DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-186, November 30, 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 Check the WOR websites: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/ http://www.worldofradio.com [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 #1107: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1107ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1107.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1107.html NEXT AIRINGS ON WWCR: Saturday 0300 on 3215, 1230 on 15685, Sunday 0330 on 5070, 0730 on 3210 NEXT AIRINGS ON RFPI: Saturday 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800 on some of: 21815-USB, 15040, 7445-USB [see COSTA RICA] ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0900 to rest of world; 1500 to NAm NETS TO YOU, December edition, by John Norfolk, is now available at http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html ** AFGHANISTAN. Hi Glenn, yesterday`s Monitoring Service report quoted Radio Balkh on a visit by two journalists. The Spanish reporter was no other than Rafael Poch, Moscow correspondent for La Vanguardia, a newspaper in Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Poch has been following this station from Termez, Uzbekistan and, since last week from Mazar-i-Sharif. He monitors the broadcasts with the help of a local interpreter (Pahsto and Dari into Russian). Thanks to your daily digests, I have been able to keep him updated also on Information Radio (Command Solo) and the new station beamed presumably from Samara, Russian Federation. For your convenience, below comes the text of today`s article about the visit, from: http://www.vanguardia.es/cgi- bin/noticia.pl?dia=30_11&link=vb3010a&sec=ini Best regards, (Enrique Fernandez Geneva, Switzerland, Nov 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) INTERNACIONAL GUERRA MUNDIAL AL TERRORISMO La emisora de Mazar-i-Sharif emite ocho horas al día mientras los redactores intentan borrar los letreros talibán Radio Balj, en directo La Vanguardia - - 04.00 horas - 30/11/2001 RAFAEL POCH, Mazar-i-Sharif. Enviado especial Por alguna extraña razón, los americanos, que tanta prisa se dieron en bombardear los estudios de Radio Kabul (y de paso, días más tarde, la oficina de la televisión árabe por satélite Al Jezira, que tanto les importunaba), perdonaron la vida a la Voz de la Sharia, la emisora talibán de Mazar-i-Sharif. La radio tenía su sede en una casa de dos pisos muy cerca del centro de la ciudad. Es una zona densamente poblada. Quizá hubo escrúpulos ante la posibilidad de excesivos "daños colaterales". En cualquier caso, Radio Balj -así se llamaba desde siempre la emisora antes de la llegada de los talibán- ha podido heredar los estudios prácticamente intactos. La emisora de Mazar-i-Sharif fue la única de Afganistán que no fue alcanzada por los bombardeos americanos. "Los anteriores inquilinos se han llevado muchos aparatos, pero por lo menos la casa y las antenas están intactas", dice Abdurrab Jahib, el nuevo director de la Radiotelevisión Balj. La radio es un hecho y ya emite ocho horas diarias. La tele es solamente una promesa: "Aún no tenemos medios ni dinero", dice Jahib. En la entrada de la sede, todavía se lee el letrero Radio Voz de la Sharia (ley islámica). Los periodistas lo han intentado borrar con cal, pero sólo han conseguido difuminar las letras, aún perfectamente legibles. Jahib me recibe con la plana mayor de la redacción, en la que trabajan 40 personas. Le pregunto cómo han informado de la batalla de la fortaleza de Kalai Jangi, donde, cuando mantuvimos la conversación, continuaba la tenaz resistencia de un grupo de prisioneros talibán que se amotinaron el domingo y fueron aplastados el martes. "Nos limitamos a entrevistar al general Mohaquiq", dice citando al jefe de las bandas hazaras de la ciudad, las más peligrosas. "El general explicó que el acuerdo (alcanzado con los defensores de Kunduz que capitularon) fue que entregarían las armas, pero que algunos guardan granadas y las hacen explotar a la menor ocasión." En uno de estos episodios, el sábado, un suicida logró llevarse por delante a "dos generales" de la Alianza del Norte, al mismo tiempo que hirió a una periodista británica. Lo del domingo en la fortaleza aún colea y un periodista de Radio Balj (Balj es el topónimo de la región a la que pertenece Mazar-i-Shairf), Najibulla Koraish, fue herido mientras seguía en directo los combates, que acabaron con la interevencion de los aviones americanos. Jahib está absolutamente de acuerdo con la política contemporizadora con los talibán practicada por el general Dustum. Reconoce que muchos comandantes talibán locales, casi siempre pashtunes de esta provincia de Balj cuyo centro es Mazar, simplemente se han afeitado y se han pasado al nuevo amo. "Ya no son talibán", dice. "¿Qué pasará con los talibán ‘de fuera’?", me intereso. "Podrán regresar a Kandahar en cuanto su identidad sea comprobada", asegura. El director no menosprecia la capacidad de los talibán por dar guerra, incluso después de que caiga su bastión de Kandahar, en el sur de Afganistán. "Sus posibilidades de mantener una guerrilla en las montañas dependen de que puedan seguir recibiendo ayuda y suministros del extranjero", pronostica con seguridad. Los periodistas de la emisora no simpatizan con los estadounidenses y apoyan a su director cuando afirma que "si las tropas extranjeras se quedan mucho tiempo en Afganistán, no hay duda de que la población los verá como intervencionistas y se acabará revolviendo contra ellos". Al mismo tiempo, Jahib no cree que los americanos cometan la tontería de meter muchos soldados más en el país. "Sobre todo porque no veo la necesidad militar de que lo hagan", dice. [Viernes, 30 de noviembre de 2001] (La Vanguardia via Enrique Fernández, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Glenn, Here's the link to a story in Friday's New York Times about the MW station in Kunduz --- it even gives rudimentary frequency and time info: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/30/international/30KUND.html The print edition is worth seeking out, as it also has a photo of the antenna. Regards, (Chuck Albertson, Seattle WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here's an article on rejuvenated radio in Afghanistan...but 1520 kHz doesn't fit into the frequency plan, eh? 73- (Bill Westenhaver, Nov 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kunduz Radio Drops Hard Talk for Easy Listening November 30, 2001 --- By C. J. CHIVERS KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Nov. 29 - Last month he was the voice of militant Islam, Enayatelah Khaliq, news correspondent for Voice of Shariat, the Taliban radio station found here at 1520 kilohertz on the medium-wave dial. During much of the four years that the Taliban occupied this city, Mr. Khaliq lent his labor and his name to programs that the militants required: Mohammed's Majesty, the Brightness of Islam, the Garden of Mirrors and more. Each program echoed the Taliban's view of the world in a 25-mile radius around the northern Afghan desert and steppe. This month Mr. Khaliq is the voice of the Northern Alliance, broadcasting triumphant reports of the expulsion of Taliban soldiers from Kunduz and the glory of the mujahedeen who have taken control. At the end of this evening's one-hour broadcast he even offered political commentary about the importance of democracy and civilian rule. Allegiances are malleable in Afghanistan, as was evidenced in the final days of the battle for this city, when some Taliban units simply switched sides. It is equally evident in the first moments of peace at the only radio station in the city, which this week shed its Taliban name and recast itself as the media arm of its patron's former foe. The rebirth of the station can be seen either as a testimony to disloyalty or as an achievement of adaptability and resilience. Mr. Khaliq, soft-spoken and bearded, was unapologetic about his old duties, as were the other 15 members of the station's staff. "We were compelled to work on the programs of the Taliban," he said. "We didn't want to, but if we went against them we would have been hurt." The shift in loyalties and content at the Voice of Shariat changed almost immediately after the first armored vehicles rolled through the city's central square. The radio station had been closed for about three weeks, during the bombardment and siege of Kunduz Province. By Wednesday the employees were organized enough to produce their first show, a mix of news and music, which had been banned during the Taliban's rule. Mr. Khaliq opened the hour with a welcome and blessing for the Northern Alliance. "By the name of Allah, the most compassionate and most merciful, hello to all the listeners of Kunduz, and congratulations to the Northern Alliance for the victory against the Taliban," he said, later adding, "We reject the actions of the Taliban in the previous years." The show included long cuts to music, made possible when the staff found bootleg audiocassettes of Afghan music in the city's market, and bought four for $1 each. Muhammad Yousofy, the station's director, smiled and nodded with pride, remembering the mix of politics and music, the likes of which had not been heard for four years. "It was a very good show," he said. "Even if it was different for the kind of programs we are used to." The changes in allegiance here are in many ways a repeat of the past. Radio-TV of Kunduz, the station's proper name, was built by the Soviet Union during its occupation of the land from 1979 to 1989, when it broadcast Russian views, news and television. It denounced its Russian master in 1989, at the end of Afghanistan's jihad against the Soviets. Now that the radio station is able to do a daily hour of programming, Mr. Yousofy said the next step would be to repair the station's television equipment, which is in poor condition, and begin broadcasting stories in two media. "That is the goal," he said. "We'd like to have some television running by next week." He said that making two radio programs --- one hour on Wednesday and another today --- was a feat. The station is a small compound with only two lightbulbs to serve several dark rooms. The books in the library and the tapes in the archives were both looted by the Taliban, meaning much of the station's reference material is gone. The necessary equipment is mostly either old or nonexistent. There are no phones, the only tape recorder is about the size of a wallet, and the whole arrangement is powered by a generator that frequently breaks. To reduce the load on the generator, the station's amplifier is hooked up to a car battery. In spite of these shortfalls, the station somehow managed quickly to provide services, a considerable accomplishment given that little else works in Kunduz. The power plant was scavenged when the Taliban seized the city in 1997, and has been darkened ever since. Schools are closed. Public transportation is nonexistent. Mail service is a dream. There is no running water or working sewage system. The hospital is filthy. Fires are fought with buckets filled from wells because the city's fire trucks are on blocks behind the police station, their engines, tires and hoses all long ago carted off. Nothing in Kunduz seems to work at all, except for the merchants and repairmen peering from stores and tiny stalls, and Kunduz radio, now broadcasting one hour a day beginning at 5 p.m., or perhaps a little later, allowing for equipment failures, and the time required to write scripts exactly the opposite of the old way. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/30/international/30KUND.html?ex=1008135513&ei=1&en=3ba15b2cdca4eca4 Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Although they must have heard about 9950 first thanks to DXLD, certain DX sources do not have the courtesy to send us their observations directly. We have now culled some of those which have not yet appeared in DXLD out of Clandestine Radio Watch, which also reproduces everything relevant from DXLD, if they have anything to add to what already has been published. But let`s start with a valuable direct CRW contributor who understands the languages (gh, DXLD) Extensive transcriptions for Radio Voice of Afghanistan Here is the result of my monitoring on 9950 kHz -- Radio Voice of Afghanistan -- on yesterday and today. I monitored Radio Voice of Afghanistan on 21 Nov. The transmission started at 1330 UT on 9950 kHz as previously reported. The station announcements say that this is the TEST transmission. Test transmission in Pashto from 1330 UT to 1345, then Dari followed until 1400. Again the same programme in Pashto until 1415 followed by Dari until the end of transmission at 1430. And here is a summary of its test transmission in Dari (Radyo-i Seda-i Afghanistan). The transmission starts with the famous song "Da Zamung Zebah Watan". It seems that this song is so popular among the people of Afghanistan. In the opening announcement, the announcer said that this is the test transmission. And they are to transmit daily broadcast in Dari and Pashto on 31 mb, 9950 kHz from 6 pm Kabul Time. Dari transmission will be on air from 6.30 Kabul time for 30 minutes. But didn't mention when they will start regular transmissions. Then recitation of the Qur'an followed. Then, the announcer said that the purpose of Radio Voice of Afghanistan is to restore culture in Afghanistan after radio and television as well as newspapers were damaged during the past years. And radio is aiming at bringing war to the end, promoting mutual understandings among people. He further said that the station is to broadcast local and international news to spread them into Afghanistan. He also said that Afghanistan is now at very sensitive period that's why the station is starting broadcasts. He invited listeners' letters and comments, and asked to send them to the mail address and fax and telephone numbers to be announced later in the regular transmissions. Then, an Afghan song followed. After that, he again invited the listeners to write to them. But didn't mention its address nor telephone/fax numbers. Closing with a march-like song. Closing announcement with transmission schedule, same as above. And also asking letters without mentioning address and fax/tel numbers. Closing song up again... The station didn't mention about its background clearly. So, we need to wait until the station starts regular transmissions. It is quite interesting to follow this station any way. Once again, the station IDs are: Da Afghanistan Ghag Radyo (Pashto) Radyo-i Seda-i Afghanistan (Dari) The Voice of Afghanistan has started regular transmission today- November 22. I was also monitoring the station from 1320 until 1431 on 9950 kHz. The style of the transmission is quite similar to the test transmissions. However, they didn't mention that this is the test transmission "nasharat-i imtihani". Also for the first time, the station broadcast the news. In today's news "Akhbar muhimm-e Afghanistan" (Important News of Afghanistan), they put three items: The latest development in Kunduz where Taliban forces accepted to surrender as well as the current situation in Qandahar. Northern Alliance officials met Iran's foreign minister. Pakistan ordered Taliban embassy in Islamabad to close. Also at the beginning of the transmission, the announcer said "Today is Thursday,. ... 8 Ramadan 1422 Hijri, 22 November 2001 AD...". Until yesterday, there was no mentioning of date as --- it seems --- the programmes were pre-recorded. The programme was 15 minutes duration each (Pashto-Dari-Pashto-Dari). Also the same announcement as yesterday on the purpose of this radio broadcast was heard. As for the mail address and telephone/fax numbers, they didn't announce them yet though they are asking listeners to write to them. Also I observed test modulation tone (1 kHz) about 5 minutes before the transmission started. It was the type of former USSR transmitters' --- 1 kHz tones with some five seconds and are repeated for several times. So I think any of CIS countries is transmitting the station (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 22, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Well I have just noticed that for me this is the 3rd clandestine radio station broadcast test transmissions prior to regular broadcasts. And previous two stations were: Seday-e Iran (early 1980's), and Voice of Free Iraq (1991). Both stations broadcast test transmissions for more than a week. And, both were closely related to CIA! Then, what about Radio Voice of Afghanistan? (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 23, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) I have just finished monitoring V. of Afghanistan transmission from 1330 UTC on 9950 kHz. In today's transmission: Programme started as usual with the theme song. And the station announcement said that the programme is produced by "Afghan Broadcasting Establishment" (Mu'assasa-i Nasharat-i Afghan: in Dari). However, I don't know what organization is this. The Qur'an recitation followed. Today, whole "Surat (chapter) al-'Alaq" was read. This chapter says: Proclaim! in the name of thy Lord and cherisher Who created. Created man out of a mere clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful. He Who taught the use of the pen. Taught man that which he knew not. Day but man doth transgress all bounds. In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient. Verily to thy Lord is the return of all. Seest thou one who forbids.. A votary when he turns to pray? Seest thou if he is on the road of Guidance? Or enjoins Righteousness? Seest thou if he denies truth and turns away? Knoweth he not that God doth see? Let him beware! If he desist not we will drag him by the forelock... A lying sinful forelock! Then let him call for help to his council of comrades. We will call on the angels of punishment to deal with him! Day heed him not: But bow down in adoration and bring thyself the closer to God! Then, the news on the latest developments in and around Afghanistan. However, in today's news, I noticed one point which may be a key to guess the station's background. The news announcer said "Former Afghanistan President Rabbani " that means the station's stance is NOT pro Northern Alliance which regards Rabbani as the current President of the nation. After the news, a short comments on the current situation of Afghanistan. Then in Pashto service, closed with Ustad Awal Mir's song "Lovely Beautiful Homeland". Dari service played another song. The announcements of both Pashto and Dari services said that this is the TEST transmission. They mentioned the word "TEST TRANSMISSION" again. More precisely, "Preparative Service" (Khidmat-i Tahdhiri) in Pashto, and "Test Broadcast" (Nasharat-i Imtihani) in Dari. Both service said that the transmission is on air from 6 pm Afghanistan time on 9950 kHz... Well [..], I also have a feeling that the station is backed by CIA after listening to today's news. May be pro-Zahir Shah faction is also something to do with this station? Actually the US and other nations do not recognize Burhanuddine Rabbani as the official President of Afghanistan until UN-led plan for the new government has been accepted by all parties (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 24, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Reception log of Radio Voice of Afghanistan, November 27, 2001. Dari transmission started with ordinal opening announcement and music. The announcement also said "Radio Voice of Afghanistan is presented by Afghan Radio Company". Also in the opening announcement, the announcer said that this station has been established in the framework of Afghan Broadcasting Company which is affiliated to Charity Foundation of Seyed Jalal Afghan. They also announced that this is the TEST TRANSMISSION. With the announcement "You are listening to the test transmission of Radio Voice of Afghanistan". Recitation of the Qur'an followed. Then, a statememt by Sayed Jalal Afghan, the founder of Radio Voice of Afghanistan. Sayed Jalal Afghan is said to be an independent entrepreneur. In the statement, he said (the following is the summary of his speech) : "Dear brothers and sisters. Assalam alaykum wa rahmatu Allah. Our dear Afghanistan is having a difficult experience. Afghanistan's enemies are trying to separate Afghans. Dear Afghanistan! Remind the words of freedom. But inside the country we couldn't unite each others. Our enemies could use our differences like language to separate us. But the good points which make us unite is that we are all Muslims, we have the same culture and history. Islam is the religion of equality and brotherhood. Even so many years of war in this country couldn't take the religion from us. In this critical situation, we Afghans should avoid revenge and fight against each others. In the past years, I have always tried to make peace and brotherhood among the Afghans. During holy month of Ramadan, we should become friendly and familiar with each others. I believe that Afghanistan needs someone to remove the differences, bring the similarity on the surface become we have a lot of things in common. Thus I decided to have my own share in this process by making