DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-027, February 27, 2001 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 2001, 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/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] CONTINENT OF MEDIA 01-02 February is available from February 27: http://www.DXing.com/com0102.rm (DOWNLOAD) http://www.DXing.com/com0102.ram (STREAM) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/com0102.html (SUMMARY) ** ALASKA. A graph of a typical HAARP pulse, May 19, 2000 at 5:20 am PDT / 1320 UT [sic], shows a length of 5.8 to 6.25 seconds, an upward rising sound, continuous 2100 Hz tone, with slightly decreasing amplitude (source unknown via Wolfgang Büschel, Feb 27, described by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. Since I wasn`t listening to any other webcast at the moment, 2230 UT Feb 25, I went to R. Vlaanderen Internationaaal website to get Radio World that way instead of SW. The website asserts that RVI is now continuous on the web, including English at several times including 2230, but this was not the case: music and Dutch announcements continued. Figuring the stream was a few minutes late in buffering, I stayed with it, but no English. By now, RW was half over on easily audible 13660 via Bonaire, if I had tuned it in there as usual, so I went to WRN and, `cello! got it easily from the start ondemand. But by this method you`ve got to grab it before it be replaced by the next day`s broadcast (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. R Eco San Borja, mentioned in DXLD 1-026, is a Bolivian, not a Peruvian. Owner, Gonzalo Espinoza Cortez, is in Madrid, Spain, for the time being (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Feb 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. On 6105 26 Feb 2305 R (Cultura) Filadélfia, Foz de Iguaçu, a new one for me. "Filadélfia Musical" with evangelican songs in Portuguese. QSA 2-3, and little QRM before 0000 when BBC comes on with Spanish on 6100. Own program with DJ live from studio, talking with enthusiasm about "as cataratas" nearby (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMBODIA [non]. Opposition radio not on air 24 February | Samleng Yuttethoar (Voice of Justice), the radio station of the Cambodian opposition party Sam Rangsi Party did not broadcast on Saturday 24 February between 1000 and 1100 gmt. The station carried a "test broadcast" on 15455 kHz on Saturday 17 February between 1000 and 1100 gmt. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Feb 01 (via DXLD) Cambodia/Taiwan: Opposition radio reportedly broadcasting from Taiwan | A Cambodian-language newspaper, Reaksmei Angkor, carries in its 20 February issue a report by Reaksmei on the Voice of Justice (VOJ), the radio station of the Cambodian opposition, the Sam Rangsi Party (SRP). The report recalls a transmission by VOJ on Saturday 17 February between 1000 and 1100 gmt on 15455 kHz and says that according to two pro-Sam Rangsi newspapers - Moneakseka Khmer and Samleng Yuveakchon Khmer - this radio station is "in a democratic country not very far from Cambodia." The report goes on to say: "Based on the information that has been revealed, this radio station must be in Thailand. From what has just been reliably received, however, the truth is that Sam Rangsi, the vocal leader of the opposition, had secretly contacted Taiwan to set up this radio station and broadcast from there. Thus, it can be said that this clandestine radio station of the SRP is not in Thailand or along the Cambodian-Thai border but in Taiwan instead." Source: Reaksmi Angkor, Phnom Penh, in Cambodian 20 Feb 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. CJRT, Canada`s ``All-Jazz Station`` is nevertheless still running classic British comedy/quiz shows at 0030-0100 UT Tue-Sat, I assume, since I have just reconfirmed The Goon Show on UT Wed. Accessible via http://www.cjrt.com (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [non] Re: DX Listening Digest [1-026]. Your information about Canada`s Radio Vancouver International has aroused some considerable interest among short wave listeners in Japan. Mr. Koji Yamada and Mr. Shinichi Shiraishi of Japan Short Wave Club have asked me to check the organization called Radio Vancouver International. However, local telephone company confirm that they have no customer registered under the name of Radio Vancouver International. Radio Canada International, Vancouver, say they have never heard of the RVI, either. They are wondering if that is a reflection of some Chinese language radio stations here in Vancouver. But that is again one man`s guess. With kind regards, (A. Shigematsu (Vancouver), Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I refer you to the original reports about this in DXLD 1-021 and 1- 023; it is definitely connected with CHMB 1320 (gh, DXLD) ** CARIBBEAN. Marching towards Ash Wednesday, it is Carnival time in the Caribbean this week. The small island stations available via RealAudio in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Grenada are often lively enough, and during Carnival even more so. AM 535 Grenada`s link is at http://www.spiceisle.com/real/gbn/gbn.ram, RCI Martinique at http://www.comfm.com/live/radio/?c=mq and other Caribbean links are grouped at http://www.comfm.com/live/radio/?k=8 Links to the Trinidad stations don`t work, alas (Tom Roche, Atlanta, Feb 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I listened to RCI for a while; quite frenetic. Evidently stands for R. Carnaval International; what do they call it rest of year? (gh) ** CHINA [non]. As I was listening to RCI on 17710, Feb 26 at 1350, a heavy white noise suddenly came on. This proved to be emanating from 17720, the open carrier which always starts early for the CRI relay presumably via Cuba. Some of the same noise could be heard on the upper side, but was worst on 17710 despite the relatively strong signal from Sackville. What good neighbors the Chinese and Cubans make to Canada, which has always been sympathetic to Cuba and even relays CRI! Meanwhile after 1400, Cuban commie bubble jamming was still running against CRI direct on 7405, which was several words ahead of 17720, even though R. Martí closes by 1400. So, through incompetence, Cuba both relays and jams the same station! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI was active on 15049 Feb 27 around 1300/1400, but not audible on 21815-USB; later around 1900, neither (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. Dear Glenn, I must inform you that CYBC Domestic MW 603 and 963 kHz both from Nicosia have been off the air for the last 2 weeks. Also the TV station PIK channel 2 has been off the air for the last two days. The station is suffering cash problems but have not been able to get an answer from the station. I was hoping the short wave service would ID in English when transmissions start as Greek is only spoken. Note QSL reports are welcome but replies are slow and IRCs are important. 73,s (Costa Constantinides, Cyprus, Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So I wonder what bearing this will have on the Fri-Sat-Sun only SW broadcasts at 2215? (gh) ** EUROPE. The `24hrs a day 7 days a week` free radio station, Laser Hot Hits, has a new frequency on the 41 mtr band: it`s 7459.5 kHz (ex 7454.7). The 48 mtr band fq has been adjusted to 6220 kHz (ex 6219). 3935 remains unchanged. Best 73s (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Feb 26, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Rádio França Internacional deixará de transmitir em Ondas Curtas para o Brasil | 22/02/2001 Paris - Finalmente a Rádio França admitiu seus planos de extinção dos seus programas em português para o Brasil. No "Correio dos Ouvintes", programa dominical destinado a responder aos ouvintes brasileiros, de 18 de fevereiro, a apresentadora Adriana de Freitas leu uma nota que informava que era "tendência de RFI de diminuir ao máximo suas freqüências para o Brasil, ficando no futuro apenas no satélite e pela Internet, além de serem retransmitidos pela cadeia de emissoras em FM no Brasil." Não mais transmitem na freqüência de 17620 kHz (16 metros), ficando apenas reduzidos à freqüência de 15200 kHz em 19 metros, das 2030 às 2100 TU. Essa declaração pública deu-se em resposta às reclamações dos ouvintes da RFI: Cassiano Alves Macedo (Apresentador do programa "Encontro DX" da Rádio Aparecida) e Jailton Amaral (Presidente do SRDXC), que estavam recebendo várias cartas de ouvintes de RFI, se queixando dessa situação. O Santa Rita DX Clube lamenta muito a decisão tomada pela direção de RFI e solicita dos ouvintes brasileiros que abarrotem de cartas àquela emissora. As cartas poderão ser enviadas aos cuidados do SRDXC: Rádio França Internacional, a/c Jailton Amaral, Caixa Postal 4, Santa Rita/PB - Cep. 58300-970 ou então diretamente à emissora: Rádio França Internacional, Serviço Brasileiro, 116 Avenue du President Kennedy, Paris 16, França. Quem usa a Internet, poderá enviar um e-mail ao seguinte endereço eletrônico: brasil@rfi.fr O SRDXC já enviou um comunicado eletrônico de protesto a Rádio França, lamentando a gradual extinção das transmissões em português para o Brasil. Segundo Jailton Amaral, presidente do clube, "é apenas o primeiro passo para a extinção do inteiro serviço brasileiro, como fez a Voz da América, que ficou por algum tempo no satélite e na Internet e em breve extinguirá o seu serviço brasileiro por completo." "Não queremos tal destino para o Serviço Brasileiro da Rádio França", concluiu Jailton. (SRDXC News Feb 25 via radioescutas via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. Re: R. Abkhazia and R. Khara, 9490, are irregular due to electric power shortage, limited to 12 hours per day (Bulgaria Calling Feb 24 via gh, DXLD) Hi Glenn- Didn`t realize these two shared a transmitter and/or frequency. First report I have seen of Khara on 9490, last reported on 4875 (Hans Johnson, Feb 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That was probably an unwarranted assumption. Not sure of exact wording of the item as I was scribbling notes (gh) ** GEORGIA. Taken from "Weekly Political Review" of Radio Rep Abkhazia in Russian on Feb 3rd at 0700, repeated at 1100 and 1400 on v9489.75: "The people in Georgia have now an electricity for only 12 hours per day ... that`s why the Georgian Radio and TV are on the air irregularly ... Russia wants from Georgia to pay its debts -- only Azerbaijan is helping them ... ". etc. 9490 Observed schedule in Feb, of non-registered transmissions, presumably location at Sochi, Russia: daily 0400-0500 Mon-Sat 0500-0800 Sat&Sun 1100-1200 daily 1400-1430 Mon-Sat 1430-1600 Mon-Fri 1600-1800 0400-0500 and Sat 1530-1600 also on MW Soukhumi 1350. Program: relay of R Rossii, except Radio Republic Abkhazia in Russian, Abkhazian, Georgian Mon-Sat(irr) 0400-0500 Mon-Sat 0700-0800 Sat&Sun 1100-1200 daily 1400-1430 Sat 1430-1500. Radio Kuban, from Krasnodar Mon-Fri(irr) 0400-0430 Mon-Fri 0445-0500 Sat(irr) 0610-0700 Mon-Fri 1500-1525; 1548-1600 in Russian. Radio Sochi from Sochi Mon-Fri(irr) 0430-0445 Mon-Fri 1525-1548 in Russian (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Feb 19, BC-DX via DXLD) ** GEORGIA/UNITED KINGDOM. BBC donates [SHORTWAVE] transmitter | Text of report by Georgian TV on 25 February [Presenter] The BBC has given Georgian TV and radio a radio transmitter. The transmitter will significantly improve shortwave signal transmission. [hope they don`t mean ULTRA shortwave -gh] Georgian TV and radio and the world media giant, the BBC, are also planning other joint projects. [Correspondent] The quality of Radio 2 and FM100.9 signal will