DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-192, December 7, 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 #1108: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1108ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1108.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1108.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, Sunday 0000, 0600, 1200 on some of: 21815-USB, 15040, 7445 ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0900 to rest of world; 1500 to NAm SELECTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS ON SHORTWAVE compiled by John Norfolk, OKCOK new revision December 7, 2001: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html MONITORING AFGHANISTAN & VICINITY has been updated: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/mideast.html SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE MARCONI CENTENNIAL http://www.worldofradio.com/marconi.html (under construxion) YAHOO PROBLEMS. Please do NOT use our yahoo address, but instead wghauser@hotmail.com ** AFGHANISTAN. In DX, word that wore [sic] torn Afghanistan is back on the air following the ouster of Taliban forces from most of that nation. Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB, is back with the details: Graham Kemp VK4BB: "World traveller Peter Casier, ON6TT (5X1T), has been in Afghanistan for the last few days and has now obtained permission to operate in this worn torn nation. On November 21 he was QRV as YA/ON6TT/M operating in a convoy. The foreign ministry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance) issued the call YA5T, which can be used on all bands by Peter, ON6TT, Matts, SM7PKK, and Robert, S53R. Wayne Mills, N7NG, will have to look at the permission, once it is received. His initial reaction was that it should be good for DXCC. Peter will hopefully be contacting Wayne and submitting the documentation. Meantime, look out for these three operating as YA5T." And late word from the ARRL's DXCC Desk is that it has already received acceptable documentation for YA5T and has approved it for credit. (Q- News via Amateur Radio Newsline Dec 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 9950, R Voice of Afghanistan via Maiac- Grigoriopol`, Moldova, now seemingly changed to Samara, Russia location [see BELOW]: During the last few days the Afghan on 9950 doesn`t seem as strong as it was --- it's peaking to about S9, dropping to 5, currently. Perhaps some adjustments have been carried out - or have they shifted it to somewhere else? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Nov 19 [sic] via DXLD) Yes, seemingly changed from Maiac-Grigoriopol`, Moldova eastwards to Samara, Russia site, ed. So, the transmission replaced the location from Nov 23 onwards from Grigoriopol` to Samara site. Started on Nov 17th? from Moldova (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid., BC-DX Nov 24 via DXLD) 9950, R V of Afghanistan at 1330 now was only fair and somewhat fluttery. This seems to exclude both a nearby site like Moldova and a semidistant site like Samara. My guess is for Irkutsk as the new site. 9945 Falun Dafa Radio at 2100 may also be from Irkutsk (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Nov 30 via DXLD) Yes, I noticed also a signal strength decrease on 9950 in past 3 days, and also 'unclean' audio feeder circuit, much worse than previous outlets from Maiac-Grigoriopol`. MCB started R Voice of Afghanistan on Nov 16th via Maiac I guess, and lasted till Nov 22nd ... And I agree Moldova was too westerly, and a 9 MHz signal at 1330 UT would much better propagate into Afghanistan from Volga river than from Pridnestrovya, or even from Irkutsk (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Nov 29, via DXLD) Checking 9950 virtually every day at least briefly around 1330, I have not noted any great changes in signal, but since I started hearing it on Nov 20, I have had the feeling it is from further east than first reported, accounting for the signal more characteristic of eastern Asia than Europe at this time period. However, the direct off the back beam from Irkutsk toward Kabul would hit Hawaii, still missing North America by a wide margin. I don`t usually notice much polar flutter, but on Dec 7 at 1422 check, there was some. My NGS globe with geometer shows that the direct great-circle path from Irkutsk to Enid hits 80 degrees north at the Dateline. BTW, on that date until 1427, there was a USB QSO between two southern-accented guys using 9950 precisely as BFO, and they agreed to talk again the next morning. Ever notice how practically all US two-way HF hams and non-hams have southern or at least good-ole- boy accents? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Afghanistan: Media round-up Friday 7 December 2001 [excerpt] Radio Voice of Afghanistan, which is based in London, continues to be observed on its scheduled frequency of 9950 kHz from 1330-1430 gmt daily.... Today's news bulletin included the following reports: - The Taleban surrender in Kandahar, Helmand, Zabol and Spin Boldak; - Unknown whereabouts of Taleban leader Mola Omar and US rejection of proposed amnesty for Mola Omar; - Looting and disorder in Shahr-e Naw district in Kandahar; - Northern Alliance commander in charge of Balkh Province Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, pro-King opposition figure Pir Gaylani and the governor of Herat, Esmail Khan oppose the new interim government agreed upon at the Bonn conference. - The end of the trial in UK of Afghans involved in the hijacking of an Ariana Airlines Afghan aircraft which landed in London; - Nangarhar Province authorities seem to be implementing provisions of the Taleban Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue such as prohibiting anything depicting women; beards, however, can be trimmed but not shaved. Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring Telephone +44 118 948 6261 e-mail: media@mon.bbc.co.uk Source: BBC Monitoring research, 7 Dec 01 (via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. Catholic radio to broadcast nationally in 2002 | Excerpt from report by Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias web site on 7 December The Portuguese Catholic Church is firmly committed to its plans of investing in the expansion of Christian Radio Ecclésia to the whole of the Angolan territory. The first general broadcast has been scheduled for May 2002. The station has managed to gather all the necessary legal, technical and financial requirements through the commitment of its staff, the raising of its own budget (through the church's 2001 Easter offerings) and international support. Libano Monteiro, of FEC - the non-governmental organization responsible for the involvement of the Portuguese Catholic Church in this project - told Diário de Notícias that a "decisive meeting" of Radio Ecclésia's development group had taken place in Luanda between the 1 and 4 December. It was decided at this meeting that the radio would build five divisions in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Malange, Lubango and Uige and that the remaining 11 provinces would have FM transmitters for rebroadcasting installed there. The provincial stations will be under the management of the local dioceses who have pledged to cover the maintenance costs of their transmitters. The project run by FEC --- presided over by Patriarch of Lisbon D. José Policarpo --- has received the support of other international NGOs: of the Dutch NIZA [Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa] (responsible for the assessment on the ground of future capacities) and of the Irish Trocaire. The first stage of this project --- which includes radio digitalization, the training of correspondents and the launch of short wave airing on two daily bulletins --- has also received the support of the Irish Cafod and of Misericor (linked to the German Catholic Church). So far some 328,000 euros have been spent. The support of the Dutch and Swedish governments is also expected during the second stage of this project, the cost of which is estimated at a total of 430,000 euros. The final cost is believed to be over 3.4m euros. There is another reason turning May 2002 into an historical date for this radio... Radio Ecclésia started broadcasting daily on 19 March 1955. Its first automatic airing system --- allowing it to broadcast 24 hours a day --- was inaugurated, on an experimental basis, on the date marking its 15th anniversary. On 24 January 1978, a presidential decree closed down the station as a result of the nationalization of the media in Angola. In March 1997 the Catholic station finally reopened. At present, Radio Ecclésia broadcasts in FM 24 hours a day from the capital Luanda (with a catchment area of 3.5 million people in contrast with the 12 million of the Angolan National Radio [RNA] --- the state broadcaster, owner of several regional units). The RNA also owns Radio Cinco, Radio Luanda and Radio FM Stereo (Luanda) and has links