DX LISTENING DIGEST 00-86, July 3, 2000 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com {Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only providing full credit be maintained at all stages and we are provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission} ** AUSTRALIA. In order to perform essential maintenance, the entire Shepparton, Victoria transmitting site in Australia owned by NTL will be shut down from 2200 UT Thursday, July 6 until 0700 UT Friday, July 7. The Shepparton site is Radio Australia's primary shortwave transmitting facility. Therefore, there will be no shortwave transmissions from Radio Australia during this period, except for two frequencies (9660/12080 kHz.--both 10kW) from the Brandon, Queensland transmitting site. This shutdown affects the English, Chinese, Khmer, Vietnamese and Indonesian services. Radio Australia services will remain available during this period via the Palapa satellite and the Internet, including WRN. There is a slight possibility that the shutdown period will end before 0700 UT Friday, but this cannot be guaranteed. Source: Radio Australia (John Figliozzi, NY, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. More on the ORF cutbacks: Since SW transmissions will be cut in half, Moosbrunn site is seeking to sell airtime. R. Austria International English programs will be co-produced with FM-4, which already has some English, to save money through the end of this year, after which it is unknown what will happen (Wolf Harranth, ORF, via Kim Elliott, VOA Communications World July 1, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. On 9915 1.7 1400 UNID, but probably World Faludafa Radio, Falungong Radio, which was supposed to be sent here via unknown transmitter. Chinese all the time. S 2-4 with a lot of noise round the frequency. Maybe someone disturbing the transmission? BEFF (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin, translated by ed. Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to CHINA 9915 World Falun Dafa Radio. The Mandarin heard before 1400 is the 2nd program of CNR. At 1400, the jammer came on. I only caught the ID "Shijie Falun Dafa Diantai" -World Falun Dafa Radio which was repeated several times, and its greetings to listeners. I was not able to hear the contents. BTW, I am just listening to the realaudio file in the FalunDafa web site. The first 10 minutes or so of the broadcast is the text that appears on the first page of their web site. (Richard Lam, Singapore, July 2, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I can confirm that there was a Chinese station on 9915 as early as 1350 tune-in [CNR 2 per Lam, see above]. Curiously, following the time-pips at 1400, there was a period of dead air & no recognizable ID. At about 1401, a weaker Chinese language station came on with a woman talking followed by traditional Chinese string music. The jammer started and covered all 3 modes (LSB, USB and AM). For the first 4 minutes it was intermittent and pulsing, giving a few-seconds chance to note the weaker signal beneath. From about 1405 the jamming got more intense and included a distorted voice broadcast in Chinese along with the generic jamming noise. (Ralph Famularo, Japan, July 2, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. I agree with Henrik Klemetz in questioning recent logs of la Voz de las Caras in Ecuador with various styles of Andean music. When I visited the station in 1985, the manager (Señor Nevarez, if my memory is correct) told me that they never aired any Ecuadorian Andean music (and certainly not any Peruvian styles as mentioned in the reports). He said he had tried it once but his local audience immediately complained - they found the Andean styles too depressing. La Voz de las Caras is seaport and in the lowlands the people prefer various types of tropical music (or romantic or pop music), but not Andean. Sr Nevarez said he had only ever bought one LP of Andean music for the station and as I had told him how much I like that type of music he gave me the LP as a gift. So, presumably they no longer have any Andean music in their record library! Of course, that was fifteen years ago and tastes could change. But I would be surprised if they have changed that much in Bahía de Caráquez. It was a real costeña town. Also, a lot of wealthy families from Guayaquil had weekend homes there. By the way, the Andean music LP, which I still listen to, is great. (Don Moore, IA, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA [nons]. Subject: Radio Freedom and Voice of Democratic Eritrea As has been widely reported, Deutsche Telekom (DTK) has recently become a home-from-home for various Ethiopian and Eritrean opposition groups and is currently very active in hiring shortwave transmitter time to a number of them. As these groups broadcast in local languages, there has been some confusion amongst DXers as to their identity. This has been complicated by the fact that the