this radio station. I would like to unite people of Afghanistan. There are Pashtons, Hazaras, Uzbeki and a lot more people living in Afghanistan. They must unite. Women should have their own rights. I would like to bring the voices of people of Afghanistan to Afghan people. I would like to pay my dues in the process of establishing peace and friendship among Afghans. May Allah bless you all." After this statement, news bulletin followed. There was no weather information. Transmission ended amid the news bulletin (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 27, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) In today's transmission, a man who introduced himself to be a founder of the station made speech before the news. However, the reception condition was poor (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 28, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Reception log of Radio Voice of Afghanistan, November 29, 2001. The transmission started at 1330 UT on 9950 kHz with ordinal opening music and announcement. But in today's transmission, the word "TEST TRANSMISSION" is no longer be heard. Until yesterday, November 28, the station had been announcing that this is "test transmission". Also in today's opening announcement, they officially announced for the first time that "The programme is broadcast from LONDON". Recitation of the Qur'an followed. Then, news bulletin including reports from Bonn and Peshawar. These loggings are the result of my own monitoring. Please use it if you can. I am so far satisfied with the results of my monitoring because I now realized that my translation (ability of Dari language) has been improved! Now I am trying not to forget Arabic! The R. Netherlands' HP on this radio station says, that the station started regular broadcast on 27 November. However, according to my monitoring, the station had been announcing the words "Test Transmission" until 28 November. As I wrote in my report, it was in today's transmission (Nov. 29) that they officially said for the first time that they are broadcasting from London, and didn't mention "Test Transmission" for the first time since I started monitoring this station. However, they didn't give mailing address nor telephone/fax numbers in the broadcast (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 29, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Re: New V Afghanistan on 9950 : "Booming" signal here in Germany, 9+20dB on the vertical as a matter of fact they currently have two half hour programs, one starting at s/on 1330 UT, the other running from 1400 to c/d 1430 UT, both programs are identical. The s/on procedure reminds me of former Radio Vatan (via Egypt) (Harald Kuhl, Germany, Nov 21, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) = Hat jemand aus der Runde zufällig diese Sendung aufnehmen können = bzw. weiss jemand, ob diese Sendung tatsächlich aus Kabul kommt? Sehr unwahrscheinlich; die Signalstärke lässt auf einen 250 oder 500 kW Sender schließen. Den installiert man nicht derart kurzfristig. In der Stationsansage ist von Sharia auch nichts zu hören gewesen Man sendet übrigens zwei Halbstundenprogramme (Harald Kuhl, Deutschland, Nov 22, 2001 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) Afghanistan 9950 kHz. --- This station has been on the air for at least 10 days I would say. However, until I saw the report 2 days ago I didn't pay attention to it because I have been busy with the new season monitoring and DXing had taken a back seat again. Another reason was that it was very strong, so the idea that it could be a cland didn't cross my mind. However, today checking it from 1320 confirms my belief and as I mentioned to ME Clandestine authority Yuki Sakagami, this cannot be from inside Afghanistan. The telltale CIS transmitter tone before s\on with modulation, confirms that hunch. The same was heard when Radio Afghanistan started coming on he higher bands from Russian relays during the days of the Soviet- backed Najibulla regime. Strong to excellent signals 1330-1430 on 9950. This appears to be a service by an Afghan group abroad, buying airtime on either Dushanbe or Tashkent. The programmes appear to be satellite fed (G.V.A. Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Nov 22, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) 9950, R. Voice of Afghanistan, CIS-type on-off tones began 1323 Nov 22, ended 1327, silent until solid tone at 1329:30, ID by man at 1330 with reverb and brief instrumental music in background, Koranic singing, talk and a bit of martial mx from 1333, seemed like nx, several different voices. C. Asian male vocalizing at 1337, talk and occasional mx from 1340. So-so at start, weakening over time, and far gone as neared 1400. Would seem a CIS xmtr. Also heard Nov 25 with programming from 1330. Carrier was already on at 1315, better than at 1330; wish they would start 15 mins. earlier, hi. I checked out a couple of outfits that turned up in a Google search. R. Voice of Afghanistan via KEST (CA) on 1450 http://www.rvoa.org/ and R. Afghanistan http://24.101.228.204/afghanradio/afgradionet.htm say it is not them. No reply from Voice of Afghanistan http://www.voiceofafghanistan.com/ (J. Berg, MA, Nov 25, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 8700 kHz USB - Information Radio 8700U: On Oct 23 at *1231, a switching error occurred and VOA English news was broadcast, //6160 (Clemente, Green, Petersen, Schulze & Werdin, DX-Window via J. Berg-USA Nov 25, 2001 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) Yesterday I monitored 8700 USB and had a few observations to make. The signals came in here to South India. 545 (SIO). Interference from data transmission tones. The music transmitted frequently were traditional Afghani (Pushto or Dari) national or local songs not Indian film Music. The drum beats of the music symbolized the traditional music of the Central Asian Region. Could understand what the announcer said in between intervals but Taliban, Osama bin laden etc. were used often. Looking at the signal strengths here I don`t think they are from the VOA transmitters from the Sri Lanka or from the base at Diego Garcia, to me it might be from Oman (Massirah Island) or from Eastern Europe. Any clues??? (R. Nambiar, India, Nov 26, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Media round-up Friday 30 November 2001 - Voice of Afghanistan plan web site, extended transmissions - Kunduz radio station switches sides to Northern Alliance - Taleban official says Canadian reporter released; Pakistani official says not -Over 1,000 journalists enter Afghanistan through Tajikistan [repeating info previously here from RNMN, Cumbre -gh] The station was observed 30 November on scheduled 9950 kHz, 1330-1430 gmt. Programme summary to follow. Radio Voice of Afghanistan programme summary The station, which is based in London, was observed by BBC Monitoring on 30 November from 1330-1430 gmt on 9950 kHz and began with the usual opening announcements, programme preview and a recitation from the Koran. This was followed by news in Pashto which included these items: - Bonn talks examines transitional body, council, and a 200-member parliament; - US continues bombing raids over Kandahar; - Nangarhar Governor Haji Abdol Qadir, who is a member of the Northern Alliance, has walked out of the Bonn talks on the grounds that Pashtuns were not appropriately represented; - US carries out heavy bombing raids over Taleban in Takhta Pol. Following the news three features were carried: A report on British press coverage of Afghan-related events: - The Daily Telegraph - on US plans to track down Al-Qa'idah fighters; - The Guardian -on the Bonn talks. An interview with Said Jalal Afghan [Karim] on the Bonn conference - in Dari overlaid with Pashto translation: - importance of reaching a political settlement; - role of the Loya Jerga - a fair way of settling the problem; - role of the former King Mohammad Zaher Shah; - need to create favourable conditions for the cultural and economic development of the country; - role of women in society. A telephone interview in Pashto with Taleban Spokesman Mola Abdossalam Zayif in Pashto: - Mola Omar is still the military and political leader of the Taleban and continuing his duties as such; - whereabouts of Bin-Ladin not clear - whether he is inside or outside Afghanistan. (Duration about 2 min) The Dari bulletin started at 1400 gmt. The news in Dari contained the following items: - Bonn talks continued today. The discussions centred around the formation of a transitional body and list of representatives. It is hoped that the list will be prepared by Saturday 1 December; - Haji Abdol Qadir walked out of the talks on grounds that Pashtuns were not appropriately represented at the talks; - Northern Alliance Commander Bismillah Khan, who is in Kabul, has said clashes are continuing near Kandahar and another commander said Kandahar could fall soon. He said there was fighting 5km from Kandahar airport; - Travellers from Kandahar have said the Taleban are still in control of Kandahar city; - Taleban fighters launched an offensive on their opponents; - US ready to issue visas for those who provide the Americans with information; - Hundreds of Pakistani Muslims held a rally in support of the Taleban and condemned the Pakistani government's policy in relation to the Taleban - telephone report from Pakistan on the rally. Following the news three features were carried: Interview with Said Jalal Afghan [Karim] on the Bonn talks: After reciting a few verses in Arabic Jalal Afghan says he hopes for the Peshawar group to have been better represented in terms of numbers; - on the role of former King Zaher Shah Jalal Afghan says the people should decide who they want as leader; - he says Afghans should forget their differences; - on the Loya Jerga he says it is important but if it is organized like the Bonn talks then he is not so hopeful; - on women's role he says they should play their role in the cultural and political life of the country in line with Islamic laws; - hopes the neighbouring countries will not meddle in Afghanistan's affairs and hopes the world will not forget Afghanistan. - Interview with Zayif: Speaking in Dari, Mola Zayif says there are opposition forces in Takhta Pol but that in a Taleban counter- offensive many were killed He added that opposition forces are not capable of advancing on Kandahar. Zayif stated that Mola Omar has not abandoned the leadership of the Taleban, that he continues to be their military and political leader and that the Taleban continue to take their orders from him. He said that Mola Omar is