to the private Radio Lac (Luanda) and Radio Comercial (Cabinda). The other two private radio stations [broadcasting in Angola] are Radio Morena (Benguela/Lobito) and Radio 2000 (Lubango). Source: Diário de Notícias web site, Lisbon, in Portuguese 7 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) So maybe SW via Germany will be less necessary once they imagine they have nationwide domestic FM coverage (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. South Pole lab station quite active lately --- comes on around 0100 UT and runs till fade or no contacts. I`ve logged him `tween 14243 and 14245. He`s Skip, KC4AAA. QSL via K1IED. Be very patient on getting QSL (Bob Thomas, CT, Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 120 mb stations are audible most nights now; 2310 Alice Springs usually best around 2000-2030. Can`t hear them on 5 MHz after 2130, though (Nick Rank, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK, Dec BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Feedback will be getting its own page on the revamped RA website early in the new year, and will then be available ondemand. **M** All six ABC networks and ABC will be joining forces UT Wed Dec 12 at 0055 for a special Marconi centennial broadcast. While ABC will be looking back, RA will be looking forward on next week`s Feedback (Dec 14-15), about new technologies helping forge the future of international broadcasting --- satellites, internet, and digital SW (Roger Broadbent with webmistress Carmel, on Feedback Dec 7 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. The 24/7 factor was key to Radio Australia's decisionmaking after the great budget cut of '97. (Some may recall that RA's budget was slashed by some 50% that year after several years of double digit budget cuts had already severely affected the service.) In an interview that I conducted in Melbourne with Jean-Gabriel Manguy, RA's Managing Director, I specifically asked why the station chose to stick with a 24/7 general English service rather than opt for a more focused and shorter service specifically targeted to several areas throughout the day. Mr. Manguy responded that it was his opinion that for a service to be viable, it had to be available to listeners when *they* wanted to listen. Being a large and diverse world, those windows of opportunity would be different for almost everyone and almost everywhere. Consequently, RA stayed 24/7 drawing content appropriate to its mission from its domestic partners while concentrating its in-house production on matters in which it already had considerable expertise -- - the Asia-Pacific region and educational material of import to its prime audience. IMHO, time has demonstrated that RA's decision was the correct one. RA has a very high profile in the Pacific and a growing one (once again with revival of broadcasts from Darwin) in Asia. The BBC's abandonment of the Pacific has underscored and bolstered RA's position. Its 24/7 availability has also assisted its efforts to secure time on local MW/FM stations throughout the region. Of course, this all applies to the English Service. RA's other language services are not 24/7, as promoted by Pattiz for the VOA. RA could do it in English because it has ample sources for product. It would be hard to do so in other languages since those sources would have to be created. I expect that the VOA would have similar difficulties. Without exponential increases in funding, it's hard to see how the VOA could accomplish this with 40+ languages. Of course, consolidating US international broadcasting under one umbrella --- the VOA --- would be a good start (John Figliozzi, NY, Dec 7, swprograms via DXLD) more under CANADA ** AUSTRIA. I have a set of three QSL cards from R. Austria International, which caused quite a stir at the time --- in 1983 --- because of the nature of the pictures, which were contemporary Austrian art. Many listeners and their parents wrote irate letters to ORF complaining about the pornographic nature of the cards. RAI apologised in their Post Box 700 programme and, as far as I know, no further copies were issued. The two cards which caused most offence were `Lovers` by Wolfgang Hutter and `Phantasmagorical Landscape` by Peter Proksch. At the time the Austrian wine industry was reeling under the news that much of its wine had been mixed with anti-freeze! (Ronald Easey, Wrentham, Dec BDXC Communication via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. Radio World: Sunday December 9, 2001: First of all, a little piece of news concerning our own transmissions. Earlier this week RVi was advised by our Russian partners that they would no longer be using the transmitter at Samara to broadcast our programme in Dutch at 2100-2200 UT. On December 4 the Russians suddenly switched from Samara to Krasnodar, and that's how it's going to be until further notice. Samara was a 200 kW outlet, Krasnodar is 100 kW. The transmission is, as before, for listeners in Europe. The transmitter is on the air from 2057-2156 UT. The beam is at 284 degrees. I suppose it won`t make much difference for listeners, although Krasnodar is considerably more to the south. Well, that's one site less in our list of relay stations since the end of October. Pity, I liked the name: Samara. Those of you who were into DXing the old Soviet Union might remember that the city on the Volga was called Kuibyshev. Actually, so my encyclopaedia tells me, Kuibyshev was formerly called Samara, before 1935 that is (Frans Vossen, RVi Radio World Dec 9 via John Norfolk, DXLD) Makes it sound as if customers cannot specify which Russian site their broadcasts should radiate from (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Subject: Not quite a strike yet... Bargaining Communiqué # 44 --- December 6, 2001 (15:00 hrs [EST?]) Study Sessions Dear Members, There are presently study sessions being held in St. John's NF, Halifax, Ottawa and Toronto. Several hundred members are assembled in the basement of the Broadcast Centre in Toronto and have asked for a meeting with Mr. Rabinovitch. The members in these locations are discussing the last proposals that have been presented by the CBC. Nobody is on strike until you are contacted by a Local Officer and told so. Please contact your Local President if you have any questions. We will continue to keep you informed. In Solidarity, Your Negotiating Committee, Mike Sullivan and Len Deiter - CEP National Representatives, Rick Warren - Vancouver, John Seccareccia and Anton Szabo -Toronto, Chris Turner - Fredericton, Blayne Paige - Ottawa (via Ricky Leong, QE, Dec 6, DXLD) Subject : Not a strike, but a lock-out! from http://www.cbucc.org/barg01/bc47.htm Bargaining Communique # 47 --- December 7, 2001 (02:00 h) CEP Members Locked Out Dear Members: At approximately 1:09 this morning, your Union was advised by CBC that our members were locked out. To quote the letter, "... the Corporation is advising the CEP that effective immediately and until further notice its members are not permitted on CBC property." In locations where there were members at work, CBC used as many as 8 of their new friends from London Protection Inc. to remove a single CEP member. This escalation of hostilities by CBC, while our members were peacefully doing their jobs, is not productive, and will steel our members' resolve to resist CBC's concessionary bargaining agenda and to seek improvements to their working lives at CBC. We have advised CBC that we will continue to be available to negotiate, should CBC be willing to find middle ground between our positions. Picket lines will go up through the morning as members report for work. We will continue to keep you posted (Mike Sullivan, National Representative CEP, via Ricky Leong, DXLD) CBC press releases about labour dispute: There are two of them enclosed. Notice how the CBC still calls it a strike because of Thursday's study-sessions and sit-ins. The Corp. says radio is mainly unaffected. TV is hurt badly though, especially in the regions (Ricky Leong, QE, DXLD) ========== http://www.cbc.ca/onair/jhtml/newsitem.jhtml?ID=2025 CBC "DISAPPOINTED" WITH CEP'S STRIKE DECISIONS TORONTO, Dec. 7, 2001 - CBC today announced that it is disappointed with the decision of its Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union to declare a strike. On Dec. 6, CEP members, on instruction from their union leaders, engaged in legal strike activity by withdrawing their services and ceasing work in a concerted action in St. John's, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Members also occupied CBC property to conduct demonstrations. Some CEP members returned to their work site but refused to work. Others failed to complete their shifts, and programming across the country was affected. These actions clearly establish that the CEP members are engaged in a strike. "The CEP's strike activities have prevented CBC from fulfilling its news programming mandate," said Fred Mattocks, executive director of production and