improve. The BBC has given the Georgian TV and radio a radio transmitter. Two million Georgian radio listeners will very soon feel the first effects of the British media giant`s cooperation with Channel One [as heard]. [Vakhtang Nanitashvili, head of radio broadcasting] All this was decided during visits to London by our leader, Mr Zaza Shengelia [head of Georgian state TV and radio], and during our guests` visit to Tbilisi. [Correspondent] Relations between the BBC and Channel One began last June. The BBC already has its own correspondent in Tbilisi. Georgian experts often take part in one of the BBC`s weekly programmes. [Jenny Norton, captioned as BBC producer; in Russian] This time we have brought with us transmitters to enable you to receive our signal. It will be easier for listeners to hear us on Georgian TV and radio frequencies. [Correspondent] Jenny Norton is a producer. The presentation of her first work about Georgia will take place next week. A compact disc which Norton released in London is devoted to the Abkhaz problem. [Yuriy Goligorskiy, captioned as BBC producer; in Russian] We are going to Sukhumi, where next week we will hold a presentation of a radio series by our freelance correspondents. An Abkhaz correspondent and a Georgian correspondent have jointly made a series of programmes. We hope that after the presentation of these programmes in Sukhumi on Thursday, a similar presentation will be held in Tbilisi on Friday. As agreed, the same series [as heard] will be broadcast on Georgian radio. [Correspondent] The BBC and Georgian TV and radio have serious plans for cooperation. The project envisages the setting up of a joint radio station and the joint production of many radio and TV programmes. Source: Georgian Television, Tbilisi, in Georgian 1600 gmt 25 Feb 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. With 16 and 13m hopping with strong signals from Europe, I checked 11m, Feb 26 at 1353, and found DW 25740 also with a strong but rapidly fading signal, in German. Closed at 1400* after website, timesignal and check ``15 Uhr in Deutschland``. I wonder if this reception had something to do with the Monday STRATWARM alert WWV announced at 1518; K index was 2, and Feb 25 solar flux was only 135 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle appoints new deputy director | Text of press release by Deutsche Welle on 12 February Deutsche Welle (DW) has named its administrative director, Dr Reinhard Hartstein, to the post of deputy director. Deutsche Welle announced on 12 February that the Governing Board had approved this appointment which is effective as of 1 March 2001. The Munich-born lawyer served as a staff member in the Bavarian State Chancellery from 1980 until 1989 and, as of 1985, the official responsible for broadcasting. In this capacity, he managed Munich's cable pilot project, which laid the groundwork for the introduction of private broadcasting in Germany. From 1989 until 1992 he served as Deutschlandfunk`s administrative director and legal adviser in Cologne. Since 1992, he has been the administrative director of Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster, which through radio programming in 30 languages and television programming in three (German, English and Spanish) provides 24-hour news programming. The broadcaster, a member of ARD, has approximately 1,600 staff and roughly 2,500 regular freelances. Hartstein's time coincided with the development of DW's television programming (1992-1995); a comprehensive technical, personnel and management restructuring; personnel cuts of almost 40 per cent; and a cut in federal funding of roughly 15 per cent. In the light of its radical reforms, DW rode out these changes unexpectedly well. Hartstein is the co-author of a pamphlet on broadcasting law and a lecturer on broadcasting law at the University of Saarland. Source: Deutsche Welle press release, Cologne, in German 12 Feb 01 (BBC Monitoring via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Hi Glenn, perhaps you are interested in some further details about the gone 1593 channel of WDR: The high power facility at Langenberg consisted of a pair of Telefunken 600 kW transmitters. Due to asbestos contamination was it not possible to operate these transmitters beyond the end of 1993. 1593 kHz was indeed an excellent nighttime frequency but the daytime performance was poor; the groundwave range was according to WDR data limited to just 80 km even with full 800 kW, a result which was of course out of all proportion. So WDR decided to keep 720 with the remaining transmitter, leading to the frequency exchange with Holzkirchen, i.e. Holzkirchen moved from 720 into 1593, allowing WDR to use its former daytime frequency 720 now around the clock. WDR also still has a 5 kW transmitter on 774 at Bonn. Further low power transmitters were in the past operational from various sites on 702, but shut down and dismantled years ago. Now the 702 frequency is allocated to the commercial VIVA-Radio (the planned radio service of the VIVA TV network). A new 5 kW transmitter will be erected at Jülich, on the grounds of the so far shortwave-only site. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAI`I. Only recently, I believe, have public radio stations here become audible via webcasts. Publicradiofan.com lists two stations, KKCR on Kaua`i, http://www.kkcr.org and the KIPO network, http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org Besides a taste of the isles, the UT minus 10 zone should offer some alternative times for mainland programs, which make up the bulk of its schedule. KIPO`s only title unequivocally with national music is ``The Music of Hawaii`` Sundays 2300-2600 UT; ``Talk of the Islands`` is UT Wednesday 0300-0400 (Glenn Hauser, Feb 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 9525 frequency for Voice of Indonesia is no longer used 0800-1300. All programs are now on 11785 including Japanese 1130-1200 (Craig Tyson, Perth WA, Feb 27, EDXP NEWSPLUS via DXLD) Incidentally, then English at 0800 would be too (gh) ** IRAN [or non]. Glenn, Ref. the item in DXLD 1-024 on a Persian numbers station on 10080 and 8600 kHz: A Persian colleague of mine says she does not recognise the word "ayom", said to be a key word used by this mystery station. So, it must be a different word, or else Persian is not the language being used. Yawm is the Arabic word for "day" (the Hebrew "Yom" is a cognate). But I cannot see how one could confuse Arabic with Persian. The item said that another key word used was "Baktiar". In fact, this is not the name of the Afghan news agency, as suggested. The agency is called Bakhtar (it is still running - now operated by the Taleban). An Afghan colleague tells me that Bakhtar is an ancient name for the area that we call Afghanistan. She did not think it had any other particular meaning in modern Pashto (or Pushtu if you prefer) or Persian. The word Bakhtiar (not Baktiar) is a Persian name. One thinks particularly of Shahpur Bakhtiar, the last prime minister under the Shah, subsequently assassinated in exile (Chris Greenway, UK, Feb 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ/IRAN. Following up Olle Alm`s monitoring report in DXLD 1- 026:. Expanded schedule of Voice of Mojahed, out of band freqs 10050 and 12450. Chaotic use of 10050, 10250, 12450, 13450 on Feb 21: 1000-1030 10050 12450 13450 1030-1100 10050 13450 1100-1130 13450 1130-1430 10050 12450 13450 1430-1530 10050 12450 1530-1730 10050 10250 12450 1730-1910 10250 12450 The other remaining lower freqs are same as earlier in use. V of Mojahed-2 is back on air *1705-2101* on 7073. Observed in Nov 2000, silenced til Jan 26. Now as follows *1703-2105* in Persian, 1730-1825 in Arabic on v7073, jammed by Iran. The other "V of Mojahed - 1" is jumping also in 40 m Amateur radio band, together with two Iranian jammers. Observed schedule: *0225-0640*; *1425-1910(irr 1840) on 5350 5650 6450 6850 7050 7450 8350 8850 9930 10250, and 13450(ex 7850). All jumping +/- 30 kHz. New time *1125-1325*, but Suns *1025-1240* on 7050 8350 8850 9330 10250 13450(ex 9230). On Feb 5th at 1905 on 8830 they announced two MW freqs and eleven on shortwave. Irregular broadcasts are aired now from R Kurdistan 4030. V of the Toilers of Kurdistan 4245. Voice of Kharkuditi Kurdistan is already on 4197 (x4177). There is the new R Bopisshawa / Forward of Iraqi Communist Workers Party (pro-Soviet orientation), presumed replacing the previous "The Voice of ICWP", *1530-1805* on 4000, which reported last time on Oct 28th, latter known as a close friend to PKK - its successors are maybe R Anternacional, R Bopishawa. 3875 & 4375 V of Iranian Revolution, *1427-1527* in K&P VOCP of Iran *1655-1755*, Fris *0427-0527* In P presumed both pro-Soviet, tx site in Uzbekistan? 3903 R Freedom - VOCP of Iraqi Kurdistan *1550-1650* in K 3903 & 5890 V of Iraqi People(1) *0355-0525*, *1725--1855* in A presumed both pro-Chinese, tx site in China. 3985 V of Iranian Kurdistan *0255-0455*, *1325-1525* in K&P jammed by Iran, program originates from presumed tx site in Iraq. 4000 V of Iraqi Communist Workers Party *1530-1805, not active now! presumed pro-Soviet, tx site in Uzbekistan. 4062 & 6995 V of People of Kurdistan, *0308-0750*; *1325-2100* in K&A 4085 & 5860 V of Iraqi Kurdistan *0335-0635*, *1330-1430*, *1455- 2050*, Suns -1950* in K&A. TX site in Iraq. 4030 (ex 4130) Radio Kurdistan- V of Kurdistan-n SDP, *0300-0450, *1435-1630*, irr. 1630-1730, *1938-2108* in A&K. TX site presumably in Syria. 4197 V of Kharkutiti Kurdistan (ex 4177), now varies 4190 to 4200. *0300-0455*, *1500-1657*. TX site presumably in Syria. 4200/4225 (ex 4185) V of Worker, *1527-1616* in K&P 4225. *1727-1816* in P 4200., both Mon-Fri, but irregular Sat & Suns. presumed pro-Chinese. 4245(ex 4250) V of Toilers of Kurdistan, *0250-0600*, *1355--1700* in A&K. Presumably tx site in Syria. 5830 Radio Iran of Tomorrow, *1800-1830*, in P, tx site in Tajikistan. 7480 V of Iran, *1630-1830*, in P, CIS site (ex Moldova). Heavily jammed by [Kamalabad?] Iran 7481.00. 7520 Radio Anternacional, *1730-1815* in P. Maiac Grigoriopol` 500 kW stn in Moldova. 9450 Radio Bopishawa. Mon/Wed/Fri in A; Thu in Kurd. *1500- 1600*. Site unknown, Yerevan, Armenia? 9563/9568/11710 V of Iraqi People(2), see 3903 above. *1430(Fri 1330)-0430* in A. TX site in Sa`udi Arabia. 9677 V of Justice, Wed & Sat *0600-0635* in Azeri & Armenian. TX site in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Radio Iran of Tomorrow on 7120 7520 12055 at *1830-1900* in P, from tx site in Moldova, but seems to be closed now? A=Arabic, K=Kurdish, P=Persian/Farsi (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Feb 22, BC-DX via DXLD) ** IRELAND. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). From: http://www.ukradio.com/news/NEWS1621.asp 26 Feb: RTL is to sell Atlantic 252 share. Atlantic 252 have issued a statement today following weekend press speculation around the prospective sale of RTL`s 80% share in the station. In the statement, Managing Director John O`Hara says "It`s business as usual," adding: "Both the staff and myself are committed to restoring Atlantic 252 to its former glory and that process has already begun. The resurgence of interest in long wave from the UK, the Dutch and the Scandinavians can only be good for us and we look forward to a long and successful future." The statement continued: "Long wave radio station Atlantic 252 remains committed to both its advertisers and listeners" The station relaunched its programme schedule a year ago with a new rhythm and dance format, and Managing Director John O`Hara says there are no changes planned in the near future. Ireland`s state-owned