DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-146, October 12, 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] MUNDO RADIAL, octubre-noviembre: (CORRIENTE) http://worldofradio.com/mr0110.ram (BAJABLE) http://worldofradio.com/mr0110.rm (TEXTO) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/mr0110.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Happy days to you on reaching 1,100 shows of World of Radio. I wish you best of health and lots of luck in reaching 1,500 shows soon (Richard Lemke, Alberta) ** AFGHANISTAN. For those interested, the Los Angeles Times' web site has an aerial photo of Kabul that shows the locations of the TV tower and the "Radio Afghanistan" building, among other things. Both are labeled as targets. You can view it at http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2001-10/831973.jpg (Bruce Portzer, hard-core-dx via DXLD) [note: we try to avoid repeating info previously published, but there is such inundation that this may happen, with apologies -gh] Afghanistan: Media round-up 12 Oct 2001 Kabul radio The Taleban radio station, Radio Voice of Shari'ah from Kabul, remains unheard by BBC Monitoring since Monday 8 October. At that time, the domestic service on mediumwave 657 kHz was broadcasting a speech by a pro-Taleban cleric condemning US attacks against Afghanistan. The speech was in progress when reception was lost. Radio Voice of Shari'ah from Kabul, which is usually on the air from 0130-0400 and 1230-1800 gmt, has remained unheard on any of its three frequencies - 657 kHz and 1107 kHz mediumwave and 7085 kHz (variable) shortwave - since 1610 gmt on 8 October. Pentagon says radio station near Kabul damaged in attacks The US Defence Department briefing at the Pentagon on 11 October - a transcript of which is available at http://www.defenselink.mil - showed photographic evidence of a "radio station" in Kabul destroyed. But Marine Corps Maj-Gen Henry P. Osman, who is director for Operational Plans and Joint Force Development, was unable to say whether the radio station was a commercial or military station. A bomb crater could be seen in each of the radio station's two control buildings in before-and-after photographs that Osman showed at a Pentagon briefing. Communications facilities were among the targets attacked on Tuesday 9 October. The following is an excerpt of the transcript of the Pentagon briefing : .. [Gen Osman] As the secretary said just a little while ago out there, we want to make clear that our targets are military targets. They are specifically selected to minimize collateral damage.. Second is a radio station near Kabul, Afghanistan. First, the pre- strike. (Pause.) Now in the post-strike photo you can see the two control buildings for the station have been damaged. [Q] General, you said that you hit a radio station. I'm wondering, is that a military radio station, or is that a civilian radio station? If it's a civilian radio station, don't you run up against international law? [Gen Osman] As Secretary Clarke said, we have tried very hard to ensure that all of our targeting is against military targets, against Al-Qa'idah, against the Taleban regime, and trying to minimize as much as possible collateral damage. Our targeting has been against as much as possible military targets. That's been our intent. [Q] Was it a military radio station, or was that Voice of Shari'ah radio station - the Taleban's official radio? [Gen Osman]: I can't answer that question for sure, other than what our policy has been with regards to bombing... External service The Radio Voice of Shari'ah external service from Kabul has not been heard since reception was lost on Monday 8 October during the 1600- 1615 gmt broadcast in Turkmen. It is usually on the air from 1530- 1710 gmt on 1107 kHz mediumwave and 7085 kHz (variable) shortwave with short broadcasts in English, Arabic, Turkmen, Uzbek, Urdu and Russian. Forty minutes before reception of the domestic and external services was lost, the Kabul radio broadcast in English on 8 October at 1530 gmt, contained a report that Taleban commanders in Kabul Province would "fight until their last drop of blood against the United States and other invaders". Balkh radio Although the Kabul-based broadcaster appears to be off the air, Radio Voice of Shari'ah of Balkh Province - the provincial radio station based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif - continues to be observed on 1584 kHz mediumwave. It was heard by BBC Monitoring on 12 October. Radio Voice of Shari'ah of Balkh Province at 1230 gmt on 12 October broadcast a bulletin which contained the following reports: Recitation of the Holy Koran; song and announcements; reports and interviews - announcer asks a scholar about the US attacks on Afghanistan. The scholar says: "Jews are our enemy". He calls on people to unite and says the Jews will be punished; more song and poetry; commentary on how the Russians and British were defeated in Afghanistan, and the Americans will also be defeated; Interview with the security commander of Balkh Province about the situation. Security has been established and measures have been taken to protect people, he says. Emergency telephone numbers have been given to people. On the military and political situation, he says that the USA has not hit military targets. He says: 'We are not afraid of America." The Russians also attacked Afghainstan night and day and yet Afghanistan beat them, he says. There is no need to worry about the situation, he says. Afghanistan's achievements are listed. Mojahedin have been deployed everywhere, he says; News in Pashto. Anti-Taleban FM radio station operating north of Kabul The Northern Alliance, opposed to the Taleban, runs the online only Radio Voice of Mojahed http:///www.payamemujahid.com/radio/index.htm which broadcasts via the Internet three days per week in Pashto and Dari. The Radio Voice of Mojahed web site on 10 October reported that an FM radio station has started to operate from Jabal os Saraj, north of Kabul. Founded with the help of a Paris-based organization, Droit de Parole, the station will broadcast initially for three hours a day on 96 MHz FM. It will cover an area within a 40 km radius in Parvan Province, northwest of Kabul. The French news agency AFP said the station, known as Radio Solh [which means "peace" in Dari/Pashto], was audible "around the current front line, on the same side as the armed opposition to the Taleban - an area with around 150,000 inhabitants." "It broadcasts music, which is banned by the Kabul regime, is aimed at women and even has a female presenter," AFP said. "But subsequently, Droit de Parole, which has made a one-year financial commitment, before handing over to the Afghans, hopes `to broadcast to Kabul and the Panshir Valley' with the `imminent' setting up of a more powerful transmitter, placed on top of a mountain," the AFP report added. Anti-Taleban Radio Voice of Mojahed web site The anti-Taleban Radio Voice of Mojahed web site on 11 October carried the following audio bulletin: 1. Headlines. 2. Recitation of some verses from the Holy Koran. 3. News in Dari: - The capital of the central Ghowr Province, Chaghcharan, was freed from the control of the Taleban this morning. - A 30-minute documentary film, "Man of the Day", about the life of the late supreme commander of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Shah Masud, made by Ariana Films has now been released for screening. - The government of Pakistan took possession of five Taleban helicopters in Afghanistan's southern Paktia Province and transferred them to an airport in Korm Agency in Pakistan just one day prior to the US attack on Afghanistan , says the newspaper News published in Pakistan. - A delegation from Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence was sent to Kandahar to help the Taleban to defend themselves against US air strikes, a prominent Pakistani journalist says. - The Taleban arrested a French journalist and his two Pakistani guides recently in the eastern Nangarhar Province, the newspaper News reported. 4. A commentary sets out the sinister goals of Pakistan in Afghanistan, particularly those of the Pakistani Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), and concludes that the Taleban are responsible for the US attacks. Afghanistan: Radio Pakistan launches news programme in Dari Radio Pakistan on 11 October announced that its Peshawar station will start a new Dari-language programme, "Nawa-i-Dost" [the Voice of a Friend], from 12 October. The programme will be broadcast on a 300-kW transmitter from 1805 to 1900 gmt [2305 to 0000 local time] on mediumwave. It will also be available on shortwave. The station said that the Dari-language programme "will prove an important source of current affairs for listeners from far-flung areas of Afghanistan". According to the World Radio TV Handbook, there is a 300-kW transmitter in Peshawar broadcasting on 540 kHz mediumwave. [BBC Monitoring note: The broadcasts are likely to be audible throughout most of Afghanistan.] Afghanistan/USA: IFJ asks governments to end pressure on media The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists issued the following press release on 11 October: The world's largest journalists' group, the International Federation of Journalists, today called for governments to lift pressure on journalists reporting events surrounding the military action in Afghanistan. "Once again, journalists are being bullied and harassed by all sides in a conflict that calls for professionalism and independence from media - not propaganda and censorship," said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ. The IFJ called for the release of French reporter Michel Peyrard, on assignment for the magazine Paris Match, who was arrested by Taliban security forces after slipping in disguise over the border into Afghanistan. He is accused of spying. The Taliban arrested Peyrard and two guides on 9 October in Goshta. All three are being held in Jalalabad. "This is a case of enthusiastic reporting, not espionage," said the IFJ. "We are disturbed at reports that Peyrard has been paraded in the streets and stoned. If true, this is outrageous. He should be freed immediately." The IFJ said the case highlights the need for media and journalists to avoid any activity that can be interpreted as "reckless news gathering". Peyrard is the second journalist to be arrested and accused of espionage by the Taliban. The militia detained Yvonne Ridley, a British reporter for the Sunday Express newspaper, on 28 September but released her on 8 October. In addition, the IFJ has called for the release of three Pakistani journalists who have been in custody in Peshawar since 5 October. Muhammad Iqbal, Syed Karim and Rifatullah Orakzai have been jailed and interrogated by the local authorities. The three journalists were arrested with Olivier Ravanello and Marcan Tetti, two reporters from the French news channel LCI, who were later released. All five journalists were accused of "illegally" entering Tirah Valley, an area that is off limits to foreign journalists. They were accused of being "American spies". At the same time the IFJ has expressed concern over demands by the US administration of President Bush that media should exercise care over using material from the Arab media satellite channel Al-Jazeera, which has been putting across the views of Usamah Bin-Ladin and his Al-Qa'idah network. This channel carried a pre-recorded video of Bin- Ladin and associates giving a response to the opening of the military action against Afghanistan. Press freedom groups report that Qatar's Emir, Shaykh Hamid Bin Khalifah Al-Thani, confirmed that he was asked by the US State Department, during a recent visit to Washington, to use his government's influence to soften the reporting stance of Al-Jazeera. According to the US State Department, the television station has provided airtime for experts hostile to the US. The IFJ has noted that Al-Jazeera is recognised throughout the Arab world "and has contributed to creating new levels of professionalism in Arab media." It has given both the US and Afghanistan positions equal airtime. Although the station has become Bin-Ladin's favourite way of getting his point of view across to the Arab and Muslim people, over the heads of the shaykhs and presidents whose rule he detests, Al-Jazeera is also being used by Western leaders, notably by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to put their point of view in the propaganda battle. "All governments should give media the professional space to work without interference," said the IFJ, "Journalists in the United States or the Arab world don't need the guidance of their governments to do their job. The antidote to propaganda is editorial freedom, not thinly-veiled warnings that hint of censorship." Additionally, the IFJ is exceedingly concerned about the general safety for journalists in Pakistan and the Middle East. On 8 October, a mob attacked members of the foreign press corps from different countries during anti-United States demonstrations held in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. There were reports that stones were thrown, causing minor injuries to a few journalists. Reports that Patrick Aventurier and Vincent Laforet, photographers for the Gamma agency and the US daily the New York Times, were beaten by police on 9 October in Quetta, are "evidence that once again journalists are becoming the targets in a highly-charged confrontation," said Aidan White. The journalists were following an ambulance transporting the body of a boy killed in riots against US and British attacks on Afghanistan, when they were assaulted by police with batons and rifle butts. The IFJ has also condemned the arbitrary exclusion of journalists from the Gaza Strip in Palestine to prevent coverage of anti-American and anti-war protests and has called for the Pakistani authorities to lift a ban on foreign journalists leaving their hotel in Quetta near the Afghan border. After violent demonstrations, police and soldiers are blockading more than 200 foreign reporters who have come to cover the conflict. In one recent incident, Taleban supporters threw stones at the hotel and tried to set it on fire. "What is developing is a profound crisis for journalists both in terms of attempts to manipulate the media message and incidents of violence in which reporters and media staff find themselves under attack," said the IFJ. The IFJ has established, with foreign correspondents in Brussels and the Belgium Journalists' Association, a special help and advice centre for journalists that will provide journalists with information on working in dangerous regions. Further information: Journalists @ Your Service, email: safety@ifj.org, Tel: + 32 2 235 22 01 Afghanistan/France: French public TV not to air Bin-Ladin statements "for now" France 2 TV, France's main public TV channel, has decided not to broadcast the text of Usamah Bin-Ladin statements until an investigation to be conducted by the channel has established whether or not they contain coded messages, according to newsreader David Pujadas. TF1, the main private TV channel, decided not to broadcast a literal translation of Usamah Bin-Ladin's statement on 7 October to avoid falling into the trap of providing him with a platform, according to newsreader Patrick Poivre d'Arvor. The following is an excerpt of the report by France Info radio on 12 October: [Presenter] Was it right to broadcast images of Usamah Bin-Ladin and his calls for a holy war? Under the pressure of competition, initially this