DX LISTENING DIGEST 0-116, September 28, 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. For restrictions and searchable archive of 2000 contents see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html THIS WEEK ON WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 36: See topic summary at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/worx36.html ** AUSTRALIA. Freq change of Christian Voice via Darwin effective September 21: 2230-0230 on NF 13755, ex 13585\\6010, 17775, 21680 (Ivo & Anguel, Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 26 via DXLD) These were test frequencies only, perhaps only one or two a a time, and irregular. Has anyone actually heard them yet? (gh) ** CZECHO-SLOVAKIA. From Oct 29 Radio Prague will again use a transmitter in Slovakia. A few years ago they had to discontinue transmissions from Rimavská Sobota due to financial shortage; since then only two 100 kW transmitters at Litomysl were used anymore. Also from Oct 29 Radio Prague will start broadcasting in Russian as already reported a while ago. This information from Andreas Volk. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. Tuning around 19 meters before 1500 UT I ran across a BBC IS (for non-Europe areas) on 15360 via Singapore, then the RTE special broadcast joined in at 1458, // 15240-Cypress Creek and 13720 -Sackville; so 15360 joined in 30 minutes late, signal was SIO 242. To compare another signal coming from Singapore at the same time, 15285 with BBC in Chinese was much stronger, SIO 424 w/jamming and presumed CNR outlet QRMing it (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. The result of the Gaelic Football Final relayed for RTE around the world on Sun 24 Sept was a draw. The thing will be decided once and for all on Sat 07 Oct., provisionally set to begin at 1430 UT in Croke Park, Dublin, unless the Garda Siochana (Police) and Safety Officials say otherwise. Will RTE relay be heard again on that date? Listeners might like to address this question to RTE's Ms. Julie Hayde: haydej@rte.ie (Finbarr O'Driscoll...Ireland...September 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST). ** IRELAND [non]. Julie Hayde at RTE recommends that SWListeners keep an eye on the "Sam & Liam" page for further updates (if any) re freqs to be used for Gaelic Football relay on Oct 07, (presently only 15240 to C&SAm [WSHB] and 17810 to Africa [Meyerton], assume 1430-1630 UT). http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/index.html -Click on the "Radio: All-Irelands" link there or go directly to http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/radiofinals.html (Finbarr O'Driscoll.....Ireland, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST). ** KASHMIR. I received a letter from v/s: Islam-ud Din Butt (no title) today in 2 months after a follow-up report. I quote: "It is a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction for us that the voice of the oppressed people of the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been heard in the United States". I could go on, and, in fact, it is an interesting letter. Suffice to say, he states that their "English bulletin (sic) of five minutes duration and daily English Commentary again for five minutes duration from 1420-1430 UTC, at 5100 KH frequency". Their actual frequency back in April was 5101.23 kHz. He also returned my US$1.00. Address: (as printed) Voice of Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Movement Post Box No. 102 Muzzaffarabad (Azad Kashmir) (Pakistan) (Terry Palmersheim, KC7LDP/FOØPAM, Sept 23, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Dear Glenn, This is a letter I am sending to Jonathan Marks. I want to share it with you. Feel free to quote from it on the air or in print if you like. I'm pretty disillusioned with the product Media Network has been putting out lately, and I don't mind saying so. (Tim Hendel, AL, Sept 24, DXLD) Dear Jonathan, I may be one of the few people who says what I am about to say, but I was not surprised when you announced the end of Media Network. Frankly, Jonathan, it has been very obvious to me, for over a year, that you were bored with the program, and that Diana was even more bored than you were. You may feel that you hid it well, but it came through to me, loud and clear. I was a listener to DX Jukebox, and Media Network, for probably 40 years, ever since the days of Harry van Gelder. As a young child at the school for the blind in New York State, with his first shortwave radio, I learned so much about propagation, DX-ing, and radio stations by listening to this program every Thursday. In the past forty years, I have probably only missed one program per year. For over a year now it has felt to me that you didn't care about this technology any more, and you didn't care about the listeners who only used radio. I did enjoy the internet stuff, and I truly did understand that the job of Media Network was to report on new developments, but it was the condescending way you, and even more Diana, referred to those of us who weren't, for whatever reason, on the cutting edge, which really annoyed me. Lately, all you've been doing is reading letters from listeners and commenting on them. This told me that you had lost interest in preparing real information. Many of us are not on the