DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-059, May 2, 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] We fell a bit behind in fixing up typos, accents, etc., in DXLD 1- 055, 1-056, 1-057 and 1-058. Corrected versions have now been posted as of 0207 UT May 1. Those republishing items from these issues are requested to replace the original version with the corrected version if it is not too late. http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1055.txt http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1056.txt http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1057.txt http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1058.txt NETS TO YOU, May 1 revision by John Norfolk, has been posted at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/nets2you.html PREVIOUSLY OWNED RADIO MARKET by MARE, April 30 revision has now been posted atop RECEPTION TIPS file: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/rxtips.txt ** ANGOLA [non]. Re: R. Ecclésia via DTK: However transmissions still not started as of April 29th (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB and Christian Voice granted SW broadcast licence | Excerpt from press release from Australian Broadcasting Authority web site on 26 April 26 April 2001: The Australian Broadcasting Authority has allocated the first two international broadcasting licences, to Christian Voice (Australia) Ltd and HCJB Australia. Both broadcasters intend to deliver shortwave radio services from northern Australia. The category of international broadcasting applies to any service substantially targeted at audiences outside Australia, where the means of delivery is a radiocommunications transmitter located in Australia. Before allocating international broadcasting licences, the ABA must ensure that applicants satisfy requirements in areas such as corporate status, the suitability of the applicant and the business record of controlling persons. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer is also required to consider whether an applicant's proposed international broadcasting service is likely to be contrary to Australia's national interest. Applicants for international broadcasting licences commit to abide by the Broadcasting Services (International Broadcasting) Guidelines 2000. "The International Broadcasting Guidelines are based on the transborder satellite television broadcasting principles developed by the Asia-Pacific Regulatory Roundtable," said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. "Australia is a member of the Roundtable, and in discussions on the transborder principles, it was clear that any transborder broadcasts should meet the minimum standards of the country from which the broadcast is made, and the Guidelines reflect this approach". The Guidelines provide guidance on matters such as privacy and programmes that might cause offence or hatred. In addition, they cover techniques such as the simulation of events in a way that is likely to cause alarm or is misleading, and subliminal perception. General guidance is also provided in relation to matter broadcast for children, including advertisements produced for children and promotions in children's programs. There is also a part that applies to news and current affairs. The guidelines contain principles applicable to programmes, including the accurate presentation of matter; representing opinions fairly; clearly distinguishing between factual material, simulation, and commentary and analysis; and treating with sensitivity images of, or interviews with, bereaved people and survivors and witnesses of traumatic incidents. In addition, the guidelines specify that programmes should be impartial and balanced. Also, that warnings should be given before matter is broadcast if it is likely to offend or cause distress. Christian Voice (Australia) Ltd proposes to deliver a range of programs including subjects such as music, entertainment, news, health, education and general-interest programs alongside Christian training and teaching. Christian Voice will broadcast from the Cox Peninsula, near Darwin, with a footprint that includes Southeast Asia, India and China. Broadcasts will be in Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and English. HCJB Australia will broadcast Christian services alongside a variety of news, music, lifestyle and documentary programming, from a purpose-built site near Kununurra, WA. HCJB proposes covering South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and the South Pacific (Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and 'other island states'); with possible expansion to East and Southeast Asia at a later date. The contact for Christian Voice (Australia) Ltd is Mr Mike Edmiston, on (07) 5442 4444. The contact for HCJB Australia is Mr Ross Ramsay, on (02) 6262 9888. Backgrounder The Broadcasting Services Amendment Act 2000 amended the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and includes a new Part 8B, international broadcasting. This category applies to any service targeted, to a significant extent, to audiences outside Australia, whose means of delivery uses a radiocommunications transmitter inside Australia. In allocating international broadcasting licences, the ABA must ensure that applicants satisfy the requirements set out in section 121 of the Act.... Source: Australian Broadcasting Authority press release, Sydney, in English 26 Apr 01 (via BBC Monitoring via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB to install 100 kW SW transmitter at Kununurra | Text of press release from HCJB World Radio on 1 May HCJB World Radio-Australia has been granted one of the country's first two private international broadcasting licences, potentially expanding the influence of Christian radio among millions of people across Asia and the South Pacific. The licence, approved by the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australia Communications Authority on 19 April, opens the way for a shortwave transmitting site on donated land in Kununurra, a rich mining area near the northern tip of Western Australia. A second licence went to Christian Voice (Australia) Ltd., a radio ministry based in Darwin, about 260 miles northeast of Kununurra. "To say we are excited is an understatement," says HCJB World Radio- Australia Director David Maindonald. "We are absolutely thrilled at the door and opportunity God has opened. Gaining this licence is the culmination of more than four years of prayer, hard work, tears and lots of discussion with government and government departments. We are rejoicing in what God has done! Pray that we would be faithful in doing what He wants done." Maindonald says broadcasts could begin as early as the end of this year. Plans are to install a 100 kW shortwave transmitter designed and built at the HCJB World Radio Engineering Centre in Elkhart, Indiana. The signal could reach more than 4,000 miles, taking in much of Asia, including the millions in India, China, Southeast Asia, plus the entire South Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand." Initial plans are for daily English broadcasts, four hours to the South Pacific and five hours to Asia. "We have begun research into Asian languages that do not have adequate coverage by Christian radio," Maindonald adds. "Broadcasting in languages other than English will commence as developments make it possible and when appropriate broadcasters are found." The application process dates back to 11 August 1997, when papers were first submitted to communications authorities. Largely as a result of HCJB World Radio-Australia's input, the government amended the 1992 Broadcasting Services Act in December 2000, paving the way for privately owned international stations to go on the air. HCJB World Radio, the world's first missionary broadcast organization, has been touching lives around the globe for nearly 70 years. Together with its local partners, HCJB World Radio now has ministries in more than 90 countries and broadcasts the gospel in more than 100 languages and dialects. The mission's passion is to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ so that people are transformed and become active, vital parts of the body of Christ. HCJB World Radio also ministers through healthcare and training . . . doing whatever it takes, so all may hear. For further information please contact: Jim Ferrier, Communications Director, HCJB World Radio, PO Box 39800, Colorado Springs, CO 80949-9800 Telephone: (719) 590-9800; Fax: (719) 590-9357 E-mail: jferrier@hcjb.org; Website: http://www.hcjb.org Source: HCJB World Radio press release, Colorado Springs, in English 1 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) 100 kW will reach ``more than 4000 miles``?? How about ``more than 12,500 miles`` taking into account short paths only. Don`t these guys know anything about SW propagation by now? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA is still having problems with the contract on transmitting via Darwin. Transmission manager Nigel Holmes is away until May 6 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Revised schedule shows RA Darwin, English: 2200-0000 11880** (** this frequency should be available mid-May) (Roger Broadbent, RA, via John Figliozzi, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAHAMAS. Re: Splash FM is at Spanish Wells, per their webpage. It required further searching in a gazetteer to find that this is on Andros (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: above, are you sure of Andros? Per the below feature -- as well as my aero charts for the Bahamas -- Spanish Wells is still on Eleuthera. Great feature in the April 25th snail edition of "Radio World" trade mag regarding "Splash 89.9 FM" from Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, one I've not heard of. Relatively new, now up to 3 kW. Suspect this could make it at least to somewhere on the east coast of FL, open channel permitting. Very interesting antenna configs, with beams south to the rest of the island, and also to Nassau (where coverage has not worked out as hoped -- but currently working on getting BaTelCo to grant a repeater license). Unfortunately, this feature was not added to the http://www.radioworld.com URL. The feature references a page at http://www.splashfmradio.com (but to date it has not worked for me), and e-mail to splash899@batelnet.ba. Speaking of Bahamas Tel. Co., I happen to still have a cloth arm patch from them, circa 1973-ish, when I visited their doorstep, after a visit to ZNS (Terry L. Krueger, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here`s where I checked: http://www.calle.com/world/bahamasthe/Sp.html Per this, Spanish Wells Settlement is on Eleuthera, while plain old Spanish Wells is on Andros. But if the article says Eleuthera, I guess that must be correct (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 6130-USB, CHNX (presumed) 0430 April 23, Dusty Springfield "son of a preacher man" great signal then flattened by VOA in Croatian signing on (David Norrie and Paul Ormandy, Waianakarua DXpedition, New Zealand, 23rd April, Conexión Digital via DXLD) CHNX, 6130: We have been on again and off again. I had problems with our station identity system that put us off. I will be back on shortly. By the way, CHNS and CHNX will be celebrating 75 years of broadcasting on the 12th of May. We are doing a live, 2 day broadcast from the Lord Nelson Hotel where the original broadcasts occurred on 11th and 12th of May all day long. I will be sending out 75th anniversary QSL cards to the first 75 SWL reports that I receive. I hope to have the transmitter up and running again soon. It is only transmitting at 41 watts into a G5RV antenna. It is quite the antenna to use (Mark Olson, CHNX CE via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX, May 2, via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CRI via Brasília has been listed ever since, also since R Nacional shut down txions to abroad. So not really new, but still interesting if they really tx there. 73, -- (Eike Bierwirth, 04103 Leipzig, DL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Find the current overall shortwave schedule on http://www.eibi.de.vu When I checked 9665 at 0100 April 30 and again May 1, I was swiftly reminded that this is the main Voice of Russia frequency in English to North America –- fortunately without any sign of co-channel QRM. Nor could I hear anything on 11765 at 0300 May 1. So the CRI via Brazil listings are phantoms (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI Frequency Schedule: BAND FREQUENCY/MODE UTC/GMT TIME (Hours subject to change) 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (AM): 0200-0800. 19 meters: 15.050 MHz (AM): 1300-0400 (extended hours). 13 meters: 21.815 MHz (USB): 1200-0400 (RFPI Weekly Update April 29 via DXLD) In WOR/COM schedules we have been including 15049 in the 1300-1500 period, because it is sometimes on; however, it was not on around 1330 check April 30. It is also sometimes on in the 1700-2030 period (gh) Glenn, this is really important (Debra Latham, RFPI) Hate on shortwave has now become far more sophisticated and better financed than ever before. Whereas in the past the amateur nature of hate radio separated it from the more mainstream, now slick, professionally produced advertising sand marketing has for the first time been introduced. The production quality and advertisements now make hate radio indiscernible, in many cases, from the mainstream, except for the message. Framing the hateful rhetoric with slick advertisements adds not only legitimacy, but a revenue stream that hate radio has never had in the past. There are currently 28 transmitters in the U.S. broadcasting far right messages in both the English and German languages. Their collective capacity is greater than that of the Voice of America, thereby creating a curtain of hate around the U.S. which emanates outward to the world. Due to the alarming increase in hate based radio, not only on shortwave, but on AM and FM as well, we at Radio For Peace International are inaugurating the first ever international campaign to bring awareness to and help stop this dangerous hateful rhetoric. The ``Stop Hate on Radio`` campaign is now underway worldwide. Radio stations, program hosts and producers, as well as concerned individuals around the world are asked to join this effort by signing the commitment form enclosed as well as proudly displaying the official campaign sticker. This sticker, if displayed on your window, your car, or on your luggage immediately identifies you as a concerned, responsible participant willing to take a stand. We ask that, if possible, you also send a small donation to help underwrite the cost of this important campaign. Hate on radio has reached epidemic proportions. There is no time to waste. Take a stand today. STOP HATE ON RADIO Commitment Form I hereby acknowledge with my signature that I am opposed to and appalled by hateful rhetoric broadcast on radio and I support work to stop it through the Radio For Peace International ``Stop Hate on Radio`` campaign. I further vow to report all incidences of hate broadcasts that come to my attention to the campaign headquarters to be included in the documentation and database work of the campaign. Suggested financial contributions: $28, $56, $80, $___ by Check or money order; Visa; Mastercard (supply card number, expiration date and signature). Send to: Radio For Peace International, P. O. Box 1094, Eugene, OR 97440 (RFPI via gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Good Morning Glenn, Yes, the earlier broadcasts have been cut to a half hour, But I checked this morning and two frequencies still carry RFI in English for the full sesquihour, 11.615 and 17.605 MHz; Hope this helps. Take care, Cheers, and good DX, Sincerely, (Colonel Jon Standingbear, Army Radio Station adn3u, Beaumont CA, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Voice of Greece noted with ``It`s All Greek To Me`` music programme in English Sundays 1800-1900 on 9420 15630 (Edwin Southwell, England, May World DX Club Contact) Also 17705 Delano, super-power here (gh, OK, DXLD) Confirmed here 29th April with the announcer mentioning a group of hard core listeners still insisting on listening to the programme on shortwave rather than the internet! Orientations in English is 1830- 1900 on 11645, also noted 29th April still with that, in my opinion, irritating Eleanor Rigby music bridge between items (Mike Barraclough, UK, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. R. Verdad, 4052.47, April 13 0245-0305* Spanish religious music, talk, ID. S/off with long choral NA which lasted about 4 minutes. Good. Not usually heard this strong (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Subject: new line-of-sight DX Record | By BBC News Online technology correspondent Mark Ward After almost eight months of silence Nasa has re-established contact with the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. Nasa scientists had feared that the 29-year-old craft had stopped working, but this weekend the agency said it had received a faint signal from the probe. The faithful craft is still sending back useful data even though it is over 11 terametres (7 gigamiles) from Earth. In the early days of its mission it was the first to take close-up images of the planet Jupiter. Distant message On 19 August 2000 Nasa [sic thruout] lost contact with the Pioneer 10 space probe, leading scientists to speculate that the craft had gone silent. But this weekend a satellite dish in Madrid received a signal from the craft. "Pioneer 10 lives on," said Pioneer project manager Larry Lasher. But it is likely to become increasingly difficult to contact Pioneer 10 because it only sends back data when first contacted by Nasa. Currently it takes almost 22 hours for radio signals to travel to and from the craft. Pioneer's official mission finished in March 1997, but Nasa regularly kept in touch with the craft because it was still working and was sending back data used to do work on chaos theory. Pioneer 10 was launched on 2 March 1972. It was the first spacecraft to pass through the asteroid belt and take some of the first close images of Jupiter. In 1983, it became the first man-made object to leave the Solar System when it passed through Pluto's orbit. Until 17 February 1998 it was the most remote man-made object, and was over 11 billion kilometres (7 billion miles) from Earth. On that date its distance was exceeded by Voyager 1 which is now 12,019,000,000 kilometres away. The next important encounter in Pioneer's life is due in 2 megayears when it passes one of the stars in the constellation Taurus. The craft is carrying a plaque made of gold that shows Earth's location in the Solar System and a message of greeting for any alien life it should happen to encounter (via Jeff Kadet, WTFDA via DXLD) WTFK??!! ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. On 28 April 2001 I tuned into Transponder 22 on the Astra analogue satellite just before 08:00 UTC, ready to hear those 2 great programmes, "World of Radio" and the long version of "Communications World", only to find that WRN had vanished from the satellite, to be replaced by a loop announcement of WRN's Edwina Currie explaining how to get the service if we want to continue listening. I guess I knew this day would arrive eventually. This means that those programmes are, for the moment, not available to me in hi-fi quality, and for the moment I will have to be content with the short version of "Communications World" in high-quality, though that too will disappear at any time (Paul David, 020 8933 9126, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL Press Release No. 1 - MAY 1st, 2001 On Sunday June 3, 2001, Radio Northsea International is set to make a third return to the airwaves, on a 28 day RSL, following successful broadcasts in 1999 and 2000. The broadcast will again be sited on the former Light Vessel No.18, currently moored alongside the Old Railway Pier in Harwich. Work commitments will keep Paul Graham, who ran the previous two broadcasts to a week-end and advisory role. Colin Lamb, in overall charge of this year`s broadcast says: "We are back by popular demand. Both the 1999 and 2000 broadcasts proved to be a success with both listeners and advertisers and such was the level of support that last year saw the formation of an RNI Fan Club. We shall again bring back the music of the early seventies and sixties and there will again be no computers running RNI so it will be the DJ's picking the music, not a computer! Colin is delighted to report that the project will again be sponsored by Wilkin & Sons, makers of the world famous Tiptree jams. RNI will be heard on the a.m. frequency, 1503 Khz, 199 metres medium wave. The broadcast will also again be carried over the Internet. Last year, the listenership over the Internet proved greater than in the Tendring area, such is the popularity of RNI. Potential advertisers are now being sought and any Companies interested are asked to contact Colin Lamb on 01255 431936 (phone), 01255 421011 (Fax) or by e-mail at colin@quizquest.fsnet.co.uk The format of this year`s broadcast will see a recreation of 'four windows of time'. Week one will recreate the station as it was on June 3, 1971, with genuine charts, hitbound sounds, smash plays, album tracks, as well as a good mix of 60s hits. Week two will move the station to June 10, 1972, week 3 to June 17, 1973 and week 4 to June 24, 1974, which is in fact just 2 months before the real RNI closed down. Colin says: 'It has been a real challenge tracking down the actual charts that RNI used in the weeks in question and then finding the records in those charts. However, with the help of contacts in the UK and Netherlands, we have managed it and I have collected around 400 'hitbound' or non-hits for 1971-74 and about 600 albums from the same period. Add in every hit 1971-74, plus a vast collection of music from the 1950s to 1970, I think the only problem for the DJs is whether they [can play] it all in the 28 days. You'll have to tune in to find out!! (RNI Press Release via Colin via Hans Knot, Benelux DX Club May 1 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Desde el pasado mes de marzo se viene escuchando por esta zona (Rosario, Provincia de Santa Fe, República Argentina) con muy aceptable señal a RADIO GALEI TZAHAL, la emisora del ejército israelí por la frecuencia de 15785 kHz a las horas de la mañana (entre las 12 y las 15 Utc). Toda la programación es en idioma hebreo y consta fundamentalmente de espacios musicales y pedidos telefónicos de los oyentes y breves intervalos noticiosos de 5 minutos cada media hora aprox. titulado LE GALEI TZAHAL JADASHOT (las noticias de Galei Tzahal). Quiero destacar los excelentes espacios musicales del pop y el rock israelí que allí se pueden escuchar. Les recomiendo su escucha (Mauricio Elvio Remillier, Argentina, Conexión Digital April 29 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. May 1 at 1620 check, quite a vacancy at 17545 where IBA used to be in English, but nicely replaced by 21670; a good idea to have shifted from original plan of 21665, to avoid BBC 21660 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Hello Glenn, Received from Radio STUDIO X in Italy April 29th: "as reported in the AM STEREO official site http://www.amstereoradio.com 864 RADIO BLEUE from Paris "ceased their testy broadcasts of Motorola C-QUAM AM STEREO in January of 2001...". This news confirms that RADIO STUDIO X become the only radio station in Europe broadcasting with stereophonic sound on its 1584 kHz frequency. Check our website http://www.radiostudiox.it to know more about our AM Stereo programmes... The Moderator, RADIO STUDIO X" Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. Radio Jordan English service now noted 1300-1630 on 11690 (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. V. of the People of Kurdistan, 6995, April 14 0226- 0245+. Tune-in to Koran, into talk in language at 0228. Mid-east music, lite instrumental mx. Fair-good. No 4 MHz \\ heard; usually heard around 4060, but not tonight (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KUWAIT. Radio Kuwait English is still monitored at 0500-0800 on 15110 and 1800-2100 on 11990 (Edwin Southwell, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 1 May 2001: From today, Radio Television Malaysia`s Radio 1 network is streaming live on the Internet. The Webcast is accessible at www.radio1.com.my There`s also a studio Webcam (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) {very noisy when we tried -gh} http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html ** MALTA [non]. Voice of the Mediterranean English broadcasts are now 0600-0630 on 6110 Monday to Saturday, 0800-0900 on 11770 Sunday, these via Italian transmitters, and 1900-2000 on 12060 Saturday to Thursday via Russia (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Re: Online audio offered is only a 5-minute introduction (gh) They have the 30 minute program if you go to archives (Larry Nebron, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOZAMBIQUE. There has been no sign of Mozambique on shortwave for a couple of months but noted April 24th on 3280 at 2010 parallel to medium wave 738 (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius via Wolfgang Büschel, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Tnx to Steven Cline for a copy of the new issue of RN`s On Target programme folder. I found that many of the staffers pictured were not identified explicitly (or at all), and asked Andy Sennitt about this: I'll answer your questions...points well taken BTW. Q. Page 1, LL: one of them is Swatling, I suppose, but the other? Or is it Carson? One of them appears to be a black woman, but cannot be sure. A. It`s Veronica Wilson and Zane Ibrahim of Bush Radio. Veronica now works part-time with us and part-time with Bush Radio. She comes from Sierra Leone, BTW, and is a lovely person. And, yes, she's black :-) Q. Page 1, top: Several people are mentioned in the New Partners text, but which is which? I guess the one in UR is Max as on page 2. A. Top left Theo Tamis, who prepares the current affairs pages for Internet, UR is Max, as you guessed, lower left is Michelle Ernstig, and lower right is David Swatling. Q. Page 2: Sincerely Yours, Shannon and Powis, left to right, or right to left? A. left to right Q. A Good Life: is that Ginger or Helene? A. Ginger Q. Page 3: Research File. Bakker, Durnford, Gould in that order left to right, or right to left? A. left to right Q. Page 4: Looming: no ID of the woman in front of the tall ship at all. A. It's Bertine Kroll, presenter/producer of Dutch Horizons (Andy Sennitt, RN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Piratas: Radio East Coast Holland, cambiará su frecuencia en los próximos meses, y estará activa en 41 metros, por la frecuencia de 7480 o 7475 kHz. Normalmente, utilizan un transmisor de 100 watts. También puede ser que hagan pruebas en 26 metros, 11485 kHz para el sábado. La emisora está dejando la banda de 48 metros. Su operador es Ronald. Sitio en internet: http://eastcoastholland.net (SW-Pirates, 23/4 via Enrique A. Wembagher, ARG, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Greetings from the USA! I have come to enjoy the availability of National Radio audio services via the Internet, as the shortwave signal of Radio New Zealand International only reaches Eastern North America a few hours each day. I know that there are ongoing discussions with AWACS regarding the ongoing availability of these services, and there are also concerns regarding international and domestic webcast rights for music and sports content. {Meaning of AWACS never explained, but don`t they know this acronym already has a very different meaning?? -gh} I am glad that on-demand news programming is available at URL http://www.radionz.co.nz/nr/RADIO_NZ_AUDIO_@_XTRA, but I am disappointed that there is a delay in providing "fresh" versions of each program. For example, on the