was not an issue for American channels: anything that was available was broadcast, until the White House called them to order and invited them to show a sense of civic responsibility. Since then, they have complied. In France, TV editors are also asking themselves a fair few questions relating to the use of these images. Our media specialist (?Danielle Oaillon) has investigated two cases: TF1 [main private TV channel] and France 2 [main public TV channel]: [Oaillon] The 2000 hours [1800 gmt] news programmes of TF1 and France 2 on Sunday [7 October], the night of the American attack on Kabul, broadcast images of Bin-Ladin's statement. France 2 [as heard - probably means TF1; see below] waited for about 20 minutes, the time it took to translate the statement. A translation which was feigned - a summary was provided instead, as Patrick Poivre d'Arvor [TF1 newsreader] explains: [Poivre d'Arvor] The decision was taken rather quickly as regards the broadcasting, since this was a document. The problem was then the time he should be given and above all the platform he should be offered, that is to say: we could either content ourselves - which is what we did a little bit, to a large extent, let's say - with showing the images with everything they represented, the symbolism, the cave, the kalashnikov, or we could really provide him with a platform and allow him, basically, to tell the world to its face of his hate of the Americans, which we did not do, because in that case we would have fallen into the trap. [Oaillon] ...France 2 has also decided to provide a mere summary of future statements, as David Pujadas [France 2 newsreader] explains: [Pujadas] When you hear people say that there are perhaps [hidden] messages, that broadcasting this would perhaps mean providing the terrorists with a helping hand, then of course that makes you think. We are not as - how can I put it? - perhaps we do not stand to attention as much as the American channels, so we think about it twice. Completely disregarding these images is of course out of the question. Simply, having thought about it, we said to ourselves that for now we were going to avoid literal translations of his statements, we were going to summarize the statements made on those cassettes, if we obtain new cassettes, and then later [we were going] to try to investigate, using our own resources, to find out if this story of coded messages is plausible or if it is pure fantasy. [End of recording] ... Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring Telephone + 44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 12 Oct 01 (via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Media behaviour update 11 October Anti-Taleban FM radio station said operating north of Kabul The Northern Alliance, opposed to the Taleban, runs the on-line only Radio Voice of Mojahed http:///www.payamemujahid.com/radio/index.htm which broadcasts via the Internet three days per week in Pashto and Dari. The Radio Voice of Mojahed web site on 10 October carried the following report: "An FM radio station has started to operate north of Kabul. "Reports from areas north of Kabul say that the radio station has been founded with the help of a France-based organization, which supports freedom of speech, and will be broadcasting three hours a day on the FM waveband. The radio can cover an area within a 40 km radius. The radio operates in [eastern] Parvan Province. A dispatch from the French news agency AFP on 9 October supplied the following details: "Paris, 9 October: Everything about it exasperates the Taleban. It broadcasts music, which is banned by the Kabul regime, is aimed at women and even has a female presenter. Since Tuesday [9 October], a small radio station has been broadcasting in the north of Afghanistan, with the support of the French association Droit de Parole (Right to Speak). "For the time being, Radio Sol [Ground Radio] (Radio Paix [Radio Peace]) only broadcasts over a range of 30 km, around the current front-line, on the same side as the armed opposition to the Taleban. An area with around 150,000 inhabitants. "But subsequently, Droit de Parole, which has made a one-year financial commitment, before handing over to the Afghans, hopes `to broadcast to Kabul and the Panshir Valley' with the `imminent' setting up of a more powerful transmitter, placed on top of a mountain. "In the meantime, `Radio Sol' has to make do with what is available. `The transmitter's pylon consists of two lampposts, one inserted inside the other, it has been set up in Jabalosaraj, it has a very basic studio and equipment donated by a number of sponsors, notably the French public radio and television,' says Jean-Pierre Grimaldi, a technician with the association, who has just returned from Afghanistan. `One also has to fight', he added, `to find an electricity supply in a region where 60 is the maximum voltage'. "However, there is no problem finding a frequency on the FM waveband, which is totally empty, as international radio stations like the BBC, RFI [Radio France Internationale] and Voice of America are on shortwave, which isn't always very audible. "`The mediumwave transmitters have all been destroyed by the Taleban, apart from the one which enables the broadcasting of Radio [Voice of] Shari'ah, which can be heard around Kabul,' Jean-Pierre Grimaldi said. "On 96 MHz, the radio offers education programmes aimed at young people and women, health, maternity and childcare courses, some news and Afghan music, which has been banned by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. "`This station came about through a project aimed at promoting the role and the place of Afghan women. It was supported by [Northern Alliance] Commander Masud [recently killed],' explained Dragica Ponorac, chairwoman of Droit de Parole, an association which has already been at the origin of `free' radio stations, in particular in former Yugoslavia. "The project has been adapted to `the new situation' of the Afghan crisis. `But we will make sure that the radio station maintains its status as an independent radio station,' Mrs Ponorac promised. "The radio station, which employs six journalists - as many women as men - plans to broadcast for eight hours a day, in Dari and Pashto, the two main spoken languages in Afghanistan. Being in an Islamic country, it will respect the daily prayer times. "According to its founders, `the medium of radio is perfectly suited to Afghanistan's situation'. `You can easily find a radio for less than 10 dollars in a bazaar, as well as batteries,' Mr Grimaldi said. "However, television is banned, the last televisions which were still on sale in the Kabul bazaar were burnt in public. Electricity, like newsprint, is in very short supply. "`Ninety-five per cent of Afghans have not even seen pictures of the attacks against the World Trade Center,' said Olivier Ronsin, vice- president of Droit de Parole. [re above, see also: a piece on BBC News' "Media Watch" section concerning a new Afghan opposition radio station particularly targeting women: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/monitoring/media_reports/newsid_1594000/1594256.stm 73- Bill Westenhaver] Air strikes hit "radio masts" On 10 and 11 October BBC Monitoring has not monitored reports of further strikes on broadcasting transmitters or facilities in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite TV channel, at 1556 gmt on 9 October carried a report on air raids that evening in Kabul. The Al- Jazeera correspondent in Kabul said, among other things: "We can hear explosions in north-east Kabul. By the way, the masts of the Afghan radio station there were bombed yesterday [Monday 8 October, when Radio Voice of Shari'ah from Kabul was last heard by BBC Monitoring]." In earlier reports, the Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency, which has close links to the Taleban, reported on 8 October at 1750 gmt that in the second wave of US air attacks on Kabul, a hill on which a TV transmitter is located, known as Asmaii Mountain, was "bombarded". Balkh radio Although the Kabul-based broadcaster appears to be off the air, Radio Voice of Shari'ah of Balkh Province - the provincial radio station based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif - continues to be observed on 1584 kHz mediumwave. It was heard from sign-on at 0230 gmt on 11 October. The following are the verses of a patriotic song in Uzbek about Afghanistan played on Radio Voice of Shari'ah of Balkh Province in the 0415 gmt radio bulletin in Uzbek on 11 October: You are my heart, you are my soul, You are the place of my ancestors, You are my father, friend, my motherland, Afghanistan, Afghanistan. Your mountains have gardens, When spring comes they are full of tulips, Your stones are precious, Afghanistan, Afghanistan. You are my heart, you are my soul, You are the place of my ancestors, You are my motherland where I was born, Afghanistan, Afghanistan. My motherland, you are sacred to me, Nothing can replace you, You are kind to me as my grandpa, Afghanistan, Afghanistan. Radio Voice of Shari'ah of Balkh Province at 1330 gmt on 11 October broadcast a bulletin which contained the following reports: 1. The governor of Balkh Province who had gone to the capital on an official visit returned to Mazar-e Sharif today and was welcomed by some officials at the airport. He held a meeting with officials afterwards. 2. The deputy governor of Balkh Province held talks with a military official from Takhar Province today and gave him advice for the better performance of his duty. 3. A meeting of Balkh Province's districts educational officials was held today and the duties of the officials was identified in the current situation. 4. A meeting of elders and religious scholars of a district in Jowzjan Province was held today and the participants condemned the US attacks on Afghanistan. 5. Elders and ulema of Charbolak District held a meeting today and denounced the US strikes and examined the problems of people at the meeting. After announcements, the radio broadcast a commentary saying that the US strikes on civilian hospitals and institutes have proved that the USA is the enemy of Islam. The commentary lists the civilian areas and places which have been hit by the USA and warns it to get ready for war. Source: BBC Monitoring research 10-11 Oct 01 (via DXLD; we have edited out portions which we believe repeat previous updates) ** AFGHANISTAN. Glenn: It was announced that Commando Solo has commenced broadcasting on a frequency of a powerful radio station in Afghanistan, after the radio station was bombed off the air by US forces. This was announced by ABC's world news tonight, at 6:35 ET Wednesday night. 73s, Artie Bigley, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Several DXers have asked me about the current frequencies of Commando Solo. Unfortunately I'm not sure. However, my guess is that they operate as in Kosovo in 1999. Land-based stations are first destroyed and then Commando Solo "steals" their frequencies for pro-Western propaganda. Listeners believe they hear the original radio station but instead of that they hear Commando Solo. During the Yugoslavia- Kosovo war Commando Solo used 1003 and 1270 kHz (both heard here in Scandinavia), close to Beograd 1008 and Novi Sad 1269 kHz. Possibly Commando Solo now operates on some split frequency around 1107 kHz or 1278/657 kHz (?) + 7 MHz amateur band which were the frequencies of Afghan/Taleban radio?? (Jorma Mantyla, Kangasala, Finland, Oct 11, hard-core-dx via DXLD) I have this flying station QSLed. A picture of their QSL-information leaflet can be found on my web-site: http://www.kaapeli.fi/~jmantyla/ -see Virtual QSL-collection "clandestine"-section. I heard Commando Solo during the Yugoslavia/Kosovo war in 1999 when they used the name "Allied Voice" on 1270 and 1003 kHz. The station has also an own web- site which seems to work when I checked it some minutes ago: http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Military_Affairs/air_national/193fact.html There are plenty of updated pictures of this station (Jorma Mantyla L.Soc.Sc., journalist, dx'er Kangasala, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) More on the wind-ups for Afghanistan. CLOCKWORK WARFARE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1589000/1589318.stm (Regards, Rod Williams, Rossville, GA, USA, Oct 10, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO "Wavescan" - DX Program 355 * Narrator: Radio Backgrounds in Afghanistan - Part 2 In last week`s edition of ``Wavescan``, you heard Part 1 in our three part series on ``Radio Backgrounds in Afghanistan``, and in this edition, we present Part 2. The rugged Khyber Pass is straddled by the international border between Pakistan & Afghanistan. In some places the pass is quite wide, and in other places it is quite narrow and just sufficiently wide for the highway to pass through. This famous pass has featured frequently in history, and to this day, you can still see a part of the old stone-paved highway that was constructed in the days of Alexander the Great when he made his ancient conquest as far east as the Punjab in India. At the entrance to the Khyber Pass is a huge notice in Urdu & English, drawing attention to the fact that it is considered dangerous to drive through the Khyber Pass in the afternoon and at night. Back some 40 years ago, there were two daily flights by small passenger plane from the main Kabul (KAH-b`l) airport into the Bamiyan (BAH-mee-YAHN) Valley. The Afghan pilot took a great delight in inviting passengers to come and sit in the co-pilot`s seat and ``help`` him to fly the plane. For the return journey in the afternoon, it was necessary to sit and wait in the fully loaded plane until the temperature dropped to a safe level in order to give the plane sufficient lift to take off. A few months ago, the Taliban ordered the destruction of the two massive statues of Buddha carved into the cliff face on the edge of the Bamiyan Valley. These statues were considered to be the largest in the world and they were pictured on QSL cards issued by Radio Afghanistan some 30 years ago. There is a well-paved highway running north from Kabul up through the very long Salang Tunnel. The area is so high and the air is so rarified that motor cars will not run properly. On one occasion, insurgents sealed both ends of the tunnel, effectively suffocating and killing several thousand people in their motor vehicles. This highway runs up to the border with Uzbekistan and in those days the Russian guards were quite friendly and they would invite visitors to walk across the wooden bridge to visit with them. In these northern provinces of Afghanistan, it was impossible to hear Radio Afghanistan Kabul on mediumwave because of the high mountain range in between. The local people listened instead on mediumwave to the relay service from Radio Moscow in their own languages. There have been several attempts on the part of the Afghan government to install a network of local mediumwave stations throughout their country. Back in the year 1925, two Russian made transmitters were imported into Afghanistan; one was installed in the palace of the king and the other was intended for installation in the regional city Kandahar (KUN-da-HAHR), south of Kabul and close to the Pakistan border. However, because of unrest in the area, this station was never constructed. Back in the 1970’s, tenders were called for the installation of a network of mediumwave stations in the major cities throughout Afghanistan, but again, these were never constructed. Another project was to