broadcaster, RTE, which owns a 20% stake, remains committed to the station (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. DPR KOREA (North Korea). Radio P`yongyang changed its name to "Voice of Korea" on Feb. 16 as I reported before. But the Korean language service still uses its former name "Korean Central Broadcasting Station" or "Radio P`yongyang". -Korean (Korean Central Broadcasting Station): 1010-1100 China 7140, 9345 1010-1100 SEAs/LAm 3560, 9850, 11335, 13650 1400-1450 ME/Af 9640, 9975 1400-1450 SEAs/LAm 3560, 9850, 11335, 13650 1700-1750 WEu/NAm 6575, 9335, 11710, 13760 2000-2050 ME/Af 3560, 6520, 9600, 9975 2000-2050 WEu/NAm 6575, 9335, 11710, 13760 2000-2050 EEu 7505, 9325 2300-2350 China 3560, 7140, 9345, 9975, 11735 -Korean (Radio Pyongyang): 0700-0800 China 6195, 7140, 9345 0800-0900 EEu 3560, 13760, 15245 0800-0900 FE 6575, 9975 0900-1000 China 6195, 7140, 9345 1100-1200 China 7140, 9345 1300-1400 China 7140, 9345 1700-1800 ME/Af 3560, 6520, 9600, 9975 All times UT (Toru Yamashita of the Asian Broadcasting Institute) New station IDs of "Voice of Korea" in each language at the beginning are as follows: English: "This is Voice of Korea", French: "La Voix de la Corée", Spanish: "Aquí la Voz de Corea", German: "Stimme Koreas", Russian: "Golos Korei", Arabic: "Sawt Kuriya", Chinese: "Chaoxian zhi Sheng Guangbo Diantai", Japanese: "Choson no koe hoso desu". Korean(not changed): "Joson Jung-ang Pangsong-imnida" or "P`yongyang Pangsong-imnida". (Nobuo Hina of the Asian Broadcasting Institute, via Yamashita, Feb 27, DXLD) ** LATVIA [non]/LITHUANIA [non]. The last two RFE/RL Baltic shortwave broadcasts, in Latvian and Lithuanian, will end on March 1. Both Services continue via local FM networks. The SW schedule thru Feb 28: Latvian, 1900-2000: Biblis, Germany 6150 Lampertheim, Germany 7125 Playa de Pals, Spain 9505 Lithuanian, 2000-2100: Plays de Pals, Spain 7130 Briech, Morocco 9750 Briech, Morocco 11810 (David Walcutt, VA, RFE/RL, Feb 26, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND [and non]. Subject: [BDXC-UK] Marconi - 100th anniversary of the reception of the first Trans-Atlantic wireless message From rec.radio.shortwave from: tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca While I type this I am listening to Marconi`s daughter who is visiting St. John`s, Newfoundland speaking publicly at one of the events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the reception of the first Trans-Atlantic wireless message. She is describing, as told to herself and her mother by Guglielmo Marconi himself, the events that followed the wireless message reception on Signal Hill, St. John`s, Newfoundland in December 1901, which had been transmitted from Poldhu in Cornwall, England. Shortly after receiving the wireless message, lawyers representing the Anglo Newfoundland Telegraph Company contacted Mr. Marconi with a court order based on their sole right to handle telegraph traffic through Newfoundland and across the Trans-Atlantic telegraph cable to Europe. Marconi was disappointed and frustrated by this and made preparations to leave for the United States where he felt he would have a better chance of setting up a Trans-Atlantic wireless link. The citizens of St. John`s must have realized the scope of the achievement and gave him a rousing send off as he boarded the cross Newfoundland railway train to depart. Fortunately the Canadian Government of the time had heard of the achievement and invited Marconi to choose a Canadian site. Nova Scotia in 1901 was part of the Canadian confederation whereas Newfoundland was a colony of Britain until 1949 when it became the tenth Canadian province. So the reason that Marconi established the first Trans-Atlantic 'TWO WAY' wireless station near Glace Bay in Nova Scotia, Canada, was because of a `Legal` matter, not a technical one. However Trans-Atlantic telegraph cables continued in operation until around 1956 when the first Trans-Atlantic 'Telephone cable', TAT-1, went into operation between Shoal Harbour (near Clarenville) Newfoundland and Oban, Scotland. TAT-1 had 36 two way voice channels, with electronic repeaters across the Atlantic. One voice channel using different tones (frequencies for each telegraph connection) could handle more traffic than all the telegraph cables then in use and of course was not subject to the vagaries of radio transmission across some 2000 miles of the North Atlantic. So Marconi`s achievement was probably more of realizing and achieving the usefulness of wireless rather than in claiming to have invented it! After all some `wireless` phenomena were noted as far back as 1795! Marconi was only 26 or 27 in 1901 (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman, 15140, Feb 26 1430 with news in English; 1440 interviewing a guest from London in Muscat about money- laundering. Both the newscaster and the interviewer were women. On my vertical (non-direxional) antenna, HCJB cochannel was barely audible at first, but as time went on it and its SAH of about 10 Hz strengthened. The separation ought to be more like 10 kHz, with one of them on vacant 15150. 