DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-190, December 4, 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 YAHOO PROBLEMS. Please do not use our yahoo address, but instead wghauser@hotmail.com DXERS CALLING down. Dear DX Friends, DXers Calling is offline due to problems with live365.com's internet providers (Cogent Communications) as there have been quite a few streaming issues over the weeks, so please hang in there; I will let you know when everything is back up again (could be a while). It has nothing to do with the actual live365.com operation; it's just their providers! Thanks 73 (Tim Gaynor, Queensland, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. You may think ORF`s DX program Intermedia is only in German, but we found an interview with the founder of R. V. of Afghanistan, Mr. Jalal, in English (since German apparently was not an option): http://193.171.50.209:8080/ramgen/roi/intermedia/jalal.ra When Wolf Harranth asked him about the transmitter site, Jalal said it doesn`t matter whether it is now from ``America, Russia, Europe, or Oman,`` it is a free voice. Would like to operate from Afghanistan itself, when security and non-censorship can be guaranteed. Also has vague plans to add broadcasts in Arabic and English for listeners outside Afghanistan. The SW transmission is handled by an ``international company``. It took only a sesquimonth to plan the operation and get it on the air (Glenn Hauser, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Afghanistan [non]: Media round-up Tuesday 4 December 2001 - Russia, Tajikistan discuss upgrading transmitter capable of reaching Afghanistan Russia, Tajikistan discuss upgrading transmitter capable of reaching Afghanistan Text of report by Russia TV on 4 December Another Russian initiative on Afghanistan came to light today. Television programmes from Moscow could be broadcast on liberated territory. The timescale depends only on the restoration of a transmitter in the south of Tajikistan, Sergey Yastrzhembskiy, aide to the Russian president [who was accompanied by the general directors of the two Russian TV stations closest to the government, RTR and ORT,] said today in Dushanbe. [Yastrzhembskiy] There is the necessary transmitter mast but funds are needed to get it working. Of course I can't say that the money will be forthcoming. I don't have the power to say that but if the transmitter could be put back into operation that would be in the interests of everyone, perhaps primarily those of the Afghan people. [Presenter] Yastrzhembskiy made that statement immediately after a three-hour meeting with [Tajik] President Rahmonov. They discussed cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan in the information area. It emerged that both countries see a need to resume broadcasts to Afghanistan as soon as possible. To that end, there are plans to use the transmitter in the village of Kolkhozabad, which is sufficiently powerful to transmit not only to Kabul but further into Afghanistan as well. Sergey Yastrzhembskiy thinks that the issue of financing the project will be resolved in the very near future. [BBC Central Asia correspondent Monica Whitlock in Dushanbe on 4 December said the 1,000 kW transmitter was located in southern Tajikistan and had could broadcast well into Pakistan and even India. She added that the Moscow-backed Afghan president of the 1980s, Babrak Karmal, made his inaugural speech on Radio Afghanistan, which was relayed from Kolkhozabad at the start of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. "Sergey Yastrzhembskiy said he had discussed with President Rahmonov the possibility of restoring the tower, which still works, though perhaps not to full strength," Whitlock said. Both sides also discussed rebroadcasting the Russian TV channel ORT in Tajikistan. "The Tajiks dropped ORT in October, possibly for political or financial reasons. Moscow pays Dushanbe to take the station, and there may have been an upset over money," Whitlock noted.] Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1400 gmt 4 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA Previews: 2305 UT Fri Dec 7: Lingua Franca - about language. "Hugh Massingberd on the Comic Obituarist". Hugh Massingberd revolutionised the writing of obituaries when he was put in charge of the London Daily Telegraph's obituary page. Now he's edited five best-selling collections plus, just-published, 'The Very Best of the Daily Telegraph Obituaries'. At the Cheltenham Festival of Literature, Hugh Massingberd explained the craft of the comic obituarist to Peter Guttridge, editor of the rival Independent's obit. page. [Transcript available] (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Repeated UT Sat 0530 ** BELGIUM [non]. Belgium/UK: Radio Vlaanderen signs SW contract with Merlin | Excerpt from press release from UK transmission company Merlin Communications on 4 December London, 4 December: Merlin Communications International Ltd, now part of the Vosper Thornycroft Group plc, has signed a four-year contract with Radio Vlaanderen International, the international broadcasting arm of Vlaamse Radio-en Televisieomreop [VRT] the public broadcaster of the Flemish community in Belgium. The contract will see Merlin transmit seven hours of shortwave programming daily, with an additional four hours on Sundays, utilizing its network of shortwave transmission facilities in the UK and South Africa. The service will provide Radio Vlaanderen with extensive first hop coverage of key target regions in Western Europe and Central Africa. Merlin receives programme material into their London Control Room via the HotBird 5 satellite at 13 degrees east, and then distributes via satellite to two of its UK sites, as well as its partner site in Meyerton, South Africa. Radio Vlaanderen programming, which consists of mainly news and current affairs, is broadcast in Dutch, English, French