DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-106, August 9, 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 are slowly catching up with fixup up typos, etc., in recent DXLD issues. As of the posting of this issue, these are the latest issues reposted at our website. Usual remark about using these instead of original versions, if possible. http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1099.txt http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/dxld1100.txt WORLD OF RADIO 1091: (STREAM) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1091.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1091.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1091.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL For those of you who may not be familiar with DXLD, I find it an indispensable resource. There's a lot of info there, and it can take some time to go thru it, but well worth it IMHO. I save it as a text file and scroll thru it at my leisure, highlighting items of interest to me with my word processor, and often going to urls cited. There's quite a bit on SW programming, some quoted(with credit) from this list. I especially appreciate the items dealing with cultural/linguistic issues. Call me compulsive...but I also download Glenn's weekly summary of his World of Radio broadcasts. I display it while listening to his show on the air, thus being able to add info he talks about into the text file. Thanks, Glenn! (Saul Broudy, Philadelphia, PA, August 8, swprograms via DXLD) Tnx, Saul! It`s been quite a while since I`ve had such a nice unsolicited testimonial (gh) Saul of Philadelphia wrote about how great DXLD is -- and I have to agree. I read and listen whenever I can and seem always come away with something new and interesting. Thanks, Glenn! (Eric Floden, Vancouver BC, ibid.) ** ALGERIA. 15160, Radio Algiers International, Aug 9 1640, Slow Arabic music introduced by female announcer in English, 1658 identification, mentioned 11715 but not heard there, fair signal but slight distortion and co-channel interference, was dominant at first but by 1650 was under the other station so could not copy all the closing announcement. Not heard for some time (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA [non]. R. Ecclésia (via DTK), not exactly a full-data veri, but this E-mail message: "Jerry. Thanks a lot for your rpt about our SW svc. We Radio Ecclesia are very happy to hear from you. The war still on. People die every day in this country, and we are the only radio which can tell the truth to the people. It is a dangerous job. We want to up date our page in the internet, but money is our headache. If you could help us to find ways to finance this radio or some of its programs, such as human rights, education, information, please contact us through this email. Thanks once more. Best regards, José Paulo, News Director of Radio Ecclesia." This a week after a follow-up E-mail rpt to ecclesia@snet.co.ao for a May E-mail/postal rpt; however, message rcvd from reclesia@ebonet.net (J. Berg-MA-USA Aug 6, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. Nigel Holmes of RA just told me that they can no longer use the Tinian relay, and have switched the 0400-0430 Indonesian program on 21780 to the UAE relay. Can you hear it? (Chris Hambly, Victoria, August 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not at 0425 check, but that is not surprising; might make it on a good night. BTW, whatever became of that American religious broadcaster that tested early via UAE? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) Radio Australia's Indonesian service broadcast daily on 21780 kHz at 0400-0430 UT will originate from United Arab Emirates from 9 to 24 August 2001 because of urgent maintenance works at the scheduled site in Tinian, Marianas. The target area remains west & central Indonesia (Nigel Holmes, Transmission Manager, RADIO AUSTRALIA, via Richard Jary, ARDXC; also via NZRDXL via Costas Constantinides, Cyprus, DXLD) ** ÁUSTRIA - A Rádio Áustria leva ao ar, todos os sábados, o programa "Mundo DX". É uma produção da Associacion DX Barcelona, com informações do mundo das ondas curtas. Confira no final da programação, às 2350 UTC, em 13730 kHz, e às 0050 UTC, em 9870 kHz. A dica é do associado do DX Clube do Brasil, Lenildo Silva (Célio Romais, @ividade DX August 7 via DXLD) ** BELARUS [non]. USA/Belarus`: RFE/RL expands broadcasts to Belarus` | Text of press release by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on 6 August RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine announced today that RFE/RL broadcasts to Belarus` have expanded in length, from four to eight hours per day on a variety of shortwave frequencies and from seven to ten hours on mediumwave via affiliate Radio Baltic Waves in Lithuania. RFE/RL's Belarus` Service is also expanding the number of hours of original programming it produces, from three to five hours per day. Dine said "the expanded broadcast schedule was launched today, one month in advance of Belarus`' presidential election on 9 September, so that RFE/RL can better provide the citizens of Belarus` with comprehensive, balanced news, and analyses they will need to make an informed choice when they go to the polls." Anecdotal reports from Belarus` indicate strong and increasing listenership to the current RFE/RL programmes. The US Broadcasting Board of Governors fully supports RFE/RL's expanded broadcasting to Belarus`. The expanded RFE/RL Belarus` broadcasts are being promoted not only by the service itself, but also on the broadcasts of RFE/RL's Russian and Ukrainian services. In addition, advertisements concerning the expanded broadcasts have appeared in about 20 Russian and Belarusian language newspapers serving Belarus`. The doubling of broadcasts to Belarus` is currently scheduled to continue until 30 September. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, Washington, in English 6 Aug 01 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) 2001-08-07 15:29 * CZECHREPUBLIC * BELARUS * ELECTIONS * FE * BROADCAST * FREE EUROPE RADIO STATION GETS READY TO BRAINWASH BELARUSSIAN ELECTORATE PRAGUE, AUGUST 7, 2001. /From RIA Novosti Correspondent Viktor Prusakov/ The radio station Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) stationed in Prague is actively preparing a propaganda brainwashing of the Belarussian electorate. As of Monday it has doubled the time of its daily broadcasts beamed to Belarus`, RIA Novosti learned from Jeff Trimble, director of RFE/RL broadcasting. The leadership of the radio station does not even try to conceal that the propaganda action is directly linked with the forthcoming September 9 presidential elections in Belarus`. As is cynically stated in the official statement of the radio station, which RIA Novosti has received, Thomas Dine, RFE/RL President, believes that the broadcasts will help Belarussian citizens to make a well-considered choice at the elections. This clearly shows the contemplated interference by foreign radio broadcasts into the domestic affairs of the sovereign republic (via Sergei Sosedkin, WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) Hmm, make a note that RIA/Novosti `news` may be quite slanted, in other cases perhaps less obviously than this (gh, DXLD) 2001-08-08 17:26 * BELARUS * PRESIDENT * RADIO * LIBERTY * BROADCASTING * OPINION * THE BELARUSSIAN PRESIDENT: AN INCREASE IN RADIO LIBERTY'S BROADCASTING FOR BELARUS IS AN INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINSK, August 8, RIA Novosti correspondent Olesya Luchaninova - President Alexander Lukashenko regards the nearly doubled broadcasting by Radio Liberty for Belarus` beginning with Monday as a direct interference into the internal affairs of the country. He said this on Wednesday at a news conference for Russian and Belarussian reporters. "This is a very unfriendly step towards Belarus," said Alexander Lukashenko. In this way, he noted, the opposition is trying to bring pressure on the population of the country. "Let them press, the more the opposition is pressing on the power, the more my rating is growing, and the worse for the opposition," said the President. Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty (RFE-RL) has doubled its broadcasting for Belarus` beginning with Monday. This decision is connected with the coming presidential elections in the country scheduled for September 9, reported the RFE-RL leadership. The broadcasts of Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty will help the Belarussian citizens to make a well-thought out choice during the voting - believes the RFE-RL leadership (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. O QUE HOUVE COM A RÁDIO CULTURA - SÃO PAULO-SP ? * Não tenho coseguido captar a Radio Cultura de SP nos 6170 kHz em Taquaritinga-SP. Alguem saberia dizer o que está ocorrendo? (Eduardo Pazera, Radioescutas) Sintonizei a Cultura numa noite dessas e para minha total decepção (pois sou ouvinte assíduo da Cultura)ouvi mais ou menos o seguinte comunicado: "Devido ao racionamento de energia elétrica a Cultura FM só transmite sua programação via ondas curtas no período entre 5 e 6 horas e 20 às 24 horas." Por isso que eu também não conseguia mais ouví-la (Claudir Ghiggi, Radioescutas) Adiantaria enviar mensagens para a Cultura? Já enviei msg perguntando o que houve e não me responderam... (Eduardo Pazera, Radioescutas) Tenho por hábito, durante minhas horas vagas, escutar a Rádio Cultura AM de São Paulo, em 9.615 kHz, 31 mts., e em (quando, raramente, a propagação permite...) 17.815 kHz, 16 mts., e nunca tive oportunidade de escutá-la, aqui no Sul, em 1.200KHz, devido a fortes interferências de rádios uruguaias e argentinas. Ocorre que, as minhas últimas tentativas de ouvi-la, não encontro nenhum sinal em nenhuma das freqüências, e em 9.615 kHz, entra somente o "bigode" da rádio uruguaia de 9.620 kHz (SODRE/ Montevideo ed.), aliás também com uma excelente programação clássica/erudita, mas tenho saudades do nosso som Brasil da Cultura. Se alguém puder me dar alguma informação de o que houve, se está fora do ar devido ao racionamento de energia, ou se saiu da freqüência para dar lugar a 9620, e foi para outra, ou outro motivo de não conseguir ouvi-la... sei lá. (Adriano Becker, Radioescutas) A R. Cultura tem dois grandes problemas: um único técnico especializado em apertar certos botões (porque mais do que isso é capaz dele errar) e nenhuma equipe de manutenção. 17815 está fora do ar faz tempo, porque duas válvulas precisavam ser trocadas e não houve orçamento pra isso. Estive lá com outros colegas para uma visita e parecia um campo de batalha. Peças para tudo o que é lado, mas nada funcionando. 