24 hours later, HCJB music dominated and Oman could not be understood, while 15145, 15150, 15155, 15160 and 15165 were open (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Very strong talk in Russian noted at 1455 Feb 27 on 9660; recheck at 1459 had classical piano music across hourtop, no ID, followed by talk about Catholicism. More nice interludes, perhaps Rachmaninov, later violin and piano. This proves to be R. Veritas Asia as scheduled in HFCC, at 300 degrees azimuth, but hard to believe it`s not aimed right at us in CNAm; 1525 IS and ID in English, next would be Urdu on 9670 at 1530 and then abruptly off. Ironic, is it not, that RVA reserves the English language only for continuity and IDs. HFCC listing: 9660 1430 1530 31,32 PUG 250 300 1234567 291000 250301 D Russian PHL RVA 2843 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. [Re: distinguishing the 1660 stations] The difference being that WWRU [New Jersey] is part of the Única talk net, and generally has no music programs except for one or two half-hours on weekends. PR is all music. I was listening to PR this morning in San Juan, about 16 miles from the site, with only a fair signal. They were segueing oldies and nostalgia from the 60s, with IDs only about every 6th song as La Grande 16-60. In Arbitron market #13 to only ID once a quarter hour is probably not going to bode well for them! Music was mostly trios and ballads and could be called an oldies format, somewhat similar to that on 1020 KTNQ now [Los Ángeles]. (David Gleason, NRC-AM Feb 27 via DXLD) ** SA`UDI ARABIA. Radios to carry special broadcasts during hajj season | Excerpt from report in English by Saudi news agency SPA web site Riyad, 24 February: Sa`udi radio has started implementation of its hajj seasonal plan for this year after completing preparations for all its channels. The plan comprises the general programme, the Holy Koran Radio, the call for Islam, Al-Barnamaj al-Thani (the second programme), and special programmes in English, French and other languages. The plan is executed in implementation of directives, follow-up and keenness of minister of information dr Fu`ad al-Farsi to facilitate wide coverage of the hajj season. Assistant undersecretary of the ministry of information for radio affairs, Muhammad Uthman al-Mansur, told SPA that the Saudi radio would broadcast more than 300 programmes, which are prepared in collaboration with various concerned governmental bodies including ministries of Islamic affairs, call and guidance, interior, hajj, education and health. He said the awareness radio, which is special for hajj, began its transmission today, indicating that this radio is an independent one and transmits for two months annually... Source: SPA news agency web site, Riyadh, in English 0757 gmt 24 Feb 01 (BBC Monitoring via DXLD) WTFK? ** SICILY. 10942.5, AFRN, Sigonella. Hmmm, nice signal here, no significant interference (nothing that my DSP cannot handle) and the frequency indeed is 10942.54. Don`t really know how to establish the S for the SINPO rating in the case of USB/LSB-transmissions (my S- meters remains below 1, but it sounds like an S3 AM-transmission. I would say the signal is SINPO 34544 (S established by ear) at February 25, 15:50 UT, with a discussion about angling. Take care y'all ---- [The information contained in this message may be used in any DX-bulletin, as long as I be quoted as its source] (Frank van Gerwen Castricum/Netherlands, bdxc via DXLD) ** SOUTH AMERICA? Subject: Radio Corsario Internacional. Apreciados amigos: Esta noche entre las 0330 y las 0400 TU escuché en 14540 kHz (Banda de 20 metros) la estación Radio Corsario Internacional. La programación fue de 30 minutos con una señal de 3554 [sic]. La estación se identificó periódicamente y dio la dirección de correo electrónico radiocorsario@latinmail.com para el envío de comentarios y reportes de señal, por lo que pienso que enviarán tarjetas de QSL. Sólo presentaron música, sin ningún comentario, y la identificación; por cierto que la música fue muy buena y variada, toda de los años 50, 60 y 70 con una fidelidad bastante buena para HF. La identificación dice que trasmite todos los días en el horario arriba indicado. La identificación es: "Radio Corsario Internacional, de América para el Mundo". Pienso que ésta es una estación clandestina o pirata por la frecuencia utilizada (José M. Valdés R. YV5LIX, Venezuela, Conexión Digital, Feb 26 via DXLD) ** U K. New series from Feb 27 on BBC Radio 2: ``It`ll Never Last -- The Story of 70 Years of British Television``, Tuesdays 2100-2200 UT. Next week: the fabulous fifties. Unknown how many episodes to come (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Postal delays mean that I have yet to receive my copy of this week`s edition of "Braille Radio Times" from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, even though it is now Tuesday night in the UK, and I should have received this magazine last Thursday. I was therefore somewhat surprised to tune into BBC Radio 2 just after 2100 on 27 February to find a programme having just started about the history of British television, called "It will never last!" and presented by one of our foremost television presenters, Alan Whisker. This is the first of a series of programmes, and dealt with the period 1926-1949, covering the start of BBC television in 1936, its suspension during the Second World War, its resumption in 1946 and the opening of BBC television in the Midlands in December 1949. I am sure this first programme will be available from the Webster:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 I do not know how many programmes remain the series, but the next one will cover the 1950s, which saw the arrival of a rival service to BBC. The programmes are broadcast at 2100-2200 on Tuesdays, UT, but note that if the series is still on after 25 March the programmes will be aired at 2000 to 2100 UT, following the clock change in the UK on 25 March (PAUL DAVID, UK, Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. New series on BBC WS starting early in March: ADVENTURES IN THE TOURIST TRADE, 4 x 30 mins from March 1 on People and Places: people who earn their living from tourism, benefits and harmful effects of the industry; included: Jordan, Kenya, Goa, Rome, not necessarily in that order. Europe: Thu 2030, Fri 0230, 1530, Mon 1030 Americas: Fri 0230, 2130, Mon 1530 THE MUSICIAN`S COMPOSER, 5 x 25 min from March 1 on Meridian Masterpiece: Jeremy Siepmann talks to five major musicians about the composer who has had the greatest influence