and German. Radio Vlaanderen is funded by VRT's budget, which is in turn funded mainly by government subsidies... Transmission Details: Target Area/Transmission Time (UTC)/Frequency (kHz)/Transmission Days Europe 0757-0956 13685 Daily Europe 1157-1226 13685 Daily Europe 1757-1956 13685 Daily Europe 1357-1656 15325 Sunday only Europe 2057-2156 5960 Daily Central Africa 1057-1157 17670 Sunday only Central Africa 1157-1226 17670 Daily Central Africa 1857-1956 5960 Daily For further information about this press release, please contact: Laura Jelf, Marketing Manager Merlin Communications International Ltd Tel: +44 (0)20 7969 0000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7396 6223 Email: laura.jelf@merlincommunications.com http://www.merlincommunications.com Source: Merlin Communications press release, London, in English 4 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 5024.92, 25.11 at 0714: I have solved the problem now with the Brazilian I reported in last issue. The following ID has been heard: "Rádio FM Vale do Xingú 93 punto um, Altamira, Estado do Pará". When I checked my recording from Nov 10 it turns out to be exactly the same ID which I at that time noted as "Rádio Nova" --- not a single letter correct! Now It is only left to find out the address for the station. QSA 2 (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by Editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** CANADA. **M** A Canadian radio amateur is planning a very special celebration; here is the information about the 80 metre spark transmission on Marconi anniversary, "Atlantic-leap 2001". David Wilson, VE3BBN, in St David's, Ontario near Niagara Falls, is seeking approval from Industry Canada for a special event transmission using a home made spark transmitter. The event will take place on December 12th 2001, at 9 pm local eastern time, (0200 UT), to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Marconi's historic transatlantic transmission of the letter "S" from Poldhu, Cornwall to St John's Newfoundland in 1901. The frequency will be 3.550 MHz , the output power approximately 20 watts, and the signal bandwidth 20 kHz. Radio amateurs in all countries are encouraged to listen and to provide signal reports. To listen to the spark transmission your receiver should be set to the AM mode to get the most signal possible. David plans to transmit 60 times on the minute the following message "MARCONI S", then rest for about 45 seconds and repeat the sequence. QSL messages should be sent to VE3BBN@r... [truncated by yahoogroups] and reports should include name, QTH, signal report and distance as the crow flies from Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada (via Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Dec 4 via Bob Chandler, ODXA via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. See GABON ** COSTA RICA. RFPI adjusted back to 15040 from 15039 after about one day, and now at 0523 check UT Dec 5 I find them close to 15041! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Faro del Caribe has new web site at: http://www.farodelcaribe.org/ eMail-address: tifc@farodelcaribe.org 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, Webmaster of 1000 Lakes DX Page http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm and dxlinks.info http://www.dxlinks.info/ and Finnish DX Association http://www.sdxl.org/ via DXLD) Faro del Caribe exhibits a depressing single-mindedness with program after program listed alphabetically which are obviously dedicated to proselytizing in one form or another. A few which possibly may go beyond this narrow focus, judging solely from their titles, since no synopses are provided, times here changed to UT; durations not given: PEREGRINAR FOLKLÓRICO COSTARRICENSE Sat 1305 MUSICA CLÁSICA Sat 1900 VOA NEWS M-F 1300 NOTICIAS NACIONALES Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 1345 [what if something happens on Wed, Sat or Sun?] Direct streaming webcast link: http://196.40.15.40:8080/ramgen/encoder/faro.rm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Egypt/Israel: Egypt to increase broadcasts in Hebrew | Text of report in English by Egyptian news agency MENA Cairo, 4 November: Within the framework of Egypt's media plan and its address to the outside world, efforts are underway to strengthen the Egyptian radio transmission in Hebrew aired to Israel, said Minister of Information Safwat al-Sharif on Tuesday [4 December]. The minister said the broadcast expounds Arab rights and calls for peace based on justice and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The radio confirms that no stability can be achieved without the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and that there is no solution except through the return to the negotiating table and dialogue as soon as possible, added Sharif. The plan includes transmitting two hours in Hebrew everyday on Nile News Channel, besides the transmission in English and French, added the minister. Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 1732 gmt 4 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GABON/CONGO DR. Africa No 1, RTNC radios sign cooperation agreement | Text of report by Gabonese Africa No 1 radio on 30 November A cooperation agreement has been signed between Africa No 1 and DR Congo's national radio service [RTNC]. The general managers of both radios signed the agreement themselves in the presence of DR Congo's communication minister. Correspondent Francine Mokoko, who is in the DR Congo capital, confirms the signing of the agreement. [Mokoko] According to Kikaya Bin Karubi, the DR Congo communication minister, the signing of that agreement is a positive example of the policy of south-south cooperation that the government has always favoured. He said this during the signing of the cooperation agreement between the RTNC and Africa No 1 - a radio, which, according to Bin Karubi, has