DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-086, July 29, 2008 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 2008 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 1419 Wed 2100 WBCQ 15420-CUSB Thu 0530 WRMI 9955 Thu 1430 WRMI 9955 Thu 2330 WBCQ 7415 Fri 0100 WRMI 9955 Fri 0800 WRMI 9955 Fri 1930 IPAR/IRRS/NEXUS/IBA 7290 Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825 Sat 0800 WRMI 9955 Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070 Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215 Sun 0800 WRMI 9955 Sun 1515 WRMI 9955 Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 Tue 1100 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 9955 Wed 0530 WRMI 9955 Wed 1130 WRMI 9955 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: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org DXLD YAHOOGROUP: Why wait for DXLD, which seems to be coming out less frequently? A lot more info, not all of it appearing in DXLD later, is posted at our yg without delay. When applying, please identify yourself with your real name and location. Those who do not, unless I recognize them, will be prompted once to do so and no action will be taken otherwise. Here`s where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld/ ** ALASKA. Sen. Stevens indicted: 7 false statements counts By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer, 14 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator and a figure in Alaska politics since before statehood, has been indicted on seven counts of falsely reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home. . . http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_go_co/stevens_indictment (via gh, DXLD) Cf previous comments about the DART DRM funding (gh) ** ALBANIA. Hi all! Right now (Sun, 1740z), I can detect very faint audio on 1457.83. Only audible on my loop pointed 60/240 ; Unfortunately, I can't rotate it at the present time. Using the whip, Sunrise 1458.0 is dominant. Any idea? Regards, (Pat, French Alps, July 27, mwdx yg via DXLD) [14 minutes later] Re: [mwoffsets] Off-Channel station 1457.83 --- Well, I suppose it is ALB Fllakë, often reported drifting (Pat, ibid.) ** ANTARCTICA. Mid Winter at MacMurdo --- Antarctic frequencies noted in use recently, all USB: 5785, Scott Base to Christchurch NZ, (no set sked) 10639, at 0702 Z, Weather Also noted but very faint, 9106 (Ship to Shore Frequency) and 11225 with Misc Broadcasts. Nothing heard on the following (Due to poor conditions here in NZ) 5078, 5080, 5140 (Andrew D, ZL3DX, July 26, UDXF yg vias DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Novedades en la banda extendida de Onda Media Argentina: 1660 kHz, RADIO HOSANNA TROPICAL es el nuevo nombre que utiliza esta emisora religiosa de la ciudad de Ezeiza, Pcia. de Buenos Aires. Ex Hosanna AM 1660.- 1700 kHz, RADIO CITY es una nueva emisora que anuncia transmitir desde el Partido de Almirante Brown, Pcia. de Buenos Aires. Reportada desde el pasado sábado, con emisiones de prueba y algunas identificaciones (Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, July 29, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA 5600, 031 29.7, Radio Buenos Aires, Programa passando coordenadas metereológicas de Córdoba, Rio Grande, Cabo Uquen entre outros, Final da transmissão 0:35, e informe da rádio antes do término 33333 (Eduardo L. Castaldelli, Mairirporã- São Paulo, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) So `031` means 0035 UT. VOLMET station, I suppose (gh, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. BURMA GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR ATTACK ON WEBSITE OF EXILE RADIO, TV | Text of report in English by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website, on 25 July 25 July, 2008: The website run by the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma radio and TV station has been hit by a persistent and severe Distributed Denial of Service attack rendering the site mostly inaccessible since 20 July 2008. DVB was informed by the hosting service provider Rackspace on 20 July that its website had been the target of a DDoS attack but that the volume of data was not large enough to knock down the site. However, with the next couple of hours, the attacker had managed to block the site from the Internet. According to the hosting company, the amount of data flooding onto the DVB web site was well over one gigabyte per second, many times more than the site can handle. A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to disable a website, including by overwhelming the site with information requests so that it cannot respond to regular traffic. "The attacker is obviously trying to shut down DVB's website from the internet as the attack has been getting more severe and persistent over the last four days. And we are still under attack," said Khin Maung Win, deputy executive director of DVB. DVB is an independent multi-media organization focusing on Burma. It broadcasts two hours of short-wave radio and one hour of TV into Burma on a daily basis. DVB's website is one the main information sources for those who are interested in news about Burma and is accessed by at least 10,000 visitors per day. "Technically, it is of course difficult to say who is behind the attack. But we can easily say that Burmese government is behind this attack," said Khin Maung Win. "Apart from them, who else would like to see our Internet site shut down and who else would want to spend a lot of money initiating this kind of attack?" DVB was a major source of information and TV footage for international media organizations during the Buddhist monk-led demonstrations in September last year and the recent Cyclone Nargis disaster. "This is another obvious example of the Burmese military regime suppressing media freedom," Khin Maung Win said. For more information, please contact: Khin Maung Win, Deputy Executive Director/Deputy Chief Editor Email: khinmaungwin @ mac.com [1] Mobile phone: +4790800263 Source: Democratic Voice of Burma website, Oslo, in English 25 Jul 08 (via BBCM via DXLD) Indeed, the website http://www.dvb.no/ still inaccessible at 1517 UT July 29 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON. Glenn, Limited e-mail access here, but following up World of Radio 1417, I do believe Cameroon is on 6005 kHz. I had not identified this station previously as the audio is so badly distorted it is almost impossible to listen to. Here in north-west Nigeria I can hear the station most afternoons until drowned by the BBC sign-on at 1700 UT. On 23 July at 1455 I was able to decipher funeral announcements in English with several mentions of Buea. I cannot confirm transmissions during darkness hours but will check other frequencies mentioned in DXLD posts (James MacDonell, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Iqaluit MCTS - VFF --- I wanted to follow up on my earlier reception of this weather broadcast. Their transmission times are 0220 and 1420 UT. Today I received a nice package from MCTS Iqaluit. There was a "Thank you for your letter of July 10 concerning the reception of our NBDP transmissions on 6328 kHz." They are also on 8376.6 kHz. Also a postcard of Iqaluit with an arrow pointing to their building, a copy of their schedule, a visitors guide and 3 Coast Guard pins. v/s Jean- Pierre Lehnert, Officer in Charge. My first Nunavut QSL (Martin Foltz, Mission Viejo CA, July 28, ABDX via DXLD) And MCTS means? (gh) ** CANADA. Re 8-085, Chinese news on CBC Vancouver website ". . .office, Nelson, Victoria, Kelowna studios. The Surrey satellite office seems to provide the only notice of the South Asian community. The real miracle is what the SRC section can produce with few resources (Dan Say`s own comments? ibid.)" Yes. Those are my comments. Viva is terrible idea. RCI should be an external service. Making RCI staff into translation tools negates their journalistic skills. Most such people doing such work in China whom I know resent that, and wish to do more important and necessary work (Dan Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Speaking of Radio Canada Intern(ation)al, I recently discovered the French equivalent of The Link, Tam Tam Canada, is being broadcast in western Canada on Radio Canada's Première Chaîne as a noon-hour program, from 1200 to 1300 local, replacing what used to be regional programming. I'm guessing this is the "domestic" hour, which doesn't get beamed on shortwave. This has probably been going on for a long while, though I can't say for how long. 73, (Ricky Leong, Calgary, July 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CFZM (formerly CHWO) updated web site --- Hello. The Ontario DX Association web sites have been updated to reflect the new station CFZM which had been CHWO. The ODXA will continue to handle all QSL's. Station Info: http://www.odxa.on.ca/cfzm/ Reception Reports: http://www.odxa.on.ca/cfzm/reports.html From there you can also go to the updated History and Transmitter pages. Thank you (Brian Smith, am740 @ rogers.com QSL Manager for CFZM, CJYE & CJMR More info at: http://www.odxa.on.ca/chwo/ July 27, ODXA yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. CFCW-790 Camrose AB has applied to the CRTC to move to 840 kHz, still with 50 kW directional days but with 40 kW directional (different pattern) nights. As before most of the signal both day and night will be directed in a broad lobe to the north in order to serve Edmonton. The move to 840 is made possible by the applications of co-owned (Newcap) stations CKKY-830 Wainwright AB and CKBA-850 Athabasca AB to move to FM (the CKBA application has not yet been released by the CRTC). At night the cochannel QRM from KGHL Billings MT and KJRB Spokane WA is a real problem for CFCW over most of Alberta. Camrose, Alberta, Application No. 2008-0934-5 Application by Newcap Inc. (Newcap) to amend the licence of the commercial English-language AM radio programming undertaking CFCW Camrose. Newcap proposes to amend the licence by changing the frequency from 790 kHz to 840 kHz. Newcap advises that the change in frequency will restore the coverage and service to the listeners in north-central Alberta. 73, (Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4940, Voice of Strait (Channel 1), Fuzhou, 1300 + 1325, July 28, 5+1 pips, in Chinese with English IDs ("This is the Voice of Strait News Radio"). Have monitored this new ID a number of times and consistently heard at both 1300 & 1325. Undoubtedly used at other times that I have not heard (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also INTERNATIONAL VACUUM; IRAN ** CUBA [non]. 5910, 046 29.7, R. República Via Germany (Clandestine (Amer)), Spanish-Jamming/Or, citou em espanhol: gobierno/ nación/ campaña del gobierno, 45544; Atenciosamente, (Eduardo L. Castaldelli, Mairirporã, São Paulo, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) That means 0046 UT. So this transmission has been resumed? To be confirmed (gh, DXLD) Glenn: Not through us anyway. I don't know anything about it. Maybe from UK? (Jeff White, RMI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5910 was DTK before ** ECUADOR. Although I know you include only text items, I thought you might personally enjoy the attached photograph sent to me by a colleague who used to sell transmitters in S. America. My partner Steve Lockwood, who happens to be in Ecuador at the moment, says he hasn't seen any quite this bad! Western Electric transmitters - like the famous 443A1 kilowatt that would tune from 500 kHz to about 4 MHz - used to be constructed on racks, as befits telco equipment, but at least they had an outer metal enclosure! (Ben Dawson, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hmmm, it appears to be air-cooled. Axually, I can do something with photos, by linking to them on my website, if that`s OK with you, or put them in the photo file of the dxld yg. 73, (Glenn to Ben, via DXLD) Well, I think it is aircooled. Actually, 833's (which is the big tube) can be, as they say "convection cooled," log as the glass envelope doesn't exceed some magic number. The photo was not sent to me with any restrictions, so if you can circulate it to the hopefully amused please do so. The device in question was reported to be operating without incident (Ben Dawson, ibid.) So it`s in the station scenes subsexion of the photos sexion of the dxldyg, one of the bennies of joining (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo, 11550.0, in the clear with WEWN missing, and as close as I could tell on-frequency for a change, July 28 at 2035 with very muffled, undermodulated talk, such that I could not even be sure of the language; at first thought German, but in talk bits amid much better-modulated Arabic music, decided it was French, as I later fouind scheduled 2000-2115. See also USA re the missing WEWN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Hi Glenn! Today (July 28th) at 1545 UT I received a new low power DRM station transmitting from Grasse with the label "AGORA DRM Test" on 25775 kHz. Web: http://drmcotedazur.canalblog.com 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sez authorized 1000 watts, but only 200 watts guaranteed. Surprise: not on the official DRM schedule at http://baseportal.com/baseportal/drmdx/main just another one on 25770-25775-25780 with which not to be confused! 