on their musical lives. Europe: Fri 0905, 1905, Sat 0105, Sun 2205 Americas: Fri 1405, Sat 0105, Mon 2005, Tue 0605 WARM WORLD, 3 x 25 min from March 2 on Discovery: scientists and engineers are developing ways to reduce the greenhouse effect. Europe: Fri 2005, Sat 0205, Mon 1505, Tue 1005 Americas: Sat 0205, Mon 2105, Tue 1505 (March BBC On Air via Chris Hambly, excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** U K. NEWS RELEASE - 27 February 2001 OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING GIVEN SHORT WAVE MONOPOLY EVIDENCE Trevor Brook has today submitted evidence of the monopoly in short wave broadcasting to the Office of Fair Trading. He has been seeking a licence for an independent short wave station, Radiofax, since 1984. Merlin Communications International operates a monopoly because the British government refuses to issue a short wave licence to anybody else. As part of his evidence to the OFT, Trevor Brook has said: "Indeed, I have no complaint against Merlin per se. "There is a parallel with air travel which may illustrate what I mean. Some years ago there was a situation where one airline in this country used all the slots available to Britain for transatlantic flights. This came to be recognised as unfair. Other operators based in the UK were allowed a slice of that cake and British Airways lost its monopoly. "You or I can go to Merlin and book broadcasts. I have wished to operate on short wave for seventeen years. Other countries in the world and the EU permit independent operators. There simply is no special British reason why this cake should not be shared. "The Radiocommunications Agency has explained to you how a country could be regarded as overbidding for frequencies. Notably, you have not been told that booking for just one more service would actually take the United Kingdom to that point - because that would not be the case. This is manifestly evident when you recall that Merlin has been able to undertake new broadcasts for many organisations. "The dishonest frequency story is a smoke screen. An entrenched departmental policy is causing a monopoly for Merlin which is not specified by statute. "Does this policy seem fair to you? Can your organisation deal with it?" Contact: Trevor Brook. Tel: 01483 275 997, Mobile: 07950 549 075, Fax: 01483 276 477. s.e@ndirect.co.uk (Surrey Electronics Ltd., The Forge, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7BG, England, Feb 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Folks, On our previous CyberShortwave Live netcasts, we spoke with Winter SWL Fest Co-Chairs, John Figliozzi, and Rich Cuff. Now we would like to hear from YOU. That`s right, I am planning a "live call-in" netcast, where you can reminisce about past SWL fests, or comment on this year`s fest. Do you have any fond memories, or funny stories about The Winter SWL Fest? I`ll bet you do! In addition to the call-in segment, DJ Stevie of Radio 510 International will present part two of his 3 part segment. This week Stevie will present audio clips of FM stations that he has recorded during his world travels. This live netcast will be heard on March 4th beginning at 1600 ut. The telephone number to call will be given during the netcast. Here are a few suggestions on how to listen: A shortcut would be set your Winamp or Real Player (not your web browser) "Open Location" (CTRL-L) to http://216.32.166.89:9020 Below is a link for your browser that, if you have configured your browser previously, should activate your mp3 player when you click on it. http://www.live365.com/cgi-bin/play.pls?addr=216.32.166.89:9020/&file=filename.pls Also you can connect to http://www.live365.com and search for either cybershortwave or n1dk. Details on how to listen are also on my web site http://www.n1dk.com As always during a live netcast, we are interactive in Internet Relay Chat channel #cybershortwave via a Starchat server for your comments and suggestions. There is currently "The Best of CyberShortwave" programming running 24/7. 73, and CU Sunday at 1600 UT (Dave Kirby N1DK www.n1dk.com swprograms Feb 27 via DXLD) ** U S A. WTIC/KRLD Non-test. These two 1080 stations intend to coöperate in being off the air for testing and maintenance on March 3 and 4, and perhaps for a short time simultaneously, as a nice gesture to the DXing community, expecting reports to the National Radio Club, and sort of a ``propagation experiment`` to find out what else can be heard on 1080 in their absence. Emergencies, etc., could cancel the event, but plans are for KRLD Dallas to be off first at 12 am CST March 4 [0600-0700 UT], with WTIC going off at about 11:25 pm EST until 12:05 am [0425-0505 UT] (NRC DX News Feb 26 via DXLD) But, but... according to those times, WTIC would go off first, and there would be no overlap! We have a few more days to get this straightened out, but it will be too late for the next NRC DX News in print (gh, DXLD) Here is exactly what I was told by Erik Disen or KRLD and what I passed on (taken from my e-mail message of February 13 to him) to Paul: "He has tentatively set Midnight March 4 (Saturday night, Sunday morning Central time, or 0100 Eastern time Sunday morning if you prefer) for this silent period." This was for both stations to be off simultaneously. I did not give any other times than this. Where these other, ambiguous times came from, I do not know. But not from me. BTW, I spoke to Erik this morning. He has not received a meter to be re-installed at the KRLD transmitter site back yet. But will be in contact with me immediately upon receiving it. I will post the information, one way or the other, on this NRCDXAS reflector as soon as I hear from him. If it doesn't go as scheduled this weekend, it will be the weekend immediately following whenever he gets the meter (Bill Hale in Fort Worth, NRC-AM via DXLD) Exactly