DX LISTENING DIGEST 0-151, December 6, 2000 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.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. For restrixions and searchable 2000 archive contents see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html THIS WEEK ON WORLD OF RADIO 1061: See topic summary at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1061.html HEAR WORLD OF RADIO 1061: DOWNLOAD: http://www.angelfire.com/nm/wor/wor1061.rm STREAM: http://www.angelfire.com/nm/wor/wor1061.ram ** ALGERIA. Whereas in August I reported excellent reception of RTA`s French programmes (i.e. "Chaîne III") on 11715 and 15160, this seems to be no more. This would be in conformity with their schedule on their web-page which only lists LW 252 for French programmes "Chaîne III". English (1700-1800 & 2100-2200 - this seems to be local time UTC +1 h) and Spanish (1800-1900 & 2000-2100) programmes are still listed on 11715 and 15160 as well as 252 (for the last two hours only). However, I cannot confirm this. LW 252 is received in Germany but not with "booming" signals it used to be some 25 years ago, when it was heard with almost any radio having longwave. [2 x 750 TESLA Czech made tx units, ed.] Programmes in Tamazight - which I guess is the language of the Tuareg people - are broadcast on MW 981 with 2 x 300 kW. All other programmes seem to be in Arabic (Wolfgang Schweikert, Germany, Nov 23, BC-DX via DXLD) ** ALGERIA. RTA Algiers is back at full power on LW Tipaza 252. Very good and dominant at 2300, mixed with Atlantic, Ireland at 0600 Nov 28 (Stefano Valianti, Italy, via Medium Wave Circle, Mike Barraclough, UK, WDXC, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. General strike of the ABC is affecting Radio Australia transmissions with most frequencies not being used, actually only 1 or 2 on air. Strike action commenced December 5 @ 0300 UT and is due to several reasons, including the Australian Government slashing millions of dollars from the ABC and Radio Australia. This in turn is harming the ABC`S charter and effectiveness to deliver news, current affairs and other timely information both to a domestic audience and overseas audience. The Queensland Government recently commissioned an examination of ABC Regional Radio with an intense hearing which examined many complaints from country people about the lack of local news and current affairs for country Queensland (Tim Gaynor, Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. As a consequence of the ABC journalists' strike, as of Wednesday morning December 6, local time here in Australia, the situation with Radio Australia and RealAudio (live) programming, is as follows: HF transmissions: - Shepparton - all transmitters are off the air indefinitely (TOTALLY SILENT!!!) Brandon - the two transmitters there are operating on 12080 and 9660, (12080 opens at 2000, 9660 opens at 2100) carrying emergency English programming only, originating from the ABC's National network. The BBC World Service relays have also been suspended, normally broadcast at 2200-2300 via Brandon. The emergency service is mainly nondescript music, with occasional news headlines. The ABC's News Radio Network, available across Australia on MW, continues as normal, carrying Federal Parliament broadcasts, Deutsche Welle, Radio Netherlands, BBC, and National Public Radio. Live Audio: - http://www.abc.net/au/ra - carrying emergency English programming in parallel with HF 11880 and 9660 Satellite - unknown It will be interesting to see the extent of listener "outrage" at the (temporary) unavailability of RA services! Local press coverage in the Australian media today has been given modest frontpage coverage; visit: http://theage.com.au to see the story as given in the Melbourne "Age" newspaper. Press coverage has largely ignored all references to the loss of RA HF or ABC/RA Internet output; many Australians (me included) regard RA as a waste of time and money, consuming scarce financial and other resources, which could be diverted into more useful activities. The strike began at 0100 UTC on December 5, and was for 24 hours only. Who knows? Who really cares!! (Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia, Dec 6, Electronic DX Press via DXLD) That's a curious attitude. Though everyone is entitled to an opinion, I can assure others on the list that the above is not one that is shared by the vast majority of Dxers and SWL enthusiasts in Australia. Most thinking people in this country value the contribution of our public sector national and international broadcasting organisations. The lack of press coverage on the RA outage is typical of the (commercial) domestic media here, and I don't know that enough Australians actually know enough about RA`s activities for any significant number to have a negative perception (Craig Seager, Australia, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Mr. Seager is right on target. Radio Australia is a beacon of objective reason and representation of Oz as it has been for five decades. RA projects an Aussie image of rugged frontier persistence combined with a 'can do' attitude. RA 9580 kHz has been a morning guest in my home nearly 50 years prompting several personal visits to `Roo land. Shortwave broadcasting can ill afford further diminished presence. Radio Australia does not deserve international public criticism of 'curious attitude.' Thinking Aussies may be proud of Radio Australia. 