0000-2400 daily 25775 ND Rennes 0.1 TDF Radio F French Rennes France (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Summer A-08 of Media Broadcast (ex DTK T-Systems). Part 1 and 2 of 4: WYFR (Family Radio): to East Europe 1700-1900 on 9505 WER 500 kW / 060 deg Russian 1800-1900 on 7220 JUL 100 kW / 110 deg Romanian to West Europe 1700-1800 on 3955 WER 100 kW / non-dir German to South Europe 1800-1900 on 9635 NAU 250 kW / 230 deg Spanish 1900-2000 on 9635 NAU 250 kW / 230 deg Portuguese to Middle East 1600-1700 on 11670 WER 500 kW / 105 deg Persian 1600-1700 on 13645 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 1600-1800 on 9925 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Turkish 1700-1800 on 11670 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 1700-1800 on 11850 NAU 500 kW / 105 deg Persian 1800-1900 on 11855 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 9495 WER 500 kW / 120 deg Arabic 2000-2100 on 9620 WER 125 kW / 120 deg Arabic to South Asia 1300-1400 on 15670 WER 500 kW / 090 deg English 1300-1500 on 15350 NAU 500 kW / 084 deg Bengali 1300-1500 on 15640 NAU 500 kW / 095 deg Marathi 1400-1500 on 15370 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Telugu 1400-1600 on 15670 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Hindi 1400-1600 on 15715 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Kannada 1500-1600 on 13820 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Urdu 1500-1600 on 13830 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Gujarati 1500-1600 on 13840 NAU 500 kW / 085 deg Punjabi 1500-1700 on 15370 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Tamil 1600-1700 on 11680 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Hindi 1600-1700 on 12075 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Urdu 1600-1800 on 11730 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Punjabi 1700-1800 on 11680 WER 500 kW / 090 deg Nepali 1700-1800 on 11970 WER 500 kW / 075 deg Urdu to North Africa 1800-1900 on 11600 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 9590 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic 2000-2100 on 5970 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic 2100-2200 on 5915 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Arabic 1900-2000 on 11840 WER 500 kW / 210 deg French 2000-2200 on 6115 WER 500 kW / 210 deg Arabic 2200-2300 on 7115 WER 500 kW / 210 deg Arabic to North West Africa 1700-1800 on 13840 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg Arabic 2000-2100 on 11895 WER 100 kW / 195 deg French 2200-2300 on 5965 WER 500 kW / 195 deg French to Central Africa 1600-1700 on 15705 WER 500 kW / 165 deg English 1800-1900 on 13730 WER 500 kW / 165 deg English to West Central Africa 1800-1900 on 13790 WER 500 kW / 180 deg English 1900-2000 on 11865 NAU 500 kW / 187 deg English 1900-2000 on 11610 WER 500 kW / 180 deg French 1900-2200 on 9610 WER 500 kW / 180 deg English 2000-2100 on 9595 WER 500 kW / 180 deg French 2100-2200 on 9720 WER 500 kW / 180 deg French 2200-2300 on 7285 WER 500 kW / 180 deg English to East Africa 1500-1600 on 15750 WER 500 kW / 150 deg English 1600-1700 on 11760 WER 500 kW / 135 deg English 1600-1700 on 15750 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Amharic 1600-1900 on 13630 NAU 500 kW / 145 deg English 1700-1800 on 15750 WER 500 kW / 150 deg Swahili 1800-1900 on 13830 WER 500 kW / 135 deg Amharic 1800-1900 on 15750 WER 500 kW / 150 deg English IBC Tamil Radio: 0000-0100 on 7205 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Tamil Athmee Yatra He/Gospel For Asia (GFA): 0030-0130 on 9435 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 1330-1430 on 13860 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 1430-1530 on 13745 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 1530-1630 on 13750 ISS 250 kW / 085 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs 2330-0030 on 9680 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs SE Asian langs Radio Free Asia (RFA): 0100-0300 on 11975 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Tibetan Radio Liberty (RL): 0030-0400 on 7280 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 0200-0330 on 9510 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 0400-0500 on 9460 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 1400-1500 on 17670 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 1600-1700 on 7340 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 1800-1900 on 7105 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 1500-1600 on 15565 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to CeAs Avari/Chechen/ Cherkassi 1500-1700 on 9725 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1700-1800 on 7115 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1700-1900 on 6050 WER 500 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1600-1700 on 9445 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1600-1700 on 9520 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1400-1600 on 13725 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to CeAs Turkmen 1600-1700 on 13815 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to CeAs Turkmen 1900-2000 on 9805 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to CeAs Tatar Bashkir Voice of Russia (VOR): 0100-0200 on 9480 WER 250 kW / 300 deg to NoAm Russian WS 0200-0400 on 9480 WER 250 kW / 300 deg to NoAm English WS 1400-1500 on 15430 WER 100 kW / 115 deg to ME Russian "Commonwealth" 2200-2300 on 6145 WER 125 kW / 105 deg to ME Arabic Voice of Croatia, in Croatian/English/Spanish: 0100-0500 on 9925 NAU 100 kW / 325 deg to NoAmWe 0400-0700 on 9470 WER 100 kW / 240 deg to NZ 0600-1000 on 11690 WER 125 kW / 270 deg to AUS 2200-0300 on 9925 WER 100 kW / 240 deg to SoAm 2300-0300 on 9925 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to NoAmEa Radio Japan NHK World 0430-0500 on 9825 WER 500 kW / 060 deg to RUS Russian 0830-0900 on 15190 WER 500 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian 1300-1345 on 15215 WER 500 kW / 075 deg to SoAs Bengali 1345-1430 on 15215 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Hindi 1430-1515 on 17595 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Urdu Brother Stair/The Overcomer Ministries (TOM): 1400-1600 on 6110 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg to WeEu English 1400-1500 on 13810 NAU 100 kW / 125 deg to WeAs English 1500-1600 on 17485 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg to CeAf English 1900-2100 on 6175 WER 125 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English HCJB Global: 1700-1800 on 6015 ISS 100 kW / 045 deg to WeEu German IBRA Radio: 1730-1800 on 11985 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg to EaAf Swahili 1730-1800 on 15600 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Somali 1800-1900 on 13840 WER 250 kW / 150 deg to CeAf Arabic/Sara Gambai/Zagawa 1900-2030 on 9675 NAU 100 kW / 210 deg to WeAf Hausa/Fulfulde/ Bambara Lutheran World Federation 1830-1900 on 9655 WER 500 kW / 180 deg to CeAf Fulfulde Democratic Voice of Burma (DVOB): 2330-0030 on 9490 WER 125 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Burmese Polish Radio External Service 1030-1100 on 11915 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu Polish 1030-1100 on 11995 NAU 100 kW / 100 deg to EaEu Polish 1100-1130 on 13745 WER 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1100-1130 on 13840 WER 100 kW / 090 deg to EaEu Russian 1130-1200 on 5965 WER 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu German 1130-1200 on 5975 WER 100 kW / 040 deg to WeEu German 1200-1300 on 7330 NAU 100 kW / 005 deg to WeEu English 1200-1300 on 9525 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English 1300-1330 on 11835 WER 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1300-1330 on 13800 WER 500 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1330-1430 on 9440 JUL 100 kW / 070 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1330-1430 on 11975 WER 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1430-1500 on 11755 JUL 100 kW / 085 deg to EaEu Ukrainian 1430-1500 on 11955 WER 100 kW / 045 deg to EaEu Russian 1500-1530 on 9440 JUL 100 kW / 085 deg to EaEu Ukrainian 1500-1530 on 11800 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian 1530-1600 on 5975 WER 100 kW / 040 deg to WeEu German 1530-1630 on 9670 MC 100 kW / 040 deg to EaEu Polish 1630-1700 on 9670 MC 100 kW / 040 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1700-1800 on 7140 JUL 100 kW / 020 deg to NoEu English 1700-1800 on 7265 WER 100 kW / 300 deg to NoEu English 1800-1830 on 6140 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Russian 1800-1830 on 9695 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to EaEu Hebrew 1830-1900 on 6145 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian 1830-1930 on 6175 WER 100 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Ukrainian 1900-1930 on 6050 WER 100 kW / 045 deg to EaEu Russian 1930-2000 on 6110 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg to WeEu German 1930-2000 on 6135 WER 100 kW / 040 deg to WeEu German 2100-2200 on 5975 WER 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu Polish 2100-2200 on 7135 NAU 250 kW / 220 deg to WeEu Polish (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, July 28-29 via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. 17525 DRM, DW, Trincomalee. Nice steady signal, German news 0503 27/7, actualities from 0506, beamed to S. Asia. Sked On DRM site says English, and on-screen headlines are in English; Aoki says "music" in this timespan. SNR up to 16.5 dB, 17.10 kbps stream, stereo. Very listenable (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW (Icom R75, Horizontal Loop, Dipole, Dream® DRM Software, Australian DX News via DXLD) ** GUAM. New AM stations (on Guam) Agaña, Guam: 1017 kHz: Permit granted for new station. 4,000 watts fulltime, non-directional. 13-34-27N/144-51-56E In a new-station application, the applicant is required to demonstrate they comply with regulations limiting how many stations a single owner may control in a given market. This application contains this interesting answer: "Neither Powell Meredith nor any individual or entity having an attributable interest in the applicant has an interest of any kind in any other station or application in the Agana, Guam market other than the pending AM application herein, much less anything else in the Eastern Hemisphere. Therefore, Powell Meredith complies with the Commission's multiple ownership rules." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Agaña, Guam: 1170 kHz: Permit granted for new station. 250 watts fulltime, non-directional 13-27-24N/144-40-20E (posted by Doug Smith @ 12:23 AM Saturday, July 26, 2008, American Bandscan blog via DXLD) 1170? Might be a bit of QRM from a VOA megawatt in Philippines (gh) ** GUATEMALA. MOST CHRISTIAN STATIONS IN GUATEMALA FORCED OFF THE AIR Sources: OneNewsNow, Religion Today Most Christian radio stations in Guatemala have been forced off the air because of the pressure secular radio stations are exerting on the government. "Over the past four years, the [Guatemalan] Congress has received a lot of pressure from the secular radio station owners that they’re losing revenue to the Christian stations which are becoming more and more popular," said one radio station owner. Congress has refused to move on the issue, so it could be another four years before it’s resolved. Police reportedly have used violent tactics in taking some of the stations off the air. Radio licenses in the country are so expensive that many missions and churches have decided to operate on community frequencies similar to those on the U.S. non-commercial FM band (HCJB News via Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) I had the impression this is why Guatemala`s SW stations are exclusively religious, banned to the band no one listens to (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. CLEAR CHANNEL UNVEILS ONLINE RADIO NETWORK WITH 900-PLUS STATIONS Monday July 28, 6:53 pm ET, By Deborah Yao, AP Business Writer Clear Channel Communications Inc. said Monday it will launch an online radio network that offers more than 900 stations, including independent online stations. Clear Channel, the nation's largest owner and operator of radio stations, said its Clear Channel Radio and Katz Media Group units will be collaborating to form the network. . . http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080728/clear_channel_online_network.html?.v=1 (via Bill Harms, dxldyg via DXLD) Same: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9274TJO0.htm (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) Really called Katz Online Network, so why isn`t that in the headlines? Big deal. The internet is already replete with thousands of stations, and could be called a ``network`` (gh, ibid.) I am with you about this, Glenn. Internet is not suited for broadcasting anyway; it is more like niche-casting. I have never understood why broadcasters are so hot on "broadcasting" on the Internet when the audiences on the Internet are so fragmented (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. BBG TERMINATES SATELLITE BROADCASTING CONTRACT WITH EUTELSAT The Epoch Times reports: In 2005, the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) signed a contract with European satellite operator Eutelsat to allow Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and US-based non-governmental television and radio channels to broadcast to tens of millions of small satellite dishes across China on a long- term, protected basis. One of these television stations is New York- based New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV). The original broadcasting agreement was strongly supported by Congress and the current US Administration. On 31 July, the eve of the Beijing Olympics, BBG plans to cancel its contract with Eutelsat for its broadcast on the satellite W5, the only satellite protected by the Open Satellite Window agreement. Instead of being assigned to the satellite W5, US international broadcasting channels will be assigned to the China-controlled satellite AsiaSat 3S. Read