resources for CBC Television. "The CBC, therefore, is ensuring that programming can continue without CEP staff." CBC began bargaining with CEP on May 11, 2001. On Sept. 5, CBC applied for conciliation. The conciliation process ended Nov. 6 at an impasse and triggered a 21-day cooling-off period, which ended at midnight, Nov. 27. On Dec. 5, CBC presented a new proposal to CEP. Late that evening, CBC was advised through the mediator that CEP had rejected the proposal. The union began strike activities Thursday afternoon. "We recognize CEP's right to strike," Mattocks said, "but we hope that we can reach a negotiated settlement soon so our employees can return to work." ========== from http://www.cbc.ca/onair/jhtml/newsitem.jhtml?ID=2026 CBC ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO PROGRAMMING STANDARDS AFTER TECHNICIANS STRIKE Toronto, Dec. 7, 2001 - The CBC said today the majority of its scheduled television programming in December will remain unaffected despite a strike by members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union. CBC Radio programming will be largely unchanged. During the strike CBC Television will maintain a stable schedule, offering three comprehensive news programs at 6:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. respectively. As well, Saturday's Hockey Night In Canada will remain intact. "CBC Television is committed to maintaining the high-quality programs Canadians have come to expect from their national public broadcaster," said Slawko Klymkiw, Executive Director of Network Programming for CBC Television. "As December's schedule is made up of mostly holiday programs, CBC's programming schedule and themed evenings will remain intact." "CBC-TV will continue to cover major national and international news events," Klymkiw said. "During the strike our international news coverage will be unaffected, but there will be no local or regional news and the level of our domestic coverage will be reduced." CBC Newsworld will provide newscasts regarding matters at home and around the world at the top of every hour, 24 hours per day. CBC Radio One will continue to play its leadership role in news and current affairs, bringing Canadians live late breaking news and information all day long. CBC Radio Two's mandate of reflecting the cultural life of Canada, through classical music and jazz, will also remain largely unaffected. "The millions of Canadians who rely on CBC Radio on a daily basis will find the program schedules largely unchanged," said Adrian Mills, Executive Director of Programming, CBC Radio. Throughout the strike, audiences can get up-to-date program information by calling the CBC's toll-free information line at 1-866-306-4636, or by checking the CBC's web site at http://cbc.ca Detailed program listings will be made available as soon as possible. (via Ricky Leong, QU and Mike Cooper, GA, Dec 7, DXLD) The CBC programs carried by RCI may be affected by this labour problem. Some CBC technicians walk off job Last Updated: Fri Dec 7 08:04:03 2001 TORONTO - Hundreds of technicians with CBC's English-language radio and television operations walked off the job at some locations Thursday, but the union has delayed a nation-wide strike by all 1,600 employees. Workers were reported away from their posts in Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa and St. John's, Nfld. The move, which came after extended contract talks broke off, briefly left the public broadcaster's all-news channel in black after an abridged newscast at noon ET. Programming resumed a short time later. No picket lines were set up around the CBC's main broadcast centre in Toronto. Instead, workers gathered for "study sessions" in the building's basement. They demanded an emergency meeting with CBC President Robert Rabinovitch. The Communications Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union called the walkout "job action" instead of a strike. On its Web site, it issued a warning to other technicians: "Nobody is on strike until you are contacted by a Local Officer and told so." It was not clear whether technicians would return to work Friday, or if other members of the union would walk off the job at other locations. The CBC said talks broke off at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday after the union rejected a revised offer. The CEP, in turn, issued a news release that blamed the impasse on the corporation. "We spent all this week trying to find a compromise solution, but CBC just wasn't interested in moving. They repeatedly rejected our offers to deal with their stated objectives," said Mike Sullivan, chief spokesperson for the union. "Their positions at the table, and their actions in the workplace, represent an alarming shift to the right on the part of Canada's own public broadcaster," he said. It's the second time members of the union have walked off the job at the public broadcaster in less than three years. The last time the workers went on strike, television viewers and radio listeners noticed some technical problems on the air for about six weeks. The CBC and the CEP have been negotiating a new contract for about seven months. The main issue is money, including a disagreement over financial compensation paid to employees who have to delay meal breaks or return to work before a minimum amount of time has passed. In its news release, the union said that "at issue are fundamental worker rights which CBC seeks to remove from its workforce." CEP members perform mainly technical functions at the corporation, such as camera work, editing and studio production. They gave their bargaining committee an 86.2 per cent strike mandate last month. Programming by SRC, the French language services of the CBC, inside the province of Quebec is not affected. Written by CBC News Online staff (via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. (After all the controversy) I see that the RCI broadcast in English to Europe 2100 to 2200 UT from Sackville direct (60 degrees) has CHANGED FREQUENCY from 5.995 to 9.770 MHz, (seems more sensible to me!!). Reception is about SIO 333 (Ken Fletcher, UK, 6th December 2001, 2106 UTC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. As I understand it, there has almost always been tension at RCI over the question of using domestic content. When resources got so restrictive that almost no in-house production was possible, that question was mooted. But the resolve of RCI management and production personnel (especially the latter) --- at least up until the recent management change --- has always been to maintain as much of a distinction between RCI and CBC as possible. There's a lot of history behind this which is much too extensive to be recounted here. It suffices to say that RCI stalwarts have always been suspicious of CBC motives when it comes to RCI policy--and not without cause. The "Australian model" demonstrates that it can be a good and mutually beneficial relationship if properly established. I, too, would love to hear a 24/7 RCI English Service on shortwave that would include appropriate content from the domestic side combined with programs produced specifically for an international audience (John A Figliozzi, NY, Dec 7, swprograms via DXLD) ** CHINA. Party propaganda chief focuses on reform at CRI anniversary Chinese Communist Party propaganda chief Ding Guangen has called on China Radio International (CRI) to become more competitive, speed up reform and raise its international profile. Convergence and technological innovation, Ding said, were vital for CRI's survival as an international broadcaster. Therefore, Ding said CRI should integrate its SW, MW, FM and online services. Ding stressed that CRI's main role was to promote "positive propaganda" about China and serve as a mouthpiece of the party and the people. Following is the text of Ding's speech at the 60th anniversary of CRI, carried by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 3 December: Comrades, friends: We have gathered here at this grand meeting today to mark the 60th anniversary of the Chinese people's international broadcasting and the founding of the China Radio International [CRI]. The party Central Committee asked me to convey its warm congratulations and cordial regards to all the comrades of CRI, its profound respect for the veteran comrades who have contributed to China's international broadcasting and foreign experts who work for CRI and its wholehearted thanks to all comrades and friends at home and abroad who care about and support China's international broadcasting. Our party began its international calling from Yanan [in Shaanxi Province, wartime base of the communist party], the sacred place of revolution, 60 years ago today. That calling pioneered China's international broadcasting. Over the past 60 years, our international broadcasting has developed from one that used simple, self-built facilities to one with digital equipment, from one that had only one language to one that broadcasts in