DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-044, March 29, 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 01-03 audio is now available for stream or download via http://www.DXing.com/conmedia.htm WORLD OF RADIO 1074: (stream) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1074.ram (download) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1074.rm (summary) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1074.html WORLD OF RADIO on WWCR: one permanent change effective April 1: The Sunday 1:30 am CT broadcast switches from 5070 to 3210. Since this is just before the official timechange at 2 am, we assume it will still be at 0730 UT April 1, 0630 UT thereafter. WORLD OF RADIO and CONTINENT OF MEDIA and MUNDO RADIAL SHORTWAVE-ONLY SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2001 It always pays to check all RFPI frequencies beyond their scheduled hours. For latest updates see our Anomaly alert page: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Anomaly.html The latest update of this version is at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wormassw.html Days and times here are strictly UT Wed 2330 WOR WBCQ1 7415 Thu 2030 WOR WWCR 15685 Fri 0930 WOR WWCR 7435 Fri 1900 COM RFPI 21815-USB Fri 1930 WOR RFPI 21815-USB Fri 2115 MR WWCR 15685 Sat 0100 COM RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Sat 0130 WOR RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Sat 0230 WOR WWCR 3215 Sat 0700 COM RFPI 7450 Sat 0730 WOR RFPI 7450 Sat 1130 WOR WWCR 15685 Sat 1300 COM RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Sat 1330 WOR RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Sat 1730 COM RFPI 21815-USB Sat 1800 WOR RFPI 21815-USB Sat 2330 COM RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Sun 0000 WOR RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Sun 0206 WOR WBCQ2 9335-CUSB Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0530 COM RFPI 7450 Sun 0600 WOR RFPI 7450 Sun 0628 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 1130 COM RFPI [suspended] Sun 1200 WOR RFPI 21815-USB Sun 1900 WOR WWCR 12160 Mon 0000 WOR WWCR 3215 Mon 0500 WOR WWCR 3210 Tue 1100 WOR WWCR 15685 Tue 1900 WOR RFPI 21815-USB Tue 2000 COM RFPI 21815-USB Wed 0100 WOR RFPI 21815-USB 15049 7450 Wed 0200 COM RFPI 21815-USB 15049 7450 Wed 0700 WOR RFPI 7450 Wed 0800 COM RFPI [suspended] Wed 1300 WOR RFPI 21815-USB 15049 Wed 1400 COM RFPI 21815-USB 15049 ** AUSTRALIA. Today I have noticed VL8A Alice Springs has stayed on its daytime freq, 4835 overnight. Strong signal around 1110 with country mx. It was still there in the morning (our LT) at 1930. I presume this is due to a problem in changing freqs and is not a permanent move, which is a pity as it is great to hear an ABC domestic SW tx again with such clarity. I still mourn the loss of VLM4 & VLQ9 Brisbane which closed a few years ago... (Barry Hartley, NZ, Mar 28) [VANUATU, PAPUA NEW GUINEA] ABC Alice Springs is again on 4835 today at 1030. I hope this is a permanent move! Curiously, R Vanuatu is missing today on both freqs (4960 & 7260) and it was yesterday too. Initially I thought it might be due to the sunspots that I keep hearing about on our local TV weather reports, as yesterday Port Moresby on 4890 was missing too, but today it is back (Barry Hartley, NZ, Mar 29 both via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Alice Springs 4835 noted on past 1600 on 27 March, apparently now on all night with no change to 120 metres. \\ 2325 & 2485 with ABC news and phone-ins. Radio Australia in Indonesian heard booming in 28 March 0000-0030 on 21615, presumably via Darwin (Alan Davies, Davao, Philippines, Electronic DX Press March 29 via DXLD) No, not Darwin; at that time via IBB Tinian site, 250 kW, see Merlin schedule entries: 21615 0000-0030 Tinian 250 kW 255 degrs ABC SEAs; 21780 0400-0430 Tinian 250 255 ABC SEAs (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Christian Vision heard testing one of their Darwin transmitters 28/3 abruptly on at 0002 through to 0234 off, using 17775. Once again, very strong signal here off the back of the antenna, but continuing modulation problems with constant "crackling" sounds and brief outages. Interestingly, RA`s English service 28/3 announced this as a "special test frequency" for Southeast Asia at 0000-0130, yet it doesn`t appear in the RA schedule published in DXLD 1-042. 17775 wasn`t in fact carrying RA programming, but rather the usual looped pop record the CV has been using for some time. No doubt this is due to the lack of a suitable feed -- I think the signal was going to be picked up off a subcarrier piggy-backed on the ATVI signal, until the plug was pulled on the latter as earlier documented (Craig Seager, Bathurst, NSW, Australia, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard Christian Voice, Darwin on 21680 today 0300-0800* carrying a relay of their own African service in EE, probably as carried on their Zambian txer. Periodic ID inserted as the "African Service of Christian Voice for Asia". They seem to be only using one frequency at a time presently - 17775 noted yesterday was absent today (Craig Seager, NSW, March 29, ARDXC via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. 13730 not really for NAm, except Iceland target !!! The 9870 and Sackville 15-16 17865 are the only SW transmissions towards NAm. See schedule: 9870 0100-0200 4,7-9 MOS 300 305 AUT ORF 13730 0400-1800 17-19,27-29,36-40 MOS 100 0 AUT ORF 13730 2300-2400 12-16 MOS 300 245 AUT ORF (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Glenn, In the postal mail today, Tuesday March 27, 2001, I received the ORF schedule covering March 25, 2001 - October 27, 2001. It is slightly different than the ORF schedule in DXLD 1-041. IMO, the following frequency schedule is confusing. For example at 0532 is only 6155 kHz used? Or, are both 6155 and 13730 kHz used? Once, I thought I understood, I looked at the 0130 1530 entry. Surely 17865 kHz is not used at 0130. Fortunately, I was able to check the 0130 broadcast and I only heard 9870. To Europe & Middle East 0532 1130 Daily 6155, 13730 1330 1830 5945, 6155 (sked didn`t mention if daily or other) 2130 Mon-Fri 5945, 6155 To North America 0130 1530* Daily 9870, 17865* [sic] * via R. Canada Int`l relay To Asia & Australia 1330 Daily 21780 "We report in detail on the latest developments in politics and current affairs, on the arts, science and business, as well as on events of human interest and sport. Every weekend, we review letters from listeners around the globe and there is a regular quiz with prizes. Austrian music gives an unmistakably Central European flavour to Radio Austria International. Our address: roi.service@orf.at `` (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, March 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal - Frequency Change Frans Vossen announced in the 0700 UT English to Europe broadcast that starting next Monday [2nd April 2001] 5985 kHz will be the sole short wave frequency instead of 9865 kHz listed in their printed schedules. This week the station will be on both channels (Nick Sharpe, UK, World DX Club