D Hi Chuck, "Radio Tampa"? Back in April 2004, Radio Tampa changed their name to "Radio Nikkei" and ID's as such. Website is http://www.radionikkei.jp/index.cfm (Ron Howard, CA, ibid.) Since tampa means SW, possibly they still refer to ``shortwave radio`` other than as a formal ID (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. Usually it`s DGS Costa Rica on 9725, but has been missing lately, and propagation differed too on Oct 23 as on 9725 with hum, until 0530 I was getting NHK Warido, R. Japan. Before signing off, announcer gave all the frequencies for the next broadcast at 0900. Since Oct 1, I`ve never heard them give frequencies for the broadcast actually in progress! So to find out the frequencies for 0500, one needs to listen at 0019? This is 250 kW from Gabon, 170 degrees toward South Africa (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [and non]. Radio Japan's frequency changes in English from Sunday Oct 28 (all 30 minutes u.o.s.): Eu 1200 17585-UAE ex-17600. 1400 11780-UK ex-13630. 00-0020 5920-UK ex-5960. Oceania 0900 12000 ex-11890. SWAs 1310 and 1400 both on 9875 ex-11985. BTW, the 08 in Japanese (SAm) AND the 09 in English on 9825 (for Hawaii) may be listed for different targets, yet are on the same beam, 85 degrees With 100 kW, per Aoki S07 list (Joe Hanlon, NJ, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimados Colegas: Fresquitas las "nuevas" (jajaja, no tienen mucho de nuevas en algunos casos) frecuencias de Radio Japón para Sudamérica. El listado completo lo hallan en: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/freq/all_e.pdf [bottom half of page is B-07 sked] Japonés: 0200-0400 11935 Bonaire 0800-0900 9825 Yamata 0900-1000 6195 G. Francesa 1700-1900 9835 Yamata 2200-2300 15220 Ascensión 2300-0000 17605 Bonaire (La que ocupaba antes RNW en español) Portugués: 0230-0300 9660 G. Francesa 1030-1100 9530 G. Francesa Español: 0400-0430 9660 G. Francesa 1000-1030 9710 Yamata Atentamente, (Eduardo Peñailillo, Chile, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Plus Spanish to CAm also continues as before: 0500-0530 11895-GUF, which I just heard Oct 23; and 1000-1030 on 6120 via Canada (gh, DXLD) Dear DXers, Radio Japan has published the B07 frequency schedule on: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/freq/all_e.pdf Actually, the first half of the document is A07 and the second half is B07. B07 Radio Japan in English for Europe: 0500-0530 5975 [UK] 1200-1230 17585 [UAE] 1400-1430 11780 [UK] 0000-0020 5920 [UK] Best regards! (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, Oct 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. Yamata site to carry Shiokaze in B-07! See KOREA NORTH [non] ** KOREA NORTH [non]. New sked (B07) of Shiokaze 1400-1430 5985 kHz via Yamata 2030-2100 5965 kHz via Yamata Shiokaze becomes the Yamata transmission from B07 (Oct. 28) in full time. de (S. Aoki, NDXC via S. Hasegawa, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. Re 7-127, 11990: Hola: Perdona J. Miguel, sobre R. Kuwait te diré que su programación en inglés se compone básicamente de la retransmisión de una FM local en inglés; el tipo de música es de ese tipo, Dance, Tecno, rock, etc., más que nada anglosajón. Algo similar a lo que ocurre con R. Jordania también en inglés; al parecer para ahorrar presupuesto, configuran un servicio exterior en inglés con esta programación, aunque ciertamente no es nada representativo del modo de vida, costumbres, cultura y música, tanto tradicional como actual de estos países. Cordialmente (Tomás Méndez Losa, Spain, playdx yg via DXLD) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao National Radio (presumed), 1537, Oct 23, Lao? female announcer, indigenous songs, only occasional snatches. Would have been a very decent signal if Tibet PBS hadn't been solidly on top; usual co/channel DRM came on 1559. Had been trying for this one for quite some time but gave up in despair until I saw Ron Howard's log in DXLD 7-127 which renewed my attention. Exceptional opening towards Asia that afternoon, believe I could also hear VOV 6020 in the clear at 1445 (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Southern San Diego County: Smoke is nowhere near as overwhelming as the 2003 fire yet (we had total BLACK sky at mid- afternoon then), but the fire is following the same path... Many FM and TV transmitters are on San Miguel Mountain near the fire line, but no AMs. The Tecate cheaters (XESS-620, XESDD-1030, XEPE-1700) and legitimate Tijuana station XEUT-1630 could be in danger. Last I checked everyone was on but XESS and XESDD were running OC (Tim Hall, Chula Vista CA, 0130 UT Oct 23, ABDX via DXLD) See also U S A ** MEXICO. Re 7-125: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS XLNC1 Upgrade to 104.9 FM When will XLNC1 begin broadcasting on 104.9 FM? We will begin broadcasting later this year. Why has it taken so long to switch to 104.9 FM? The process of switching frequencies involves many people and resources. Our equipment needs to be custom made for our new frequency and once all of the equipment arrives, it needs to be installed and tested before we can begin broadcasting on 104.9 FM. Will XLNC1 be broadcasting on 104.9 and 90.7 simultaneously? No. Once we switch to 104.9 FM, we will no longer be broadcasting on 90.7 FM. Will XLNC1 104.9 have a stronger signal? Yes. At 90.7 FM, XLNC1 is able to broadcast at 1,000 watts but at 104.9 FM, XLNC1 will be able to broadcast at 7,500 watts. Our antenna will also be at a higher elevation in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. What areas will be able to receive the new frequency? If you can hear XLNC1 on 90.7 now, you will have a better signal after we move to 104.9 FM. We anticipate that listeners throughout San Diego County and Northern Baja California will be able to hear a stronger, clearer broadcast from XLNC1. Why is XLNC1 moving to a new frequency? 104.9 is a better frequency for our listeners since there was interference on 90.7 FM. How will I know when you switch to 104.9 FM? XLNC1 will broadcast several announcements before the switch telling listeners our “moving day.” You can also sign up to receive our newsletter to stay informed about our progress (from http://www.xlnc1.org/faqnewfreq.htm via DXLD) The interference on 90.7 is none other than KPFK, Pacífica Los Ángeles, which used to get into San Diego county from Mt Wilson; perhaps they will again if something else doesn`t block it. But don`t get your hopes up: some other Mexican will probably take over 90.7. Real callsign: XHLNC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Radio Fórmula: dudoso aniversario. El lunes de esta semana, el grupo Radio Fórmula festejó su “76 aniversario”. Acudió a la fiesta Felipe Calderón, quien dijo: “Con gran creatividad y audacia, don Rogerio Azcárraga Vidaurreta imaginó y puso en marcha este proyecto... Grupo Fórmula ha seguido el camino trazado por su fundador... Lo que comenzó hace décadas con la 970 de Amplitud Modulada en el Distrito Federal es hoy un sólido grupo de medios...”. En su portal http://www.radioformula.com.mx la empresa afirma escuetamente que nació “gracias a un gran hombre visionario, Rogerio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, padre del presidente actual, Rogerio Azcárraga Madero”. Pero no aporta dato alguno sobre la trayectoria radiofónica del primero. APEGO A LA HISTORIA Se supone que, en 1931, Rogerio Azcárraga Vidaurreta habría fundado la estación 970 de AM; sin embargo, existen documentos que se contraponen a esa información y señalan a Arturo Martínez Lozada como el primer radiodifusor que transmitió en esa frecuencia. . . http://www.milenio.com/mexico/milenio/firma.php?id=560068 (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) ** MICRONESIA. 