import several mobile radio stations and establish them in regional cities, but again, this project was never fully implemented Because of the difficulties encountered in establishing a network of local mediumwave stations throughout Afghanistan, instead a regional service in local languages was on the air for several years using two transmitters in the tropical shortwave bands. At one stage, these two transmitters carried a health program from Adventist World Radio translated into the two official languages, Dari and Pushto. However, Bengt Ericson in Sweden observes that there are now four mediumwave stations on the air in Afghanistan. These stations can be heard on 657 kHz, 864, 1107 and 1584, and they are located in Kabul, Kandahar and Mizar-i-Sharif. Next week - Part 3 on ``Radio Backgrounds in Afghanistan`` will feature the story of the main transmitter bases on the edge of the city of Kabul (Adrian M. Peterson, AWR Wavescan Oct 14 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. OBSERVER #133 / 11-10-2001 --------------------------------------------------------------------- OBSERVER is an edition of RADIO BULGARIA compiled by Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov. Items here may be reproduced if it is mentioned "OBSERVER - BUL". All times in UTC. --------------------------------------------------------------------- U S A [non]: Special frequencies of VOA/RL to Afghanistan with frequencies changes effective October 11, 2001: 0000-0100 RL Persian 9450 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 9505 UDO 500 kW / 305 deg 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 0100-0130 VOA Urdu 9450 UDO 500 kW / 305 deg 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 0130-0200 VOA Pashto 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 0200-0230 VOA Dari 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 0230-0300 RL Tajik 9505 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 0300-0430 VOA Persian 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 0430-0500 RL Persian 15250 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 17855 IRA 500 kW / 334 deg 1200-1215 VOA Pashto 9540 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 15355 IRA 500 kW / 334 deg 1215-1230 VOA Dari 9540 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 15355 IRA 500 kW / 334 deg 1230-1300 VOA Persian 9540 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 15355 IRA 500 kW / 334 deg 1300-1400 RL Uzbek 9540 UDO 500 kW / 300 deg 15355 IRA 500 kW / 334 deg 1400-1415 RL Persian 7385 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 9645 UDO 500 kW / 300 deg 1415-1515 VOA Pashto 7385 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 9645 UDO 500 kW / 308 deg 1515-1615 VOA Dari 7385 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 9645 UDO 500 kW / 308 deg 1615-1700 RL Turkmen 7385 IRA 500 kW / 340 deg 9645 UDO 500 kW / 300 deg IRA=Iranawila, Sri Lanka RL=Radio Liberty UDO=Udorn Thani, Thailand VOA=Voice of America 73 from (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 11 via DXLD) OBSERVER #134 / 12-10-2001 --------------------------------------------------------------------- USA [non]. Combined schedule for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to Middle East and Afghanistan with some frequencies changes from October 11, 2001: ARABIC VOA 0730-0830 15205 KAV 250/095 15355 KAV 250/112 17685 KAV 250/095 1100-1130 15355 KAV 250/112 15515 KAV 250/095 17685 KAV 250/095 1400-1430 13665 LAM 100/104 15385 MOR 250/075 17820 SKN 250/095 1500-1530 13755 LAM 100/108 17665 MOR 250/075 17750 SKN 250/095 1600-1630 13755 LAM 100/108 17620 SKN 250/095 17775 MOR 250/075 DARI VOA 0200-0230 15250 IRA 500/340 1045-1100 15225 IRA 500/340 17735 UDO 500/300 21770 UDO 500/300 1215-1230 9540 IRA 500/340 15355 IRA 500/334 1515-1615 7385 IRA 500/340 9645 UDO 500/308 1600-1615 7235 UDO 500/308 9770 UDO 500/308 15440 IRA 500/356 ENGLISH VOA 0000-0300 7285 WOF 250/102 9665 MOR 250/075 9750 MOR 250/084 12030 MOR 250/083 0600-0730 15140 KAV 250/095 17820 KAV 250/051 0700-0730 15205 KAV 250/095 0830-1100 15205 KAV 250/095 15355 KAV 250/112 17685 KAV 250/095 1200-1400 15265 KAV 250/095 15355 KAV 250/095 15515 KAV 250/095 17685 KAV 250/095 1430-1500 13665 LAM 100/104 <<<<< but listed in Persian!!! 1530-1600 13755 LAM 100/108 17665 MOR 250/075 17750 SKN 250/095 1630-1700 13755 LAM 100/108 17620 SKN 250/095 17775 MOR 250/075 2100-2200 5935 IRA 500/299 7195 KAV 250/105 9585 KAV 250/104 2200-2300 5935 IRA 500/299 6010 KAV 250/105 7195 KAV 250/105 9585 KAV 250/104 2300-2400 5935 IRA 500/299 6010 KAV 250/105 7195 KAV/250/105 9585 KAV 250/105 PASHTO VOA 0130-0200 15250 IRA 500/340 1030-1045 15225 IRA 500/340 17735 UDO 500/300 21770 UDO 500/300 1200-1215 9540 IRA 500/340 15355 IRA 500/334 1415-1430 7235 UDO 500/308 9555 KAV 250/095 11780 KAV 250/095 1415-1515 7385 IRA 500/340 9645 UDO 500/308 PERSIAN VOA 0300-0430 15250 IRA 500/340 1130-1200 15355 KAV 250/112 15515 KAV 250/095 17685 KAV 250/095 1230-1300 9540 IRA 500/340 15355 IRA 500/334 1430-1500 15385 MOR 250/075 17820 SKN 250/095 PERSIAN RL 0000-0100 9450 IRA 500/340 9505 UDO 500/305 15250 IRA 500/340 0430-0500 15250 IRA 500/340 17855 IRA 500/334 1400-1415 7385 IRA 500/340 9645 UDO 500/300 TAJIK RL 0230-0300 9505 IRA 500/340 15250 IRA 500/340 TURKMEN RL 1615-1700 7385 IRA 500/340 9645 UDO 500/300 URDU VOA 0100-0130 9450 UDO 500/305 15250 IRA 500/340 1330-1400 9505 IRA 500/356 15190 IRA 500/340 17870 KAV 250/095 UZBEK RL 1300-1400 9540 UDO 500/300 15355 IRA 500/334 IRA=Iranawila, Sri Lanka KAV=Kavala, Greece LAM=Lampertheim, Germany MOR=Morocco SKN=Skelton, UK UDO=Udorn Thani,Thailand WOF=Wooferton, UK 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 12 via DXLD) (Corrected) USA: VOA again increases broadcasts to Afghanistan Excerpt from report by press release by Voice of America on 10 October [Correcting times in second paragraph from 1900-1930 gmt to 1830-1900 gmt; and 1930-2000 gmt to 1900-1930 gmt] Washington DC, 7 October: In the wake of today's air strikes against the Taleban regime by the US and Britain, the Voice of America will again expand its broadcasts to Afghanistan, starting 8 October. In the second such expansion since last month's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, VOA will add 30 minutes to its Dari and Pashto language broadcasts, bringing each to a total of two hours and 15 minutes daily. Pashto will add a half hour from11 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. [1830-1900 gmt] Kabul time, and Dari will add a half hour from 11.30 p.m. to midnight [1900-1930 gmt] Kabul time. Research conducted last year showed that 80 per cent of Afghan males listen to VOA broadcasts regularly... In addition to its correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan, VOA is moving two reporters into northern Afghanistan from other areas of the world. VOA reporters will meanwhile continue their coverage of the White House, Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the State Department. 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 Oct 01 (BBCM Oct 12 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. How international broadcasters have expanded services | The following BBC Monitoring Foreign Media Unit survey focuses on how some international broadcasters have increased their services to the Middle East, Afghanistan and the surrounding region since the 11 September attacks. Americas US radio propaganda broadcasts US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on 7 October confirmed that a US special forces aircraft designed for psychological operations had dropped leaflets and begun radio broadcasts to Afghanistan. He was speaking to reporters from the Pentagon hours after the start of the aerial campaign against Taleban targets and the infrastructure of Usamah Bin-Ladin's organization, Al-Qa'idah. Previous US broadcasts from airborne transmitters, including to Iraq in 1991 and Serbia in 1999, were prepared by the US army's psychological operations units and transmitted from EC-130E "Commando Solo" aircraft operated by the US Air National Guard. CNN quoted Pentagon sources as saying the US was considering airdropping radios - possibly wind-up radios capable of receiving only one frequency - into Afghanistan to allow citizens to hear broadcasts produced by the State Department or the US military. The thrust of the broadcasts is to publicize the food aid drops and stress the message that "the people of Afghanistan are not the enemy". Voice of America In September, the Voice of America (VOA) expanded news broadcasts in Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto and Urdu to the Middle East and South and Central Asia (including Afghanistan). Arabic, broadcast to 21 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and Farsi, broadcast primarily to Iran, were expanded beginning on 11 September. Pashto and Dari, broadcast to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Urdu, broadcast to Pakistan and India, were expanded on 18 September. On 8 October, VOA again added an extra 30 minutes to its Dari and Pashto-language broadcasts to Afghanistan. Pashto increased by half an hour from 2300 to 2330 [1830-1900 gmt] Kabul time, and Dari increased by half an hour from 2330 to 0000 [1900-1930 gmt] Kabul time. VOA's additional programming is broadcast via shortwave and mediumwave (AM) radio and live-streamed on the Internet at http://www.voanews.com Schedule of expanded daily broadcasts: Pashto - twice extended by 30 minutes for a total of 2.15 hours. Dari - twice extended by 30 minutes for a total of 2.15 hours. Urdu - added one half-hour programme for a total of 2 hours. Arabic - added four half-hour programmes for a total of 9 hours. Farsi - added two half-hour programmes for a total of 4.5 hours. In addition to its correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan, VOA is dispatching two reporters into northern Afghanistan. VOA reporters will meanwhile continue their coverage of the White House, Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the State Department. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty California Republican Congressman Ed Royce has drafted a bill which would allocate 14m dollars over two years to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to begin surrogate broadcasts into Afghanistan. His bill has attracted bipartisan support and he predicts it will soon be passed by the House of Representatives. A previous US-funded Radio Free Afghanistan broadcast between 1985 and 1993 in Dari and Pashto for up to two hours a day on shortwave. Radio Canada International Radio Canada International (RCI) does not broadcast in the languages of Afghanistan, but it has added a frequency to that country in its English transmission at 0630-0730 local time [0200-0300 gmt] in Afghanistan. It is on 7105 kHz via a transmitter in Abu Dhabi. This frequency joins 15260 and 17860 to South Asia during the same hour. EUROPE BBC World Service External service The BBC World Service has reinforced its mediumwave transmissions, with an additional frequency, serving a large part of the region surrounding and including Afghanistan. Shortwave transmissions to the region in Arabic, Pashto, Persian and Urdu - the key languages of the region - have also been expanded. News and current affairs content in the usually mixed schedules of each language service has been boosted and on-line coverage in these languages has been increased. Arabic - now a 24-hour service, providing news bulletins throughout the night, and adding other current affairs and analysis programmes. Pashto - increased broadcasts from 11.75 to 18.75 hours per week. Extra lunchtime news programme added to supplement the usual breakfast and evening news programmes. Persian - increased broadcasts from 28.25 to 37 hours per week. Extra lunchtime news programme added to supplement the usual breakfast and evening news programmes. Urdu - increased broadcasts from 11.5 to 13.25 hours per week. Usual mixed programming schedule changed to rolling news and current affairs. Further increases in Persian and Urdu are planned. Survey work before the crisis indicates that some 72 per cent of Pashto language speakers and some 62 per cent of Persian speakers in Afghanistan listen daily to the BBC World Service. The Urdu language service has an estimated audience of more than 15 million in Pakistan. Domestic service On 5 October, BBC World Service's broadcasts in the key languages of Afghanistan and the surrounding region were available as a 24-hour service to UK listeners who speak the languages and have digital satellite. The temporary service, called BBC World Service Extra, will run a mixed language schedule of live BBC World Service broadcasts in Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Persian, Pashto and Urdu. It focuses on news and current affairs. BBC World Service Extra, available on digital satellite channel 902. The BBC is making the services available as part of its digital satellite radio line-up which includes BBC World Service in English on channel 865. The service will complement audiostreaming and text of each language service available on-line around the globe at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice BBC World Service Extra schedule (All times gmt, until Sunday 28 October add one hour for BST) Arabic 0430-0800, 0930-1330, 1800-1830, 1900 until 0030 the following morning Bengali 0030-0100, 0800-0810, 1330-1400 Hindi 0100-0130, 0810-0820,1400-1430, 1700-1730 Pashto 0200-0230, 0830-0900, 1545-1615 Persian 0230-0430, 0900-0930, 1430-1500, 1615-1700, 1830-1900 Urdu 0130-0200, 0820-0830, 1500-1545, 1730-1800 Deutsche Welle On 21 September, Deutsche Welle (DW) increased its services in Dari and Pashto by 30 minutes to total 110 minutes daily. Programming for Pakistan in Urdu increased by 30 minutes to total 75 minutes daily. Afghan refugees living in Germany and Europe can receive the satellite broadcast (via HotBird) from DW Radio in Dari and Pashto. The offering is available worldwide in these languages from DW-On- line (in the future DW-World) as audio-on-demand on the Internet at http://www.dwelle.de Radio France Internationale Radio France Internationale (RFI) has added an extra half-hour of programmes in Persian targeted at Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan and the whole of the Central Asia region. Voice of Russia The Voice of Russia has added an extra hour to its combined Dari/Pashto service and half an hour to its Persian service. South Asia Radio Pakistan Radio Pakistan on 11 October announced that its Peshawar station will start a new Dari-language programme, "Nawa-i-Dost" (the Voice of a Friend), from 12 October. The programme will be broadcast on a 300 kW transmitter from 1805 to 1900 gmt [2305 to 0000 local time] on mediumwave. It will also be available on shortwave. The station said that the Dari-language programme "will prove an important source of current affairs for listeners from far-flung areas of Afghanistan". According to the World Radio TV Handbook, there is a 300kW transmitter in Peshawar broadcasting on 540 kHz mediumwave. East Asia Radio Japan On 11 October, NHK Radio Japan introduced a 24-hour "emergency" service in Japanese, and extra transmissions in English, because of the situation in Afghanistan. The schedule is as follows: [see under JAPAN] Other Broadcasters Other broadcasts in Pashto/Dari to Afghanistan include China Radio International, All India Radio, Radio Cairo, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tajik Radio and Radio Tashkent (Uzbekistan). There are also a number