6170 é um canal paralelo ao FM, mas eles acham que AM é prioridade, portanto 9615 é mantido. Sobre o racionamento, é normal, porque os geradores que existem lá foram destinados à TV. Pra quem não conhece, a Radio e TV Cultura está num local que era uma fazenda da família Matarazzo, local enorme (Denis Zogbi, Radioescutas) (all via @ividade DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) [R. Cultura, São Paulo, is not heard even in Brasil on its SW frequencies, 6170, 9615, 17815. The latter is off because it needs tube replacements. One announcement said SW was limited to 5-6 am and 8 pm-midnight local in order to save energy -gh, WOR 1091] ** CANADA. On 5 Aug I noted RCI on 15034 kHz at 0047 (//to 15170). Noted again on 8 Aug after 0030 and after Trenton Military left the frequency. Is this one of the spurs mentioned in DXLD 1-094 & 1-096? Reception is poor to fair and is the only one I've noted? (Bill Wilkins, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Geez, RCI interfering with Trenton ought to get someone`s attention (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. The CRTC is looking to shut-down pirate TV station "Star Ray UHF", Channel 15, Toronto. The station formerly had an experimental licence of VX9AMK but now operates illegally. The signal just barely makes it in Brampton here about 20 miles away, usually with just a weak b+w pix (Bill Hepburn, August 6, WTFDA via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. Christian Radio Kahuzi heard relaying RCD rebel news BBC Monitoring has observed that Radio Kahuzi, a Christian station broadcasting from Bukavu in the area of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) controlled by the rebels of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), broadcasts a bulletin of news in French about the RCD daily at 1100 gmt. The news bulletin identifies itself as coming from the rebel- controlled RTNC (Radio-Television Nationale Congolaise) and uses the same signature tune as bulletins from the rebel-controlled radio at Bunia (also in eastern DRCongo). On 6 August the lead item in the 1100 gmt RTNC bulletin relayed by Radio Kahuzi was a report on a news conference given the previous day by Dr Adolphe Onusumba Yemba, the leader of the Rwandan-backed faction of the RCD which is based in Goma (also in the eastern DRCongo). Yemba's news conference had earlier been reported by the rebel-controlled RTNC radio in Goma at 0500 gmt on 6 August. Radio Kahuzi is operated by the Christian organization Believers' Express. It broadcasts on the shortwave frequency of 6210 kHz. Source: Monitoring research 30 Jul - 6 Aug 01 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) ** CROATIA [non?] Dear Glenn, I've been stopping by your web page every now and then and see you archive quite a bit of information about foreign broadcasters. I was pleasantly surprised this evening when I heard quite plainly an English news broadcast from what appeared to be "Radio Croatia" on 603 kHz (from southern Wisconsin between 00:30 and 00:45 UTC). And this on my first real try at hearing a trans-Atlantic broadcast on medium wave. I'm having a hard time verifying this using other sources. Has this been heard by others? If so, what city does the broadcast originate from? Thanks in advance for your response, (Rich Frey, Evansville, WI, USA, August 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rich, This is very strange. I don`t find any Croatian transmitter listed on 603 kHz. My suspicion is that you were actually getting a receiver-produced image from 9925 kHz, the only known SW frequency in use for this, which is actually relayed via Germany. You don`t say anything about your receiver or antenna, but unless it is a high- quality communications receiver, it may well be prone to such images. It would also be odd, however, to show up at exactly 603 kHz, which is in fact a European MW channel. One might explore some possible formulas involving multiplication and adding or subtracting the intermediate frequency of the rx (usually 455 or 450 kHz). Regards, (Glenn, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Please check close down of LV de la Fundación I checked with the WHRI website to find out which programmes would fill the gap, but I still found the programme listed on 5 August 2001. I checked with the Cuban American Foundation site and was unable to find any information on the radio programme. According to the search function of [the CRW] website [CRW] last mentioned the station in mid-2000 (H. Biener, Germany, Aug 5, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Re: 65 years of Radio Prague Booklet wanted Dear Mr Bueschel, My apologies for not answering sooner your message that has been forwarded to me also by the Internet Team of R. Prague. (As you probably know another seasonal HFCC/ASBU HFBC conference in Montreal, Canada is scheduled for the last week in August, and we are in the midst of preparations for this event over here. Unfortunately, the news item that you have quoted probably from a DX bulletin is not quite correct. The fact is that the booklet is under preparation but it is not available yet. I will try to keep your requirement in mind and will dispatch a copy to you as soon as it is ready. (I assume that you have already got another small booklet on R Prague that