via Mike Barraclough, March 29, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA [non]. Gonzalo Espinoza Cortez, propietario de las dos emisoras llamadas R Eco, la de Reyes, 4409, y la de San Borja, 4702 kHz, se encuentra temporalmente en España, y me dice que tiene mucho interés en saber cómo se recepcionan sus dos emisoras. Pueden escribirle a su correo electrónico que es como sigue: gonzaloeco@hotmail.com (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, marzo 28, COMPENDIO DE ESCUCHAS DX) ** BRAZIL. Do you think R. Brás will ever return to SW English to NAm? (Bob Thomas, CT) No (gh, DXLD) ** CAMBODIA [non]. Official says opposition radio broadcasting from "Thailand" | Text of report by Cambodian newspaper Reaksmei Kampuchea on 25 March The evening programme of a shortwave radio, believed to be run by the Sam Rangsi Party [SRP], is currently broadcast from Thailand. Most people living near the Thai border have heard this broadcast. Most of the news broadcast by the radio doles praise to Sam Rangsi but hurls criticism at the Royal Government [RG]. An Information Ministry official said that his department is also currently monitoring this broadcast. A Reaksmei Kampuchea correspondent based in the northern provinces of Cambodia reported on 23 March that the radio, believed to belong to Sam Rangsi, broadcasts its Cambodian programme every evening [sic]. The broadcast is beamed from Thailand. People near the border areas, including Sra-yang in Preah Vihear Province, can listen to the programme every evening, at 1700-1800 [1000-1100 gmt]. The correspondent added that the radio programme has been heard praising the Sam Rangsi Party [SRP] but finding fault with the RG. Speaking to Reaksmei Kampuchea, State Secretary for Information Khieu Kanharit acknowledged that it is true that such a programme is broadcast from Thailand. He added the broadcast is on shortwave and irregular and that the ministry has also formed a team to monitor the broadcast to see how dangerous it is. He also said, "We are still unsure whether Sam Rangsi or somebody else is behind the radio broadcast. We are in the monitoring process because Thailand has as many as 500 radio stations." All in all, Khieu Kanharit asserted that should the radio broadcast intensify its fierce attack on the Royal Cambodian government, we would raise this issue to discuss with Thailand. Cambodia watchers assessed that Thailand gets the upper hand on Cambodia as always, although it is also an ASEAN member. Thailand has been seen as a sanctuary for anti-Cambodian Government groups, including Sok Yoeun [SRP activist accused of attempting on Hun Sen's life in Siemreab Province in 1998] and [Cambodian Freedom Fighters leader] Chhun Yasit. [BBCM Editorial note: The Sam Rangsi Party radio station Voice of Justice commenced broadcasting on 17 February 2001. The broadcast is believed to be transmitted weekly on Saturdays at 1000-1100 gmt on 15455 kHz shortwave.] Source: Reaksmei Kampuchea, Phnom Penh, in Cambodian 25 Mar 01 pp 1a, 4a (via BBCM via DXLD) Above demonstrates the Cambodians` remarkable ignorance of SW propagation. Just because it can be heard near the Thai border does not make it more likely 15455 be coming from there -– in fact, less likely, due to skip distances! I see no reason to doubt the previous info that it`s Taiwan. And how can it be both irregular and heard ``every evening``? In case there is anything to the latter, we should check on days other than Saturday. Or there could be another lower frequency as yet unknown which could actually be from Thailand? (gh) Hi Bill, The Cambodians keep trying to pin V. of Justice on Thailand (Saturday 1000-1050 on 15455). Can you confirm or deny that this is transmitted from UDORN? (Tnx, Glenn) Nope. If they're responsible, it's not from Udorn. The only thing we have at that time for RTG is 11805 towards the south ... I guess for Thais surfing in Oz! (Bill Whitacre, IBB Monitoring, Washington, DC, March 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CHNX heard again the next night; the tape loop (featured on WOR 1074) starts with a whoosh sound, and some kind of noise sound effect continues throughout, not a good idea when transmitting on SSB and against other noises, such as the ...- bonker. ``This is CHNX, rebroadcasting the programming of Oldies 96, CHNS, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 6130 kHz on the 49 meter band. Our transmitting site is located in Rockingham, a suburb of Halifax, and running 24 hours a day. This is CHNX, Shortwave.`` In the 0600-0630 period March 28, the loop repeated continuously, but sometimes interspersed with fragments of CHNS promos and music. On March 29 at 0625 check, no signal at all on 6130, possibly due to propagation, but I doubt it (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1074, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Thanks for this information. I tried CHNX this morning (March 28th) and it was clearly audible around 0730 with no QRM - co or adjacent. It faded down into my noise level by about 0820. In comparison, CKZN St. John`s 6160 was a couple of S points stronger. CHNX was running a tape(?) loop from time to time giving SW call sign, frequency, "24 hours a day", location etc., as well as joining the Oldies 96 MW format. Let`s hope it stays around a while now, despite the competition you mention. Best 73's, (Noël Green, England, WORLD OF RADIO 1074, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glen[n]: Thank you for another scoop; you are correct, CHNX is back on the air. This despite their previous statement in February that the station may not return to shortwave. I am just off the phone with CE Mark Olsen. He tells me that CHNX has been back on the air since March 25th. He is happy to report that he received a call from the Canadian Navy Frigate HMCS Charlottetown in the Arabian Sea: the CHNX signal is being heard well aboard ship. The station is back using the same equipment, 50 watts, 1/4 wave Dipole Antenna at 50', 6130 kHz. The station will be off the air for a few hours today, March 28 for adjustments. CHNS is 960 MW (oldies music) and CHFX 101.9 FM (country music). Mark wishes listeners to know that CHNX/CHNS/CHFX is celebrating 75 years of service to Nova Scotia, Canada and the world. The station is the first in Nova Scotia, Canada! On May 12 the station is having "a big party"; Mark will be changing the ID and giving a special station identification that day. Again thanks from all of us Glen, for yet another first! 