DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-125, September 11, 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] ** BELARUS. Full schedule for Radio Racyja: 612 0500-0900 1080 1900-2100 6010 1800-2000 6035 0400-0600 6180 1000-1200 (Radio Racja schedule via A. Mak, Ukraine, Sep 5, 2001 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) Radio Racyja in Belarus` began regular transmissions on 1080 kHz from Koszecin transmitter in Poland. Noted with a strong signal on September 4th. Heard a review of listeners letters and reception reports; the presenter promised to send the QSL cards. A schedule announced on air (converted by me into UT): 0500-0700 on 6035, 1100- 1300 on 6180, 1900-2100 on 6010, 2000-2200 on 1080, 0600-1000 on 612 kHz. Really station broadcasts on MW 1080 kHz one hour longer: 1900- 2200 (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Sep 7, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Radio Racyja, Poland - Leszczynka, 100 kW, 6180 kHz. N/d paper QSL card v/s Zmicer Novikau, Executive Director plus schedule (stickers) in 32 days. RR in Russian was sent to rac@user.unibel.by Postal address: P.O.Box 144, Minsk, 220102 Belarus (A. Ogorodnik, Belarus`, Jul 2001 for QIP) You can find both QSL's in the CRW Clandestine Radio QSL Gallery at http://www.clandestineradio.com/martin/bild-cla.html (CRW via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. Euro-pirate, R. Borderhunter, 15794.9, a regular lately wioth a fair to good signal at 0715-0717* on Sept 2, 2200-2245+ on Sept 3, and 0015-0030* Sept 8. Rock music, IDs, gave E-mail address and Box 44, Belgium address (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. Glenn, The email addresses announced on Voice of Biafra International (of which they announce three) are in fact the email addresses of bodies that congratulate Voice of Biafra International, and not the station`s email address. Here is a transcript of the full announcement made on Voice of Biafra International "Voice of Biafra International encourages donations and sponsorhip from all people and organisations. Please send to Voice of Biafra International, 733 15th Street North West, Suite 700, Washington DC, 20005. Please send to Voice of Biafra International, 733 15th Street North West, Suite 700, Washington DC, 20005 Biafra Foundational congratulates Voice of Biafra International. Their email is biafrafoundation@yahoo.com. ????? congratulates Voice of Biafra International. Their email is ????@hotmail.com Biafra Actualization Forum congratulates Voice of Biafra International. Their email is biafraland@biafraland.com and website is http://www.biafraland.com. Thank You." Glenn, I have include a recording of the whole announcement on my website. Maybe you could take a listen and understand the second email address. http://www.dxsheigra.freeserve.co.uk/records/fullanns.wma Hope this helps to clear up any confusion about Voice of Biafra International Email Address. 73's (Graham Powell, South Wales, U.K., Sept 11., DX LISTENING DIGEST) -------------------------------------------------- Webmaster for The Online DX Logbook http://www.dxsheigra.freeserve.co.uk and 21MHZ.COM http://www.21mhz.com ---------------------------------------------------- ** BOLIVIA/ECUADOR/PERU. An interesting report about Andean stations heard in Acre, Brazil, by Rocco Cotroneo can be read at: http://www.faiallo.org/rocco.html Courtesy: *Quelli del Faiallo* http://www.faiallo.org (via Enrico Oliva, Sept 11 swl@qth.net via DXLD) ** CHECHNYA [non]. Radio Free Chechnya (pro-Russian) announced on air (Sept. 6th) the following schedule: 0200-2000 UT on MW 594 and LW 171 kHz (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Sep 7, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) ** CHINA. Richard, Tnx for your recent comments about alt media, etc. Now I wonder if you could monitor and check the ID of the Chinese station on 15050? I think it is one of the Taiwan services, but wonder if it is intended for the mainland. Today around 1300 it was coming in very well, and did not seem to be jammed, altho it has been on other occasions. I also think it is a move from 15060 where nothing is heard any longer. Do you agree? If this keeps up, RFPI will have to move, maybe to 15060! I believe 15050 station is there for long hours, maybe at least 0700-1600. 73, (Glenn, to Richard Lam, Singapore, Sept 10, DXLD) Glenn, I checked 15050 at 1330 UT last night just as the outrage in NY was happening. The channel carries CNR 1. On 15060, I heard CBS-RTI and this was on till 1700. CBS no longer announce the name of the network, but judging from the continuous coverage of the outrage starting at 1430, this must be the News Network. Both stations did not carry news of the outrage in its 1400 UT news output. Someone posted some "inside information" regarding CBS-RTI in the Chinese leowood BCL forum. I had a jaundiced view of this, but in light of your comments, I am beginning to wonder if there is some credibility after all. According to this information, engineers at CBS has finally realised its broadcasts is not reaching its audience due to incessant jamming on its frequencies. Its engineers concluded that they can get around this problem by changing its