the full story: http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/world/satellite-stations-go-black-1826.html Related stories: Eutelsat confirms permanent shutdown of four transponders on W5 satellite Dutch MEP calls for resumption of NDTV broadcasts to China Uncensored TV service to China shut off (July 29, 2008 - 9:49 UT by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ** IRAN [and non]. IRANIAN ATHLETES BANNED FROM INTERVIEWING FOREIGN MEDIA AT OLYMPICS | Excerpt from report in English by Iranian conservative news agency Mehr Tehran, 21 July: The Director-General of Physical Education Organization for cultural affairs, Mohammad Saydanlu, announced that any Iranian sportsman at the Beijing Olympics is banned from interviewing foreign media and showing off his/her tattoos. Seydanlu referred to the comments of Iran's supreme leader who said: "Sportsmen are the envoys of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and added: Iranian athletes might not be able to compete with world champions in many sports, but they are able to compete in terms of manners and achieve a gold medal in this field. He added: The manner that the sportsmen present themselves in Beijing is more important than the actual result of competitions. Seydanlu pointed out that tattoos are against Islamic culture and Iranian athletes are banned from having tattoos. He said that tattoo ban has no geographical limits and should be respected in all domestic and international tournaments. He added: if an Iranian athlete ignores this restriction and enters the tournament with visible tattoos he/she will face the consequences. Seydanlu said: Recently some players and coaches of one of the sport teams who travelled to USA interviewed American radio stations. This issue resulted in a reaction by the Physical Education Organization officials. Such behaviour during the Olympics may leadto something more than a reaction. The Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution has banned all Iranian athletes from interviewing foreign media. Based on this law no Iranian sportsman is under any circumstances allowed to speak to foreign media without the approval of the Iranian government. Seydanlu said that those who violate this law may be banned from future competitions. He also added that Iranian athletes should not make any unorthodox moves whilst the national anthem is played or the flag is hoisted. [Passage omitted: Background report on Iran sportsmen participating in Olympics] Source: Mehr news agency, Tehran, in English 0553 gmt 21 Jul 08 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6185, Radio Educación – XEPPM verified with a colorful date/frequency "Certificado de Sintonía" card and a date-only personal letter from v/s Lic. Virginia Bello Méndez, Directora General in 233 days for $1.00 return postage (Rich D’Angelo, PA, August Australian DX News via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Re 8-085: [Tvfmdx] Azteca 13 information, anyone? XHCH-2 runs local ads, "TV Azteca Chihuahua" IDs, and supered local text IDs upper left. Most *local* IDs on Mexico TV are NOT on the hour or half hour. BTW, I've only IDed 108 different TV stations from 27 Mexico states and DF. (Man, I hate to brag like that.) For information on IDing Mexican TV stations, look here: http://www.tvdxtips.com (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, WTFDA via DXLD) I don't think anyone would dispute Danny is the #1 DXer for Mexican TV :) I mostly use the TV for getting an idea where the skip is coming from for FM DXing and would like to use the offset data the same way European 48 and 49 MHz TV carriers are measured to indicate possible 6 meter openings. Many of the Mexicans are slightly off frequency. Some as much as 2 kHz. Currently XHCH is the only off frequency TV2 that I have positively matched the off carrier to a picture and audio. If anyone else has data on the off frequency carriers I'd be very grateful if they'd share. (Randy KW4RZ Zerr, Fort Walton Beach, FL (northwest panhandle), EM60qk http://www.geocities.com/kw4rz ibid.) Chris, this is only a hobby, so you can do what you think is best about the Azteca-13 relayer. This is kind of like Mike's CBC relayer a few days ago. Mexico TV DX has taken up a lot time for DXers in the south, and it has often left DXers feeling like the experience was a waste of time. Mexico networks and most independent stations do currently put the logo upper right. Randy mentioned XHCH-2's odd frequency. Another oddity about their signal is that it frequently has a strange look, like it is mixed with cable TV or LPTV cci. This same feature can be seen at times on XHDRG- 2 Durango and XHHMA-2 Hermosillo. You can see some of my Mexico TV IDs here (including XHCH-2): http://www.tvdxexpo.com/tmextvdx.html (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, ibid.) BTW, something in Spanish, probably Mexico was showing up on channel 2 here at 1645 UT July 29. A studio demo of a candle, by two women, script 2 in the LR corner (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW IRELAND. 3905, Radio New Ireland verified an English report with $1.00 return postage with a full data Flag card in 166 days from an illegible verie signer (Rich D’Angelo, PA, August Australian DX News via DXLD) a.k.a. part of PAPUA NEW GUINEA, except in NASWA (gh) ** NEW ZEALAND. Re 8-085: ``Tuning in 6170 at 1258 July 27, jazz music in progress, making me wonder whether RNZI had not been running DRM here during the previous hour as scheduled. 1300 timesignal and RNZI news in analog (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` O, I forgot that DRM is currently off starting just before 1200, not 1300. Again on July 28 (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Following up an item from DXLD 8074, there have been several press articles about the new medium wave transmitter for FRCN Kaduna but it is not clear to me which service this is replacing. I believe it is the Hausa service on 594 kHz, parallel to 6090 and (a new FM transmitter on 92.1 MHz). The 594 transmitter has been off air for some weeks (presumably for the upgrade, not yet complete). However, I have also been unable to hear the second Kaduna channel (in English and other languages) on 1107 which is normally in parallel to 4770 (James MacDonell, NW Nigeria, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. FRCN CALABAR TO BEGIN NEXT QUARTER --- Patrick Ugeh Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) is to be commissioned in Calabar in the next quarter. The Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, who stated this on when the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham and his wife paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said already arrangements were on- going between the Federal and the Cross River State governments for the inauguration. According to him, the Director-General and some officials of the media outfit visited the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, recently and held far-reaching discussions, especially on infrastructural development that would bring about positive and fruitful outcome towards the realisation of the desired goals of the radio station. Odey also assured the Deputy Governor of federal government ís continuous cooperation and support to the development of the State, especially in the area of tourism. He stated that Tinapa was one of the projects desirous by Mr. President to come to fruition soonest. As such, everything was being done to ensure that the project comes up soonest. In an earlier remark, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said he was in the Minister's office to show solidarity to the federal government for its efforts so far in the past one year. He therefore solicited for government's assistance in the operational take-off of the FRCN project in Calabar, which according to him was long overdue for commissioning (AllAfrica.com via Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) Used to be on shortwave 6145 kHz, but this could well be mediumwave (Craig Seager, ed., ibid.) ** NORTH AMERICA. UNORTHODOX BROADCASTERS --- Since WBCQ became a licensed station operating on the once-popular 7415 kHz frequency, pirates have moved elsewhere. Also, the 40m band became crowded with international broadcasters and it simply wasn't practical for pirates, some of whom operate with as little as 10 watts in AM, to compete. Most of the best listening comes between 6925-6955, tho' they'll be found anywhere from 6700-7000 in the US. Occasionally they'll operate between 75-90m and 19-21m bands, but not often due to propagation and scheduling complications. European pirates tend to operate between 6100-6600, but also use 75-90m and 19-21m. The 6700-7000 kHz zone is popular worldwide for unlicensed communications because this area is used primarily for aviation and military voice comms and some data. Pescadores, folks who simply use HF as a substitute for the telephone, some of whom are fishermen or otherwise located where cell phones and CBs can't reach, use these freqs day and night and can be heard far more often than pirates with entertainment programming. One reason the approx. 6200-7000 kHz range has become popular worldwide among pirates is because, frankly, these frequencies stink. Propagation is a challenge, at best. The atmospheric noise is worse than a Melt Banana concert (Japanese punk band of the '90s that sounded like metal being torn apart with broken glass). Nobody wants these freqs so unlicensed transmissions, including the cryptic "numbers stations", adopted them by default. About all you'll hear is aviation voice comm and some military voice and data, which most pirates studiously avoid QRMing. I suspect that because pirates conscientiously try to avoid QRMing official communications and are effectively only QRMing other unlicensed comms - pescadores - regulatory enforcement is lenient. It's not at all unusual to hear a pirate with music or comedy sketches and eclectic programming to come right on top of a QSO between Gulf Coast fishermen. One popular US pirate in particular approached this with a sense of humor and began playing songs by Selena toward the end of his broadcasts, to the delight of pescadores who would whoop and whistle into their mics. European pirates aren't usually trying to reach DXers, so the whole subculture is different. They tend to prefer AM mode and use less power, tho' some do crank it up. Because N. America is so large and the population distribution is different, pirates here tend to try for listeners many hundreds, even thousands of miles away. For example, I've routinely heard at my home in N. Central TX pirates from Canada and the far upper Midwest, some operating only barefoot 100w rigs. Anyway, propagation is miserable now and even when you can pick up pirates the egg-frying static and t-storm crashes are fierce. But occasionally conditions are just right and an enjoyable program will come through for anywhere from a few minutes to as long as an hour. And to stay on topic, I've rigged up a primitive but effective indoor loop from coax that works very well from 5000-8000 kHz without any tuning, minimizing nasty atmospheric static while letting even the weak 10-35w pirate signals sneak through. It's not good for broadband HF listening but I tend to use a portable with a whip for listening to powerful international broadcasters, so it's moot. If you'd like to catch some eclectic pirate radio, tune a radio to 6925 USB late in the afternoon and just leave it there. If the static racket is too annoying hit the attenuation switch or turn down the gain. Some pirates crank out booming signals so they can even break squelch if your receiver has it. Pirates don't operate only on weekends so you're just as likely to hear them midweek. For me, in N. Central TX, the sweet spot during the summer is 7-10 pm. Pirates will transmit earlier but I don't hear 'em. Some pirates have run way into the wee hours this summer with low power AM transmitters, which I've heard a few times. Between midnight and dawn atmospheric noise is lower so a 10-35w AM signal can float in across hundreds of miles. It's like fishing. If it was easy, it'd be called "catching." But when you snag one it can really revive the old fun of DXing (W A Jenkins, July 27, shortwave-SWL-antenna yg via DXLD) ** PERU. No loud and clear cultural programming from Perú on SW, but I enjoy listening online via http://www.filarmonia.org/stream.m3u to Lima`s Filarmonía, such as Mondays 1500-1605 UT, ``Un encuentro con nuestra Música Criolla peruana``. July 28 it started with a rendition of the national anthem, and I quickly found the words in a search at http://www.redperuana.com/ElPais/simbolosnacionales/letrasdelhimnonacionalperuano.asp which also has a listen link: CORO Somos libres, seámoslo siempre, y antes niegue sus luces el sol, que faltemos al voto solemne que la patria al Eterno elevó. ESTROFAS Largo tiempo el peruano oprimido la ominosa cadena arrastró; condenado a cruel servidumbre largo tiempo en silencio gimió. Mas apenas el grito sagrado !Libertad! en sus costas se oyó, la indolencia de esclavo sacude, la humillada cerviz levantó. Ya el estruendo de broncas cadenas que escuchamos tres siglos de horror, de los libres al grito sagrado que oyó atónito el mundo, cesó. Por doquier San Martín inflamado, libertad, libertad, pronunció, y meciendo su base los Andes la anunciaron, también, a una voz. Con su influjo los pueblos despiertan y cual rayo corrió la opinión; desde el istmo a las tierras del fuego, desde el fuego a la helada región. Todos juran romper el enlace que Natura a ambos mundos negó, y quebrar ese cetro que España reclinaba orgullosa en los dos. Lima, cumple ese voto solemne, y, severa, su enojo mostró. al tirano impotente lanzando, que intentaba alargar su opresión. A su esfuerzo saltaron los grillos y los surcos que en sí reparó, le atizaron el odio y venganza que heredara de su Inca y Señor. Compatriotas, no más verla esclava su humillada tres siglos gimió, para siempre jurémosla libre manteniendo su propio esplendor. Nuestros brazos, hasta hoy desarmados estén siempre cebando el cañón, que algún día las playas de Iberia sentirán de su estruendo el terror. En su cima los Andes sostengan la bandera o pendón bicolor, que a los siglos anuncie el esfuerzo que ser libres, por siempre nos dio. A su sombra vivamos tranquilos, y al nacer por sus cumbres el sol, renovemos el gran juramento que rendimos al Dios de Jacob. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also VENEZUELA ** PERU. Re: [Lista ConDig] Emisora peruana en 5059 NO IDENTIFICADA -- - Estimados Amigos: Alrededor de las 1320 UT en los 5959.2 kHz escuché la emisora identificándose como LA VOZ DE LAS HUARINGAS cumpliendo con la licencia otorgada por el Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones. Cordiales 73! (DXSPACEMASTER, ALFREDO BENJAMIN CAÑOTE BUENO, Lima, Perú, July 29, condiglist yg via DXLD) As already IDed by Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, DXLD 8-085, spelt Huarinjas, ex-6819 (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7325, Adygey Radio, Maykop. Adygean 1800 under BBC WS in English on 6/7, but on the next day 7/7 was from 1700 in Adygean, Arabic and Turkish - each text is reading in all three languages (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001, Marconi), Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. AM frequency change in American Samoa Leone, American Samoa: 720 kHz: WVUV granted move from 648 kHz. Power reduced from 10,000 watts to 5,000 daytime, 2,000 nighttime, non-directional. New site 14-20-24S/170-46-22W (posted by Doug Smith @ 1:06 AM Saturday, July 26, 2008, American Bandscan blog via DXLD) This has been pending for some time, to get away from a 9-kHz-spaced frequency offtunable only by caradios; but why reduce power? (gh) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 17785, BSKSA, Riyadh. English with "Press Review" by Ahmed Mussa at 0751 on 7/7 and from 0800 program in French (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001, Marconi), Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) This is the ``accidental`` English broadcast; SW not supposed to start until 0800 with French (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA [non]. What was R. ``Yugoslavia``, and R. Serbia is now The International Radio of Serbia. Mostly same announcers and program presenters of the past. I found them just by tuning around. English: 0000 and 0100 UT on 6190, S = 3-4. Sigh! Pay no attention to their frequency in use announcement of 6100 and 7240 (Bob Thomas, Bridgeport CT, July 21, by p-mail, retyped by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Such are the satisfaxions of staying offline and not reading DXLD in this day and age, making one`s own discoveries (gh, DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. On 31 July 2008 (Thursday) my opinion about Radio Singapore international (RSI) will be broadcast in CONNECTIONS by Yvonne Gómez. Listeners will try to listen it and send your comments about that to me on ardicdxclub (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) in. Also send you reports for QSL to english (at) rsi (dot) com (dot) sg. Details of broadcast 1220 UT, Freq: 6150 KHz (49M Band), 6080 KHz (49M Band)- (Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India For Contact: Jaisakthivel, 59, Annai Sathya Nagar, Arumbakkam, Chennai-600106, India Visit: http://www.dxersguide.blogspot.com http://www.sarvadesavaanoli.blogspot.com Join: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sarvadesavanoli Mobile: +91 98413 66086, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. 5920, R. Slovakia International, Rimavská Sobota. German with DX program featuring many DX catches of DX Editor at 1620 on 6/7 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF-2001, Marconi), Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) Which DX editor? Is there any real news on this show, on a Sunday? (gh, DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. SWISS MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER ON 531 KHZ TO CLOSE BY YEAR END The Swiss mediumwave transmitter at Beromünster on 531 kHz is to close by the end of 2008, as it no longer complies with stringent regulations on electromagnetic radiation. The 600 kW transmitter has in recent years been operated at the reduced power of 180 kW. In 2003 the antenna feeder cable was damaged by lightning. It was planned to replace it, but the plans were cancelled because of protests from local residents. Photos and history of Beromünster site [link] (July 28, 2008 9:57 UT by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) 2 comments so far: 1 Kai Ludwig July 28th, 2008 - 13:35 UTC This is SRG’s spin, but when looking at the hard numbers one can only conclude that they reduced the power to comply these regulations. To my knowledge the fieldstrength limit for inhabited places in Switzerland is 8 V/m. The complaint against the transmitter was that it produced 12.6 V/m at such a place when running full 600 kW. Reducing the power to 170 kW (some sources specify the currently run level as 160 kW) brings the fieldstrength down to 7 V/m. If these figures and my maths are correct (there is a possibility that nearfield conditions would have to be considered, the affair appears to concern a place less than 400 metres away from the antenna) there is no problem with electromagnetic radiation. Swiss DXer Christian Brülhart says that according to engineering circles it is still unclear what will happen to the transmitter. The possibilities range from continued operation for another broadcaster (since SRG almost definitely leaves on 31 Dec) to a complete demolition of the station. 2 ruud July 28th, 2008 - 14:05 UTC The possibilities for another broadcaster using 531 are very slim. Some 10 years ago SRG abandoned 1566 kHz, also from B-Muenster, but a commercial Zuerich broadcaster could not make it profitable.The AM situation has worsened since. Only an oldies station with just the electricity costs at 160 kW (low charges for the old TX and site) would be an option (Media Network blog, ibid.) ** TAIWAN. RECORDATORIO: CONCURSO DE RADIO TAIWÁN INTERNACIONAL Radio Taiwán Internacional cumple 80 años desde que se fundó en 1928 en Nanjing, y 10 años desde la última reforma. Esta doble dicha en un mismo año es razón más que suficiente para celebrarlo. Después de habernos acompañado a través de los años, seguro que usted y Radio Taiwán Internacional tienen en común muchos recuerdos gratos. En este año de celebración, le hacemos la cordial invitación a todos los amigos oyentes alrededor del mundo a que se unan al festejo de esta gran familia. Con motivo del aniversario, Radio Taiwán Internacional ha organizado un concurso. Solamente pedimos a los participantes que nos escriban unas palabras de felicitación a la radio. Fecha del concurso: Desde el 1 de junio hasta el 15 de agosto de 2008. También se aceptarán las cartas con el matasellos de la fecha tope. Bases del concurso: Escriba unas palabras dedicadas a Radio Taiwán Internacional para su 80º cumpleaños, y envíe su respuesta vía correo tradicional, correo electrónico o fax a: Dirección postal: Radio Taiwán Internacional, P.O. BOX 123-199, Taipei 11199, Taiwán, R.O.C. Correo electrónico: rti @ rti.org.tw Fax: +886-2-28862294 (Los participantes deberán escribir el nombre completo y la dirección detallada, con el fin de facilitar el envío de los premios). Reglas del concurso: De las cartas recibidas, se seleccionarán las 130 mejores dedicatorias. Además de seleccionar las mejores obras, también se realizará un sorteo de premios para 300 afortunados. La selección y el sorteo se llevarán a cabo el día 9 de septiembre de 2008 en la sala de conferencias de RTI. Premios: A los autores de las 130 mejores obras les regalaremos un reloj de recuerdo de los 80 años de transmisión de Radio Taiwán Internacional. A los 300 afortunados les regalaremos camisetas de RTI. Fuente Informativa: http://www.rti.org.tw/big5/2008Activity/rti-birthday/S-index.aspx (Dino Bloise http://es.geocities.com/programas_dx/frecuencialdia.htm July 28, dxldyg via DXLD) Beware: above RTI page autolaunches Happy Birthday audio. Home page http://www.rti.org.tw/default.htm also autolaunches loud song in Chinese, and beautiful slideshow of birds. On English homepage http://english.rti.org.tw/default.aspx I don`t find anything about such a contest, just another monthly one about recipes. So does the above apply only to Spanish? And is that fair? The station founded in Nanjing in 1928 was certainly not known as RTI, and for many years after the revolution was called V. of Free China, with several other names at other times. Could CRI equally trace its roots to Nanjing in 1928? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. Re 8-085: On July 22nd, Bangkok Meteorological Radio announced the following schedule on air: 0000-0200 / 0300-0500 / 0600-0800 / 0900-1100 / 1200-1400 / 1500-1700 / 1800-2000 / 2100-2300 UTC on 6765.1 kHz and 8743.0 kHz 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 5890, R. Thailand, Udon Thani. English to NAm 0030-0100, adverts, news & music, 1/7 (Jack Wachterhauser, Kelmscott WA, National R551B, Grundig Yachtboy 400, 15m coax, Aug Australian DX News via DXLD) ?? This broadcast was cancelled last year; it was via Greenville. So what did he really hear? Hard to say; this frequency is now occupied by VOA Spanish from Greenville, but unlikely to propagate to Western Australia. Maybe it would from Thailand (7:30/8:30 am in WA winter) if RT has secretly revived it on this frequency; supposed to be on 12120 direct, which has encountered heavy RTTY QRM in North America. Please try to reconfirm that (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I know it isn't listed. Thought possibly a one-off. RT programming is rather unmistakable, and generally well received here on most frequencies (Craig Seager, ADXN ed., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. 2000 and 2004 saw a shutdown of live web streaming from the World Service due to concerns regarding live Olympics coverage. 2008 will be different - see the note below from the BBC. This is a much more intelligent approach than was done in past years (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, July 28, swprograms via DXLD) Viz.: For the duration of the Beijing Olympics, listeners to BBC World Service's live internet streams will be able hear their regular daily programming schedules, except at 14:30 GMT when there will be slight change on the news stream Monday to Friday. At that time, our Business Daily and Analysis programmes will replace World Briefing, Business Daily and Sports Roundup in the schedule. This is due to restrictions imposed by the Olympic rights holders. The restrictions mean we can cover news about the Olympics in our streamed news bulletins but any programme or bulletin containing recordings made in the Olympic venues will not be available online either live or on demand (BBC via Cuff, ibid.) A step in the right direction to be sure; but isn't this all a bit curious? The BBC and other broadcasters seem to have an interest in getting all of us to migrate over to the internet in preference to continuing to access broadcasts terrestrially, yet the "rights" issues limit what can be heard (and seen) on the internet. Can this be solely a costs issue? Or does it run deeper than that in that the rights holders will not distribute those internet rights to anyone but themselves? (And I'm not just referring to the Olympics, which has always been tight-fisted in this regard even before the advent of internet distribution. MLB, AFL--Aussie rules football, the NFL, the NHL, etc. all jealously reserve internet rights unto themselves.) The question is largely rhetorical, but I would be interested in hearing perspectives (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, ibid.) Follow the money --- For all the entities you mention, the content owners (don't you just love that...) are able to garner revenue for themselves by selling subscriptions to the content. Take the NFL for example, which sharply limits how much can be shown in newscasts now. All part of the debate to "monetize" content in the Internet era. When it comes to copyright, radio has always held a special position. The thinking historically was that radio airplay would create demand for whatever was being aired --- so that artists would not be compensated for their songs being played on the radio, because the exposure then meant that more people would by their LP / 8-track / cassette/ CD. Overall I believe it's a similar malady (Rich Cuff / Allentown, PA, ibid.) It also seems, particularly with sports, the leagues and sporting bodies see only the short term revenue to be earned not the potential for long term growth of the sport. The long term equation of "more exposure" implies "more fans" implies "more revenue" is forgotten. So, the use of radio, as you suggest, Rich, never enters the picture. For example: http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/167565/nfl-to-stream-live-broadcasts (Rob de Santos, ibid.) Rob supports some obscure ballgame, I forget which; o yeah, Aussie Rules Football, as mentioned above (gh) ** U S A. VOA RUSSIAN RADIO CEASED ON JULY 26 While doing some research on the VOA cuts announced in a ProPublica report I discovered that Russian is already an internet-only service, effective yesterday: http://www.voanews.com/russian/programs.cfm