was available a couple of years ago.) Friendly greetings, (Oldrich Cip, Tel./Fax: +4202 22715005 August 8, via Büschel, DXLD) ** FRANCE [non non]. RFO (Reseau France Outre-Mer) has what appears to be a new webpage up offering live streams from RFO stations in Guadeloupe, Guyane, Martinique, Mayotte, Polynésie, Réunion, Wallis & Futuna, Nouvelle-Calédonie, and St. Pierre & Miquelon: http://www.rfo.fr/emissions/emis_s_radio.htm (Al Quaglieri, NY, August 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. R. Litoral, La Ceiba, 4832, *1100 with NA on June 14 and 16; *1035 June 15; 0356* June 13. English program was heard when I tuned at 0210, until s/off, with this closing announcement: ``You`ve been listening to HRLW, a broadcast ministry of Mission Christian Fellowship in Honduras, reach to the end of our ... we hope you join us tomorrow at the same time. If you would like to contact us, you can do so by writing us at A-P-D-O 888, La Ceiba, Atlántida, Honduras, Central America. You can e-mail at Radiolitoral@psinet.hn You can also reach us by phone at 011-504-443-0039.If you happen to be inside Honduras, the number is 443-0039 ...and listening to HRLW.`` (Tetsuya Hirahara, El Salvador, El Tiempo Hechicero DX News via July Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 5010-LSB, HRMI, Misiones Int., 0303-0330 Aug 7, Spanish religious hymns, preacher. Now 5 kw & in Tegucigalpa ? SINPO 35343 (Bill Flynn, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Radio Barabari: 7480.16, R Barabari via Jerusalem (!), July 28, *1700-1731*, Interval signal and jamming started, 1700 Farsi ID: "Radio Barabari", announced broadcasts towards Iran, political talk with interludes of Iranian music, IDs again at 1713, 1720 and 1729. At 1730 by mistake 30 seconds relay of Kol Israel`s broadcast in Russian heard // 9435 and 11605, and then s/off! Jamming continued till 1810* 43443 (A. Petersen, Denmark, July 21 [sic], 2001 for CRW via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) 7480, Jul 30, at about 1700 heard R Barobari in Persian, clear ID and nx, from 1710 UT onwards heavily jammed by Iranian secret service or military type jammer, NOT IRIB jammer type. Transmissions may originate from Israel, other sources say Grigoriopol`-Maiac, Moldova. 21221 (W. Büschel, Germany, July 30, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Radio Payem-e Doost: 7480.03 R Payam-e Doost via Grigoriopol`, Moldavia, July 21, *1759- 1830*, Fanfare, Farsi ID: "Radio Payam-e Doost", conversation mentioning "Farsi" eleven times (!) and Iran three times, ID again 1820, classical music. After s/off 1810 of R Barabari jammer the reception was 55555. (A. Petersen, Denmark, July 21, 2001 for CRW via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan on FM! During sporadic E-propagation on FM I heard their Kurdish px here in Lutsk (Ukraine) on 91.4 MHz : 26 July 16.58-17.03 ID at 17.00 "Aira dangi Kurdistan Iraqa" 27 July 17.47-17.51 29 July 16.30-16.31 (A. Mak, Ukraine, August 1, 2001 for CRW via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. IRAN [sic]. Voice of Mesopotamia noted again with daily morning transmissions *0800-1000* on 15230 kHz. Heard in August 1-2 (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, August 2, 2001 for CRW via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 3935.06, R Reading Service (presumed), 1112, Aug 8, In there with audio this morning, but terrible ham radio QRM a half kc down. Jazz and light mx with female singer @ 1125. Male announcer w/ NZ accent @ 1132 between the ham chatter. Could not ID this time. Weak signal. Is Radio National relayed on any higher frequencies during this time period (1100-1130)? Hurriedly searched for a //, but only found RNZI on 11675 (David Hodgson, TN, WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NZ has only one high-powered SW transmitter, so what you hear on RNZI is it, sometimes relaying RNZ (domestic network), which I don`t think is called R. National like in Australia (gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Just past 0200 UT August 8, 2001. 17675 is BBCWS, not RNZI as usual. I think I heard about a strike at Radio New Zealand so we will see at 0300 if RNZI comes on or not. [Later:] Approaching the top of the hour at 0300 RNZI gave announcements about the labour problems at NZ Radio. Everything was back to normal for Check Point at 0500 on 11725. I hope this does not last long. I usually listen to RNZI 3 to 4 hours a night out in the back yard. 73 (Mickey Delmage, Sherwood Park, Alberta CANADA, August 8, WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5995.2, R Melodía, Lima, 0530 Aug 8, poor-fair though in the clear with long talk, mentioning R América in Buenos Aires, all over back-back Latin pops. Slight rumble on the channel from unidentified (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. L.T.C., Juliaca, 6011.3, sign-on varies around 0900 UT, observed as follows during the 31 days of May, 2001: It was audible on 24 of those days, starting on May 2, ex-5980? viz.: 8 days from *0900, 8 from *0930, 4 from *0910 and one each from *0915, *0940, *1000 and *1030; also audible on 13 nights of May when checked between 0000 and 0200 (Emilio Pedro Povrzenic Nawosat, Villa Diego, Santa Fé, Argentina, May Latinoamérica DX via July Radio Nuevo Mundo, translated and explained by gh for