authority in Africa. The communication minister gave the assurance that the government of the DRC will support the realization of their objective, which includes programmes and personnel exchange, training, and transfer of equipment. This agreement is one of many signed between both radios. The general manager of the RTNC, Atofu Kamboze [phonetic] put a lot of hope in its realization. According to him, the particularity of the agreement lies in the fact that it also involves technology. [Kamboze] If this time, Africa No 1 agrees to take the signal of the RNTC and to broadcast it through its transmitters, then, we will be heard throughout Africa, and the RNTC will therefore be the winner. [Mokoko] Under the agreement, Africa No 1, which is a commercial radio, will carry some sports, cultural and economic broadcasts produced by the RTNC. Under what condition? The general manager of Africa No 1, Barthelemy Mapangou, answers: [Mapangou] We have decided to hire some workers. Staff from Africa No1, will be able to go and work for RTNC for a few weeks, and RTNC workers will be able to do the same at Africa No 1. In this way, with a little bit of effort, they could, adapt themselves to the editorial lines of both stations, as well as to information processing such as [word indistinct] at Africa No 1. Additionally, at a commercial level, at Africa No 1, we have a commercial office; the same applies to the RTNC. Both, should be able to sell the two media in Libreville, as well as in Kinshasa, if only the RTNC has the ambition to export its signal. [Mokoko] Far from tying the knot, the two partners have agreed to try their marriage of convenience for two years under the vigilant eyes of DRCongo officials. [end recording] Source: Africa No 1 radio, Libreville, in French 1200 gmt 30 Nov 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Regarding Good News World: I am quite baffled about their statement ``We are bringing the Gospel message to five continents with short wave broadcasts from our transmitter near Koln, Germany. This way we may reach billions of people who live in the 10/40 window, a crucial area on the map where God's message has hardly been uttered.´´ since I am not aware of any current GNW transmissions via Jülich. I think all GNW ever had up at Jülich was a single hour per week, either on Saturdays or Sundays, 1000-1100 on 5985, so of course for Europe and not the "10/40 window". Regards, Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A little (?) exaggeration may help to keep the money flowing in... (gh, DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, The Live Cricket Commentary was noted today on AIR Jaipur on 7120. The timings are 0355 to 1125. The dates of Cricket Test Matches between India and England are: December 3 to 7, 11 to 15 & 19 to 23. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. International Satellite Workshop Raises Possibility of Mars Mission SILVER SPRING, MD, Dec 4, 2001 (ANS) --- A recent International Satellite Workshop sponsored by AMSAT-DL (Germany) explored future ham radio satellite missions around Earth and raised the possibility of one to Mars. AMSAT-DL invited Phase 3D (now AO-40) engineers and supporters to attend the sessions, held November 23-25 in Marburg, Germany. During the workshop, Phase 3D Project Leader Karl Meinzer, DJ4ZC, presented his ideas for an interplanetary mission to Mars in 2007 --- known as Phase 5A. He showed that, given Phase 3D's basic capabilities and structure --- such as propulsion, navigation, and deployable solar arrays --- a similar spacecraft could leave a geostationary transfer-like Earth orbit and enter into an elliptical orbit around Mars. A P5A spacecraft could serve as a technology demonstrator and as a communication relay between experiments on the Martian surface and Earth, he said. Meinzer further speculated that such as spacecraft also could become an experimental platform and carrier for a possible sub-payload to be deployed to Mars itself. Meinzer was enthusiastic that such a mission could once again demonstrate that Amateur Radio remains at the leading edge of telecommunication and space technology. AMSAT-DL President Peter Gülzow, DB2OS, said in conversations that a mission such as Phase P5A could be initiated and organized under the AMSAT-DL banner, but that financing it would be beyond the capability of the amateur community. Funding for a mission with such high scientific value would have to come from public or governmental sources, he said. The first part of the workshop was dedicated to AO-40, which celebrated its first anniversary in orbit on November 16. Arianespace representative Jean-Michel Desobeau summarized the AO-40 launch campaign. He emphasized the very good cooperation between AMSAT-DL and Arianespace and cited the professional work of the whole AMSAT team at the Kourou launch site. Several Phase 3D experimenters updated various aspects of the satellite's systems, including a presentation on the SCOPE cameras by Yoshi Takeyasu, JA6XKQ. AO-40 command station James Miller, G3RUH, communication payload designers Freddy de Guchteneire, ON6UG, Mirek Kasal, OK2AQK, Danny Orban, ON4OAD, and Stefaan Burger, ON4FG, demonstrated live S-band and K-band reception and real-time remote access to AO-40 via the Internet. Michael Fletcher, OH2AUE, reported on the results of the first tests of the 10-GHz transmitter and the 5.6-GHz receiver. Ideas also were presented on improving AO-40's value to ground users once the spacecraft exits its experimental phase. Future investigations will be done to determine how useful improvements can be implemented. AMSAT-DL Vice President Frank Sperber, DL6DBN/AA9KJ, opened an additional session with a presentation for another P3 type mission. AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3RFH, then presented the ideas behind Project JJ, an Amateur Radio communication satellite now in the design