4755, Pacific Missionary Aviation, Pohnpei, heard by Chris Hambly on October 21 2007 at 1930z; doesn`t hear it too often in the mornings, usually hears the Station in the local Australian evening, fair level with Christian program with some QRM. Chris Hambly, Melbourne, Victoria, using Icom R75 and longwire (David Vitek, SA, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 7185, 23/10 0030, R. Myanmar, start of broadcast with music and YL talks, fair. RX: Icom R71E; ANT: T2FD. Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Milano, Italy, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. For what it's worth, I just heard another RN announcement the other day that said that there would be s different program on Thursdays in the upcoming season, not Research File. But it did NOT say what day RF would be moved to (or even if it still would be on...). Will Martin, MO, Oct 24, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile, Andy Sennitt explained here that R.F. is cancelled (gh) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Winter SW/MW technical schedule now online --- The winter shortwave/mediumwave technical schedule of RNW, effective on Sunday 28 October, is now online. To avoid typos and other errors, we decided to use the original database maintained by our Programme Distribution Department. Despite some formatting problems in our Content Management System, we’ve managed to get it online. View the schedule http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/071028schedule 4 Responses to “Winter SW/MW technical schedule now online” Andrew R Yeates Says: October 23rd, 2007 at 1:54 pm I don’t see any transmissions from Flevo listed - an omission or is the Flevo Tx site going dark for the winter ?! Andy Says: October 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm Yes, at least as far as RNW is concerned. Ray Woodward Says: October 23rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm Saving money or is there a technical reason I wonder? Andy Says: October 23rd, 2007 at 2:57 pm Both. We are saving money, and as a bonus the ability to split our transmissions across more sites means that some listeners can expect stronger signals. Also, we have cut out a few hours of Dutch transmissions where the listening audience was quite small, and boosted other transmissions with additional frequencies (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 7274.88, R Nigeria Abuja, 0559, Oct 24, English standard announcement preceding news headlines at TOH: "Radio Nigeria ... Uplifting the people and uniting the nation". Has been off-frequency for at least a week now (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Hi Glenn, October 23, 2007, 1300-1400 UT, 585 kHz MW, Radio Pakistan, Islamabad, broadcasts one hour transmission in English Language for the domestic listeners. For the interest of those interested in monitoring English language broadcasts from Pakistan, I would like to inform that the program titled "Islamabad Calling" begins with 1300 UT Network English News bulletin followed by the English Language broadcast consisting of brief talks on various topics. English music is also broadcast during this hour. The transmitter is of 1000 kW but I doubt its actual power, because the signal that reaches Lahore is very weak. All India Radio Nagpur, the co-channel with 300 kW transmitter (around 1300 km away) is heard with a strong signal at the same frequency. At times Radio Pakistan Islamabad signal is totally suppressed. Radio Pakistan Islamabad English program might be heard clearly in North-western part of Pakistan, Eastern Afghanistan and Kashmir where co-channel should get weaker. Mauno Ritola, who is expert in monitoring distant medium wave stations may try to monitor it some day to verify the strength of Radio Pakistan Islamabad transmitter (Aslam Javaid, Lahore Pakistan, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Re 7-126, the item concerning Radio Pakistan's Gujrati service (0400-0430 on API-3 9350 currently) via Aslam Javaid, Lahore Pakistan: This service did indeed once beam towards East Africa, but for at least two years (maybe longer) it is now included within South Asia services using an azimuth of 147 degrees according to the current PBC transmitter listings. This beam angle is also used for services in Hindi, Tamil and Sinhala. The PBC frequency schedule doesn't indicate target area, but the PBC folder type schedule does list 'Gujrati for South Asia'. The one remaining transmission intended for East Africa is at 1600 on 11550 via API-3 233 degrees - English News & Commentary. This is parallel 9380 and 11570 (API-5 & 6) intended for the Middle east via 282 degrees, and which, if projected onwards, will also include a large part of northern Africa (Noel R. Green (NW England), Oct 23, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6114.87, Radio Unión, 0945-1000 Oct 23. Noted a female in Spanish comments which continue during period. At 0953, heard Huayños music. At 0957 a male comments briefly. Signal was poor (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Re 7-126, SHORTWAVE MUSIC: Fado = Blues?! Glenn, I read your comment, but found a great mistake probably stemming from the mere fact that most foreigners simply imagine there is just one kind of fado song. While the Lisbon version may be nostalgic, sad, there are other varieties both in the capital and elsewhere, and can be as merry as you can think of. Fado Clássico, Tradicional ou Castiço, Fado-Canção or Fado-Musicado are the main types. In the bulls region, a "castiço", that is to say typical, sort of fado song is heard: usually merry and fast. Last but not least, the Coimbra fado; it's an emblem of this old university city, and traditionally performed by university male-only students. It may resemble a ballad or as nostalgic & sad like the one foreigners think is the only version we've got. Finally, the "guitarradas", the music only themes pertaining to fado songs or simply musical arrangements, usually fast performed. The musical instruments. Check http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarra_portuguesa The roundish shaped string instrument you see during fado performances is what we term as "guitarra" (or "guitarra portuguesa") whereas the instrument you call guitar is known in Portuguese as "viola" of which there are a number of varieties in Portugal. 73 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Oct 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That was not my comment, but Bill Tidford`s, as attributed; just a quick generalization. Tnx for the amplification. So what do you call what we call a viola, i.e. a slightly larger violin? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Glenn, My apologies: I overlooked the author's name! "Viola" is defined as a figure 8 shaped guitar-like instrument whose sound is basser than that of a normal guitar. Its other name is "rabeca." In sum, when you see a fado ensemble, it normally consists of at least one Portuguese guitar, i.e. the roundish string instrument, and a "viola", which you'd call guitar. "Violão" is a slightly larger version. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, ibid.) OK, but that doesn`t answer my question. Consulting my Langenscheidt Pocket Portuguese Dixionary, it does not even have ``viola`` in the English-Portuguese sexion, but translates ``violin`` both as violino and rabeca. And rebec means something else in English, an ancient instrument (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Winter B-07 schedule of Radio Romania International: ARABIC 0730-0756 11710 11905 15155 15330 1500-1556 9655 11730 11880 15235 AROMANIAN 1530-1556 6105# 1730-1756 6035# 1930-1956 6175# CHINESE 0500-0526 11790 15160 1400-1426 9660 12005 ENGLISH 0100-0156 6145 9515 0400-0456 6115 9515 9690 11895 0630-0656 7180 9690 15135 17780 1300-1356 15105 17745 1800-1856 7215 9640 2130-2156 6055 6115 7145 9755 2300-2356 6015 6115 7105 9610 FRENCH 0200-0256 5975 9515 0600-0626 7170 9610 1100-1156 15150 15255 17790 17845 1700-1756 7135 9690 2100-2126 6120 7120 GERMAN 0700-0726 7175 9690 1200-1256 9690 11940 1900-1956 7125 9525 ITALIAN 1500-1526 7160# 1700-1726 9855# 1900-1926 6180# ROMANIAN 0100-0156 6040 9640 0200-0256 6040 0640 0800-0856 11730 15370 15430 17775 Sun "Curierul romanesc" 0900-0956 15380 15430 17745 17775 Sun "Curierul romanesc" 1000-1056 15260 15380 17780 17825 Sun "Curierul romanesc" 1300-1356 9610# 11770 15170 1400-1456 11770 15170 1600-1656 9700 11870 1700-1756 7220 9595 1800-1856 7140 9590 1900-1956 7140 9590 RUSSIAN 0530-0556 6175 7210 1430-1456 9535 11755 1600-1656 7190 9705 SERBIAN 1630-1656 6130# 1830-1856 7130# 2030-2056 7205# SPANISH 0000-0056 5960 9525 9665 11960 0300-0356 6140 9635 9765 11825 2000-2056 7140 9620 2200-2256 6070* 9575 >>>> * ex 11905 UKRAINIAN 1600-1626 6130# 1800-1826 7160# 2000-2026 6105# # Saftitza 50 kW (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Oct 23 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. No spurs in 15 MHz band today (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, 1337 UT Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15660 spurs Oct 24th, 1200-1500 UT Moscow 250 kW 100 degrees, approx. 714 kHz away, 14938-14946 and 16365-16383 kHz, varying from day to day. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAINT HELENA. Hi Glenn, Chris Hambly rang, and said that he had heard Saint Helena testing on 11092.5 USB on Thursday October 18 2007, at 0932z tune in till 1010z; he was cycling thru the memories of his R75, and happened to hear them by accident, they had a program of phone calls at a readable level, not too strong, I checked W6EL Prop and the MUF was up around 24 MHz for Melbourne-Saint Helena longpath with 90 per cent of the path in daylight, checked Google, and I can`t find any references to Saint Helena broadcasting on this date, a great catch for Chris, maybe a replay of the previous broadcast, or do they use this as a link for relatives, phone patches like [Argentina- Antarctica] 15820 USB? Surely someone else heard St Helena. Chris Hambly, Melbourne, Victoria, using Icom R75 and longwire (David Vitek, SA, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) David, I have seen no other reports of RSH being on air at this time, tho an unscheduled test is always possible. Seems to me it would more likely be short-path. One could enquire of RSH whether they were testing at this time (Glenn to David, via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. SAUDI DISSIDENT TV ANNOUNCES ARABSAT BROADCAST PLANS London-based PTV Mira, the television channel of the Saudi dissident Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, has announced that it will be launching transmissions on the Arabsat 2B satellite, which is part- owned by the Saudi government. A scrolling caption on PTV Mira’s existing transmission on the Eutelsat-owned Hotbird satellite states that the channel will commence broadcasts via Arabsat “soon”, and lists two possible frequencies - 12596 MHz vertical and 12703 MHz horizontal - on the Arabsat 2B satellite located at the 30.5 degrees East orbital position. The nearest known transponder frequencies to those announced - 12595 H and 12703 V - are both on transponders spot-beamed into the Middle East. It is not known whether PTV Mira has negotiated carriage on this satellite directly through Arabsat, or if it has arranged transponder space through a third-party lease. Arabsat, also known as the Arab Satellite Communications Organization, is owned by 21 countries of the Arab League. Based in Riyadh, the company operates satellites in the Middle East and North Africa. The Saudi government is a major stakeholder in the company, owning about 37 per cent. PTV Mira is the current name of the channel operated by the Saudi dissident Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia group, headed by Sa’d al-Faqih. Mira gives its address as a box operated by a London mail- handling and virtual office services company. The channel has operated on a number of satellites, including Hotbird and the Greek-owned Hellas Sat, and under different names such as Al- Islah and Debate TV. PTV Mira rarely shows moving pictures, with the majority of its programming consisting of tickertape bars against a static background showing news and messages. The station currently broadcasts via the Hotbird 8 satellite on a transponder operated by the Paris-based Globecast organization. (Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 Oct 07) October 23rd, 2007 - 9:58 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) It`s hard to imagine the Saudi monarchists allowing this to happen; MIRA previously tried using SW (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Conditions on 31m were rather different Oct 23 than they had been lately. At 0531, Channel Africa was coming in well on 9685 in English with that curious variety of accents their people use. This is 500 kW at 335 degrees, so not too far off for NAm reception (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 October follow. Solar flux 67 and mid-latitude A-index 4. The mid-latitude K-index at 0600 UTC on 23 October was 3 (24 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours (SWPC via DXLD) See also JAPAN [non] ** SPAIN. REE B-07 schedule Arabic 1700-1900 ME 11765 1900-2100 ME/AF (mo-fr): 7270 12035 2000-2200 ME/AF (sa-su): 7270 12035 Catalan, Galician, Basque 1340-1355 EU/AM (mo-fr): 9765(*) 15585 17595 21570 English 0000-0100 NAM 6055 2000-2100 AF/EU (mo-fr): 9605 9690 2200-2300 EU/AF 6125(sa-su) 9595(su) French 1800-1900 EU (mo-fr): 9665 1900-2000 ME (sa-su): 12035 1900-2000 AF (mo-sa): 9595 1900-2000 ME (mo-fr): 9605 2100-2200 AF (su): 9595 2300-2400 EU/NAM 5970(sa-su) 6055 German 1730-1800 EU (mo,th): 9665 Russian 1700-1730 EU (mo-fr): 15195 Sefardi 0115-0145 SAM (tu): 11795 0415-0445 NAM (tu): 9690 1825-1855 ME (mo): 17770 Spanish 0000-0400 SAM 9765(*) 0100-0600 NAM 6055 0200-0600 N+SAM 3350(*) 9675(*) 0400-0800 SAM 5965(*) 0500-0800 EU 9710 11890(-0700) 0600-0900 EU 12035 17770(0700-) 0800-1000 EU 9780/DRM 0800-1400 EU 13720 (mo-fr:-1300) 0900-1500 AF 21540 0900-1700 EU/ME 15585 21610 1000-1300 N+SAM (mo-fr): 11815(*) 17595 1000-1700 SAM 21570 1100-1400 N+SAM (mo-fr): 9765(*) 15170(*) 1200-1400 PA 11910 (via Xian) 1200-1500 NAM (su): 15170(*) 1200-1900 SAM (sa-su): 17595 1200-2300 SAM (su): 9765(*) 15125(*) 1300-1500 NAM (mo-fr): 17595 1500-1700 AF (mo-sa): 15385 1500-1800 SAM (mo-fr): 17595 1500-1900 SAM (tu): 17595 1500-1900 AF (mo-sa): 17755 1500-2200 AF (su): 17755 1500-2300 NAM (su): 17850(*) 1600-2300 N+SAM (sa): 9765(*) 15125(*) 17850(*) 1700-1900 SAM (mo-sa): 17715 1700-2200 EU (sa-su): 9665 1700-2300 EU 7275 1800-2000 N+SAM (mo-fr:) 9765(*) 15125(*) 17850(*) 1900-2300 SAM (sa-su): 11940(sa:-2100) 1900-2300 NAM 9630 2100-2200 AF (mo-fr): 11625 2200-2300 AF 7270 11625(sa) 2300-0200 SAM 11945 2300-0500 SAM 6125 9535 9620 (*) = via Costa Rica (REE website, thx to tip by José Bueno in dxldyg mail list, re-typed by Alan Roe, worlddxclub via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. Radio Miraya: Glenn, Here's what I have finally received from Sudan regarding shortwave. They are using Nexus out of Italy [a.k.a. BULGARIA --- gh]. Hope you can use this (Albert Muick, Broadcast Technology Officer/Technical Director, Radio MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti), Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Dear