DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-096, July 10, 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] HOTMAIL DOWN: Hotmail has been inaccessible since late UT July 9, as of 1500 UT July 10. If you sent something to us there, please resend to wghauser@yahoo.com and use yahoo until further notice. Thanks. Also, this issue will not be distributed to the complete mailing list until hotmail be back (gh) ** BOLIVIA? UNID BOLIVIA??? PERU??? 3343.69, Radio Cuarto Centenario, 1033-1040, July 9, Quechua, man announcer, Musical program, ID as "Radio Cuarto Centenario" 242. Dear OMs: This is my first report from my DX Camp; I am back a couple of hours ago from Chascomus in front of lake of same name. This place is 120 km SE of Buenos Aires. Equipment: Receiver: ICOM IC R-75 Antenna: Long wire 35 m East to West (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I know I have heard of that ID before, but I cannot find it in LA-DX or Dateline Bogotá - the closest is the Bolivian R. Centenario on 4855/4865 (gh, DXLD) ** BRUNEI. Radio station available on Internet | Text of report in English from Brunei newspaper Borneo Bulletin web site on 10 July Twenty-six years to the day after the launch of its television service in Brunei Darussalam, Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) took another major step by launching its 'NetRadio' yesterday. The five radio channels of RTB, namely Nasional, Pilihan, Pelangi, Harmoni and Nur Islam, can be heard through the computers anywhere in the world. The Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Dato Paduka Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, was the chief guest at the launching ceremony. "For the first time this year, Brunei Darussalam's citizens and students living overseas will be able to follow live coverage through the Internet on the celebrations of His Majesty's 55th birthday and His Majesty's titah [royal command] from the throne," said Dato Haji Hazair. The Permanent Secretary added that by clicking http:/www.rtb.gov.bn/netradio/index.htm, information on the nation can be diffused to provide understanding for the world community on the principles and ways of living in Brunei, the ruling system and its government, socio-culture, progress and developments enjoyed by the people. "This would improve the image of Brunei Darussalam outside the country," he said. Dato Haji Hazair also observed that RTB is now showing its preparedness to pioneer the usage and application of the latest in broadcasting technology in addition to showing its capabilities to compete with other regional broadcasters serving a selection of programmes. "RTB will also form a strategic alliance with Asia's renowned Asia- Inc magazine to produce weekly finance news," said Dato Haji Hazair. "And also to widen the news coverage from the districts, starting 15 July RTB will air live news from Bangar, Temburong every Thursday and Insya-Allah, similar coverage will also be extended to the Tutong district in the future." The director of RTB, Pg Dato Paduka Haji Ismail bin Pg Haji Mohammad, in his welcome remarks said that RTB is making great efforts to maintain its place as among the market leaders in the broadcasting sector in the face of advanced progress due to today's technology. "The launch of the NetRadio displays RTB's commitment to be with you (Sentiasa Bersama Biskita)," said RTB's Director. Source: Borneo Bulletin web site, Bandar Seri Begawan, in English 10 Jul 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. 15170, RCI, 0035 8 July. The QRM from this TX has become even worse. Not only is the bleed over louder now, but the TX is putting out spurs 100 kc up and down from the fundamental. I measured 8 in all! 15070, 14970, 14870, 14770, 15270, 15370, 15470, and 15570. 19510, RCI 2 x 9755, 2346 8 July, Weak harmonic, but matched fundamental. Also // 13670, which was bleeding all over the 21mb. Must be the same Sackville TX polluting 19 meters after 0030 on 15170 (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics via DXLD) ** CANADA. 15055.2 AM, CSIC Radio, 2207 UT 8 July, Test transmission received in Nashville, TN USA. Weak signal buffeted by RFPI on 15049, and Taiwan on 15060. I was able to get enough audio on the peaks to receive an e-QSL from the operator. Good to hear "The Voice of the Great White North" on 19 meters. Look forward to future broadcasts from "Pirate Rambo." (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Pirate: CSIC being heard on 15055 kHz AM mode 2230 July 8th. Very weak signal here in Western Canada, no interference. 0100+ would have been a better choice for North American coverage (Joe Talbot, Alberta, Canada, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CHILE. 