DXLD) Note: This is typical of the thorough monitoring EPP has done for the past 4718 days (as of May) and published in his monthly bulletin, tropical band (3220 to 6956.7 kHz in this issue) frequency order listing of LA stations only, 105 of them this time. He also analyzes the data in various statistical ways, such as comparing the audibility of different countries in May of the years 1989 through 2001; Analysis of the audibility of R. Illimani, La Paz, Bolivia, 6025 on nightly checks since 1 October 1989. Also makes forecasts, e.g. for August 2001: Dias aptos para la escucha sin QRN extremo: Dia 20/25; Noche 21/26 Dias seguidos con (sin) QRN extremo: Dia 2/3 (11/13); Noche 2 (12/14) Promedio diario de emisoras audibles: Lunes a sábado: 60m dia 20/25, noche 13/18; 49m dia 15/19, noche 8/11. Domingos: 60m dia 17/20, noche 12/16; 49m dia 12/16, noche 5/8. Of course, all his observations apply to his own QTH near Rosario, Argentina, but should be useful elsewhere. Most items do not have any mention of program details, but one which does appears in this issue under URUGUAY. Latinoamérica DX is subtitled ``publicación estadística mensual de esuchas diarias y de pronósticos para radiófilos y diexistas de la onda corta latinoamericana``. Yes, it is entirely in Spanish, and is as far as I know, not available on the web, but only by post. No subscription prices are given, but I expect he would send some issues for a few IRCs, to Emilio Pedro Povrzenic, Primero de Mayo 1071, Villa Diego, SF, Argentina. It would also be nice if someone with an optical scanner (and a careful proofreader) would availablize LADX with less delay and more convenience on the web, if EPP would agree to that. He does an incredible amount of work on this which ought to reach more in the LA DXing community (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. Update on Somali radio stations | The following are observations on radio stations in Somalia from BBC Monitoring's East Africa Unit in Nairobi. It should be noted that the Somali radio scene is fluid, sometimes very much so. This is often very directly related to political and military events on the ground. For example, Kismaayo (where there are thought to be some FM stations) has changed hands between factions twice so far this week. So, any information about stations and their schedules may be perishable. Stations in Mogadishu: Radio Banaadir. Takes its name from Banaadir region, encompassing Mogadishu and its immediate environs. Began broadcasting in early 2000, at which time it was said to be supportive of faction leader Husayn Haji Bod. It is now seen as being fairly independent, possibly with a slight bias towards the interim government (of which Bod is a member). It broadcasts on FM in Mogadishu and used to be heard on shortwave (in the 7 MHz band), but this is not being observed at present. HornAfrik. This station broke new ground when it was opened in late 1999 as being the first in Mogadishu not tied to a political or military faction. It is also the BBC's rebroadcasting partner in Mogadishu. It broadcasts on FM. Its web site - http://www.hornafrik.com - offers audio from HornAfrik radio as well as textual material in both Somali and English. Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the People of the Somali Republic. This is the radio of faction leader Aydid and the longest running station in Mogadishu. It began broadcasting in 1993 when the late Aydid senior (Muhammad Farah Aydid) set it up as a replacement for the former state-controlled Radio Mogadishu, which he had seized and used as his mouthpiece before it was destroyed by US military forces. The station has not been on the air continuously since then, but it is active now. It now supports Aydid junior (Husayn Muhammad Aydid) and is a mouthpiece for the Somali National Alliance (SNA) and the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC). It is strongly opposed to the interim government. The radio is observed station on 6750 kHz shortwave and is also believed to broadcast on FM in Mogadishu. Note: Faction leaders Uthman Ali Ato and Ali Mahdi Muhammad used to operate their own radio stations in Mogadishu, but these are now both thought to be defunct. Stations elsewhere in Somalia: Radio Hargeysa. The official station of the Republic of Somaliland and operational since Somaliland declared its independence in 1991. It is observed on 7530 kHz shortwave. It is also believed to broadcast in Hargeysa on mediumwave. Radio Galkacyo. Located in the northeastern self-declared state of Puntland. In the past Radio Galkacyo could be heard in Nairobi on shortwave (in the 7 MHz band) but is not observed at present. However, reports from Radio Galkacyo are posted on the web site http://www.allpuntland.com Also in Puntland there are FM stations in Garoowe (the Puntland capital) and in the port of Boosaaso. It should be noted that the Puntland administration is currently riven by factionalism between deposed leader Abdullahi Yusuf and the new leader, Yusuf Haji Nur. Galkacyo is the former's home town, and so it seems likely that Radio Galkacyo will continue to broadcast in his support. Radio Kismaayo (southern Somalia). This was heard on shortwave 6900 kHz last year (at which time Kismaayo was in the hands of the forces of Aydid and the Somali National Front, SNF) but has not been heard