All, It is my pleasure to announce to you that we have selected a frequency and timeline for short wave. Miraya Radio on short wave will broadcast form the 9825 kHz frequency on the 31 meter band. The broadcast time will be 6-9 PM. [UT +3 = 1500-1800] Regards, (Leon Willems, OIC PIO / Chief of Radio, UN mission in Sudan Khartoum, Sudan willems @ un.org +249 9 12170124 (mobile) +249 187 086250 / 6068 (direct line) 190 6250 / 6068 (intermission line) PLOT 16-17 Block 25 New Bridges Street Manshiya Khartoum, Oct 9, via Muick, DXLD) FYI - we launch this Thursday (25 Oct/ 6-9 PM Sudan time). If you listen, please let us know the quality of our reception. xxxx (Nanci Hersh, Broadcast Technology Officer / Radio Operations, UNMIS/PIO/Radio, Office/Dect : +249 (0) 187 08 7562, Mobile: +249 (0) 912 178782 e-mail: hersh @ un.org via Al Muick, UN, DXLD) Just a few days before A-07 becomes B-07. At first the only co-channel problem A-07 should be VOR Samara at 17-18 at 140 and/or 188 degrees. But in B-07 there will be more problems unless a lot of stations are persuaded to get out of the way. 9825 is planned for IBB Biblis at 1500-1600, 88 degrees. Numerous stations are scheduled for 9820 at various times within the trihour: Goa, Dhabayya, Moscow, Jülich, Taiwan, Wertachtal. And on 9830, Samara and Wertachtal, both aimed in the general direxion of Sudan, as are some of the 9820 ones (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. FOREIGN DJS WAKE UP LISTENERS WITH SWEDISH MUSIC, HUMOUR http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/foreign-djs-wake-up-listeners-with-swedish-music-humour When I saw this headline, my mind immediately went back to the Radio Sweden Saturday Show that was very popular with shortwave (and European mediumwave) listeners in the 1970’s. For those who yearn for something similar to the antics of “Kangaroo Kim” and Roger Wallis, we may have found something for you: every Friday, radio station KCSC at California State University broadcasts “The Swedish Morning Show” at 8-10 am local time, presented by Christian Falk Winland and Christian Wester. It’s also broadcast online at http://www.kcscradio.com [the fake KCSC; real one in Edmond OK – gh] Read more about the programme in The Orion. And if you’re too young to remember the original Saturday Show, which the two student presenters certainly are, you can read about it and listen to some airchecks on Radio Sweden’s website [linked]. October 24th, 2007 - 13:02 UTC by Andy (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [and non]. Radio Sweden's English Schedule Here is the Radio Sweden English broadcast schedule for the period beginning October 28, 2007 (all times UT unless otherwise indicated): Europe and Africa/Middle East: Satellite: To Europe on Sirius 2 (5 E) 12.380 GHz/H, SR 27500 FEC 3/4 / daily at 1430, and weekdays at 1730 and 1830 UTC. Also at 0130 and 1430 via WRN on Hot Bird 6 (13 E) 12.597 GHz/N, SR 27500 FEC 0/4 and on Sky Digital channel 0122 on Eurobird 1 (28.5 E), at 0130 it can also be heard in London on 558 AM. To Africa at 2330 and 0300 on Intelsat 10 (68.5 E), 4064 MHz, SR 19.850, FEC 7/8, audio stream WRN English, on WorldSpace AfriStar channel 305 and in South Africa on SAfm at 0530 on CAT. Shortwave: 1430-1500 11550 (70 ) 1530-1600 7440 (140 ) 1830-1900 MW 1179 (daily) 6065 (100 ) (Wednesdays-Fridays) 2000-2030 MW 1179 (Mondays-Saturdays) 2130-2200 7120 (280 ) via Madagascar + MW 1179 2230-2300 6065 (140-240 ) + MW 1179 Asia/Pacific: Satellite: On Thaicom 3 (78.5º E) 3.640 GHz/H SR 28066 FEC ¾ daily at 1430, weekdays at 1730 and 1830 hrs UT. Also via WRN at 2330 and 0300 on AsiaSat-2 (100.5 E) 4.000 GHz/H SR 28125 FEC ¾ audio WRN English, and Worldspace AsiaStar channel 305. Shortwave: 0230-0300 11550 (50 ) via Madagascar 1330-1400 7420 (40 ) 1430-1500 11550 (70 ) 2030-2100 7420 (125 ) via Madagascar (to Australia ) North America: Satellite: Daily at 0230, 0730, 1500, 2000 (M-F only) and 2130 EST via WRN on Galaxy 25 (97 W) on 12.177 GHz/V (transponder 27), SR 23000, FEC 2/3, WRN1 (English), and Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 140. In Canada on CBC Overnight 0200-0230 local time (weekend times may vary). Shortwave: 0230-0300 6010 (268 ) via Sackville 0330-0400 6010 (277 ) via Sackville 1330-1400 15240 (290 ) 1530-1600 15240 (272 ) via Sackville 2330-0000 9800 (268 ) DRM via Sackville You can listen to our daily program in RealAudio or Windows Media at: http://www.sr.se/webbradio/index.asp?typ=events&UnitID=2054 There is also now a 30 day sound archive at RadioSweden.org Programming: Radio Sweden’s weekday and weekend programming is a window on the diverse perspectives and issues in Sweden today. Our daily editions offer a smorgasbord of news and current affairs, science and technology, lifestyle, and culture. We explore, debate, analyse and give insight into the way Swedish society and its people are changing to meet today’s challenges and opportunities. On Saturdays we review the week gone by and on Sundays we present Network Europe: The program that speaks to the hearts & minds of Europeans brought to you by Radio Sweden and a partnership of Europe’s leading international broadcasters. More details at: http://RadioSweden.org (via Harry Brooks, UK, DXLD) Note that the second morning broadcast to NAm, 15240 via Canada, moves one hour later than previous B-seasons, at 1530 instead of 1430, so now there is a sesquihour gap after the first morning broadcast direct at 1330-1400. This makes it 7:30 am PST instead of 6:30 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. CHAIRMAN OF BROADCASTING CORPORATION OF CHINA RESIGNS Jaw Shau-kong, Chairman of Taiwan’s Broadcasting Corporation of China, has announced his resignation at a news conference, citing unfair suppression by the government. “I hereby announce my withdrawal from the operation team effective today. I don’t want to play the game any more,” he said. Jaw, a politician-turned broadcaster, accused the government of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of “doing all it can to suppress us” and “making it difficult for us to operate.” He said the operation of the BCC has been seriously hampered by various actions of the DPP government. “Until today, I am still not the official responsible person of the station because the Economics Ministry has yet to approve the change of the ownership of the radio station,” he said. The station used to be owned by the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT), which was forced to give up its operation late last year in line with a government decree that no political party, government and military could run electronic news media. Jaw, a former KMT lawmaker who also owns several popular but smaller radio stations, acquired BCC shortly before the government deadline, but the price of the acquisition - ranging from 500 million Taiwan dollars to 3.2 billion Taiwan dollars (US$15 million - 90 million) was not revealed. Jaw called on Hua Hsia Inc, a KMT-owned cultural business which sold the station to him, to negotiate the cancellation of the acquisition contract in two weeks. He said technically the contract is not valid because the acquisition has never been approved by the government. He said BCC’s financial director Lung Ming-chun would be acting president of the station. Meanwhile, Cabinet spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey denied that the government has suppressed BCC or made its operation difficult, saying all government dealings with the station were made in line with the law. (Source: DPA) October 24th, 2007 - 12:10 UTC by Andy (Media Network b log via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Dear Listeners and DXers, Here