I was away during the former evening slots, but checked out the frequencies of the former 1300-1330 broadcast: Indeed no trace of a carrier on 11725 and 15565, which were Jászberény and Woofferton, respectively, and should not be completely inaudible if on air. So in all likelihood the plug has been pulled completely. So much for the promise to restore the funding of Russian broadcasts, cf. http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200807/071708c.html Or is it perhaps part of the alleged deal with Congress that Russian broadcasts by Radio Liberty will remain untouched? And if so, could it be that the other way round the VOA services for the Balkans will continue while those of RFE can and will be axed? These RFE services are Serbocroatian (called "South Slavic service"; probably individual shows therein differentiate between Serbian and Croatian, but in general its all one basket) and Albanian for Kosovo (not meant for listeners in Albania), both taken off shortwave already in summer 2005 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The scheduled frequencies for the VOA Russian broadcasts included: 1300-1330 9465-Udorn; 11725, 15130, 15565 from European sites 1700-1730 11805 1800-1830 9520 9820 11755 11805 from Europe; could not hear any of these July 28, but unlikely to propagate anyway if on (gh, OK, DXLD) VOICE OF AMERICA STOPS ON-AIR RUSSIAN RADIO PROGRAMS DESPITE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN U.S. CONGRESS Posted on July 29th, 2008 by ted in All News, Congressional News, Country News, Russia News Read 35 times. The Voice of America (VOA), an international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), has ceased its on-air Russian-language radio broadcasts as of July 26. The broadcasts were stopped despite concerns expressed by U.S. lawmakers and human rights NGOs that freedom of speech remains restricted in Russia. In an apparent effort to limit negative publicity and possible embarrassment, neither VOA nor BBG issued any public statements in English prior to taking the programs off the air after more than sixty years of uninterrupted broadcasting. A one paragraph announcement on the VOA Russian language web site, posted on July 26, stated that as of next day VOA programming in Russian will be available only through the Internet. The short announcement did not specify what radio or TV programs may still be available on the VOA Russian-language website. Earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee criticized the Bush Administration and the bipartisan Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America and other taxpayer- funded civilian international broadcasts, for the decision to eliminate on-air VOA Russian language programs. The panel concluded that freedom of speech remains restricted in Russia and voted to continue funding VOA Russian-language broadcasts in FY09. The committee also criticized the administration and the BBG for proposing cuts in other U.S.-funded broadcasts, including programs to Tibet, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Tish King, a spokeswoman for Voice of America, was quoted by ProPublica.org as saying that the language services cuts are the result of “painful decisions” that reflect a focus on “places where, based on research, we can be most effective.” In 2007, Congress disagreed, however, with BBG’s plans and restored funding for language services which the administration and BBG wanted to eliminate. According to King, this time around Congress is on board with the cuts. ProPublica.org also quoted her as saying that the cuts will be effective in September. According to Tish, the cuts do not mean that U.S. government-funded broadcasts to some countries will stop altogether. She pointed out that Radio Liberty broadcasts in Russian will continue, and VOA Russian-language website will remain. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a U.S. Congress-funded semi- private entity based in Prague, the Czech Republic, which has radio programs in Russian and other languages. The BBG is also in charge of RFE/RL’s budget and broadcasts. Ted Lipien, a former acting associate director of VOA and current president of FreeMediaOnline.org, a nonprofit which through its website supports independent journalism worldwide, said that despite these assurances, “eliminating live VOA radio and television broadcasts to Russia shows a certain lack of strategic thinking on the part of the Bush Administration and the BBG. Anyone familiar with the political situation in Russia would see murders of Russian journalists, government takeovers of media outlets, and intimidation of broadcasters using VOA and Radio Liberty programs as a serious threat to freedom of expression,” Lipien said (source? via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Read the full story http://www.bloggernews.net/116959 Andy Sennitt adds: Unless you can read Russian, you wouldn’t know that anything has changed. The three half-hour broadcasts on shortwave are still listed in the frequency schedule on the VOA website. (July 29th, 2008 - 14:20 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) But now they are not: http://www.voanews.com/english/about/frequenciesAtoZ_r.cfm It has been hinted that RL in Russian would be put on shortwave where previously VOA Russian plus Special English could be heard, from August 1 after a gap of five days. Can anybody check that out? (Glenn Hauser, 1700 UT July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. BBG GIVES INTO CHINA OVER SATELLITE: INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** U S A. WEWN OFF THE AIR --- July 28 at 2035 I noticed that R. Cairo was in the clear on 11550, no het and not a trace of WEWN co-channel, and same past 2100. Nor could I hear WEWN on the other scheduled frequencies during those hours, 17510 or 17595. The higher ones could have been missing due to poor propagation. After all three frequency changes at 0000 UT July 29, WEWN still missing from 11520, 11870 and especially 5810 which is normally a monster signal. So what`s wrong? No hint on their website, of course. As of 2300 UT there was some lightning in SE Alabama, http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx which might have threatened the Birmingham area earlier. They have been known to close down in such a situation. If anyone notes WEWN back on, or still missing, later tonight and tomorrow, let us know. Frequency schedule: http://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It was not only Birmingham, but also a wide area in West Alabama and East and East Central Mississippi (Richard Lewis, Forest, MS, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) The television side is on, been checking, no mention there either (Ron Trotto, IL, ibid.) WEWN still missing: July 29 at 0528, nothing on 5810; at 1313 nothing on 7425; at 1415 nothing on 11550, 15855, 17510, tho once again the higher ones could be inaudible here due to propagation (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glen, Sorry to bother you as you may be very busy trying to get WEWN back on the air, but I wonder what the problem is? As far as I can tell, has been completely off the air Monday and so far today Tuesday. Regards, (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO July 29, to Glen Tapley, WEWN, via DXLD) Glenn, Hope you are doing well. We will be off air for about two weeks for maintenance down time. We are replacing slew boxes, working on grounding, electrical, and the like. (Glen Tapley, Affiliate Engineer, Manager, EWTN Television Network, Frequency Manager, WEWN RADIO, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 15590, WRNO (presumed) at 2138 on 7/22. Just a couple of minutes of music to 2142 dead air and power cut. First time noted in several checks since this began testing (I was beginning to think WRNO stood for "We're Really Not On.") Later found 7505 blasting away at 0435 on 7/23 with country stuff and a bit of distortion (Gerry Dexter, WI, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** U S A. WYFR on new 7730, July 28 at 0535 in German, ex-7780, so presumably that goes for all the 7780 transmissions, as in my previous report. I suppose some utility or military user of 7780 complained, but it sure took them a while (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Please note the following additions to Family Stations, Inc. transmissions via RTI (These additions went into effect on July 1, 2008): Burmese to Myanmar 6220 kHz 1000-1200 UTC Mandarin to China 9540 kHz 2300-2400 UTC Mandarin to China 9545 kHz 0900-1100 UTC Vietnamese to Vietnam 7260 kHz 1300-1400 UTC Vietnamese to Vietnam 9455 kHz 1000-1100 UTC Vietnamese to Vietnam 9930 kHz 1300-1400 UTC (Note: The 1300-1400 UTC Vietnamese was on 9895 kHz 1 Jul-22 Jul.) (WYFR, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note 9930, not to be confused with KWHR which presumably starts at 1400 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. Re 8-085: Re: WHR encroaching on 9955?? --- Anything is possible of course, but I'm not aware of any use by WHR of 9955. I checked the latest B08 FCC schedule, and there is nothing about WHR on 9955 there either (Jeff White, WRMI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Check this, especially you folks along coastal areas --- 87.7, WPAA NYC is very strong with RDS. The RDS reads Pulse 88.7 and the scrolling says "New York's New Dance Leader" (Mike Bugaj, Enfield CT, July 28, WTFDA via DXLD) That`s a lowpower channel 6 TV station funxioning as a radio station; RDS 1 MHz off?? Maybe cannot be programmed to show such an OOB frequency as 87.7; not close enough (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. It may be licensed to Hackensack, NEW JERSEY, but Salem Communications has big New York City plans for the former WWDJ (970). After spending the last 24 years under various iterations of a religious format, WWDJ changed calls to WTTT late last week, swapping callsigns with Salem's AM 1150 in Boston. (More on that in a bit.) But the WTTT calls, installed in Boston in 2003 when Salem flipped that station to a talk format, aren't going to be permanent fixtures on the New York dial. Instead, the station - which is in the process of completing its daytime power upgrade from 5,000 to 50,000 watts - will change calls again, possibly as soon as today, to WNYM, becoming "970 the Apple" and flipping to Salem's in-house lineup of syndicated talk programming. The new schedule, as laid out at the website that went live over the weekend, includes Bill Bennett's "Morning in America," followed by Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt. Similar formats have failed to draw significant ratings in other big cities for Salem, at stations such as WNTP (990 Philadelphia), WIND (560 Chicago) and KRLA (870 Glendale/Los Angeles). But even if it doesn't draw much in the way of numbers in New York, clearing the talk lineup in the nation's number-one market is likely to allow Salem to charge more for national advertising during the shows - and indeed, many have wondered why Salem didn't pursue such a format flip sooner. Why the WNYM calls? There's a history there - when Salem entered the New York market back in 1981 by purchasing the former WEVD(AM) on 1330, WNYM was the new callsign the company picked. That callsign lasted until 1989, when Salem sold WNYM (which had by then absorbed WPOW, the other half of the old 1330 share-time) and purchased WMCA (570). The former WNYM on 1330 is now WWRV, and continues to transmit from the site in Hackensack shared with 970. And while the arrival of the WWDJ calls on Boston's AM 1150 probably won't be much noticed by listeners to the Spanish-language religious format now in place there, we note that the change from WTTT to WWDJ marks callsign number 11 at this facility, making it one of the most frequent callsign swappers on the AM dial. For those playing the home game, 1150 has now been WCOP, WACQ, WHUE, WSNY, WMEX, WROR, WNFT, WAMG, WBPS, WTTT and now WWDJ, leaving second-place WWZN (1510), now on its eighth callsign in 74 years, in the dust. (Speaking of WWZN, it's moving ever farther away from its former sports format, adding an increasing amount of leased-time religion to its programming.) (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch July 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 8-084: Per a check just a few minutes ago, KVNS-1700 is now back on the air. They were off since Wednesday morning, when Hurricane Dolly made landfall near Brownsville, and were still off as of approximately 10:00 am this morning [CDT = 1500 UT] when I last checked (Harry Helms W5HLH, Corpus Christi, TX EL17, 0039 UT July 28, ABDX via DXLD) ** U S A. Re 8-085, WRFD 880 Ohio on the air at night --- Glen[n], I heard them and they were at full power. This happened once before on or about Christmas a number of years ago and I called their consulting engineer at home and told him but this time, I wasn't sure if he was still doing their work and after 10pm I didn't know if I should bother anyone. Most times when you call stations about tech stuff, the "why did you bother me" reaction makes one feel like, "well, if you're not monitoring your own station then you deserve the fines you get". If I were certain the Chief Engineer was the same I probably would have called him (Chuck Adkins, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Furthermore, if they aren`t monitoring their own station, why should they expect anyone else to listen? This criticism can be levelled at countless outlets (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. Now that the 2008 season of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is underway, the 13-week series of one-hour concert excerpts from 2007 is running on Yellowstone Public Radio, Tuesdays 1700 UT, and no doubt at various times on many other public radio stations: http://www.yellowstonepublicradio.org/programs/listings/santafe_festival.php (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VANUATU. 