73's (Joe Talbot, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, WORLD OF RADIO 1074, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Quirks and Quarks Promo March 31, 2001: Hello, This week on Quirks & Quarks our feature topic is Artificial Intelligence: Can we really teach a machine to think? Science fiction has no problem inventing intelligent machines: Commander Data, HAL, even The Terminator. So why can`t science do it? This week on Q&Q, we explore the problems scientists face trying to make machines think, and the different approaches they are exploring to create true Artificial Intelligence. Plus - mice that eat fat and stay thin. All this and more on Quirks & Quarks, Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One (Bob McDonald -- Quirks & Quarks -- CBC Radio, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. Wearing my BBCM hat, can I ask whether anyone has heard Chad recently? There seems to be no sign of it at present on 6165 or the previous frequencies of 4904 or 7120. One hopes that this isn't yet another African country that has left shortwave (Chris Greenway, UK, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not I (gh) ** CHINA. Re 25250 unID: This is China 5 x 5050 kHz, nice catch, (Tim Bucknall, harmonics@yahoogroups.com via DXLD) Yes, there is also a 7th harmonic (35350), audible here via evening TEP. 73s (Tony Mann, Perth, Australia, ibid.) China is a very big country and two outlets are listed on 5050: Nanning and Fuzhou; so which is this? (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5956.85, Caracol, Villavicencio. Very strong, program or slogan "a domingo en Caracol", then LV de los Centauros ID, which doesn`t seem to be regularly given in recent times. Mostly news format (Craig Seager, Bathurst [Limekilns], NSW Australia Icom R75, 250m Bev., hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 35750, La Cariñosa, NBFM, 1528 Mar 25 with usual canned "RCN, La Radio de Colombia" jingle, callsign as HJAN or HJAM. At 1536 and various other times, cart IDs for "La Cariñosa de Querer" and coffee ad, 1540 man with SP ID for "La Cariñosa 6-10" and talk about Bogotá, 1551 ad string incl. "Servicio Panamericano," then what seemed to be details on some kind of contest. Signal crashed after that. Format is mostly SP vocal mx of various flavors. I suspect this may be the Bogotá outlet on 610, but the only thing I've hrd there recently (at night only, of course) is R. Difusora Nacional. Lots of QRM from the SP net on 35755, FR databursts co-channel, plus unID probable LAm wireless local loop (strong phone-ringing-like sound at 1605). (David Crawford, FL, NU via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Source: Arab Republic of Egypt Radio General Service Comments : This service identifies itself as "Arab Republic of Egypt Radio from Cairo" (Arabic: "Idha'at Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah min al-Qahirah"). The main mediumwave frequency for this service is 819 kHz. Other mediumwave frequencies may also be used at various times of the day including: 1386, 1368, 1350, 1341 1314, 1305, 1278, 1188, 1179, 1143, 1080, 981, 936, 918, 882 and 603 kHz. Shortwave frequency information in this schedule has has been compiled using information supplied by the broadcaster and is valid until 27 October 2001. All broadcasts are subject to Summer/Winter time changes Address : PO Box 11511, 1186 Cairo. Tel : +20-2-578-9491 Fax: +20-2-578-9491 Web Site : http://www.sis.gov.eg/ 0100-0250 12050, 0250-0600 9620 9770 9800 12050, 0600-1000 9800 11785 12050 15115, 1100-1200 9850 11785 12050, 1200-1400 9850 11785 12050 17670, 1400-1700 9850 12050 17670, 1700-2300 9850 12050 (© BBC Monitoring March 28, condensed for DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. Re DXLD 1-042 on RFI in English on 15155 and its QRM problems... Spain, not HCJB, was on 15160 at 0400 in Spanish, interfering with France. HCJB uses 15140 (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Finally checked for current VOG frequencies, and confirmed English news segment at 0204 March 29, from best to worst: 12105, 7475, 9420, 11645 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sunday, March 25 was Greek Independence Day and I was up late in the evening of our Saturday and early Sunday catching the new frequency assignments for the Spring-Summer 2001 schedule of The Voice of Greece. Enclosed is my version of the new schedule which should get you into the ballpark before VOG issues their new schedules. On the 0600-0800 UT service, I was able to hear 9420 and 15630 with S3 and S4 signals. For the first time, I was also able to get faint signals from 17520 and their new 13-m frequency of 21530; Delano is still on 11900 for these two hours. The VOG-USA service to the Americas is still heard at 1200-1500 UT but shifted to 9775. To NAm has been extended by two hours, 1600- 2200, and to South America shortened by two hours, 2000-2200, while still using Delano 17705 and Greenville 17565 respectively. All of this adds up to 13 hours usage of VOA transmitters in the USA. I picked up Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias from Thessaloniki from 2000 to 2050 on 9935, and 2100-2250 on 7430. I missed the closing frequency announcement because 7430 is hemmed in between WEWN at 7425 and WWCR 7435. Last night the news in English shifted from 0300 to 0200 UT because of DST and was on for only five minutes, probably because of the Greek holiday. ``It`s All Greek to Me`` programs were not on this Sunday, probably also because of the same holiday. Some others: 0400-0550 Avlis 9420 and 11645 best, also on Kavala 17520, 21530 2200-2300 Avlis on 9375 2300-2400 Avlis 7375 9375; Kavala 15650 and best on 12105. The foreign-language ``Orientations`` were also not heard (should be English at 1830 daily), but 12105 was carrying the regular VOG service at 1900, heard on 15630 and 17705. Kavala VOA 12 does not come in too well or not at all, so I am not too sure of the frequencies from 1200 to 2100 (but previously on 11645 or 12105); so I guess we will have to wait until I get word from the VOG`s engineers or program people; if I detect any changes from my schedule, I will let you know. I still can`t figure why Thessaloniki dumped their three 35 kW transmitters if their new 250 kWs are still in their boxes with their antennas -- it looks as if the Greek politicians put a hold on the money (John Babbis, Silver Spring MD, March 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, R. Verdad, Chiquimula. Couldn`t find this at all last Latin season, even on good Guatemalan nights, but there on this occasion March 27 with strong signals 1159, full ID noted "Estación educativa evangélica, Radio Verdad...." (Craig Seager, Bathurst [Limekilns], NSW Australia Icom R75, 250m Bev., hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** INDIA. CHANGES made by AIR in A-01 sked. 7115 (x 7230) Persian 1615-1730, Malayalam 1730-1830. 7170 (x 7110) Nx 0030-0040 (English News 0035). 7220 (x 7110) Nx and Network 0215-0400 (En nx 0245, 0335). 9895 (x 9700) Sinhala 1300-1500, En nx 1530-1545. 13645 (x13630) Thai 1115-1200. 13795 (x13750) GOS-IV (En) 1745-1945, French 1945-2045. 15770 (x15775) Indonesian 0845-0945. 15770 (x15780) Persian 0400-0430, Ar 0430-0530. 15795 (x15780) Chinese 1145-1315. 17510 (x17485) Indonesian 0845-0945. 17510 (x17485) GOS-II (En) 1000-1100. (Alok Dasgupta, India, Mar 27, BC-DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. RRI Ambon should be booming into Davao on 4845, but there`s no trace of it at present. 