are the TRT Voice of Turkey B07 Frequencies by Targeting Area, http://www.trt.net.tr/wwwtrt/frekanstsr.aspx?regionadi=EUROPE&tddeger=4 Good DX'ing (Mustafa CANKURT, Turkish Government, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) He sent the entire schedule but we have already published two or three versions. Click on 5 different target area tabs to see it all on the website; which includes the Turkish name for each language (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. IBB still fails to bring up 11675 BBCWS relay on time: ** U S A. Oct 23 at 2100 I checked 11675 again to see if IBB had improved its performance in getting BBCWS on air on time. No: carrier not on until 2101:10 and audio not brought up until 2102. Is there some technical reason the audio cannot be turned on immediately the carrier is on? It`s not like the transmitter has to warm up, just having switched from VOA Hausa on 11720 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. B07 FCC private U.S. SW station Skeds Hello Glenn: Above skeds posted today on FCC site. Early this time- right on the bit. Always get a prompt and helpfui reply whenever I E- mail them (Thomas Moyer, Bowmanville, Ont., Canada, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/B07FCC01.TXT A quick scan thru it does not find any surprises, such as brand-new stations like KIMF or KTMI, which never came to fruition. WMLK still authorized for wooden frequencies 9955, 15265. Long-inactive WJIE still listed for 7490, 13595; even longer-inactive WRNO still shown for 7355, 7395, 15420. 7335 (CHU`s frequency) shows at 0100-0600 only for WHRI; however, we hope this will also prove to be a wooden registration since it was in the A07 schedule and not used during these hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re 7-127, Allan Weiner`s plans for Area 51 on WBCQ, I tuned in just a bit too late to hear AW`s remarx about me in introducing his segment about that, which Artie Bigley tipped me on, so went back and listened to archived show: said ``Glenn Hauser, who needs a life, take note.`` --- and later, ``we might, might even allow World of Radio to be on Area 51``. Jeez, I took note without having heard that instruxion. A life? I have been under the impression that I had a pretty good one (beyond WOR & DXLD, which do not take 100% of my time); what does AW know? The callsigns of his four pirates in Yonkers were WXMN, WKOV, WSEX and WFSR (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Reverend Melissa heard on all regularly scheduled frequencies at 0140+. 5935 WWCR, 6090 Anguilla, and 5030, 6150 and 7375 via Costa Rica. 7375 has been fairly clear lately. None of the Costa Rican frequencies are listed on her website. 23 October (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. San Diego Scanner listening via: http://www.scansandiego.net/cgi-bin/index2.pl I haven't tried other cities within the fire area. San Diego has been interesting enough for now. Fire department currently addressing a problem with gas line fires from melted home gas meters allowing gas to flow and ignite. Also traffic from San Diego football stadium complaining of excess heat within stadium. 73, (Bill Lauterbach - WA8MEA, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I haven't had a chance to check the San Diego AM dial, but last night we watched the fire crest the mountain that overlooks our houses. This mountain contains the transmitters for TV 15, 39, 51, and 69, repeaters for many other local TV stations, as well as many FMs including 89.5 and 93.3. The flames were MUCH higher than the transmitter buildings. All major electrical links which enter San Diego from this side were severed last night but we still have power for now. 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, 1438 UT Oct 23, ABDX via DXLD) Last I checked (late morning), all San Diego, Tijuana, and Tecate stations were on the air. Several TV stations lost their repeaters in the raging fires at the top of San Miguel mountain last night, but it is now reported that the damage was less than first believed. The flames on top of that mountain last night were unbelievably high. Fires are flaring up in the northern part of the county (Escondido). At least 1000 homes have been destroyed, maybe many more (Tim Hall, 2127 UT Oct 23, ibid.) KPBS-FM LOSES TRANSMITTER IN HARRIS FIRE FM 94/9 HANDS OVER THEIR AIRWAVES DURING "EXTRAORDINARY TIMES" October 23, 2007 Contact: Nancy Worlie (619) 322-1402 For Immediate Release http://www.fm949sd.com/home/KPBS_pop.htm SAN DIEGO - At about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, October 23, KPBS 89.5 FM's transmitter was lost when the Harris Fire burned Mt. San Miguel. KPBS - with the largest radio news staff in San Diego - has been broadcasting wall-to-wall with vital news and information since early Sunday evening. While KPBS' radio broadcasts were still available on KPBS.org via the live web stream, as well as on 97.7 FM in Calexico, the loss of the broadcast signal for the San Diego community was devastating. Shortly after losing the broadcast signal, KPBS and the management of FM 94/9, Lincoln Financial Media Company, decided the local music station would offer up their airwaves and broadcast KPBS' signal. "Getting timely information to San Diego residents is our top priority at this time," said Darrel Goodin, Vice President and General Manager Lincoln Financial Media Company of California. "Here at FM 94/9, we have the utmost respect for KPBS and the great job that they do with news and information" At approximately 8:30 a.m. FM 94/9 began broadcasting KPBS' signal on their station - pre-empting their own programming. Before handing over their airwaves to KPBS, FM 94/9 DJ Tommy Hough said to their listeners, "These are extraordinary times and this is an extraordinary situation. It's in everyone's best interest to hand over our airwaves to KPBS." "This is a perfect example of how during times of crisis, the community can join together for the greater good," said John Decker, KPBS-FM Program Director. "We're grateful that our friends at FM 94/9 have given us the opportunity to continue to inform the San Diego community with our public service." -89.5- (via Tom Roche, Oct 23, DXLD) Here at A Way with Words, my co-host Martha and our producer Stefanie Levine, both San Diegans, are safe. I'm based in Brooklyn, New York, (truly a coast-to-coast show, eh?), so I've been well away from the fiery hell, though until last evening I was in Missouri, following the drama in frustration from a household with only broadcast television and no Internet connection. You can follow real-time updates on the KPBS home page sidebar or follow their Twitter feed. http://www.kpbs.org/twitter Wishing everyone the best, (Grant Barrett, co-host, "A Way with Words" http://waywordradio.org Oct 24, AWWW mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. WFAW 940 kHz Fort Atkinson, WI DX Test Date: Monday morning (late Sunday night), Nov. 12, 2007. Time: Midnight – 3 a.m. Central Time, 0600–0900 UT. 500 watts using non-directional antenna pattern on the station’s all- tube Collins auxiliary transmitter. Special programming to be announced, but minimally will consist of special voice announcements, Morse code and sweep and other tones. Reception reports may be sent to Mr. Ernie Swanson K9LO, Chief Engineer, WFAW Radio, P.O. Box 94, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0094. No eQSL service is being offered for this test. Recordings on disk in .mp3 or .wav format will be accepted as proof of reception. Address for e-mail reports is ernie@nrgmedia.com NOTE: All requests for verifications must be accompanied by return postage in order to receive a reply. Ernie adds that