internet. Maybe we are too poor. Maybe we live in countries where internet access is limited. Maybe we are blind, such as me, and can't afford the very very expensive upgrades which are necessary for blind people to get on the Web. Of the whole Media Network staff, I feel that Victor Goonnetillike is the only one who cares any more about our situation. So, Jonathan, it is obvious that you are bored. Go out and do something else, and I wish you good luck. I shall continue to listen to some of the other programs on Radio Netherlands. I'll miss the old Media Network, on which you did a truly excellent job for so many years. but, frankly, the program I have been hearing for the past year or so will not really be missed. Tim Hendel (via DXLD) BTW, I have yet to remark on this development, but will point out now that RN is known for cancelling its most popular programmes to the consternation of faithful listeners. I know some people who still have not forgiven them for doing away with The Happy Station. There has been a great deal of wailing and pleading to save MN, but this is the only response copied directly to me with a different viewpoint (gh) ** NIGERIA. External radio Voice of Nigeria "reborn with new voice" Excerpts from report by Nigerian TV on 22nd September Established in 1961, the Voice of Nigeria [VON] has had its share of troubles, but it has been reborn with a new voice. Its recent relaunching in Abuja signalled the emergence of a new Voice of Nigeria as an international radio station committed to correcting the imbalance of reports on Africa in the world media. Correspondent Hawa Uguebie reports on this new direction. [Reporter] The African voice within the world media has been dominated by a largely Western perspective. The rebirth of Voice of Nigeria seeks to redefine its focus by showcasing Nigeria to the rest of the world. The main objective is to project Africa with an African voice. Computerization has commenced and staff are undergoing intensive training both at home and abroad on the latest in radio broadcasting techniques. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Voice of Nigeria and the Voice of America. Three transmitters and three digital studios will be fully functional by the end of the year. With a new logo and signal tune, the Voice of Nigeria is ready for the world. [signal tune played] While pledging government's support, Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the new VON should focus on the nation's interest while remaining balanced and objective in its reporting... VON's director general, Mr Taiwo Alimi, said the redefined focus on Africa is the key to success. [Alimi] If, for instance, Voice of Nigeria, let's say in the next two years, we are able to become dominant in terms of providing news and programmes for the continent, we will have taken away substantially that sphere of broadcasting arena from Europe-based or American-based external radio stations. [Reporter] NTA director of programmes, Ambassador Segun Olusola, says an excessive bureaucratic system is detrimental to the growth of any media organization. [Olusola] All media organizations need the political environment. What they don't need is the strangulating of the working of the media - the liberal working of the media - by bureaucracy. Politics and the political environment is in itself a strength to broadcasting. No broadcaster must ignore that... Source: NTA TV, Lagos, in English 2000 gmt 22 Sep 00 (via BBC Monitoring via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. In place of "Dateline" this week, VOA News Now is airing a series of special reports under the title "Oklahoma Focus". The ten minute reports air during odd numbered hours throughout the day beginning at 35 minutes after each hour. Here is a press release from VOA describing the program: "VOA GOES TO OKLAHOMA BROADCASTING LIVE FROM THE STATE FAIR Oklahoma, Sept. 20, 2000 ? Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. Government’s overseas broadcasting service headquartered in Washington, D.C., has assigned a six-member team to report to the world on life in Oklahoma. The team will be based at the Oklahoma State Fair, where they will broadcast live reports on VOA from Sunday, Sept. 24 through Thursday, Sept. 28. This week, the reporters will fan out across the state to collect stories and conduct interviews for special features on urban and rural life in Oklahoma. VOA's special features on Oklahoma City will include interviews with Governor Frank Keating and Feed the Children's Larry Jones, and visits to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Underground Chinese City, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame. With a VOA reporter, listeners will venture outside of the capital city to a traditional Native American ceremony in Checotah, to the National Severe Weather Forecast Center in Norman, to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, and to learn about life in Wewokah [sic]. VOA listeners will also spend an evening at the rodeo and at an American high school football game in Jenks. During the State Fair, VOA will spend time with the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, competitors and innovators in the agriculture business, and musicians from around the state, along with many others. The coverage