recently. In view of the changeable military situation in Kismaayo, and southern Somalia in general, it is possible that the station is now defunct or dormant. We believe that there are, or have been, some FM radios operating in Kismaayo. Radio Baydhabo (or Baidoa) (southern Somalia). This station, supporting the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA; opposed to the interim government and reportedly backed by Ethiopia), was heard in early 2001 on shortwave (around 6800 kHz). It has not been heard recently. Again, in view of the military situation in southern Somalia, with the RRA having suffered some recent defeats at the hands of pro- government forces, the radio may no longer be active, or may only be transmitting on FM (although Baydhabo town remains in the hands of the RRA). The RRA's web site - http://www.arlaadi.com - has links to audio files from Radio Baydhabo. Source: Monitoring research Aug 01 (Chris Greenway, BBCM Aug 9 via DXLD) ** SPAIN [non]. Contrary to the previous report, UT August 8 at 0200, REE was on 3210, not 3205, quite separable from WWCR on 3215. Before and after 0400, REE remained on 3210, and WWCR on 3215, by which time WWCR was much stronger here. Did not check later than that. Also the next night, REE was on 3210, not 3205 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) ** SURINAM. Radio Apintie, Suriname, has a WindowsMedia feed available at mms://206.30.227.30/apintie (Al Quaglieri, NY, August 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Pandora --- The Independent - United Kingdom, Aug 7, 2001 BY SHOLTO BYRNES I may have discovered the real reason why Greg Dyke has banned free biscuits [a.k.a. cookies -gh] at the BBC. I can reveal that the Beeb director general has just had his gnashers done. "He's had his teeth capped, bridgework performed, the lot," a friend of Dyke's tells me. I understand that a considerable five-figure sum was involved. It was hitherto assumed that the biscuit ban was part of Dyke's general cutback - croissants have already gone, and delivery vans are to be replaced by rickshaws. But after spending so much on his teeth, Dyke probably wants to avoid being tempted by decay-inducing biscuits. He'd be wise to steer clear of the Today programme's offices, where a rearguard action is being mounted in defence of the Hobnob. All Material Subject to Copyright (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) ** U K. The Coalition to Save BBCWS has released details of the letter they sent Mark Byford July 25th. You can read it at http://savebbc.org/letter_to_byford_25_july.html (Mike Barraclough, August 9, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). Andy Sennitt originally spotted this story. The BBC are now spending 100.000 pounds of licence payers money on advertising on disposable cups. http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,534329,00.html Sometimes you don`t know whether to laugh or cry (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK August 9 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBC WORLD SERVICE 2-5 AM ``WHYY-FM has expanded its overnight broadcasts of the BBC World Service. The BBC has discontinued its short wave radio broadcasts to North America, so WHYY is picking up more BBC programs to better serve listeners in this area. WHYY will air the BBC World Service Sunday through Thursday at 2-5 AM. World Radio Network from NPR will continue to be heard Fridays and Saturdays at 2-5 AM.`` WHYY is on 91.5 FM in the Philadelphia and New Jersey listening area (Charlie Harlich, WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Re R. Caroline, the sked you gave me conflicts with what they had on their website, that would be on 17495 M-F 1700-1800 UT, in addition to 7415. Any plans to have them on 17495? 73, Glenn Dear Glenn, Their site is wrong; they will only be on 7415 Thurs, Friday, Sat, Sun, 2000-2100 utc. Cheers, (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, August 7, WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also below, USA... ** U K [non]. RADIO EZRA -- THE TRUTH. Gentlemen. Regarding the location of the transmitter used by Radio Ezra in the recent test broadcasts I can confirm that the location was Wavre in Belgium and not Bulgaria as is the current rumour. Therefore the information I gave on the QSL cards and the website was correct all along and the matter is now closed. Praise the LORD! I must say I am amazed at the secrecy and bureaucracy surrounding such an innocent project and it does nothing to inspire newcomers to shortwave broadcasting. Radio Ezra is due to return in October with transmissions targeted to the South Pacific (John D. Hill, August 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Water Into Wine Ministry PUTTING SANITY BACK INTO CHRISTIANITY Ministry Homepage: http://www.water-into-wine.com Radio Ezra Homepage: http://radioezra.members.easyspace.com Fax: +44 1642 887546 Hi John, Very interesting. Since this directly contradicts what we were told by Frans Vossen of RVi, we really need you to give your exact source for the latest info and reason for believing it to be ``the truth`` ! Regards, (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, Just a note that we will be carrying some select BBC programs soon on WBCQ. Any suggestions on this? They will be giving us a choice as to what programs