12140, R Voz Cristiana (2 x 6070) 0945 9 July, Very powerful and distorted harmonic. Audio sounded best in FM mode. Made audio match to 6070, which was of only fair strength, and competing with co-channel CFRX-CFRB Ontario. All of a sudden the harmonic disappeared in mid song @ 0947. I checked, and found the fundamental was still there (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CLANDESTINE from RUSSIA to CHINA (Cumbre DX Special follow up) No, I can't hear FGM radio. I even check their listed freqs in the 9, 12, 13 and 15 MHz band. In fact, I do not even hear the jammers. Don't worry about Falun not having the right of say; they are rich enough to hire airtime on transmitters in Bulgaria, Central Asia, Taiwan or maybe even in the US. Really, freedom of speech comes at a price (Richard Lam, Singapore, July 9, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5975, R Macarena, 0759 July 9, fair in the clear with promo for "Cadena Radial Auténtica" giving names and locations of network stations, then into a local ID and slogan "La primera cadena radial cristiana", followed by commercials & gospel mx (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. EL TIEMPO -- Asesinado otro periodista El periodista Jorge Enrique Urbano Sánchez, de 53 años, fue asesinado en el puerto de Buenaventura. Se eleva a 12 el número de comunicadores muertos en Colombia en el año 2001 y el cuarto en menos de dos semanas. Más información: http://209.185.240.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=1791d787718b56e5a9720e56108f2692&lat=994696049&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2feltiempo%2eterra%2ecom%2eco%2f09%2d07%2d2001%2fjudi70798%2ehtml (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) Following refers to La Voz de la Selva, ex 6170 (Henrik Klemetz) ----------------------------------------------- Excite News Article http://news.excite.com:80/news/ap/010707/02/colombia-journalist-killed News Article: Radio News Director Killed in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) - Gunmen shot and killed the news director of a radio station in southern Colombia, officials said. José Dubiel Vásquez was the second news director from Voice of the Jungle Radio killed since December. He was walking out of the station in the city of Florencia on Friday after the morning news program when two men passing on a motorcycle opened fire. Officials said they did not have any suspects. Vásquez, 55, arrived in Florencia at the beginning of the year to replace his slain predecessor, Alfredo Abad, killed by motorcycle gunmen in Florencia in December. That murder has not been solved. Florencia, 230 miles southwest of Bogotá, is the capital of Caquetá State, long a stronghold of leftist guerrillas. Drug traffickers and right-wing paramilitary groups are also present in the state. The family of a Colombian congressmen shot and killed by suspected guerrillas in Caquetá in December are partial owners of Voice of the Jungle - an affiliate of Caracol, one of Colombia's largest networks. Colombia, with its 37-year armed conflict, is one of the world's most dangerous places to be a journalist. Last year, twelve journalists were killed, at least three of them directly related to their work, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Radio Announcer Killed in Costa Rica. For in-depth info on Radio María, which was toppled largely as a result of Medina´s investigative work, please refer to July 8 edition of Costa Rican newspaper La Nación, http://www.nacion.co.cr (Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ----------------------------------------------- Excite News Article: http://news.excite.com:80/news/ap/010708/23/costa-rica-killing News Article: Radio Announcer Killed in Costa Rica SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica (AP) - A popular radio host known for his caustic humor and unflinching criticism of public officials was shot and killed outside his house just days after he complained of receiving threats. Parmenio Medina Pérez was shot three times at close range Saturday about 300 feet from his home in Heredia, six miles outside the capital, the Costa Rican attorney general's office said. No suspects had been detained, but authorities said they would base their initial investigation on a complaint Medina filed with them that he was being threatened. Medina, a native of Colombia, had lived in Costa Rica for many years and was known for his sports show, "The Kick," which later became a critical forum. One of Medina's most recent targets was "Radio María," run by priest Minor de Jesús Calvo. Medina accused the station of financial irregularities, and it was later taken off the air. In the wake of his public criticism of the station, Medina received numerous threats, including in May, when unknown assailants opened fire at his house in a drive-by shooting. Medina was not hurt in that attack and there was no clear indication of who was responsible. President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez condemned Medina's slaying as an "incident of intolerance directed against a critical journalist," said his spokesman, Danilo Chaverri, who promised the government's full cooperation in solving the crime. Medina's slaying also provoked shock and indignation among fellow journalists, who waged a protest march Sunday in front of his radio station. Coincidentally, the InterAmerican Press Association held a forum in Costa Rica last week where participants agreed that the country still has inadequate guarantees of press freedom. Also last week, El Diario newspaper published a poll in which a majority of journalists surveyed said they had been intimidated or threatened in the course of their work (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Good Morning, Glenn, Malm`s 5119.68 tentative Honduras log is most likely R. Alajuela, the Costa Rican harmonic (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From LA DX SW Archive: 5119.68 COSTA RICA * R Alajuela, Alajuela [1118-1150] Jan 00 C (h) 4x1280 //2559.8 "LA-DX" at http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/ (via Mohrmann, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Today (July 9th) in the morning, local time, at 0200, I heard a Spanish speaking station on 3280 (3279.65) kHz. Talked about Ecuador, so presume it was LV del Napo, Tena. They identified as "Radio Difusora Cultural". S/off with Nat. Anthem (?) at 0233. Is it LV del Napo with that kind of identification? 73 from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea of Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {see also DXLD 1-098, 1-099} ** INDIA. All India Radio is catching up with the times! An E-mail QSL card was received for the reactivated SW Tx of AIR Jeypore! Mine was the very first report that they received after reactivation. Their address for reports is airjeyp@dte.vsnl.net.in Their frequencies are 5040 and 6040 with 50 kW. Good Luck! (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institiute of Amateur Radio, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad India 500082 Telfax. 91-40-3310287 http://www.bcdx.qrzindia.net July 10 (Specialises on Broadcasting from India)) PRASAR BHARATI (BROADCASTING CORPORATION OF INDIA) ALL INDIA RADIO : JEYPORE (ORISSA) - 764 005 e-mail : airjeyp@dte.vsnl.net.in * * * * * * * * * No. JPR-3(7)/2001-E/ Dated the 9th July, 2001 Mr. Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhawan Road, HYDERABAD - 500 082 Dear Mr. Jacob, We are pleased to learn that you have monitored our 50 KW Continental Electronics Corporation Short Wave Transmitter’s programme at 5040 KHz on 14th June, 2001 at 06.25 a.m. (IST). The programme details mentioned in your letter were verified with our Studio Log - Book and found them correct. It is pleasure on our part to mention that we have received first letter from you after re-commissioning of our 50 KW Short Wave Transmitter (re-commissioned on 12.06.2001) and do expect more reception reports in future. Thanking you for listening to Akashvani, Jeypore (Orissa). Yours sincerely, (A.Chanti Babu) Assistant Station Engineer, for Superintending Engineer (via Jacob, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Re: QRM on 9650. Interesting item, Glenn. No jamming noted in Ohio - I was listening same time & date you were (Bill Matthews, July 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You no doubt get a much stronger single-hop signal from Sackville; assuming the jamming actually originates in China, it is bound to be worse the further west you get (gh, DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. RADIO FREE ASIA. Amended schedule from May 31 shows usage at Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 0100-0300 [language? -gh] 17730-UL 0600-0700 Tibetan 17720-UL 1100-1600 Tibetan 7470-UL 1400-1500 Korean 7380-UL 2200-2300 Korean 7460-UL 2300-2359 Tibetan 7470-UL 2330-0030 Vietnamese 11580-UL (Bob Padula, Electronic DX Press via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Mongolia/Japan: Project to "revitalize" Mongolian shortwave radio | Text of report in English by Mongolian news agency Montsame web site Ulaanbaatar, 9 July: Yesterday, based on a request by the Mongolian government, Japanese and Mongolian negotiators signed an agreement regarding a project to revitalize Mongolian shortwave radio. The vice minister of infrastructure, U. Ulambayar, the administrative head of Mongolian radio and television, B. Ganbold [name as received], and the head of a research group from the international organization Jica, Satashin Nahano [name and position as received], signed the agreement. The project envisions the establishment of shortwave radio stations in Ulaanbaatar, the city of Altay in Gov'-Altay Aymag [province], and Moron Sum [district] of Hovsgol Aymag. Work on the stations will start in 2002 with the aim of injecting new technology into Mongolian shortwave radio. At the ceremony, Vice Minister of Infrastructure U. Ulambayar said that the Jica research group will implement the project with other Japanese organizations working in Mongolia. Mr Ulambayar expressed his hope that the project will spur the further development of information technology in Mongolia. Source: Montsame web site, Ulaanbaatar, in English 10 Jul 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) {Hope they don`t really mean USW - gh, WOR 1087} ** PERU. 12629.2, R Union, Lima (2 x 6314.6) 1026 9 July, This station just returned recently to the air, with decent audio, having repaired their TX. Well, maybe not 100% repaired, because it is putting out a second harmonic, and the carrier is raspy and has a warble to it. I was able to get a little audio out of the harmonic and match it to the fundamental on another rx, but I would think it would be just as legitimate, to set both rxs on a sideband and match the pattern of the wavering carrier. The CW approach, hi. I think this station is on the air 24 hours a day, so perhaps this harmonic is audible in Europe around 2300 or so (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics via DXLD) Also one wonders whether they really intend the fundamental to be on 6314.6, having previously operated inband for sesquidecades (gh) ** PHILIPPINES. The departure of the BBC Rampisham outlet from 9580 as part of the cut-back in services to Australia has revealed the PHILIPPINES BROADCASTING SERVICE, Marulas, with its relay of the FM network. I know of no authenticated reception of this domestic service in eastern Australia in recent years, due to its "daytime only" operation and the channel being blocked by the BBC at times when propagation would be possible. However, noted here in Melbourne from around 0730 until 0930* with telephone talk-back format, Tagalog, as on Jul-07 (Bob Padula, EDXP via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 9, part 2: Journalist Andrew Kromah lives and works in Sierra Leone. The country has been rated the most dangerous country in the world for journalists. For eight years now Kromah has run an independent radio station (KISS-FM) in Freetown and has reported on the rebels and government. Each week, as ``Mr. Owl`` he investigates local corruption. Twice his building has been burned down. During the 1996 election there, Kromah and his staff were forced to broadcast from the bush to escape injury (via Larry Nebron, swprograms via DXLD) Available via http://freshair.npr.org or specifically 20 minutes into the 46 minute file at http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/fa/20010709.fa.ram (gh, DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. Subject: RTI - Sendeausfall via WYFR From: "RTI Deutschredaktion" eva@cbs.org.tw Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 8:10 AM Subject: RTI - Sendeausfall via WYFR Liebe Hörerinnen und Hörer von RTI International, wir möchten Sie darauf hinweisen, daß die Ausstrahlung der Programme von CBS, RTI über die Frequenzen 15600, 11565 und 9355 zur Zeit gestört sind. Der Ausfall wurde durch einen Blitzschlag hervorgerufen. Die Reperaturen werden vorraussichtlich noch einen weiteren Tag in Anspruch nehmen. Wir bitten um Ihr Verständnis. Mit herzlichen Grüssen aus Taipei (Ihre RTI-Deutschredaktion deutsch@cbs.org.tw July 9 via Walter Eibl via Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) According to a mail of RTI via Walter Eibl Nürnberg, Germany: RTI and CBS / via WYFR relay Florida suffered from lightning and all relay transmissions are interrupted for approx. TWO days time span. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Hi Wolfgang, Right now, 0640z, I'm listening to a very good signal from RTI via Okeechobee on 5950kHz so I presume damage was not as severe as first believed. Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, NZ, July 10 via Büschel, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. Voice of Tibet was set up as an independent station in 1996, initially with 15 mins daily. Output was increased to 30 mins/day in 1997, and by March 1999 it had been expanded to three programs per day, each of 45 mins (Radio Bulgaria Monitoring via EDXP via DXLD) New schedule, in Tibetan and Chinese, from Almaty (AA) and Dushanbe (DB): 1215-1300 15634{sic}-AA (alt: 15705-AA) 15645-DB (alt: 15655- DB); 2315-2359 11525-DB; 0100-0145 9920-DB (Nagoya DXers' Circle via EDXP via DXLD) ** UGANDA . 7195, Radio Uganda 0405 July 10, news in English, ID @ 0410, more news, ending @ 0417, ad for government ministries; in place of missing 4976, signal excellent, tnx Al Quaglieri (Ralph Brandi, Tinton Falls, NJ, AOR AR7030+, SWBC via DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. 15475, Salaama Radio International, July 9 at 1930, apparent new station. Tuned to 15475 looking for LRA36 and heard African pops followed by announcement giving freqs as 11850 & 15475 kHz transmitting from Britain (no sign on 11850). The broadcast is "7 to 7:30 pm" (which doesn't fit) and programming will be in Hausa, French, English & vernaculars. The address was given as Box 126, Kensington (?), Surrey KT9 2WJ or Box 287, Jos, Nigeria. The presenter was Dr. Abdullah and the programming is to consist of radio religious and educational material. Target West, Central & Southern Africa (Paul Ormandy, NZ, ARDXC via DXLD) I believe Salama Radio started on Friday, July 6. Heard from 1910 tune-in, but QRM from LRA36 on 15475.5 kHz. In the clear the next day (LRA36 off on weekends) with apparent repeat of previous day's broadcast. IDs in English, French, Hausa, Arabic and Fufulde and lots of music from northern and central Nigeria, to judge from the style. Although announcing "11.850" in the canned IDs, the correct 15475 was mentioned in Dr. Abdalla's message at 1952. I later followed up with an Internet search and found the website, http://www.salamaradio.org Transmissions are apparently via Merlin facilities, and the address is Chessington (not Kensington). (Tony Jones, July 10, Cumbre DX via DXLD) It is obvious from the website that this is a *Christian* evangelical organization, who actually think that Islam is a creeping menace, their god is not as good as the Christian god even tho they are one and the same! (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Re BBCWS: In general, these switches are all automated and it can get very complicated. Except for the "live" news programs, programming is recorded onto digital audio disk and inserted by computer control at pre-selected times according to a master schedule. If the timing of the move is not precise between the end of one program and the start of another coming from two distinct sources, you get a partial cutoff of one and/or a sudden cut-in on the other. If you listen carefully, you can hear the change take place -- even evidenced by a change in announcer and their respective demeanors (say, animated to calm). These are not so much seven (actually eight, counting MW/satellite to Australia) individual streams as they are a "weave" of various audio files and studio productions (live and recorded) sent to various transmission points. For example, last night at 0305 World Briefing was to continue past the five minute newscast everyone received to the Middle East, West African, East African streams. At 0305, the Europe stream and the Americas stream was to get the "World Showcase" hour--including Just a Minute, Body and Mind and Off the Shelf; the South Asian stream got Outlook; East Asia got Discovery. At 0330, both African streams got Network Africa; Middle East got World Business Report; East Asia got Essential Guide. At 0345, South Asia was to join Europe and the Americas for Off the Shelf and the Middle East went with Analysis. So, you see, they tend to combine and separate in any number or permutations depending on time of day. There was a partial failure of this system last night (or more properly morning UTC). Larry Nebron noted that the "Information and Entertainment" channel on the Internet feed was not functioning at this time; while the "24 Hour News" feed was fine. From that, we *could* deduce that BBC at 0305 somehow "lost" the server(s) that was responsible for feeding the non-news programming to both the Internet servers and the sw transmitters sending non-news programming. Apparently, it took about ten minutes for a live body to figure out that something was amiss, or whatever automated fail-safe they had in place to kick in on shortwave, with the only feed that was available -- the 24 hour news channel. Larry had noted that the Internet "I and E" feed was still down at 0340. As for announcements or explanations, I heard none. The only place I've heard them recently is on "Write On" when someone writes in to complain and the host trots out the spokesman or woman for the particular offending sector, who dutifully apologizes and explains (somewhat) at that point. It seems unimportant to today's BBCWS if a sw listener can't find where the station has gone because transmitters are shut down without warning and no direction is given on where to retune. (They apparently think a subscription to BBC-On Air or writing in for a free chart is the fix here.) It also seems unimportant to today's BBCWS if a program that was expected to be found at a particular time is not there. Or maybe they just don't know or are unaware that these annoyances mar the presentation. The impression that's left, unfortunately, is that they really don't know what they're doing -- or the technology's complexity has outstripped the ability of its operators to properly manage it. This could be a training issue or a staffing issue -- and, I suppose, it would not be outside the realm of possibility that it could be a morale one as well. It's all very modern (and now a common practice almost everywhere here), but very mechanistic. I suspect it could work seamlessly if the effort were put in to properly implement it. It would take tremendous attention to detail. But this would likely raise the expense involved in using it -- and expenses are probably at the root of the reason for implementing it in the first place. To me, it somewhat depends on to what extent the management of the corporation see its service as a craft (art for arts sake) or a commodity (a profit center). It can be said to be truly both. And then the question becomes how far it's willing to go and where it draws the line in its actions to ensure the service's credibility and image in both realms. In the instant case (with announcements, seamless switching, shutdowns, and the like), BBCWS management feels that these are minor annoyances and will be overlooked by the vast majority of sw listeners. Besides, they are likely most noticeable on shortwave which -- for all the corporation`s statements to the contrary -- is a lower priority than local placement and the Internet. On local placement, presumably these glitches are obscured by locally inserted breaks between programs. I've gone on too long -- but maybe this helps to paint you a more comprehensive picture (John A. Figliozzi, July 10, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Has anyone heard music on 1520 WWKB Buffalo? I haven't in the few times I've tried. Heard dollar-a-holler preachers, that's about all I've recognized. Took a quick road trip to Elizabeth City, NC and hoped to hear the new format with a better signal strength... heard the signal fine, no music... (Ron Gitschier, July 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A [clandestine]. Just noticed this UPR thread on Eham.net: http://www.eham.net/articles/2038 73, (Ken Kopp, July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There was an Internet-disseminated story that on 27 June Steve Anderson`s unlicensed broadcasting operation -- A`s contention being that there is no legitimate U.S. government to license it -- was raided by the New World Order Corporation`s jackboots, with one report that Anderson was killed. Not so. No raid. Actually there were ``Feds`` in the Somerset area, but it seems a drug operation was their concern. Anderson was aware of their presence, and he and his minions were hidden in the bushes on the Anderson farm prepared for a firefight. United Patriot is still on the air this week on 6900 USB, but still with limited hours of operation, 0000-0300 UT. For the first hour there is a tape of that ``notorious`` YHWH disciple; the second hour consists of the ``Intelligence Report`` from the Genesis Net, Anderson having to rely on computer audio for it since his satellite rx is still dysfunctional (LNA or LNB problem, no one thus far proffering a replacement). Presume he`ll go back to relaying Genesis programming for most of the day when he regains satellite access. Anderson, in his psychosis, can sometimes strike a chord of truth on certain matters, and he`s not without oratorical skills. (Loren Cox, Jr., Lexington KY, July 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Read on... ** U S A. But for a somewhat less sinister utterer of political incorrectness: On ``Counterspin`` (heard on RFPI, 1 July) there was another Don Imus detractor, accusing America`s most prominent ``shock jock`` of being a racist and a homophobe (Anderson, vide supra, finds the stoning of homosexuals permissible -- after all, it`s Biblically sanctioned). Imus has vehemently denied such charges, and having been a listener to ``Imus in the Morning`` since it became available on local radio a couple or so years ago, despite certain seemings to the contrary (the program`s type of humor), I find Imus neither racist nor homophobic: actually I`ve never heard any ``making fun of queers``, and he`s said specifically that sexual orientation is a matter of no consequence. But the Imus brand of humor isn`t to everyone`s taste -- it can be gross and tasteless -- tho` of a satirical and not of a mean-spirited intent. The yuk is the program`s raison d`être, and anyone is fair game for insult and ridicule -- the intention being sheer fun. Don`t take it seriously. The satirical bits, voiced the likes of Richard Nixon, Walter Cronkite, General George Patton and others, as done by a skilled mimic, are among the program`s highlights. They are authored by longtime Imus associate, Charles McCord, who, along with producer Bernard McGurk, appears on the program. McCord usually gives news summaries near the beginning of each of the program`s four hours. McCord and McGurk act as a kind of chorus to Imus` remarks. Guests on the program, usually by telephone, sometimes in the studio, are among the most interesting and informed people around, and include journalists, political figures and writers. Being amusing in the dialog with Imus is expected of the guests, frequent ones being Senators McCain, Lieberman and Dodd as well as journalists like Jeff Greenfield and people of the stature of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Imus doesn`t pretend to be a Tim Russert or a Larry King as an interviewer, but he can elicit interesting responses, always hoping the interviewee will say something that will destroy his or her career: all for laughs, of course. Imus, for all his outrageousness, is very much a part of the Establishment -- is the Establishment`s favorite bad boy. He wouldn`t be on Corporate America`s media if he wasn`t entirely acceptable to -- pose no threat to -- the status quo. But he appears to have no ideological axes to grind; has both ``liberals`` and ``conservatives`` as guests, tho` it seems to be a bit more of the former (because they tend to be more amusing?). Imus supports or trashes political figures not so much on their stand on issues -- which he rarely if ever mentions -- but on the basis of what he perceives to be their character and competence. He has genuine disdain for the Clintons and that ``phoney``, Al Gore. But he`s had insulting things to say about Trent Lott and others on the ``right``. Imus supported McCain in the presidential election, casting a write- in vote for him. But he was pleased by the election of Bush, feeling that the less than intellectually affluent W., with his difficulties with language, would provide the program comedy material. Ralph Nader appeared on the program a couple of times during the campaign, and tho` not a barrel of laughs, acquitted himself well, and was treated cordially by Imus. The ``I-man`` is a self-absorbed egomaniac, quixotic in his views, whose daily recitations of his life`s vicissitudes, slights he fancies he`s received and other petty annoyances, can get a bit tedious. He`s also a shy (eschews the party circuit) and sentimental man who hides that part of his character beneath a gruff, unfriendly, exterior. But he`s well known for his humanitarian activities, especially the one involving his and his brother`s cattle ranch in New Mexico, where children with cancer come every summer to work and gain confidence in themselves -- they`re not treated like ``sick children``. The person on the ``Counterspin`` program wondered why Imus` guests, especially the liberal politicos, don`t jump him for his ``bigotry``. Maybe it`s because they know what true bigotry is, and it`s not McGurk talkin` like the ``brothers``. There is a difference between being truly racist and seemingly being racist in order to ridicule it. Imus has some of the cynicism of the ``disappointed idealist``. And the changeableness he exhibits in his views is a source of humor: shoots from the hip, giving spur of the moment responses. And he can laugh at himself, can be the butt of the show`s humor. Do I ``love the I-man``? Of course not. Don`t know him; no reason to like him or dislike him; I just enjoy the program. His hates are sham, stupidity and hypocrisy: and I like that. After many months it appears the local outlet for the Imus program (WLXG 1300) is getting the program on the air when it goes national at 6:05 ET -- at least that`s been the case of late. The problem: no one has been at the studio to change digital satellite channels from ESPN Radio to Westwood One, national distributor of the Imus program. Also a problem with local commercial insertions overlapping program content. Was having to try pulling in sky wave from the originating station, WFAN 660, new York, or WPHT 1210, Philadelphia, but reception was inconsistent, forcing me to get out of bed and tune in MSNBC via satellite, which carries the radio show on television, tho` I usually left the video off, later watching a large portion of the program on television, finding it more entertaining than the Networks` morning offerings. Contrary to what I first thought he was, he`s something more than an irascible old man (he seems a bit older than he is) insulting everybody for four hours every morning (Loren Cox, Jr., Lexington KY, July 4, retyped by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. IBB/PALS. Shortly before the IBB suddenly closed down its Pals station in Spain, I received a "directive" from the US Government to remove from the Web site my story and photographs of the visit to the site last October. This was an account of the excursion arranged by the European DX Council, as part of the conference being held in Barcelona, which I attended. My response to the USA was that I was sorry but I was not going to remove the article or pictures - it's still there for anyone to see! I also made the point that similar accounts of our visit had also been published in various places, including the Web and print, by several of the Clubs who attended the trip. A modified version of my story was also published in the July 2001 edition of Popular Communications magazine. Seems to me if the US Government was unhappy about disclosure of its facilities, it should never have allowed us to go there in the first place! They handed out to all of us a multi-page information booklet, and we were advised that there was no restriction on re-publication of any of the technical information there; neither was there any embargo on taking photographs or publishing them. There's a picture of me at the control desk of Pals in the July edition of "Monitoring Times" and an invitation to look at the full story and pix at the EDXP Web site (Bob Padula, EDXP July 8 via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent observed on 11905 with remarkably strong signals with English 2130-2200*, July 6 (Bob Padula, Victoria, EDXP via DXLD) Today came across Uzbek Radio Tashkent German service at usual 1935- 2028 UTC, but on limited channels of 5025, 9545 and 11905 kHz only. No signal on remaining 5035, 5060, and 9540 though. At 20.30:02 interval signal of bells/carillion type started on all three channels, followed by regular English sce scheduled at 2030-2100, [and 2130-2200 ?, needs further check]. 4850 had a different progr, but due of local noise I couldn't recognize the country/station, maybe AIR or African ? 73 (wb df5sx July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. July 9 on 4900 kHz I heard at 0300 a station with BBC World News, identifying: "News from the BBC". African, but who? Good strength. I hope that anybody at the list can help me, especially with the BBC station! Thanks in advance! 73 (Björn Fransson, island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea of Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###