stages. The closing day of the gathering was set aside for more-detailed discussions on various aspects and strategies for future missions. Representatives of nine AMSAT organizations, as well as of various space business groups, the European Space Agency and Arianespace attended the gathering. Additional information on the Marburg International Satellite Workshop is available on the AMSAT-DL Web site http://www.dj1km.de/amsat-dl/2001workshop-ge.html --AMSAT News Service (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK) ** IRAN. VOIROI/IRIB/Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution in Arabic with evening transmission: 1930-2027 on 6025, 6065, 6200, 7115, 9860, 13750. New transmission in Arabic: Intifadah Al-Aqsa (ex Radio Shalom in English) noted on Dec. 1: 1900-1927 on 7105 (55555) and 7175 strong co-ch Radio Liberty in Persian (Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 4, via DXLD) ** IRELAND. Hi Glenn, I do not know what "Radio One World" actually is. I thought this could be the synonym for the shortwave activities, since RTE One broadcasts (mostly if not always recorded by Merlin for later transmission) are used. A certain publication is not helpful about a special multilingual RTE program, so the matter would need further research (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Mike, Ethnic service Radio One World is the medium wave opt-out for 2FM which broadcasts from Cork for an hour from 7 pm each evening. It will cease in the new year. Best wishes, (John F., http://www.radiowaves.fm via Mike Terry, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Clandestine, 15230, V. of Mezopotamia, 0859 Dec 2 after song plays YL IDing in Kurdish as Harium kum darusalam di Kurdistan, giving frequencies, then immediately with news. 0913 with qur`anic verses, 0920 with songs till 0945 where clear ID was given as "denge Mezopotamia" with frequencies and telephone. Again ID and continues with nice western background music and talks by man. 0954 with Kurdish folk music. SINPO 32433 before 0900 but at 0930 as 33433 from a medium level carrier on 15229 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Greece; Point: House, R75 + 16 m wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Hi all, spur mentioned in the latest edition of BDXC's excellent Communication magazine: 3880 kHz, R Netherland, 2043 UT 14/11/01; program was 1 sec ahead of 5835 kHz, heard by David Gascoyne, Staplehurst, Kent (Tim Bucknall, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) It`s a difference product between two Flevo 500 kW transmitters on the schedule in Dutch at this hour, 9895 minus 6015; whilst 5835 is via Moscow (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Borno State Broadcaster Considers Relocating 4 December 2001 The government of Nigeria´s Borno State is seriously considering moving the state broadcaster BRTV out of the centre of the capital, Maiduguri. According to Lagos newspaper ``This Day``, during a recent strike by state workers, management of BRTV who came in to provide a skeleton service were threatened, and feared for their lives. Chairman of the BRTV Board, Alhaji Baba Kolo Warne, says that four attempts were made to burn down the station and kill the staff. Only swift police intervention prevented serious damage or loss of life. However, Baba Kolo Warne also said that relocating the radio and TV stations would provide an opportunity for expansion. He also said that a more powerful TV transmitter would be provided, and that transmitters procured some years ago would finally be be put into service. It`s not clear if that involves shortwave, but he said that by the end of the first quarter of 2002, BRTV will be seen and heard all over the state, and in neighbouring states and countries. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network Dec 4 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Shortwave Stations in Pakistan In view of the fact that the shortwave stations in Pakistan are currently a matter of radio news, let me give a list of all currently active shortwave stations in Pakistan, each of which I visited during the time we lived in Pakistan back 30 years ago. As far as is known, no new transmitters have replaced any of the older units, and only the old original shortwave transmitters are in use today. The callsigns in use for the radio stations in Pakistan are all in the AP range, with A standing for Asia and P for Pakistan. Transmitter 1 in each of the Pakistan callsigns is the local mediumwave unit. KARACHI - Southern port city, and largest city in Pakistan. The shortwave base for Radio Pakistan Karachi is located 20 miles east of Karachi on the highway running towards Hyderabad (Sind). Two 50 kW RCA transmitters APK2 & APK3 were installed in 1948 and two 10 kW Gates units APK4 & APK5 were installed in 1955. The 50 kW transmitters are used in the regional and international services of Radio Pakistan and the 10 kW units were installed originally for the “Link Service” with Dacca in what was East Pakistan. It is unlikely that the 10 kW units are in use these days. QUETTA - Located on the western edge of Pakistan in a mountainous area across the border 150 miles from Kandahar in Afghanistan. The shortwave transmitter APQ2 of Radio Pakistan Quetta is located on the southeastern edge of Quetta and is co-sited with the MW facility. The single 10 kW Gates transmitter was installed in 1962 and is on the air during the day on 7170 kHz and in the morning and evening on 5025 kHz. PESHAWAR - Frontier city in the plains near the Khyber Pass en route to Afghanistan. The shortwave transmitter APP2 is co-sited with the mediumwave station and is located in Peshawar itself. The 10 kW AWA transmitter from Australia was installed in 1960 and it is currently listed on just one channel, 5045 kHz. RAWALPINDI - Located in northern Pakistan near the foothills of the high Himalayas. The