to pick up. I would like to carry those programs most popular to North American listeners. WBCQ will be doing this as a public service. New program on Saturday morning 7415, 0415-0615 utc --- Faith Of Our Fathers. It's a religious talk program interviewing persons of religious orders from around the world. I know it is another religious program on SW but this one is a bit different and interesting. The Larry Nichols show starts Monday the 13th of August at 1400-1600 utc, Mon-Fri, on 9330. Cheers, (Allan Weiner, From WBCQ Central, August 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I suggest you avoid BBC newscasts, and longer news programs, since we already have a more than adequate supply of such BBC fare. The shows running in August which I would like to hear include, in no particular order: Omnibus, From Our Own Correspondent (two editions per week, 15 and 30 minutes), Assignment, Brain of Britain (or other quiz/panel games), Letter from America, Meridian-Screen, Focus on Faith, Pick of the World, World of Music, Write On, Agenda, Go Digital. Also, I just checked http://wbcq.net program schedule and see the reason WOR was moved off 9330 is that Brother Scare has been given the 0400-0600 UT period on that frequency, 7 days a week, right after Christian Media Network M-F 2200-0400 Tu-Sa. So the only times you might hear something else on 9330 are Saturday and Sunday evenings before 0400 UT Sundays and Mondays. B.S. was previously on 7415 after Amos & Andy at 0415- and that timeslot is now available several other nights (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. We made another check of christiancommunityfm.com on August 7 to see if they had added KUAL 104.7 Enid to the list of LPFMs on the air. Instead we found this: ``ChristianCommunityFM becomes Christian Community Broadcasters a professional trade organization for all Christians interested in LPFM broadcasting All the information previously available on this web site . . . and much, much more available on a membership basis. For complete information including details on our sponsors go to: http://www.ccbroadcasters.com A Professional trade association for all Christians interested in community (LPFM) broadcasting Churches, ministries, and Christian schools represent the largest group of LPFM applicants. Many more Christians are involved in civic, community, public safety, and government groups who have applied. We believe that most people seeking to operate community radio stations are Christians. Throughout history people have joined together in associations and clubs based on their shared interests and goals. The time has arrived for Christian Community Broadcasters (CCB). More than 3,250 total LPFM applications have been filed nationally from groups of all types, but the majority of these will never be granted. Nearly 100 construction permits have been issued; even though this number grows almost daily it will take the FCC nearly ten years at the current pace. Who can you turn to for information and support? Not NAB, NPR, or NRB. They each offer many services and much information to broadcasters, but they are each on record as opposed to LPFM. Due to personnel constraints, the FCC is slow and inconsistent, with no clear-cut support from its leadership. Consultants and equipment suppliers have a valuable role, but there is a critical need now for our own trade group. Even though we are one in Christ, we in the church are divided by denominations and labels. In order to affirm our unity we have chosen The Apostles Creed as our common Statement of Belief. It is nearly 2,000 years old and precedes all modern divisions and denominations in the church. In fact, some believe that it was written on the Day of Pentecost!`` gh: and they charge membership of $99, $199 or $299 per year for different levels of access! However, it appears they have noted our report of KUAL since it does mention: 3 LPFM stations on air in Louisiana & Oklahoma CCFM info on LPFM was previously shared freely with the DX community, but no more! However, CCB now is free to draw info from the DX community and charge big bucks for it to the Christian Community, where money rules, as usual! Furthermore, secular would-be LPFM broadcasters who need this info will be forced to support the Christian faction, or rather the private proprietor of this ``trade organization``. (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. For those interested in the late lamented WNIB: The new address for my website is http://www.bruceduffie.com My e-mail remains the same as before, duffie@voyager.net (via Michael Mathis, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 3360, KMOX (3 x 1120), 1102 UT 9 Aug, Audio only on modulation peaks. Weak carrier but very loud and distorted audio bursts. Positive match of fundamental @ 1104. ID @ 1105: "This is The Voice of St. Louis, KMOX..." (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Major 50 kW stations usually have the best harmonic suppression, so this is a more unusual log, than, say, a graveyarder harmonic (gh, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6155.0, audible until May 10 IDing only as ``Banda Oriental``, opening transmission with Argentine-Uruguayan Pericón dance music, almost forgotten by Argentine stations; usual sign-on time for those ten nights was 0134; thereafter for 15 