dozens of languages and from station set up in a cave to one that ranks among the most advanced in the world. The country's radio broadcasting, set up in the years of hardship, advanced during the course of surmounting difficulties. It is developing along with the country's reform and opening-up programmes. Always following the highest guiding principle of upholding state and national interests, our radio broadcasting has been one that publicizes the party's and the state's general and specific policies, reports China's economic and cultural developments, rallies our countrymen living overseas and works hard to win international support. Our radio broadcasting has become a window through which the outside world understands China and a bridge for promoting friendship. It has been playing an important part in --- and has made important contributions to --- building up China's good international image and creating a virtuous international environment. The advances made in our international radio broadcasting are the results of the efforts exerted by dedicated and hard-working broadcasters of several generations. They should be proud of their achievements and the honour that they have won. International broadcasting is an important part of the party's information affairs. It shoulders the important responsibility of informing the whole world about China. The party Central Committee's leading collectives of three generations attach great importance to international broadcasting. They care about international broadcasting. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out in 1965: "Work hard to make radio broadcasting serve all the Chinese people and the people of the world." In 1987, Comrade Deng Xiaoping personally penned the name of the China Radio International. The message General Secretary Jiang Zemin inscribed for CRI reads: "Its voice is heard in the five continents and it has friends all over the world." The cordial regards and the important guidance of the Central Party Committee's leading collectives of three generations have very important significance for the success of our international broadcasting. China today enjoys economic prosperity, national solidarity and social stability. China has stepped into the new stage of building a society in which the people can enjoy a comparatively comfortable life and the stage that it is expediting the socialist modernization drive. China's fast development not only is changing China itself, but also is attracting worldwide attention. Today the world has greater wish to understand China than ever before, and we also need to do an even better job in informing the world about China. CRI should bear firmly in mind the Central Committee's teachings the people's expectations, bring its strengths into play and make it a station that has its distinctive characteristics so that it can break new grounds for international broadcasting and so that the voice of China can be heard in all parts of the world. To make international broadcasting a success, we must always remember the party spirit and principles in providing information. We must firmly provide positive propaganda and firmly adhere to the correct course. International broadcasting is a strongly political task and policy. We must hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, follow the guidance of the important thinking of the "three representations" [Chinese: san ge dai biao; on the importance of the communist party in modernizing the nation --- representing the demands for the development of advanced social productive forces, the direction of advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people], consciously maintain unity with the party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core, firmly adhere to the party's basic line and firmly serve the party and the people as their spokesperson [Chinese: hou she]. We must heighten our political sense, the sense of heeding the interests of the whole, the sense of responsibility, political sensitivity and discerning ability and always maintain sober-minded politically. At all times and under all circumstances we must take a clear-cut stand in safeguarding our national interests and national dignity and work consciously to serve the general interests of the party and the state, world peace, development and friendly cooperation. To do a good job in our international radio broadcasting, we must follow the rules of the profession so that we can serve our listeners even better. Our listeners live in all parts of the world. They live in different countries and regions. They have different national customs and have different cultural backgrounds. We must study their characteristics, understand their needs, pay attention to their letters, establish closer contacts with them, hear their views and improve our work. Our programmes should be in line with what they think and how they talk, have vivid examples, meticulously and innovatively produced and have profound insight. They should be friendly, touching and appealing. Our world information should be prompt, accurate, objective and fair. It must reflect the voice of justice in the world. It must reflect the good will of people around the world. Our information about China must be truthful, comprehensive and lively. We should inform the world China's earthshaking changes, the long history and brilliant cultures of the Chinese nation and the Chinese people's spiritual outlook of aiming high and their united struggle. To do a good job in our radio broadcasting, we must deepen reforms, speed up development, build up our strength and improve our competitive capability. We must work with initiative, explore new grounds, optimize our management, intensify technological development, upgrade our equipment, pay attention to quality, expand the capacity for growth and explore development space overseas. We must tighten our efforts in promoting international exchange and cooperation and employ various ways through which our programmes can be aired effectively overseas. CRI should also do a good job in managing its information web site, actively develop online radio broadcasting, increase the volume of information, expand the scope of coverage and improve the timeliness of information so that it will become more influential, well-known and authoritative. We should work hard to make CRI a world medium that integrates shortwave, medium wave and FM broadcasts and the Internet. To make our international broadcasting a success, we must carry forward our fine traditions and build a stronger contingent of radio workers. CRI, in its long history, has created a contingent of highly competent workers who love radio broadcasting, who defy hardship and who can fight tough battles. This contingent of radio workers, influenced by the "Yanan Spirit", bathed by the storms in the Taixing mountain range and baptized by socialist construction and reform and opening up, has developed the noble spirit of waging arduous struggle and dedicating themselves to their work and also the invaluable qualities of being loyal to their motherland and their profession. We must cherish this contingent, care about the editors' and announcers' working and living conditions, provide them with practical services they need and create a good environment in which they can bring their talents into play. We should continue to build up this contingent by nurturing a large number of internationally well-known announcers, editors and reporters who are both ethical and able; a large number of administrators who uphold principles, who have the courage to press forward and who have managerial expertise; and a large number of upright international broadcasters who are politically strong, professionally proficient and have a high sense of discipline. Comrades, friends: In this 21st century that is replete with opportunities and challenges, we people of the Chinese nation, who have experienced many vicissitudes of life, are working hard in unity to achieve another great revitalization. Our international broadcasting must convey this message to the whole world: The Chinese people will proceed without wavering with their cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and will firmly uphold their independent foreign policy of peace. China is a responsible country that honours its words. The Chinese people love life and peace. We want to get along with people around the world as their friend so that we all can enjoy peace. China and the world need each other in their development. A stale, prosperous and progressive China is in the fundamental interest of China and also is in the fundamental interest of the world. In retrospect, we are full of pride. When we look ahead, we are full of confidence. At the new starting point in this new century, our international broadcasting has heavy burdens to hear, the road ahead is long and has many things to do. I wholeheartedly expect all the comrades of CRI will understand the glorious responsibilities on their shoulder and will dedicate their wisdom and strength to the Chinese people's international broadcasting and to our great motherland. Let us rally closely around the party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core, hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, follow the guidance of the important thinking of the "three representations", emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, proceed along with the time, explore new grounds and work together to write another brilliant chapter of our international radio broadcasting. Source: Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1322 gmt 3 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) I am so disappointed. I thought it was a genuine, friendly station. From the above, we now know it is admittedly nothing but a propaganda outlet of the Party (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. Some correxions to Olle Alm`s information on Chinese relays. I haven't heard any other station on 4750 than Qinghai and Hulun Buir. No CNR. Those who speak Russian may see my monthly tropical survey (only 60 mb) in DX-bulletin Kvadrat at Tomsk DX Club site at http://tomskdx.my.tomsk.ru (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. 