morning of April 26th NZ time (Wednesday afternoon in the USA) the Monday version of Checkpoint is the most current edition available, and Tuesday morning editions of Morning Report are the latest available. Will these on-demand editions be upgraded to the most current edition once this webcast situation stabilizes? National Radio creates programming that is interesting to an international audience wishing to better understand the New Zealand perspective on world and regional affairs, and this perspective is very difficult to obtain from domestic US media and the European- centric BBC World Service. I am hopeful Radio New Zealand will continue to be able to provide much of its content on-demand and live for an audience outside of New Zealand. Your services are a useful resource to those of us interested in international affairs. If my encouragement would be useful to others in positions of funding or contract authority, please forward this E-mail to them, or advise me whom I should contact. Thank you very much for providing National Radio audio services. Regards, (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, USA, Editor, "Easy Listening", North American Shortwave Association, April 26, to RNZ via swprograms, via DXLD) I received the following from New Zealand's National Radio regarding the recent turmoil in its streaming audio plans and strategies. I agree with the insight that interactive, on-demand audio makes more sense than passive, live audio. Regards, (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, swprograms May 2 via DXLD) NATIONAL RADIO LIVE AUDIO STREAMING ON THE INTERNET Changes are being made to the way in which Radio New Zealand allows its National Radio signal to be delivered via the Internet. Radio New Zealand's arrangement with AWACS for the continuous live streaming of the National Radio audio signal and use of the website address http://www.rnz.co.nz was scheduled to cease on 31 March 2001. Radio New Zealand previously had a contract with AWACS that expired in 1999. Despite the expiry of that contract Radio New Zealand, without charge, allowed AWACS to continue live streaming until 31 March 2001 in order that that company could fulfill its obligations to subscribers. Following communication with AWACS, the deadline for the use of a limited audio signal has been extended to 31 May 2001 while draft licencing arrangements are discussed. At the time of the expiry of the AWACS contract, and in light of adverse publicity about the site operation, Radio New Zealand reviewed its strategy relating to use of the Internet. It determined that its future strategy would not include continuous live streaming because: § it simply duplicated Radio New Zealand's existing and planned radio service without adding substantial value. § it was a passive use of the new technology that did not take advantage of its "interactive" potential § it raised significant copyright and royalty issues § it had the potential to breach Radio New Zealand contracts with contributors. § Radio New Zealand is not funded to provide Internet services and will not subsidise any commercial venture. The new strategy for transmission of Radio New Zealand material requires that only Radio New Zealand produced material and that over which Radio New Zealand has full copyright will be available via the Internet. AWACS was advised of the strategy and invited to develop its own website proposal consistent with it. Radio New Zealand has also embarked on a pilot scheme with Telecom Xtra to develop a site consistent with the strategy that also takes advantage of the interactive potential of the Internet by providing archiving and retrieval of programmes. That site can be accessed on http://www.xtra.co.nz/news AWACS has advised subscribers that the domain name http://www.rnz.org.nz has been registered for use should a limited live audio be available. Meanwhile the address http://202.27.156.109 is being used (RNZ via Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, swprograms May 2 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [non?]. This is to notify you that Radio Eureka International will conduct test transmissions at the following times and on the following frequencies Fri May 4th 0700 UT 7460 or 7484 kHz; 1900 UT 6229 or 6235 kHz We look forward to your reception reports which will be verified by our QSL. Please enclose one IRC and send your reports to - Eureka International, P.O. Box 3103, Onekawa, Napier, New Zealand Next test will be on the 3rd June 19 UT, 6229 or 6235. Fight for Free Radio! (freeradioeureka@hotmail.com April 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. R. Miskut, 5770, April 12-13, 2358-0100+, carrier plus USB. Tune-in to Spanish ballads, anmts at 0000. Many ads, jingles. Variety of Spanish rap music, ballads, some English pops by Celine Dion and others. Gone at 0200 check; fair to good. Also heard next day, April 13-14 at 2355-0002* with abrupt s/off in mid-song (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. New chairman for national broadcaster | Text of report from Papua New Guinea Post-Courier web site on 30 April The National Broadcasting Corporation has a new chairman. He is John Malisa. Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta announced the appointment at the weekend. Mr Malisa takes over from Bosky Tonny. Sir Mekere also named other members of the NBC board. They are Andrew Ariako, Jack Rombuk, Rex Namah, Theresa Jaintong, a representative of the Treasury and Finance Department and managing director of NBC. Mr Malisa was the former managing director of [the commercial radio station] Kalang. He has a colourful background in radio administration, beginning as a broadcast officer with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before joining NBC when it was set up after independence [in 1975]. Sir Mekere said the other board members are "Papua New Guineans with good community standing". Source: Papua New Guinea Post-Courier web site, Port Moresby, in English 30 Apr 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Broadcast chief`s sacking linked to coverage of army standoff | Excerpt from report from Papua New Guinea newspaper The National web site on 1 May The managing director of the government-owned National Broadcasting Corporation, Bosky Tonny, has been sacked. His removal places a question mark over a multimillion kina redevelopment programme that is currently under way at the NBC. The success of Mr Tonny`s efforts in securing a 100m-kina aid package for the NBC now appears to be in doubt, following what was apparently a politically motivated action. Mr Tonny has been replaced as managing director by a medical officer, Dr Kristoffer Ninkama, of Chimbu Province, who is currently based in Goroka. Dr Ninkama flew into Port Moresby and met with Mr Tonny yesterday. This morning, he will meet senior NBC staff at 0900... Mr Tonny`s replacement comes amid denials from the prime minister`s media unit that the National Executive Council [cabinet] had effected the change. Mr Tonny, who was given his dismissal letter on Friday [27 April], has 14 months left in his three-year contract. He said yesterday that he was not given any reason for his abrupt sacking, but that he believed it was connected with the NBC's coverage of the standoff between the soldiers and the government last month. The radio station`s coverage of the events at Murray Barracks, in which soldiers removed high-powered weapons from the armoury and forced the government to abandon plans to downsize the army, had drawn the ire of Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta. Sir Mekere issued a statement on 20 March accusing the NBC of broadcasting "incorrect and inflammatory statements" about the Defence Force issue and said it had acted "totally irresponsibly". The prime minister indicated in that statement that the minister for communications would launch an investigation to seek an explanation. Mr Tonny said yesterday: "It is a coincidence that my removal has come very close to the world-recognized Media Freedom Week. While I do not know the reasons behind my sudden removal, I hope it is not linked to my stand to protect the NBC in our reporting of the recent military saga (in March), when I refused to reveal the names of military personnel who provided certain information to the NBC. "I have been told that there was heavy lobbying for my removal and I am saddened that professionalism and merit and the serious need to effectively change the NBC, in my view, were not considered." He said the national government has the prerogative to revoke his appointment and he accepts his removal with a clear conscience, but with a heavy heart after 30 years with the NBC. Mr Tonny served for 10 years as the deputy managing director and close to two years as the managing director. He said the NBC is a vital institution and it is the government's only example of true democracy at work. "The government does not control its (NBC`s) programme and editorial output despite its 100 per cent ownership. It is the people's radio and it must remain that way," said Mr Tonny... Two of the major redevelopment programmes for NBC worth 100m kina involve a Japanese grant-in-aid project worth about 40m kina for the continuation of the upgrading of radio transmitters in eight provinces. Another project that could be affected involves plans by