in Kandahar and sometimes in the outskirts of the city, moving around for security reasons. Dwelling on the talks with opposition forces, Zayif says the Taleban are indeed holding talks and these are probably ongoing. However, the Taleban are not holding such talks with those "who take instruction from the US", he added. The talks would not include discussions regarding the hand over of Kandahar, said Zayif. He says the Taleban will not disclose their strategy and that they are watching the opposition to see what they will do with Afghanistan. The Taleban would continue the jihad, says Zayif, but will not disclose the nature of this jihad. On Bin-Ladin, Mola Zayif says the Taleban are not in touch with Bin-Ladin and do not know if he is inside Afghanistan or outside. (Duration about 3 minutes) The station closed at 1430 gmt. Kunduz radio station switches sides to Northern Alliance According to a report on the International Herald Tribune web site on 30 November, the former pro-Taleban radio station in Kunduz has now switched sides and is broadcasting in support of the Northern Alliance. The web site carried a report from a New York Times Service correspondent in Kunduz who said the station had resumed test broadcasts on 28 November. The Kunduz radio station is now broadcasting for one hour a day from 5-6 p.m. local time (1230-1330 gmt) on 1520 kHz mediumwave (although BBC Monitoring believes the frequency is more likely to be 1521 kHz). Source: BBC Monitoring research 30 Nov 01 Balkh Radio Balkh Radio, which is based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh Province, was observed broadcasting as scheduled from 0430- 0630 gmt (0900-1100 local time) and from 1223-1500 gmt. All broadcasts are on the usual frequency of 1584 kHz. Kabul TV/Radio The BBC has not yet observed radio and TV broadcasts in the capital Kabul.... [as before] US PsyOps broadcasts continue... [as before] Over 1,000 journalists enter Afghanistan through Tajikistan Since 11 September this year, 1,103 journalists have entered Afghanistan from Tajikistan, through the Farkhor-Kokul border checkpoint, the Tajik news agency Asia-Plus reported on 30 November. About half of them crossed in November, the agency said, adding: "Russian border guards have carried out major work to allow correspondents to enter the Islamic State of Afghanistan from Tajikistan and return [to Tajikistan] in an organized manner." Source: Asia-Plus news agency, Dushanbe, Russian 0859 gmt 30 Nov 01 Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk Source: BBC Monitoring research 30 Nov 01 (via DXLD) The War on Journalism: Tomorrow (Saturday) my colleague Hans-Jaap Melissen leaves Afghanistan after a gruelling two week assignment in which he has produced a lot of reports. As Hans-Jaap leaves, chilling news is reaching us that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has now offered US$50,000 for every western journalist killed in Afghanistan. We look at how journalists are under attack not just from the Taliban, but also from people who are supposed to be on the same side. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/afghanistan011130.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Nov 30 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** ALBANIA. R. Tirana European service in English heard now 1945-2000 on 7210 9510 and 2230-2300 on 7130 9540. On 29th November all channels were about 200 hertz off channel and 9540 had very low modulation (Mike Barraclough, England, Dec World DX Club Contact, via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA previews: UT Fri Nov 30 at 2105: Feedback* - listener letters, features and news about RA. The VOA has just hosted an international conference dealing with audience research and it marks a major shift in the way this research is carried out and by whom. Formerly the preserve of the BBC, the baton has now been passed to the Voice of America. The Radio Australia delegate to the conference spills the beans on Feedback. The programme also airs the first reaction to Radio Australia's newly launched web site and it's not all good! Have your say by visiting http://www.abc.net.au/ra Snoop around a bit and then add your comments to our Guestbook (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Repeats at: UT Sat 0005, 0605, UT Sun 0305 --- but never ondemand; why not? (gh, DXLD) UT Fri Nov 30 at 2305: Lingua Franca - about language. "Richard Evans on Euphemisms". Illegals, queue-jumpers, detainees, reffos, DPs, wogs: Richard Evans on our many nasty euphemisms for refugees. With some three and half million Afghans in refugee camps in Iran and Pakistan, and hundreds of thousands more trying to flee the Taliban, American bombing, warlords and bandits, starvation and winter, it's clear that the world's refugee crisis can only get worse. In 2001, there are some 60 million displaced people in the world, most of them in the Third World. Nevertheless, in rich countries, refugees are a major political issue. Here, in the wake of the Tampa crisis, the Federal Government rushed through what's called 'border protection' legislation to protect our shores from 'swarms' of 'illegals' and 'queue-jumpers'. 'Border protection', in Practice, means deploying the Navy to intercept boats loaded with desperate Afghans and Iraqis, many of them parents with young children, whom the Navy is under orders to seize and transport thousands of nautical miles to makeshift camps on Pacific islands, where they become 'detainees' awaiting 'processing'. The word 'refugees' has disappeared from the debate. The refugee problem has become the 'border protection' problem which, of course, is a matter of 'national defence'. But if we're honest, isn't it that old bugbear, 'xenophobia'? Richard Evans lectures in journalism at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He's been tracking Australian attitudes to refugees ever since the end of World War Two. [Transcript available] (Figliozzi, ibid.) Repeats Sat 0530, but no longer at 1930 (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. (sidebar) While checking the 2002 edition of the Passport to World Band Radio, I noticed that Radio Centenario, of Santa Cruz, Bolivia was listed on new frequency 4865 kHz. Previous editions of Passport and the WRTH listed this station on 4855 kHz. Is this an error or new frequency for that station. Anyone know? (Chuck Bolland, FL, Cumbre DX Nov 29 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Please see paragraph 4 in this document. It's news to me! (Ricky Leong, QB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.cbucc.org/cc2001/cns23.htm Viz.: In addition, we announced in mid October that CBC planned to lay off 6 Sackville, NB employees at the RCI operation. We were advised yesterday that 6 Sackville members have opted for retirement packages, and there is now no need to lay off any CEP members. There is still a safety concern, as the massive and complex Sackville Transmitter plant cannot be safely operated by one person, as CBC wishes. We will be pursuing that issue further in the days to come, and it will be discussed at the National Health and Safety Committee meeting in mid December. We will continue to keep you posted. In Solidarity, (Mike Sullivan, National Representative, CEP, Nov 23, via DXLD) ** CANADA. The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE at http://cbc.ca/news ____________________________________________________ CBC SAYS IT WILL IMPOSE CONTRACT ON TECHNICIANS' UNION WebPosted Fri Nov 30 09:52:24 2001 TORONTO-- The CBC and one of its main unions appear headed for a weekend showdown. The CBC says it is going to impose a contract settlement on the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union effective Sunday, Dec. 2, unless the two sides can reach agreement on a new contract. "CBC is taking this action after more than six months of bargaining in good faith failed to produce a new collective agreement. With no agreement in place ... bargaining could have continued indefinitely. With bargaining progressing more slowly than desired we made the decision to implement our comprehensive offer, because bargaining without any reasonable expectation of a resolution damages our ability to manage the business effectively," said Senior Director of Human Resources Cathy Sprague in a communiqué to staff. The release says the CBC is still optimistic that a deal can reached before the deadline of Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. A strike, or lockout, would mean the second disruption of service on CBC Television and CBC Radio in less than three years. In 1999, a strike by CEP members affected radio and television programming across the country for more than six weeks. CBC move called 'unusual' CEP national representative and chief spokesperson for the bargaining committee, Mike Sullivan, says his union is still bargaining with the CBC and he is also optimistic that a deal can be worked out. But, he told CBC News Online, the CBC's promise to impose a contract is "unusual" and "tantamount to a lockout." He said he didn't know if the union would take immediate action if the CBC carries out its plan. "It's unfortunate the CBC can't bargain an agreement. We had a plan to work through the weekend and present a comprehensive response (to the CBC's latest offer) on Monday. Now that's not going to happen," he said in a telephone interview late Thursday evening. CEP members work in mainly technical positions at the corporation, performing duties such as camera work, editing and studio production. Last week, they gave their bargaining committee an 86.2 per cent strike mandate. Programming by SRC, the French language services of the CBC, inside the province of Quebec would not be affected. Money issues are at the centre of the negotiations. Copyright © 2000 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Ricky Leong, Nov 30, DXLD) see also CUBA ** CHILE. Amigos: Con agrado comunico a todos los amantes de las ondas cortas de la puesta en el aire de RADIO PARINACOTA en los 6.010 kHz. Transmite con 1.000 watts desde Putre, I region de Chile las 24 horas. Desde las 04:00 a 08:00 retransmite a Radio Cooperativa de Santiago, contando para ello con enlace satelital. En Putre transmite en // en 94.5 MHz. Para informes de recepción: Casilla 82, Arica, CHILE. Recuerde visitar el Boletín "El mundo está en sus manos" de Diciembre en: http://espanol.geocities.com/dxars/ARS.html 73' (Hugo López C., Héctor Frías J., Amigos Radioescuchas de Santiago, Nov 30, Conexión Digital via DXLD) No a confundirse con la nueva uruguaya en la misma! (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Idea