frequencies to avoid jamming. The same posting also implied that the government regulatory body has agreed to the plan (! don't frequencies have to be registered with ITU??). So, if you can't find CBS on it usual frequency, look for it on other frequencies in the same metre band. If this is true, then 15050/60 may have replaced 15125. New frequency for RFPI? I suggest 15040 or 15030. According to the same posting, 3335 is no longer being used by CBS because they realised that most radios in mainland China do not tune to this low frequency. The posting brought a comment from a Chinese SWL that now the jamming department would surely take notice now and act accordingly(!). The leowood BCL forum contains some off topic comments (well, at least no one is calling them clowns there!), you will be surprised no doubt to know that (some, not all) Chinese SWL regard RFA as a "revisionist" radio station, and that the driving of an aircraft into WTC is the work of a hero avenging US attacks on the PRC embassy in Belgrade (this was before the second aircraft crashed into WTC). Yes, anti US feelings is alive and well in the PRC SW community. So much for freedom of information. Take a look, if you can at: http://www.001.com.cn/forum/leowood/index.html As for me, my heart goes out to the family of those victims of this terrorist outrage. 73 (Richard Lam, Singapore, Sept 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. USA/China: VOA launches new website for China | Text of press release by Voice of America on 10 September Washington, DC, 10 September: The Voice of America's Chinese branch today officially launches its new web site for China at http://www.voachinese.com. Test launched in July, the site offers Mandarin-language US, regional, and international news, and features an advanced search engine and improved layout and graphics. It replaces the branch's former site which had been available since 1995 but which has been blocked by Chinese authorities since 1997. Featured in today's launch of the new VOA site is an interview with former President Jimmy Carter as he was observing a village election outside of Shanghai. Carter, who had been attending a conference in Beijing on village elections in China, told VOA that the villagers "...are voting in a completely secret way. They apparently have a very high turn-out today, maybe because the Voice of America is here." It was on 1 August 1995 that the Voice of America's Chinese Branch began publishing Chinese-language scripts on VOA's homepage. In early 1997, the Chinese government began blocking VOA's site, and the number of hits on VOA's Chinese website dropped abruptly. Later that year, VOA responded by devising an alternate means of disseminating information in China, becoming the first international broadcaster to use an on-line subscription service to send news briefs from its web site to computer users in the PRC via e-mail. Every day since 1 October 1997 the VOA Chinese web team has been e- mailing condensed scripts of in-depth, Chinese-language news and analysis to subscribers along with News in Brief, a summary of the most recent major international events and domestic Chinese news not reported by the Chinese state-run media. Today, some 180,000 subscribers in China receive the daily e-mails of VOA scripts. The Voice of America is a multi-media international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government. Using radio, television and the Internet, VOA broadcasts over 900 hours a week of news, informational, educational, and cultural programming every week to a worldwide audience of 91 million. Programs are produced in English and 52 other languages. VOA broadcasts a combined total of 18 hours a day of Mandarin, Cantonese and Tibetan into China, along with an hour and a half of Special English, which uses a 1,500-word vocabulary and a slow rate of speech to provide news and information for non-native English speakers. For additional information, please contact the Office of External Affairs at (202) 619-2538 or send email to pubaff@voa.gov. Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 10 Sep 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CRI went back to 9570 for English to NAm at 0100, still dueling with Budapest, with CRI in Chinese at 0200. But the next night, Sept 6, CRI back to 9580, so we`ll have to watch both (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Rdif. Nacional for lack of funds asks to close down its MW network, and educational ``bachillerato por radio`` GED service: EL TIEMPO Sept 11 Adiós al bachillerato por radio Inravisión no puede continuar adelante con el programa de bachillerato por radio y por esa razón pidió permiso al ministerio de Comunicaciones para suspender su emisión a través de la amplitud modulada (AM) de la Radiodifusora Nacional... http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/11-09-2001/naci97774.html (via Richard Stoller, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. RUSSIA: New station via UNID tx - Voice of Tigrays from North America noted on Sep. 8 1800-1900 Sat only NF 12110 (55555), ex 2100-2200 Thu only on 15685 via WWCR. 