73 from (Bill Smith, W5USM, "Shortwave Since 1950", SWBC@topica.com via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Evidently the 24-hour strike began at 0100 UT Dec 5 (local noon AEST), not 0300, so was expected to end at 0100 Dec 6 (Chris Hambly, Australia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. If you want to get an interesting perspective on recent events at the (Australia) ABC, including the current 24 hour industrial action, try this site: http://www.fabc.org.au This is the web site of Friends of the ABC. Most interesting is a link to a documentary investigation conducted by the Nine Network, one of Australia`s three main commercial tv networks, that lays bare the government`s efforts to discredit, cripple and censor the ABC. As for the industrial action, RA is relaying 2BL Sydney which is attempting to cob together some sort of a morning show as I write this. The announcer has already inadvertently run a promo over his voice so as to make what we was saying unintelligible. He did say that the ABC Classic FM network would have a "special" morning program and that Newsradio would be airing a relay of the BBC World Service until Parliament comes into session later in the morning. (John Figliozzi, NY, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. The story contained herein is completely surreal. Replace every reference to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) by CBC, and you'll understand what I mean... (In case you didn't know, ABC staff went on a one-day strike yesterday to denounce what they see as a plot to disband/disarm the news unit and introduce rampant commercialization in ABC radio, TV and Internet services.) http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,1483640%255E10430,00. html ``An ABC of Bad News,`` published Nov 23 (via Ricky Leong, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Things seemed more or less back to normal when RA 9580 checked Dec 6 at 1205 ending RA news, into RN Australia Talks Back (gh, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. ABC bids for 37m dollars extra funding | Excerpt from press release from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on 6th December The ABC Board today approved the first phase of a plan to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the national broadcaster in its core role of informing and educating Australian audiences. ABC Chairman, Donald McDonald, announced that the Corporation would seek from the government an immediate injection of 37.25m dollars ongoing to fund four programming and content initiatives of national significance, along with an additional 2.8m dollars in 2001 for the digital pilot project described below. The board also foreshadowed its intention to make further submissions next year. "This is not a `business-as-usual' plea for additional funding", Mr McDonald said, "but a considered response to a number of important areas of need in the community that the ABC can help to address. "Implicit in the ABC's Charter requirement to inform, educate and entertain is the challenge of helping Australians to manage and engage creatively with rapid change and nation building in the era of digital technology and globalism", he said. The four programme and content initiatives, reflecting the ABC`s legislative Charter, would involve production activity in several capital cities as well as 48 regional broadcasting centres around the nation. They are: Extended services for regional and rural Australia through television, new media and better-supported radio programmes and content Distinctive television, radio and new media content about business, entrepreneurial endeavour and personal investment in the changing economy, supporting the capacity of all Australians to be active participants in the economic life of the nation Multi-media programming for specific age groups of children whose needs are not adequately addressed in the current output of commercial and non-commercial broadcasting services A demonstration or pilot project, using digital television and new media to provide media-rich curriculum support materials for primary and secondary schools, receivable by computers and television sets. Further submissions in 2001 are expected to deal with issues of ABC analogue signal coverage in regional