of radio stations run by Afghan expatriates, mainly in North America, which broadcast in Pashto/Dari. Contact details: Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring, fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk +44 118 948 6261 Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 12 Oct 01 (via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Czech Republic/USA: RFE Afghan broadcasts under consideration - official | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 11 October: The United States talks about resumption of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) broadcasts to Afghanistan or extension of the Voice of America broadcasts to that country, RFE/RL spokeswoman Sonia Winterova told CTK today. She said that the radio's operation in the Middle East was on the agenda of a hearing at the international relations committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress. Radio Free Europe had broadcast to Afghanistan in the 1980s from Munich already. Winterova said that Afghans can now listen to RFE/RL programmes broadcast from neighbouring countries - Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan. "Afghans listen to us, the languages are close to one another," Winterova said. She said that the Congress had discussed various methods of expanding uncensored news to Afghanistan. "Simply it was debated from various points of view," she added. Broadcasts extension must be approved by both Congress chambers and President George W. Bush. Winterova would not react to the question whether Afghan broadcasts resumption would further increase the endangering of the Prague seat of the radio, which is in the city centre, close to the busy Wenceslas Square. The building of the former Federal Assembly (parliament), from which RFE/RL broadcasts to Islamic countries, has been guarded by policemen and soldiers with armoured vehicles because of a threat of a terrorist attack. That is also why the possibility of moving the radio to a less sensitive place has been considered. It has even been discussed by Kavan and his US counterpart Colin Powell. Winter however said that it would be too early to make any comment on considerations about who would seek substitute premises and how the rent would be paid. RFE/RL has paid a symbolic 1 koruna per year since it moved to Prague from Munich in 1995. President Vaclav Havel, who visited the RFE/RL seat on Monday [8 October], said earlier that to move the radio because of the threat of terrorist attacks would be absurd. The moving of the radio has on the contrary been supported by the Communists (KSCM). RFE/RL is a private non-profit radio station which is financed by the US government. It was founded in 1949 to spread uncensored news to countries behind the Iron Curtain and to promote democratic values. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1457 gmt 11 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) more under CZECH REPUBLIC BBC too has extended programmes in Pashto to Afghanistan. According to BBC's Pashto homepage this is the actual schedule as seen on Oct 11 at 1820 UT: 0100-0130 ("dawn programme") on 11685, 13780, 15380, 17640 0830-0900 (new "mid-day programme") on 11685, 17640 1530-1615 ("evening programme") on 6195 (for Afghans in Europe), 11685, 15380, 17640 1130-1230 ("Home and Environment", Thursday only) on 15380, 17640 0745-0945 ("Music programme", Fridays only) on 15380, 17640 0330-0415 ("REACH/Drama") on 11820, 13635 0800-0830 ("REACH", repeat) on 12030, 15170, 17720 1400-1430 ("REACH", repeat) on 15470, 17860 I didn't find any reference that all programmes listed are in Pashto (Manfred Reiff, Wuppertal, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. ¿Cómo obtener una QSL de Radio Dimensión? Cómo ya he informado en otras oportunidades, Radio Dimensión AM 940 de San Luis, Argentina se puede escuchar en su primera [sic] armónica de 1880 Khz pero –al parecer- nadie ha podido lograr una QSL de la emisora. Mis reportes enviados a su Director Sr. Jorge Altamirano no han sido contestados. Por suerte, he podido obtener un excelente contacto con el realizador y locutor Jorge Chiappe que trabaja en Radio Dimensión desde hace algunos años y es oriundo de la provincia de Santa Fe. A través de varios mensajes electrónicos que he intercambiado con Jorge pude conocer la razón de mis fallidos intentos por lograr una QSL de la emisora; ``Me temo que si aún no te enviaron nada es porque no les interesa el tema, creo que esta gente tiene otros intereses con la radio... Quizás los problemas económicos que atraviesa la radio no les permita prestar atención a otras cosas... En fin, lamento mucho que no tengas tu certificado de recepción y yo creo que ya no vale la pena insistir...``, me dijo Chiappe en su mensaje del 13/9/01. Como Jorge Chiappe está a cargo de su programa ``Música del Recuerdo`` los días sábados en un horario muy apropiado para captar la onda de Radio Dimensión, le propuse si él mismo estaría dispuesto a confirmar los reportes remitidos por los diexistas del mundo. La respuesta del amigo fue positiva!: ``Acepto la propuesta de verificar a los oyentes de otras latitudes``, me dijo el 24/09/01. Los interesados en captar a Radio Dimensión y obtener una QSL deben intentar la escucha del programa ``Música del Recuerdo`` los días sábados 1900 a 2030 hora de Argentina (2200-2330 UT) en OM 940 kHz y OC 1880 kHz y remitir los informes de recepción a nombre de Jorge Chiappe Jorge_Chiappe@COLPAL.COM – Radio Dimensión, Av. Pte. Illía 128, 5700 San Luís, Argentina. TE`s: +54 (Código de Argentina) 02652 (Código de San Luis) 441088 y 441099. Importante: adjuntar U$S2.- (ó 2 IRCs) (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. R. Continental, 15820-LSB, Oct 6 0025-0320+, Spanish news, US pop music, YL DJ. Time pips and news at top and bottom of each hour. Continental IDs. Very good. Searching for Euro-pirates but find this instead. Also, unID Argentine feeder on 29810 LSB Oct 6 at 1425-2120+ with Spanish talk, brief music breaks, Spanish pops, weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 29810.00, Radio Continental, 2049 Oct 6, LSB broadcast feeder. Spanish interview, announcement with ID. Weak but clear signal (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA [non]. Relay schedule via Sackville for B-01 shows RAI still there on 17865, at 1600-1659, 250 kW, 272 degrees to USA. Let`s hope they still manage to include English at 1630 (gh, from fax via Bill Westenhaver via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 11 Oct'2001. Dear All, Bangladesh Betar (Radio Bangladesh) External Service High Frequency Broadcasting Schedule B'01 Effective from 29/10/01 to 24/03/02 UTC LANG FREQ ZONE AZIMUTH(deg) 1200-1300 G.O.S(ENG) 7185, 9550 S/SE ASIA 60, 125 1315-1345 NEPALESE 7185, 9550 NEPAL 320 1400-1430 URDU 7185, 9550 PAKISTAN 290 1515-1545 HINDI 7185, 9550 INDIA 305 1600-1630 ARABIC 7185, 9550 MIDDLE EAST 290, 275 1630-1730 BENGALI 7185, 9550 MIDDLE EAST 290, 275 1745-1815 V.O.ISLAM(ENG) 7185, 9550, 15520 EUROPE 320 1815-1900 G.O.S(ENG) 7185, 9550, 15520 EUROPE 320 1915-2000 BENGALI 7185, 9550, 15520 EUROPE 320 REPORTS TO : SENIOR ENGINEER(RESEARCH WING) NATIONAL BROADCASTING AUTHORITY BANGLADESH BETAR, 121 KAZI NAZRUL ISLAM AVENUE SHAHBAG, DHAKA-1000, BANGLADESH. TEL :+880-2-505113,8625538 FAX :+880-2-8612021 E-MAIL :rrc@aitlbd.net OR dgbetar@bd.drik.net ----------------- Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Oct 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) i.e., largely if not totally unchanged as usual (gh, DXLD) ** BELGIUM. From http://www.rvi.be/uk/hoeontvang/realaudio/index.htm Only two weeks to go now before we turn the clock back here in Belgium, going from GMT plus 2 to GMT plus 1. This means most of our programmes will be broadcast one hour later. Before I give you the details of our new programme-schedule, let’s briefly look across the linguistic border to our colleagues at RTBF. In fact, I humbly admit I completely forget about them last week, when I said the last shortwave signals from the transmission site at Waver (Wavre in French) south of Brussels, would be going out on Saturday October 27th. Not so, of course: RTBF will continue to use one transmitter at Waver to relay programmes on shortwave from their domestic services, mainly the news and information channel `La Une`, the first national programme, which is also on mediumwave from Waver, on 621 kHz. So, to make up for my unforgivable omission last week, I begin with the RTBF schedule. In fact there are no frequency changes in the coming season, but also here the transmissions start one hour later: For listeners in southern Europe: 9970 kHz (from Waver!) at 0400-1900 UT; for Africa: on weekdays (Mo-Fri): 9490 kHz at 0400-0600 UT; 17580 kHz at 0600-0815 UT; 21565 kHz at 1100-1305 UT; 17570 kHz at 1600-1815 UT. On Saturdays, the programmes begin at 0430 UT, uninterrupted until 1215 UT, and then again at 1700-1815 UT. On Sunday, the programmes begin at 0430 UT. Note: Waver, spelled W-A-V-E-R in Dutch, and W-A-V-R-E in French, is a little town in the province of Walloon Brabant. It is right on the linguistic border and was administratively catalogued as Walloon and Frenchspeaking when the linguistic border was drawn across Belgium, once and for all, and constitutionally, fixing the line between Flanders in the north and Wallonia to the south. The greater Brussels region is sitting on the fence, with a bilingual charter. The VRT-RTBF transmission site is mainly in Waver, but, in a typical Belgian twist, part of the grounds are in neighbouring Overijse, which is in Dutchspeaking Flanders. (Frans Vossen, RVI Radio World Oct 14 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. 12125, V. of Biafra International, Sat Oct 6 *1859- 1910 45433 English, 1859 s/on and ID and frequency announce. SJ. Music. Talk (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** CANADA. RCI A-01 fall English programming effective 13 to 28 Oct: 0000-0059 on Xian 11895 to SE Asia: M-F World at Six/AIH Sat Quirks & Quarks Sun Tapestry 0100-0159 on 5960 6175 13670 13770 15170 15305 to Carib/LAm/USA: M-F Canada Today / Theme Programs [not specified] Sat Business Sense / Canada in the World Sun Mailbag / Spotlight 0200-0257 on Xian 15260 and 17860, Dhabayya 7105 to Indian sub- continent: same as 0100. [really? Would expect the 0100 programs above to be shown in local days, not UT days -gh] 1200-1259 on Yamata 9660, 15190 to Asia: Tue-Sat This Morning, Tonight Sun The House Mon Quirks & Quarks 1200-1459 M-F on 9515 9640 15305 17820 to Carib/USA: This Morning 1300-1559 on 9515 9640 15305 17805 to Carib/USA: Sat The House, Vinyl Cafe, Quirks & Quarks Sun The Sunday Edition 1500-1557 on Xian 15455 17720 to Indian sub-continent: Tue-Sat This Morning, Tonight Sun The House Mon Quirks & Quarks 1800-1859 on Skelton 13690 to ME; ``Armavir`` Russia 15470, Dhabayya 17820, Rampisham 21570 to Africa: M-F Canada Today, Theme programs [unspecified] Sat Business Sense Sun Mailbag, Spotlight 2000-2059 on Hörby 5995, Skelton 11690 15325 17870 21570 to Europe: M-F Canada Today, Theme programs [unspecified] Sat Business Sense, Canada in the World Sun Mailbag, Spotlight 2200-2229 M-F on 6175 9590 9755 13670 15305 17880 17695 [sic] to Carib/LAm/USA: The World at Six 2200-2359 on 6175 9590 9755 13670 17695 to USA; Sat The World This Week, Madly Off, Quirks & Quarks Sun The World This Week, Inside Track, Global Village 2230-2359 M-F on 6175 9590 9755 13670 17695 to USA: As It Happens (RCI Engineering Oct 10 fax via Bill Westenhaver, QU, retyped by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) We also have the B-01 schedule effective Oct 28 holding for a future DXLD, involving lots of frequency changes; the usual one-hour time shifts to NAm and Europe. There will be no RCI broadcasts at all in the prime European time of 1800-2000, just English at 2100-2230 for Europe and Africa both. And there is no sign (yet?) of a resumption of relay via Holland to South Asia at 1500, or any other time; still Xian (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Radio Montreal documentary wins award http://www.cbc.ca/onair/jhtml/newsitem.jhtml?ID=1895 CBC RADIO WINS COMMONWEALTH PROGRAMME AWARD 2001 FOR SOCIAL ACTION RADIO PROGRAM OF THE YEAR CBC Radio was awarded the Commonwealth Programme Award 2001 for Social Action radio programme of the year. The winning entry, Jennifer's Diary, aired as part of the New Voices initiative in Montreal and was rebroadcast across the country through syndication. Award-winning producer and journalist David Gutnick produced the Jennifer's Diary series, which told the story of Jennifer Ottaway, a middle-class university-educated woman who is one of the estimated 5,000 homeless men and women living on the streets of Montreal. While working on another story, Gutnick struck up a conversation with Ottaway and found her story so compelling that he asked her to record her actions and emotions while going about her days. Over a period of six weeks, Ottaway recorded herself as she collected stray cans, ate in food kitchens and got ready to bed down in shelters and an old bus. After Ottaway's diaries aired on CBC Radio, many listeners called and wrote in asking for more information about how to help Jennifer and other homeless people. A round-table discussion also aired with the directors of two local shelters discussing the series and what services are available to the homeless of Montreal. "We are very proud of Jennifer's Diary and the way in which the series shed much-needed light on the day-to-day realities faced by people living on the streets," said Alex Frame, Vice-President of CBC Radio. "Good radio draws listeners in, great radio broadens their perspective and helps them to think about issues in a new light." The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association is made up of both public and private radio and television stations within the Commonwealth. Some of the organization's objectives include securing funds for training in developing Commonwealth countries for management and broadcasting skills and fostering freedom of expression and the right to communicate. -30- (via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) ** CANADA / USA. Why CBC Newsworld on Fla. Shopping Channel once in a while Linkname: Power Broadcasting Inc. and CBC sell TRIO and Newsworld International to USA Cable URL: http://www.newswire.ca/releases/May2000/19/c6753.html This link gives you the news about the CBC Newsworld International selloff. Analysis? Try the newspapers around that date. Nobody watched and it was an attempt to be sat to ground, whereas Newsworld is a cable station in Canada which has 90 percent cable penetration in the cities of Canada, and a forced carrying by the CRTC. I'll let you scan for the CRTC rules (Daniel Say, BC, Oct 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Relays via Canada for B-01 remain the same: 0100 on 9790 277 degrees [English], 0300 on 9560 189 degrees [Spanish], 0500 on 9560 277 degrees [English] [ex-0400 summer timing], 1200 on 11855 240 degrees [Chinese], 2300 on 13680 285 degrees [English] (RCI Engineering Oct 4 via Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. 