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 11 via DXLD) 12110 Voice of Tigayans *1659-1729* / *1729-1759* Sept 8 Sign-on with orchestra melody (Instrumental). Male speaker with notes (frequency given) and this type of ID 'dimsti Tengaru kab semien America'. Then followed news commentaries, some about Human Rights, TPLF Congress, and the Congress in South Africa about racism (through-out this was English words given). Horn of Africa music at the close of the broadcast, then short pause. Repeat of a previous broadcast followed with opening announcements, dialogue, Horn of Africa music at the close by female singers and then sign-off. Signal was quite good (E. Kusalik, Canada, Sep 8, 2001 in Dxplorer via CRW via DXLD) ** GOA [non non]. 11715 does appear to emanate from GOA during the 2045-2245 time frame in English. I take this info from the following site which appears to be kept up to date: http://bcdx.qrzindia.net/ I've heard this transmission, and others from GOA. Transmission Schedule for Panaji, Goa 0000-0045 Tamil 9910(A) 11740(P) 13795(B) SE Asia 1115-1200 Thai 13645(B) 15330(P) 17740(A) Thailand 1215-1330 Tibetan 1134(C) 9565(Ki?) 11695(P) Tibet 1300-1500 Sinhala 1053(T) 9820(P) Sri Lanka 1330-1430 Nepali 3945(G) 4860(Ki) 6045(Kh) 7410(D) 11695(P) Nepal 1530-1545 English 9820(P) 11740(P) SE Asia 1615-1730 Hindi 7410(A) 12025(P) 13770(B) Middle East 1615-1730 Persian 7115(P) 9910(A) Iran 1730-1830 Malayalam 7115 (P) 12025 Middle East 2045-2230 English 7150(Kh) 9650(A) 9910(A) 11620 11715(P) Australia 2245-0045 English 9705 (P)13605 (B) E & SE Asia 2300-0000 Hindi 9910(A) 11740(P) 13795(B) SE Asia Frequencies for Goa are marked with a (P). I've condensed the info with Panaji, Goa from the site (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Sept 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 10080, LV de Nahualá 3 x 3360, 0330 11 Sept, This is the first time I've ever received the 3rd harmonic from this station. Positive audio match around 0340, with weak signal. Also audible at a stronger level was the 2nd harmonic on 6720. The fundamental was strong and somewhat distorted. PX consisted of Central American folk mx and announcements, including what sounded like ads. Mentions of Guatemala (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD)) ** INDIA. Some frequency changes for All India Radio: 1000-1100 English NF 11585, ex 13700, additional 15770 // 15020, 17510, 17840, 17895 1745-1945 English NF 13605, ex 13795, re-ex 13750, NF 15155, ex 15120, additional 17670 // 7410, 9950, 11935 1945-2030 French NF 13605, ex 13795, re-ex 13750 // 9910 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 11 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Republic of Iraq Radio, Voice of Iraqi People, Sep 7 Heard R. Bagdad on 4784 with good signal at 1800 with songs and talk, 1830 ID and Nx bulletin also on MW 1053 (M. Vaghjee, Mauritius, Sep 7, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) The station Mahendra heard was also heard strongly here in Denmark last night on 4784.26 at 0100 to sign off around 0300, and again with 34333 from tune in at 1727 til now at 1950 when I dispatch this mail. It is, however, NOT a broadcast from Baghdad, but half of the frequency of the Clandestine 9568.5 "Republic of Iraq Radio - the Voice of Iraqi People" or in Arabic: "Idha'at al-Jumhuriyah al- Iraqiyah min Baghdad, Sawt al-Sha'b al-Iraqi" which they often give as their ID. It is heard in parallel to REACTIVATED 9563 (22332) and 9568.5 (43443). But the other Arab on 60 mb (4789.3) which was heard in August (Saudi Arabia HS2 from Jeddah) and which was the half of its ordinary frequency 9578.6 is no longer heard on either frequency, so there is strong evidence that this faulty transmitter now is used by this Clandestine and broadcasting from Jeddah! It is interesting to note that Mahendra also can hear it on 1053 kHz MW which also may be from the same location in Saudi Arabia. Do not confuse this Clandestine with the other Clandestine: "The Voice of Iraqi People" broadcasting from Iraqi Kurdistan, today on 3893 and 5890 kHz and heard here at 1730-1830 in Arabic. Their ID was heard again today as "Huna sawt al-Shab al-Iraqi, idha'atu al-Hizb al-Shuju'i al-Iraqi". Both ID's and their schedules can be found in the DSWCI Domestic Broadcasting Survey-3. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, Sep 7, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) 4784.25, 0201 Het here with audio "coming over the top" & definite AA chants every once in a while. Suspect its the station being discussed as UNID/R.Baghdad. Good bit of co-channel from 4785 plus that "sweeper" that has been causing havoc on the bottom of the 60 MB.