NBC to build a modern office and studio complex for radio and television services, to be funded by the Chinese government and other aid agencies. Both are Mr Tonny`s pet projects, which he worked hard to put together using his professional connections in the Asia- Pacific broadcasters' forums and other relevant regional sources. The National learnt last night that the NHK electronics corporation of Japan was to install the new MW-transmitters. NHK engineers had visited the country already; however, last week they expressed fears about proceeding due to the change in management... The proposed new studio and office complex for radio and TV services was originally estimated at 110m kina, but the plan has been revised down to a two-level building instead of a four-storey complex, with a proportionate reduction in cost to about 60m kina. This too hangs in the balance because of Mr Tonny's removal, the source said. Source: The National web site, Port Moresby, in English 1 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Media Council condemns sacking of broadcasting head | Excerpt from report by Papua New Guinea newspaper The National web site on 2 May The sacking of the National Broadcasting Corporation's managing director, Bosky Tonny, this week and an attempt to sack the publisher, editor and a reporter of the Word Publishing Group recently have been condemned by the PNG Media Council, which is celebrating Media Freedom Week... It was also learnt yesterday that a senior officer in the Prime Minister's Office had written to the Catholic archbishop of the Port Moresby archdiocese, Brian Barnes, seeking the sacking of Word Publishing managing editor and publisher Anna Solomon, the editor and a reporter over a story concerning Treasury Secretary Koiari Tarata and Chief Secretary Robert Igara. PNG Media Council president Peter Aitsi warned yesterday that the freedom of the media, a pillar for any vibrant democracy, could be in danger if the national government interferes in its operations. Mr Aitsi said that the Media Council was especially critical of Mr Tonny's sacking. [Communications] Minister [John] Kamb replaced Mr Tonny with a Goroka-based medical officer, Dr Kristoffer Ninkama, who hails from Chimbu Province. The minister is the member for Kerowagi, also in Chimbu... Dr Ninkama released a two-page statement in which he said that while he is not a broadcaster, he will work with the assistance of the NBC's professional staff. With the Media Council's two-day seminar starting today, Mr Aitsi said: "The general feeling in the media industry is that if the decision is in any way related to a political agenda or any form of reporting that was not to the satisfaction of government, then that will become an issue that we'll have to fight." Mr Aitsi said the media organizations will support each other in seeking a review of the decision if it was not performance-based, was politically motivated or if it was the result of anger over a reporter's coverage of the soldiers versus government standoff... Ms Solomon said the media industry regretted the government's decision to terminate Mr Tonny's contract before his three-year term was up. She also said she was shocked to learn of an attempt to have her, the editor and a reporter sacked. She described the attempt as "heavy-handed" and by someone "who thinks he can push his weight around" and interfere with the operations of a newsroom. On the NBC, Ms Solomon said it was tough for reporters employed by the government-run media but applauded the decision by the NBC to stand firm on a very important journalism code of ethics that reporters do not reveal their sources of information, even to the government. She said the bigger picture in all this was that the ruling People's Democratic Movement party wanted to create a one- party system of government after 2002 and was putting its people into key positions... The editor-in-chief of The National newspaper, Yehiura Hriehwazi, said the media in PNG will do all do all it can to protect its freedom as guaranteed by the constitution. "No government, no authority, political or otherwise, should take that away. On the other hand, we in the media must do our utmost to be fair and balanced. We will continue to report without fear or favour, especially on corruption in high places. Persons perpetrating corruption need to be exposed and deposed," said Mr Hriehwazi. Mr Hriehwazi also called on the government to exercise restraint when dealing with the media. "This warning is more relevant now than in the past because of the numerical strength (in parliament) and power that the prime minister has." [A recent merger created the first single-party majority since independence in 1975.] On Mr Tonny's sacking, Mr Hriehwazi said: "If he was sacked for not divulging their sources of information within the military, then government's action was wrong and regrettable." Source: The National web site, Port Moresby, in English 2 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY/"VENTANA AL MUNDO" DE RADIO NACIONAL: "Quiero comentarles que he tenido el placer de recibir respuesta de RADIO NACIONAL DEL PARAGUAY por medio de su programa VENTANA AL MUNDO, espacio que conduce el Dr. Óscar B. LLanes Torres y que está destinado a los residentes paraguayos que se encuentran en el exterior. Todo este proyecto se enmarca en el plan de reactivación de la onda corta de la emisora (9735 kHz [really 9737.5 or so -gh]). En carta certificada, el Dr. Torres me informa que "Ventana al mundo en su edición paraguaya comenzó hace tres meses y que su objetivo es "llegar a todos los hogares del país y del exterior con un mensaje de paz, solidaridad y tolerancia". Este programa va los dias domingos entre las 23 y las 03 utc, variable, ya que está sujeto a modificaciones por trasmisiones de algún evento deportivo o cultural de envergadura. Esto es todo, un gran saludo y hasta la próxima". (Mauricio Remillier via Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, abril 28, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. R. LPC, unknown site, April 28, 0913-1030 on 5175.49 kHz. Heard new Peruvian station here in Japan thanks to many tips from NU & DXLD. The morning px consisted of huayno cajamarquino & OM talk. Simple ID was given at 1015. Also observed on 4/29. According to HK via DXLD 1-056, the location seems to be ``Gerillo`` in the District of Jepelacio, the Province of Moyobamba. Jepelacio, the second largest city in the Province of Moyobamba has a population of about 13,000 as of 1995 (Shoji YAMADA, Tokyo, Japan, RNM, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Radio Maryja. Main Studio: Torun. Radio Maryja is a privately-owned Catholic radio station. It operates a network of local VHF/FM transmitters across Poland. Some programmes are also carried on shortwave via a hired relay transmitter in Russia. All broadcasts are subject to Summer/Winter time changes. Address: Radio Maryja, ul.Zwirki i Wigury 80, 87-100 Torun, Poland. Tel: +48-56-655- 2361. Fax: +48-56-655-2362. E-mail: radio@radiomaryja.pl Web Site: http://www.radiomaryja.pl (includes English version). 2300-2259 [sic] Daily POLISH Global Net: http://www.radiomaryja.pl/live3.ram - live audio. Also on satellite. SW portion: 7.380-(1930-2200); 12.010- (1500-1930); 15.455-(0500-0800) includes news daily 0625-0630 (© BBC Monitoring May 2 as of April 24, condensed for DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. Best bets in NAm for MW from here: 1660 is definitely the best bet for Puerto Rico. It is on an irregular schedule from what I was told this morning, but should be 24/7 after they officially inaugurate the station. Interestingly, back in the early 60's when I DXed from NE Ohio, the easiest PR was WIVV on Vieques. This 1 kW station signed on at 5 AM local time when 1370 was totally clear, the last Californian (KEEN) having gone away at midnight. PR was sometimes 100% in the clear at 4 AM ELT. After that, there were no easy catches, although the next one I heard was WITA-1140 with 500 watts nondirectional, also at 4 AM EST before WRVA signed back on after the Monday morning maintenance period. And, of course, I did not know I would be the GM of this station one sesquidecade later! Also heard back then from PR: WISA-1390, WABA- 850, WIPR-940, WIAC-740, WMDD-1480, WAPA-680 all at early AST sign on. The only non-sign on catch I made from PR was AFRTS-780 at Ramey AFB after WBBM signed off making this 50 watter my best miles to power catch. At present, the new WAPA-680 transmitter site very near the North coast of PR, offers the best chance for PR in most places. 580 is now directional away from. 940 may be possible, as they are still running 1 kW non-directional until they find a new site... they lost towers in the hurricane nearly 3 years ago and have not rebuilt the DA system. 