Radio is still active on 7380, which was pretty clear, and doing quite well for 2 kW, Nov 30 around 0530-0545 check. Still mostly music, but brief charlas in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** C I S. Foreign relays on SW through facilities in the CIS [clandestines only] kHz Loc kW Azi UTC (B01: October 28-, 2001) Afghanistan 9950 SAM 200 130 1330-1430 Radio Saday-e Afghanistan [Radio Voice of Afghanistan] China 15680 DB 100 117 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese // 15595 15670 15670 DB 100 115 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet,//15680 15595 15595 AA 100 132 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese // 15680 15670 Ethiopia 12110 SAM 250 190 1700-1800(Su.W.) Netsanet Radio Amharic 12110 SAM 250 190 1700-1800(Sa.) Dejen Radio Tigrai Iran 7480 MDA 500 115 1800-1830 Radio Barabari Persian 7520 MDA 500 116 1730-1815 R. International,Persian/R.Anternational 5830 MDA 1730-1800 Radio Iran Tomorrow 11545/11535 MDA 500 116 1630-1830 Radio Sedaye Iran, Persian-MP Kurdistan 15770 KAM 1400-1600 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish 15230 KAM 0700-1100 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish Myanmar 5905 AA 200 132 1430-1530 Democratic Voice of Burma Nigeria 12125 RUS 1900-2000 Sa. only Voice of Biafra International Sri Lanka 7460 NVS 100 178 0000-0100 IBC Tamil (Tamil Net) Vietnam 15690 AA 1400-1500(F.) Voice of Khmer Krom, Cambodian 11850 TAC 200 131 1400-1430(M-F) Radio Free Vietnam (T. Hirayama, Japan, Nov 28, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Friends, Due to the seasonal change of M.U.F. (maximum usable frequency), we're revising the hours of operation for 15040 and the newly reactivated 7445. Beginning today, RFPI will be operating the before mentioned frequencies according to the following schedule and will make adjustments based on your recommendations: 7445: 0200-0800 (please note this is in USB mode for the period of about a month) 15040: 2000-0600 UTC [21815-USB not mentioned –gh] We'd appreciate any monitoring you may be able to do for us, especially during the hours of activation and deactivation. We're especially interested in hearing from listeners on the west coast of the U.S. Thank you for your support and your valuable time to help us out. Yours in Peace, (James Latham, RFPI Station Manager & Chief Engineer, RFPI Nov 30 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 5761.10, 960 AM (Sol Estéreo? Estéreo Actual?) (harmonic 6 x 960), 1131-1153 Nov 30, slightly distorted audio on this off frequency 6th harmonic. ID's as "960 - AM", and "Beepermatic de Costa Rica", evidently the parent company of this station as well as the FM 107.1 outlet. Music format was standard US pop hits, described in a promo as "...la música Premium Class de todos los tiempos..." Fair signal with good peaks, fading after local sunrise (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 5119.64, Radio Alajuela (presumed) (harmonic 4 x 1280), 1115 Nov 29, Spanish announcer, campo music, raspy audio. Gone by 1130. Weak music and talk also heard on presumed 2nd harmonic, 2559.82 (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 5953.9, Radio Casino now audible in the evenings as well, such as 2254 tonight Nov 24 when they were playing Mexican music. ID a few minutes later (Hans Johnson, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. While Cuba has a history of instability among AM broadcast stations, I believe that more recent history shows that stations have settled down. The Cuba listing in the 2001 WRTH seems to be reliable, as it was overhauled from previous editions. There's nothing unusual about all networks carrying the same political speeches from time to time either. It's no different than when US television and many radio networks all carry a speech by the President along with a response. The real problem I find with Cuba these days is the number of defective transmitters like the buzz on 1140, the slightly off- frequency Radio Reloj on 760, Radio Reloj on 813, the spurs from Radio Progreso on 640, and the poor audio from many stations. The other problem for DXing is identifying specific locations when there's more than one station carrying the same network on the same frequency such as four Radio Reloj outlets on 930. Similar to receiving the RNE, COPE, and SER network synchronized stations from Spain or the TalkSport, BBC Five Live, and Virgin Radio signals from England, it's nearly impossible to determine what station you're receiving from such a distance. Florida DXers have an advantage because at least they can use direction finding to some degree to determine the location of signals from Cuba (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, Nov 29, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CUBA. VENDERAN TELÉFONOS CELULARES A LOS CUBANOS LA HABANA, 29 de noviembre (Juan Carlos Linares / CubaNet) - La compañía estatal cubana CUBCEL proyecta extender la venta de teléfonos celulares a los nacionales a partir del próximo año, reveló una fuente confiable. Un ejecutivo de esta empresa informó que el servicio de aparatos celulares de telefonía aún está en estudio en cuanto a la forma de venta, principalmente el precio y el tipo de moneda en que se realizará. "Particularmente, yo pienso que la venta del teléfono y el cobro del servicio se hará en dólares estadounidenses, aunque no descarto que cobren alguna pequeña suma en pesos", precisó la fuente. El funcionario de CUBCEL confirmó que desde hace algún tiempo (no lo precisó) esa compañía le da servicio de teléfonos celulares a ciertos miembros del Ministerio del Interior, a funcionarios del Poder Popular y a directivos de algunas empresas del Estado cuyas labores lo requieren. CUBACEL es una de las pocas compañías que en la isla vende equipos electrónicos digitales y de telefonía. Su sede principal radica en calle 28 # 510 entre 5ta y 7ma avenidas, Miramar, Ciudad de La Habana. Su teléfono es 53(7) 80-2222 La fuente consultada aclaró que el alcance de los teléfonos celulares se limita al territorio nacional, por lo que nunca desde ellos se podrán hacer llamadas internacionales, para evitar lo que en la dirección de esa entidad llaman "afectación a la seguridad nacional". 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, Nov 30, DXLD) ** CUBA. This week on CITY TV - Toronto, Ontario: http://www.citytv.com/ Thursday, 8:00 p.m. E.S.T., November 28, 2001 Media Television - http://www.mediatv.net/ With the 'New War on Terrorism' underway, media outlets worldwide are facing urgent issues of propaganda, censorship, and security concerns. But for America's long-running adversary, Cuba, the media-based battle for hearts and minds is a decades-old fact of life. In fact, while Cuba sends out its own agitprop, the Caribbean nation is constantly subject to radio jamming, and high power Anti-Castro broadcasts. MediaTelevision takes a rare look inside Radio Havana Cuba, where, despite chronic underfunding, and the severe disapproval of the USA, the revolutionary message has been on the airwaves for forty years and counting. http://www.radiohc.org/ (via Brian Smith, ODXA via DXLD) BIG LIE DEPARTMENT: Cuba is NOT ``subject to radio jamming`` but the SOURCE of radio jamming against anyone who dares oppose Castro (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "Media Television" is also carried on the "Pulse 24" local Toronto cable news channel at 5:30 pm EST (22:30 UTC) on Saturdays. There's a live video feed that goes out over the internet at http://www.pulse24.com I don't know off-hand if the "non local news" stuff goes out over the net as well but those interested might want to have a look. 73 de (Bob VE3SRE, ODXA via DXLD) Media Television is broadcast in the US on Newsworld International, which is carried by satellite and cable TV operators. Check http://www.nwitv.com for times (John Figliozzi, NY, ODXA via DXLD) According to CITY and CPulse 24, you are correct, Bob. You can watch the show as indicated below. The news does go off for the speciality shows such as MediaTelevision. So if you miss it tonight, you can catch it Saturday as Bob noted. http://www.pulse24.com/Schedule/Table_Page/page.asp (Brian, ODXA via DXLD) It's Trio TV, not Newsworld International as I stated before. Newsworld International used to carry it too, but no longer does. Trio is carried on satellite and by some digital cable systems in the US. Here's the schedule for the program from the website http://www.triotv.com There's no indication as which of these airings will have the RHC segment, unfortunately. 12/02/2001 - 11:30 AM ET 12/02/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/03/2001 - 12:30 PM ET 12/03/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/03/2001 - 1:30 AM ET 12/09/2001 - 11:30 AM ET 12/09/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/10/2001 - 12:30 PM ET 12/10/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/10/2001 - 1:30 AM ET 12/16/2001 - 11:30 AM ET 12/16/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/17/2001 - 12:30 PM ET 12/17/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/17/2001 - 1:30 AM ET 12/23/2001 - 11:30 AM ET 12/23/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/24/2001 - 12:30 PM ET 12/24/2001 - 6:30 PM ET 12/30/2001 - 11:30 AM ET 12/30/2001 - 6:30 PM ET Later: AHA! Did some more digging and the RHC segment won't be airing on Trio until December 30. You have to cross match the schedule on the Trio web site and the listings of episodes for the MediaTelevision program on the latter's web site http://www.citytv.com/mediatv/ (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) It was an interesting, but short, segment on RHC. You get to see quite a number of RHC staff including Arnoldo (aka Arnie?) Coro. If you missed the program, I believe it is repeated on the weekend on both City TV and on CP24. Check your local listings. Cheers! (Kevin Cozens, ODXA via DXLD) ** CYPRUS TURKISH. Dear Glenn, recently I received the following message from Mr Mustafa Tosun from Bayrak RTV: "Dear Mr. Lopes, Thank you for your interest in BRT SW transmissions. We have, in fact, already started test transmissions on our new SW system. The transmissions went on during the whole of last week on 6,150 MHz. We are preparing to carry out the same test transmissions on various neighbouring frequencies in the 48 m band. Our next scheduled transmission will be on 6,159 MHz starting 10 December 2001 between 0430-2200 hours UTC. Your reception reports will be welcome. Regards, (Mustafa Tosun, mustafa.tosun@emu.edu.tr Head TX. Dept. BRTK" (Caio Fernandes Lopes, @-tividade DX, Brazil, Nov 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4770.05, Radio Centinela del Sur (presumed) 1050 Nov 29, Spanish religious talk with mention of "Ecuador". Fading by 1108 with music. Fair to good signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. Today Nov 30 the 21550 1330-1430 broadcast was on air; I missed the sign on but found the transmission in progress at 1340 with prayer. At 1410 recheck they aired a bawling speech, apparently from a public event (no audience reactions but so much reverb that I expected the PA system to oscillate). After this speech, professionally produced jingles with English ID as "Malayan [sic] Voice", followed by an absolutely amateurish record of some talk, sounding like done with a kitchen set. Strong signal, certainly direct refraction rather than scatter, so Woofferton could well be the transmitter site; also the audio processing would fit (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Heard here today Nov 29 for the first time, all in Arabic except for the English ID. 1353 woman announcer talking on Africa, 1359 ID, music bridge sounding like Eritrean music, 1400 news of recent massacre in Nigerian village by army troops. 