(9/9) (C.Rippel-VA-USA Sep 9, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) My location vote R. Baghdad or "Republic of Iraq Radio - the Voice of Iraqi People" is certainly the Mid East +- N/S. 4784.25 peaked at 0300, heard time pips (I believe it was the 3 + 1 format) then an obvious ID by a male announcer. Back into AA/M.E. mx. It`s now 0340 and it has been taking a definite downward fade. I did not hear an ID nor did was the signal copiable enough through the QRN to pick up enough of announcements to hear anything which might toward tentative supposition based on components such as place names, political slant, etc. A quick check of Geoclock lends a component of support to a Mid East transmitter location. Unfortunately, analysis of the transmitter location by sunrise/sunset times does not afford enough resolution to add support to either of the aformentioned conclusions in this case. The transmitter locations are simply too close together and can be considered to be located in areas that are generally located North and South of one another. Both general areas almost simultaneously share the same locational relationship with regard to the terminator. Were the QRN not a steady S-7 to S-9 range, this would be quite recordable this evening (Chuck Rippel, VA, Sep 9, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** JORDAN. R. Jordan, Sept 8 1300, continues to use 11690 despite very strong RTTY QRM on frequency. Impossible to even distinguish language. IDed by their familiar theme music at 1300 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. R. Unión, 6348.9V, Sept 2 0725-0735+, fair to good audio but wobbly, drifting transmitter. Slight distortion. OA music. Drifted up 1 kHz in 10 minutes. Last heard on 6313 back in July. Next night, Sept 3 at 0040-0130+ on 6351.2v with Spanish pops/ballads, ID. And heard Sept 8 on 6349.8v at 0120 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. Glenn, CN Tower is 553.33m (1815'5"). There was an item in the Toronto Star on April 1st about the plan to extend the height of the CN Tower in order to retain its title as the world's tallest free-standing structure, with detailed drawings, plans, etc. A lot of people fell for it! 73, (Ivan Grishin, Sept 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Voice of Freedom & Renewal 6985 kHz - 0330-0430 and 1500-1600 UT (Anker Petersen, Denmark, Sep 7, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Voice of Freedom & Renewal. On Sep 03 I sent an e-mail reception report to infosaf@eol.com.er which also has the postal address: The Sudan Alliance Forces, Secretariat of Culture and Information, Asmara, State of Eritrea. On Sep 06 I received the following e-mail reply which hopefully will be followed up by a formal QSL: From: "SUDAN ALLIANCE FORCES" infosaf@eol.com.er To: "ANKER PETERSEN" anker.petersen@get2net.dk Sent: 6. september 2001 15:34 Subject: Re: Reception report Dear Mr. Anker, Thank you very much for your message; you could not imagine how much we were glad to have such a message. Voice of Freedom & Renewal (Thawt Alhuria Wa Altajdeed) Voice of the New Sudan (thawt Alsudan Aljadeed) is still broadcast its programmes against the Islamic Fundamentalist dictator regime in Sudan from 6.30 to 7.30 am (Sudan local time .00 hrs GMT [sic]) and from 6.00 to 7.00 (SLT), the power of our station is 10 kW, and it located in the liberated area in East Sudan just North of Kassala Town near the Eritrean border. We broadcast our programmes mainly in Sudanese Arabic and other Sudanese Local languages, we call for a new secular Sudan based on democracy, equality, and the civil rights of all citizen irrespect of their religion, ideology, culture...etc. You can find more information in a web site of Clandestine radio stations. I will ask, later, the engineer to provide you with full technical information. From now you are SAF friend!! Regards, SAF SCI (via Anker Petersen, Denmark, Sep 7, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN--Coming up in the next few days on Radio Sweden: In "Money Matters" on Wednesday we'll be taking up Corporate Social Responsibility. On Thursday we'll be going live to the Gothenburg Book Fair. In Spectrum on Saturday we look at Culture as a Weapon, against the last dictatorship in Europe (Belarus) and the threat to Palestinean identity. We also visit the inauguration of the monument in Stockholm honored the missing diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II (SCDX MediaScan Sept 11 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. R. Taibei International, in surveys always did well among listener favorites. Some features hve changed; they still have Jade Bells & Bamboo Pipes with ancient instrumental music and the Chinese language lessons. There are a few look-at-modern-Taiwan shows, youth interests, concerns, lifestyles. I wonder if they lost listeners from the 70s to the 90s? (Bob Thomas, CT, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Dear Glenn, there are still two BBC Learning English transmissions to Europe (in addition to 1930/2000 on MW 1296): 0430/0445 on 6010 and 9915 to Southern Europe 0545/0600 on 9875 and 11675 to Central Europe 73, (Stefano Valianti, Italy, Sept 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Updated schedule for BBC WS to Mexico via Delano 250 kW / 121 deg: 0000-0100 on 11810 <<<<<<< DELETED 0300-0500 on 11835 <<<<<<< RETIMED, ex 0100-0500 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 11 via DXLD) We reported this weeks ago, as WYFR took over the 0000-0300 period (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. AUSTRIA: AWR in Englsh to Af via Moosbrunn: 0830-0900 on 17780 (43333), but no WAVESCAN on Sundays!!! 2100-2130 on 15195 (34333), but no WAVESCAN on Sundays!!! SOUTH AFRICA: New transmission of AWR in English to Af via Meyerton: 2000-2030 on 11640 (55444), but no WAVESCAN on Sundays!!! U A E: AWR in English to SAs via Al Dhabayya: 1330-1400 on 15385 (33322), but no WAVESCAN on Sundays!!! 