4845 is a clear channel in SE Asia now that Malaysia has also left the frequency. Among the dwindling number of Indonesians remaining on SW, the following were noted on the evening of 27 March: 3264.5 RRI Gorontalo (presumed) 3325 RRI Palangkaraya 3345 RRI Ternate 3976 RRI Pontianak 4606 RRI Serui 4753 RRI Makassar (\\ 630) 4789 RRI Fak Fak (-1400) 4925 RRI Jambi (Alan Davies, Davao, Philippines, March 29, Electronic DX Press, WORLD OF RADIO 1074 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 7232.1, RRI Fak Fak. Very occasionally they run this daytime channel into the evening, as on 27/3, noted 0930 and also at 1200 re-check. Not as strong as 4789, in // throughout (Craig Seager, Bathurst [Limekilns], NSW Australia Icom R75, 250m Bev., hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAN. VOIRI at 0030 English to NAm on 9022, 9835 and one other I haven`t found yet. Still giving old and outdated frequencies 6065, 6135 (Bob Thomas, CT, March 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11970 is the only other English at 0030-0130 per the frequency list in DXLD 1-042, 304 degrees, while 9835 is 325 degrees, both 500 kW, and illegal outofbander 9022 not mentioned, nor is 15084. Another reason not to take this info as gospel (gh, DXLD) ** JAMAICA. [Auroral] Conditions were awesome this weekend, really put the thrill back into AM DXing: a Jamaican and two Colombians, both new countries for me. Thanks to everyone on the list who shared their loggings and made the rest of us aware of the conditions. Conditions were excellent on Thursday and Friday nights, but seemed to return to normal on Saturday night (ET). Heard on a Sony ICF-2010 with Kiwa Pocket Loop from New Brunswick, NJ. 720 JAMAICA RJR Kingston, March 23 0445-0526 and March 24 0450-0505. Good: sometimes topping WGN, which was much more subdued than usual, but still present. No trace of usual CHTN, Charlottetown, PEI. On March 23, call-in show hosted by woman, with female guest on telephone. On March 24, dance-hall music, and finally a positive ID at 0500: jingle "RJR." [David Hochfelder, NJ, IRCA AM Newsflash via DXLD] ** JAPAN. I e-mailed JJY Tokyo requesting a postal mail address. Dear Sir, Thank you for your e-mail. Our Postal mail address is following. Station JJY Communications Research Laboratory 2-1, Nukui Kita-machi 4-chome, Koganei-shi, Tokyo, 184-8795, JAPAN Short-wave JJY transmissions will cease at 03:00 UTC on March 31, 2001. CRL has constructed a new LF radio-station and has started a radio signal dissemination service at 40 kHz. ... [rest as previously published in DXLD] Sincerely, (Atsushi OTSUKA, 2001/03/29 via Lee Silvi, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Following is contrary to the new RCI schedule of foreign relays, and to announcements made several times on RKI that English would stay at 1130 UT on 9650; we`ll have to hear what they actually do on April 1 or 2: (gh) From [H]FCC March 2nd: 9650 1055-1130 6-8 SAC 250 240 0 9 250301 281001 D CAN RCI 11715 0100-0300 12-16 SAC 250 176 0 1 250301 281001 D CAN RCI 11715 0955-1030 11-16 SAC 250 176 0 1 250301 281001 D CAN RCI 11715 1030-1100 6-8,10,11 SAC 250 240 0 1 250301 281001 D CAN RCI English is still [sic] at 240 degrees at 1030 -- from April 1st or 2nd ? 73 de (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENIN DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. (Cumbre DX follow up) In looking at the High Adventure website, [I see that] it seems that they have dropped their plans for shortwave here. The FM is on the air, but High Adventure is now asking for funds for broadcasting on AM to reach the rest of the country. Shortwave is no longer mentioned, but High Adventure does plan to set up a shortwave station in Jos, Nigeria [q.v.], to reach Africa (via Johnson, Mar 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. I had a message from Howard Shannon of RN saying that he wanted to address my comments on this week`s Sincerely Yours (Will Martin, MO, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On the Web: http://www.rnw.nl/en/html/sincerely_yours.html Broadcast times (UT Sundays): 0940 (Pacific/Asia/Far East), 1310 (Europe), 1440 (Asia), 1740 & 2010 (Africa), 2140 (Europe), 2340 & 0440 [UT Mon] (North America) (Andy Sennitt, from RN previews via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. I heard Nigeria on 6089.85 kHz this morning - MARCH 28, 0500 UT -- in vernacular language. This outlet is listed as inactive in Tropical Band List. Another Nigerian frequency audible quite well -- 6049.88 kHz in English. GOOD DX, (Karel Honzík, the Czech Republic, March 28, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Nigeria on 609O kHz is KADUNA. IBADAN is listed on 6050 kHz. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. High Adventure is planning to set up a shortwave station to be located in Jos and provide regional coverage. In their March newsletter, they mention- "We need to move forward in Nigeria. We have land, license and staff also prepared for us there. We even have some of the shipping costs promised to us, but we require additional finances to install our shortwave transmitter to reach Nigeria`s Muslim neighbors. We need a little more to install an FM voice for the city of Jos, our host city in Nigeria. We can begin this process if we have just over $40,000.00 committed to this project." James Mierkey of High Adventure tells Cumbre DX why Nigeria is now the site for the shortwave instead of Liberia- "From the site in Nigeria it seems that we would obtain more effective shortwave coverage of the continent of Africa than from our Liberia site." (via Johnson Mar 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) There are no private or foreign-owned SW stations in Nigeria, surely no accident, and FRCN monopoly, at least for domestic radio, has just been re-certified; so does HAM really have permission to do this? (gh, DXLD) OTC 03/26 1228 Government Refuses to Privatise TV And Radio Abuja, Nigeria, Mar 23, 2001 (African Eye News Service/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX)-- Nigeria's government will not relinquish State control of the country's major electronic media networks because they play a "pivotal public service role" in feeding information to fragile Third World countries. Nigerian Senate Committee on Information chairman, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, said the national privatisation of government organisations would not apply to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) or the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). The two networks are the largest broadcasters in Africa's most populous country. "Government has to retain ownership and control to ensure that the networks meet their public service duties. This is also the only way that NTA and FRCN will be able to continue producing local content by continuing to access government funds for programme development, maintenance of staff and equipment, including the provision of capital projects," he said. The announcement follows concerns that NTA and FRCN were abandoning their public service roles in a bid to become commercially sustainable by broadcasting cheaper foreign programmes and popular sporting or entertainment events instead of documentaries or educational features. Zwingina added that Nigeria's current media laws did "do not empower State broadcasters to unilaterally alter their statutes or start operating like private enterprises simply to make profit." "Senate feels very strongly that outfits such as the NTA and the FRSC should therefore not engage in profit-making enterprises such as televising football matches at the expense of public service programmes or network news," he said. "It is ironic to note that major international commercial media houses such as the BBC, VOA, CNN and SkyNews never compromise their news programmes or slots for any event, least of all football matches. We in Nigeria erode our only public service broadcasters, however to regularly show football matches in place of network news," he said. The NTA Network News has recently been relegated to later time slots in preference to matches of the UEFA Champions League because of the huge advertising revenue that accrue to stations when such games are shown. - African Eye News Service by Segun Aribike March 26 Distributed by All Africa Global Media (AllAfrica.com) (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** PERÚ. 6305.9, R. Unión, Lima. Very large signal, but very distorted; Canned ID "Unión, La Radio" 0839, up-tempo music format. Obviously some txer problems! (Craig Seager, Bathurst [Limekilns], NSW Australia Icom R75, 250m Bev., hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** POLAND. Since today, Radio Polonia's schedule for A01 season is on their homepage. ENGLISH: 0330-0429 SAT 0900-0959 SAT 1200-1259 25.38 11820 31.50 9525 41.27 7270 49.22 6095 SAT 1700-1759 41.18 7285 50.04 5995 SAT 1930-2029 31.45 9540 41.29 7265 41.87 7165 49.75 6030 SAT [We should like to extend special recognition to ANY listener/DXLD reader with a receiver calibrated only in metres, or even secondarily in metres, or who actually tunes primarily by wavelengths -gh] Additionally, some programmes in English can be heard on the WORLD RADIO NETWORK. In Europe 17.00-18.00 GMT - Astra 2, 28 E, SKY digital package, Eutelsat Hot Bird 13 E, EuroMax English, cable networks and terrestrial rebroadcast. In North America 16.30-17.30; 23.00-23.30 EST - Galaxy 5 satellite, 125 WEST, 3.820 Ghz; Vertical Polarization; Audio 6.8 MHz; cable networks and AM/FM terrestrial rebroadcast. In Africa, Asia, Australia 00.30 - 01.00 (Sun); 17.00 - 18.00 GMT - Asia Sat 2, 100.5 E, 4.000 GHz, Horizontal Polarization, MPEG-2, cable networks. Intelsat 707, 1 West, MPEG-2, AM/FM terrestrial rebroadcast, Panamsat 68.5 East, Multichoice package. HOME PAGE INTERNET http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia E-mail adress; english.section@radio.com.pl INTERNET AUDIO http://www.wrn.org/ondemand (via Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany, March 29, hard-core-dx via DXLD, excerpting English only) ** RUSSIA. Tuning around VOR English, I`ve found at 0100 on 9665 9725 11835; 0200 on 9665 9725; 0300 9665 11750; 0400 9665 11750. At 0300 and 0400, both have co-channel (Bob Thomas, CT, March 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9725 clashing with DGS/CR March 30 0155; no 9765 so Vatican relay? (gh) ** RUSSIA/USA. Glenn: Here's an article from a Russian news web-site (translation mine): THE VOICE OF AMERICA BANNED FROM BROADCASTING IN UFA AND VOLGOGRAD The American radio company Voice of America was refused a license for broadcasting in two Russian cities. In his interview to Interfax news agency Russian deputy press minister Mikhail Seslavinskiy said that it was a decision of a Federal Competition Commission which gathered on March 28 to license broadcasting on the federal frequencies in Russia. Radio Station Voice of America aspired to begin broadcasting in Ufa on 1395 kHz and in Volgograd on 1413 kHz. The Voice of America was going to use the facilities of the MITT`s State Unitarian Enterprise. No other stations filed requests for broadcasting on these frequencies. However, as a result of discussing the broadcasting concept [SS: meaning, program format and content] of the Voice of America, the Commission decided not to grant it the requested licenses ( http://www.Lenta.ru 03/28/2001 via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Mar 28, DXLD) Russia wants wider access to US audiences | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 28 March: A senior Russian official has insisted that Russian media receive wider access to the US audience as a condition for satisfying a bid by the Voice of America (VOA) radio station for extra broadcasting opportunities in Russia. Deputy Press Minister Mikhail Seslavinskiy was commenting on a vote on giving VOA licences to broadcast in the Russian cities of Ufa and Volgograd. "The number of votes in favour of granting broadcasting [opportunities] was much smaller than the votes against and abstentions," he told Moscow's Ekho Moskvy radio station. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1812 gmt 28 Mar 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) OK, give VOR a couple of AM frequencies in medium sized US cities. Easier said than done, especially if VOA would have to make it happen. Do the Russians have any conception of how our capitalistic domestic broadcasting system works? Actually, there are no doubt stations which would *sell* them time for the right price (gh, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [and non]. FEBA RADIO A'01 FREQUENCY SCHEDULE 25 March 2001 - 27 October 2001 [ENGLISH only excerpted by gh] From Seychelles to North India, Nepal, Tibet English-Slow 1445 - 1500 Fr 11600 25 From Seychelles to South India, Maldives, Sri Lanka English S Asia 0815 - 0845 Fr 15460 19 English S Asia 1500 - 1530 Th 11600 25 English S Asia 1515 - 1545 Tu-We,F 11600 25 English S Asia 1515 - 1600 Mo 11600 25 English S Asia 1530 - 1600 Su, Sa 11600 25 From Seychelles to Middle East English 1245 - 1300 Sa 15535 19 From Seychelles to East Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Indian Ocean English-Slow 0345 - 0400 Fr 11885 25 [note the following! FEBA does not explicitly state *which* other stations, but 3306/3396 and 6045 are obviously Zimbabwe; most if not all the others to Africa probably SENTECH, South Africa. Tajik and Uzbek probably via Armenia on SW since 864 is their well-known megawatt MW frequency; whence the Arabic on 5935, 7425, 9405? probably same site as MW 1170, most likely Tblisskoye, Russia 1200 kW listed in WRTH 1998 -gh] From other stations [complete] Languages UT Days Frequency To Southern Africa English 0300 - 0305 Daily 3306/3396 On FM English 0530 - 0600 Su 3306/3396 within English 0930 - 1000 Su 3306/3396 Zimbabwe English 1005 - 1010 Mo - Sa 3306/3396 English 1630 - 1700 Su 3306/3396 Malagasy 1510 - 1555 Sa 9585 Malagasy 1525 - 1555 Su - Fr 9585 Sena 1700 - 1715 Daily 7265 Shona 0300 - 0305 Daily 3240 Shona 0800 - 0830 Su 6045 Shona 0845 - 0915 We 3396 (School holidays only) Shona 1200 - 1215 Su 6045 Shona 1615 - 1645 Su 6045 Shona 1830 - 1845 Fr 3240 Shona 1955 - 2000 Daily 3309 [sic] Yao 1718 - 1733 Daily 7265 Yao 1718 - 1748 Su, Tu 7265 + from 1/7/01 To North India Hindi 1600 - 1615 Su 1368 MW To Central Asia Tajik 1710 - 1740 Su 5855 49 864 MW Uzbek 1655 - 1710 Daily 5855 49 864 MW In Arabic Middle East 2000 - 2130 Daily 1170 MW* North Africa 2000 - 2130 Daily 9405 31 Egypt & Sudan 2000 - 2130 Daily 7425 41 Iraq & Gulf 2000 - 2130 Daily 5935 49 The latest information is available on our website http://www.feba.org.uk Feba, Ivy Arch Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8BX, UK Tel: +44 1903 237281 Fax: +44 1903 205294 E-mail: reception@feba.org.uk (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Electronic DX Press March 29 via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. 3365, R. Singapore International. Stumbled across this unusual occupancy, Indonesian program March 27 from 1200 \\ 9665. Not shown in schedule on RSI website, which may or may not have been updated for A01 (Craig Seager, Bathurst [Limekilns], NSW Australia Icom R75, 250m Bev., hard-core-dx via DXLD) mixing product maybe (gh) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. Bro. Scare adds another outlet to his stable –- the egomaniac thinks there can never be too much of himself on the air. Noted with undermodulation March 29 at 1348 on 13570, which would be WINB, in sync with \\ 7435 WWCR and WRMI 15725, and about 5 words behind from somewhere in Europe, probably Germany, on 13810. Then checking http://www.winb.com we find: The Overcomer Tue-08:00A, Wed-08:00A, Thu-08:00A, Fri-08:00A each lasting two hours, sked effective March 25 with UT/EST conversions, i.e. now 1300, but soon to be 1200-1400? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. In DXLD 1038, Sweden (non) discussion of the Sackville- relayed programming, the "weekend" section is unclear. Just when are these four Saturday programs being aired? Is the "Weekend" actual program name referred to the full half-hour program now on the BBC Europe stream, and is it the same one aired there that week? Are all four of these on the air each weekend, and, if so, how do they fit into two half-hour chunks of English programming? (Will Martin, MO, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. Radio Thailand domestic service in English noted 27 March 1500 on reactivated 4830, 5-minute news bulletin ending with the words 'That's the news at ten from Radio Thailand' then straight back into usual late-evening programme of Western classical music. 6070 and 7115 heard still carrying domestic services in Thai (Alan Davies, Davao, Philippines, Electronic DX Press via DXLD) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand English to NAm at 0030 in clear on 13695; the 13700 QRM is gone (Bob Thomas, CT, March 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is supposed to be back on 15395 for A-01; is it now? (gh) Later: Yes, very good at 0055 March 30 (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DXLD) Radio Thailand to North America is now using 15395 for the summer, as noted at 0030 UT on March 30 with usual Thai music program (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DXLD) ** TUNISIA. Spurious 7225 / 7340 / 7110 / 6995. Spur 7340 RTT Sfax at night on registered 7110 and 7225, distance is 115 kHz away. Symmetric spurs on 6995 and 7340. Mx \\ MW 630 (Willi Stengel, Germany, A-DX Mar 26 via BC-DX) 7110 0400-0700 37 SFA 500 kW 265 degr. 7110 1700-2300 37 SFA 500 265 7225 1600-2300 27,28W SFA 500 340 I see that TUN is now also producing symmetrical spurs - it is obviously something to be very aware of (Noel R. Green, UK, Mar 29, BC-DX via DXLD) ** TURKEY. See UNID SITE 6900 at bottom ** U A E. UAE Radio Dubai noted in English March 28th 1330-1350 on 13630 13675 and 21605. The 1030-1050 broadcast has been noted on 15370 and 21605, the 1600-1640 [-1633* more like it -gh] broadcast also on 13630 13675 and 21605 as at 1330. 15395 seems to have been discontinued (Mike Barraclough, UK, WORLD OF RADIO 1074, DX LISTENING DIGEST) March 29 at 1330, both 13 MHz frequencies were blocked here: 13630 totally by R. Martí and a dollop of Cuban commie jamming, 13675 by Arabic from Iran, a clash which has been going on for a long time. Are these no problem for UAE as heard in England? Surely in the Mideast 13675 is a total loss for both (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dubai BOOMING in here, S9 +20dB, on the bedside Panasonic RF-3100 with only whip antenna. 13.675 MHz, starts in English at 10:30 PM EST (0330 GMT). QTH is Tampa FL (Fred M. KA1DGL swl@qth.net via DXLD) ** U K. Re the BBC - I`ve been on their External Services web site and find it very confusingly laid out. To find even the simplest of things needs a considerable effort - for me, anyway. It appears to be impossible these days for anyone to do anything in a simple manner. Surely, the main easy to access pages should show What's On and where it can be heard on the dial. Is that so difficult to do? We all know that freqs beamed on certain areas can also often be well received in other areas too, but the BBC - and broadcasters such as RFI - insist on making us select target areas (Noel R. Green, UK, Mar 29, BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. A couple BBC comments: One good: The last "Waveguide" was repeated at 0845 UT Saturday on my local KWMU-FM relay of the BBC, different than I recalled this ever being when Write On was on in previous weeks/months. I hope this continues, having it on the PRI satellite feed. One bad: On the Americas stream, at 0230 UT 27 March 01 on 6175 kHz the BBC program stream had a long pause between the end of the half-hour "World Today" and the news bulletin and then another long pause. Then, instead of the listed "World Business Report", it rejoined the World Today in progress. There was no "Analysis" at 0245 UT. At 0300 UT, it was back to the printed "On Air" schedule OK. (Will Martin, MO, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Subject: Americas Stream Mess To the BBC Worldservice Schedulers: Just why do you have separate regional program streams? When they began, you claimed that they were intended to tailor the times of broadcasts to the specific needs of each region. But then you completely ignore this in the case of the Americas stream in the last week in March. You know that the Americas do not change their clocks until 1 April. But you blithely ignore the printed info in "On Air" and make all sorts of time changes to the Americas-stream programming when you could have left it alone and aired the programs at the same UT time they had been being aired and then changed it on 1 April. To me, this means that there is NO real "Americas stream"! You just air the European stream and make a few minor changes (mostly negative, like omitting "Weekend" and shuffling a few other programs) and call it "Americas"! If you do this, there is no justification for all the expense and extra errors created by having the different streams at all. Return to one single worldwide Worldservice program structure. It worked before. We listeners are willing to put up with a lot if we know that we are listening to a single worldwide program structure and have to share it with the rest of the world. But if you claim to aim a program line-up to us specifically, then DO IT and don't make annoying compromises by pretending to do something you are not (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri, March 28, cc to DXLD) ** U K. World Service hits record high: BBC World Service radio has announced record listening figures of 153 million people worldwide. The figure marks the third consecutive year the service has seen its audience increase, up from 151 million people last year and 138 million in 1998. The BBC World Service broadcasts around the world in 43 languages on shortwave and FM, as well as via the internet. The biggest increases in listeners were seen in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Full story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1246000/1246961.stm (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** UNITED NATIONS [non]. Powerhouse 300 kW Woofferton on 15265 at 1730, UN Radio towards Africa, 55555. CRI stn on co-channel totally underneath. But poor signal of \\ 17580, so seemingly latter freq coming from Ascension relay [x17710] instead, not from Skelton! (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Mar 29, BC-DX via DXLD) 17580 is much better here, with heavy CRI on 15265 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, March 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, I know that this is short notice, but if it is possible, could you please add these program announcements to this week`s show: Complex Variables Studio adds 3 new shows to the WBCQ #3 (17.495 MHz) Saturday program schedule. They are as follows: From 4 to 5 pm EST - "Vinnie's Reliable Traveling Wave". This is a world music program targeted to a multi-lingual audience. It features entertainment and information geared to world travelers (and those who consider themselves as part of the greater world community). Hosted by Vince Tarrent, with guest artists and interviews. From 5 to 6 pm EST - "Access Time - Earth One". This is a variety program that features live music, radio theater, spoken word, entertainment (a.k.a. game-show style interaction), and a phone-in segment ("Farm Report") for radio pirates to voice opinions and give freqs/times of their broadcasts. There will be a different guest host each week, along with the main program host Ann Davis. From 6 to 7 pm EST - "The Pulse Train". This is an electronic music connoisseur program that features recordings and interviews of the most important electronic composers of the modern era. There will be live (real time) broadcasts of concerts and events, along with the best of classic electronic recordings. Hosted by Michael Ketter. Thank you for all of your help and support in making our programming successful. Let me know if you have any questions. michael@complexvariablesstudio.com Thank You, (Michael Ketter / Music Director - WBCQ, March 28, WORLD OF RADIO 1074, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This week the times are 2100, 2200 and 2300 UT; from April: 2000, 2100, 2200 UT. As for 7415, this is the VOA Botswana schedule planned as of March 2, so clashes are at 0430-0530 daily, 1900-2200 daily, and until 2230 Mon-Fri. I suppose WBCQ may be on 7415 as early as 2000 tho BOTS may not fade in until a bit later (gh, DXLD) 7415 0430-0500 VOA PORT 010 7415 0500-0530 VOA HAUS 010 7415 1800-1900 VOA ENGL 350 7415 1900-2200 VOA ENGL 010 7415 2200-2230 VOA ENGL 010 Mo-Fr (via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. For links to many articles on the crisis at Pacifica: http://www.fair.org/activism/pacifica-history.html (via R J Erehnson via Joël Rubin, March 29, DXLD) ** U S A. KXTR (1250, Kansas City) has been testing on 1660 recently. Just so you know when you`re listening to the X-Band some night. Supposedly, Entercom will either take 1250 to Spanish-language programming, or sell it to the mouse which would put Radio Disney on it (Rob Zerwekh 5pm Producer/Co-Webmaster; KTKA-TV, March 25, amfmtvdx via DXLD) KXTR is classical, so 1660 tests are too?? (gh) ** U S A. Colorado Public Radio`s new two-network service is scheduled for launch on April 10. A news/info service will air on the new Denver AM station, plus existing stations in Pueblo, Grand Junction, and Montrose. The Denver FM and a new station in Western Colorado (KPRU 103.3 FM Delta) will carry a classical service. The station in Vail will get a mix of the two services for now. Both services will be webcast, and these streams are supposed to launch on April 10 also. Program schedules and more details are at http://www.cpr.org/ Noteworthy local programs will include Colorado Symphony weekly broadcasts at Tuesday 1900 MT on the classical service, and a local interview program weekdays at 1000-1100 and 1900-2000 MT on the news/info service (but the latter doesn`t begin until September). (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, MA, PublicRadioFan.com March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. This is going to all the wonderful people who sent me e- mail messages during and after the final days of WNIB as a Classical Music Station... and a few other friends both personal and professional... First, again my thanks to all of you who wrote. It really was touching to read the nice comments and the specifics you had to tell me. I tried to reply to everyone... hope I didn't miss too many of you! In recent days, I've continued to do some writing. CityTalk has published 4 of my pieces so far and has asked for 4 more which should appear in April and May. Two other magazines have also asked for articles, and I'll say more when those are about to appear. I have updated my website, and there are new pictures - including one taken during the final broadcast! Also, there are links so you can read the 4 published articles (including one about the death of WNIB), and 2 others which have appeared via links from other websites. I have also put up the text of my final announcement, made at 11:50 PM on that last night. Many people asked about it, so there it is. And I've added lots of musical links and other items, so, do check out my site again... And yes, the pictures of the WNIB animals are still there! http://my.voyager.net/duffie I am also negotiating with a few major musical organizations about use of my material on their websites - either as audio or transcript. Again, I'll put news on my website as it happens. If you have any comments, suggestions, ideas or questions, do let me know and I'll respond with whatever information I have. Again, my thanks for your kindness and support... (Bruce Duffie, March 28, via KB9NXD Michael A. Mathis, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [ellipses sic, not representing anything omitted. I wish people would not use them this way; try a dash instead if you must] ** U S A [non]. Dr Gene Scott might not be pleased if he knew that his satellite feed to Costa Rica is again suffering CW QRM and relayed along with his declamations both on 6150 and 9725 at 0627 March 29 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. AWR going from listed Ibo to tonal Hausa, before and after 0600 March 28 with AWR IS and multilingual ID on 15345, South Africa per new schedule. Intended for West