5925 / 9945 Falun Dafa Radio. Chinese transmission at 2100-2200 UT, 9945 was 49 seconds ahead of 5925 kHz program!!! 5925 Falun Dafa R. *2100 Oriental melody, IDs in Chinese by woman and man; off at 2200, leaving the channel to DW (listed via Irkutsk- Russia). Rather good signal with crisp audio. When they were on 12075 a few months ago the transmitter site was said to be Novosibirsk; later they were on 9710 apparently from Bulgaria but where is this new outlet originating from? (Bob Hill, MA, DXplorer Nov 4+ via BC-DX via DXLD) I guess these outlets are coming from a more or less E u r o p e a n part of Russia or CIS/Balkan. Compared to the faulty audio muffled R Marya program on 7400 from Samara at same time, it could be originating from Samara location also. 5925 could be Maiac-Moldova, like a 250 or 500 kW unit. Due to much better audio than 9945; 9945 could be still the Kostinbrod-Bulgaria relay, because of the hoarse audio. 5925 signed on at about 2048 UT, Falun program audio joined at 21.00:30 UT!!! 30 seconds late. 4-54333 to superb 44444 at 2135-2200 UT, let's say only few interference occurrences noted during deep fading phase. Nearly free channel of Chinese NR QRM. Program stop at 22.00:15 UT, and stable carrier of SINPO 55555, on air till 22.01:39 UT, very strong! 5925 was program-wise 49!! seconds behind 9945 channel, so two separate, independent feeder circuits used for the program distribution. 9945 signed on at 20.55 UT, Falun program audio joined at 21.00.35 UT!! 35 seconds late. 2-3 to S=2 from 2113 UT onwards, much weaker than the jamming stations. Later from 2135 UT onwards on equal signal level, like S=2-3 / S=3. Program stop at 21.59:25 UT. At least three jamming types could be observed on 9945; CNR? word and music program, as well as a 3rd jammer type in FM mode - hiss audio. No test tones of 800-1000 Hertz could be heard today (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX Nov 25 via DXLD) 9775, which from the HFCC assignment seemed to be Samara, in fact is from Moscow, probably Lesnoy, so this means that the co-sited Falun Dafa transmitter on 9945 also originates from Moscow. Lesnoy has efficient antennas beamed to China, so it would be a useful site except for the long distance (although with CRI booming in evenings, transmissions in the opposite direction may also be efficient). (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Dec 4 via DXLD) Falun Dafa observed at 2045-2200. On 9945: 2046 carrier on; 2053 typical test tones of MCB/RUS outlets; 2055 plus CHN jammer; 2100 IS and ID by lady and man. 5925 kHz: 2045 carrier only; 2055 plus China jammer; 2100 IS and ID (as on 9945) but with delay of just 2 sec than 9945. It seems to be 5925 is not from Russian QTH -- the modulation is not the same as for example V of Russia till 2100 on 5920 (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Dec 3 via DXLD) ** C I S . OBSERVER #145 / 08-12-2001 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OBSERVER is an edition of RADIO BULGARIA compiled by Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov. Items here may be reproduced if it is mentioned "OBSERVER - BUL". All times in UT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CLANDESTINES STATIONS VIA CIS TRANSMITTERS B-01 LAST UPDATED & REVISED: DEC. 6, 2001 IBC Tamil Scervice in Tamil: 0000-0100 Daily 7460.0 NVS Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Chinese 0100-0145 Daily 9910.0 DB Denge Mezopotamya in Kurdish/Arabic 0900-1100 Daily 15230.0 TAC Radio Ezra in English 0900-0930 Sun 12110.0 VLD Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Chinese 1215-1300 Daily 15655.0 DB or 15645 DB and 15670.0 A-A or 15680.0 A-A Radio Voice of Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari 1330-1430 Daily 9950.0 SAM Voice of Khmer-Krom in Khmer 1400-1500 Fri 15690.0 A-A Radio Free Vietnam in Vietnamese 1400-1430 Mon to Fri 11850.0 TAC Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese 1430-1530 Daily 5905.0 A-A Denge Mezopotamya in Kurdish/Arabic 1500-1700 Daily 11530.0 YER Voice of Iran in Persian 1630-1830 Daily 15690.0 MDA Radio Barabari in Persian 1701-1731 Mon,Wed,Fri,Sun 7480.2 ??? ISRAEL ??? Netsanet Le Ethiopia in Amharic 1700-1800 Wed,Sun NF 12120.0 SAM (ex 12110 to avoid ERA INTERPROGRAMM) Radio Sagalee Oromia in Oromo 1730-1800 Mon,Thu,Fri NF 12120.0 SAM (ex 12110 to avoid ERA INTERPROGRAMM) Dejen Radio in Tigrina 1700-1800 Sat NF 12120.0 SAM (ex 12110 to avoid ERA INTERPROGRAMM) Radio International in Persian 1730-1815 Daily 7520.0 MDA Radio Sedoye Payem e Doost in Persian 1800-1830 Wed, Fri-Mon 7480.0 MDA Voice of Biafra International in Igbo/English 1900-2000 Sat 12125.0 SAM TRANSMITTERS SITES: A-A=Almaaty, Kazakhstan Eurosoner Radio in German ARM=Armavir, Russia 2000-2100 Sat 7590.0 ARM DB =Dushanbe, Tajikistan IRK=Irkutsk, Russia World Falun Dafa Radio in Mandarin Chinese MDA=Grigoriopol`, Moldova 2100-2200 Daily 5925.0 IRK SAM=Samara, Russia and 9945.0 / DB TAC=Tashkent, Uzbekistan VLD=Vladivostok, Russia Voice of Tibet in Tibetan/Chinese YER=Yerevan, Armenia 2315-2400 Daily 7180.0 DB (Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 8 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. UN to Launch Radio in DRC in January Story Filed: Friday, December 07, 2001 2:55 PM EST LUSAKA, Dec 7, 2001 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- A UN radio station to be known as "Okapi" is scheduled to begin broadcasts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) next month, the world body's Observer Mission in Congo (MONUC) announced in Kinshasa Friday. The Pan-African News Agency reported the Swiss and British governments had promised to finance its programs. The station will be the biggest to be established during a UN peacekeeping operation. Radio Okapi will broadcast general news on MONUC's activities and humanitarian actions. Okapi is the name of an animal, which symbolizes peace. In the past, the UN had also established similar radio stations in violence affected places like East Timor, Liberia, Kosovo, the Central African Republic. It also had a radio station covering the rebel-held Kivu province in eastern DRC. Radio Okapi, to be operated in partnership with Foundation Hirondelle, is the latest addition to the dozen or so public and private stations in Kinshasa, which mainly belong to religious denominations. Copyright © 2001, Xinhua News Agency, all rights reserved. You may now print or save this document (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CROATIA [non]. V. of Croatia external service, relayed by DTK Jülich, programmes are mainly in Croatian with news in English at approx. 0005, 0140, 0205, 0340, 0405, 0540, 0605, 0740, 0805 and 0940 (i.e. xx.05 in the first hour of transmission block and xx.40 in the second hour). Each news bulletin in English lasts about six minutes and is then followed by Spanish. 