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. Some IBB changes: Voice of America 2200-2215 Spanish on 15170, 17565, 21685 Mon only <<< DELETED 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 11 via DXLD) Presumably due to start reported here a few weeks ago, of new morning service to Colombia (gh, DXLD) NOTE: Much of the following was first posted without delay at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Anomaly.html ** U S A. FCC, Federal Agencies Shut Down in Wake of Terrorist Attacks NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 11, 2001--Along with most other federal agencies, the FCC has closed its offices and sent its employees home in the wake of apparent terrorist attacks this morning in New York City, Washington, DC, and elsewhere. The FCC has issued no emergency declaration nor other special instructions to the Amateur Radio community. The ARRL has advised amateurs to stay alert to instructions from local authorities. President George W. Bush has announced that the US military is on high alert in the US and abroad. US air traffic was shut down after two airliners struck the twin towers of the 110-story World Trade Center in New York City this morning within a short time of each other. The buildings towers partially collapsed in the wake of the collisions. An aircraft subsequently crashed into the Pentagon, and another aircraft crashed near Pittsburgh, reportedly after being hijacked. American Airlines and United Airlines both have acknowledged that they have lost planes this morning. More than 260 died in the crashes. Thousands were believed injured in New York City; there's no estimate on the number killed. New York City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D, said there has been no request for any Amateur Radio Emergency Service response at this time. New York City's emergency management offices are located in the World Trade Center. He said he was alerting all amateurs, especially ARES and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service personnel, to get prepared and to stand by. Carrubba reported that he was not hearing any traffic from NYC hams on their TAC1 VHF frequency. "All land-line circuits are jammed," he said. "We are all on standby." Carrubba said he's in the process of setting up a command channel on a linked repeater system that will cover from New York City and into Long Island's Suffolk County. "Please be alert, prepared and patient," Carrubba said. In the Washington, DC, area, Virginia SEC Tom Gregory, N4NW, says Virginia ARES has been put on alert but has not yet been activated. "I've asked everyone to monitor the emergency frequencies and to keep a full tank of gas." He said the attack on Washington has resulted in a massive traffic jam as workers in DC attempt to leave the capital. He said cellular telephone communication was next-to-impossible. "Due to the terrorist activities today, we must remain ready for any eventuality," Gregory added. While no emergency nets are yet in operation, Gregory said all repeaters would be available as well as 7.243 MHz and 3.947 MHz on HF. Virginia RACES reportedly has been activated at the state emergency operations center at Virginia State Police headquarters in Richmond. This was said to be a precautionary measure, not a statewide callup. ARES and RACES organizations are locally managed, and word of additional activations or of direct ham radio involvement in the affected areas is not known at this time. The FCC's Riley Hollingsworth today suggested that the amateur community remain calm but ready. He invited amateurs monitoring any suspicious radio activity to contact him, and he will relay relevant information to the FCC duty team. "You never know," he said. He advised monitors to tape such radio traffic, if possible. The federal government has activated its SHARES HF emergency communications system. Should a state of war be declared, Amateur Radio would not automatically be shut down. The section of FCC rules requiring this-- §214(b)(4) of Title 47 CFR Chapter II--was eliminated prior to the Gulf War. (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, 1723 UT Sept 11 via DXLD) [Later:] Amateurs Responding in Terrorist Attacks' Aftermath NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 11, 2001--With lower Manhattan taking on the look of a war zone, some Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service organizations have initiated emergency nets and other activities in response to today's terrorist attacks. Other ARES and RACES groups in the New York City and Washington, DC, areas were reported on alert and standing by if needed. States of emergency have been declared in affected areas. In the New York City area, ARES and RACES is active and reported "very busy" by ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Carrubba, KA2D. An emergency net is operating on the WB2ZSE 147.00 MHz repeater with Guy Richman, KC2AYG, as the net control station. ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, cites information from New York City District Emergency Coordinator Charles Hargrove, N2NOV, that ARES members will be used in search-and-rescue efforts at the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. "Amateurs will be used throughout the night," Mendelsohn said. The New York City Office of Emergency Management bunker is located adjacent to the World Trade Center. At one point, the bunker's entrance was blocked for about 20 minutes by debris from the skyscraper's collapse, said Bob Reed, W2CE. The repeater net is handling emergency traffic and shadowing some New York City officials, Mendelsohn said. Hargrove is handling telephones; Mike Bartman, KF2EO, Bill Butler, N2BGR, and Joseph Albertus, KB2QLE, have been monitored handling medical traffic and shadowing medical officials, while John Kiernan, KE2UN, is at American Red Cross Headquarters in Manhattan. Mendelsohn notes that only emergency vehicles and personnel are being permitted into Manhattan. "All bridges are closed to incoming traffic," Mendelsohn said, adding that one outbound lane remains open with heavy security on the bridges. "Jet fighters are in the air criss-crossing Manhattan," he said. "It looks like a war zone there-- something out of World War II." The Holland and Lincoln tunnels have been closed in both directions. New York City-Long Island Section Manager George Tranos, N2GA, reports that he's working with Carrubba from his house in North Babylon on Long Island. "Suffolk County ARES is supporting the American Red Cross with communications," he said. ARES remains on standby in the Emergency Operations Center in the towns of Babylon and Islip, while Islip and Babylon ARES are on-site at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip and Brunswick Hospital in Amityville, Tranos said. Kenneth Goetz, N2SQW, reported that a New York State RACES net was operational on 7.248 and 3.993.5 MHz handling emergency and government-related traffic. In the Washington, DC, area, Maryland-DC Section Emergency Coordinator Mike Carr, WA1QAA,reports RACES groups were activated in Montgomery County and put in standby in Howard County and other jurisdictions. Frederick County RACES has not been activated, Carr said. Montgomery County Deputy Radio Officer John Creel, WB3GXW, reports that county's RACES team is fully activated and under "full tactical alert," and amateur operators have been deployed to five area hospitals to handle traffic regarding incoming patients and blood donations. The RACES operators are coordinating with the American Red Cross in Silver Spring, Maryland. Primary traffic is being handled via the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club 147.955 repeater and the Montgomery County RACES 443.90 repeater. Virginia SEC Tom Gregory, N4NW, says he's asked everyone to "monitor the emergency frequencies and to keep a full tank of gas." Gregory said a breakdown in local telephone service has hampered efforts to contact--or be contacted by--emergency officials. Gregory said all repeaters would be available. Virginia RACES has activated at the state emergency operations center at Virginia State Police headquarters in Richmond. Virginia RACES was using 7.240 MHz on HF (WC4VA), as well as 145.43, 145.36 for FM voice and 145.73 packet (VAEOC). The Old Dominion Emergency and Virginia Emergency nets were said to be active. ARES and RACES organizations are locally managed. Teams in other states are on standby in case they're needed. Army Military Affiliate Radio System--MARS--spokesman Bill Sexton, N1IN, reports the World Trade Center attack prompted an immediate response from the SHARES network of federal agencies assisted by the Amateur Radio operators who participate in MARS. SHARES is a little-known emergency service that allies MARS-certified amateurs with federal agency operators when normal communications break down. That occurred today when the telephone and cellular telephone circuits became overloaded. The SHARES nets operate on government frequencies outside the amateur bands. By early this afternoon, more than 200 stations had checked in, including participants from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, state emergency operations centers, and Air Force, Navy-Marine Corps and Army MARS members. "The bulk of participants were amateurs," Sexton said. Sexton said that David Muckle, KB2BNW/AAR2CB came on the air from Essex County, New Jersey, within sight of the plume of smoke over the World Trade Center. Arthur Walsh AB4BG/NNN0FAD, checked in from Annandale Virginia, not far from the Pentagon. Regional nets also activated across the country. Sexton said the SHARES headquarters staff had to evacuate its Arlington, Virginia, location, but was soon on the air operating portable in northern Virginia. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network--SATERN--has activated its HF net on 14.265 MHz. SATERN also handles health-and- welfare inquiries via its Web site. The Salvation Army has been collecting fresh water, supplies and donations in various localities in the Northeast to truck to New York City. Other disaster-related operations have been reported on the EastCARS (East Coast Amateur Radio Service) frequency, 7.255 MHz, and on 14.326, where an informational net was under way. A toll-free health-and-welfare number for those seeking information on friends and relatives in the World Trade Center has been established. It's 888-883-4391. DXpeditioners Held Up A DXpedition team headed for Johnston Island was held up in Oahu, Hawaii, when air traffic was shut down in the wake of the terrorist incidents. A spokesperson for Team K3J said that there was very little chance of the team's reaching Johnston Island within the next 48 hours. "Please watch your favorite cluster for spots; if the flight becomes available, we may not get a chance to make another post," the spokesperson said. Well Wishers Send Greetings As news of the attacks spread, messages arrived at ARRL Headquarters from amateurs outside the US expressing their concern and astonishment. "We are very sorry to hear about the terrorist attack in USA," wrote Berkin and Nilay Aydogmus, TA3J and TA3YJ. "We can't find words to explain our feelings. It is unbelievable." AMSAT President Robin Haighton, VE3FRU, expressed his grief in a posting on the AMSAT reflector. "These terrible events affect us all," he said. "My thoughts are with you and all the American people." A message posted on several VHF-related reflectors from ES Electronics in South Africa said, "Our hearts go out to the Americans today. God bless you all." (ARRL Sept 11 5:32 pm ET via John Norfolk, OKCOK) ** U S A. From: "Murray Epstein" ve2auu@sympatico.ca Reply-to: hamemergency@yahoogroups.com HAM EMERGENCY NET FREQUENCIES OPERATIONAL NOW. Sept. 11, 2001 Tuesday FYI ----- SOME OF THE EMERGENCY RADIO HAM NETS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND ARE VERY ACTIVE ASSISTING IN TRAFFIC AND OPERATIONS CONCERNING TODAY`S CRISIS:- 7240.00 Khz. RACES 7250.00 Khz. RACES 7255.00 Khz. coördinating net 7260.00 Khz. Races 14244.00 Khz. NYC traffic 14265.00 Khz. SALVATION ARMY 14300.00 Khz. Intercin [?] Traffic Net/MMSN 14326.00 Khz. Health and Welfare There many more local and long range nets not listed here. PLEASE ADD TO THIS LIST IF YOU CAN. THANKS. MURRAY EPSTEIN, ve2auu Welcome Amateur Radio Operators who wish to be involved in emergency communication services on a world wide basis. All services are offered benevolently. We appreciate your HELP! ===== (via Sheldon Harvey, QC, Sept 11, DXLD) ** U S A. The Monitoring Times RADIO RUMORS page is being dedicated to frequencies and information pertaining to the attacks on the United States. It will be updated hourly as information is received! Refresh this page hourly for current information. U.S. FREQUENCIES AND UPDATES: http://www.grove-ent.com/radiorumors.html (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) But not updated for 12 hours... ** U S A. NYC TV and FM Today, Sept. 11: The first plane hit WTC about 9 am EDT. Following info is re broadcast signals - NOT cable. All NYC TV stations 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 went off air at close to 0907 dt, except for WNYE-TV 25 Brooklyn (probably actually on the Empire State Bldg) and W??? channel 41 which also remained on in usual Spanish - probably also at E.S. Bldg. The Phila. stations were easier to see carrying the terror news on 3, 6, 10 etc. WCBS TV-2 came back on with full strength (maybe 25 miles away) by 0918 most likely using their ond XT at the Empire State Bldg, which they thoughtfully had kept in reserve there. NewJerseyNetwork (NJN) TV stations (23, 50, 52, 58) continued carrying children's shows. At a 1320 (and 1600) EDT recheck the only NYC TV transmitters still only 2, 25, 41; but the NJN stations were found carrying the WABC-7 ABC coverage with a scrolling message which included the note that their transmitter was destroyed. Some FM stations were gone- those at the WTC twin towers, and theirs remained on the air having XTs at ESB or elsewhere. SW: 13720 kHz Gander at 1320 EDT (1720 utc) with aviation weather for Eastern Canadian & US cities with no mention of the giant no-fly zone. 17580 UN Radio via Skelton, UK with a 3-minute Kofi Annan message from NYC about the disaster. FM WNYE-91.5 [still not under the control of WNYC(93.9) I have no info on the 'vote' about that] dropped normal programs & was carrying BBC "W/S Special News" at 1432 EDT (1832 utc) and in fact still is @ 1719 EDT (2119 utc). WNYC - 93.9 is still off air. Pacifica station WBAI 99.5 in downtown NYC remained on with coverage and phone calls 'til the phones went out.... At 1430 EDT they had Mayor Rudolph Giuliani telling about his escape from wherever he was via some basements. He mentioned 600 total injured in the various hospitals (a # the networks didn't know or come close to.) I think WBAI MAY be off the air now, due to to the evacuations of lower Manhattan. [Later, 2158 UT:] It appears that the staff of WBAI left the studio, but they didn't know how to shut down the XT, which is silent but carrying the stereo indicator. Sincerely, (Bud Perkins, KA2HPU, from within the coverage pattern of the few NYC TV & FM broadcasters remaining, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tried Off the Hook on WBAI streams, UT Wed 0045, but silence. WBAI studios are too close for comfort to the WTC (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: WWFV coverage From: "Roadranger" wwfv@ellijay.