Rawalpindi SW station APR2 is located on the western edge of Rawalpindi towards Peshawar and is co-located with the mediumwave unit. The single 10 kW Gates transmitter was installed in 1962 and it is currently listed for two channels, 7335 kHz during the day and 5010 kHz morning and evening. This unit was recently re-activated. The Rawalpindi mediumwave service can be heard on shortwave on 7110 kHz via a 100 kW transmitter located in the Islamabad twin facility. ISLAMABAD - National capital, modern twin city with Rawalpindi, on the northern edge of Rawalpindi. The shortwave radio station known as Radio Pakistan Islamabad is located 15 miles southeast of the twin city complex Rawalpindi- Islamabad on the Grand Trunk Road that leads to Lahore. There are two shortwave facilities located here, side by side, on the northern edge of the highway. There were 79 antenna masts on these two radio properties. The older station was built in 1968 and housed four transmitters; one Gates at 10 kW, two RCA at 100 kW, and one Continental at 100 kW. The newer facility was constructed in 1972 and houses four SW transmitters; two BBC at 250 kW and two Russian made units at 100 kW. The 100 kW transmitters were installed for coverage into what was then East Pakistan and for international programming. The 10 kW units have been in use for the regional Islamabad service and also for the ``Link Service`` as a back-up relay to other stations. All of the 100 kW and 250 kW units have been on the air for the international services from Radio Pakistan, though all units are not in use these days. One of the 100 kW transmitters is in use with a relay from Azad Kashmir Radio. The Islamabad mediumwave service can be heard on 5010 kHz via a 100 kW transmitter at the Islamabad twin complex. MUZAFFARABAD - Small capital city for Azad Kashmir, administered by Pakistan, located in a wide valley in the rugged Himalayas. Azad Kashmir Radio operates two shortwave transmitters. The 1 kW AKR at the studio building on the upper edge of Muzaffarabad was established in 1961 and its only channel is 3665 kHz. MIRPUR - Small town located near Islamabad radio complex The 100 kW Thomcast at Mirpur was established in 1997 as a high powered relay unit for Azad Kashmir Radio. It is probable that this is the unit that is listed for 7265 kHz. TRARKHEL - a very small village in southern Azad Kashmir Azad Kashmir Radio Trarkhel is in reality a 100 kW unit located at the large shortwave base, Islamabad-1, with studios in Rawalpindi. This unit is currently on the air on 4790 kHz. Shortwave Callsigns in Pakistan --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call City kW Make Year Location, Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- API1 Islamabad-1 100 RCA 1968 15 miles SE Islamabad & foreign API2 Islamabad-1 100 RCA 1968 15 miles SE Islamabad & foreign API3 Islamabad-1 100 Continental 1968 15 miles SE E Pak & foreign API4 Islamabad-2 100 Russian 1974 15 miles SE E Pak & foreign API5 Islamabad-2 250 BBC 1972 15 miles SE International API6 Islamabad-2 250 BBC 1972 15 miles SE International API7 Islamabad-1 10 Gates 1968 15 miles SE Regional API8 Islamabad-2 100 Russian 1979 15 miles SE International APK2 Karachi 50 RCA 1948 20 miles E International APK3 Karachi 50 RCA 1948 20 miles E International APK4 Karachi 10 Gates 1955 20 miles E Link to Dacca APK5 Karachi 10 Gates 1965 20 miles E Link to Dacca APP2 Peshawar 10 AWA 1960 In Peshawar Regional APQ2 Quetta 10 Gates 1962 SE of Quetta Regional APR2 Rawalpindi 10 Gates 1962 Western edge Regional AKR Muzaffarabad 1 Australian? 1961 Upper edge of town Regional AKR Mirpur 100 Thomcast 1997 Near town Regional AKR `Trarkhel` 100 1968 At Islamabad-1 Regional ===================================================================== (Adrian M. Peterson, DX Editor, Adventist World Radio, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Spur mentioned in the latest edition of BDXC's excellent Communication magazine: 4745, R Romania Int`l, EE px, IDs, listeners reports heard at 2340 24/11/01 by Alan Pennington, Caversham, Berkshire UK, using AOR 703 and LW Beverage (via Tim Bucknall, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) Hmm, how to explain this one? (gh, DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Hello to all, once again the traditional DX-Camp Bavaria took place from November 29th to December 2nd 2001. Also this time our highly sophisticated antenna system was running excellently. The area enables the structure of several Beverage antennas with 300m length, which were installed in approx. 1m height over the soil. All considerable DX directions were covered: Pacific 30 , PNG and AUS 60 , India 90 , Africa east 140 , Africa west 200 , Brazil 240 , Bolivia/Peru 260 , México and North America 300 . All antennas were distributed to each participant of the DX-Camp. The distribution is made by an eightfold splitter to max. eight users. In order to minimize the distribution-caused absorption the signal of all antennas is increased by a special HF amplifier. Some highlights: Quite good conditions prevailed to Asia/Pacific. The top event of the DX-Camp was without any doubt the reception of SIBC from the Solomon Islands. Starting from 1400 UT we could hear this nice station on 5019.9 kHz relaying a BBC program. The national program began with intensive drum rolls and anthem-like South Sea singing at around 1900 UT. By the way: Somebody seems to have influenced positively the ORTN staff in Niger. Just at the beginning of the Pacific DX-season they switch off their station on 5020, only in order to enable reception of SIBC to all European radio enthusiasts. It's a phenomenon: Normally it's extremely difficult to receive that station here in central Europe and now one can hear it almost all the day (Michael Schnitzer, Dec 4, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN: Coming up on Radio Sweden: This is Nobel