2579.91, HJMC Radio Viva, (2 x 1290 harmonic) 0948 Oct 8, Spanish ballads, canned ID "...Radio Viva...". Very weak signal (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST)) ** CONGO DR. 6713U, R. Bukavu, 2015 Oct 1, talk in vernacular and songs, 2029 announcement by woman, then man, in FR as "vous êtes à l'écoute de RDC, La Voix du Peuple," off at 2030 after NA. On Oct 2 went off at 2034 after NA (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI has supposedly left 15050 for good Oct 8, but Oct 11 at 0500 check, there it was again on 15050 instead of 15045; and at 1300 still on 15050 clashing again with China. At 2020 recheck, however, had returned to 15045. Perhaps old traditions, or habits, die hard (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15045 has had QRM from two carriers, one with data bursts. So, back to this sked: 15045 in the mornings when China is on 15050, and then shift at 1800 to 15050. Also may start closing 21815 a bit earlier than the current 0300, if transmitter needed on 7445. The new antenna for 7445: hope to get tower crew out this coming week or within two weeks, and ready to use. Antenna will be much improved over the last one. Thinking about running 15050 until 0600, and 7445 from 0300 with 30 kW until 0800. Is two-element yagi, with special matching and tuning on it allowing to vary frequency resonation a bit. To be placed at 200 foot level on tower, and pretty effective, higher than the other one was; and above the current guy cables of the existing tower, clear of them. That was a problem with previous antenna: guy cables causing pattern distortion. Had good reports off the sides of it east and west. One of our new volunteers is a graphic artist, designing two new QSL cards (James Latham and Joe Bernard, RFPI Mailbag Oct 12, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. Discussions on possible move of RFE/RL confirmed | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 10 October: Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed a possible movement of the seat of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) from the centre of Prague to a less sensitive place some time ago, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ales Pospisil told CTK today. He added, however, that it was too early to speculate where the RFE/RL could move. It is situated in the building of the communist-era Federal Assembly near Wenceslas Square in Prague's centre. For more than a week, the RFE/RL seat, from which the station also broadcasts into Islamic countries, has been guarded by the police together with the army's armoured vehicles as a measure to prevent a possible terrorist attack. Premier Milos Zeman said on Monday that the RFE/RL could move from Prague's centre to another building if the USA requested this. Pospisil said this had not happened yet, adding the Czech Republic wanted the RFE/RL to stay on its territory. The Foreign Ministry has not chosen any sites from which RFE/RL could broadcast. "No matter whether it will be a building owned by a private institution or by the state, its vulnerability will be the key point in making the decision," Pospisil said. Foreign intelligence services recently warned the Czech Republic that terrorists were planning to deliver explosives to the RFE/RL building in a van. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1747 gmt 10 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Czechs ready to find new premises for Radio Free Europe | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 11 October: The Czech government is ready to find a building where Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) could move if the USA asked for such a step to be taken, Foreign Minister Jan Kavan told journalists today. The US government-financed radio station, which is a potential target of a terrorist attack in connection with the recent declaration by the terrorist organization Al-Qa'idah of Jihad against the USA, seats not far from Wenceslas Square in downtown Prague. Kavan conceded that the possibility had already been discussed by ministers. "Both by the Defence Ministry, and for instance by the Culture Ministry at the government meeting yesterday," Kavan said without elaborating. There are some buildings in Prague or on its outskirts, Kavan said, adding however that the radio would have to set conditions which its new seat would have to fulfill. The operation on new premises would be covered by the Americans, while the Czech side would probably contribute to the moving of the station. "If the sum were really so high that it could not be tackled within the current state budget, we would have to consult on it with the US allies and, of course, with the parliament of the Czech Republic," Kavan said... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1526 gmt 11 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Czech Republic: US envoy says moving Radio Free Europe not planned yet | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 11 October: The United States does not plan to move Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) from downtown Prague, though this alternative cannot be entirely ruled out given security considerations, US Ambassador to the Czech Republic Craig Stapleton told CTK today. The radio editorial staff feel safe at the moment and well protected, and that is why moving elsewhere is not a topical issue, Stapleton said... Stapleton said that it would be early to talk about who would pay the possible relocation The US-financed radio station, which is a potential target of a terrorist attack in connection with the recent declaration by the terrorist organization Al-Qa'idah of Jihad against the USA, seats not far from Wenceslas Square in downtown Prague... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1728 gmt 11 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) The Czech government has announced it is willing to find new office space for the staff of Radio Free Europe. The Radio Free Europe building is right in the centre of Prague and is a prime target for any possible terrorist attacks. According to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, the cabinet has already discussed the issue and that several suggestions have already been made for where the staff could be moved to. The proposed sites are either in Prague itself or in the near vicinity. Several Czech politicians have stated in the recent past that Radio Free Europe could only be moved if the US government requests it. So far, said Mr Kavan, no such request has been received, but he told journalists on Thursday that he will not be surprised if it happens. According to the US ambassador to Prague, Craig Stapleton, there are currently no plans to move the staff of RFE. (Copyright (c) 2001 Radio Prague (Vysilani do zahranici CRo) News OCTOBER 12th, 2001 By: Nick Carey via Chris Brand, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA [nons]. Clandestines heard via DTK GERMANY: 15565, Rainbow R. Oct 5 *1859-1910 45333, Amharic, 1859 s/on with IS and ID. ID and frequency announce. Talk. 15670, V. of Ethiopian Salvation Oct 4 *1559-1615 33433 Amharic, 1559 s/on with IS and ID. ID and program announce at 1601. Talk. 15670, V. of Democratic Eritrea Oct 8 *1700-1709 25332 Tigrigna, 1700 s/on with Opening music and ID. Talk. 15715, R. Freedom Oct 2 *1630-1640 35433 Somali, 1630 s/on with Opening music and ID. Koran. Talk. 15715, V. of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity Oct 3 *1830-1840 25332 Amharic, 1830 s/on with IS and ID. Talk by man. 15715, V. of Oromo Liberation Oct 5 *1657-1710 33433-35433 Amharic, 1657 s/on with Opening music. ID at 1658. Talk. (all: Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG- 7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 12110, Netsanet R., Sun Oct 7 *1700-1705 32332 Amharic, 1700 s/on with IS. ID. Ethiopian pop music (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) 12110, Dejen Radio. Sat Oct. 6 at 1700(S/on)-1740. SINPO 35443. Started with Folk song, ID followed. Program was consist of male talk and folk song. Unknown language (Iwao NAGATANI, Kobe JAPAN: NRD-545 with 20 meters LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** FINLAND. YLE Radio Finland Coverage Maps for Nov and Dec 2001 Available Once again, to serve YLE Radio Finland's listeners abroad, I have released a set of coverage maps (i.e. propagation forecasts) that illustrate the quality of YLE's signal in the months of November and December 2001 in all their target areas. Another set for the months of January, February and March will be available soon. November: http://www.uwasa.fi/~jpe/rfinland/nov01/ December: http://www.uwasa.fi/~jpe/rfinland/dec01/ These web pages feature a new enhanced layout, including YLE's B-01 broadcasting schedule and map comparison by frequency. DISCLAIMER: Please note that the forecasts do not represent the official view of YLE Radio Finland as regards to their coverage around the world. These are my personal views only, based on a statistical assessment (Jari Perkiömäki, Oct 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 5630V, V. of Mojahed, Oct 2 1619-1625, 33333, Farsi Talk \\ 8520V (33333). 7480, R. Barabari (presumed), Oct 4 1709-1730*, 24322, Farsi, Music and Talk. 7480, R. Payem-e Doost, Oct 4 *1800-1810, 45433 Farsi, 1800 s/on with Opening music. ID. Talk (all: Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** IRAQ. 11787, Radio Iraq International, 1902 Oct 2, ID & Music. Break in Transmission for a couple of seconds at 1904, then back on with NX. English (Graham Powell, Wales, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. 6973, Galei Zahal (Israel Defense Forces Radio), Oct 9-10, 2322 Program in Hebrew with pop songs in English and Hebrew, and male announcer talking between and sometimes during songs. Also comedy, including what sounded like a live recording of a stand-up comedian in Hebrew, "The Bright Side of Life" (song from Monty Python's "Life of Brian"), and "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" by Tom Lehrer. It was getting close to 2 A.M. in Israel when the last two selections were played, so perhaps the DJ was bending the rules a little to amuse soldiers who are up all night. Clear ID and news by woman announcer at 0000 UTC, with mentions of Jerusalem, President Bush, Yasser Arafat, and Israel. Back to music at 0003. Fair signals with very little fading. EQUIPMENT: Drake R8B, 70-foot longwire, MFJ-16010 antenna tuner (Marie Lamb, NY, swl@qth.net via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. As of this month - 4 hours worth of Israeli TV are available on an NTSC DVD each month. The service is called, "Drishat Shalom." The audio is in Hebrew, but there are always English subtitles available. The video may be watched on any NTSC TV (e.g. US, Canada), or any computer in the world. The November DVD includes a Satire, Sitcom, "Telenovela" (Soap Opera???), Celebrity interview, entertainment programming including humor and music and a program about cuisine. The programming will vary from month to month, but some shows will be shown more frequently than others. Interestingly, there is a question in the FAQ, "What's the difference between Drishat Shalom and The Israeli Network. The companies are not related. http://www.drishatshalom.com 800-566-6316 I have found their website to be very slow -- but it eventually works. $14.95 a month plus $2.50 shipping and handling ($4.50 for Canadian delivery). If you pay 12 months in advance, at: $195 US $219 Canada, the 12th month is free. Only Pennsylvania residents pay sales tax. If you don't subscribe, each DVD is $19.95 + shipping. Payments are only by credit/debit card. Subscribers may cancel at any time after the first three months. I have no association with this company -- I just saw an ad in the current edition of the, "Jerusalem Report." (Daniel Rosenzweig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. RADIO BROADCAST SCHEDULE Seasonal schedule from 28 October 2001 al 31 March 2002 [excerpts: all to Americas, all English and Spanish, all Italian] NORTH AMERICA 1400 1425 17780 21520 Italian 1830 1905 15250 17780 Italian 2240 0055 9675 11800 Italian * 0055 0115 9675 11800 English 0115 0130 9675 11800 French 0130 0315 9675 11800 Italian * 0315 0335 9675 11800 Spanish CENTRAL AMERICA 0130 0230 11765 Italian SOUTH AMERICA 2240 0055 9840 11755 Italian * 0055 0115 9840 11755 Spanish 0115 0130 9840 11755 Portuguese 0130 0230 6110 Italian * 0130 0315 9840 11755 Italian * 0315 0335 9840 11755 Spanish SPAIN - NORTH WEST AFRICA 0445 0500 5965 7235 English 2110 2130 6135 7290 Spanish * WEST EUROPE 1935 1955 5970 9760 English EAST AFRICA - NEAR EAST 2025 2045 7220 9710 11880 English ASIA - FAR EAST - JAPAN 2205 2230 9675 11900 English * On Sunday, from 1352 and 1730, the programmes are subject to reduction or suppression to broadcast news and commentaries of sporting events in Italian language, 'TUTTO IL CALCIO MINUTO PER MINUTO' and 'DOMENICA SPORT' A 1352 1730 17780 North America * C 1352 1730 21535 South America * G 1352 1730 9670 Europe * H 1352 1730 21710 Central Africa * I 1352 1730 21520 East Africa * ITALIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AND NEWS 0130 0230 11765 Central America 0130 0230 6110 South America 0130 0415 9840 11755 South America 0130 0415 9675 11800 North America 0435 0445 5965 7235 Mediterranean 0455 0530 15250 17780 East Africa 0630 1300 9670 Europe 11800 East Europe 17710 21520 East Africa 1400 1425 17780 21520 North America 1500 1525 9670 11880 Mediterranean 1555 1625 9670 11880 Europe 1700 1800 9670 11910 North Africa 15320 17660 Central Africa 15330 East Africa 1830 1905 15250 17780 North America 2200 0400 6060 Europe 2240 0055 9840 11755 South America 2200 0400 9675 11800 North America (via Andrea Borgnino, IW1CXZ, Oct 12, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. [HCDX] New frequency for relay of Radio Japan. Hi everyone! Here is some news from Radio Japan, 7195 kHz relayed by Dhabbaya, UAE which is a new frequency for emergency broadcast. Thanks to Ralph Brandi on IRC #swl for making the tips to listen to them, the transmission was from 2030 to 2055 when they signed off. The entire transmission had interval music with ID's in English and Japanese. Below is the response I got from R. Japan. Best regards (Alf Aardal, Norway, hard-core-dx via DXLD) -------------------- Dear Mr. Aardal, Thank you for your message to NHK World web-site. Regarding your inquiry, we suppose you must listened 7195 kHz relayed by Dhabbaya, UAE, which is our new frequency for emergency broadcast. Radio Japan is transmitting the emergency broadcast of "US starts to attack the terrorist group in Afghanistan." since October 10, 2001 as following schedule. Time is Japan time. [SUBTRACT 9 HOURS FOR UT!!] for Middle-East and North Africa area (All Japan Time) 0000-0100 15480 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 0100-0200 15455 (Lampisham) [sic -- Rampisham, UK or Lampertheim, Germany?? -gh] 0200-0400 11880 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 0400-0600 7195 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 0600-1000 6140 (Dhabbaya, UAE) 1000-1300 11870 (Yamata, Japan) 1300-1600 17700 (Yamata, Japan) 1600-2400 15480 (Dhabbaya, UAE) for Southwest Asia area (All Japan Time) 0000-0100 11910 (Yamata, Japan) 0100-0200 9750 (Yamata, Japan) 0100-0400 6035 (Yamata, Japan) 0400-0600 6165 (Yamata, Japan) 0400-1000 11910 (Yamata, Japan) 1000-1700 15195 (Yamata, Japan) Broadcast is changed from English to Japanese during 1000-1100, 1400- 1600, 1700-2400 9750 (Yamata, Japan) [sic – what does this mean? Above concerns Japanese already -gh] Time is Japan time. [SUBTRACT 9 HOURS FOR UT!!!] for Middle east & North Africa area 1000-1100 11870, 11880 2300-2400 17755 for Southwest Asia area 1000-1100 15325 1400-1600 11910 2300-0100 11730 Thank you for your attention to this matter. Best regards, -- (Radio Japan info@intl.nhk.or.jp via Alf Aardal, Hard-Core-DX mailing list Oct 11 via DXLD) ** JORDAN. R. Jordan, 11690, Oct 6 1630-1731* English news, commentary, IDs, 1645 pop music, 17009 time pips and English news. Fair level but poor with usual RTTY QRM. S/off used to be at 1630 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. New RKI via RCI relay sked for B-01 shows: KBS 0200-0259 9560* 250 kW 277 degrees USA [presumably English] KBS 1000-1059 11715 250 kW 176 degrees LAm [presumably Spanish] KBS 1100-1229 9650 250 kW 240 degrees USA [Korean, & English?] *9560 could be 9580, hard to tell from fine-print fax, retyped. This is RKI`s very long-awaited evening relay via RCI to North America! (RCI Engineering Oct 4 via Bill Westenhaver, QU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Korea International launches 24-hour web broadcasting South Korea's Radio Korea International (RKI) http://rki.kbs.co.kr has expanded its Internet broadcasting from 15 to 24 hours as of 9 October, the Korea Herald newspaper reported. The radio station went on-line in 1997 and has provided daily news and information on Korea in both text and audio clips in 10 different languages since July 2000, the paper said. The major languages covered in are Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian and Arabic. RKI has also incorporated visual contents from its sister TV Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) station on the web, while offering self-produced cultural, educational and entertainment programmes, the paper added. Since its launch in 1953, RKI has provided up-to-the-minute news and information on Korea to international audiences under the umbrella of the state-run KBS. RKI broadcasts a total of 111 hours of programming per day on 24 frequencies, the paper said. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 11 Oct 01 (via DXLD) Arirang TV to launch North America service | Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 12 October: South Korea's Arirang TV, a foreign-language cable channel, will formally send its programmes 24 hours a day to all of North America from Wednesday. Arirang TV said Friday it signed a contract last month with EchoStar DISH Network, one of the major satellite broadcasters in the United States. Arirang has been sending out its programmes on a limited basis to areas with large Korean populations in Los Angeles, New York and Hawaii through American cable channels and UHF channels. Arirang will celebrate the occasion in Los Angeles Wednesday with a party attended by some 100 celebrities. Source: Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0420 gmt 12 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. V. of the People of Kurdistan, 4063.2v, Sept 30 0216-0300+, tune-in to martial music, talk in language, 0223 Kor`an; \\ 6995, both fair to good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4060.1, V. of People of Kurdistan, Oct 3 1509-1537, 34232, Kurdish, Talk and Music. \\ 6995kHz (34232) (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) 11530, V. of Mesopotamia, Oct 4 1549-1559*, 34433, Kurdish, Music. ID and frequency announce at 1552 (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) 11530, Voice of Mesopotamia, Oct 5 at 1359(S/on)-1430. SINPO 35333. Started with music, ID as "Denge Mezopotamya" followed. Female talk until 1408, then music and male talk (Iwao NAGATANI, Kobe JAPAN: NRD- 545 with 20 meters LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** MACA0 [non]. Hi, Glenn In your DXLD bulletin nº 1-141: ``15295 CHINA Macau, R Macau at 1025 Oct 5 in Portuguese with several clear ID's; No listing in either PWBR or WRTH for any shortwave for Macau so transmitter site not clear. Maybe the group have more info on this one (Bob Stewart, Ont.?, ODXA via DXLD)`` This certainly was RDP, not Radio Macau. Every hour, the news bulletins of RDP are retransmitted by the Portuguese language service of Radio Macau on FM. Between the time signal and the news, the following is usually announced by RDP: "A informação na Antena 1, RDP Internacional e Rádio Macau". But Bob Stewart said that he heard several clear IDs. This leads us to another fact (surprise, surprise!): "Rádio Macau" is also the name of a Portuguese rock band! Probably RDP was transmitting an interview with members of the band! 73 (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, Oporto, Portugal, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. I don't know if this is a daily broadcast, but Radio Educación out of Mexico City is presenting steady Jazz music between 1100 UT and 1200 on 6185 kHz. Here in South Florida, the signal quality is armchair, so any of you Jazz fans can give a listen if you want. Sounds good (Chuck Bolland, FL, Fri Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. R. México International, 11770, Sept 30 0302-0333, English program with IDs, mailbox reading listeners` letters. Spanish pops. F-G; Spanish prior to 0302. \\ 9705 fair with slight QRM from Ethiopia on 9704.2 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {just hours before DST shift, so mailbag should now be 0400 UT Sun} ** MIDEAST NUMBERS. Re DXLD 1-145: E3, E4, E10, M22 etc.: That's a classification created by "Enigma", a UK-based numbers station monitoring organization. E stands for English, M for Morse (i.e. CW transmissions) etc. By the way, the "Lincolnshire poacher" transmissions (a MI6 operation, i.e. UK-based, Cyprus is only the transmitter site for all or some of the frequencies) are usually subject of heavy bubble jamming. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Alfa Lima schedule for the upcoming 5 months Our station can still be found every weekend on the frequency 15070 kHz AM mostly parallel to a frequency into the 48 mb somewhere hetween 6317 and 6280 kHz AM around 2230 UT Saturday evening till 0700 Sunday morning. Sometimes we broadcast a few hours longer. Also for the upcoming months we will maintain the same schedule but we might be there also from 1300 till 1800 Sundays. Also than we have times that we broadcast a few hours longer. Keep an eye on our announcements in the SW pirates group (info below) for our transmissions on 21890 kHz. As soon we are going to use that frequency it will be parallel to 15070 kHz or to the 48 mb. _____________________________________________________ The Alfa Lima web page. Loads of info and free radio stuff. Find out!! http://www.alfalima.net http://www.alphalima.net http://www.geocities.com/alfa_lima_international/ http://www.fly.to/freeradio email: alin-@rendo.dekooi.nl [truncated by topica] Our QSL and info sheet?? send your RR's to: Alfa Lima International, P O Box 663, 7900AR Hoogeveen, the Netherlands. enclose 1 URC/ US$ for reply ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Telephone/Hotline:+31 6 19508938 (via ACE Pirates via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Frequency schedule 2300-0358 - 17675 kHz. 0359-0605 - 15340 kHz. 0606-1005 - 11675 kHz. 1006-1205 - 15175 kHz. (from John Figliozzi`s weekly previews on swprograms, Oct 12 via DXLD) Why does this conflict with the supposedly latest revision as in DXLD 1-136?? (gh, DXLD) 2300 is not the sign-on of 17675, but when it usually become audible and my listings start; will check with Adrian Sainsbury about which time is correct for 15340 to 11675 switch (Figliozzi, swprograms) Here`s another version effective Oct 7, evidently with times rounded off: (gh) From 1650 11725, 1750 15160, 2215 17675, 0400 15340, 0705 11675, 1005-1205 15175. I heard the schedule read on a recent Mailbox UT Sept 24 on 9885 with very good signals here. Adrian had a springtime cold and his voice was noticeable (Richard Lemke, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, CIDX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. The latest issue of the ``New Zealand DX Times`` arrived in an envelope with two interesting stamps attached. One of these stamps uses an abbreviation which is also a radio abbreviation. It states, ``DX Mail``, it is valued at NZ $1.30, and it pictures the Southern Alps, though it does not bear the country name, New Zealand. The other stamp states ``Postage Paid, Brunei Darussalam, No 88`` (Adrian M. Peterson, AWR Wavescan Oct 14 via DXLD) We double-took at the same. Used to be only UK would not bother to label its stamps with country name. There must be an interesting story behind this mailing. It`s hard to imagine NZDXT really being dispatched from Brunei, and what was the actual intent of `DX` by the postal service? (gh, DXLD) ** NORWAY. 7215, UKE Senderen, Trondheim, 0850-0920 fair signal, easy copy on clear channel. Dance music, at 0900 John Cleese 'And now for something completely different" followed by identification in Norwegian as "Student Radio Trondheim", details of frequencies, phone number, Eric Idle "I Bet you they won`t play this song on the radio" and then back to dance music. Station is only on the air every two years for Student rag week. It will be on the air till 3rd November. Reports can be sent to UKEsenderen01, c/o ARK, Elgesetergt. 1, N-7030 Trondheim, Norway (Mike Barraclough, UK, BDXC-UK Oct 12 via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Uke Senderen 7215 kHz Propagation Forecast Available: I have taken the impossible task of estimating the area coverage and the signal quality of Ukesenderen on 7215 kHz, knowing that all the input data is not verified. Then what you will get is a very rough estimate which may or may not be helpful... Take a look at http://www.uwasa.fi/~jpe/uke/index.html This single page contains 24 coverage maps so it may take a while (ca 60 seconds) to download all the maps via a 56k modem. -- Jari Perkiömäki, Vaasa, Finland jpe@uwasa.fi ** OKLAHOMA. Those curious about how public radio funding works may find this example from KCCU Lawton enlightening: (gh) KCCU ESTABLISHES NEW STATIONS TO SERVE WICHITA FALLS & WESTERN OKLAHOMA KCCU is excited to announce that the FCC selected KCCU to build a full power station on 88.7 MHz to serve Wichita Falls and a second full power station on 89.1 MHz to serve Western Oklahoma. KCCU is also excited to announce that the NTIA, a federal agency which funds construxion of new public radio stations, will provide 75% of the funds necessary to purchase the equipment to build these stations. The WF and WO communities will provide the additional 25% of the funding necessary. The NTIA program is a 75% federal, and 25% local matching grant program for the purchase of equipment to build stations. Mark Norman, KCCU GM, said, ``The expansion helps meet the goal Congress established over a sesquidecade ago to bring public radio to all citizens. We believe having KCCU on the air serving the WF and WO areas will be a major step for the station. KCCU will have a separate computer system at each station, as we currently do in Lawton, Ardmore and Altus. These computers will provide local announcements intended just for WF and WO. We will also have the option to air announcements in WF or WO which will promote activities relative to all the areas where KCCU provides service.`` WF was one of the last large markets in the entire US without a full power, full service public radio station. KCCU will provide the service as soon as possible with an expected on-air date sometime before the first of the year. When driving south toward Wichita Falls, KCCU listeners will be able to switch to 88.7 MHz on their dial and continue to listen to KCCU while driving toward WF and on toward Dallas. The station in WO will be built in the next year and we hope to have it on air by spring. Why does KCCU want to expand to Wichita Falls and Western Oklahoma??? As the general manager, I have been asked several times about our expansion of service to Altus and Ardmore and how it will impact the station. Now that we have plans to expand to two additional communities, I think it is important to let our current members know why an expansion is a good thing for KCCU. Public radio programs are priced in tiers. The first tier is 0 to 25,000 listeners in a market. The second tier is 25,000 to 300,000 listeners. KCCU falls into the second tier. The fact that we have been in the lower half of the second tier has made it difficult for KCCU to reach the membership and funding goals necessary to purchase the quality public radio programs our listeners have wanted us to air. In 1989 KCCU signed on in Lawton serving about 85,000 listeners. We added Altus and Ardmore for an additional potential 60,000 in 1991 and 1992. Since that time, we have not increased the potential listener base. Our membership has leveled off since about 1996 and we have maintained level membership support, for the most part, until this past year when we had our first decline in funding in the 11 years we have been on-air. By adding Wichita Falls and Western Oklahoma to our service area, we will increase the potential listeners by double. The prices that we pay from programming will not increase unless we go over the 300,000 total listeners in our metro listening areas. We hope that these two new markets will provide KCCU with at least 500 to 1000 new members. If these members support the station financially, more than the cost of operation, those funds will be utilized to purchase additional programs. We feel certain the financial support will be a major asset to our listeners. At this time we do not see any other communities in our region that we plan to serve. All of our expansions have been initiated by citizens in the various communities we serve. Any community that will help fund the establishment of a station or even a translator will benefit both their citizens and KCCU. At this point the KCCU staff is excited about bringing public radio to an additional 140,000 potential listeners who have never [sic] experienced the joy of hearing classical music on the radio daily or the quality of National Public Radio News (Mark Norman, From the Manager, KCCU Fall 2001 ``The Classic`` via DXLD) Only from a coverage map do we learn that the new 89.1 in Western Oklahoma will be sited near Clinton, tho that name is missing from the map! just north of the recently tornado-devastated Cordell. These totally arbitrary tiers, evidently mean that it would be disadvantageous for a station to poke through the 300,000 mark as its costs would automatically increase, a point left unstated. {and from the map, the coverage radius of 89.1 will be significantly larger than KCCU itself. Ardmore is second, Wichita Falls 4th, and Altus a much smaller 5th} As for fourth-quarter programming, we are reminded that KCCU`s own new production ``The Mantovani Hour`` has now started, Fridays at 2 pm CDT (1900 UT now, 2000 UT in winter). Other changes: National Symphony Orchestra with Leonard Slatkin, Sundays 5-7 pm. Sunday morning lineup has changed to: 9 Classical Guitar Alive, 10 Bravo Baroque, 11 Filmscapes (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman, 15355, Oct 6 0300-0400 Kor`an recitations in Arabic, and English translations and commentary on them. US pop music; 0330 time pips, ID and English news which used to be at 0315. 