he is interested in possibly conducting a second test in the spring from WFAW. Our sincere thanks to him for agreeing to conduct this test. (Jim Pogue – KH2AR @ comcast.net http://www.dxtests.info IRCA/NRC Joint BTC Coordinator, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: WNYZ 87.9 --- On Mon, 2007-10-22 at 14:40 -0400, Wm Hepburn (Niagara) wrote: ``87.9 is now legally part of the FM band. Channel 200, see Doug's list http://www.w9wi.com/fmweb/frequencies/200.htm `` Yes, but only available to Class D stations (K200AA in Nevada successfully argued that they *are* a class D station). Given the distances at which this station is being heard (and the proximity to WPVI-6) it seems essentially impossible this could qualify as a legal Channel 200 Class D FM station. That, and the fact that there's no record of such a station (or even an application) in the FCC database. ``The question is: is TV Channel 6, (that they are authorized to use) legally the full spectrum 82.000-88.000 MHz (yes, probably), and if so, can you use any form of transmission you want within that band? (no, probably : I would think there are standards as to what is/isn't allowed in a TV broadcast). They are authorized to use the entire 82-88MHz channel, but only within established technical standards. To look at a few points of possible violation here: - Greatly excessive power? The coverage of this station appears to significantly exceed that of NYC's Class B commercial stations. To accomplish that would require a power on the order of 100 kW ERP, or a lower power with an antenna significantly higher than 150 m. In the pre-1997 regulations, there actually was no limit on the ERP of an LPTV station! You were limited to 1 kW transmitter output power, but through the use of directional antennas you could obtain as much ERP as desired. Furthermore, the 1 kW (UHF) limit was only on *visual* transmitter power - *aural* transmitter power was unlimited! The way TV sets are designed, you can't decode the sound unless a useful visual carrier is present, so there's really no point in having the aural power exceed the visual -- unless you're trying to run a *radio* station on channel 6 & don't care if TV sets can decode your sound... I suppose if WNYZ wished to run 100 kW aural power under the pre-1997 regs, it would have been legal! (+/- interference to WPVI Philadelphia) In 1997 (or was it 1993?) new regulations established an absolute ERP limit of 3 kW VHF, 150 kW UHF. The new wording of regulation 74.735 says "The maximum peak effective radiated power (ERP) of an analog [LPTV] station shall not exceed:", without specifying aural or visual. I would read that to mean that neither visual nor aural power shall exceed 3 kW ERP. The major NYC FMs are running ERPs on the order of 6 kW. So if WNYZ were running maximum authorized aural power from the same height as the legal stations it would still have less coverage. Since they are actually getting *more* coverage (and it seems unlikely their antenna is as high as those of the legal stations) it seems pretty much certain this station is running significantly illegal power. - Off-frequency? The station is reported by multiple reliable reporters to be on 87.9 MHz (not 87.76 where they should be), and WPVI-6 audio is being clearly heard below their frequency. WNYZ-LP is assigned to plus offset, to a visual frequency of 83.26 MHz. FCC regulation 74.761(d) requires that they maintain their visual frequency to within 1kHz of this frequency, or 0.002%, whichever is less. So the highest frequency their *visual* carrier could be on, legally, is 83.261 MHz. FCC regulation 74.761(c) requires that the aural carrier be 4.5 MHz +/-1kHz above the visual carrier. So the highest frequency the *aural* carrier could legally occupy is 83.261 + 4.501 = 87.762 MHz. 87.9 MHz is 138 kHz higher than the maximum legal frequency - it *is* certain that WNYZ is at least 138 kHz off-frequency in violation of 74.761(c). - Using the FM stereo standard instead of BTSC. Listeners are reporting WNYZ is in stereo on FM radios. While FM radios *can* receive TV-6 sound, they cannot receive it in stereo as the standard is different. The fact that stereo *is* received on WNYZ indicates they're using the FM standard instead. I don't have a copy of the TV stereo regulations in front of me. But as I remember them, they were imposed only if you used 31.5 kHz as your subcarrier frequency (this is a naturally desirable choice; it minimizes picture interference to the sound). FM stereo uses 38 kHz. So it's my belief it would be *legal* for a TV station, including WNYZ, to use the FM stereo standard. Of course, if you actually intend your TV station to be viewed on a TV set, there is no point in using the FM stereo system as no TV set will decode it. But also of course, WNYZ does NOT intend its station to be viewed on TV sets. - Excessive deviation. FCC regulation 73.1570(2) defines +/- 75 kHz deviation as "100% modulation" of an FM station. 73.1570(3) defines 100% as +/- *25kHz* for the sound on a full-power TV station. A 100%- modulated TV sound signal would be only 33% modulated on a FM radio - it would sound rather quiet (as I'm sure many DXers know from having tuned in TV-6 sound on 87.75 MHz). DXers are reporting WNYZ's audio is as loud as that of an FM station. Regulation 74.750(d)(1) indicates that LPTV stations like WNYZ are required to comply with full-power regulation 73.687(b)(3), which in turn refers to 73.1570(3). In other words, WNYZ's audio is legally limited to what would be 33% modulation at an FM station. If their audio is in fact as loud as that of an FM station, they're modulating 300% (or more), in violation of 74.750(a)(1). -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View, TN EM66, WTFDA via DXLD) I wonder if it`s connected with the Russian mafia, so like the Lubavitcher/Moshiach pirate in Brooklyn on X-band, the FCC doesn`t dare confront them? Naaah, FCC has the full force and authority of the federal government behind it, doesn`t it? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. 6230-USB, LOUISIANA, WDD6375 tugboat Resolute; 1540-1541* caught tail end of communications between two men, then calls and off. Excellent. FCC records show licensed to Dixie Offshore Transportation Co., Harvey, issued March 10, 2007 to this tugboat name (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. MW 1550, RASD // 6300 with exact synching, with signal S6 over S4 local noise, due to nearby electronic lamps, at 2130 with talks mentioning Sahara, 2140 talks over beautiful music, 2143 traditional singing, 22 Oct (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 839.65 kHz, 0011+ 19 October, 2007 and several local evenings since. Noting slightly a unstable carrier here, no audio making it. Suspect Cuba or something Central America but haven't bothered to loop it (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 5945: Regarding your enquiry, Glenn, Radio República unID site for 5954 was there, as I checked around 2330 Oct 22 up to TOH. Signal is in the category S=3 but sync detection has to be adjust to USB in order to avoid the het they produce, but the station in allocated 5955 frequency is inaudible, as I understand the splatter from adjacent 5950 or 5960 has nothing to do with it, right? Funny why they are using the former Radio Casino de Limón frequency. AFAIK this is the first time for RR off-frequency (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hi Glenn, A small over due gift for all your much appreciated work over the years. Enjoy! (Andy Reid, Peterborough, Ont. with a donation via PayPal to woradio @ yahoo.com) See also U S A: WBCQ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE OPENS IN GENEVA 24 October 