right on what Bill sent to me. As I attributed on the front page of DXN, the other times came from Jeff Hugabone, CE of WTIC (I'd forgotten, already, that what I printed in DXN came from WTIC rather than KRLD and Bill; sorry for the mis-statement). So - who`s on first? Or off first? -pls. (Paul Swearingen, NRC AM via DXLD) Apparently the engineers of these two stations are coördinating the off air time for both stations on purpose (a little gift to MW DXers perhaps?). KRLD is to sign off at 11 PM (EST) [sic – I doubt that, 10 pm Central?? -gh], while WTIC will remain on for about half an hour to give DXers Texas-way a chance to hear them. Then, WTIC is to sign off at 11:30 PM. But, be quick, the frequency will be free of both stations for only about a half-hour. KRLD is to sign back on at Midnight, so us northern folk might have a chance to log it ...and WTIC is to return to the air at 12:15 AM (Greg Schatzmann, ODXA via DXLD) 1080 happens to be one of the few frequencies where the North/South American 10 kHz mediumwave bandplan and the 9 kHz bandplan (used everywhere else) coincide. As a result, there are 5 stations from Spain on 1080 as well. That means if you can`t get enough info for a Latin American ID you should turn your loop to the north east (in Ontario) and see if they come in any stronger when you aim at Europe! The Spaniards on 1080 are all listed as fairly low power guys, 10 kW is the strongest, but we've heard weaker stations than that from Spain. Monitor WWV at h + 18m and keep track of the Boulder K-Index (you can also check it online at : http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt ) If it`s low, like 1 or 0 then the geomagnetic field is quiet, there`s less auroral zone absorptions of MW signals as they pass over the north Atlantic, and MW conditions to Europe are optimal. There are also two Libyans on 1080. One`s at 20 kW and the other is 40 kW. So keep your ears open for Arabic too! If the two 1080 Americans cause you a lot of grief and splatter where you are then take the opportunity to check for Albania on 1089, the next channel up. We`ve heard them before with their 100 kW signal. On a good night anything`s possible! Yeah, being that close to 1090 can make things rough, but use your narrow filter and Lower Sideband to reject as much splatter as you can from 1090. 73 - (Ken Alexander, ODXA via DXLD) ** U S A. Lydon makes the 'BUR-`Car Talk' connection, by Monica Collins -- The Magliozzis own and control their immensely popular and profitable WBUR-originated show, so why shouldn`t Christopher Lydon, The Connection? See while it lasts: http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/tvco02272001.htm (Feb 27 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) In this week`s World of Radio you mentioned the problems being experienced by Christopher Lydon at WBUR Boston. His programme "The Connection" airs in Europe on NPR Worldwide and WRN Euromax at 1600- 1700 UT Monday to Friday (Paul David, UK, Feb 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. 15670 kHz, 25 de Febrero. 1150-1235 Hs., Radio Oriental (Montevideo) reportada en esta frecuencia con una tranmisión deportiva especial, cubriendo la 30ma. edición de la competencia ciclistica "Rutas de América", en momentos en que los competidores habían partido de la ciudad de Minas. Identificación y avisos comerciales locales, en paralelo a 770 KHz (OM). SINPO: 35543. Primera vez que se escucha aquí. Se desconoce si la frecuencia era utilizada como feeder (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital Feb 25 via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Vatican Radio appears to have cancelled the 2245-2315 broadcast to Australia/NZ on 11830 and 9600. Nothing heard on these frequencies for the last seven days, as of Feb 27 (Craig Tyson, WA, Electronic DX Press via DXLD) DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE ====================== Thanks to RNW making advance information about DRM tests available, I monitored today`s test via DW Sines on 21670 at 1200 using a NRD-535 and 30 m antenna. The signal strength was only S-9 in the DRM mode and S9 + 10 dB in the AM mode, so it was not possible to find out if they have the same problem with spurs within +/- 100 kHz that I have previously noted from Sveio (Norway). The DRM signal was wide and flat. The amplitude was almost constant for 4 to 4.5 kHz to either side, i.e. 8 to 9 kHz in total. Outside this band it fell steeply. This means that the QRM level for AM reception of stations at +/- 5 kHz from a DRM signal center frequency becomes very high. I used a 2 kHz xtal filter when making these estimates. I do not know how stations introducing regular DRM transmissions will proceed to avoid the mess that a mix of AM and DRM stations is likely to create. A station wishing to keep its listeners will have to broadcast in parallel in both modes for a long period of time. This would require more transmitters to be on the air, a situation that would even more worsen today`s congestion, especially in Europe. With the wide bandwidth required for DRM transmitters to avoid unacceptable interference to AM broadcasts we would arrive at a situation that seems to have no easy solution. One possibility could be to divide each broadcast band into one DRM only and one AM only section. That would solve the immediate QRM problem, but not the congestion problem. Another matter concerns receivers. The large volumes of SW receivers sold in recent years will mean that listeners are less inclined to scrap well functioning, expensive receivers to buy new DRM sets, which are also quite expensive. Or maybe powerline digital communications will kill all meaningful AM listening before DRM does it? Some personal thoughts brought to you by (Olle Alm, Sweden, Feb 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###