areas, education and specific content areas including the history and culture of Australia, science, technology, health and the ABC`s international services. The ABC remains committed to its existing media presence, including four national radio networks, local radio in each capital city, 48 regional radio stations, a television presence in every State and Territory, an online network, an international radio service and 14 international news bureaux. Mr McDonald said that the ABC must also play a prominent role in the new media environment both to reflect its national broadcasting responsibilities and to avoid any risk of marginalisation in the future... For further information: Shane Wells, Corporate Media Adviser, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (02) 9333 5306 or 0408 445 098 Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation press release, Sydney, in English 6 Dec 00 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. PM to consider ABC bid for 37m dollars extra funding | Excerpts from report by Radio Australia on 6th December Australia`s prime minister, John Howard, will consider a submission from the national broadcaster, the ABC, for an extra 37m dollars. As Michelle Brown reports, the ABC board has announced its intention to ask the federal government for the funding. [Brown] Shortly after the end of the national strike by ABC staff, Chairman Donald McDonald emerged from a board meeting to announce the funding bid. He said the additional money would fund four new national initiatives in the content areas of regional and rural, business and personal finance, and children and education across radio and television and on-line. He is also hoping for an immediate injection. [passage omitted] ABC managing director Jonathan Shier said the money would not be used to maintain the status quo. He has set a deadline for managers to finalize staff numbers for the future. [Shier] 1st January is for me the drop dead date. I mean I really want to know from my divisional directors by then exactly which people will be affected and what numbers will be affected in each division. Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0900 gmt 6 Dec 00 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA`s lack of resources really starts to show on their web site which apparently receives ten million hits every year. It is my opinion that the RA site is far from as useful as it could be and the site is certainly far from being user-friendly. Starting at http://www.abc.net.au/ra SWM readers can see for themselves what seems to me to be a site designed by a committee and executed by a succession of people apparently working in total isolation from one another. One other difficulty as I see it is that web users can easily and without warning leave RA`s pages and dive into far differently designed ABC radio and television pages. I hope RA`s additional funding will be used in part to make this site more useful and usable. Readers interested in commenting on the RA site can do so through one of the E-mail addresses on http://www.abc.net.au/ra/contact_ra.htm (Greg Baker, Bandscan Australia, Dec Shortwave Magazine via DXLD) [written much earlier] ** AUSTRIA [non]. Whoever`s been sending the wrong feed between Vienna and Sackville has finally gotten it right. I checked Radio Austria Int`l on 17865 at 1630 Tuesday Dec 5 and finally heard Report From Austria in English (the current edition, not a backup tape) as scheduled. Better late than never. 73, (Mike Horan, Park Forest, IL, WORLD OF RADIO 1061, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA/BULGARIA [non]. Thursday 30th evening the Chinese seemed to have introduced a new method of jamming Falun Dafa. For several minutes there was no jamming, possibly because the signal was too weak to be traced by the Chinese monitoring station. When they finally started jamming, the jammers were split up on four channels: 9310-15-20-25. There is a strong CNR-1 signal on 9255 from 2000 to 2100. What are they jamming there? For a few minutes before 2000 this jammer relays a music program. An odd CNR-1 signal on 9050 at 2000 is a mirror from 9655+10260 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 1, BC-DX via DXLD) Falun Dafa multiplying. Last evening (Fri Dec 1st) Falun Dafa had multiplied into three \\ signals, using 9316, 9324 and 9330 from sign on at 2200. This brought some confusion among the Chinese, who needed several minutes to decide what to do. Maybe a similar situation was the reason for the parallel jamming of four freqs on Thurs evening, although I could not hear the Falun signals then. The Chinese no doubt were both worried and confused. After a short time they took 11630 off the air and moved it to one of the Falun freqs. Some time later they also switched 7935 to the Falun freqs. BUT, 9830 did not go off and 9900 first went off and was used on 