2007 Posted to the web 24 October 2007 http://allafrica.com/stories/200710240327.html Betrand Nwankwo [Nigeria] The World Radiocommunication Conference has opened in Geneva, Switzerland with view aim to address the worldwide use of radio frequencies and to meet the global demand for spectrum, fuelled by rapid technological development and growth in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. A finite resource, radio-frequency spectrum is the bedrock of state- of-the-art ICT, which, in turn is the driving force behind the world's economic and social systems. The future points towards a wireless world. Last held in the summer of 2003, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) is the international forum for revising the Radio Regulations - the international treaty governing the use of the radio- frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. WRC-07 will also deal with any radiocommunication questions with worldwide ramifications. The WRC-07 agenda focuses on some 30 items related to almost all terrestrial and space radio services and applications, including aeronautical telemetry and telecommand systems, satellite services, mobile communications, maritime distress and safety signals, digital broadcasting, satellites for meteorology, and the prediction and detection of natural disasters. The conference will consider options to improve the international spectrum regulatory framework. It will also examine the evolution of existing, emerging and future applications, systems and technologies in order to meet the growing demand for spectrum, orbit access and operations - an inevitable consequence of the accelerating convergence of radiocommunications services as well as the rapidly changing regulatory environment. The four-week conference which will run until November 16, is expected to be attended by about 3000 delegates across the world. According the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), more than 1500 delegates were present on the opening day. Addressing participants at the opening session, the chairman of WRC- 07, Mr François Rancy said, "this Conference will influence the future of international wireless communications. The objective of WRC-07 is to allow each country to use the spectrum for its own needs, as long as it does not affect the capacity of other countries to share the resource." Mr Rancy said that it was an honour for him, for France and for Europe to serve as chairman of WRC-07. ITU secretary general, Dr Hamadoun Toure', while addressing the conference said ICT is the only way through which the world can meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDGs). "We will have to rely on ICT to meet those targets. "ICT are omnipresent tools with profound implications for all economic sectors," he said. "The convergence of broadcasting, telecommunication and information technologies create more potent and effective tools." Dr Toure' pointed to the critical need of connecting remote and underserved regions of the world to the benefits of ICT and to the importance of radiocommunications in the event of a natural disaster. "WRC-07 is the supreme instrument to maintain and update the framework for international radiocommunications," said Mr Valery Timofeev, director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau. "It will continue the development that has taken place through recent conferences to improve regulatory procedures and to provide frequency and orbit resources for new technologies, which are essential for the operation of all wireless services." To prepare for a truly wireless future where ubiquitous systems using spectrum will abound, the conference is expected to make decisions on the most rational and efficient ways to exploit the limited resource of radio-frequency spectrum and manage satellite orbits, critical and increasingly valuable for the achievement of the global connectivity goals in the 21st Century. The issues to be debated and discussed during conference reflects the pressing needs relating to spectrum and regulation for different wireless services and applications: new capabilities of systems, components and related aspects of third generation and broadband wireless systems; access to spectrum for the provision of aeronautical telemetry and telecommand systems compatible with the increasing complexity of aircraft design and shortened timescales for aircraft production; and monitoring of maritime identification digits (MID) resource within Maritime Mobile Service Identification (MMSI) number format Other issues to be discussed at the conference include urgent requirement for worldwide harmonisation of user requirements and spectrum usage of electronic news gathering; procedures for the introduction of high definition TV services; and revision of the regulatory procedures applicable to satellite services, including the Plan for fixed-satellite services that provide spectrum and orbit resources to the Member States of ITU (via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: CZECH REPUBLIC; LAOS; SPAIN; SWEDEN ++++++++++++++++++++ BLATANTLY DISHONEST HD ADVERTISING? Don't know if it's a locally or nationally produced spot, but I have been hearing an HD radio ad that claims that one can get access to "hundreds" of channels of HD programming. Now, unless there has been some sudden explosion of HD that I'm not aware of (I neither own, nor care to own, an HD receiver) this is beyond mere hyperbole and into the realm of absolute falsity. Yes, there are several stations in the area playing around with HD (Clear Channel stations are really four- walling the advertising on this), but even added together they can't even come close to a hundred channels, let alone hundreds (plural). Perhaps they mean that there is the POTENTIAL for hundreds of channels EVENTUALLY once HD spreads, but if so, they should clearly have chosen to say that. I'd be a pretty pissed-off consumer if I bought one of these things based on that ad, and then found that there really isn't that much out there yet. (For that matter, the ads that describe HD as picking up "the stations between the stations" is horribly inaccurate, ignoring the "OC" of "IBOC," no?) (Stan Jones, Orlando FL, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe they really mean hundreds of channels if you add them all up nationwide --- but no way of getting them all at once (gh, DXLD) SHIFT IN THE WIND AT "RADIO WORLD"? Radio World has been an indefatigable booster of IBOC/HD, but lately they've been running pieces expressing some doubts about its eventual success, like this one describing the trials of finding a HD receiver at retail: http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.9235.html And Skip Pizzi dares to speak the unspeakable: "the concentration of an entire broadcast industry’s transition in the hands of a single corporation brings unprecedented risk. If Ibiquity Digital were to fail as a company, the entire U.S. radio industry’s future could be threatened." http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0054/t.9233.html (Harry Helms W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19 http://topsecrettourism.com ABDX via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BROADBAND-OVER-POWER-LINES BATTLE GOES TO COURT Posted by Anne Broache, October 23, 2007 12:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON -- A dispute that could affect the roll-out of broadband over power lines, which some hope will one day compete with cable and DSL services, went before a federal appeals court on Tuesday, but no immediate resolution occurred. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia heard arguments from attorneys for the Federal Communications Commission and the American Radio Relay League, which represents amateur radio operators, about FCC rules aimed at allowing BPL services to flourish. Therein lies the dispute: The FCC says its rules, which date back to 2004, have struck the right balance between encouraging unlicensed BPL deployment and protecting existing licensed devices -- including those run by public safety workers, TV broadcasters and amateur radio operators -- from harmful interference on those airwaves. BPL service in action ---- The ARRL, however, contends the FCC's rules are inconsistent with federal law and aren't strict enough to prevent BPL signals from disrupting its members' communications. . . http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9802730-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5 (via Tom McNiff, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MORE LONG-HAUL TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX, CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN BRASIL Logs TEP FM --- Seguem amigos, mais algumas escutas em FM realizadas por esses dias. SAINT KITTS & NEVIS 96.7, 0049 19/10 ZIZ, Basseterre, OM/OM, talks, EE 43343 96.9, 0108 19/10 ZIZ, Basseterre, OM em conversa telefônica c/ ouvintes, EE ????? 96.7, 2346 21/10 ZIZ, Basseterre, OM/OM, talks, EE 45344 96.9, 2359 21/10 ZIZ, Basseterre, OM/YL, talks, EE // 96.7 MHz 44333 GUADELOUPE 97.0, 0050 19/10 RFO (Radio Guadeloupe), Basse-Terre, OM, nx, FF 34333 97.0, 0003 21/10 RFO (Radio Guadeloupe), Basse-Terre, OM, FF ????? SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES 99.9, 0104 19/10 WE FM, Kingstown, mx caribenha, EE 43343 (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso. Bandeirantes - Paraná, DX Clube PR via DXLD) Rubens Pedroso é o dexista que descobriu que a propagação trans equatorial (TEP) em VHF (FM) pode ser canalizada não só no litoral sul do Brasil mas tbem no interior do PR, em Bandeirantes S23º06'36,0" W50º22'03,0" para ser mais preciso. Tenho noticias tbem que o amigo Samuel Cassio tem ouvido o Caribe em FM em São Carlos-SP S22º01'03,0" W47º53'27,0" Um abraço (Marcelo Bedene, ibid.) Já que o negócio é apenas relatar ao pessoal como faço para ouvir FMs caribenhas por aqui, então aqui vai. Muitos devem achar que há um segredo (ou segredos) para se ouvir FMs caribenhas durante a Propagação Transequatorial. Talvez até haja, mas isso não acontece comigo. Primeiramente ligo o meu receptor toda a noite pouco antes das 21 horas de Brasília [2300 UT now] (lá pelas 20h30min ou 20h40min). Nesse momento o receptor que estou usando é o Sony ICF SW 7600G ou o Sony ICF SW 7600GR. A antena é geralmente uma longwire de 12 metros. Mesmo a longwire não sendo uma antena adequada para a faixa de FM, ela dá um resultado razoável. Até sem o uso da longwire (só com a telescópica do receptor) se é possível ouvir sinais do Caribe. O local em que faço a minhas escutas, é a biblioteca da minha casa e eu fico sentado de costas para o Norte e portanto de frente para o Sul. É para o Sul que o meu receptor fica voltado. Bom, depois fico dando uma passeada pelas freqüências em que se podem ouvir FMs caribenhas por aqui, até que algum sinal apareça numa delas. Como vocês podem ver, não há segredo algum. É isso que basicamente o que faço. Não é necessário o uso de um super receptor e uma super antena, pois, Bandeirantes se mostrou ser um excelente local para se ouvir FMs caribenhas. Basta se usar um bom receptor de FM e pronto, alguns sinais do Caribe já podem ser ouvidos, dependendo da intensidade da Propagação Transequatorial. Ouço basicamente sinais vindos das seguintes ilhas caribenhas: Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Guadeloupe, Martinica, Saint Lucia, Barbados e Antigua & Barbuda. Já ouvi Dominica, República Dominicana e Ilhas Virgens Americanas. Era só por hoje amigos. Espero que esse relato os ajude na escuta de Fms caribenhas. 73! (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso. Bandeirantes - Paraná, DX Clube PR via DXLD) OUR EXCLUSIVE AND NOT COPYRIGHTED HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST Solar activity continues to be extremely low, as we are going trough another extended period of zero sunspots. The slight disturbances are due to coronal mass ejections, not to solar flares. Expect rather nice conditions on the 25 meters band, that is 11.6 to 12.1 megaHertz practically all day long, as it is now the most useful band for international short wave broadcasting, closely followed by 31 meters, spanning from 9.4 to 9.97 megaHertz. For radio amateurs, your best band for DXing during local evening hours will continue to be 40 meters, amigos! No signs of solar activity increasing for the moment, as the winter DX season advances with the lowest sunspot count in the past 11 years!!! (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Oct 23, HCDX via DXLD) The geomagnetic field was quiet during 15 - 17 October. Activity increased to quiet to unsettled levels on 18 October. A further increase to quiet to minor storm levels occurred on 19 October with a brief period of major storming detected at high latitudes. Activity decreased to quiet to active levels on 20 October with a brief period of minor storming detected at high latitudes. Field activity decreased to quiet levels on the last day of the period. ACE solar wind data indicated the increased activity during 18 - 20 October was due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. The high-speed stream began on 18 October and ended on 21 October. A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) began late on 17 October in advance of the high-speed stream. IMF changes associated with the CIR included increased Bt (peak 14.1 nT at 18/1942 UTC) and increased Bz variability (minimum - 11.4 nT at 18/1929 UTC). A minor proton density increase was also associated with the CIR. Solar wind velocities increased during 18 - 20 October and reached a peak of 697.3 km/sec at 20/0310 UTC. The high-speed stream began to gradually subside around midday on 20 October. FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 24 OCT - 19 NOV 2007 Solar activity is expected to be very low. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels during 24 October - 08 November and 16 - 19 November. Activity is expected to be at unsettled to minor storm levels from 24 October through midday on 27 October due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet to unsettled levels from midday on the 27th through the 29th. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels during 30 - 31 October as another recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream affects the field. Quiet conditions are expected during 01 - 13 November. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 14 - 15 November. A further increase to unsettled to active levels is forecast for 16 November due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected for the rest of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2007 Oct 23 1853 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 2007 Oct 23 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2007 Oct 24 67 15 4 2007 Oct 25 67 20 5 2007 Oct 26 67 25 5 2007 Oct 27 67 12 3 2007 Oct 28 67 10 3 2007 Oct 29 67 8 3 2007 Oct 30 67 15 4 2007 Oct 31 68 10 3 2007 Nov 01 68 5 2 2007 Nov 02 68 5 2 2007 Nov 03 68 5 2 2007 Nov 04 68 5 2 2007 Nov 05 68 5 2 2007 Nov 06 68 5 2 2007 Nov 07 68 5 2 2007 Nov 08 68 5 2 2007 Nov 09 68 5 2 2007 Nov 10 67 5 2 2007 Nov 11 67 5 2 2007 Nov 12 67 5 2 2007 Nov 13 67 5 2 2007 Nov 14 67 10 3 2007 Nov 15 67 12 3 2007 Nov 16 67 15 4 2007 Nov 17 67 10 3 2007 Nov 18 67 5 2 2007 Nov 19 67 5 2 (http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/radio/ via WORLD OF RADIO 1379, DXLD) ###