0000-0200 SAm 9885 9925 0200-0400 ENAm 9885 9925 0400-0600 WNAm 7285 9925 0600-0800 NZ 9470 0800-1000 Au 13820 (Tony Rogers, Dec BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** CUBA. 6255 USB, Spy #s, 0435 Dec 7, YL in SS, reading numeric code. In the background was raspy audio. I was able to positively match the background audio to R Havana on 6000 (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6390, R Rebelde, 1015 Dec 7, // 1180, but very slight delay. Weak signal. Checked 5025, and received strong carrier, but no modulation, so it appears this is from a MW outlet, but 6390 is not a harmonic frequency of any MW channel. Gone by 1100 recheck. Perhaps someone else can figure this one out, as I can't make the math work. Perhaps some sort of mixing product or other transmitter spur (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. Sorry, the text earlier today could be misunderstood. Radio Denmark lease airtime from Radio Norway, paying some 25 million kroner annually (Bernt Erfjord, Norway, Dec 6, BDXC-UK via DXLD) See NORWAY ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.75, Radio Pueblo, 1117-1150 Dec 7, announcer with long talk, a few ads, 1135 canned IDs, TC "Radio Pueblo 15-10 AM, dando la hora..." Asking for reception reports to "Apartado Postal ?10-99?, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana" Telephone 565- 1463. Very good signal, even past sunrise (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Notice this one with good strength around 2200+ in Pompano Beach, FL. Often good music, US oldies with Latin cover artists, a rather worthwhile station. Would like to know who does the Spanish version of Del Shannon's "Runaway". Heard "Runaway" twice on this Dominican (Bob Wilkner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. Re 21550 at 1330-1430: I got confused, because in Arabic ALQARN means either HORN, which is wrong in this case, or QARN means millennium --- 1000 years. Anyway I picked them up *1330 and the ID in Arabic (IDHAAT SOUT AL QARN) Voice of MILLENNIUM Radio. The Arabic ID is always followed by an English ID! The language used is sort of Sudanese Arabic ... but not really. It's difficult for me to understand. The Sudanese Arabic is hard to get. The confusing thing is when they are reading the newspapers, it's always newspapers from the United Arab Emirates!?!? Talking about the latest in the Sudan civil war, Eritrea, Nigeria.....etc. (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, DXW Dec 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) So maybe the studio and transmitter are in Abu Dhabi ? (Ed Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. DRM QRM again. When listening to 16 mb this morning I suddenly experienced a disturbing crackling, and when tuning around I found that it originated from a DRM test on 17555. The signal strength was S9+20 and the signal was VERY dirty, especially on the lower side. The continuous noise down to 17535 was around the S7 level and the crackling was audible down to 17490. When the signal level dropped to S9 the trash was apparent only down to 17540, not affecting Israel 17535. Since the problem of sideband trash from Sines was obvious already during the tests earlier this year on 17885 (or was it 17880?) it is mysterious that the engineers have not take action to clean up the signal. They need to do much better than that before the technology is ready for regular use. A wild guess is that the people at the exhibition don't inform visitors of all the racket the transmission is making besides the intended signal (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Dec 2 via DXLD) Of today's DRM transmissions, Sines and Rampisham were heard, while Bonaire and Sackville failed to appear. I had a closer look at Rampisham on 6175 from 1500 and 5970 from 1600. With CRI beaming to Europe on 6180 and 5965, the adjacent channel interference potential could be assessed. The DRM transmissions were causing a disturbing digital rattle in the background of the CRI programs as soon as the difference in signal level (as measured on each transmitter's centre frequency) dropped below 40 dB. This was measured at 6 kHz filter bandwidth, a realistic value for program listening. Using 3 kHz provided only marginally better values. Taking into account that fading produces periods of reduced signal level difference, a 50 dB difference would appear necessary to avoid substantial periods of disturbing digital rattle. In practice this would mean that DRM transmissions scattered here and there among AM transmissions would create big problems for AM listening, especially in Europe with so many stations packed together in the lower bands in the evenings (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Dec 3 via DXLD) I've been reading the interesting comments about reception of the DRM tests and noted 15420 on air today (Dec 4) after 1000. I can hear the signal between 15414.1 and 15431.2. There is now also a DRM transmission on 17555 at 1040 and this covers hf to 17561.5, but is difficult to measure on lf due to what appears to be a ute on about 17550, which signal is surfacing out of the racket. If signals like this are what we can expect in a few years time --- especially on the low bands --- we can throw our receivers out the window --- unless they can be adapted to DRM reception! Let us hope common sense prevails, and that these signals will be placed within bands of their own. The noise now being radiated sounds different --- to my ears --- to what was heard when tests were first carried out. Then, the noise was more of a rasping/motor like noise, which confined itself within 5 kHz of nominal freq. But the noise now sounds more like Chinese jamming. Maybe bandwidth has been widened to include more information? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Dec 4 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. The new R. Amistad, 4699v: More info on this courtesy of Larry Baysinger: They are technically a "pirate" since there is no license to operate on SW, or FM for that matter. They applied for both just after the end of the "civil war" in Guatemala when the government promised more access to the media by the indigenous peoples. It just never happened, so they, and many others, simply built their stations and went on the air. There are now more pirate FMs then licensed stations. Radio Amistad went on the air on 90.6 FM with a little 20- watt TEX-20 transmitter early this year using a single vertical dipole antenna atop the steeple of their church building. In May, Larry built and installed for them a two-bay circular polarized antenna atop a 40- foot mast attached to the third-floor of their Sunday school building, which increased their coverage radius to about 12 miles. This enabled them to reach some 15 towns and villages around Lake Atitlán. But in order to reach many others on the other side of the surrounding mountains it would be necessary to install FM translators or repeaters on the mountain tops, a very expensive (and not very practical) undertaking. So it was decided to use a low-powered SW "translator" station with a "cloud warmer," or high-angle, antenna to bounce the signal over the mountains. Thus "R. Amistad Onda Corta" came about. Larry designed and built the little transmitter into a large fiberglass transit case for transport into the country. It is a very simple design, using vacuum tubes and mostly military surplus components. It uses a 6AG7 crystal oscillator driving a 4-65 RF power amplifier which is modulated by a pair of 807 class B triode connected tubes. It produces 250 watts of fully modulated RF output which is fed to the "inverted-V" dipole antenna supported by a 40-foot mast. The antenna is located in the middle of a corn field adjacent to the lake (Jerry Berg, MA, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Greetings from Malang, a city in East Java about 100 km south of Surabaya. Over the last three days, I've been hearing a very strong signal a fraction above 2703 kHz, carrying Islamic religious services including calls to prayer, Kor`anic recitations and what sound like sermons and announcements. There are also some long pauses when coughing and various other 'noises off' are audible. Hours seem to be variable, but there's an evening transmission at 1030v-1430v and it's also on during the local daytime around 0400. I would suspect that there might also be a transmission in the very early morning around 2000-2100 UT for the early morning prayers and beginning of the Ramadan fasting period, but I have not checked at this time. I cannot hear any IDs or other announcements, including at sign-on and sign-off, except for an Arabic valediction just before the 'clunk' when the microphone is switched off at the end of transmission. The transmitter then remains on with open carrier for a few minutes. I have no information about what this station is, but my theory is that it must be coming from a mosque somewhere in Malang city. Even during daytime, reception is excellent here with no fading and it is probably the strongest signal on the shortwave bands. Audio and the standard amplitude modulation are also good. The content is not carried on any of the regular local mediumwave or FM stations. Regards, (Alan Davies, Dec 7, EDXP via DXLD) ** JAPAN. Subject : Fw: Soccer world Cup coverage on SW Glenn, I know you are not into "silly ball games" but lots of people are. Below from R Japan would seem to indicate that they have been reading your columns and agree! For many this will be a huge disappointment. Outside of the Olympics, sporting events don't get any bigger than this. The event is scheduled to start May 31st, 2002. Best regards (David Norrie, Auckland NZ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Original message to R. Japan]: With the biggest sporting