of the State Fair will be broadcast live in English on VOA's 24-hour all-news program News Now, and will be made available for translation into VOA's 52 other broadcast languages." For frequency information or to listen via the web, go to http://www.voa.gov (John A. Figliozzi, Editor and Publisher, ``The Worldwide Shortwave Listening Guide`` All new 2000-01 Edition Now Available! For Details and Purchasing Information: http://www.anarc.org/naswa/swlguide/rsguide (via swprograms via DXLD; see also under USA) ** RUSSIA. RFE/RL Journalist Slain in Moscow (Washington, DC--September 22, 2000) Iskandar Khatloni, a Moscow- based correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Tajik Service, died in a Moscow hospital last night from head wounds after being attacked in Russian capital. The case is now under investigation. RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine today expressed his shock and sadness at Khatloni's death. "Mr. Khatloni was a valued colleague and a distinguished journalist on whose reporting many people relied. He will be missed. I very much hope that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice." Khatloni, who had worked at RFE/RL since 1996, earlier served for ten years as a BBC correspondent. Well-known in Moscow and the human rights community internationally, Khatloni at the time of his death was working on stories about human rights abuses in Chechnya. Born in October 1954 in Tajikistan, Khatloni was a widely published publicist and poet, with numerous articles and four volumes of poetry to his credit. He is survived by his wife Kimmat, and a daughter from a previous marriage. (RFE/RL Sun, 24 Sep 2000 18:33:12 GMT via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, DXLD) ** U K. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). NEWS RELEASE - 26 September 2000 EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: Trevor Brook v. the United Kingdom (Application 38218/97) MONOPOLY QUESTION AFTER COURT RULES ON SHORT WAVE CASE After a 16 year battle, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the United Kingdom government can not be compelled to allow independent stations on short wave because it did permit independent operators on the medium wave and FM bands. Under human rights law, the government can continue with its restrictive policy of refusing to allow independent stations on short wave, but this now raises the separate question of whether the short wave monopoly is legal under European Union competition law. In 1984, Trevor Brook devised the concept of an independent science, technology and media news short wave radio station, Radiofax. He made his first written application to the government for a licence in August 1986, made submissions to Green and White Papers on Broadcasting in 1987 and 1989 and received support from Members of Parliament and the Chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, Lord Thomson of Monifieth. The government, however, persistently claimed there was a lack of spare capacity on the 993 short wave channels and refused to issue any such licence. This led him, in August 1997, to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In Trevor Brook's case before the court he asserted that the government had used an untrue premise in order to operate a covert policy of restricting media access, to the detriment of the public and in breach of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In just one part of his case he drew parallels with identical claims about frequency availability made over the years by British governments in connection with medium wave and FM, yet many hundreds of independent transmitters are now on the air. Article 10 relates to freedoms of expression and communication. The decision by the court means the case is "not admissible" to proceed to a full hearing. There is no appeal or higher court at the European Court of Human Rights. Trevor Brook comments: "To those with a grasp of what short wave is, this is an example of comparing apples with oranges. Imagine a fictional country which happened to permit independent stations only on short wave: would it then make any sense to say that it should not be required to allow independent stations on medium wave and FM?" Contact: Trevor Brook - Tel: 01483 275 997, Fax: 01483 276 477, s.e@ndirect.co.uk - Surrey Electronics Ltd., The Forge, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7BG, England. (Surrey Electronics Sept 26, via DXLD) ** U S A. KIM: The Voice of America Spanish Service, which has been reducing its shortwave output over the past several years, will add a new shortwave transmission Monday. "Enfoque Andino" is intended specifically for the Andean region of South America, where a war on illegal drugs continues, and where democracy is under strain. At first, the program will be 15 minutes only, once a week: Monday, 22 to 2215 Universal Time on 15170 and 17565 via Greenville, North Carolina, and 21685 via Delano, California. It will also be on satellite for rebroadcast by affiliate stations in South America, and available on demand in RealAudio format. Richard Araujo, chief of the VOA Latin America division, told me why the new program will be added. TAPE: CUT 2 (1:46) [Araujo said it would be weekly at first, but hoped to build up quicky to a daily broadcast and if funded, expand to half an hour. Each would include 2 minutes of international news, then features from Andean stringers. -gh] Several VOA News Now reporters are in Oklahoma for a week of special programs from that state. These will be heard this Monday through Friday at half past the odd hours Universal Time. Oklahoma was chosen for no particular reason other than that it is in the heartland of America, we don't often get there, and the Oklahoma State Fair is happening this week. Recent Congressional legislation has called for more programming on VOA about U.S. foreign policy and Americana. The managers of VOA News Now maintain that these topics are included in the News Now content mix. This week of special programs from Oklahoma, however, will make VOA's Americana coverage more conspicuous. (Kim Elliott, VOA Communications World Sept 23 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. hi glen: ham radio outlet is now selling sangean 505 with side band for $119.95 shipping included! best deal so far for ssb shortwave radio! will be testing 100 kw ssb / digital soon regards: frantz (WGTG, Sept 25 via DXLD) ** U S A. From: "What The Tree Said Books" | Subject: New WRMI program Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 20:12:32 -0400 Hello Glenn John Wisyanski of Scream of the Butterfly suggested I contact you regarding a new program I am planning. It is called "Seldom Heard Radio" and is going to be broadcast on WRMI 7.385 from 0500 to 0530 UTC on Friday October 6 (technically October 7 here on the east coast). The program will focus on obscure folk / folk-rock / psychedelic music from the Americas, Europe and around the globe. It is a very lo-fi production and has more music by far than announcing but then again the program is about the music, not about me! With any luck Seldom Heard Radio will be re-broadcast two weeks later at the same time & then new programs will appear at least once a month (currently scheduled for the First Friday of the month at 0500 UTC), probably more frequently as time & collecting better recording equipment allows. I am a newbie to short-wave radio who has recently re-discovered an old joy. In my adolescence during a summer in the late 1970s I was a record spinner at WUNH (University of New Hampshire) & got to create a very low power radio station for my hometown Boys Club later that year. A little about myself: My loving life partner Nansea and I own a small used / antiquarian bookshop and both have full-time mental health connected careers. I hope this e-mail finds you healthy & well. If you get a chance to listen to the program I would be most pleased. (Frederick, Seldom Heard Radio, 36 West Main Street, Warner NH 03278, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. See http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/27/nyregion/27RADI.html WNNY, 1380/5 kw, formerly WDKM, becomes all news Wednesday [Sept 27] at noon EDT. (The NY Times has them at 5000 megawatts which would probably have people with no fillings hearing them through their fillings.)[and 50 kW stations as "50,000 megawatts" notes Max Swanson -gh] There are two English all news stations in NYC, WCBS 880 and the pioneer WINS 1010. Since WINS was Westinghouse, they're both Infinity stations which is probably one of the better arguments against the current FCC policy or lack thereof on multiple ownerships (Joel Rubin, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. 11735, R. Montecarlo 0200, w/ "Tangos a Media Luz" prgm // MW930. This denotes that this 25m outlet is not for exclusive usage of their sister stn "R.Oriental". Also, Brazilian R Transmundial was not present at this time. Moderate strength. They only blast in on 6140, usually hrd in the local mornings (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 5034.5 R Tai Tieng Noi, September 24, 2200-2215, local language, station signing on, short announcement in English ("You are listening to ...), folklore chants, station is listed here with Hmong service at this time. SINPO 34423 (Michael Schnitzer, Hassfurt, Germany, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. Private Capital Radio on-air "within a month" Capital Radio (Private) Limited, which won its case in the Supreme Court on 22nd September to operate a radio service, will start broadcasting to Harare and surrounding areas within a month, the Zimbabwe newspaper 'The Daily News' web site reported on 26th September. Gerry Jackson, one of the owners of the station said the broadcasting equipment would be obtained from within the country and South Africa. The report said that the Supreme Court had ruled that the station could to import all the equipment it needed to operate a commercial radio station. Jackson said the station will aim to broadcast for 18 hours a day, daily in English and Shona, but that the station still lacks a frequency, the web site reported. Source: 'The Daily News' web site, Harare, in English 26 Sep 00 (via BBC Monitoring via DXLD) UNKNOWNISTAN: 9580, 0958 9/22 terrible FM'ed QRM signal turns on to interfere with Radio Australia. Glenn Hauser has mentioned spurs from 9645 [TIFC], on World of Radio. I checked 9645 - it was distorted, but modulation didn't seem to match. Maybe Cuban mixing instead from 9550, and 9565-jammer? (Larry Russell, MI, MARE via DXLD) ###