740 at its new site is sending even less RF to the US (David Gleason, NRC-AM via DXLD) Ah yes, I heard WITA too (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Radio Radonezh noted here on new 6125 ex 6245 1600-1900 with excellent signals. Uses part of 1812 Overture as interval signal (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SAN MARINO. Received an eQSL from Tony, T77C, in San Marino, in one day for a report on his ham signals on 17 m. A very fast way to add a new ham country. The http://www.eQSL.cc system is growing more popular every day (Bill Flynn, OR, April 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA: Summer A-01 schedule of B S K S A: * 50 kW, other 500 kW MAIN PX in Arabic 06.00 - 09.00 17560*, 17760, 21505, 21705 09.00 - 12.00 21505, 21705 12.00 - 15.00 17560*, 21505, 21705 17.00 - 18.00 11785*, 15315, 15435 18.00 - 23.00 9555, 9870 SECOND PX in Arabic 03.00 - 06.00 9578.9* 06.00 - 17.00 11855.1* 17.00 - 22.00 9578.9* CALL OF ISLAM in Arabic 15.00 - 17.00 11785*, 15315, 15435 HOLY KORAN in Arabic 03.00 - 06.00 11820*, 15170, 15435*, 21495 06.00 - 08.00 15380, 17895 08.00 - 09.00 17895 09.00 - 12.00 11935, 17615, 21495 12.00 - 14.00 15380, 17760, 17895, 21600 14.00 - 15.00 17760, 17895 15.00 - 16.00 13690, 17760 16.00 - 18.00 11710*, 13690, 15205, 17560 18.00 - 21.00 11820, 11935, 11950*, 15230 21.00 - 23.00 11820, 11935, 15230 FOREIGN SERVICES Bambara 17.00 - 18.00 17775 Bengali 14.00 - 15.00 15345 French 08.00 - 10.00 21600 14.00 - 16.00 21600 Indonesian 10.00 - 12.00 21670 Persian/Farsi 14.00 - 16.00 11745 Somali 04.00 - 05.00 17760 Swahili 05.00 - 06.00 17760 Turkish 04.00 - 06.00 15275 Turkmen 15.00 - 17.00 9730 Urdu 12.00 - 14.00 15345 (Observer, Bulgaria, May 1 via DXLD) ** SCOTLAND. DXers have the opportunity to log Scotland on longwave for the next couple of weeks. I was surprised to find BBC Radio 4 Droitwich 198 kHz off the air today, and checking the engineering information it says this transmitter will be off between 0900 and 1800 UT through 16 May (not clear if this includes weekends). During this time, Radio 4 on 198 is broadcast only by two 50 kW transmitters in Scotland. The work at Droitwich also affects Radio 5 live on 693 kHz, which is on reduced power (Andy Sennitt, Holland, May 1, hard-core-dx via DXLD) [non]. 1 May: The longwave transmitter at Droitwich on 198 kHz, which carries BBC Radio 4, is off the air for maintenance purposes at 0900- 1800 UT through Wednesday 16 May. Further maintenance breaks will take place during July. This does not affect the two 50 kW transmitters in Scotland on the same frequency. The maintenance work is to replace the grease coating on 21 radio mast stays - the steel cables that hold the radio masts in place. Maintenance teams will also take the opportunity to examine the insulators in the stays. A team of 13 people will undertake this work. This type of maintenance work was last carried out 10 years ago and following a routine inspection last year it was determined that the grease coating on the stays would need to be replaced this year. The Droitwich site was built in the early 1930's and is considered to be one of the most important in the country because it transmits the Radio 4 long wave service. This high power (400 kW) transmission can be heard throughout most of England, Wales and Ireland and also in parts of Western Europe. (Press Release). (Media Network May 1 via DXLD) ** SENEGAL. RTV Sénégalaise has activated its website at: http://www.rts.sn/ Lots to offer, but not much functionality yet. 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, May 1, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the People being heard quite regularly here with good signals on 6750 upper sideband. Signs off 1900 after Koran chants and anthem (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. Radio Hargeisa, Somaliland, has URL: http://www.radiohargeysa.com/ eMail-address announced at the site: admin@radiohargeysa.com 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, May 1, hard-core-dx via DXLD) At least for me, this site is a mess, with parts of it overlaying other parts. Has a number of rm files, all in Somali. For more about Somaliland, I inadvertently found myself looking at this page http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/highlights/010430_somaliland.shtml (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH AMERICA [non?]. Subject: RPI de vuelta ??? Estimados Amigos! Estamos trabajando a ``full`` con la reparación de nuestro transmisor con la intención de tenerla en orden para este fin de semana, aunque no lo podemos prometer al 100% que la tendremos en funcionamiento debido a diferentes circunstancias (trabajo etc. Realmente tengo muchísimo trabajo esta semana) que pueda impedir tenerla en el aire. Tenemos la intención de usar una de las siguientes frecuencias: 6925, 11415, 15012 ó 15040 kHz. Posiblemente comenzáremos alrededor de las 2130 Utc del viernes (4 mayo) hasta las 1100 de la mañana siguiente. 73 de Jorge R. García, Radio Piraña Internacional; Correo electrónico: rpi@writeme.com (los últimos días hubo problema con la entrega de ``writeme``) Jorge1134@yahoo.com.ar WEB: http://www.geocities.com/radio_piranha (April 30, via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [and non]. UT-May 1, I tuned to 9755 at 0250 to hear Radio Sweden's relay via Sackville, and while 9495 direct had the Monday "60 Degrees North" program with the Sports Scan feature, 9755 had the previous day's "Sounds Nordic" pop music show! Probably a glitch in the program distribution, I guess... Don't forget, 15240 direct from Hörby replaces 9495 for the beam to Western North America at 0230 in English, as of today (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Supposedly, but UT May 2 at 0240 check, was still on 9495, not 15240, and 9495 was about 16 seconds ahead of RCI relay on 9755 (gh, DXLD) ** TURKEY. Missed a couple of weeks of Live from Turkey, but tuned in again Tuesday May 1 at 2215-2255. Could not get webcast to stick so had to resort to noisy 11845. Once again this week, no calls, but the Moralis read some E-mail and had segments on tourism and other subjects. Reshide remarked that they might move the show earlier so it would be more convenient for European listeners. So that would be at 1830 or 2030 UT, I suppose. Why haven`t I called? I may eventually, but am building up suspense :) (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. 12040 kHz is much improved over 13590 kHz! April 29, 2001 2100 UT - S3 to S8, no QRM 2130 UT - S5 to S9, no QRM April 30, 2001 0000 UT - S8 to S9 +33 dB, no QRM 0030 UT - S9 to S9 +37 dB, no QRM 73, (Kraig, KG4LAC Krist, VA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. UAE Radio Dubai monitored using four frequencies again for its English services: 1030-1050 on 13675 15370 15395 21605, 1330-1355 and 1600-1640 on 13630 13675 15395 21605 (Mike Barraclough, England, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) {Now, what is the fourth frequency for the other English at 0330? -gh} ** U K. Radio Nova, 9290, is off the air after remote broadcasting site was raided by the DTI and the equipment confiscated. Terry Phillips says that this was not due to interference but because the station had been on the air for five and a half weeks continuously which the DTI thought was excessive! Station will possibly return in a month or so, perhaps on the 19 metre band, 15070 a possibility (Radio Argus News via Mike Barraclough, May World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U K. Glenn - an interesting story here. BBC Monitoring website hacked by Kashmiri independence advocates: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/monitoring/media_reports/newsid_1306000/1306634.stm (Andy Sennitt, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC R4: Dawn Chorus (Sun. May 6) It's always dawn somewhere -- BBC4 follows the dawn's sounds around the world all day, beginning at 5:30 AM [430 UT (=1230 midnight EDT No. Am.) BBC R4: Dawn Chorus Webpage http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/dawn_chorus/ BBC R4 Home http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/ Listen to BBC R4 http://www.publicradiofan.com/ram/bbcr4.ram [Article below via Mike Cooper] http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/articles.html?print=true&id=010428001281 BBC follows the dawn chorus from Sweden to Papua New Guinea The Independent - United Kingdom, Apr 28, 2001 BY LOUISE JURY MEDIA CORRESPONDENT THE SOUND of the world's wildlife awakening will be charted by BBC Radio 4 in an unprecedented day-long celebration of the "dawn chorus" to be broadcast from around the globe next week. Extracts of animal and bird sounds will be played between programmes on 6 May in a unique radio event charting sunrise, from great reed warblers in Sweden at 5.30 am British time to the marsh frog chorus in Russia at 11.31 pm. Giant otters in Venezuela, tui birds in New Zealand and trumpeter swans in Alaska will also be among the wildlife broadcast as part of International Dawn Chorus Day. Other full-length programmes to be broadcast throughout the day will examine why birds sing at dawn, explain how to identify different birdsong and investigate the world's most comprehensive collection of animal sounds, at the library of Cornell University in America. Dawn Chorus Day was founded by the wildlife broadcaster Chris Baines, but Radio 4's producers were unaware of that when they contacted him to take part in their own celebration. "I'm a great believer in self-fulfilling prophecies," Mr Baines said. "I decided on a whim that because I enjoy the dawn chorus so much, it would be something special if there was one day when if you got up to listen, you would know lots of other people were out there." He persuaded several leading conservationists to participate in the first Dawn Chorus Day in 1983. It was held on the first Sunday in