9330, then went back to 9900 and finally again went off. Falun Dafa did not move around too much. 9316 went to 9320 at 2210 and 9324 went to 9328 at 2220 (with 9330 still there!). The jammers were set on exact multiples of 5 kHz. As all three Falun Dafa signals were synchronized in time the origin of all must have been Bulgaria. The program opens with a plug in Chinese and English for the TDP (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 2, BC-DX via DXLD) [TDP = Transmitter Documentation Project, which also brokers broadcast time] ** COSTA RICA. RFPI activated new 7480.0 Dec 5, first heard at 2300. At first with heavy selective fading, and some splatter from undermodulated WJCR-7490, reception improved later in the evening; at 0230 WJCR was gone, and RFPI 15049 was mostly inaudible, reproving the necessity of the lower frequency; by 0500 15 and 7 were both good. Nominal schedule for 7480 is 0000-0400 only, but running a bit longer at least initially. I`m sure RFPI would welcome reports from everywhere on 7480, to info@rfpi.org As a result, 15049 may no longer be 24 hours; not heard at 1200, 1330 and 1540 checks, tho 21815-USB was on by 1330 and 15049 by 1600. UT Dec 7, 7480 was still on at 0500 with an unscheduled WOR 1060 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio for Peace Int`l noted from fade in around 0010 on new 7480 kHz here in Denmark - but a rather weak signal - and with plenty of interference from powerhouse Voice of Greece on 7475 kHz (also signing on at 0000 UT). Not a good choice of frequency by RfPI for listeners in Europe. Unlike 6970 which was very good here during our local night and early morning. Pity. Best 73s, (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We were aware of this adjacent problem in Europe, but at this hour were more concerned with finding a clear 7 MHz frequency for North America. Can you suggest a better one in the 7.3-7.6 MHz range? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA. As published within World Briefing in the New York Times December 5, 2000: Eritrea, Ethiopia Pact Reported ------------------------------- "The two countries have reached a deal that would end a two-year border war that has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides, a spokesman for Eritrea`s president said. The countries will sign a treaty December 12 in Algiers, the spokesman said. President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea received a formal invitation to attend the signing ceremony from the Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, he said. Ethiopian authorities were not available for comment." (AP) Perhaps this treaty will give rise to extended hours broadcasting by stations in the region on the 12th, and bring long term changes to the broadcasting landscape in the area (Thomas R. Sundstrom, NJ, Dec 5, swbc@topica.com via DXLD) ** FINLAND. The large segment in Swedish on Radio Finland contains various programmes from local stations. I heard e.g. Radio Osterbotten from Vaasa with a musical request show (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. YLE 9630 1500-2000 500 kW 225 degrs to zones 27, 36, 37. CIRAF zones show the target of Finnish & Swedish holiday makers and pensioners in Southern Europe in warm climate during winter time, but service seems lasting the year round: 27 UK, France, Benelux 36 Azores, Canary Is. 37 Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) ** GREECE. Freq change of V of Greece: 0600-0700 additional NF 15170 (45544), \\ 7475 9420 15630 17520 (Observer, Bulgaria, previously) Note the SINPO on 15170 in Bulgaria. Since it is that good there, and I do not hear it at all, this may not be from Delano. It may not be from Greece, either, which may be too close to Bulgaria for such a signal. So from where? Some other IBB site? Or maybe from the additional ex-VOA transmitter being installed in Greece? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. Thanks. You are correct -- *Blush* Last night on 4845 kHz [not 4855 as quoted in DXLD 0-150] as early as 0400 [sic –- all night for Ramadan? Or another mistake?] UT and beyond (Colin Newell, Victoria B.C. Canada, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 4845, R. Mauritania, Dec 6 0228 Koran chant by man, talk by man in AA. Flute mx and recitation by man, echoed. QRK 4/5. Extended sked for Ramadan period (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MÉXICO. I logged XEUT [1630] with an amazing signal 0020-0103 UT 6 December. SIO 444. Peaked S9+20. Almost like local FM. Non-stop jazz, "Big Ben" chimes on the hour, ID as Radio Universidad Autónoma de Baja California" & "Resumen de Noticias" - BBC news items. Hope WRTH2000 address is ok, sending report there. Any URL or E-mail address known? Regards from (Bill Flynn in Oregon, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. Deutsche Welle engineering was