nights it opened at 0000v, IDing as ``Sarandí del Yí y Banda Oriental`` (Emilio Pedro Povrzenic Nawosat, Villa Diego, Santa Fé, Argentina, May Latinoamérica DX via July Radio Nuevo Mundo, translated and explained by gh for DXLD) See note under PERU ** VIETNAM [non]. Radio Free Vietnam. Radio Free Vietnam was heard at *1400-1429* UT on 15235 kHz (?ex- 15230) in Vietnamese. Lots of spoken items about Vietnam, some music. Ending with their address in Louisiana, which I take as an ID. As it seems there was another program in a different Asian language (Burmese?) following before they pulled the plug at 1431 UT. I think I heard something like "Democratic Myanmar". May be a hint at the station carrying Radio Free Vietnam (H. Kuhl, Germany, Aug 2, 2001 in DX-plorer-ML) Radio Free Vietnam heard in Vietnamese *1400-1431* on 15235 kHz (not on 15230 as announced) on August 1-2. Too weak signal was on August 1st to understand content (except Vietnamese language), but the next day reception was better. Heard talks in which often mentioned New Orleans city. The address announced at the end of transmission- in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Aug 2, 2001 for CRW) 15235 Radio Free Vietnam: As reported yesterday Radio Free Vietnam started its program at 1400 UT on 15235 kHz. The signal was a bit weaker today (H. Kuhl, Germany, Aug 3, 2001 in DX-plorer-ML) Radio Free Vietnam, heard today on 15235 (thanks to Harald Kuhl info!), between 1400-1430:40* s/off with SINPO: 35443 in Buenos Aires city. At 1404 I heard a Anthem, that I think, was the old National Anthem of the ex-South Vietnam (G. I. Barrera Aug 3, 2001 in DX-plorer-ML) Today I checked in Denmark the new 15235.0 R Free Vietnam, Aug 03, 1410-1430*, Vietnamese comment about the situation in Indonesia, talks with several mentions of Vietnam, Vietnamese songs, 1423-1428 Speech from Florida in Vietnamese with a telephone ringing in the background. Big applause at the end. Closed with Vietnamese instrumental music and frequency announcement. Weak QRM on 15235 by R Rossii // 5940, possibly from Khanty-Mansiysk (3 kW). 34444. I had no indication of which transmitter was used, but I do not think it is Jülich, because it was much stronger than Democratic Voice of Burma via Jülich on 15405, and it is not mentioned in the DTK schedule for Jülich as of Aug 01 (A. Petersen, Denmark, Aug 3, 2001 in EDXP-ML, via WORLD OF RADIO 1091, DXLD) I just listened again to the tape recording of August 2, 2001, of 15235 kHz. The program of Voice of Free Vietnam was running till 1429 UT, immediately followed by the start of another program in a different Asian language till a sudden s/off at 1431 UT, indicating an error at the transmitting site. Today I listened to Voice of Democratic Burma on 15405 kHz from around 1430 UT. It now turned out that the program on 15235 kHz I listened to between 1429-1431 UT two days ago indeed was this program/station. The melody and station ID fits 100%. So, while of course I cannot swear that 15235 kHz is coming from the same site as 15405 kHz, it should be clear now that Radio Free Vietnam is at least using one of the sites of Voice of Democratic Burma. Btw: Signal strength on 15235 and 15405 kHz are more or less the same here (H. Kuhl, Germany, Aug 4, 2001 in DX-plorer-ML) Decided to check Radio Free Vietnam on announced 15230, but nothing was heard here at 1424 (tune-in). Meanwhile, a weak Vietnamese- sounded signal was audible on nearby 15235 kHz. Program ended at 1430 exactly. I guess that was the actual frequency of the mentioned broadcaster (V. Kovalenko, Russia, Aug ?, 2001 in Signal 25) This came in from Radio Free Vietnam Dear Mr. Kuhl: First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for your listening to the program of Radio Free Vietnam. Radio Free Vietnam has five programs, 1400-1430 UT, 19 meter and 15,235 kHz: - Monday: Vuong Ky-Son, Director - Tuesday: Nguyen Dinh Toan, Director, and Vu Thanh An - Wednesday: Doan Viet Trung, Director - Thursday: Vuong Ky-Son, Director - Friday: Nguyen Tuong Thuoc, Director The program you heard made by me (Vuong Ky-Son) and by the other people. The first gentlemen on the program who called in is from Roissy en Brie, France. We are looking for some Vietnamese organizations to be in charge of programs on Saturday and Sunday, and hope to increase the broadcasting time from 30 minutes to one hour. It would be great to us to hear from you and your friends about our Radio Free Vietnam. If your friends could listen to our programs from Vietnam, please let us no. We appreciate. Best regards, VUONG KY-SON, Director in Chief P.O. Box 29245, New Orleans, LA 70189 Tel: (504) 254-2304; Cell: (504) 388-3383; Fax: (504) 254-2305 P.S. Below is material about our organization. I hope it is the information you ask for (printed packground material). If you can't read it, you can read them (and more) at our website: http://www.radiofreevietnam.com/01htm (via H. Kuhl, Germany, in DXplorer-ML - August 2001) (all: via CRW via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 19500, UNID (2 x 9750), 2350 UT 8 Aug, Arabic language px, with Mid-eastern mx. I guess this is the same TX from Oman that I logged on 19470 and 19520, several weeks ago. Fundamental was strong, harmonic, fair to weak. Could find no // (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics via DXLD) ###