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:31:34 -0500 WWFV is running 9.320 MHz SSB to broadcast to U.S military deployed overseas, ships, aircraft etc. The GCN radio network is covering this historic tragic event in American history. We hope to set 12.172 mhz to SSB (via John Norfolk, DXLD) Later: Subject: WWFV frequencies!!!! From: "Roadranger" wwfv@ellijay.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 18:07:39 -0500 WWFV 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM 12.172 MHz 8:00 PM to 1:30 PM 5.085 MHz 6:00 PM to 1:30 AM 6.890 MHZ to the military deployed worldwide multiple talk shows on WWFV facilities frequencies (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. We had no trouble connecting to BBC WS webcast, and to VOA News Now during the first hours, and fired up all our TVs to the major and cable networks. By 1919 UT, a scan of all our cable channels available locally included some surprising ones affected: KOCB-34, WB affiliate, stayed with normal programming for quite a while, but by the afternoon had suspended it and was relaying WB-11 New York instead, but soon back to infomercial! Fox News Channel took over all Fox networks in parallel: KOKH-25 (local affiliate) FX -- a couple seconds delayed Fox Sports Fox News CNN merged with CNN Headline News, also relayed by TNT, TBS Inspiration network had live coverage with religious angle, Falwell, Cerullo HSN -- home shopping replaced normal programming with affiliated Newsworld International (American accent; where from?) [Owned by USA network, takes feeds from CBC and others – John Figliozzi, swp] WGN -- its own coverage C-SPAN 1 and 2, for a while one of them relayed WUSA-9 in Washington, then merged with own coverage, call-ins. Later in evening, carrying CBC Newsworld. KOPX-62 Pax, relayed KFOR-TV and NBC QVC home shopping suspended broadcast with a slide saying tune to your TV news channel, to resume normal programming Wed 9 a.m. MTV relayed CBS coverage but kept its own tear-drop bug; VH1 relayed CBS also with CBS bug lower right, own bug upper right; CMT relayed CBS, with own bug overlaying CBS bug ESPN-1 and ESPN-2 relaying ABC coverage (see below) HGTV suspended programming with slide, somber music CNBC had continuous coverage with financial angle, of course, not duplicating NBC. (MSNBC is not available here) TLC RELAYING BBC AMERICA !!! Court TV had own coverage. Food Network, like HGTV, but music not parallel. EWTN: ``Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for Bombing Victims & for Peace``. TBN with CBN, live? Pat Robertson reporting rumors As of 1935 UT, the following networks, stations were running normal programming, including commercials where applicable: UPN/KAUT, OETA/PBS, KSBI, PLEX, AP, USA, TWC, NIK, TNN, FOX FAMILY – but with streamer referring to FNC, DSC, SCIFI, TOON, A&E, HIS, DIS, LIFE, AMC, BET, COM, E!, TRAVEL. BET later picked up CBS coverage, as did TNN and even UPN by prime time, while ESPNs soon were back to sports in the afternoon, tho I suppose mostly talking about canceled games (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I noticed that of the NYC VHF TV stations only WCBS-TV was on the air a short period after the bombing. WPIX (wb11.com owned by the L.A. Times/Chicago Tribune/Newsday) came back in the late afternoon. WABC-TV was carried by a number of UHF stations such as WNYE-TV (Board of Ed. Brooklyn) and home shopping stations. While WBAI (Pacifica) was on the air for much of the day it had dead air later including for 2600.com's "Off the Hook". WBAI is at Wall and South Streets and I doubt anyone other than emergency workers and residents could get that far south in Manhattan. I noticed an NBC TV news feed on Q-104. All 3 sports MW stations had other things on their minds with WEVD paralleling WABC. A number of FM stations were playing normal music--e.g. the New York Times' WQXR (FM) was playing classical and WQEW (MW) was playing the usual Disney Kids network. (If any of the stations with kids' broadcasting want to do the right thing they ought to get Fred Rogers to give a kiddie explanation of what went on. His explanation of why mommy and/or daddy had to be away from home during the Gulf War made more sense than some of the "adult" explanations.) (Joel Rubin, NY, Sept 11, swprograms via DXLD) Rumor has it that the NYC TVs off the air will be relocated to the Armstrong antenna tower in Alpine, NJ. It is just north of the George Washington Bridge on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. It was constructed by Major Armstrong of FM and superhet fame in the 1940's - a very distinct candelabra tower. A true landmark (Karl Zuk, NYC, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. WMLK, 9465, Sept 3, 1545-2000*, tune-in to the usual English religious Yahweh teachings. S/off with ID, sked, M-F only, address. Very strong. Also heard Aug [sic] 6 at 1725-1958* (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. YVTO, Caracas, Sept 1 0207-0225+, on 5010.02 instead of nominal 5000, with time pips, ID every minute, good. Sept 8, switching back and forth between 5010.0 and 5030.0: at 0115 they were on 5020. At 0315 on 5010. At 0320 on 5030. At 0715 back on 5010. So much for a precision timesignal station (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###