Week, the week that precedes the awarding of the Nobel Prizes on December 10. We'll be covering closely all the press conferences, seminars, speeches, and related activities. Wednesday in "Money Matters", voices from the Nobel symposium on Behavioral and Experimental Economics Thursday in "Nordic Report" (produced this month by Radio Finland) Introducing the euro Friday sees our review of the week gone by On Saturday we present our monthly current affairs round-up "Sweden Today" Sunday more new rock and pop music in "Sounds Nordic" And don't forget our live coverage of the Nobel Prizes presentation ceremonies in Oslo and Stockholm on Monday December 10th! (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Dec 4 via DXLD) ** TEXAS. Subject: Radio Free Texas. Glenn, Saw this on a newsgroup - do you know if they are these pirates or legitimate broadcasters? Not a lot of information on the website. Regards, (Mike Terry, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: We are the people of RADIO FREE TEXAS. We are engaged in an Info War with a large corporate media machine, that has swallowed Texas. This machine has indulged in a blatant propaganda war on the people of TEXAS and AMERICA, and this will not be allowed to continue. At one time, radio was a medium of entertainment, music and comedy; this is no longer true. The Corporate Radio Empire known as the National Association of Broadcasters or NAB has transformed the patchwork of radio licenses across the United States into a New World Order Network. This Monopoly promotes its own national interests as well as seeking to control political events, and ignores the issues and needs of local societies. Its tools include propaganda and misinformation, and it influences many listeners, on many levels. To fight this Giant Goof Machine that has run away with itself, we have become what we hate. We started a micro-fm network across the local landscape of small towns surrounding the headquarters in San Antonio Texas, offering the only counterpoint to daily programming such as Rush Limbaugh and Mike Ragan. Now we are preparing to move guerrilla radio broadcast units in to the city proper. These Alternative Media Outlets are openly advertising and conducting recruiting programs. THE PIRATES have seized control of the public`s imagination. We are running color guards on the Highways, attracting media attention wherever possible, and making our presence known from the main stages to the moshpits. We are letting everyone know that WE ARE HERE, and WE WILL BE STAYING The First Shot Fired in this revolt was the anti-Low-Power FM legislation that was passed by Trent Lott and his cronies, paid for by the NAB. The People have answered this treason with a salvo of resistance and revolt, all across America. We see this monster for what it is and our ranks are growing each and every day. We do not submit to mind control, and Physiological Programming and Propaganda Machines will not decide our destiny or threaten our children`s future. You can greatly help our cause with a donation. We urgently need audio equipment, computers, and cash, as we intend to keep the pressure up. Alternative organizations are invited to contact us and Sponsors are Welcome. The more support we receive, the more effective our campaign becomes. These demonstrations are in the corporate back yard and our efforts are being felt at the top, BUT our strength lies in proliferation. Please visit our website, and BUY A T-SHIRT. Every penny goes straight into the FIGHT. THIS IS RADIO FREE TEXAS http://www.rpmradio.net (via Mike Terry, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wonder if a successor to the `Republic of Texas` movement. Hard to pin far-right or far-left on this one from the above (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, Following info on Radio Ukraine International programs. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Q. In general, how often are the Radio Ukraine International programs repeated (not just WWOR)? The news and Ukrainian Diary are issued daily. All other programs are issued mainly once in 4 weeks. Block of WWOR and Hello from Kyiv are repeated 4 or sometimes even more weeks. The Roots (Fr-Sat) and Music from Ukraine (Sun-Mon) -- the similar periodical schedule. Close Up now is again issued once in 4 weeks, but with different contents from Mon to Thu. With the best regards, (Alexander Yegorov, RUI via Krist, DXLD) ** U K. THE MEDIA: BBC an objective observer on the battlefield By Mark Jurkowitz, Globe Staff, 12/4/2001 Americans feeling good about the course of the war in Afghanistan were provided with a dramatically different side of the story last week in a ''BBC Newshour'' report. The correspondent described a bedraggled Afghan refugee near Kandahar ''extremely upset ... that an American aircraft had just attacked his village.'' The plane was ''spitting smoke from the side,'' according to the report, and the correspondent spoke of a widespread climate of civilian ''fear'' of the US attacks. It was the kind of ugly American story not often seen or heard on American mainstream media. With its massive global reach, the BBC World Service, funded by the British government, broadcasts in 43 languages to a global audience of about 150 million weekly listeners, with correspondents in far- flung places. (The BBC had maintained a bureau in Kabul for eight years; it was shuttered by the Taliban and reopened recently.) Heard locally on two public radio outlets, WGBH-FM (89.7) and WBUR-FM, (90.9) the BBC is known for crisp on-scene reporting, a tendency to determinedly grill a subject until a question is answered, and in this war, a view of the American-led military campaign that BBC fans find refreshingly objective, and that foes consider downright anti- American. One thing is for sure: the BBC reporting is undeniably an alternative to US media coverage. ''There's a noticeable