event in Japan's history coming soon, can you please advise what live coverage of the World Cup you will have on Radio Japan's shortwave service in English. I'm really looking forward to being able to hear some of the matches on Radio Japan. In New Zealand where I live there, is some doubt whether there will be any TV coverage. This is surely an opportunity for R Japan/NHK to extend its broadcast times and frequencies to allow matches to be heard in various parts of the world live. I look forward to hearing from you, Best regards, (David Norrie, Howick 1705, New Zealand) Dear Mr. Norrie, Thank you for your message of December 1, 2001. Regarding the World Cup 2002, unfortunately we are afraid we are not planning to broadcast the games on Radio Japan at present. We are sorry we can not comply with your request. Thank you for your understandings and attention to this matter. Best regards, -- (Radio Japan info@intl.nhk.or.jp via Norrie, DXLD) ** JORDAN. R. Jordan, 11690, at 1400-1700, still not good for me due to co-channel RTTY. Simply too heavy (Bob Thomas, CT, Dec 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA. I noted a carrier and tone on 7245 at 0755 in passing, and thought maybe ALG trying to get back on air. The tone suddenly stopped and a recitation from the Qur`an came on frequency without any announcements at 0800. It was still this when I had to switch off c0825 but at recheck c0905 was then speech in a unknown lang. At 0800, signal strength was 9+, but down to about 1 or 2 by 0905, so I think it was Mauritania back on this frequency (should be Fridays only). It's been missing for some time now (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Nov 30 via DXLD) 7245, R. Mauritanie, 0942 Nov 30, presumed this one with almost monotone oration in Arabic; at 0945 second man in Sahel-type chants continuing past 1000 with no break at top of hour. Seems odd to hear this station 2-1/2 hrs after sunrise at the transmitter, but similar reception from that part of the world has previously been noted here around this time of year (usually Mali on 7285v). (Bob Hill, MA, DXplorer Nov 30 via BC-DX via DXLD) Fri ONLY transmission ** NEPAL [non]. Everest Radio is now on air four times a week, Sat, Sun, Mon and Tue at 2100-2200 on 6035 via Austria (everestradio.co.uk via Mike Terry, Dec BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Free Radio Service Holland, 6285, traditional Xmas transmission will take place Sunday Dec 23, the 20th annual event, a 5- hour broadcast announcing winners of the 21st birthday competition (Peter Verbruggen, FRS E-news via Dec BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Hi there all. Greeting. Have made again some major changing in our studio and as we are done with it you might find us again this weekend (as well tonight) again on the 48 mb and also on our house frequency 15070 kHz AM. Have no exact times but if you have a bit of spare time be sure to check out. Props improved the last weeks again and sometimes big time. So the more reason for us to be active again. Friends, have nice catching. Take a look in our studio, guess webcam catched a new frame and it could also be that the cam is running. Our email address is alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl The Alfa Lima web page: http://www.geocities.com/alfa_lima_international/ http://listen.to/alfalima Our QSL and info sheet?? Send your RR's to: Alfa Lima International, P O Box 663, 7900AR Hoogeveen, the Netherlands. Enclose 1 IRC/ US$ for reply. Greetings, (Alfred, ALI, hard-core-dx Dec 7 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. Latest articles posted at http://radiodx.com/spdxr/Articles.htm Wireless Backgrounds in Samoa - the early days of radio in Manu Samoa A Radio Visit To The Samoas - Adrian Peterson in a Pacific Paradise Ship Broadcasters In the Pacific Early AWR Shortwave Broadcasts Japanese Occupation Radio - South-East Asia Treason By Radio - Tokyo Rose & Manila Rose History Of International Broadcasting Vol.2 - a book review by David Ricquish Shortwave Broadcasting From Pakistan - an updater Japanese Wartime Broadcasting - and the origins of NHK Foundations of Fijian Radio - and the origins of the Fijian Broadcasting Company Jack Fox - NZRDXL Founder & Patron shares "his great radio hobby" Regards, (Paul Ormandy, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Rap Gets the Rap 5 December 2001 The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has banned rap music from all its stations, which includes the external service Voice of Nigeria. Rap is considered immoral by Muslim and Christian conservatives. The civil liberties group the Civil Rights Congress has responded angrily to the decision, saying that it "violates the rights of young Nigerians to hear music of their choice." Rap is still widely played on private radio stations operating in Lagos, but outside the capital there are very few private broadcasters (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) ** NORWAY. The decision maker will get backfire from the Pensioners on Canary Islands and the various Sailors, Seamen and Mariners on ships all over the Oceans worldwide too (Wolfgang Büschel, BCDX Dec 6 via DXLD) Well, it`s a fact that many Norwegian ships in international waters (not fishing fleet, though) now have 24h internet-access via satellite. And many Norwegians abroad pick it up on their satellite dish. BUT: the Programme will be missed anyway, since it was put together as a "report from home" from a point of view of listeners away from their homeland... We'll see. I don't think the last word has been said yet, even if it looks dark (Bernt Erfjord, Dec 6, BC-DX via DXLD) ** OMAN. Very pleased to hear BBCWS in English on 1413 kHz, around 1720 UT Dec 7, as a local station was silent (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I found the sad news from Norway quite confusing, especially regarding the mediumwave and longwave transmitters. Contributor Thomas Schröder reported in the German A-DX list that according to NRK and the "Nyt fra Norge" newspaper the "Europakanalen" of NRK is to be discontinued, too. "Europakanalen" is the program NRK carries on MW and LW, so I guess that probably not only 1314 but also 153, 630, 675 and, if still on air, 702 could go dark, too. Another thought: I understand that Danmarks Radio leases shortwave airtime from NRK and not directly from Norkring; please correct me if I am wrong. Provided that NRK can escape the relay contract with DR and herewith cancel its own contract with Norkring, what will happen with the transmitters? Will Norkring mothball the facilities or continue with Danmarks Radio and perhaps other new clients? Kind regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See original for accompanying illustrations: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/norway011207.html "No Comment" on Closure of Radio Norway International by Andy Sennitt, 7 December 2001 "I know nothing". That was the typical response when we called broadcasting colleagues in Norway on 7 December, in the aftermath of the surprise announcement that Radio Norway International is to close at the end of the month. The decision was made by the board of parent broadcaster NRK on 5 December, as part of a cost-cutting exercise that will also involve the merger of some regional radio services. But nobody wanted to talk to us about it. The news took everyone by surprise, not least the 7 people who have been producing the special programming for Norwegians abroad. They were told that they will go into a "job-bank" for employment elsewhere in NRK. Amongst them is veteran broadcaster Einar Lie, who is rostered to present the final programme on New Year's Eve. The Danish Connection But it's not a straightforward decision. Radio Denmark uses the second half hour of each one hour block for its own programmes beamed to expatriate Danes, and the current contract runs until 31 December 2003. We called one of the two shortwave transmitter sites, operated by transmission provider Norkring, on Friday morning. An engineer, who did not wished to be named, told Media Network that he and his 17 colleagues involved in the shortwave transmissions had not been officially informed of the decision, and only knew what they had read in the press. In fact, Norwegian press coverage of the fate of Radio Norway International was minimal compared to the space given to the other cost-cutting moves, most notably the merger of some of the district programmes. There is also not going to be a debate in the Norwegian parliament. Radio Norway International, it seems, will be allowed to fade away with a whimper rather than go out with a bang. Almost 54 Years As things stand, Radio Norway International will cease to exist as a separate service after 31 December 2001, three days short of its 54th anniversary. At the start, broadcasts were entirely in Norwegian, but the Sunday English programme "Norway This Week" was launched in 1952. That ran for 36 years, until