told that the Grigoriopol` site is currently without mainpower and that it is uncertain when transmissions can start again (via Wolfram Heß via Kai Ludwig, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. Dnestr region loses TV, radio broadcasts due to storms Excerpt from report in English by Moldovan news agency Infotag Tiraspol`, 5th December: Dnestr region TV and radio programmes are no more available not only in Moldova and Ukraine, but even in the greater part of the self-styled Dnestr republic. Last week, the intensive rains followed by frost led to an extensive icing of all electricity, telecommunications and other structures. One of the calamity's victims was the 250m-high antenna mast of the Radio Mayak centre in the Grigoriopol` district. The gigantic mast collapsed under the weight of ice. In the words of the Dnestr region minister of information and telecommunications, Boris Akulov, this was a serious economic blow to the region`s biggest radio centre, as neither this key mast nor another collapsed 160m-high antenna are subject to re-erection or repair. Besides these, the icing crushed down another seven shortwave broadcasting antennas. ********** [gh] As a result, the Dnestr region is now technically able to accept orders for relaying programmes in the mediumwave range thanks to the partially saved masts of the Malaya Zarya broadcasting system which used to cover Austria and the Balkan zone before the disaster. Now the air temperature is going up gradually, and the tremendous masses of ice that accumulated in the upper portions of still standing masts are beginning to fall down from great heights, bombarding the wires and expensive electronic equipment below. "The radio centre can be brought to its fully working condition only when we restore a reliable power supply. For this, it is necessary to revive the 110kV power line feeding it," said Akulov... Source: Infotag news agency, Chisinau, in English 1715 gmt 05 Dec 00 (via BBC Monitoring, via WORLD OF RADIO 1061, DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. It seems that all Maiac freqs remain silent. Nothing on 999, 1467, 1548 this evening, and the scheduled V of Iran txmn on 7480 is unheard. As already reported by BT, the Maiac relay centre in MDA is having problems. On 30/11 MW 999 and 1548 were noted off the air. On 1/12 at 0200 I could also confirm that SW 7125 and 7180 were silent (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 1, BC-DX via DXLD) Maiac silent. 7180 has been registered as Armavir for years, apparently since they started using this freq to NAm from a non- Ukrainian site, but the actual usage, including this winter, has been from Maiac[-Grigoriopol-MDA]. The fact that the freq went off when Maiac went off would seem to confirm this again. The reason why the Russians are showing Armavir is that international regulations do not permit txions to the Americas on freqs up to 7300 kHz, and so broadcasters in many cases have registered these txions as beamed to Iceland and the North Atlantic instead!!! The Russians, in addition, have tended to show sites more to the east than the ones in actual use. When you brought up the possible use of Krasnodar on 7180 a couple of weeks ago I checked 7180, 7125 and 7365 (R Rossii) and found that when propagation was moderate, 7125 and 7180 were fluttery and not too strong, while 7365 had the same strength and a stable signal. This clearly includes Krasnodar on 7180, since they would have boomed in with their NAm beam going almost right over my head! (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 2, BC-DX via DXLD) That's especially interesting because HFCC shows for 7180 "ARM" [Armavir-Krasnodar in Caucasus]. Some indications suggested, that it indeed now originates from Tbilisskaya: The signal was weaker than 7125 and the fading patterns appeared as different to me, in addition there was a slight delay between 7125 and 7180 when both had VoR English. I could imagine that 7180 was removed to Tbilisskaya as substitute for the V of Vietnam txions (5940 etc.). On the subject of Grigoriopol-Maiac the recent REN-TV report mentioned a collapsed 350 metres tall mast. This height of course suggests a big ARRT (called ShARRT?); probably this was the 234 kHz antenna? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) The Maiac site in MDA has been off for several days now due to ice storm damage, and so far Moscow seems to have done nothing to throw in backups. At least on SW they should be able to use other sites. With both 7125 and 7180 off, what else remains for listeners on the US east coast? (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 4, BC-DX via DXLD) VOR 7125 was back on at 0100 UT in Spanish (Sergei Sosedkin, MI, Dec 6, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Substitute site? (gh) ** MOZAMBIQUE. v9639 R Mozambique Maputo was on 9636 recently and after a short absence it has moved to this freq. Reception is still good (Mahendra Vaghee, Mauritius, Nov 27, BC-DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Dear Dave Harries, Radio New Zealand Int`l is best received here in Denmark - and in the UK as well I guess - at 0706- 1210 UT on 15175 kHz. Some co-channel interference from 0706-0800 and absolutely excellent reception (strong signal - no interference) from 0800 to 1210. Good luck - and best of 73s (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERÚ. *****Of Special Interest STN NEW NAME****** 4655, R. Ecos de Belén, Celendín, 0017 Dec 6. Hrd this one with a new name, discovered by Rodríguez, Colombia and first IDed as Cóndor Radiante and later IDed as R. Celendín by Arrunátegui, Perú. Nice signal, playing lively folk mx. Anmt by man: "Este programa, 'Encuentro Musical' para todos y cada uno de ustedes desde...amigos que están en la sintonía de Radio Ecos de Belén, voz (or maybe 'voces') de Belén en el campo y la ciudad, son exactamente siete de la noche más diecisiete minutos, 7, 17, la hora..." "...las ondas sonoras de R. Ecos de Belén". At 0030 ads by woman for "Panadería y Pastelería "Rosita", clearly mentioning Celendín. Another ad for Turismo "Rojas". Also using slogan: "un nuevo estilo en comunicación radial" when IDed again at 0043. QRK 4 and then progressively deteriorating (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. See also MOLDOVA above! ** RUSSIA. [Re: DXLD 0-148] Glenn: A DXer from Moscow told me that VoR`s Russian-language site uses Moscow time for its program schedule and UT for frequency schedule. Unfortunately this use of Moscow time is not stated anywhere. So my item about UN Radio in last DXLD was misleading. UN Radio with its 15-[minutes] via VoR is on the air Monday through Friday at approximately 1342, 1542 and 1742 UT (Sergei Sosedkin, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) * RUSSIA. Krasnoyarsk on 5290 seems to have been off for about a week. Only one txer is audible on this freq now, and that one is Perm, closing at 1600. I have also been unable to confirm Krasnoyarsk on LW 216, but that may be due to poor propagation as this freq is always hard to pick up. Perm 5290 has a double satellite delay when airing R Rossii. Apparently the Moscow signal is first picked up from a satellite in Perm, and then redistributed within the oblast by satellite again. I have been able to hear Khanty-Mansiysk [listed 3 kW] on 6095 with R Rossii in \\ with 4820. 6095 seems to have an early s-off as listed in the WRTH. Khanty-Mansiysk has a satellite delay compared to Tyumen 4895. Both 4820 and 4895 mostly have very poor audio - the txers must be in a deplorable condition. The Mayak txer on 4520 has better audio. At this time of the year I can often hear 4820 throughout the day. The 2nd harmonic of 4820 on 9640 is audible from time to time, and the 3rd on 14460 is a regular and easy catch. A recent report by the BBCM mentioned that the Konstatinogradovskiy centre in the Amur oblast had been silenced due to unpaid electricity bills. The actual name of the place is Konstatinogradovka. It is located east of Blagoveshchensk and probably houses both LW 189 and MW 585 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Dec 4, BC-DX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. 7070: R Banaadir moved from 7020 to 7070. Good reception at 1635 Nov 28 with long talk 1700, ID then followed with nx. 1725 songs and ID at 1730. Prayer at 1735 ID then continued with songs. (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, BC-DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1061, DXLD) *1430-2000*. They are having problems with the xmtr, frequent loss of audio. When they were on 7020 they usually went off at 2130 (Vaghjee, NU Nov 28 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND [non]. Glen[n], Stevie (Station Manager) here of Radio 510 International. Just to let you know that we are testing every Saturday evening to the USA on 7120 kHz at 2300-0000 via IRRS using 10 kW also in the USB mode. If any listener can pick us up we`d be very grateful to know. Our address for a QSL card, a sticker, information sheet (all in colour!) and a personal letter is: Radio 510 International, P. O. Box 510, 4010 Basel, Switzerland. Hope this information is of some use. Check our web site (we update 5 times a week!) for more information: http://www.radio510.org Best wishes from Switzerland (Stevie, Station Manager, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. R Taipei International anncd budget cutting from Jan 1st, 2001. German sce will be shortened to produce a single program hour daily, but more three repeats daily will occur. Also txions in English, Spanish, Japanese, Thai, BI, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese and Hakka will suffer from the cut (Jürgen Lohuis, Germany, A-DX Dec 