May, which coincides with the breeding season in temperate climates when the dawn chorus is at its best. "For me, what's so special is it reinforces how wonderful it is out there," he said. "From the wildlife's point of view, it's not for our entertainment. The birds and all the other things out there are listening to see if anything has dropped off its perch in the night and if there's a gap in the territory." Joanne Stevens was the radio researcher who discovered which wildlife would be waking at the junctures chosen by Radio 4 for the 40-second broadcasts. "We had to miss out the whole of Africa and parts of Asia because that will be during our night-time, which is a bit of a shame, so basically we go westwards around the world," she said. "We got a list of countries which would be waking up for each of the times and then brainstormed to see what was amazing in them. For example, in the Amazon there are so many birds, but we thought it would be surprising to choose the giant otters in Venezuela." The full-length programmes will include a broadcast of the dawn chorus in Newcastle upon Tyne, the home city of the sound recordist Chris Watson. Bill Oddie, the former Goodie and an ornithology expert, will discuss dawn on Hampstead Heath in London. (via Chet Copeland/NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. I`m not sure if you mentioned all these errors I`ve noticed in the May "On Air" and earlier issues on the Americas-stream pages: 0200 GMT Monday entry: for 3 months now, it has listed "0220" instead of the correct "0230" for World Business Report. Interestingly, this is something that is on every other day correctly. 1900 GMT Tuesday entry: same as in April, shows "2005" and "2030" times instead of the correct 19__ entries that should be there. 1700 GMT Friday entry: same as in April, this day alone has a large- format heading for 1700, and duplicates the small-print 1700-hour entries under the 1600 heading. I can see these happening once, but why over and over? On April 25 '01 I was listening to the BBC East Asia stream on 9740 kHz and heard the day`s new edition of Outlook aired as usual at 1205 UT followed by Language Steamrollers. Then I tuned to the Americas stream on 9515 kHz and intended to listen to the same edition of Outlook with the clearer signal on that frequency. I was surprised to instead hear the previous day's edition of Outlook repeated, not the new one I had just heard an hour before! At 1805 UT, the unscheduled but appreciated extra hour of Americas- stream airtime on 17840 kHz also repeated the yesterday Outlook, not the current one. Finally, the 2305 UT airing did have the correct current Outlook on the Americas stream. But the errors did not cease. At 0311 UT April 26 '01, I tuned in the Americas stream intnding to hear the Greenfield Collection, but heard news instead. It seemed to be the Middle East/CIS stream, with sports at 0320, business at 0330, and From Our Own Correspondent at 0345 UT, with the correct GMT times announced. Then, the next day, at 0345 UT on April 27 '01, at the beginning of Off The Shelf, a BBC announcer apologized for Americas listeners' missing the previous day's segment of the story they were reading and blamed "a technical fault". No mention of any corrective action to get the missed segment to the listenership. Heavy sigh... (Will Martin, MO, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And the all-news and news & entertainment Americas stream links are STILL reversed at broadcast.com as Monday April 30 at 1905-2000 I deliberately went to the all-news and found, just as expected, Omnibus and Composer of the Month. My previous advisories to the people at BBC supposedly in charge of this have gone unanswered and unheeded. BTW, speech is OK, but music sounds awful on this, made me weep for Mozart (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K / U S A. BBC plans to show a "voyeuristic" documentary about the Oklahoma bomber with "live" interviews from the scene of his execution have angered veteran broadcasters, MPs and human rights groups. Hours after Timothy McVeigh`s death by lethal injection at Indiana state prison [sic], BBC1 will link up with relatives of his victims to ask them how they felt seeing his dying moments. The links, which will sandwich a film about the bombing, will be presented by Donal MacIntyre, the investigative journalist forced into hiding by death threats after filming undercover reports on football violence for the BBC. Michael Brunson, the former ITN political editor, called the BBC's plans "an error of news judgement". He said: "A lot of people around the world are executed every day for horrendous crimes, but there's been no pressure before for this kind of thing. This is a case of over-egging the pudding. It the impression that this is such an important story that we have to go do an 'as live' programme about it, but my question is 'Why?' "I think to go over almost live to the people who saw him die is overdoing it." Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which was originally set up to campaign for abolition of the death penalty, called the programme "appalling". She added: "It disgusts me and I think it's a gross misuse of public funds. What makes it so shocking is that it's the BBC, which has a reputation for probity and ethical conduct." ----------------------------------- For the complete story, follow the link below: http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=69379 (via Ed Mayberry, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Radio`s big bully -- By Eric Boehlert In the late 1990s, while no one was looking, a corporate behemoth became the largest owner and biggest force in America's most venerable mass medium: commercial radio. Radio stations that once were proudly local are now being programmed from hundreds of miles away. Increasingly, the very DJs are in a different city as well. Want your record played on one of those stations? Be prepared to pay -- dearly -- for the privilege. Want your band's concert to be sponsored by a radio station? Be careful: If you pick a competitor, the behemoth might pull your songs off its playlists overnight -- from two, 10, 100 stations. Looking for classy radio programming? Don't look here. The company is known for allowing animals to be killed live on the air, severing long-standing ties with community and charity events, laying off thousands of workers, homogenizing playlists and a corporate culture in which dirty tricks are a way of life. Welcome to the world of Clear Channel -- radio's big bully... [read entire article!!:] http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2001/04/30/clear_channel/index.html (via Bill Westenhaver, QE, and Mike Cooper, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Joe Hanlon sends a clipping from the April 15 Philadelphia Inquirer, ``A single station with many voices`` about Pan Asia Radio, WNWR-1540 (lots of luck finding the article in their website/archive -- we could not). It`s 24 hours with programs in Filipino, Chinese, Cambodian, Korean and Indonesian, thus referring to 60 percent of their languages ambiguously or incorrectly. Those in the NE who assume foreign languages heard on 1540 are CHIN Toronto should keep this in mind (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WQXR, the classical music station owned by the New York Times, is back streaming with, according to a story in Monday's times, a system which replaces over-the-air commercials with special stream commercials. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/30/technology/30WEB.html (Joel Rubin, NY, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi, Glenn! I was tuning around on 27 April 01 and ran into the 2130 UT broadcast of DXing With Cumbre on WHRA on 17650 kHz. I decided to stay on that freq and listen to the broadcast, and heard the following: It was a good clear signal on a portable (DX-398) with the whip. The program aired normally until 2138 UT when it was suddenly replaced by the voice of some preacher declaiming perdition in the midst of his sermon. Then at 2140 UT he was cut off and DXWC was re-started from the beginning. At 2153 UT, after the pirate report completed, DXWC was interrupted again and the voice of another or the same preacher was heard, and, at 2154 UT, DXWC started over from the beginning again! Then, just as the pirate report began yet again, DXWC was cut off and WHRA announced that they were closing on that frequency. The signal then left the air. What a mess! I seldom listen to DXWC; does chaos like this happen often? I did make a special effort to listen the next day to the same DXWC and it was aired completely and to the end. Interestingly, this mess-up gave the Universal Radio ad a chance to be aired three times in the same half-hour. A conspiracy theorist might see something in that. 73, (Will Martin, MO, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Friday at 2130 on 17650 is the very first airing of DWC (unless the tape be late), so I usually try to hear it then; noticed exactly the same thing.. Yes, screwups like this happen a lot at WHR (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {Later: Marie says this changes to 2100; we`ll see -gh} Doesn't anybody monitor World Harvest Radio? Several ads running which promote programs no longer airing on WHR. Also heard WAY outdated Y2K survival manual commercial airing on WHRI's 5.745 MHz and WHRA's 7.580 MHz frequencies. 