1415 another bridge, same kind of music. Then program that I think was entitled literally "From the Sites" [min al-mawaqia.] Talk on Sudan and Kuwait, rather uninteresting. 1429 Email address given and off. Fair signal mixing with co-channel Voice Christiana throughout (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. From: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm.html Friday, 30 November, 2001 In connection with the Information Society Technologies Conference and Exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, there will be special DRM demonstration transmissions beamed towards Düsseldorf between 1 and 5 December 2001. Not all of these transmissions will be daily. The planned schedule is as follows: Station From To Start End kHz (alternate) Sines 01 Dec 05 Dec 0800 1200 17555 (15425) Bonaire 03 Dec 05 Dec 0800 0900 11970 Jülich 03 Dec 05 Dec 0900 1430 5975 Bonaire 03 Dec 05 Dec 0900 1000 12035 Bonaire 03 Dec 05 Dec 1000 1100 15420 Sines 01 Dec 05 Dec 1200 1500 17860 (15255) Sackville 03 Dec 05 Dec 1400 1559 21560 Rampisham 03 Dec 05 Dec 1500 1555 6175 (7320) Rampisham 03 Dec 04 Dec 1600 1655 5970 (7155) Mon/Tues only Rampisham 04 Dec 04 Dec 1700 2000 6015 (7155) Tues only (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK Nov 30 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 3360.0, Radio la Voz de Nahualá, 0140 Nov 29, Male voice, K'iche language. I talked to the host of Jardín Musical [program at 0200] and this is what he told me: transmits Monday- Sunday from 0000Z to 0400Z with 1 kW from Nahualá, Sololá; began transmissions in 1962. Also they transmit on FM 93.1 Nahualá Stéreo TGNV, started in 1996. Postal address is: 4 Avenida 4-62, Zona 4, Nahualá, Sololá, Guatemala (Juan Carlos Muñoz, Guatemala, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Radio Amistad, 4699v: Reports in Spanish to: Templo Evangélico Bautista Getsémani, San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala, Centro América. Address them to Pastor Botz (Larry Baysinger, KY, Nov 29, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Same address, also on 90.6 FM and on from 1100 to 2300 UT (Juan Carlos Muñoz, Guatemala, Nov 29, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. The Indian Parliament is in session now. A review of its proceedings is broadcast by Delhi and relayed by all stations of AIR at 1500-1514. This will continue for about 3 weeks more. English frequencies on SW are 4775 4820 4850 4895 4920 4950 4990 9835. Other stations also broadcast it at the same time but in Hindi. Also, the National Games is going on now. AIR Bhopal is noted with extended broadcasts with its report at 1740-1800 nowadays on 3315. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. No Radio Caroline to be heard on WOKIE satellite radio network's new home on AMC-7, transponder 5, audio 7.5 MHz. I wish R. Caroline supporters would stop perpetuating the myth that it can be heard in the U.S. When this claim was made months ago, I listened regularly to WOKIE's old location and heard Caroline maybe once or twice --- but not most of the time and certainly on no regular basis. And while I can understand people's desire to deify the name of R. Caroline, the station's current schedule and programming (based on what I've heard) are dreary and uninspired --- comparable to a typical middle-of-the-road UK station with no apparent redeeming qualities. Meanwhile, WOKIE seems to run just about anything as filler. During the past hour, I heard a bunch of tracks played with no announcement --- then suddenly into the end of a program called "This Boy Ain't Right" apparently recorded months earlier (host referred to "this is probably my last night" on old satellite location abandoned weeks ago). (Mike Cooper, GA, Nov 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. RTE Radio One, shortwave relays are now 0130-0200 to Central America on 6155, 1000-1030 to SE Asia and Australia on 15540, 1800-1830 to Middle East on 9895, 1830-1900 on 13640 to Central and Eastern America, 21630 to Africa (RTE website via Michael Beesley, World DX Club Contact, Dec, via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Here's a piece from the Israeli newspaper HA'ARETZ concerning their classical FM network, and how it's being run down and treated badly. (You'll remember having seen listings for Kol ha- Musika in the WRTH.) http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=99687&cont rassID=2&subContrassID=11&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QE, DXLD) ** MALI. 4835.28, RTM; Bamako, Nov. 30, Noted at 0543 with open carrier. At 0545 testtone, followed by IS at 0554. At 0557 music and female announcer with IDs and mention of frequencies in French. Then male chants. Booming S9+10 signal this morning, on a absolutely clear frequency. // 4782.88, but not nearly as strong there. 5995 covered by VOA Tanger [sic] when checked shortly after 0600. Receiver: Icom IC-R75; Antenna: 24 meter longwire with MLB. Best 73', (Mark Veldhuis, The Netherlands, SWBC via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. A reminder of the Maori and Band music programs mentioned last week, continuing UT Sundays 0205-0300 on 17675. More RNZI previews for Sunday Dec 2: 0706 - Sounds Historical with Jim Sullivan. This week: New Zealand street names and the stories behind those names. 11675 0911 - Mediawatch - Examining and analysing recent performance and trends in New Zealand's news media. 11675 0938 - Sunday Supplement. 11675 1005 - Sportsworld - The week's sporting highlights. (Produced by Radio Sport.) 15175 [left in as space filler ---gh] 1111 - Mediawatch - (refer to 0911). 15175 (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. 5761.1, Radio Miskut (presumed), 2320 Nov 24, instrumental of pop tune. Spanish talk, but never an ID. USB+ carrier, presumed them as untraced on 5770. Distorted signal (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) {no; see next issue} ** PERU. 4940, Radio San Antonio (Cumbre DX Special follow up) Finally hearing a signal here tonight UT Nov 30, but it sure doesn't sound like a Peruvian. No ID so far. Listening from 0010 to 0030 (Hans Johnson, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** POLAND. In Radio Polonia`s Multimedia Show 13th November Maryk and Slavic discussed the situation at the station and the transmitters being used. Poland`s new government has announced plans to reduce some government agencies. In addition Polish Telecom has refused to update the 1960 Czech shortwave transmitters. Radio Polonia currently spend almost one third of its budget on transmitter costs. On the 20th of November Maryk and Slavic, in response to several listeners` worries, clarified the situation as it now stands. The new government has in fact started its programme of downsizing agencies, cutting their budgets by up to 15%. Management at Radio Polonia seriously doubt whether these cuts will bypass public media. As a result there have been calls from Poland`s Broadcasting Council to reunite the two external services, TV Polonia and Radio Polonia to save on costs. The two were only recently separated (Jonathan Murphy, Dec World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) I have been following this story myself and the 27th November programme said that they did not wish to leave shortwave but to avoid the high costs charged by Polish Telecom. They had numerous complaints about the quality of the shortwave signals. They were therefore looking to use relay transmitters in Jülich, Germany and Slovakia which would save them money and provide a better service (Mike Barraclough, England, ibid.) ** SIERRA LEONE. 3316, SLBS, 2157-2312 Nov 23: I've been hearing something here the last couple of weeks; however noise levels made it difficult to copy anything, until today. Pop song at tune-in, followed by what sounded like an advertisement. At the ToH, the usual sequence of drums, ID by OM as "Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service", then their national news. Same OM announcer as last year. At 2219 was the start of what sounded like a radio drama. This lasted until 2303 when hi-life music was played. No ID noted at ToH. Music was heard until 2312, when I tuned away. When I re-checked at 2330, they were gone. This was the best I've heard them this DX season, SINPO was only 34232 due to noise levels (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TURKEY. 