Africa, overkill with such a very good signal beyond (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. WWCR 15685 finds itself sandwiched by Radio Free Asia; March 29 at 1358*, RFA ID and nondescript strumming on 15680, while the same occurred on 15690 which continued in Korean(?) at 1400 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. CALL FOR IDENTIFICATION MUSIC WASHINGTON, March 16 - Radio Free Asia (RFA) today announced an open competition for new identification music to be used in its broadcasts to Asia. RFA will air the winning entry in its daily broadcasts, and the winning composer will receive a generous honorarium. The new RFA identification music will sound familiar to its Asian audience. It will be simple and distinctive, evoking RFA's regional character as well as its commitment to freedom of expression. Musical submissions should be 2 minutes long with variations of 1 minute, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, 7 seconds, and 3 seconds. Proposals should be submitted in an audible form (minidisk, CD, or cassette). All submissions must be strictly instrumental. RFA will reserve the copyright to selected musical submissions. Only unpublished music will be considered. Composers/musicians of any nationality may enter, but they may do so only once. To ensure fairness, RFA will consider all entries anonymously. Applicants are asked to submit compositions without names but with a password of their choice. They should then send a separate letter containing their name and password. RFA will keep confidential the name of any contestant who wishes to remain anonymous. All entries must be received by June 30, 2001. Contestants shall be notified of the result by July 31, 2001. Should a question arise about the suitability of a work, the applicant will receive a prompt reply. All correspondence and questions should be addressed to: Alice Egyed, Ph.D. Director of Music Radio Free Asia 2025 M Street, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 E-mail: egyeda@rfa.org Telephone: 202-530-4999/ext. 1066 Fax: 202-271-7468 Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting news and information to listeners in Asia where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by an act of Congress in 1996, RFA aims to deliver such news reports - along with opinions and commentaries - and to provide a forum for a variety of voices and opinions. RFA currently broadcasts to Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Vietnam, North Korea, and Tibet. It adheres to the highest journalistic standards and aims to exemplify accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content (RFA via Kim Andrew Elliott, VOA, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. 6155, CWA155 R. Sarandí del Yí, QSL ltr rcvd in 12 days, answering my e-mailed rpt, V/S Nora San Martín, also enclosed a photo print depicting the "Monumento al Mate", monument to "el mate", traditional and very popular hot beverage here in the southern part of America, located in the city of Sarandí del Yí, department of Durazno, adding a handwritten comment: "Confirmación "Primer" (may this mean QSL Nr 1 from stn?). Promises future details on definitive sked and programmes. According to my observation, station closes with version of the vernacular march "Mi Bandera" ("My Flag"). Regarding the station's and town's name meaning: "Sarandí" is the name given to a bush that grows along the rivers here, and "Yí" (pronounced like the letter "G" in EG, is an indigenous -more precisely guaraní- term that means water stream. The station uses the nickname "Banda Oriental" for this channel and it is is also included in the heading of the letter (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, March 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN/ITALY. RADIO VATICANA, SCATTANO CONTROLLI; Su emissioni elettromagnetiche 28 Marzo 2001 - ore 20.18 ROMA - Sara' una campagna di misurazioni a fornire 'entro tempi ravvicinati' i risultati che 'sono la premessa per l'adozione degli interventi necessari a portare a soluzione il problema' dei campi elettromagnetici dell'impianto di Radio Vaticana a Santa Maria Galeria. Lo ha deciso dalla Commissione bilaterale Italia-Santa Sede, che ha anche approvato il protocollo per le misure del campo elettromagnetico e ne ha concordato le modalita' operative (ANSA via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VATICAN/ITALY. New deadline for Vatican Radio to meet emission standards | Text of report in English by Italian news agency ANSA web site Rome, 29 March: Environment Minister Willer Bordon today set a new deadline for pulling the plug on Vatican Radio transmitters unless they lower electromagnetic emissions to comply with the law. Bordon said the transmitters just north of Rome will be cut off unless they meet legal standards by 12 May. Italy and the Vatican have set up a committee to measure electromagnetic levels and see if they break the law, as local residents contend. Residents have protested about a surprisingly high number of cases of leukaemia in the town near the transmitters, and Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation into the case. According to one survey published in the Italian press, local children are six times more likely to contract leukaemia than their peers elsewhere in the Lazio region. Source: ANSA news agency web site, Rome, in English 1151 gmt 29 Mar 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) [Note: somewhat belatedly, I have resolved to file all stories on this under VATICAN rather than ITALY, for ease of reference -gh] ** VIETNAM. VOV English at 0100 and 0230 on 9525; 0330 on 9795 [Canada]. I also found them on 11560 UT Sun March 25; I thought an image. By 0245 a YL word code station came on 11560 and took `em out. There was an on/off again jammer jockeying for a spot in that area. Could not make up their mind whether to stay or where to settle. Finally disappeared (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES. Wales Radio International, ``Celtic Notes``, the weekly SW broadcast, has been added to the World Radio Network schedule: to NAm Sunday 1900 CT/1800 MT; Europe Sundays 1400 UT; elsewhere including AfriStar at 1030 UT [Sunday too?] (WRN press release via BBCM, et al., summarised by gh for DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED SITE? 15440 Radio Ezra, started Mar 25, broadcasts are organized by Water into Wine Ministries from the United Kingdom. 1100-1115 Sundays only. Website is http://www.water-into-wine.com (Ludo Maes, Belgium, Mar 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED SITE? 6900 Eurosonor Radio 1600-1700 Sundays only starting April 1st. Their website is http://www.eurosonor.de/radio/ (Ludo Maes, Belgium, Mar 28) Their website seems to say that this will be a modern music program. This is co-channel 6900 Turkish Weather Radio. Is Eurosonor coming from this transmitter? If not, then why operate on the same channel at the same time? The Turkish station was noted on as late as 1632 by Noel Green, so there could be a clash (Hans Johnson, AZ, Cumbre DX Special March 28 via DXLD) ###