0345 back to US pop music, 0400 into Arabic (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Found in the R Pakistan web page (cut & paste) Radio Pakistan Peshawar is starting a new Dari language programme, "Nawa-e-Dost", from tomorrow. The programme will be broadcast from 11.05 p.m to 12.00 midnight on medium waves 300 kilowatts and short waves as well. It will prove an important source of current affairs for listeners of far-flung areas of Afghanistan. http://www.radio.gov.pk/2000.html [evidently this is a link to English translation of nightly Urdu newscast, not mentioning this matter now, and/or a release from the FO -- meaning Foreign Office? - gh] (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK?? And is that Pak time UT+5 or Afghan time UT+4:30? Item buried under Afghanistan from BBCM thinks it`s 1805 UT on 540 kHz (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. R. Unión, 6351.7v, Oct 6 0240-0330+, very poor, weak with wobbly, variable, distorted signal, Spanish talk (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. Radio Banaadir. Oct 1: This station was off for many months and is back on 7002 at *1530-2100* with lots of political talks and as well as some nice mx. Oct 3 S/on at *1500 - and off at 2030* (Mahendra Vaghee, Mauritius, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Some long-haul MW DX: 729 kHz, Punt Gesselradio, Klipheuwel, OCT 5, 2103 - over and under Spain with a pop tune that was easily paralleled with 1332; SIO 222. (Also, noted likely 846 Umhlobo Wenene FM in poorly, but other South Africans were not detected.) 1332 kHz, Punt Gesselradio, Gauteng, OCT 5, 2049 - woman in Afrikaans with talk about terrorism, but a bit later played some old pop tunes; I had thought this was a purely "talk" station; SIO 243 (Jean Burnell, Renews, Newfoundland, Drake R8A, 250 m wire pointed at eastern Brazil, NRC IDXD via DXLD) ** SURINAME. 4990.94, Radio Apintie, 0905-0920 Oct 10, Announcer with apparent birthday greetings and ID, followed by the most doleful, dirgelike version of the Happy Birthday song I have ever heard. More talk, ads and telephone conversation. Powerful signal but tremendous QRN this morning made listening difficult (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN [non]. RCI relay schedule for B-01 confirms that R. Sweden is still using it for the 9495 broadcasts to NAm: RSI 0200-0259 9495 250 268 USA [Swedish, English] RSI 0300-0359 9495 250 277 USA [Swedish, English] But then also to Latin America, [in Swedish only?]: RSI 0000-0029 9495 250 176 LAM RSI 0100-0129 9495 250 189 LAM (RCI Engineering Oct 4 via Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWITZERLAND. Seeing your item regarding Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium etc. in your latest DXLD reminds me, that unless somebody knows differently, Swiss Radio broadcasts in English at 1900 UT to Western Europe (at present on 6.110 MHz) end, for good on 27th October 2001. 73 (Ken Fletcher, Mount PRENTON U.K., 10th October 2001, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Plus, later to NAm on 9885 (gh, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Heard yesterday and today: 1645 (S/ON), 7245 kHz, R TAJIKISTAN with pompous "World Service" - ID. Quite good reception and signal was pretty strong (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, Brand new DX-rig: AOR 7030 Plus and Wellbrook ALA 1530P-active loop antenna, Hard-Core-DX mailing list Oct 11 via DXLD) ** U K. I half heard(!) a strange item on BBCWS Write On, in the early hours of the morning something about the BBC MF Transmitter on 648 kHz, being taken to bits, to find an intermittent fault, replaced for the present by a lower powered temporary 'sender', I don`t THINK I dreamt it!! 73 (Ken Fletcher, Mount PRENTON, U.K., 10th October 2001, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. 'We're not here to toe the line' (Filed: 11/10/2001) BBC News director Richard Sambrook tells Tom Leonard that jingoism has no place in the corporation. THERE cannot be many organisations that can hire a Russian Antonov 12 transport plane to shift hardware around the globe. The United States, NATO, perhaps Britain - and, of course, the BBC. A few weeks ago, the corporation spent an estimated £60,000 on hiring the gigantic aircraft to ferry three armoured Land Rovers (£100,000 a piece) from the Balkans to the new front line in Afghanistan. By the time the fighting is over, though, this strategic airlift will doubtless be just a blip in what the world's biggest news organisation will have spent covering the crisis... Full story: http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/10/11/nmed11.xml (Telegraph via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K [non]. 12110, R. Ezra via Vladivostok, Sun Oct 7 *0859-0928*, 55544, English, 0859 s/on and ID. Talk (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) 12110, Radio Ezra, Oct. 7 at 0859(S/on)-0930(S/off). SINPO 35443. ID and male talk about planning of programs in 3 months in English. Hard to understand due to beat sound (Iwao NAGATANI, Kobe JAPAN: NRD- 545 with 20 meters LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** U S A. A Truthful Voice --- By David Burke http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34276-2001Oct9.html Wednesday, October 10, 2001; Page A23 Today the House International Relations Committee will hold an important hearing on the role of public diplomacy -- direct government communication with the people of foreign countries -- in support of the anti-terrorism campaign. Front and center will be the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which supervises all taxpayer- supported, nonmilitary broadcasting overseas, including the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Radio and TV Martí. At issue will be the broadcasters' editorial policy in this time of crisis. One of the committee members will undoubtedly argue: "Look, we're at war. If our government's funding these voices abroad, shouldn't they be unabashed advocates of America's cause?" An understandable question and to some a self-evident proposition. But what it implies is that U.S. international broadcasters should now suspend the very standards of a free press that Congress mandated when it created them. It further implies that we can accomplish our foreign policy objectives by betraying what we as Americans most ardently believe. It's perhaps no coincidence that the House hearing is taking place now. The Voice of America has weathered criticism from commentators, politicians, and political appointees for airing excerpts of an interview with the head of the Taliban. Some would now bypass VOA in favor of "Radio Free Afghanistan," openly advocated as a hard-hitting propaganda tool. In fact, VOA nearly validated the maxim that truth is the first casualty of war. It delayed four days in broadcasting the remarks of Mullah Mohammad Omar. Why? Opposition from the State Department. State spokesman Richard Boucher said, "We didn't think that the American taxpayer, the Voice of America, should be broadcasting the voice of the Taliban." But, Boucher was asked at a press briefing, "Don't you think the U.S. taxpayer really wants balanced views and freedom of press and First Amendment [rights] for everybody in the world? Isn't that what we are fighting for?" He replied, in part, "I think we consider it plain common sense . . . that we can support freedom of the press around the world . . . without asking the U.S. taxpayer to pay for broadcasting this guy's voice back into Afghanistan." Censorship is not the answer. What the Afghan people most need and want are unimpeded flows of accurate and objective news and information. They can smell propaganda a mile away; the Taliban and other regimes have rubbed their noses in it for years. They look to America for a beacon of freedom. Fortunately, they find this beacon in VOA, and they listen to it. VOA's services in Dari and Pashto, the main languages of Afghanistan, reach an astonishing 80 percent of Afghan males (women cannot be surveyed). Seventy-two percent affirm they trust VOA and agree that VOA provides the facts and lets them make up their own minds. U.S. public diplomacy has never been more vital. Sustaining the anti- terrorist coalition is an act of persuasion not just of leaders but of the masses as well. Avoiding the "secondary effects" of popular revolt in the Islamic nations in protest over U.S. actions is of the utmost importance. The Bush administration has thus far waged a masterful anti-terrorism campaign. Certainly our international broadcasters, in supporting U.S. public diplomacy, must do no less than uphold the value we place in our constutionally mandated free press. Justice, democracy, humanitarianism and freedom -- these are core American values. None of this is to say that U.S. international broadcasting could not do more. VOA's Afghan services broadcast only 4 1/2 hours a day. No doubt Afghanistan is an information wasteland. One more international station -- Radio Free Afghanistan -- would draw listeners, if it observed good journalism. But introducing a propaganda vehicle would not only be a grave mistake and waste of taxpayers' money, it would also violate what we most believe in, an idea captured by the legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow, an early director of the U.S. Information Agency: "To be persuasive, we must be believable. To be believable, we must be credible. To be credible, we must be truthful." The writer, former president of CBS News, was the founding chairman of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors from 1995 to 1998. © 2001 The Washington Post Company (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Afghans flock to Western radio Broadcasts: Defying Taliban prohibitions, residents tune in to British programming and the Voice of America. By David Folkenflik --- Originally published Oct 7, 2001 The Taliban, Afghanistan's ruling clique of Muslim clerics, have become famous for trying to stamp out every trace of Western culture, banning music, the Internet and foreign publications. The average Afghan has no access to television, and universities have been shut down. Still, determined Afghans are able to find news. They get it from a source that represents everything the Taliban hate most: the Voice of America. An astonishing 60 percent of Afghan men say they listen to the U.S. news agency every day.... [full story, with more detail than usual on VOA audience research:] http://www.sunspot.net/news/printedition/bal-te.journal07oct07.story (Baltimore Sun, via Artie Bigley, DXLD) An independent Voice broadcasts the war, and catches flak By Steve Goldstein INQUIRER STAFF WRITER http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/10/10/magazine/VOA10.htm (Philadelphia Inquirer Oct 10 via Joe Hanlon, Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. From Salon.com: Why the U.S. is losing the propaganda war Foolish decisions, nervous allies and not enough Arabic speakers mean Muslims around the world aren't getting America's side of the story. - - - - - - - - - - - - By Eric Boehlert [small excerpt toward the end concerning the Cyprus project:] The question now is, how will the Sept. 11 attack or Taliban incident affect VOA's efforts to secure its $30 million? "I don't know how anyone can look at what's happened and not think this shouldn't have been done years ago. It's an urgent matter," says Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. However, Senator Jesse Helms, R-N.C., is already on record as being opposed to the plan. Earlier this year he put a hold on VOA money intended to fund the construction of a transmitter in Cyprus, necessary in order to reach Egypt. In an unusual move, and one that came after Sept. 11, the Broadcasting Board of Governors recently overruled Helms' hold, releasing the money for the transmitter. Even if the VOA does expand its Arabic-language broadcasting and U.S. officials suddenly flood Al-Jazeera with interviews, the larger question remains, would it do any good right now? Or has rampant Arab hostility toward American foreign policy become too much to combat? Entire article: http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/10/12/propaganda/index.html?x (via Kim Elliott, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. NBC Today Show had a segment on VOA Friday about 8:10 am local time. Those having video receivers west of Central zone may still catch it. Regards, (Glenn Hauser, 1350 UT Oct 12, swprograms via DXLD) As Glenn Hauser pointed out earlier, the NBC "Today" morning program ran an eight minute piece this morning about the VOA. I dare say that this might have been the first time over 99% of that program's viewers have ever heard of the VOA--certainly it's the first time they've received a rather comprehensive report on just what the VOA is and what it does. If you missed the report, it's available as a file on the 'net. You will need to use Microsoft IE and Media Player in concert to get it seamlessly. Using those tools, click on http://www.msnbc.com/m/v/video_news.asp and then on "Getting the Message to Afghanistan". It's a good report that falters a little when the reporter closes by saying that the new director will see to it that the VOA follows the administration's policy. That rather nebulous remark can be interpreted a number of ways and is--in the main--probably inaccurate. The rest of the report is quite good, IMHO. My guess is that it will be available as a file from the 'Net for at best 24 hours from its initial airing which was at 1211 UT this morning (Friday). (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** U S A/ISRAEL. Israeli thinks NPR biased toward Arabs: EYE ON THE MEDIA: Do you know where your tax dollars are? By Andrea Levin As America undertakes an unprecedented war in response to the terror attacks of September 11, the public's need for informed, objective media coverage of key Middle East issues and players is critical. A tax-supported network bears special responsibility to provide such thorough information. Yet listeners to National Public Radio will once again find reports tainted by distortion and omission of essential background. Segments repeatedly give a one-sided platform to Arab insistence that Israel must be blamed and pressured because of the atrocity against America. Entire article: http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/10/11/Columns/Columns.36062.html (Jerusalem Post Oct 12 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. Hello, Mr. Hauser, I have not written to you before, but would like to send the following item that may be of interest for DXLD. I returned to listening to shortwave earlier this year after many years absence. The current issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine, dated October 15, 2001, has articles on the history and evolving potential of radio ("The Radio, Reinvented") and shortwave listening ("Hearing Voices"). The shortwave article discusses shortwave in light of the current world situation and includes a sampling of international broadcasters and suggested frequencies. Interesting to find shortwave listening in a popular newsmagazine juxtaposed with an article discussing wireless web and digital satellite radio. Best regards, (Andrew Lisowski, Springfield, VA, Oct 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/011015/misc/shortwave.htm (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. SATERN Operation Marks One Month in New York City NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 11, 2001--One month into its disaster relief support operation in New York City, Salvation Army Team Emergency Response Network (SATERN) volunteers are holding up well. SATERN Amateur Radio Liaison Officer Jeff Schneller, N2HPO, says the operation could run for several more weeks. "Our current team of Amateur Radio operators is doing a fantastic job," Schneller said today. "The operation is going great!" SATERN is now "making do" with at least six Amateur Radio volunteers per day--from about 9 AM until 11 PM--to support the Salvation Army's World Trade Center relief operation, although