73's, (Lawrence W. Roth, Akron, OH, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Amateurs Invited to Participate in Armed Forces Day On-Air Event NEWINGTON, CT, May 1, 2001 -- Amateur Radio operators are invited to take part in the 51st celebration of Armed Forces Day by exchanging contacts with Army, Air Force, Navy-Marine Corps and Coast Guard radio stations. The Armed Forces Day Anniversary and Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test will take place the weekend of May 12- 13. Armed Forces Day actually falls on May 19, but the office of [Acting] Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld rescheduled the traditional cross-band communications test to avoid a conflict with the Dayton Hamvention May 18-20. During the cross-band test, military stations in the US, Europe and the Pacific will listen on amateur frequencies and transmit on government frequencies, a mode of operation similar to the split operation used by many DX stations. Amateur stations can determine where to transmit by listening on designated government frequencies. A full listing of stations, frequencies, hours of operation and operating instructions is available on the ARRL Web site and on other sites. Starting at 1100 UT on May 12, (individual stations' hours will vary), 14 military stations will be on the air on SSB and will exchange QSL cards. Nine additional stations will transmit the Secretary of Defense's Armed Forces Day message at stated intervals via digital modes including PACTOR, AMTOR, GTOR and Clover. Special commemorative certificates will be awarded hams who submit hard copy evidence of successful reception. "These tests give Amateur Radio operators and short-wave listeners an opportunity to demonstrate their individual technical skills and receive recognition from the Secretary of Defense or the appropriate military station for their proven expertise," the chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy-Marine Corp Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) said in announcing the event. For full information visit the ARRL Web site http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/05/01/2/afday-2001.html [a list of frequencies will be found there] Regional Army MARS sites in Connecticut, Virginia, Ohio, Texas and Montana also have full information on this year's Armed Forces Day event. Visit the Army MARS site http://www.asc.army.mil/MARS/ for specific URLs (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK) ** URUGUAY [non?]. NO IDENTIFICADA: En las frecuencias de 7200 a 7208,22 y 7209,70 pude escuchar sobre las 0235-0310 del 01 de mayo de 2001, temas musicales internacionales (Madonna, Tracy Chapman, etc). La transmisión llegaba en modo AM con 44433. Claramente pude deducir que estaban "bajando" la música de una transmisión de una emisora comercial uruguaya, ya que si bien el operador de esta estación ¿pirata? cortaba la señal al momento de las ID`s o de los comerciales, no pudo evitar que se filtrara un anuncio: "....los pasados minutos fueron una presentacion de........... Abril", el cual yo ya había escuchado por alguna emisora uruguaya (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VATICAN/ITALY. Minister threatens "drastic decisions" on Vatican Radio transmissions | Text of report by Italian newspaper La Repubblica web site on 30 April Environment Minister Willer Bordon said today that the Cesano [near Rome] transmission sites of Vatican Radio were continuing to exceed the legal limits of electromagnetic emissions and called on the government to act. "It's still not good enough," he said, commenting on the situation. Bordon, in Cesano for a debate on electromagnetic pollution organized by the committee "Children without Waves", said that the latest data, coming from measurements in the area conducted by Anpa, the [government] Environment Agency, confirmed that the legal limits of electromagnetic pollution were exceeded several times, occasionally "rather seriously". Bordon said: "The government has an obligation to act. If the limit is exceeded the cabinet meeting to be held on 2 May will be forced to take measures. I have, nevertheless, been informed that tonight the Bilateral Commission [Foreign Ministry and Holy See] will hold an emergency meeting; I expect them to take immediate measures so that I shall not have to make drastic decisions to enforce the law." Source: La Repubblica web site, Rome, in Italian 1516 gmt 30 Apr 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Italy: Minister says Vatican Radio in "clear violation of the law" | Text of report by Italian TV teletext on 2 May "As far as I am concerned, we should have intervened before 30 April, but obviously someone misunderstood the calendar." This was the comment of Environment Minister [Willer] Bordon on the Vatican Radio affair, on which the cabinet's decision is awaited [the cabinet is discussing the issue of Vatican Radio's electromagnetic emissions today]. "There will be no ultimatums or hard lines," Bordon retiterated, adding: "We are in the presence of a clear violation of the law. The work of the [Italy-Holy See] bilateral commission cannot suspend respect for the laws of Italy." Source: Rai TV teletext, Rome, in Italian 1209 gmt 2 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 8860, R Rumbos? 1025 I heard an off band (8860) LA station this morning, so I checked Mark Morhmann`s web site logbook, and found a listing for this freq, as a spur from Ecos del Torbes on 9649. I checked, and there was no station at all, on 9649. Then I checked Ecos del Torbes on 4980. It was there, loud and clear as usual, but it was not parallel to the station on 8860. I tried all Venezuelan SW freqs, and found only one parallel, on 4970. The 2000 edition of the WRTH lists this station as R Rumbos, from Villa de Cura. If 8860 is a spur from 9649, one would think at least a het would be audible on the fundamental freq, since there is under 1 MHz seperation between the two, not enough to account for a great difference in angle of refraction through the ionosphere. 8860 does not work out as a harmonic of 4970 nor a MW channel. By 1045 R Rumbos (p) on 4970 began mixing with the R Rebelde MW Harmonic (7 x 710), and by 1100, Rumbos was covered up by Rebelde. I made sure the Rebelde harmonic was // to 5025, which it was. Then, I confirmed that what I was hearing on 8860, was not a Rebelde harmonic, which it wasn`t. By 1107 the station on 8860 had faded out completely (David Hodgson, TN, Apr 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) David, First of all, Ecos del Torbes was on 9640, not 9649. A typo? I don`t recall their ever being on 9649. 8860 Torbes would be a mixing product between 9640 and their MW frequency 780 (9640 minus 780 = 8860). That doesn`t explain what you heard on 8860, which may well have nothing to do with this. I assume you are sure it was in Spanish? (And not a receiver IF image from 9770 or 9760?). Rumbos network programming is sometimes heard on Torbes. 73, Glenn Glenn: Yes, I think 9649 must be a typo in Morhmann`s listing, but that is the freq I tried, along with all the listed WRTH freqs for SW in Venezuela. My feeling at the time, was that 8860 might have been a mixing product, but I did not know what the 2nd freq was. Highly unlikely it is an image in the rx IF stage, because I checked all 31 m Venezuelan freqs, nothing matched. Also the rx I used, is a triple conversion radio (Icom R-75) with a 60 meter wire antenna with counter poise radials. The other rx on 4970 was a Drake SW8 with 300 m longwire. I did switch freqs and antennas on the 2 radios, just to make sure 4970 and 8860 still matched. I think it`s likely to be the mixing product that you suggest. I will try 9640 next time I hear 8860. What is interesting is the // on 4970, because I have only been hearing the Rebelde harmonic on that freq in the mornings. WRTH 2000 lists 4970 as R Rumbos, Venezuela, with 5 kW, but there is no such log in Morhmann`s website log book. With that much power, one would think at least someone would log it, in one of the several DX newsletters from which his logbook is comprised. So maybe a reactivation? Thanks for your interest, and information. Take care, (David Hodgson, TN, May 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ecos del Torbes (4980 kHz) is active again. I can hear it every night until its usual sign off at 0400 UT. But - as experience showed us - what is active today can be well inactive tomorrow. GOOD DX, (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic, April 30, hard-core-dx via DXLD) As editor of the Domestic Broadcasting Survey, I have noted that DX- ers this winter have reported the easily recognisable Ecos del Torbes heard on 4980 at least once in each of the months October, November, December, January, February, March and April. But the transmitter has been instable for at least 12 months. Thus the transmitter is still in use sporadically, but unless something else has happened during the past month, it is on the air some nights and off most others. Unfortunately this situation is typical not only for Ecos del Torbes, but for several tropical broadcasting stations nowadays. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, DSWCI, May 1, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ###