DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-152, October 18, 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] WORLD OF RADIO #1101: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1101.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1101.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1101.html FIRST BROADCASTS on RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130 on 15045/50, 21815-USB NEXT BROADCASTS on WWCR: UT Sat 0200 on 3215, UT Sun 0230 on 5070 BROADCASTS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 to Eu/Af/As; 1400 NAm ** AFGHANISTAN [non?] "Commando Solo" broadcasting presumably over Afghanistan heard in New Jersey on 18 OCT 01 between 0030-0130 UT. Format followed a pattern of three to five minutes of a male announcer speaking, followed by an Afghani song featuring one or two instruments with male vocal accompaniment. The male announcer made frequent references to "Taliban," "bin Laden," "Afghanistan," "America," and "Pakistan." I found the audio to be muddy at times, but that may have been a product of the extreme distance that the signal travelled to reach me here in New Jersey. The signal was quite strong at times but faded deeply every ten minutes or so. There was some interference from a Morse-code utility station on a nearby frequency. Atmospheric noise increased during the hour I listened, probably because the signal was fading due to more of the propagation path entering daylight. I'd give it SINPO 34323. The signal was gone by 0300 UT. (Dave Hochfelder, New Brunswick, NJ, Sony ICF2010 with stock whip antenna, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I heard US broadcasting to Tal'bans in Afganistan on 8700usb 15 Oct, at 1200. Short twice signal tone then suddenly announced by man in Pashtu, Dari and Farsi. Then heard musics like Indian pops(not Arabic). Could not get something like ID, but heard some word 'Afghanistan' 'Kabul' 'America'..... Signal is strong and clear. Tx site is fixed? Someone said it from C-130. 8700 is feeder? Why use USB? What is 'COMMAND SOLO'? There are many mistery, and they heard also today (IWATA Gaku, Chiba JAPAN: NRD535D, AD-370/20m wire, Japan Premium via DXLD) 8700U Un-ID Oct 16 *1230-1248, 1655-1726, 24332-34333 Pashto?, 1230 s/on. Talk and Local music. ID at 1230 and 1703 as -Da Radio di Afghanistan.... Thanks for tip from Kenji Hashimoto (Kouji HASHIMOTO, Yamanashi, JAPAN: NRD525+RD9830, NRD515, FRG-7, 35mLW, Japan Premium via DXLD) 8700 Un-ID talk & folk mx stn. Oct 17 1645-1700 s/off 34333. According to tips from Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, DXLD via BC-DX 543, it is US Psyops feeder for Afghanistan, in Dari and Pashto with no IDs (Oguma Hironao, Tokyo JAPAN: AR7030 with AN-1, Japan Premium via DXLD) Another thought about the 8700 operation: I think that "PsyOps" mentions this frequency on leaflets does not indicate that it originates from Command Solo. Actually it would make not much sense to operate a shortwave frequency from a airplane rather than a landbased transmitter, so I guess 8700, whether meant as feeder or for the actual audience (perhaps in fact both), originates from any US military base, like the well-known AFRTS outlets operated by a communications transmitter, hence USB and outside the broadcast bands (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Despite several checks from 1230-1700 I have not heard anything whatsoever today of the SSB station on 8700. Maybe they have activated a satellite link or something instead. Regards (Olle Alm, Sweden, 1719 UT Oct 18 via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Definitely on again UT Fri Oct 19 from *0030 on 8700-USB, but shortly afterwards some Spanish 2-way QRM on frequency; and heavy QRM on the low side. After publicizing the 8700 frequency directly to the audience, would they be reluctant to change even if necessary, or realize that hardly any of them could hear it there? The fade-outs we observe circa 0300 point to a couple hours after local sunrise, i.e. UT plus 6 give or take. Could well be Diego García which is UT plus 5. Since it is audible, at least in WNAm from *1230, that would be a predominantly darkness path, again fitting D.G. (gh, DXLD) There's a good quality Real Audio clip of Information Radio/ Commando Solo on the Afghanistan page of the Interval Signals Archive at http://www.intervalsignals.net (Dave Kernick, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Pix of one side of the leaflet and translation of broadcast: http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/17/ret.us.propaganda/index.html (via Alfredo the Spacemaster, Conexión Digital via DXLD) clandestineradio.com shows a US PSYOPS leaflet quoting 864, 1107 and 8700 kHz http://www.clandestineradio.com/dossier/afghanistan/leaflets.htm (Edwin Lowe, ARDXC via DXLD) DOD before and after photos of strike on V. of Shariah: http://www.clandestineradio.com/dossier/afghanistan/dod_oct11.htm Also nearby is an audio file of the final moments (gh, DXLD) More reaction: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/afghreax.txt ** AFGHANISTAN. ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO WS356 AWR "Wavescan" - DX Program Narrator: Radio Backgrounds in Afghanistan - Part 3 The main highway running from the Khyber Pass into the city of Kabul (KAH-b’l) runs through the suburban area of Yakatut (YUCK-a-TOOT). Stretched across the highway on the outer edge of Yakatut were the antennas for the shortwave service of Radio Afghanistan. It was back in the year 1925 that a small longwave transmitter was imported from Russia and installed in the palace of the king on the edge of Kabul. In addition, a consignment of crystal wireless sets, ultimately 1,000 in number, was also imported and these were distributed throughout the city. However, in the year 1929, this transmitter was destroyed during civil disturbances in the city. Four years later, in 1933, a German made Siemens transmitter was installed in a new building at Yakatut, an outer suburb of Kabul. This huge mediumwave unit, variously described as 100 kW, 50 kW and 25 kW, was installed inside a series of cages on the top floor of this new building. Seven years later, this huge old unit was replaced by another 20 kW unit on the ground floor of the same building, and in 1970, this one was replaced by yet another unit, made by BBC in Switzerland. However, all throughout these eras, the original old unit in the cages was kept alive with test transmissions each Tuesday evening. A second building was erected at Yakatut back in the middle of last century to house a series of transmitters for use in communication traffic, both within Afghanistan and with countries in Asia and Europe. Half a dozen medium-powered transmitters have been housed in this building, some of which were also used at times for program broadcasting. Back in the year 1948, a series of program broadcasts from two different locations in Afghanistan were heard in Australia. One station was located in Herat (hay-RAHT), and the other was probably a utility transmitter located at Yakatut near Kabul. These hour long broadcasts were on the air two days a week in local languages. It is probable that these test broadcasts were intended as a prelude for the establishment of a new shortwave service for local and international coverage. A little over a year later, the Director General of Broadcasting in Afghanistan went to Berlin seeking German assistance in establishing the projected new shortwave service. Ultimately, a third new transmitter building was constructed at Yakatut with three shortwave transmitters from West Germany, rated at 20 kW, 50 kW and 100 kW. The antenna system for this new shortwave service under the callsign YAK was constructed on both sides of the highway, with several aerials stretched over the highway itself. The showplace radio station at Pole-i-Charke was constructed in 1964, along with the two storey studio building at Answari Wat. However, in the ensuing fighting after the Russian invasion in 1979, most of the radio facilities at all of the various locations were damaged and destroyed. Meanwhile, in an unexpected move around mid year 1979, the radio world suddenly discovered that Radio Afghanistan was on the air via relay stations in Russia. At least four different locations were on the air over a period of 12 years. The program feed for this relay service was at first direct off-air from Kabul, though later it was by satellite. This relay service closed on December 31, 1991. Many QSL cards were issued from Kabul for this Russian relay service. As time and turmoil went by, the shortwave transmitter base at Yakatut was again damaged and destroyed, and two new units at 100 kW were imported from Russia. Again, these were badly damaged in subsequent fighting. It would appear that one of these units was refurbished by the Taliban, and this is the unit that has been on the air as ``The Voice of Shariah`` (SHAH-ree-ah). In a dispatch from Jose Jacob in India, he states that the newspaper, ``Times of India``, reported that the ``Voice of Shariah`` was on the air now from another location. Next day, Jose reports hearing ‘The Voice of Shariah`` at a lower level. However, CNN news states that the radio stations near Kabul were destroyed in subsequent bombing raids, and both Victor Goonetilleke in Colombo as well as Jose Jacob in India note that the ``Voice of Shariah`` is no longer heard on shortwave. In the latest episode of events in the radio scene in Afghanistan, as heard on CNN, it is probable that by now the American ``Blue Eagle`` aeroplanes are on the air to Afghanistan. Mediumwave coverage from ground-based stations is also planned. [following are AMP`s reference notes, not necessarily understandable] =================================================================== The Radio Scene In Afghanistan Time Lines --------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Unit Location Events --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1965 Change of name Radio Kabul Became Radio Afghanistan 1925 200 watt LW transmitter Kabul palace 360 m; destroyed 1929 1925 200 watt LW transmitter Kandahar Never installed, later destroyed 1933 25 kW MW Telefunken Yakatut - 1 Very old cage unit, upstairs 1940 20 kW MW transmitter Yakatut - 1 Downstairs, 660 kHz 1970 20 kW MW BBC unit Yakatut - 1 Replacement for 660, downstairs 1981 Entire facility Yakatut - 1 Destroyed in fighting 1951 10 kW Yakatut - 2 In use for broadcasting 1966 20 kW SW Siemens Yakatut - 2 Teletype service 1976 3 @ 10 kW Yakatut - 2 Broadcast usage 1981 Entire facility Yakatut - 2 Destroyed in fighting 1948 Test broadcasts Unknown Probably Yakatut - 2 1948 Test broadcasts Herat Probably utility transmitter 1958 10/20 kW SW Siemens Yakatut - 3 Broadcast call YAK, German aid 1959 50 kW SW Siemens Yakatut - 3 Broadcast call YAK, German aid 1966 100 kW transmitter Yakatut - 3 Broadcast call YAK, German aid 1981 Entire facility Yakatut - 3 Destroyed in fighting 1964 Studio building Ansari Watt Established by German aid 1972 10 watt Rhode & Schwartz Ansari Watt Experimental FM service 1979 Studio building Ansari Watt Destroyed during invasion 1964 100 kW MW Siemens Pole-i-Charke German aid; full new studio 1979 End of year, entire facility Pole-i-Charke Destroyed in fighting 1979 Mid year Russia Relays from 4 locations 1991 Dec 31 Russia Relay service closed 1983 Rebuilt facilities Yakatut 2 Russian units at 100 kW 19?? Yakatut Subsequently destroyed? 1995 Rebuilt? Yakatut New 100 kW SW unit =================================================================== The Radio Scene In Afghanistan -- References King`s Palace destroyed in 1929 uprising: Great Russian Encyclopaedia Afghanistan - invasion from Russia late 1979, Kabul Christmas Eve; PC 9-83 34 Radio in Afghanistan RA38 RA 39 RA40, RMI15, WS166 Interviews, Government pamphlets Kabul - King`s Palace 200 watt Russian transmitter 360 m 833 kHz installed; Pamphlet Destroyed during uprising 1929; Pamphlet Yakatut - 1, MW 1933 25 kW MW Telefunken installed upstairs cage unit; Pamphlet 1940 20 kW MW transmitter installed downstairs 660 kHz; Pamphlet 1970 20 kW MW BBC replacement unit installed downstairs 660 kHz; Pamphlet 1981 apparently destroyed in fighting Kabul 657 currently active; DXP Oct 2001 Yakatut - 2, Utility Around half a dozen transmitters, all probably medium powered Used occasionally for broadcasting Used for feeder service to Russian relay sites 10 kW SW in use for broadcasting; WRHB 1951 - 53 5 kW SW in use for broadcasting; WRHB 1954 25 kW SW in use for broadcasting; WRHB 1955 20 kW SW in use for broadcasting; WRHB 1956 Utility channel in use for broadcasting; WRHB 1958 - 59 SW YAK relay from MW 18637; R&H 79.14 8-58 112 1966 20 kW teletype transmitter installed; Pamphlet Unknown - probably Yakatut Kabul utility 6845 Mon & Thu 1 hr; R&H 79.13 8-48 85 Yakatut - 3, SW Director-General Ata Ullah in Berlin ordering 2 SW transmitters; RTVN 8-50 64 Radio Kabul on 4710; R&H 79.14 7-59 112 ATC QSL YAK 4710 10 kW; R&H 79.14 9-59 112 Additional 10 kW SW transmitters planned; R&H 79.14 9-59 112 New international service 15385; R&H 77.14 11-59 112 New 50 kW & 20 kW SW & 6 antennas; R&H 79.15 3-60 101 Plans to inaugurate 100 kW in May 1966; EA 79.16 3-66 135 3 SW transmitters at 10 kW 50 kW & 100 kW in use; EA 79.16 1-69 33 Current scheduling 2 SW transmitters in English; EA 79.17 6-79 113 QSLs AMP 1970 - 71 QSL Placanica Italy 15007 6-12-80 QSL Placanica Italy 15007 17-2-81 Destroyed in fighting 1981; DXA6-83 6 SW transmitters installed 1956 - 1976; Maes 1998 1 Yakatut - Rebuilt 2 new SW transmitters from Russia; IB 1-83 HS heard on 17720 by GVG; DXA 6-83 QSL Brian Webb NZ 5-1-85 9665 Taliban took over, 2 SW transmitters in use; GVG DXO 6-92 25 SW transmitters apparently damaged/destroyed 1 @ 100 kW installed 1995 (damaged unit refurbished?); TDP Maes 6 New 100 kW taken into service; BBCM WDXC 10-95 1 Voice of Shariah, Taliban 7085 kHz Answari Watt 1964 studio building constructed with German aid; Pamphlet 1971 10 watt Rhode & Schwartz experimental FM service; AMP visit to station 1979 studio building destroyed during invasion; PC 9-83 35 Pole-i-Charke Work begun on new station 1964; Pamphlet Plans to inaugurate 100 kW in May 1966; EA 79.16 3-66 135 Baghian 10 kW MW listed 936 kHz; WRTVHB 1987 - 93 Farah 10 kW MW listed 945 kHz; WRTVHB 1983 - 84, 1987 - 93 Herat ``Injaw Herat`` 7960 kHz 1 hr Tue & Thu probably utility; R&H 79.13 8-48 85 10 kW MW listed 630 kHz; WRTVHB 1980 - 84 Kabul 1000 kW MW listed 1107 kHz; WRTVHB 1988 - 94 New 500 kW inaugurated Dec 1999; BBCM Kabul 1107 currently active; DXP Oct 2001 Kandahar 10 kW MW listed 864 kHz; WRTVHB 1980 - 84 Kandahar 864 currently active; DXP Mazar-i-Sharif Call for tenders for 20 kW SW station, Kabul Times 27-9-71 10 kW MW listed 909 kHz; WRTVHB 1980 - 84 500 kW MW listed 1206 kHz; WRTVHB 1989 - 93 Currently active on 1584; DXP Oct 2001 Taluqan 10 kW MW listed 648 kHz; WRTVHB 1983 - 93 Radio Mujahadin Afghanistan - Radio Free Afghanistan On air from 2 SW transmitters near Cairo; GLD Clandestine Confidential 32 Formed in Paris in 1981, with 3 portable transmitters in Afghanistan; MN 15460 kHz in Egypt with Vienna address; GVG 1981 BDDX Radio Free Kabul on air SW apparently in Afghanistan; GLD CC 32 23 mobile FM transmitters on air throughout Afghanistan, including Kabul; MN Studio in Pakistan, FM network throughout Afghanistan; PC 9-83 34 Russian Relays Direct off air relay began 1979, 2 Russian relays & 4 in Kabul; UADX GVG SSB feeders in Kabul brought into service Relay transmitters located in Syzran 120 kW & Tula 100 kW; ADXN 9-82 BP Later transmitters located in Dushanbe & Alma Aty?; ADXN 9-82 Satellite relay begun as feeder service from Kabul to Russia Begin 21-4-82 TSW in Russia on satellite relay from Kabul; GVG- NASWA Most SB feeders discontinued June 1982; GVG SCDXers 8-6-82 Complete sked on relay from Russia, still one feeder; DXC BBCM 9-84 2 Relays via Russia concluded Dec 31, 1991; RNMN DXO 3-92 29 QSLs AMP 1983 - 1991 Clandestine Radio Afghanistan Coup news broadcast over ``Radio Afghanistan`` in southern Russia; PC 9-83 34 Northern Alliance Takhar radio 7000 kHz American local coverage Coverage from aeroplanes over Afghanistan planned quite soon; CNN Coverage from ground-based mediumwave stations planned; CNN =================================================================== (Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. HOW TO GET A QSL FROM RADIO DIMENSION As I have previously reported, Radio Dimensión AM 940, in the Argentinian province of San Luis can be heard on its first [sic] harmonic of 1880h (940 x 2). But it seems that to the present, nobody has been able to get a QSL from the station. In fact, my reception reports sent to the station' director, Sr. Jorge Altamirano haven't ever been confirmed, so far. Luckily, I could find an excellent contact with a presenter and speaker, Mr. Jorge Chiappe, who has been working at Radio Dimensión for some years and is born in the Province of Santa Fe, also my province. After multiple e-mails exchanged between Jorge and me, I could learn for a possible reason of why the trials of getting a QSL have failed so far; "I am afraid they haven't send nothing to you for this people don't care in QSLing and have other interests in radio..." Maybe -he added- they are fighting with a troubled economic situation that keeps their attention in other matters. "As a matter of fact, I regret so much you haven't been unable to get your certificate of proven reception, and I believe that it doesn't pays to insist..." said Chiappe in his message dated Sept 13, 2001. Since Jorge Chiappe is in charge of a program entitled "Música en el Recuerdo", broadcast on Saturdays and -coincidentally- takes place in an appropiate time slot to allow reception of the harmonic emission from Radio Dimensión, I proposed him if he himself could take the work of confirming the reception reports that could come from overseas DXers. His answer was affirmative: "I accept your proposal of verifying reports from listeners in other latitudes", wrote in a message I received from him on September 24, 2001. Those interested in listening to Radio Dimensión and getting a QSL from them should try tuning to the program "Música del Recuerdo", Sat 1900-2030 Argentine Time (2200-2330 UTC) on MW 940 and SW 1880h and forward the reports to Mr. Jorge Chiappe at his e-mail Jorge_Chiappe@COLPAL.COM Or via mail to Radio Dimensión, Av. Pte. Illía 128, 5700 San Luís, Argentina. Tel. +54 (for Argentina) 02652 (for San Luís) 441088 and 441099. It's important to enclose US$ 2,oo or 2 IRC). (by Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Rosario-Argentina, Oct.. 17, translated by Horacio Nigro, Montevideo-Uruguay) [this item already appeared here in Spanish] ** AUSTRALIA. UT Friday Oct 19 at 2105: Feedback* - listener letters, features and news about RA. This weekend, Roger Broadbent talks to WRN's Managing Director Karl Miosga and the organisation's Director of Development Jeff Cohen. World Radio Network is now almost ten years old. In that time this London based company has established itself as a key distribution network for programming from a wide range of international broadcasters. Although listeners are often unaware that what they are hearing has come to them via the network, WRN is truly a worldwide organisation with big plans for the future. (RA program previews by John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Repeats: UT Sat 0005, 0605, Sun 0305 ** CANADA. Any good news out of RCI is almost immediately met with countering bad news. The RCI Action Committee has posted two new Flash items on their website at http://www.geocities.com/rciaction First, 5 technicians have been fired from the Sackville transmitter site. Read about the potentially dangerous consequences which could result from this move. Also, 4 RCI employees in Montreal have received word that they are being moved over to the CBC Domestic service. More details on this development will be following shortly on the RCI Action Committee website (Sheldon Harvey, Oct 18, swprograms via DXLD) Five of 19 RCI Transmitter Technicians Fired! This Creates a Dangerous Situation -- Union Says On Wednesday, 17 October, Joy Sellers, RCI`s Director of Programming and Operations met with the technicians who keep RCI`s shortwave transmitters working on Canada`s east coast in the town of Sackville, in the province of New Brunswick. She told the astonished employees that six positions were being eliminated out of 20 (One person has already left, which means five (5) are losing their jobs.) According to those present, Sellers told them that financial reasons were behind the downsizing: the fixed budget of RCI, the lack of a cost of inflation index and wage increases. What shocks the union representing the employees is that this cutting of positions goes against a basic principle at Sackville: the buddy system. Since they work with high voltage electricity, up until now, the technicians have insisted on having two technicians working together. Because of the work load RCI has assigned at least two technicians for the past 20 years. (Before that there were three.) This also guaranteed the added protection that if one had a problem, the other could come to his aid. In the course of their work, the Sackville technicians have to leave the safety of their control room, to maintain the transmitters, check out equipment and verify ventilation. This is why they`re so worried by the cuts. The union is already raising the question with the Canadian Labour Relations Board, as well as calling a union meeting specifically on the safety question. ``We`re devastated after hearing the news,`` said Alf Walker, the president of the Sackville union local of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. ``RCI has not proved the viability of these cuts, nor the safety of the working environment,`` said Walker. ``They just don`t understand the impact of these changes.`` As more details become available we will update this story. If you have a comment, drop us a note at: rciaction@yahoo.ca (Action Committee website Oct 18 via DXLD) ** CANADA. RCI schedule / comment in DXLD 1-151: Actually my first thought was that just the Hörby designation for 5995 is missing, and I was quite surprised when I realized the 60 degrees azimuth, which proves that this is indeed Sackville. Certainly indeed a quite strange choice, I think only to explain as straight site change from Hörby to Sackville. Regarding Tbilisskaya (Krasnodar/Armavir) 7420: This frequency looks like a choice of MCCBN in Moscow, they always put a lot of shortwave outlets in the 7300...7450 range for the winter season, and this works quite good on transmissions for Central Europe. There is very few utility activity in this frequency range, at least I cannot remember a case when a broadcast outlet there suffered from co-channel/nearby "ute" (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I recall RCI using <6 MHz before in winter evenings to Europe, heard OK here if not there (gh, DXLD) W-95 HFCC COORDINATED SCHEDULE 5925 2000-2200 RCI SAC 250 060 1234567 950924 960331 73 wb df5sx (W. Büschel, DXLD) Seems to me like 5925 also used later than 1995 ** CUBA. RUSIA CERRARA SUS BASES EN CUBA Y VIETNAM Por SERGEI SHARGORODSKY MOSCU -- (AP) -- Rusia cerrará una estación de espionaje electrónico en Cuba y una base de apoyo naval en Vietnam como parte de sus medidas para reducir los gastos de sus fuerzas armadas, dijo el miércoles un alto funcionario militar. El general Anatoly Kvashnin, jefe de estado mayor de las fuerzas armadas, dijo que Rusia desmantelará la estación de radar e intercepción de comunicaciones construida en Lourdes, Cuba, así como la base naval de Cam Ranh en Vietnam. Al mismo tiempo, se dijo que Rusia aumentará en 1.000 millones de dólares el total dedicado a la compra de armamentos. El anuncio sobre Lourdes y Cam Rahn fue formulado tras una reunión con el presidente Vladimir Putin. ``El presidente nos pidió que buscásemos fórmulas para ahorrar recursos'', dijo Kvashnin a la salida de esa reunión. La retirada de la base vietnamita comenzará el primero de enero, pero no se dio fecha para la retirada de los rusos de la estación cubana. La estación de espionaje electrónico de Cuba fue construida en 1964, poco después de la crisis de los cohetes de 1962, para decidir ``cuestiones de defensa durante ese período de la Guerra Fría'', dijo Kvashnin. ``Ahora la situación militar y política ha cambiado y se ha mejorado enormemente la calidad de los equipos militares'', factores que hacen innecesaria la base, agregó el militar. Dijo que el cierre de la estación cubana permitirá a los rusos ahorrar 200 millones de dólares al año sólo por concepto de alquiler, sin contar los salarios del personal y el mantenimiento. ``Con ese dinero podemos comprar y lanzar 20 satélites de comunicación, inteligencia e información, y comprar hasta 100 radares ultramodernos'', dijo Kvashnin. No obstante, Putin dijo en la reunión que ``abogamos por el levantamiento total del bloqueo económico y tenemos extensos planes de cooperación económica con Vietnam''. El presidente había visitado la base de Lourdes en diciembre y había dicho al personal de la estación que su misión era muy importante para las decisiones del gobierno de Moscú. NOTA: TOMADO DEL EL NUEVO HERALD Cordiales 73's (Oscar, FL, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) **CUBA. ORDEN DE DECOMISAR CUALQUIER TIPO DE VIDEOCASSETERA [ VCR ] Recientemente he leido un articulo sobre la distribución de los Televisores modelo "Panda" en Cuba. El documento como tal fue publicado en el diario oficial Granma, claro está, que esto no lo hubo de publicar Granma y por eso lo adjunto, para los interesados. [ Oscar ]. Aduaneros tienen orden de decomisar cualquier tipo de videocassetera [ VCR ] LA HABANA, 15 de octubre (Reinaldo Cosano Alén / CubaNet) - Todos los equipos de videocassetera que sean detectados por funcionarios de la Aduana de Cuba serán decomisados. "Me decomisaron el equipo de video y al preguntarle al oficial por qué me lo quitaban, me contestó: 'Señora, yo tampoco lo sé'", declaró Mirtha Pavón Saavedra, cubanoamericana residente en Las Vegas, Estados Unidos de América. Cuando le quitaban el aparato la señora Pavón expresó que si no se lo devolvían lo rompería, porque era de su propiedad, y de seguido el personal de la aduana del aeropuerto internacional José Martí le revisó todo el equipaje ocupándole 35 libras de ropa que la mujer iba a regalar a sus familiares en la isla. "Además, tuve que pagar 200 dólares y no sé por qué", denunció Pavón, de 60 años de edad. El oficial de la aduana que dijo llamarse Ulises le comunicó a la señora Pavón que la videocassetera decomisada sería destinada "a una escuela del país". El gobierno de Fidel Castro comenzó hace poco a usar equipos de televisor y videocassetera para adoctrinar políticamente a los escolares cubanos como parte de la denominada "la batalla de ideas". La señora Pavón llegó a la isla para visitar a sus familiares y el maltrato que recibió en el aeropuerto capitalino no es excepción, sino la norma que aplican a todo cubano residente en otro país cuando regresa al suyo. La venta de videocasseteras fue prohibida en las tiendas dolarizadas del país, donde único podían adquirirse. También están prohibidas las antenas de UHF u otros aparatos que permitan recibir programaciones de radio o televisión de emisoras extranjeras. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. Cordiales 73's (via Oscar, FL, Oct 17, DXLD) Not satisfied with disabling UHF on new TV sets imported from China, and countless other restrixions on civil liberties, the Cuban commies are now confiscating VCRs brought in by visitors, and using them in indoctrination schools. (`decomisar` means confiscate, not decommission) (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Dear Glenn, Here is the RFI schedule valid from October 28th (English transmissions only) To Africa 0400-0430 : 11910 (*) 0500-0530 : 13610, 15155 (*) 0600-0630 : 11710 (*), 15155, 17800 0700-0800 : 15605 (*) 1200-1230 : 15540 (*), 25820 1600-1700 : 11615, 11995 (*), 12015 (*), 17850 1600-1730 : 15605, 11615 To the Near & Middle East 1400-1500 : 17620 To India 1400-1500 : 9580 (**), 17620 (*) : via Gabon (**) : via China (via Jean-Michel AUBIER, France, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Re DXLD 1-150: As for pronouncing the apostrophes, "Le Mouv'" is pronounced roughly like the English "move," though the vowel is a bit more rounded. I guess the name of the station, either adapted from the English "move" or a shortening of the French "mouvement," is supposed to be hip and trendy...not surprising for a youth-oriented network. As for "M'Toulouse," the "M" is pronounced separately, as a letter, which also is a homonym of "aime". This is, according to the website for the station (using the link I sent on the 17th, cf DXLD 1-151), "parce qu'on aime Toulouse." Think of replacing the "M" with a little heart, and you'll get the idea (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) M'Toulouse: There is a theory that 94.8 is the regular Toulouse outlet of Le Mouv' and 945 was simply switched into the 94.8 feed. This sounds quite plausible, however, other sources show for Le Mouv' in Toulouse 95.2 instead while AFP also mentioned that Radio France had to obtain CSA (licence authority) approval for the FM service, so 94.8 rather looks like a temporary allocation, perhaps in the planning stage changed from 98.7 to 94.8. Anyway I think the ATS-909 next to me in the bed (instead of me) is certainly not the only radio here in Germany which is right now tuned into 945, since this outlet already found its fans here. I am not the only one who now wonders why Radio France has no regular mediumwave service of Le Mouv' (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 1323 kHz: A visit to the Wachenbrunn site by Gerhard Roleder brought some new information about the current [V of Russia relay] operation. Until 1800 now a slightly reduced power of 800 kW is in use, after 1800 the output is still just 150 kW as required by the ITU Genève schedule. But more interestingly there is now a regular beam switch: From s-on until 1500 now an azimuth of 310 degrees is in use, from 1500 until s-off still the usual 220 degrs, which was previously in use exclusively. Monitoring observations fully confirm this beam switch, which requires a carrier break (about a half minute or so). (Kai Ludwig, Arctic via IRCA DX Monitor Oct 20 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Mediumwave: Since Oct. 18 Mega-Radio on 693 (Zehlendorf east of Oranienburg) is now on air, reportedly the transmitter was switched on around 4 PM local time. The signal not sounds like 250 kW, here some 120 km south of Berlin Zehlendorf is audible underneath co-channel Milano only. But I still have to check the mere groundwave signal during daytime (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. According to the DPQ news agency Deutsche Welle director Erik Bettermann announced that DW "will establish further frequencies on medium- and shortwave to increase reporting in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, too". DW will apply for additional 14 millions DEM funds specified for this project. For the time being the extended programming is scheduled until mid-2002. I enclose the full dpa report, which otherwise covers the pay TV project "The German Channel". (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) München (dpa) - Die Deutsche Welle (DW) will wegen des Afghanistan- Kriegs zusätzliche Frequenzen auf Mittel- und Kurzwelle einrichten. Damit soll vor allem die Berichterstattung in den zentralasiatischen Ländern Usbekistan, Tadschikistan und Kirgistan sowie auch Pakistan verstärkt werden. Dies kündigte der Intendant des Auslandssenders, Erik Bettermann, am Donnerstag auf den Medientagen in München an. Insgesamt will die DW für die zunächst bis Mitte 2002 veranschlagte Ausweitung ihres Programms 14 Millionen Mark (7,16 Millionen Euro) vom Bund an projektbezogenen Mitteln beantragen. Die genauen Kosten hingen jedoch von der Dauer des Konflikts ab. Wie Bettermann weiter sagte, will die DW mit dem gemeinsam mit ARD und ZDF betriebenen Auslandsfernsehen in den USA beginnen, sobald der Bundestag die Anschubfinanzierung von rund 60 Millionen Mark genehmigt habe. Dies sei Anfang November zu erwarten. ``The German Channel`` will ab Frühjahr zunächst in den USA ein deutschsprachiges Vollprogrammen mit allen Sparten gegen Gebühr anbieten. Für den Pay-TV-Kanal - nach einer Marktstudie gibt es 900 000 deutschsprachige Haushalte in den USA - müssen monatlich 15 Dollar (33 Mark) bezahlt werden. Insgesamt braucht der Sender 70 000 Abonnenten, um in fünf Jahren verlustfrei zu arbeiten. Mit der Werbung von Beziehern soll bereits an Weihnachten begonnen werden. «The German Channel» - jeweils 40 Prozent des Programms liefern ARD und ZDF, 20 Prozent kommen von der DW - soll schrittweise auf andere Regionen der Welt ausgeweitet werden. Bereits am 1. September ging der über Satellit verbreitete deutschsprachige Auslandssender ChannelD auf Sendung, der vor allem sein Programm mit älteren Serien und Unterhaltungsprogrammen bestreitet. dpa tm yyzz cr 181608 Okt 01 (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). From: RadioCarolineMailinglist@yahoogroups.com 18 October 2001 15:30 The new Official Radio Caroline website is now online at http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk The website has been totally revamped with a new look and hopefully some fresh new ideas. We need your help..... We are looking to create an online photo archive charting the various eras of Caroline. So if you have any material that you think would be useful and interesting then please let me know via personal mail. Anything from pictures of the Mi Amigo to scans of promotional publications would be gratefully received. Please remember the website is still under development so please bear with us. Many thanks (David James, via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** JAPAN. NHK EXPANDS MIDDLE-EASTERN SERVICE Effective Oct-7, Radio Japan extended its Middle Eastern Service to a 24-hr operation, mainly in Japanese, using the new relay in Abu Dhabi and existing facilities in Yamata: 0100-0400 11870 Yamata 0400-0700 17700 Yamata 0700-1600 15480 Dhabayya 1600-1700 15455 Dhabayya 1700-1900 11880 Dhabayya 1900-2100 7195 Dhabayya 2100-0100 6140 Dhabayya (Via Koji Yamada, Tokyo) This is a special contribution from "Electronic DX Press" and the "Australian Shortwave Club" (hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL [non]. As for Thales, according to an ad on the front page of the September 2001 International Edition of "Radio World" magazine, Thales Broadcasting and Multimedia is the new name for Thomcast (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Glenn, Link to article in this morning's New York Times about the persistence of Stalin-era wired broadcasting in Russia: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/18/international/europe/18MOSC.html I'll pose the question: What's the difference between listening to Mayak over the wire, and listening to the BBC over the Internet? A: Mayak is cheaper, and probably has more reliable reception (I doubt it is plagued with those "Network congestion, rebuffering" messages). Regards, (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. The description of a Voice of Turkey audio fault in DXLD 1-151 reminded me of a classical sound effect, known as "shutter": Put the audio from the playback head of the tape recorder on a fader of the console and just draw this fader to create the effect. It's almost forgotten here in Germany but still popular at Voice of Russia, and it seems that they run the tapes on their Hungarian "Mechlabor" machines with 15 inches per seconds like all stations here in Germany and I think elsewhere in Europe, too (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Unusually, here is an item we repeat from a previous issue, 1-103 of July 31; is this still planned for Oct 27? (gh, DXLD) Yes it is Glenn. It is still a go with Reshide to do the show, (Bill Bergadano, DXLD) ** TURKEY/TEXAS. Voice of Turkey Special DX Corner in memoriam to Gigi Lytle I've just finshed working out the details with Reshide Morali of the 'Voice of Turkey'; no one there till I emailed them on Sunday July 22, had heard Gigi passed away last year! Due to the fact Gigi was an avid listener, and we all recall her, Reshide and I have joined forces for the October 27, 2001 edition of 'DX Corner' to be dedicated to Gigi's memory. Please go to my site, http://www.ka2emz.com and look for a link to send your recollections and memories of Gigi to Reshide. We as many of you recall, had a moment of silence to several people, notably Gigi at the 14th annual Winter SWL Fest banquet in March. Let`s not let the spirit die. 73s, (Bill KA2EMZ Bergadano, swprograms via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. RUI' frequencies that are off are 12040 and 7150 (not 7125!). Sorry for this mistake! (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, swprograms via DXLD) Hello, Kraig! Thanks for the reception report. Perhaps, Mykolaiv has ended test and returned to previous settings. We had proposed week duration of the test. Now I have to found out the real situation. But, suddenly, today Mykolaiv is off the air. I don't know for what period of time. With the best regards, (Alexander Yegorov, RUI, Oct 17 via Krist, DXLD) Glenn, I confirm RUI off the air when I checked October 18, 2001 0001 UT 12040 kHz. 73, (-.. . Kraig Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Radio Ukraine International B01 complete schedule (28.10.01-30.03.02) Frequency UTC Tx Site Azimuth Target Area 5905 1600-0100 Kyiv 266 W Europe 6020 0700-1500 Kyiv ND C Europe 7240 2000-2400 Kyiv 307 NW Europe 7285 0300-0700 Mykolaiv 004 NE .Europe 7285 1700-2200 Mykolaiv 004 NE Europe 7375 0000-0500 Mykolaiv 314 N America 7420 0100-0700 Kyiv 074 Russia, N Kazakhstan 7420 1400-2000 Kyiv 074 Russia, N Kazakhstan 9560 1600-2400 Kyiv 264 W Europe 9600 0600-1300 Kyiv 264 W Europe 9610 0000-0500 Kharkiv 055 Russia 9610 1400-1900 Kharkiv 055 Russia 11720 0600-1400 Kharkiv 262 SW Europe 11825 0600-1600 Kyiv 093 C Asia 11840 0900-1200 Kharkiv 055 Russia 15520 0800-1500 Kharkiv 290 W Europe The output of all SW txs is 100 kW, except on 7375 kHz where the power is 1000 kW. Schedules of programs in various languages are as follows: German (one hour long): 1800 on 5905, 7420, 9560 kHz; 2100 on 5905, 7240, 9560 kHz; 0000 on 5905 kHz. English (one hour long): 2200 on 5905, 7240, 9560 kHz; 0100 on 7375, 7420, 9610 kHz; 0400 on 7285, 7375, 7420, 9610 kHz; 1200 on 11720, 11825, 15520 kHz. Ukrainian programs are transmitted on all frequencies and at all times except for the time reserved for German and English, as shown above. Romanian (half an hour long): on 657 kHz MW Chernivtsi, 25 kW, at 1800, 2030, 2200 (Alexander Yegorov, via Wolfgang Bueschel via Alan Roe, via Mike Barraclough, World DX Club via DXLD) ** U K. Roger Mosey, news director for the BBC, was a guest on the Washington Live morning talk show on C-Span today (Wed.) (John Townes, swprograms via DXLD) This remains available as of 0348UT Thursday as an on-demand video file at the c-span.org web site. I watched this segment tonight and there was a neutral question from a viewer about the BBC dropping shortwave (about 15 minutes into the segment). Mr. Mosey replied that it was "supposedly due" (his words) to the fact that most people in NA now hear WS on public radio or use the internet to hear foreign stations. (Unless I misread him, his demeanor seemed to suggest that he was personally skeptical of these assertions.) He stated that there was "quite a protest" raised over this decision that it was "under review". Hmmm. (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** U S A. There is an interesting commentary entitled "In the information war, use all technologies" which touches on radio (VoA, RFE/RL, proposed Radio Free Afghanistan), TV and internet. You can access it at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1017/p11s2-cojh.html (Fred Waterer, Ont, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Fritz Layer in Terre Haute, Indiana, reports hearing the new ``Good News Radio`` with low power on 7355 kHz at 2300 - MN00 UT. This station was on the air previously as WRNO in New Orleans (AWR Wavescan Oct 21 via DXLD) ** U S A. WRMI finally posted a revised program schedule almost a month after Voz de la Fundación was cancelled. Evidently its hours have been taken over by Christian Media Network, which like all other gospel-huxter programs we are deleting from this version (gh, DXLD) WRMI Program Schedule/Horario Effective October 17/Octubre 17, 2001 Days are local days in the Americas; times are UTC. Días son días locales en las Américas; horas son UTC. MONDAY-FRIDAY/LUNES-VIERNES To North America on 7385 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 2300-0000 Christian Media Network (English) Note: The following are Tuesday-Saturday UTC. Los siguientes son martes-sábado UTC. 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Kol Israel (English, Monday-Thursday) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) SATURDAY/SABADO To North America on 15725 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 15725 kHz: 2100-2200 Viva Miami (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) Note: The following are Sunday UTC. Los siguientes son domingo UTC. 0000-0030 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 0100-0200 Radio Revista Lux (español) To North America on 7385 kHz/Para Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 This Lousy Half-Hour Show (English) 0400-0430 Wavescan (English) SUNDAY/DOMINGO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamerérica en 9955 kHz: 0900-1000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) To North America on 15725 kHz/Hacia Norteamérica en 15725 kHz: 1230-1300 Wavescan (English) 1300-1330 Radio Prague (English) 1400-1500 World Radio Network (English) [VOA CW, RVi] 1500-1530 Wavescan (English) 2030-2100 Kol Israel (English) 2100-2200 Viva Miami (English/español) 2200-2300 Radio Vaticano (español) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz/Hacia el Caribe y Latinoamérica en 9955 kHz: 2300-0000 Radio Revista Lux (español) Note: The following are Monday UTC. Los siguientes son lunes UTC 0030-0100 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0130-0200 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) To North America on 7385 kHz/Para Norteamérica en 7385 kHz: 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Kol Israel (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) (http://wrmi.net Oct 18 via DXLD) Or see DXLD 1-131 for program descriptions ** U S A. Special Event Station K7UGA on the Air This Weekend October 20-21, 2001 K7UGA was the callsign of U.S. Senator Barry Morris Goldwater. Former Arizona senator and presidential candidate. Goldwater was also a Life Member of the Central AZ DX Association. The famous K7UGA callsign formerly held by the late senator was re-issued to the Central Arizona DX Association. The FCC granted CADXA's request for K7UGA on October 24, 2000. This weekend that famous callsign, K7UGA, will be re-activated with a special events station. Look for K7UGA .032 +/- on CW and 5-10 kHz. up from the U.S. General assignments on SSB. K7UGA will also be on WARC bands. Try 10110, 18.090, 24.905 cw and 18.160 and 24.965 SSB. For more information on this Special Event Station, go to http://www.cadxa.org (via N7RK, hallicrafters via WDX6AA via DXLD) ** U S A [clandestine]. Following may well have been logs of the final broadcasts of UNITED PATRIOT RADIO (gh): 6900/U, 0108-0302+, 13-Oct; Pastor James Wickstrom who sez that Christianity is a "pure white race religion". Pastor James often has very creative Bible interpretations. @0227, Col. Steve sez he's driving the freeway, keeping an eye on tank truck drivers for us...just in case. Shepherd's Call px w/Pastor Buddy Johnson @0300. SIO-454 (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) (There, there. Everyone feels better now, don't they? Beware of those damn trucks. -Liz) -6900 at 0122 w/upper sideband antiSemitism. (Cameron 13 Oct DXP) -United Patriot Radio 6900USB tx re the 'so called religion' of Christianity and the 'Jew-Run' Catholic Church and slams about the 'Jesuit Jews' running the Protestant religions, interspersed with exhortations to 'cling to Yahweh's word' and reading from the Book of Obadiah. The word you're looking for is 'anyway....' (0138 13/Oct and I was too amazed by the broadcast content to take a SIO, reception was good) (–Kenneth Vito Zichi, DXP, MARE via DXLD) ** U S A [clandestine]. I heard someone give an announcement on 6900 usb at 23:45 (10/17) and 00:00 (10/18) I missed some of the words but it went like this: "attention all patriots, attention all patriots. Steve Anderson was involved in a shootout with........he ditched his truck and escaped on foot..............pray for our brother...... the _______patriot out." (L. Cee, Oct 17, ACE Pirates via DXLD) ###