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Nothing heard on 9385, at 0100 UT Dec 6, where RUI was supposed to have moved from 9810 (Joe Hanlon, PA, and gh, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 0100 9810 definitely had VOR but very poor and could not tell if RUI also still there (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1061, DXLD) ** UKRAINE [rather former USSR]. In the late 70`s experiments were performed using 3 x 1000 kW transmitters in parallel. The antenna consisted of 13 vertical towers in the shape of a parabola (as viewed from an airplane), various folded dipoles strung between all these towers. It also had a very narrow bandwidth (approx 3 MHz), and a very narrow beamwidth (aprox 5-10 degrees). The result of this was the gain they obtained from this antenna was a staggering 38 dB !!! The reference signal they used it against was a 1000 kW transmitter with a 20 dB curtain antenna. The test signal was directed to the Washington / New York area. What happened was as follows. It started at 1000 kW, and they increased tx power and monitored rx signal strength in Washington. As the test tx power approached 2000 kW, they found that the received signal strength started to decrease. At 3000 kW the received signal was almost gone, but why ? Radio Iosonde [sic] sounders and satellites were then dispatched to analyze the signal. What they found was surprising. At 3000 kW and 38 dB of antenna gain, the tx signal was of such power, that it was heating up a spot in the ionosphere. But instead of creating a solid area of reflection, they discovered they were actually burning a hole in the ionosphere and the signal was being shot off into space. They also noticed that the area of the ionospheric hole had an effect on approaching weather fronts. The weather fronts were being deflected around the ionospheric heated area, inadvertent weather modification. So they reduced the power, received signal strength improved, but not much over the reference signal. They experienced lots of fading especially when the ionosphere was unstable, that the solar winds would push & pull at this heated up areas of the ionosphere and move it around. They did however notice that as the ionospheric hole decreased in size, they were also able to transmit a 2nd signal beamed to the same spot at much higher than the MUF and HPF; however the received signal was very unstable, because of the lack of symmetry and alignment due to the number of hops. This method has been used before, but just for one hop. The parabolic antenna was modified to a wider beamwidth (approx 30 degrees) and the frequency range was expanded to 5.5-22.0 MHz. The result of this was a drop in gain to 29 dB, which is still fantastic. The high power tx program was canceled, and soon after, many of the engineers were laid off, but approx 20-30 were provided safe passage out of the Ukrainian SSR and ended up in Alaska working on the US HAARP project. Material originating from Rick Slobodian can be used freely provided that due credit is given and that a free copy of any publication where his material is used is sent to him at the following address: Mr. Rick Slobodian, 2008-45th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2T 2P5. Also make sure to add this copyright notice to your article (including electronic publication). (Rick Slobodian-CAN via Ludo Maes-BEL via Olle Alm-SWE via Bernd Trutenau-LTU, 21 Nov, BC-DX via DXLD) Acc. to certain sources, the original aim of these tests was to try to "optimize" jamming on SW (Bernd Trutenau. Lithuania, Nov 21, BC-DX via DXLD) Also the widely observed USSR - Woodpecker signals originated from Ukraine territory near Poltava, as described in German magazines in the 70s. The row/fence of the giant antenna tower installations [maybe 8x8 or 16x16 dipole arrays?] could easily be seen from aircraft and spacecraft units (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX ed. via DXLD) ** U K. Sorry, Will, BBC is still mispronouncing St. Louis, as heard on the Write On available ondemand as of 2130 UT Dec 5, which is NOT this week`s program, as from 0845 UT Saturday, but the previous week`s I had already heard, and lacking Will Martin`s latest comments about the news strike. They finally understand that the second word, despite Judy Garland, is pronounced Lewis, not Louie. But they still say ``Sint`` instead of ``Saynt``. BTW, a quick way to find the Write On audio file is to go to Site Map and then to the very bottom right of that page (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Extension 720 from WGN often offers some stimulating conversation. I am just listening to a tape of one I recorded direct off 720 about the possibility of life on Mars. One thing I wish they would explain, and I am sure there is a good explanation: how to they KNOW that meteorite found in Antarctica came from Mars, whether or not it contain evidence of life? Looking at upcoming E720 topix, I pick some to listen for, dates US time for 9:10 to 11 pm CST (0210- 0400 following UT days): Thu Dec 7, American regional English Mon Dec 11, XXI century trends, with Ben Wattenberg Tue Dec 19, What`s new in the Universe Wed Dec 20, Who was Jesus? Thu Dec 28, E720 Year in Review Fuller schedule and links to audio feed via http://www.wgnam.com (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1061, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. On its second day of tests, Dec 5, I was waiting on 15485 for the Methodists via DTK. BBC wrapped up usage there just in time for a much stronger signal from Germany at *1700. After drumming and opening announcements confirming the edress and pdress I gave before, executive producer Sharon Maeda (sp?) said: ``The following two hours is a test of shortwave reception for a new radio program which will premiere in 2001. From December 4th through December 10th [not 12th as I said before -gh] this program will be shortwaved throughout sub-Saharan Africa. We ask that you let us know your location if you are hearing this program. Specific information about how to contact us will be repeated throughout the two hours. Perspectives is a radio magazine of news and views, music and culture, produced by Africans and friends around the world. Coverage of Africa often focuses on war and famine, corruption and despair. Perspectives will be focused on the spirit and the strength of the diverse African people, as well as sharing essential and even life- saving information. ``Information is power, and all too often, the power of the broadcast media is in the hands of economic or political forces, and without a continent-wide broadcast network, people in one country often don`t know what`s happening just across their borders. Perspectives is a new effort to share information that affects the daily lives of people throughout sub-Saharan Africa. You will hear reports and interviews from Kinshasa to Nairobi, Freetown to Soweto. If Uganda has a successful strategy to curb the spread of HIV-AIDS, shouldn`t that information be shared across the continent ravaged by the disease? And if a village in Zimbabwe has developed a caring way to raise orphaned children in their own homes, should it not be shared? ``The General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church is the global mission agency of 9.9 million United Methodists throughout Africa, Europe, the Philippines, and in the United States and Puerto Rico. The United Methodist Church in Africa is the fastest-growing of anywhere in the world and led by African bishops elected in their own regions. The focus of our mission around the world is on alleviating human suffering and seeking justice, freedom and peace, as well as strengthening our churches and introducing new people to Jesus Christ. ``As one of the largest Protestant denominations, the U M C works with people from other churches and other religions in its effort to make the world a better place for all of God`s children. The inspiration for producing Perspectives is rooted in the strength and leadership of African United Methodists. The program itself will include issues of faith in a manner that is respectful of the diversity of beliefs held by millions of Africans who do not share our religion. It is our hope that the program will be of interest and uplifting to all Africans. ``If you can hear this program, we`d like to know where you are located and how well you receive this signal. If you have a comment about the content of the test program, please let us know that as well. And, if you are a journalist located in Africa, interested in becoming a stringer for the program, please send us samples of your work. Your feedback is essential. Throughout this week of testing, you will hear where you can E-mail, call, and send a letter. This program will be initially broadcast in both English and French. And future plans include broadcasting in Portuguese. Thank you for listening.`` Numerous announcements confirmed the E-mail as radio@gbgm-umc.org and the fax as 1-212-870-3748. A clip of their opening appears in WOR 1061 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thank you so much for your report. We`re happy that you were able to receive our test program, and hope you'll be listening when we go on the air with daily broadcasts starting hopefully January 1, 2001. Looking forward to hearing your feedback, then, (Donna Niemann, Program Producer, General Board of Global Ministries via Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. What neighbors we have on WBCQ! WOR 1061 at 0031 UT Thursday Dec 7 on 7415 was preceded by the usual bible-reading, and followed by ``Christianity Is Stupid,`` a special from KPFA provided by Idio- Audio (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###