same frequencies are used by different groups at different times and on different days. I am able to confirm that one of the stations currently broadcasting via a DTK transmitter is called RADIO FREEDOM, VOICE OF THE OGADENI PEOPLE. This station broadcasts in Somali at 1630-1700 GMT (Tuesdays and Fridays only) on 15715 kHz. The Ogaden is a semi-desert area in southeast Ethiopia predominantly inhabited by ethnic Somalis. It has long been an area prone to discontent with the Ethiopian central government. The Ogaden was incorporated into the Ethiopian Empire in the 19th century and many Somalis would like to see it break away from Ethiopia and become part of Somalia. The Ogaden National Liberation Front and other rebel groups have been active in the region fighting against the Ethiopian government. It may be noted that Radio Freedom's frequency (15715 kHz) is also used at other times by two other dissident outlets broadcasting via DTK facilities to Ethiopia: VOICE OF OROMO LIBERATION and VOICE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PATH OF ETHIOPIAN UNITY. Another station broadcasting via DTK is VOICE OF DEMOCRATIC ERITREA, operated by the Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council, which is hostile to the current Eritrean government. This station broadcasts in Tigrigna, the main language of Eritrea. It announces that it broadcasts as follows: at 1300-1400 GMT (Saturdays only) on 6045 kHz to Europe, at 1600-1700 GMT (Mondays only) to Africa on 15365 kHz, and "every Saturday from 2100-2200 East Coast Time" to North America on 9855 kHz. (I assume that this last transmission is at 0100-0200 GMT on Sundays.) During the late 1990s VOICE OF DEMOCRATIC ERITREA - along with other stations aimed at Eritrea - broadcast from Sudan. Best wishes, (Chris Greenway, England, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Glen, When I tried to tune in to SWR's broadcast on July 1st, I tuned in at 1230hrs UTC and had no problems until 1300hrs UTC when I heard another theme tune followed by the English ID announcement of Radio Jordan. They then went into an English broadcast which did not finish until about 1930 hrs UTC. Unless one station or the other changes a frequency, I fear that this will be a regular problem for SWR listeners. Also, SWR say they use 11720 khz as well. I think that this is used by Radio Kuwait for a 3 hour broadcast to Europe in English starting at 1800hrs UTC but I will check this out. (Dave Harries, Bristol, UK, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, they’ve got a month to sort it all out. News to me if Kuwait be on 11720 (gh) ** INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL EVENT. Path: barf80!news From: Mike Dalrymple {GM4SUC@compuserve.com} Subject: INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND 2000 Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 17:45:27 -0400 Last year the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend took place from 0001 UTC on Saturday 21st August until 2359 UTC on Sunday 22nd August 1999, when 218 amateur radio stations were established at lighthouses and lightships in 39 countries on 6 continents. This year the period of the event is from 0001 UTC on Saturday 19 August until 2359 UTC on Sunday 20 August 2000. The event is NOT a contest, each station decides how they will operate their station regards modes and bands. Participants are not committed to being on the air during the entire period - only as much as they can. There is no restrictions on aerials or power. We wish operators to enjoy themselves and have fun whilst making contact with as many amateur radio stations as possible. Some operators say fun - 5,000 contacts - OK, but we request that stations take some time to work the slow operator, the newly licensed and low power stations. As available space in many lighthouses is filled to capacity, our activity does not have to take place inside the tower itself. Field day type set-up at the light or other building next to the light is OK. Permission MUST be obtained from any interested parties. The event is used to obtain maximum exposure for our hobby. We invite the press and, location permitting, also the public and try to underline the obvious parallel between the international aspect in lighthouses, lightships and amateur radio. We might catch a future radio amateur while creating goodwill for the hobby. We use the event segment of the 5 'Classic' bands with a centre frequency if conditions are bad, at least we have one place we can (try to) meet. We request that the centre frequencies are not used as primary frequencies but as a last point of call to other participating stations. CW 80m 3.510 - 3.540 kHz Centre 3.521 +/- 40m 7.005 - 7.035 7.021 +/- 20m 14.010 - 14.040 14.021 +/- 15m 21.010 - 21.040 21.021 +/- 10m 28.010 - 28.040 28.021 +/- PHONE 80m 3.650 - 3.750 kHz Centre 3.721 +/- 40m 7.040 - 7.100 7.051 +/- 20m 14.125 - 14.275 14.221 +/- 15m 21.150 - 21.250 21.221 +/- 10m 28.300 - 28.400 28.351 +/- Because the event is not a contest you can operate on any QRGs that you are licensed to operate. To assist other stations we request that participating stations add 'LIGHT', 'LGT', 'LIGHTHOUSE' or 'LIGHTSHIP' after their call. So come and join us in the fun of the weekend, establish a station at a lighthouse, lightship or maritime beacon. The more the merrier. If you decide to join us in the fun could you let me know the callsign you will use, QTH and QSL information, this will enable me to notify other stations and the media of your participation. A list of stations that have already confirmed their participation in this year's event can be found at: http://www.waterw.com/~weidner/LH-day-table.htm 73 Mike GM4SUC (KB8NW/OPDX Bulletin July 2/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. July 1 revision of the Hurricane frequency list is available at: http://www.ecom.net/~snyder/index.html (John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MESHIMA ISLAND. AS-056. Masa, JA6GXK, will be active from Danjo Archipelago (Meshima Island), during the following dates and times as the follows: (Please note: This is not a DXpedition. He will be active in his spare time.) July 3rd 1000z-1300z, 2000z-2400z July 4th 1500z-1700z, 2100z-2400z July 5th 1000z-1100z July 6th 1000z-1300z, 2000z-2400z July 7th 1500z-1700z, 2100z-2400z July 8th 1000z-1100z July 9th 1000z-1300z, 2000z-2400z Suggested frequencies are: 14260+/-10kHz or 21260+/-10kHz (KB8NW/OPDX Bulletin July 2/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO. This week the last European Country will be activated on 6 meters. The 50 MHz band is currently allocated to Radio Monte Carlo, but with special permission from Monaco Telecom, the subband 50.2 to 51.2 MHz will be activated now through 2359 hours July 10th, Monaco time. Several local stations, such as 3A2LF and 3A2MW, will be active as well as the group of their guests from Finland, signing 3A/ their personal callsigns. The complete press release by Tim, N4GN: Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 21:55:10 -0400 (EDT) From: "Tim Totten, N4GN" {n4gn@n4gn.com} To: DX editors {editors@n4gn.com} Subject: 3A activity on 50 MHz HISTORIC 50 MHZ ACTIVATION FROM MONTE CARLO, MONACO Last European Country QRV on 6 meters The 50 MHz band in Monaco is currently allocated to Radio Monte Carlo, but with special permission from Monaco Telecom, the subband 50.2 to 51.2 MHz will be activated from 01 July, 0000 Monaco time to 10 July, 2359 Monaco time. Several local stations, such as 3A2LF and 3A2MW, will be QRV as well as the group of their guests from Finland, signing 3A/ their personal call signs. The transmit frequency 50.205 MHz will be used for most of this weekend, listening down as necessary for countries that have 6-meter windows below 50.200. Monaco is badly blocked by mountains toward the North, but several alternative approaches will be tried, including both vertical and horizontal polarization. The signal may be somewhat weak during the first day, but larger antennas will be hoisted for the second day. It sounds quite promising, however, since lots of signals were copied Thursday (29 June) with a small Ringo Ranger 6-meter antenna. The team of OH1RY, OH2BC, OH2BH and OH4GN (N4GN) will keep the 6- meter as well as two HF stations QRV starting Friday. Initial testing on 10 MHz was done Thursday evening and was very productive to all directions--Japan, North America and South America. The initial group of DX operators will be visited on Sunday by N5TJ and K1TO, then joined by OH2TA and OH9MM on Tuesday. Good luck contacting Monaco on several interesting bands during the next 10 days. (KB8NW/OPDX Bulletin July 2/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERÚ. 5617v Radio San Juan, Distrito de ``Saíque``(?), Chiclayo (Perú) June 2000 - close down 0235 UTC. New or "restarted" station. Began transmission of the day at 1120 UTC with this ID ".....en el distrito de ``Saique``(?) al pie de la cordillera de ``Parmo``(?) transmite Radio San Juan`` and ``Radio San Juan está transmitiendo en su frecuencia internacional de 60 metros, 4520 megaherz(!)``. The address given with the exception of a a figure in the street address which I couldn´t hear: ``Radio San Juan, Calle San José 9-..., Oficina 12, Chiclayo``. I have a feeling that it is the same station I reported already in November 1999 on the frequency of 5421v (not 4520 as announced), but in this case has been off air until now. The DJ also says that they again are on the air with a stronger transmitter and better quality. The station might have a problem with its transmitter as the frequency 4520 is announced. They have also a few times mentioned ``Región Nororiental de Marañón`` maybe a coincidence but on the same street ``Calle San José`` is this MW- station listed: ``Negocios Radiales Región Nororiental de Marañón, Chiclayo (CP)`` - 1160kc. (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin, translated by ed. Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** PERÚ. 5855.62, Radio UniVisión 2000, Moyabamba, Departamento de San Martín (Perú) June 2000 - 0100 UTC. A new station which I had as UNID in the previous SWB. Opening transmission probably June 17. The DJ still uses a borrowed microphone from his younger brother´s tape recorder - extremely bad quality of the speech - as well as he talks very fast and careless. Normal quality of the music. Often greets people living in the deptartments of Cajamarca and Amazonas. Starts at about 1100 UTC and closes at various times between 0100-0300 UTC. ``UniVisión la radio sin fronteras``. Announces the frequency of 5855 kc. Both address and telephone number is stated, but unfortunately I only catch that "Amazonas" probably is included in the name of the street and that the telephone number ends with "43". (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin, translated by Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** PERÚ? 6611.12, Radio Cumbre, QTH? (Perú?) June 2000 - close down 0205 UTC with nice quality, good signal and several 100% ``Radio Cumbre`` IDs. A mystery as I have logged the station only once - at this occasion: June 23. Folklore and talk about ``El día del Campesino`` (The farmers day, probably in Perú). ``Radio Cumbre transmitiendo música del folklore latinoamericano``. ``Están escuchando Radio Cumbre``. Abrupt close down without cd-ceremony. Watch this frequency - maybe a new station. (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin, translated by Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** POLAND/GERMANY. Yet another clash: Radio Polonia in German 1800- 1825 is using single 7265, the channel of SWR Rohrdorf. Here in eastern Germany Leszczynka is well ahead but the unstable Rohrdorf transmitter causes a rather annoying het. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SVALBARD. Look for the "Modum Group of NRRL" to be active as JW7M from July 6-13th. The team of operators are as follows: LA7IL/Jon, LA3OHA/Terje, IK2XDE/Andrea, IK2JYT/Giovanni, KF6XA/Dave, KG0VL/Jeffery, OE3GEA/Gerhard, S57FYL/Alexandra, S57AC/Atila, SM3EQY/Haakan, SM3JGG/ Staffan, SP5DRH/Jacec, and their Artic guide Eugeney Bouzney (from Russia). Operators may sign homecall/JW sometimes. Suggested operating frequencies are: CW: 1825, 3525, 7025, 10125, 14025, 18075, 21025, 24925, 28025, 50100 SSB: 1850, 3750, 7050, 14250, 18150, 21250, 24950, 28450, 50150 kHz Also, look for activity on 144 MHz. They will be on the air on all bands and modes 24 hours a day. They will work also on RTTY and frequencies will be announced later. For 6m enthusiasts, look for the beacon JW7SIX on 50.068 MHz. The QSL Manager is LA7M (via the Bureau is ok) to: Modum Group of NRRL, P.O.Box 48, 3341 Aamot, Norway. For more info, check the Web page at: http://www.dxpedition.org (KB8NW/OPDX Bulletin July 2/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. MUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND. The "Museum Ships Weekend" event will take place starting at 1330z July 15th through 1900z July 16th. They expect 42 museum ships to be taking part in this year's event. Suggested operating frequencies are: SSB - 3860, 7260, 14260, 18160, 21360, 24960 and 28360 CW - 3539, 7039, 10109, 14039, 18099, 21039, 24899 and 28039 kHz Several of the ships will also be running some of their original radio equipment on AM and CW. THE USS Salem - K1USN is again sponsoring this event. Certificates will be available for working 5 or more ships. Send a large SASE to W1QWT. QSLs for K1USN are also via W1QWT. QSLs for all other vessels are via their instructions. A list of all ships is available online at: http://www.ziplink.net/~rcal/salem/ops.html (KB8NW/OPDX Bulletin July 2/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) (Some ships will be located in England, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.) ** U S A [non]. AMG has announced to broadcast as "European Beacon" from today 1600-1800 on 15445 via Skelton, but all I noted on this channel after 1600 was a mess of VoA Botswana and RDP. However, the remaining frequencies appeared as announced: 1800-2000 powerhouse 15585 from Skelton and from 2100 old fellow 7360 from the Tbilisskaya centre east of Krasnodar, I guess using a 1000 kW unit on half power as it was the case when Radio Moscow used this frequency for German. The feed is any cheap solution with narrow bandwidth and gating with a threshold level near the shouting of the preachers audience, resulting in a choppy response. Looks like Merlin is catching this stuff at London and then forwards it, as 15585 is ahead of 7360. These frequencies were in parallel with 9675 from Rampisham, i.e. "European Beacon" and "African Beacon" are one and the same outlet; of course, there is no need to serve these continents with different records of bawling preachers... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###