6900, Turkish Meteorological Radio now being heard regularly from around 1530, usually clear if you use lower sideband (Mike Barraclough, England, Dec World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U K. Just discovered.... On October 1, the British newspaper The Guardian ran an article on the BBC Monitoring Service. It's quite interesting, and mostly focuses on a visit to the Caversham facility. The URL is http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,7558,560806,00.html (Bruce Portzer, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) Watch on the world When the global media talk, BBC Caversham listens. Then its experts transcribe and translate broadcasts from front line countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. Maggie Brown sits in Monday October 1, 2001 --- The Guardian BBC Caversham is an enigma. Very few outsiders have set foot inside this global media monitoring centre. Yet as the taxi pulls out of Reading station, heads over the River Thames, ascends into a leafy green commuter belt, then turns into stunning park land, everything falls into place. The Enigma code crackers had Bletchley Park. BBC Caversham occupies a white country house, planted at the crest of a high ridge, looking down into the Thames Valley. On a crisp autumn day, it seems quintessentially English. But the rural position also ensures it is an "electrically quiet" area. Twelve satellite dishes nestle in the grounds, part landscaped by Capability Brown. Massive masts are positioned five kilometres away. The BBC knows it is a potential target. The moment I step outside to look at an ancient cedar of Lebanon the head gardener pounces. Caversham Park is the workplace for a united nations of 400 people, who quickly, efficiently and systematically distil the essence of what the world's media - radio, television, press and the internet - are reporting. They trawl 3,000 sources, all open. Its role is "reporting foreign news media comprehensively and accurately without bias or comment". This is a global duty shared with its US sister service, the Foreign Broadcast Information Service: a plaque marking the first 50 years of partnership (1941-91) sits on the waiting room wall, and celebrates the "ever-increasing flow of timely information". Caversham was put on a firm footing as the second world war started, famously listening in to Nazi radio broadcasts. The FBIS has some staff on the site. Its importance as a strategic centre since September 11 is clear. It may even have helped temper the urge for swift, crude retaliation. Knowing what the Taliban are saying to their own people is so vital that the Afghan monitors are working around the clock. Since the break up of the Soviet Union, BBC monitoring operates key listening posts in the region, including the Central Asia unit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which in April 1998 took over responsibility for Afghanistan, the Taliban and its opposition. There is also the Trans-Caucus unit in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. But the main work takes place in two large "listening rooms" at Caversham which seem like a cross between a university library and newsroom. Monitors are grouped by region, language or function. Even outside the listening rooms, people are quiet: they relax by reading, eat in a stunning canteen created from the old Orangery. Many stay for years. Monitors are no longer security screened. They are chosen for an ability to discriminate. Largely graduates, the ones I spoke to had a wide variety of backgrounds from Foreign Office to asylum seekers. The person who brought coffee is married to a once-imprisoned Turkish opposition leader. They say they have never known a time like it. So many countries involved. At any time Caversham receives up to 37 TV broadcasts, 100 radio services. Since the 1990s, it has also studied newspapers and websites. Internet monitoring now accounts for 30% of the work. I'm allowed into the west wing listening room, not the sensitive one handling Russia and Afghanistan. But monitor Natasha Vowles comes out. Russian-born, she was monitoring Russian television when Putin made his live announcement, 7.15pm on Monday night, about joining the American attack on international terrorism. Within 12 minutes it was transcribed and translated, and a report was on its way. It contained not a line of comment, but all the key quotes, "out of the horse's mouth", says Vowles, a phrase constantly repeated throughout the day. "It's why we are here," she says simply. The watch officers in Whitehall were immediately alerted, as was BBC World Service which has a close "stakeholder" relationship. Caversham's Iranian desk, located in the west wing and monitoring radio stations close to the Afghan border, is a key player too. Here the monitors first picked up Iran's response. An Iranian-born monitor, who asks to remain anonymous, says the condemnation of terrorist attacks was no surprise. "They were scared of US reaction, repercussions, so appalling and massive. They don't like the Taliban; they killed two Iranian diplomats. But they don't like the prospect of a king in Afghanistan either, and there's a horror that the Shah will come back." He was engaged that day in providing extensive coverage of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's visit: "We covered everything; Iranians were pleased he had come to stop any attack on Iran." In another unit, Hiwa Osman - Quality Street chocolates at his left hand - was immersed in studying a faxed Arabic sheet, an article sent by a source from a Kurdistan newspaper. He'd also called up the paper's website to check the fax: it was reporting military clashes between Kurds and a pro-Bin Laden group which had emerged. A noteworthy story indeed. Next to him, Arabic editor Judith El-Nager was tracking the progress of Egyptian President Mubarak around Europe, translating, analysing what he was saying at each stop, including a French television interview. "Our job is to know all the sources, to select: is it significant or not? Users value our judgment." On an adjacent desk, Steve Watcham was copy tasting for the daily news file, a selection of 70-80 key items: "Everything else has dropped out of the news agenda," he says. Lewis Macleod, senior editor on the Asia Pacific desk and Afghan expert, talks me through the detailed clocking of every Taliban move Caversham has made since they came to power five years ago. The Taliban broadcasts only on Radio Voice of Shari'ah. "It is full of prayers, sermons, religious texts. It's a key source and insight into the thinking of the Taliban. It's like a visit to the middle ages, with edicts about the length of hair, beards, very moralising. Statements from the foreign ministry are of great interest to our Foreign Office." Shari'ah claims to be the only radio station not to broadcast music. The Taliban regard TV as a source of moral corruption. Monitors also listen to the Northern Alliance's three hours of Radio Voice of Mojahed, when it is audible. An edict in July banning the internet is regarded as somewhat meaningless: the Afghan phone system, such as it is, is operated through Pakistan. Macleod points out an item reporting 49,000 Russian arrests since the crisis began and says: "We're waiting for more on that." He takes me into the former billiard room, where Caversham's global media unit is rushing out a detailed report on the Afghan media. It says that John Simpson and cameraman Peter Hiuvenal secretly entered the country, disguised as women. Caversham has a team of people whose job is to search out new sources, investigate ownership, evaluate it: does it represent people with something to say? It has not been monitoring Osama bin Laden's media, because they have never been able to detect any that he operates. But Caversham monitors all the people with views close to him, and hold large volumes of their press cuttings. Mike Elliott, deputy director of BBC Monitoring, says: "The history of Afghan broadcasting is one of continually falling into decay. Someone blows up another transmitter every now and then, and gradually the range contracts." Which explains the BBC's listening posts bordering Afghanistan, though it has no one - "Thank God" - inside. Non-profit making Caversham is funded by £20m annually. The BBC World Service, Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence pay £6m each, the Cabinet Office £2m. Then it raises £3m from rent and services, £1m from commercial customers, including subscribers to its World Media newsletter, and newspapers, including the Guardian. It puts out about 150,000 words a day, while its internet database contains 240,000 stories. Elliott says: "We contribute indirectly to ministerial briefings, give a direct service to Downing Street's press office, can feed in at a pretty high government level. We haven't flown extra people out to Baku or Tashkent: we find it easier to pass the work around here. There are reasons of safety to be considered and the wider operation." His own "feeling is that although an awful lot has been said about military action, and quite a bit of preparation is going on, basically the media is observing its standard patterns. Not a lot of war broadcasting is going on around the clock." Did he ever worry that his staff could be infiltrated? "All I can say is that people don't tend to come to our operation to grind their axe. They certainly may be unremittingly hostile to the regimes they have left, but they tend to feel that even by being here, reporting what the regimes are saying, just telling the truth is enough. "A facility like ours is indispensable because we tell the UK not just what is happening in the rest of the world, but how the world is perceiving events, it is an indispensable guide to intelligent policy-making. "I don't think this place is going to go away just because the Soviet Union has collapsed, or because we're beginning to edge towards peace in the Balkans. I think the world is only just coming to realise what some of the more modern problems are." Caversham is stuffed with dedicated, anonymous professionals. As they diligently cut through the babble, they are helping to make us less ignorant, and the world a safer place. (Guardian Oct 1 via Bruce Portzer, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U K. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). A new series of the excellent BBC Radio 4 programme "A World in Your Ear" started today. The programme included clips from several international broadcasters including Radio Budapest, China Radio International and even the former Taleban station Radio Voice of Sharia. A World in Your Ear can be heard on Fridays at 1330-1400 GMT, with a repeat on Sundays at 2000-2030 GMT on all the usual R4 frequencies - 198 LW, MW, FM and live via the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/ (Dave Kenny, Caversham, BDXC-UK Nov 30 via DXLD) DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). In Approx. 15 Minutes Time at 2200 Hrs Nov 30th BRIEF LIVES SPECIAL GEORGE HARRISON BBC Radio 5 Live (909+693 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive (Ken Fletcher, 30th November 2001 2147 UTC via DXLD) Actually *2207 (gh) ** U S A. I find it quite odd that both IRCA and NRC publications tend to drop listings for upcoming special MW DX tests, the closer they get. Perhaps in anticipation of it being outdated in print versions, but certainly not in online versions. On the other hand, as soon as a new test is scheduled some weeks in advance, we are reminded of it several times initially, but we especially need to be reminded of it the day or two before it actually happen! This is the case with the following, which I had to go back to the Oct. 29 issue of DX News to find details to mention on WOR 1107, and now, here: ``WPRI268, 1620 kHz, 25 Blodgett St., Orange, MA 01364, will conduct a DX test from midnight to 1:00 am ET Sunday morning, Dec 2, 2001. From its transmitting facilities in Lancaster, MA, you will hear test tones of varying frequency intermingled with Morse code IDs and an occasional voice ID. QSL requests can be sent to WPRI268@aol.com or mail. QSL Cards for WPRI268`s response need to be sent to that address, please! (Arranged by Blaine Thompson for the NRC.)