Schneller said an even dozen for the two daily shifts would be ideal. SATERN last week eliminated its overnight shift of radio operator volunteers. Operators have come from all over, including New Hampshire, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and Missouri. Schneller said he even had offers of help from England and Canada. One operator, Janet Stonecipher, KC0IET, arrived on her own from Missouri three weeks ago. "Janet seems to want to stay for the duration but is overdue for rotation out," Schneller said. Another Missourian, Anna Balmer, arrived with a REACT team and stayed on. Schneller said she's handling a Salvation Army Nextel radio. "She is here working with us under extreme circumstances," Schneller explained. "Her brother was killed in the Pentagon attack." He said two local groups--the Broadcast Employees Amateur Radio Society (BEARS) and the Electchester VHF Club have been providing exclusive use of their repeaters since Day One. Schneller--who's in the fire alarm and sprinkler business--also has been involved from the start, and--with the understanding and support of his business customers has been logging some long hours. Carlos Varon, K2LCV, has been Schneller's backup and has taken over as scheduling coordinator for volunteers. Recently, however, Schneller has had to start paying more attention to his business again. "I try to do my regular job three or four days a week while monitoring the radio," he said. "Most work days get cut short to resolve problems." By and large, most employers seem to be supporting the volunteers, Schneller added. SATERN operation initially had some help from the local Amateur Radio Emergency Service group, Schneller explained. REACT then picked up the ball and got the operation up and running, although that organization has since pulled back. The ARRL has continued to provide contact information for prospective volunteers in all of the attack- related Amateur Radio support operations. SATERN radio volunteers have been handling base station duties at Salvation Army Headquarters on 14th Street in Manhattan, working on roving patrols to check up on various Salvation Army sites to see what might be needed, and providing communication at key field sites, aboard supply trucks and at the distribution warehouse. Along with physical nourishment, The Salvation Army is supplying emotional and spiritual sustenance at the World Trade Center disaster site through its two prayer centers. "Our operators have been in hot, cold, dry and wet weather, but I have not heard of a weather-related complaint from any of them," Schneller said. "Thanks to all the Amateur Radio operators who have come to assist and made this a successful operation," Schneller said, adding that he also appreciated the many other offers to help. "Your offers are helpful in easing our concern for coverage, which makes our jobs easier and less stressful," he said, "so although you may not have come to New York City, you were helpful." He said SATERN now is limiting its fresh volunteers to those available from the Greater New York City area, "if possible." Schneller strongly advised all Amateur Radio operators to prepare for the future by first getting acquainted with and joining their local ARES or SATERN teams, then by taking the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course http://www.arrl.org/cce. More information about SATERN is available on the SATERN Web site http://www.satern.org (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) Subject: WTC Transmitter Backups Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 00:16:18 -0000 Organization: Airwaves Digest http://www.airwaves.com Newsgroups: rec.radio.broadcasting Greetings All: Rich Wood has touched on the economics of the NYC transmitter backup issue. And while backup facilities in a market this large and lucrative would seem to be a no-brainer, keep in mind that appropriate plots of empty land that are out of the flight paths of three giant airports don't really exist here anymore. And also keep in mind that for all the tall bldgs that exist in NYC, not all are suited to high-power TV broadcasting. To answer the obvious question, why not just establish backups at the Empire State Building -- once and again NYC's tallest building – simply put, the place is full up. When the TV primaries left for WTC, the ESB telecommunications managers brought in other clients (paging, microwave and other wireless apps), and completely rebuilt the master FM antenna in what used to be the master TV antenna space. What TV space remained already has been spoken for by those stations which maintained their sites at ESB, or are using it for DTV operations. The relatively new FM antenna system at ESB is a large, heavy array of panels that take up a lot of space. Plus, several of the FMs have installed their own antennae atop Empire as either primary or auxiliary facilities. There is also no space below the antennae for the transmitter facilities -- unless someone leaves. Other tall buildings (the Chrysler Building, Citicorp Center, the GE Building among them) don't have rooftops currently configured for TV transmission. The Conde Nast building in Times Square -- one of the newest skyscrapers on the NY skyline -- was, in fact, design from scratch to accommodate a large transmission facility. And, in fact, all of Clear Channel's NYC FMs maintain their backups there. There is room for more tenants, though the antenna system there was designed for FM and not for TV. The building is also surrounded by much taller buildings which would create horrendous nulls and multipath problems for TV signals. Todt Hill, on Staten Island -- the highest natural point in the region -- has many public service radio systems atop it. And there has been some talk of late of establishing some sort of transmitter site on Staten Island. Likewise there has been talk of expanding the historic Alpine tower on which most NYC TV stations currently have their temporary transmitter facilities. The tower on the Palisades in northern Bergen County, NJ -- at which Major Armstrong established FM radio -- has a structural configuration akin to a high-tension tower, with huge arms extending from three levels. Not the optimum design for TV propagation. Alpine and the communities which surround it are very tony bedroom communities -- and it's a safe bet site managers would face a zoning fight if that already-imposing tower were to be expanded. Remember, too, that TV broadcasters -- and the four FMs which also lived atop WTC -- also lost two-way radio, STL and RPU systems for which tall-tower space also must be found. A plan floated in recent years to build a 2000' foot community supertower on the now-abandoned Governor's Island in New York Harbor was sniffed it by city officials, who scoffed at the esthetics for a place they hoped to develop for recreational and commercial mixed use. But that was well before the events of September 11th, 2001. It is inconceivable to me that local TV and radio would be the only industries not receiving help from local government...so I personally believe that in the next few years you'll see government and the broadcasters working together to site a new master antenna comparable to WTC within NYC proper. Where exactly is anyone's guess. Even after new, permanent transmitter facilities are built, the issue of backups will remain. And given the difficulty of creating one primary site in or around NYC, the backup issue will likely circle back around the aforementioned issues and start from square one. Howard Price, News Assignment Editorm WABC-TV/NYC (via Mike Bugaj, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. Number station FOIA request denied by FCC: The FCC has denied an application for a review of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for records regarding so-called "number stations" often heard on HF frequencies. Michael Ravnitzky filed two FOIA requests for FCC number stations records. According to the Memorandum Opinion and Order in the case, released September 28, "number stations use high-power transmitters to transmit short-wave radio broadcasts of strings of numbers, sometimes along with sounds ranging from yodeling or a repeated flute melody to electronic tones or bursts of information-filled noise, on strange frequencies with no known schedule." The FCC said it had provided Ravnitzky with records concerning number stations but had edited portions of the records using an exemption to the FOIA--"withholding national security information concerning the national defense or foreign policy properly classified under an executive order." The FCC also deleted what it considered irrelevant material from the pages sent to Ravnitzky as well as five pages of correspondence between the FCC and foreign government offices. Certain e-mail materials were withheld as "part of a continuing process of agency decision making," the FCC said. Number stations are widely believed to be associated with clandestine espionage operations. The complete FCC MO&O is available on the FCC Web site http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov.edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-01-280A1.doc (ARRL October 10 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Folks, From Art Bell's web site: "Effective Monday October 15th, The Art Bell Show will be replacing all free audio streaming with a new subscription service, called Art Bell's StreamLink". While this may sound a bit off-topic, I thought I'd call your attention to Art's Archived show of 9/10/01 Mon/Tue. Here are the details: Guest: Andrew Yoder Andrew Yoder is a hobby radio enthusiast, activist and author. His book publishing credits include the latest edition of The Complete Shortwave Listener's Handbook, Pirate Radio: The Incredible Saga of America's Underground, Illegal Broadcasters, Pirate Radio Operations. Make sure to listen to Andrew Yoder's segment beginning 1.5 hours into the program, before Premiere Radio Network begins to charge for the audio archives. While I'm at it, "CyberShortwave Live" continues to provide free audio to and for the radio hobbyist. We'll be live again on Sunday October 14th at 1500 UT. Details at http://www.n1dk.com CyberShortwave, The voice of the radio hobbyist! 73, (Dave Kirby, N1DK, swprograms, Oct 10 via DXLD) ** U S A. 1640 (LPR) "La Primerísima 16-40," Tampa; this private/unlicened low power nonstop Latin salsa is still putting in a strong signal. Presumably still located in the shopping center at West Columbus and Himes, though their signal was certainly killer near Ýbor City (Terry Krueger, FL, Tocobaga DX Oct 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. Frequency Free-for-All --- Getting a legal, low-power FM station on the air is easier said than done. By Michael Roberts http://www.westword.com/issues/2001-10-11/message.html Above is a link to an excellent article about an "Accepted for Filing" LPFM in the Denver area. National issues are discussed - and there is a real "eye-opener" about what the Colorado DOT did. The Prometheus Project is praised. Despite some errors, it is "must reading" for everyone interested in LPFM. God Bless America, (John Broomall, WTFDA via DXLD) [I can`t help but wonder if going thru the mind of native speakers of French every time they hear `GBA` -- which is a lot, nowadays, is `God wound America` -gh] ** U S A. Thanks to a tip from Adrian Peterson, checking 7355 at *2300 for the `new` WRNO owned by Good News: Oct 11: nothing heard, tho CHU was in nicely as usual on 7335 with much less than WRNO`s rated power of 100 kW. Oct 12: weak open carrier went to Hammond organ music, then woman singing hymn, 2306 shouts of Hallelujah! and more of same. Looking at the meter, strength is almost as good as CHU, but very inferior modulation level, distorted and apparent crosstalk (WWL as before?), and characteristically about 0.5 kHz low. Not enough to overcome T-storm QRN. Gotta be WRNO, tho no ID or slogan heard. Can`t imagine anyone voluntarily listening to this for content. Must be another vanity owner who knows nothing about shortwave. Recheck around 0015 Oct 13 found nothing except maybe weak carrier (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. A ministry called Word for the World posts this vague list of outlets. Does something smell fishy here? http://www.word4world.org/worldcoverage.html (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Greetings to the group! If any of you of the liberal persuasion would like to lease one of our new Harris transmitters to start liberal programming under your own call letters we are very open to this. This is a serious offer no joke and not fooling around. Many liberals feel foreclosed from having access to the shortwave airwaves this is the opportunity to gain access to shortwave. Let us know! 1-706-492-5944 ("roadranger," wwfv@ellijay.com in rec.radio.shortwave October 11 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Dear radio friends, Here is High Adventure B-01 sked for your info. HIGH ADVENTURE - FREQUENCY SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE OCT. 28/01 - MARCH 31/02 UTC FREQ. TARGET 0700-0859 5.975 Europe 1330-1529 15.775 SAS-India 0000-0130 6.040 India (start 12/01/01) 0200-0230 11.785 India (start 11/01/01) 0700-1200 21.590 Middle East Area 1200-1600 15.715 Middle East Area 1700-2000 9.405 ME/Saudi Arabia - Filipino [above must be V. of the Lord, replacing 15750 -gh] 1500-1600 15.715 EAF-Ethiopia - Amharic 1700-1900 9.815 Eastern Europe 1200-1600 7.460 China -28/3/02 [so ends 3 days early] 1500-0100 17.775 Americas - Spanish [KVOH] 0100-0330 9.975 Americas-Spanish/English [KVOH] 0000-2400 9772 Sky Angel -English/Arabic/Filipino [Last item, as we have learnt before, is a satellite channel designator, not a SW frequency! It is irresponsible/ignorant of HAM to imply that it is. Sites not specified; I suppose most or all besides known KVOH are DTK Germany? -gh] (via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Oct 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VANUATU. R. Vanuatu noted back on the air Oct 11 at 0715 on 7260, saying something about the strike but could not make it out. 24 hours later there was a carrier but no modulation (Chris Hambly, Vic., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. 3060.00, YVNP Radio San Felipe, (2 x 1530 harmonic) 1007 Oct 8, Anthem and sign-on ID. Fair signal (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. 15690, V. of Khmer Krom R., Fri Oct 5 *1359-1401 33443-b/out Cambodian, 1359 s/on with Cambodian music and ID. 1401 b/out. QRM of jamming (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35m LW, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. VOV relay via Canada from Oct 28 moves from 31mb to 6175, the erstwhile BBC relay frequency abandoned July 1, and since then held with RCI programming: 0100-0459, presumably with same language rotation starting with English. Switches from 212 to 268 degrees at 0259 (RCI Engineering Oct 4 via Bill Westenhaver, DX Listening Digest) UNIDENTIFIED. 25347 AM? 11 Oct, 0855-0932, unID broadcasting station. OM & YL in Arabic. Seems a TV or radioplay. AM readability was good, but some residual distortion made the signal readable even in NFM mode. 0920 Arabic mx, 0930 suddenly fading out, but at 0932 still mx. NO ID! (Murphy's law!) Harmonic product or someone relaying an unID station??? (Ciccio Munaron, Italy, vhfskip yahoogroup via harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) Possible fundamentals, none looking likely: 12673.5 8449 6336.75 5069.4 4224.5 3621 3168.375 (gh, DXLD) ###