7260, R. Vanuatu, Vila. Very noisy, but managed to hear English announcements during a lull at 0632 after guitar music from Les Paul. Heard on 21/7 (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, Dipole, Aug Australia DX News via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Birding the Venezuelan National Anthem --- For what it is worth: Fans of the good old days of DXing/SWLing Venezuela, especially at sign on or sign off, may get a chuckle from this vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JgyxIFQyNg (Kevin Mikell, July 29, NASWA yg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. RADIO VOICE OF THE PEOPLE TO REVERT TO TWO TRANSMISSIONS PER DAY --- Radio Voice of the People, which broadcasts to Zimbabwe via the Radio Netherlands Madagascar relay station, will revert to its previous schedule of two transmissions per day as from 1 August. The transmissions at 0400-0500 UTC on 9895 kHz and 1700-1800 UTC on 7120 kHz will continue. The transmission at 1100-1200 UTC on 11695 kHz will be dropped. (July 28th, 2008 - 17:16 UTC by Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ From Richard Phelps, legally-blind listener, to Glenn: Thanks for the WebAnywhere link! It's from my old alma matter, the University of Washington! I'm passing on this link http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu/webanywhere-description.mp3 to other blind/visually-impaired friends of mine, as many of them can't afford the commercial text-to-speech programs. This is why I suggested WOR be kept on the DX-398 / ATS-909 Users Group, and my and others' request was implemented... Take care, Glenn; even though I don't know you personally, I have listened or read WOR since I was in my 20s; keep up the good work! (Richard Phelps, President of LA-AIRS, Radio Reading for the Blind and Print-challenged for S.W. Louisiana, at http://la-airs.org DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ THE HIGH PRICE OF HIGH DEFINITION TV By ADAM BUCKMAN July 27, 2008 – http://www.nypost.com/php/pfriendly/print.php?url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/07272008/tv/the_high_price_of_high_definition_tv_121580.htm Sony has ripped me off. Yes, Sony, the maker of TV sets that were once the most revered in the home electronics industry. Well, not anymore. My wife and I are now stuck with a $2,100 piece of junk, a 32-inch Sony Bravia flat-panel LCD HDTV that has failed after only two years of normal use. The price for fixing this thing: $810, the price quoted by Advisory T.V. and Radio Labs, one of two local firms "authorized" by Sony to service its crummy products. That price includes labor, the cost of an electronics component known as a BU board that needs to be replaced (the price for this part: $410!) and a $97 charge just to have a technician come to our apartment to look the set over for 15 minutes (we've already paid that). Let that sink in: We are now faced with paying more than a third of the price we paid for this TV set to get it fixed barely two years after we purchased it. And Sony couldn't care less. Yes, our warranty was for only one year. And when we bought the set, we opted not to purchase an "extended warranty" that might have covered us, not because we're stupid, but because we had faith that a TV set made by Sony would not fail in two years. Moreover, at $2,100, we felt we had already paid enough for this TV, which, at that price, should have lasted for 20 years. Predictably, calls to Sony customer service were unhelpful. "Marlon" in the Philippines dismissed my argument that a company with Sony's reputation should stand behind its products when a customer makes a reasonable request for redress when one of its products turns out to be a lemon, warranty or no warranty. So now, this flat-screen TV, representing our first, and so far only, foray into the digital-TV future, sits off to the side gathering dust. In its place we have moved an older set from another room, a supremely reliable 20-inch Panasonic with the old, so-called "standard definition" picture tube that you view through concave glass. It's still a great way to watch TV because, at the risk of sounding like a fuddy-duddy or a radical, I don't believe the human eye is capable of telling the difference between SDTV and high-def anyway. But alas, the old Panasonic is the last of its kind; such sets are no longer stocked at most of our local stores. They've been replaced by sets costing three or four times as much that, in the case of our Sony, break in two years. Copyright 2008 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved (via Brock Whaley, HI, DXLD) MAD MEN on AMC TV: A letter to Aaron Barnhart at TV Barn Aaron`s excellent TV blog has a nice story on the attention to detail on the TV program “Mad Men.” http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2008/07/mad-men-its-bri.html I couldn`t help myself: I agree that the set design and the devotion to historical accuracy make Mad Men such a pleasure to watch. However, in the second season opener, As the characters watched Jackie Kennedy’s tour of the White House, on top of one of the television sets shown on the program, was an indoor UHF TV antenna. This was a gold antenna sitting on top of a console. It is known as a double batwing UHF antenna. In reality, there would be no need for such an antenna. It would be useless, or offer very poor reception of the New York VHF stations that broadcast the tour; Channels’ 2, 4, and 7. In addition, the only UHF television station operating in the New York market on February 14, 1962 was WUHF on channel 31, making very limited test broadcasts of a non-commercial nature. I doubt that any character would have gone to the extra expense of owning a television capable of receiving UHF at such a time, when the addition of a UHF tuner made a set more expensive. This UHF station had a very sporadic schedule, and seven New York City channels were available for viewing on regular VHF only set. A very minor flaw, I know, to an otherwise exceptionally well crafted program (Brock Whaley, Honolulu, via DXLD) Enjoy the show too. But were there remotes back then, with a B&W TV? Couldn`t get a good look at it; maybe it was on a cable rather than wireless (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glenn, No, no cable on the remote control. And the TV set in question only "clicked" over to one channel position (thanks foley) and then back to Collingwood and Jackie. Based on NYC channel spacing, they must have switched between WNBC-TV channel 4, and WNEW-TV channel 5, and back to 4. All nets simulcast the tour (2,4, and 7). Metromedia (5) did not. Regards, (Brock Whaley, ibid.) Axually, I recall operating a set (motel, or relative`s house? Never owned one) with a wired remote control that mechanically stepped channels up and down, clunk clunk. Top of the line stuff, I guess (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Glenn, Do you remember the Zenith sets of the late 50's, early 60's where they would place the locally used channel strips next to each other on the selector turret? I guess a local dealer would do it. The numbers on the dial reflected the strip position. I had relatives in Savannah, GA that had a Zenith with channels 3 and 11 next to each other, and one in Miami with 2,4,7, and 10 in the same set up. On rabbit ears. 5 and 12 from West Palm watchable, but not grouped next to the Miami channels. 2,4,7,10,3,5,6,8,...and so on (Brock Whaley, ibid.) I have encountered such sets, Zenith or not, where each channel position was in effect its own tuner which could be set to any real channel (gh, DXLD) POWERLINE INTERFERENCE Perhaps I'm being unfair. Where I live interference is rampant. Driving down streets in my area the interference from power lines, signs, home electronics etc is so bad that in some stretches of road the AM broadcast band (540-1700) is TOTALLY WIPED OUT! Even in cases where I can get AM & SW reception the hash noise is so great that it's just not enjoyable to even try to listen. This is true in my home even when I have MY power mains turned off. Am I mistaken but isn't there a FCC regulation that ANYTHING that causes harmful interference comes under the punitive powers of the FCC? Why is NOTHING enforced anymore? (Tom, shortwave-SWL-antenna yg via DXLD) Because George Bush sold the airwaves to the power companies (and the EPA to the coal and nuclear industries, health care to the drug companies, etc...). There's no government like corrupt government. (Robert, ibid.) When it comes to radiated emissions, the FCC doesn't care about anything below 30 MHz. They have strict rules above that, however. Below 30MHz, the FCC does care about "conducted" emissions - stuff you put on the AC line. You know, the odd patterns you hear as you drive under power lines. I doubt that it's enforced. If it were, there would be millions of PC's sitting on the shipping docks rather than in homes and businesses (KEVIN B, ibid.) Here's a quote from a June 2008 e-mail I received from the FCC: "...the FCC dose not investigates issues of electrical interference" (sic). You can't make this stuff up. I've attached a JPEG screen capture of this e-mail to the files section of the group. (Title "FCC FAIL") Yer tacks dollers hardly at werk (W A Jenkins, ibid.) Yah, that can be a discouraging piece of mail to receive, but keep in mind it is a form response that it also used to reply to the numerous complaints to the F.C.C. from consumers who hear voices coming out of their PART 15 devices in the middle of the night. While it is true that the F.C.C. does not actively investigate these issues, its enforcement group will support you in your efforts to correct an issue. If your power company does not respond to your complaints, and does not make a good faith effort to assist you in finding a resolution, as long as you can provide the F.C.C. with documentation of your efforts over a reasonable period of time, they will pursue the matter legally. I have been told that a reasonable period of time is about 2 months. A letter from the F.C.C. requesting a notice of action on the complaint will often be all that it takes to motivate a sluggish power company to take care of it. When I was working with the RFI tech at my location, I had a little discussion about this with the guy. I was curious why his technical group responded within only a few days of being notified of the problem. He was very open about it and said there were several things they tried to avoid: 1. Extended legal dialog with the F.C.C. 2. Complaints brought to them through the DPUC (Department of Public Utility Control) which is a regulatory body in the state of CT that oversees the utilities. 3. Obvious problems that are out there that generate a bad public image. Apparently, claims or complaints that fall into these categories will trigger a whole avalanche of paperwork and administrative problems. He also said, that in many noisy hardware cases, such as with blown lightning arrestors, faulty switches, faulty fuses, damaged insulators, splices or other such RF generators, they actually will save money in the long run by correcting the problem, especially if the issues are consuming power or could eventually lead to a power outage. Unless you live on your own 300 acre estate in the country, I think some man-made RF noise is inevitable with certain weather conditions at different times, and we probably will have to live with that. But a relentless, pounding, s-meter bending noise that rips away 24/7 is a good indication that something somewhere is broken and needs attention, and once I got past that first buffer of office staff, the technical people I spoke with at my local power company were very interested in finding and fixing it. I would urge anyone who has a complaint to start the process, and keep very good notes about who you talk to, when you talked, and what they said. Then keep calling and asking for the same people, remind them of what they promised you the last time, and make sure you remind them that you will be calling again to check on progress in a week or so. Keep asking to move up the chain. It drives them crazy (and it can be very amusing). (Rob W1AEX, ibid.) For anyone who is interested, the ARRL has archived copies of F.C.C. enforcement letters regarding interference to radio reception by U.S. power companies. This is by no means a total compilation, these 100 or so letters from the F.C.C. Enforcement Bureau are ones that the League became involved with in support of amateur radio operators. There are no doubt thousands of others where the amateur radio operators or the League were not involved. They can be browsed here: http://www.arrl.org Once you arrive at the site, in the upper left of the page, put the following into the "Search Site" box: f.c.c enforcement The first link that comes up will bring you to 100 letters of enforcement sent out to power companies across the nation. Yahoo tends to break long links, so I hesitate to put the whole link here. It is a fact that no company wants to play with the F.C.C. Enforcement Bureau. It is expensive, and incidental radiation is indefensible. My favorite line from the letters is this one: "Please advise the complainant within 30 days of what steps your utility company is taking to correct this reported interference problem. The FCC expects that most cases can be resolved within 90 days of the time they are first reported to the utility company. If you are unable to resolve this within 90 days, please advise this office about the nature of the problem, the steps you are taking to resolve it, and the estimated time in which those steps can be accomplished." It is not my intention to continue this thread, the group has been patient enough. But this problem is one that impacts the SWL hobby perhaps as much as propagation does. We really can't do much about propagation, but don't be misled into thinking you can't do anything about powerline noise or interference from PART 15 devices. If you are willing to really work at it, you can push noise back down to a workable level in most places (Rob W1AEX, ibid.) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Re 8-085: UKQRM YAHOO! GROUP FORMED TO FIGHT AGAINST BPL Members of several DX clubs have been aware of the problems of this technology for quite some time. Both UK broadcast DX clubs have carried articles about it and there have been talks about the technology at inter-club meetings. Both are publicising and supporting the UKQRM group. Their email lists publicise Glenn Hauser’s DX Listening Digest where the subject has been dealt with extensively for many years. The website of the German shortwave listeners association the ADDX has extensive information on PLC including statements from the EU Commission. The EU recognises that equipment should not cause undue interference and these devices carry a CE certificate. However there is a self-certification policy, on July 10 The Register reported that 76% of radio equipment tested in 2003 failed to come up to EU specifications, a figure which rose to 88% in 2006. In June 2003 the North American Shortwave Association submitted an 18 page filing to the FCC in response to their inquiry into Broadband Over Power Line devices, followed that up with further filings and attended a meeting in Washington together with other users of the shortwave spectrum who had expressed their concern about interference. Among much other material they quoted two ITU regulations: ITU Regulation 4.11: Member states recognise that among frequencies which have long-distance propagation characteristics, those in the bands between 5 and 30 MHz are particularly useful for long-distance communications; they agree to make every possible effort to reserve these bands for such communications. Whenever frequencies in these bands are used for short-range or medium-distance communications, the minimum power necessary shall be employed.” ITU Radio Regulation 15.12: “Administrations shall take all practicable and necessary steps to ensure that the operation of electrical apparatus or installations of any kind, including power and telecommunication distribution networks, but excluding equipment used for industrial, scientific and medical applications, does not cause harmful interference to a radio communication service and, in particular, to a radio navigation or any other safety service operating in accordance with the provision of these regulations.” ITU regulations allocate certain frequencies between 2 and 26 Mhz for the exclusive use of international broadcasts, both analogue and digital. They are an authorised service and listeners have a right to hear them. The vast majority of shortwave listeners however are not members of DX Clubs. DX Clubs themselves have limited resources and personnel, who are unpaid volunteers. Most shortwave listeners use portable receivers inside the house with whip antennas, the interference could be much stronger than a radio amateur with an outside antenna might receive. In the main they are not as technically astute as radio amateurs, they switch on the radio, key in the frequency, adjust the volume and listen to the broadcast. They might only listen to one particular shortwave station. When they get interference they won’t know where it’s coming from or if and how they can complain about it. In the US the FCC has placed the burden of identifying and reporting interference from these devices onto the individual listener, the same seems to be happening in the UK. Iran, Cuba and China jam broadcasts from overseas, the UK is a Western democracy and its citizens have a right to listen to broadcasts from overseas without interference, including those from the three countries mentioned. International broadcasters are cutting down or cancelling analogue shortwave broadcasts to the developed world, however most are members of the DRM consortium and the HFCC. Peter Senger, the then DRM chairman, approached the EU about BPL some years ago, I would suggest a fresh approach be made particularly since their headquarters are now at BBC World Service. It may also be worthwhile for BPL to be on the agenda of the next HFCC meeting, it has been discussed there before. full item: http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/broadband-over-power-lines-bpl-a-dxer-responds-to-my-earlier-comments (Mike Barraclough, Media Network blog, 1521 July 29, cc Glenn Hauser, via DX LISTENING DIGEST) DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: ALASKA; FRANCE; GERMANY; NEW ZEALAND ++++++++++++++++++++ STUDY ON INCREASE POWER OF DIGITAL SIGNALS [FM band, or rather, VHF] What would this mean due the level of interference and DXing? http://www.nprlabs.org/research/drcia.php (Bill Harms, July 27, ABDX via DXLD) From the report: Unqualified 10% IBOC transmission power is predicted to cause substantial interference to analog reception of a significant number of first- and second-adjacent channel stations. If HD is that good, then just drop analog and go digital and get it over with (Kevin Redding, TN, ibid.) It's tempting to try to oversimplify the results of the study. Please don't. (Remember, we're talking here about a study whose executive summary alone runs over a dozen pages.) It took me nearly a page of last week's Radio Journal to cover just the headline version, and here's what I wrote about it (read on past the quotes for my attempt to answer Bill's question): ``NPR Labs adds new fuel to the FM HD power increase fire. As broadcasters debate the possibility of increasing power on the digital sidebands of FM stations using HD Radio, NPR Labs weighed in last week with the results of its “DRCIA” (Digital Coverage and Interference Analysis” project, which sought to map out the projected coverage of 75 representative public radio stations at both the current power levels (1% of analog) and the proposed 10% of analog. And the results give ammunition to both sides of the HD power-increase debate – ``For digital reception, that 10% could make a big difference. The NPR Labs study confirmed what many real-world users of FM HD have already found – at present injection levels, the digital sidebands simply aren’t robust enough to replicate current analog coverage areas for listeners using table or portable radios. While mobile HD coverage would be about 85% of analog, table and portable radios would work in only about 38% of the current analog coverage area. Increasing digital injection levels to 10% would dramatically alter those numbers – mobile HD coverage would actually exceed “quality” analog coverage areas by about 17%, on average, while table and portable digital radios would work in more than 80% of areas now served by analog signals. But that increase would come at a big interference cost for analog listeners, the study found. ``A big analog hit in a higher-powered digital world. Even at present digital power levels, the study found that adjacent-channel interference to analog signals from digital carriers is a real problem – “mobile analog FM population would be reduced an average of 14% for the sample stations (if all were running digital) due to interference from IBOC DAB. This affects most stations in varying degrees in outlying portions of their mobile analog service areas,” the report found. Increasing those digital signals to 10% would create bigger problems – “41% of the stations studied would lose one-third or more of their covered population (for mobile analog listening) and 18% would lose more than half of their population.” The problems would be similar, but slightly less dramatic, for table radios. ``NPR Labs offers its recommendations and conclusions. The study says broadcasters can’t expect much more improvement in receiver technology, so it says any developments will have to come at the transmission end. It says the interference impact of FM HD so far has been “minimal,” and that the impact of a digital power increase would “vary widely from station to station.” Despite claims that FCC protection standards would make it easier for stations in the commercial part of the band to raise digital power, the study says the effect of a power increase would be similar at both ends of the dial. Bottom line? Because “unqualified 10% IBOC transmission power is predicted to cause substantial interference to analog reception of a significant number of first- and second-adjacent channel stations,” the report recommends more limited power increases, including the possibility of separate directional antennas for digital signals and uneven power increases in stations’ upper and lower sidebands. And it says further study of Single Frequency Network on-channel digital boosters is worth considering. You can read the whole report (or an executive summary) at nprlabs.org.`` So to answer Bill's question, as best I can: Right now, this report means nothing for interference levels and DXing, because NPR Labs doesn't make policy, and while its studies are respected at the FCC, that doesn't mean its conclusions are always reflected in policy. It's a pretty good bet that this study WILL have an effect on the ongoing debate about FM IBOC power levels. The Commission is in no particular hurry to act on the pending rulemaking proceeding on the issue, and if there's a lack of consensus in the industry, the FCC will continue to stall on the proceeding. The Commission was probably hoping for a study that would show that 10% injection levels either could or could not work, across the board. This study doesn't show that. The key here is that word "unqualified." What NPR found is pretty much what we as DXers already know - there are some places where the power increase could be implemented without much ill effect, other places where it probably can't work at all, and a lot of places where a more limited power increase could work. But that would mean addressing things on a station-by-station basis, and the FCC very much does NOT want to be in that business. Nor, most likely, does it want to give much consideration to some of the more unusual suggestions the NPR Labs report makes - allowing stations to use directional HD antennas separate from non-directional analog antennas, for instance, or that "single frequency network" idea of on-channel (OK, technically "adjacent-channel") digital-only boosters. Ibiquity, in good Ibiquity fashion, will simply deny that this report exists - but they'll have a hard time getting a lot of broadcasters to go along with them in continuing to support that "unqualified" 10 dB increase. This report all but guarantees that NPR itself won't support the idea, and some commercial broadcasters will find reasons for concern there, too. (There's an example on the cover of the latest Radio World - Bert Goldman, who ironically enough helped engineer a slew of second- adjacent FM move-ins in his former role with First Broadcasting, warns that stations like KTYS 96.7 Flower Mound TX, which rimshots Dallas and Fort Worth from 50 miles to the north, will have existing analog coverage threatened by increased HD injection levels at second- adjacent KEGL 97.1 and KSCS 96.3 in Dallas. Of course, one might argue that this is a good reason why stations like KTYS should never have been allowed to build where they are, anyway, but that opens a much bigger can of worms.) To get back to Kevin's closing line - there IS an interesting little finding buried deep in the NPR Labs study. It found that at the 10% injection level (10 kW for a class C FM), mobile digital coverage using the present hybrid system would actually exceed present useful analog coverage. Extending that conclusion a bit, one can surmise that a digital-only system would perform even better - and given how remarkably good the latest receiver chips are on adjacent-channel performance, a digital-only FM band would probably provide coverage benefits for just about everyone on the dial --- IF we could ever get there. In the meantime, the FM dial is the proverbial 5 pound bag of you- know-what, already stuffed with 10 pounds, and they've got the shovel out for more s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) Until average listeners start demanding HD receivers, studies like this are nothing but the modern equivalents of those medieval theological arguments about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. What would be a really fascinating study would be an examination of why a "public," supposedly non-commercial entity like NPR is so in bed with a private, profit-seeking, and desperately-hoping-for-an-IPO outfit like Ibiquity. It's too bad the Ibiquity IPO increasingly looks like it won't happen, for I have a very strong suspicion some NPR types would be on the "friends and family" list filed with the SEC as part of the S-1 documents (Harry Helms W5HLH, Corpus Christi, TX EL17, http://harryhelmsblog.blogspot.com/ ibid.) I strongly doubt that, and I think in this particular case that your trademark cynicism is misdirected. NPR's interest in HD Radio isn't at all hard to understand - public radio right now is generating more programming on a daily basis than any individual station can carry on a single signal. For the last quarter-century or so, public broadcasters have understood (because our listeners have told us so, strongly) that they need to find