difference,'' said Craig Crawford, executive publisher of the Hotline World Extra, which monitors coverage of international issues. ''There were days there when the BBC seemed like Al Jazeera ... It was quicker and much harder on US bombing of civilians ... My view is they are more neutral.'' American coverage, he said, tends to take ''a more jingoistic, nationalist tone that is understandable, but is there.'' ''I think the US media is often more overtly patriotic than the British media. But then Americans are more overtly patriotic than Brits,'' said Rachel Attwell, the BBC's deputy head of television news. ''I cannot imagine BBC News or any other British news program carrying on-screen Union Jacks, a la NBC's peacock.'' One indication of the BBC's approach is its reluctance to use the word ''terrorist'' to describe those who launched the Sept. 11 attacks. Although indicating there have been exceptions, Attwell says that ''World Service Radio and BBC World have always chosen not to use the term `terrorist' --- on the old basis that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. So we do say that an act of terrorism has been committed, but on the whole, will not say they have been committed by a terrorist.'' That policy has raised hackles in the United States; the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog group based in Virginia, has called on US networks to ''sever their relationships with the BBC.'' Ken Bader, editor of the WGBH-FM daily program ''The World,'' which is coproduced by the BBC, recalls an argument he once had with BBC journalists over whether you could call the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie Scotland in 1988 a ''terrorist act.'' ''The BBC does have a hangup about using the word `terrorism,''' he says. The BBC's ''Producers' Guidelines'' for covering the war in Afghanistan spell out a philosophy of balance: ''We must be careful not to fuel the flames of prejudice and intolerance'' it says, adding that ''all views should be reflected in due proportion to mirror the depth and spread of opinion.'' That might explain the BBC's more objective approach to the Afghan conflict. Unlike in the United States --- where a Gallup poll indicated a 92 percent approval level for US action --- British opinion is divided over a battle that includes British forces. Attwell cited recent British polls indicating that only 51 percent of respondents support the war. ''In this particular story, it has been very important to reflect the view of the substantial Muslim minority in the UK --- who though on the whole have condemned the September 11 attacks --- have been overwhelmingly hostile to the war in Afghanistan,'' she said. Devotees say this approach makes the BBC a crucial news source. ''They're very, very objective,'' Bader said. ''Getting the news from the BBC is a very different experience from getting the news from American broadcast outlets,'' said Steve Rendall, senior analyst for the liberal media watchdog group FAIR. ''Not only is there a broader range of opinion ... but the BBC `presenters' and reporters are often more professional, ask tougher questions, and seem to have a greater level of knowledge about news subjects than their US counterparts.'' Still, at a time when Americans are rallying around the flag, the BBC has generated its share of detractors. The pro-Israel media watchdog group, CAMERA, has criticized it several times recently for reports on Middle East violence that it says ''continues to purvey a highly distorted anti-Israel picture of events.'' And last month, the syndicated columnist and Atlantic Monthly editor, Michael Kelly, wrote a column spoofing what he saw as the BBC's anti-US tilt by describing a fictitious nightly public affairs program --- produced by both NPR and the BBC --- called ''All is Lost.'' One contributor to ''All is Lost'' was a European affairs analyst named ''Loathes America and Prays for its Swift Destruction.'' This story ran on page D3 of the Boston Globe on 12/4/2001. © Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK) John Peel is to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bradford. The Radio 1 DJ will become a Doctor of Letters at the ceremony on December 7. He is being honoured for his contributions to the field of popular music over the past 35 years. Full story: http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_465276.html Radio news story sent by Ananova, your personal news assistant (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Well deserved --- couldn't happen to a finer chap. I still listen to the last "Perfumed Garden" whole overnight show on Radio London on 14/8/67 which I have on tape, he was going to be out of work and was saying goodbye to everyone as he thought he was going into obscurity! Sorry no time to do copies at present but I believe we might be hearing some of this on the radio sometime in the future if the quality is good enough. I will let you if and when it becomes definite (Mike Terry, England, Dec 4, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. Dear Glenn, there's a new Learning English programme from the BBC to Europe, at 1115-1130 gmt on 9410 and 11680. This is in addition to 0530-0545 on 6010 and 9915, 0645-0700 on 6180 and 9875 and 1930-2000 on MW 1296. Best 73 from (Stefano Valianti, Bologna, Dec 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Congressmen call for review of overseas broadcast agencies | Excerpt from press release by US Congressmen Henry J. Hyde and Tom Lantos on 29 November headlined "Hyde, Lantos seek broad evaluation of public diplomacy and broadcasting efforts" carried on the US House of Representatives web site Washington DC, 29 November: Two senior congressional leaders today asked the General Accounting Office (GAO) to undertake a wide-ranging evaluation of the US government's public diplomacy and overseas broadcasting efforts. "The United States has a range of programmes that constitute our public diplomacy efforts, including public affairs officers stationed at US embassies overseas who work with host country media outlets, academic and professional exchanges with 140 countries and radio services broadcasting to people around the world in their languages," US representatives Henry J. Hyde (Republican, Illinois), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, and Tom Lantos (Democrat, California), the panel's senior Democrat, wrote in a letter to US Comptroller-General David M. Walker. "While these and other efforts have been galvanized by the terrorist attacks of 11 September to help fight the international war on terrorism, it would appear that the problem is too great and too entrenched to be solved by current efforts alone," the two said in the three-page request. In the letter to GAO, Hyde and Lantos include requests for an analysis of the effectiveness of US international broadcasting efforts including methodologies to identify target groups and audience surveys and how such information is incorporated into planning and programming; an evaluation of how effectively television, AM and FM radio, the internet and other electronic media are being utilized by the overseas broadcast agency and barriers to achieving greater access to populations in other countries; an analysis of efforts by US embassies "to carry out an effective and sustained public diplomacy programme" and an evaluation of the impact of the 1998 merger of the now-defunct US Information Agency with the State Department; an evaluation of the obstacles, opportunities, and available resources of US public diplomacy efforts and how such efforts differ from region to region, especially by major ethnic groups; an analysis of how the Muslim world presents special difficulties regarding the delivery, reach, and effectiveness of US public diplomacy efforts and an evaluation of successful programmes administered by other countries or private sector organizations that can serve as a model for US public diplomacy efforts. A preliminary report is expected to be completed in the spring of 2002 in time for the committee's annual consideration of the Department of State Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003... The full text of the congressmen's letter to US Comptroller-General David M. Walker is available at the following web site: http://www.house.gov/international_relations/news1129.htm Source: US House of Representatives web site, Washington DC, in English 29 Nov 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Lubavitcher Radio --- 1710 kHz: It's in here right now with music and teachings, 2000 EST. I've been listening off and on trying to get an ID, 0530 until 0650 fade out this morning and back beginning at about 1610 this afternoon, all with the same format alternating between teachings and music, but nothing that even closely resembles an identification (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, Dec 3, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Re tower collapse: I used to work there way back when they were KMTC-TV. After I left, one of the engineers told me they were going to go out there during the next heavy ice storm and wait for it to fall. They told me it was so overloaded that an icicle or two would bring it down. Hmmmm. That was 20 years ago. Hope they didn't hold their breath(s). The TV and radio station used to be in the same building, a brown brick structure out at 3000 E. Cherry [Springfield MO] (Richard Dale, Independence, MO, Dec 1, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A. Two items for your viewin' and listenin' consideration... I note that Bravo will run one of the great political satire films of all time Thursday --"The Mouse That Roared", featuring Peter Sellers starring in three roles simultaneously. It's just about his best early movie of all, after "The Party." He plays the prime minister of the tiny European country of Fenwick, who schemes to declare war against the United States, schemes to intentionally lose so to then comfortably collect vast sums of US foreign aid. Sellers also plays Fenwick's military field marshal; he doesn`t know he's supposed to lose the war against the US, he somehow emerges victorious. (This 1959 film predating the similarly-plotted "The Producers" by a few years of course.) Sellers also plays The Grand Duchess Of Fenwick, a confused royal dingbat. Thursday at 9 Eastern, recommended. (Repeats overnight, and again on December 18 & 31.) Also, Harry Shearer, on his Sunday radio show this past week, somehow obtained and played a tape of a bizarre conversation on an Afghanistan street corner between Geraldo Rivera and Dan Rather. Of course there's always the chance that it's just Harry doing all the voices and sound effects himself, but you never know. See http://kcrw.com/cgi-bin/ram_wrap.cgi?/ls/ls011202le_Show and go 44 minutes into the hour, although the whole episode is great, including a nice G Harrison tribute. Shearer has quietly done this public radio hour for free for nineteen years straight; it's pretty much essential listening each weekend in my view. It's available live at http://www.kcrw.com Sundays at 10 AM PT. Only a few dozen stations outside California clear it, but those with webcast feeds various times Sunday can be found by searching LeShow at http://www.publicradiofan.com The most recent sixty (!) one-hour shows can be found at http://www.kcrw.org/cgi-bin/db/kcrw.pl?tmplt_type=program&show_code=ls (Tom Roche, Atlanta, GA, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]: Updated schedule of AWR's Wavescan on Sundays as of Dec. 2: 0030-0100 6025 DHA to SoAs 1430-1500 15660 SDA to SoEaAs 6055 DHA to SoAs 1630-1700 9890 DHA to SoAs 0100-0130 6160 MOS to SoAs 11980 SDA to SoAs 0303-0400 11795 DHA to CeAs 1730-1800 7455 SDA to SoAs 0830-0900 9660 MOS to Eu 9385 SDA to ME 9765 FLI to Eu