`` Most of the occasional DX tests are from regular MW stations, but I am not quite clear what kind of station this be, with its funny call, yet seemingly licensed. What does it do when not DX-testing?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1710 log chronology. Glenn, Re: Ralph's log of 1710 kHz: >Hmmm, 0056 UT Thursday, just minutes after I first mentioned this as an unID on WBCQ, WORLD OF RADIO 1107; would Ralph admit to getting tipped this way? Joel would, implicitly (gh, DXLD) I believe the events took place as follows. On the weekend I noted a transmission on 1710 but thought it to be an image or harmonic which I have had on MW from time to time. I attribute that to an antenna line hat follows my roof gutters and my proximity to NY City. Hearing it again on a subsequent morning I thought I would ask the on-line crowd. So I posed the question to the folks on the chat channel #swl. Ralph responded that he did hear the station. He is within 15 miles of my location so I figured he probably heard what I had heard, maybe better, since I had some noise on one antenna and the other was silent on 1710. I believe I sent you e-mail about 1710 at that same time. After work I followed up with him and the chat channel crowd, and had also seen a reference in a DXLD that boosted my confidence level that it was indeed not an internal image but a true signal. Ralph recorded the transmission at the time of the WWMF?? and the ???teen-forty ID that we all heard. So it would appear that it was I who tipped Ralph off and the on-line chat helped confirm the results (Pete Costello, NJ, Nov 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1710 kHz, Lubavitcher Radio, as noted in the most recent DXLD e-mail, is on the air right now, NOV 30 0410 [UT?], with a man giving a history lesson in English. Preceding 0400 there was music. Many mentions of Moishach and Israel. There is a horrible intermittent buzz, making the assessment of exact details difficult (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1710 unID - 11/29 2250 [EST?] - Good; Hebrew vocals, then a Jewish educational program, over an unID utility station. Jim Renfrew reported this as "Lubavitcher Radio" via dxtip@nrcdxas.org, but no location given (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH BAConti@aol.com NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. A reporter in Popular Communications has been hearing Radio Avivamiento, Hartford, Connecticut on 1620 AM and 89.7 FM. Perhaps now that the Boston market is saturated with low power Haitian and Spanish broadcasters, whoever is responsible for selling these operations is going after Hartford's ethnic communities? (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, NRC-AM Nov 29 via DXLD) ** U S A. 3120.00, WQEW - New York, NY (harmonic 2 x 1560) 1100 Nov 30, first time I've ever logged this Radio Disney outlet with US pop music // 1560. Not a trace of it heard later on subsequent check (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A (and non). MARS Again Letting US Troops "Phone Home" FT HUACHUCA, AZ, Nov 29, 2001 --- Army Special Forces troops on duty in Islamabad, Pakistan, "and other undisclosed locations" have begun keeping in touch with home via Military Affiliate Radio System --- MARS --- phone patches. Army Military Affiliate Radio System Headquarters here said that MARS members in all three services --- Army, Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps --- are gearing up for greatly expanded phone-patch operations as the holidays approach. MARS phone patches make it possible for deployed troops to call their families in the US from areas where commercial connections are not available. Specially trained Amateur Radio operators enrolled in MARS provide the connection between military shortwave stations deployed overseas and the telephone system back home. During the Vietnam War, phone patches were a major source of comfort to families and service members alike. MARS responded again during Operation Desert Storm. Phone-patching has taken on new life over the last several years as Special Forces members deployed on peacekeeping missions to Kosovo, Macedonia, West Africa and other areas that lack regular or affordable phone service. "Most of our contacts lasted less than 15 minutes and were to the wives," said a communications sergeant recently returned from a three-month Special Forces mission in Africa. "All the guys wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly in their absence." The sergeant said some armed forces members at first were reluctant to speak with their families via the public airwaves, but they soon got used to the idea and started taking advantage of the system. "There were a few cases where some problems came up at home," he said. "Other wives had to go to the rescue of one woman who was experiencing a major problem. All I can say is that MARS saved the day." Successfully completing a patch gives a big lift to the MARS amateur in the middle, too. "You never know who you will meet on these [high] frequencies," said one East Coast MARS member, who called it "a privilege" to serve as an Army MARS phone-patch operator. These days, calls from overseas might originate from battery-powered backpack transceivers with a power of 20 W or less, but hams on the US end of the circuit using ordinary Amateur Radio gear and antennas are usually able to make a workable connection. Even the more sophisticated military base stations can experience problems, however. One overseas communicator reported that turning on a linear amplifier tripped the circuit breakers on the local power system. Phone-patch training nets are regularly conducted for MARS members. Amateurs interested in joining should contact their state MARS director or visit the Army MARS http://www.asc.army.mil/mars/ , the Air Force MARS http://public.afca.scott.af.mil/public/mars1.htm (but that link didn't work when I tried it --jn) or Navy-Marine Corps MARS http://navymars.org/ Web sites. --thanks to Army MARS and Bill Sexton, N1IN (ARRL November 29 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6010 (nominal), Em. Ciudad de Montevideo, reported by Slaen-Argentina to be operating here or around here --- apparently frequency drifting or variable --- is, in effect, a new SW outlet for the station. I phoned Sr. Jorge Yizmeyián in order to get more info. This is what I got from him: callsign: CXA142, sked 1300-1800; they are currently testing. He refused to state power used, but said the transmitter has been built by his brother (and station owner), Aramazd Yizmeyián. Simulcasts MW 1370 and is // to CXA42 on 9650. He indicated, however, that only one of the SW channels would be on the air at times. They started transmissions on this former SODRE channel about two weeks ago (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Nov 29, hard-core-dx via DXLD) see also CHILE for another new station on same frequency! (gh) ** VIETNAM. Mailing list of American Forces Vietnam Network [AFVN] Some clandestine and also authorized military broadcasters who are U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War congregate on a regular basis around the internet page http://www.geocities.com/afvn They also maintain regular contact with each other through a yahoo groups email list -- which is open to the public : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFVN/ The Vietnam organization was called American Forces Vietnam Network [AFVN] and was featured in a popular movie called "Good Morning Vietnam" starring Robin Williams. Members of the list are broadcasters, engineers, and a wide variety of others in support roles. The list is open to the public. Archived AFVN radio and television broadcasts can be listened to or watched using the Real Player from their archive page at http://www.geocities.com/afvn/multimedia.html (Bob Morecook-USA Nov 26, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) Re: history of the U.S. Navy Project Jenny (1) As noted in CR Watch issue 88, Project Jenny [Vietnam War] produced the U.S. Navy's Blue Eagle airplanes -- which in turned beamed radio and television news and entertainment to the troops on the ground. In a companion side program, they also beamed psyops radio to North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops. A short video featuring the Blue Eagles planes can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/afvn/robbins.html At a companion site viewers can also listen to authentic Vietnam War radio and television broadcasts, news, sports, and music, just as they were heard by American troops in the field. These are at http://www.geocities.com/afvn/multimedia.html (B. Morecook-USA Nov 23, 2001 for CRW via DXLD) WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK 2002 WRTH 2002 will be published on 7 December 2001. As many of you already know, I have responded to the justified criticism of the last few editions by taking over responsibility for the updating of the National Radio section of the book. I have, with the help and support of some great guys, expanded our global network of contributors so that most countries now have a dedicated contributor who updates the details on disk. This has freed the editor to concentrate on the International section. I have also altered the printing schedule so as get as many of the SW winter schedules as possible and employed two assistants to work on updating the data. Everyone who has seen the new material thinks it is good. I hope you do. The point of producing WRTH is to provide DXers and listeners with current information. This year's edition is the beginning, not the end, of this new effort to get it right. With the help we are getting from around the world we will make it even better. If you see mistakes or old information then please let me know on wrthdir@aol.com and I will pass the information to the country contributor (Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher, World Radio TV Handbook, Hard-Core-DX mailing list Nov 29 via DXLD) ###