ways to provide multiple streams of programming to multiple niches within their audience. The days of the "Morning Edition for a few hours, then classical for a few hours, then ATC and Marketplace, then jazz at night", all things to all people on one frequency, public radio station are long gone. And while some public stations in small markets are able to add multiple program streams by signing on new signals or buying existing signals from other owners, station values aren't going down and the demand for new FMs just keeps going up. If a station like WXXI in Rochester, where I work part-time (and for which I do NOT speak in this or any other post), can add two more full-market programming streams for the cost of a few tens of thousands of dollars in gear, rather than the $10 million or more that a full-signal FM would cost, that's an easy decision to make. If you actually read the report, you'd have a hard time describing NPR Labs as being "so in bed" with Ibiquity or anyone else. It's as fair an analysis of the benefits and the drawbacks of the system as I've seen, and certainly NOT the sort of one-sided propaganda Ibiquity itself is known for. NPR Labs has conducted studies of FM Extra, and will no doubt be studying the VHF DRM system at some point, too. The report was conducted because the individual stations who collectively make up NPR want to know whether this thing will work or not, and what might be done to make it work, so that they can give their audiences the content they're demanding. It may not be - OK, it isn't - perfect, but for now, FM HD multicasting is the best answer many stations have found for broadcasting multiple program streams, and there's demonstrable evidence that where the content is on the air, audiences are following. I do some consulting work with Vermont Public Radio, which depends partially on HD multicasting to distribute its all-classical second network, and I can testify that if the HD goes off the air, the engineering department there hears about it from listeners immediately. We're starting to get calls at WXXI when the HD is off, and I'm hearing similar stories from other public stations, too. How do you make "average listeners" start demanding HD receivers? You don't. You make them start demanding CONTENT, and if the best way to get that content is an HD receiver, they'll buy the HD receivers. Public radio understands that right now in a way most commercial stations don't - and that's why NPR is interested in this technology. (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Harry, Did you actually read the study? I found it was a very thorough report on interference, and what I took from it, is that there are serious problems with analog interference, if the power is bumped up to 10%; also there are serious issues with HD coverage as well. (Juan Gualda, Ft. Pierce, FL, ibid.) I need to add something, and I was reminded after reading Scott's comments. I work for an Public station that carries NPR and other Public Programming, and I have kept quiet since we added HD, but as Scott said, we have too much programming for one station. We actually have enough programming for an HD-2, and HD-3, and still we have Programs that we cannot carry that have been asked for. I will not go on record as far as interference issues go, because every station and area will be different. I just wanted to add that (Juan Gualda, ibid.) Reading your and Scott's references to content being king, I couldn't help but think that perhaps radio is simply not the best distribution method for NPR content. This seems a situation where distribution via the Internet would be better for all involved. The "listeners" would get the content they want, and as a side benefit would get it when it's convenient for them, and the "station" would be able to cheaply distribute all the content they ever dreamed of. Sounds to me as though NPR would be far better off hitching their wagon to the next generation WIFI devices than to IBOC (Jay Heyl, FL, ibid.) I should probably have noted that NPR and its member stations are indeed invested heavily in alternate means of content distribution. Podcasts of public radio content are consistently among the most- listened-to on iTunes, for instance. At WXXI, we originate some podcast-only programming, and we podcast many of our features that were originally produced for broadcast. (For instance, I co-host a weekly feature called "Mixed Media" that's all about media and technology - check it out at http://wxxi.org/podcast !) We also stream all of our radio services, and we do have a sizable streaming audience around the world. We've taken pledges from South America and Europe during our membership drives. Here's the problem: live streaming does not scale up efficiently, at least not with current technology. We host our streams in-house, and an ever-growing part of our budget now goes to the bandwidth needed to keep those streams up and running. It's not a good business model - there's little or no benefit to our local underwriters to having their messages heard in California or Chile or Catalonia, and the "it's all free" mentality on the net means we have a hard time getting membership dollars from streaming listeners. By contrast, of course, there are no issues of scale at our end with IBOC. We're already paying the power bill to the transmitter, and it doesn't change whether there are 10 listeners or 100 or 100,000. By contrast, supporting 100,000 streaming listeners would probably exceed our entire annual radio budget right now. (Yes, we can, and eventually may, outsource our streaming - but that costs real money, too.) There are also royalty issues involved - even with the group deals that NPR has struck with many copyright holders on behalf of the individual stations, there are still all kinds of weirdnesses at play if we try to do a streaming-only channel, as opposed to a stream of an HD multicast. This could all certainly change, and probably will, as new multicast technologies are developed - but for now, we still see a great deal of value in the traditional one-to-many BROADCAST architecture as the core of our distribution system. (And as always, I speak here only for myself, though I know these are views pretty widely shared within the building and within the industry.) s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) "Trademark cynicism"?? You just think you've seen me get cynical, Pink Boy!! ;-) But in this case I was referring to NPR's gushing, nigh- orgasmic support of HD and Ibiquity over the past several years, as evidenced by NPR press releases such as these: http://www.npr.org/about/press/040109.tomorrowradio.html http://www.npr.org/about/press/050108.tomorrowradio.html There are a lot more where those came from if you're inclined to do some Google searching. And Ibiquity has used plenty of those effusive NPR remarks in their own promotional materials. (Ain't symbiosis beautiful?) It has always struck me as very odd NPR hitched its wagon to a proprietary, closed technology that promised to make a lot of people a lot of money if it succeeded and Ibiquity managed to go public. Given the utter failure of HD in the marketplace and the rise of competing technologies, it probably doesn't matter now what the reasons were. But when I see someone like NPR offering up a lot of pro quo, I'm curious what sort of quid Ibiquity is providing. I can't recall NPR ever so tightly embracing something specifically benefiting just one company, and if it's "cynical" to wonder what's going on, so be it. If something looks odd, it's been my experience that. . . . . . well, something odd is usually going on, especially when potential financial windfalls are part of the equation.. I'm not trying to be more snarky than usual, but I have to question whether NPR's efforts to develop HD2, HD3, etc., programming is a wise use of finite time, people, and money. Given the total national sales of HD/IBOC receivers, it wouldn't surprise me in some markets if the total number of HD receivers in use by the general (that is, non- broadcast professional) public is in single digits. NPR is expending a lot of effort and money to reach a very small potential HD universe, and it's very appropriate to ask "why??" instead of taking their press releases at face value (Harry Helms W5HLH, Corpus Christi, TX, ibid.) BZZZT! A lot of us rural folks don't HAVE and NEVER WILL have any semblance of high speed internet. There is very expensive satellite but it's often bedeviled with latency and rain kills it. And it's expensive....yeah I said that (Powell E Way, III, W4OPW, ibid.) ```It's tempting to try to oversimplify the results of the study. Please don't.`` It`s hard not to when the report puts it squarely like this below. ``From the report: Unqualified 10% IBOC transmission power is predicted to cause substantial interference to analog reception of a significant number of first- and second- adjacent channel stations.`` Here's the deal. I have to wonder why so much effort is going into IBOC when the internet will get you much more benefit. You know exactly who is listening and when using the net. It is perfect to let you know what to program and how to pitch advertisers on commercial stations and how to pitch for donations when you have this info at the NPR station. You don't get that with IBOC (Kevin Redding, TN, ibid.) Heh! Believe me, the first folks to go HD here in the whole state of Wyoming was KUWR - Wyoming Public radio. Wanna talk about the number of iboc receivers in the single digits!!?? I truly wonder if anyone's listening. I truly wonder if you can even BUY an HD radio anywhere in Wyoming. I really don't think so. I guess they wanted to be "ahead of the game." They sure are spending a heck of a lot of their listeners' (and the university's) money to do it. Including upgranding transmitters all over the state to HD. Our WPR station here is a TRANSLATOR. What's the deal on those? Will we have HD translators? I think we have a few more HD stations here but not many at all and for the mostpart until recently, Wyoming Public Radio was it. Certainly nothing on my end of the state. Anything HD I got here in the extreme southwest is coming from Utah and my deaf Accurian won't decode it (Michael n Wyo Richard, ibid.) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ IS CYCLE 24 A DUD? Some interesting read(s) are starting to emerge about the lackluster beginning of Cycle 24 - Example: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/239625 Several theories suggest a possible decade of dud -- or longer, possibly leading to awesome medium and long wave DXing, not so much on the higher frequencies (Colin Newell, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, July 28, IRCA via DXLD) Why was this in the `Metro` section of the ADS? Local angle, of course (gh, DXLD) PLANETARY LINE-UP EXCITES THE SUN --- Marilyn Head, ABC Astronomers may have identified the link between sunspot activity and the Jovian planets (Source: NASA/ESA) [caption] Australian astronomers may have found a solution to how faraway Jupiter and Saturn drive the sun's solar cycle. In a paper published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, astronomer Dr Ian Wilson and colleagues from the University of Southern Queensland, suggest Jupiter and Saturn affect the sun's movement and its rotation, and hence its sunspot activity. Every 11 years the sun undergoes a period of intense solar activity, marked by flares, coronal mass ejections and sunspots. This period is known as the solar maximum and occurs twice each solar, or Hale, cycle. "The sun can be thought of as a large bar magnet," says Wilson. "The equatorial region of the sun spins more rapidly than the poles, and this differential rotation winds up the magnetic field lines like a rubber band." Wilson says sunspots typically appear wherever these magnetic field lines bubble to the surface. "Once the peak in sunspot activity is reached, a huge amount of energy is released, the magnetic poles are reversed and a new cycle begins," he says. For many years scientists have recognised an apparent connection between the strength of sunspot activity and the movement of the sun in relation to solar system's barycentre, which is driven by the combined gravitational forces of Jupiter and Saturn. But no one has been able to explain the connection. "There are really only two possible interactions, and neither of them is feasible," Wilson says. "Tidal forces are too tiny. They can only produce a movement of about a millimetre on the surface of the sun. "The alternative, that the sun's motion about the centre of mass should be able to generate internal motion within the sun, violates Einstein's equivalence principle." The authors believe the tiny gravitational tugs of Jupiter and Saturn speed up or slow down the sun's orbital motion about the centre-ofmass, when they are aligned or separated by an angular distance of 90 degrees. They say that when the sun's orbital motion changes, so too does its equatorial rotation rate, which provides strong circumstantial evidence that there is a spinorbit coupling mechanism operating between Jupiter and Saturn and the sun. The authors propose that this spin-orbit coupling takes the form of a 9:8 resonance, with the 179 year alignment cycle of the Jovian planets being equal to nine alignments of Jupiter and Saturn and eight 22-year Hale cycles. The extent to which Jupiter and Saturn affect the sun's motion may impact on the strength of sunspot activity throughout its solar cycle. But Wilson is cautious. "It is one thing to show an association and quite another to show cause and effect. We have to be very careful, but we will know in a few years," he says (ABC Science via Craig Seager, August Australian DX News via DXLD) ###