its closure on 1 October 1998. The original transmitter site was at Fredrikstad, but that site closed in 1997. It was replaced by two other sites at Kvitsøy, which opened in 1982, and at Sveio, which opened as recently as 1996. At Kvitsøy there's also a high power mediumwave transmitter which carries Radio Norway programming to Northern Europe on 1314 kHz. The Scandinavian Mentality Although the decision to close Radio Norway International came out of the blue, the history of external broadcasting from the Scandinavian countries suggest we should not be surprised. The emphasis has always been very much on the expatriate audience. The Danish parliament even passed a law forbidding Radio Denmark to broadcast in languages other than Danish. There have also been indications that foreign language broadcasts from Finland could be under threat. Only Radio Sweden maintains a significant foreign language output, and even it concentrates on Scandinavian content and does not attempt to compete with the larger stations for coverage of international stories. The End of Shortwave from Norway? At the moment, it's too early to say what will happen to the shortwave facilities relinquished by Radio Norway. If it's determined that Radio Denmark's existing contract must be honoured, that means transmissions will continue until the end of 2003. But, without additional clients for the airtime currently used by NRK, the cost of the operation could be prohibitive. The facility at Kvitsøy employs 13 people, and being on a small island it's vital to the economy of the local community. So the decision of the NRK Board on 5 December has left people there feeling anything but "on top of the world". (Media Network Dec 7 via DXLD) ** PERU. As done earlier for BOLIVIA in 1-183, upon request of a few DXLD readers, here are Emilio Pedro Povrzenic`s September monitoring observations of tropical band activity in this country, especially variations in sign-on times. Stations monitored in September 2001, in the 0800-1100 period (weekends and holidays checked until 1130), and in the evenings between 0000 and 0200 UT. [gh extracted and translated info from a statistical display, fine- print photocopy, not completely legible in case something doesn`t add up. The number 3 could have been mistaken for 8, e.g. EPP omits ``Radio`` in station names, and we hope to have replaced it only where warranted. If there is sufficient interest we could do the same for a few other countries] Radio El Sol de los Andes, 3230.2, was heard 15 of the 30 mornings in September, and 7 evenings. Sign-on *0930 on 8 days; *0900 on 3 days, *1000 on 2 days, *0940 and *0950 on one day each. Radio Luz y Sonido, Huánuco, 3234.3, was heard one morning only, from *0930. Ondas del Huallaga, 3329.5, on 3 mornings and 4 evenings, twice from *1000, once from *0945. Radio Imperio, 4389.0, 23 mornings and 10 evenings; 12 days at *0900, six at *0930, two at *0830, one each at *0800, *0945 and *1000. Radio Bambamarca, Bambamarca, 4421.2, one morning only from *1000, and 14 evenings. Radio Huanta 2000, 4746.5v to 4746.9, 24 mornings and 20 evenings: *0930 on 13, *1000 on 5, *0950 on 3, *0900, *1010, *1020 one each. Radio Tarma, Tarma, 4775.0, 23 mornings and 14 evenings; 21 days from *1000, two from *1010. La Voz de la Selva, 4824.4, 20 mornings and 16 evenings; *1000 on 15, *1010 on 4, *0950 on one. Radio La Hora, Cuzco, 4855.6, 23 mornings and 4 evenings from *1000 varying to 0955, but never heard on Sunday morning or evening. Radio Comas, Lima, 4881.0, 12 mornings from *1000, zero evenings. Radio Virgen del Carmen, Huancavelica, 4886.7, with Rosary, two mornings from *1000, zero evenings. Radio La Oroya, La Oroya, 4904.8, 19 mornings and zero evenings; *1000 on 14, *1010 on 4, *0955 on one; never on Sunday morning or evening. Radio Cora, Lima, 4914.3, 13 mornings and 12 evenings; 5 from *1000, 4 from *0900, 3 from *0930, one from *1100. Radio Madre de Dios, Maldonado, 4950.0, one morning from *1030, 17 evenings. Radio Cultural Amauta, Huanta, 4955.0, 27 mornings from *1000 except one Sunday from *1100; and 24 evenings. Radio del Pacífico, Lima, 4975.2, all 30 days was already on at 0800 and tentatively all-night; also, 5 evenings. Radio Ancash, Huaraz, 4992.6, 5 mornings from *0930, zero evenings. Radio Andina, Huancayo, 4995.6, 27 mornings and 25 evenings, but never on Sunday evenings; *1000 on 17, *1010 on 8, *1030 on 2. Radio Quillabamba, Quillabamba, 5025.0, 28 mornings and 24 evenings; *1000 on 26, *1010 on 2. Radio Libertad, Junín, 5039.2, 10 mornings and 4 evenings; *1000 varying to *1010 on 5, *1030 on 5. Radio Melodía, Arequipa, 5995.4, 13 mornings and 13? evenings; already on at 0800 9 mornings and tentatively all-night; *0830 on 3, *1000 on one. Radio LTC, Juliaca, 6011.3, 18 mornings and 14 evenings; *0900 on 13, *0930 on 4, *0915 on one. Radio Tawantinsuyo, 6173.8, 29 mornings and 26 evenings; *1030 on 14, *1020 on 13, *1045 and *1100 one each. Radio La Voz de Andahuaylas, 6249.7, one morning from *0945, and one evening. Radio Unión, Lima, 6350.5v, already on at 0800 and tentatively all- night; 8 mornings and 8 evenings; varied to 6351.7 day, to 6352.7 night. Radio Altura, Huarmaca, 6480.5, one morning from *0945, and 20 evenings. Radio Paucartambo, Paucartambo, 6520.4, 20 mornings and 3 evenings; *1000 on 15, *1010 on 2, *1030 on 2, *1045 on one. Ondas del Río Mayo, Nueva Cajamarca, 6797.6, 22 mornings and 30 evenings; *1045 on 15, *1030 on 3, *1100 on 3, *1040 on one. La Voz de las Huarinjas, Huancabamba, 6816.8, 23 mornings and 29 evenings; *1000 on 10, *0930 on 3, *0945 on 3, *1030 on 3, *0900, *0920, *0940, *0950 one each. These stations were never heard in the mornings in September, only in evenings: Radio San Antonio, Cailalli, 3375.1, 10 dates. Frecuencia VH, Celendín, 4485.5, 3 dates. Radio Nuevo Amanecer, Celendin, 4655.0, 18 dates. Radio Andahuaylas, Andahuaylas, 4840.0, one evening only in September Radio Horizonte, Chachapoyas, 5020.0, 6 dates. Radio Superior, Bolívar, 5300.0, 14 dates Radio Bolívar, Bolívar, 5460.6, 24 dates Radio Ilucán, Cutervo, 5678.0, 25 dates. Radio Frecuencia, San Ignacio, 5700.0, 13 dates. Ondas del Río Marañón, 6519.8, 6 dates. Radio Huancabamba, Huancabamba, 6535.8 on 14 dates, 6536.0 on 12. Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca, 6782.8, 15 dates. La Voz del Campesino, Huarmaca, 6956.8, 2 dates. (Emilio Pedro Povrzenic Nawosat, Villa Diego, Santa Fe, Argentina, Sept Latinoamérica DX, of the Asociación DX del Litoral, Rosario, via Nov Radio Nuevo Mundo via DXLD) ** SAMOAS. FCC Snub to Samoa 7 December 2001 Plans for closer cooperation between the governments of Samoa and American Samoa have received a setback. One of the elements of the plan, designed to improve coordination between the two states in times of crisis and natural disaster, was to allow Samoa's Radio 2AP to operate in the territory of American Samoa. But the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has refused to grant a licence to 2AP. The Governor of American Samoa, Tauese Sunia, told an inter-goverment meeting that the FCC refused the licence because 2AP is a "foreign- owned radio station." Office space had already been reserved for 2AP in Tafuna, and Director Kika Stowers said that they were ready to move equipment in. Despite the setback, both countries remain committed to closer cooperation, and say that 2AP will continue to play a role in disaster awareness for both countries (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. Poya Day / Full Moon Day, all-night transmissions from SLBC on 4902, 1700-2330 consists of Buddhist chanting called ``Pirith``. It is chanted by a group of monks wearing saffron coloured robes and is nonstop. Every 30 or 45 minutes there will be a change in the group of monks and the changeover is rarely noticeable. It is about the highest form of Buddhist prayer. Pirith is chanted at any special ceremony, such as before moving into a new building, a house, starting a business or to celebrate an anniversary, not necessarily on full-moon days. Therefore you might hear it on the radio on non Poya-full-moon days as well. The next Poya days fall on 31 Oct, 30 Nov, and 30 Dec. SL`s religious composition is about 65% Buddhist, 16% Hindu, 9% Christian (8.5% Roman Catholic), 9% Moslem. English is compulsory in all schools as a national language while Sinhala and Tamil are official languages (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DXplorer, via Dec BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. So etwa 20-30 km nördlich von Bern gibt es an der Westseite der Autobahn ein Antennenkomplex, mit einigen Logperiodic Antennen. Empfangsanlage von Bern Radio. Mehr Infos: [very impressive websites, ed. WB] http://www.bernradio.ch/ http://www.bernradio.ch/English.htm http://www.bernradio.ch/bernradio/stations.htm (Aart Rouw, Germany, Rolf Wernli, Switzerland, A-DX Nov 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) From a letter of Berne Radio: DTS is our automated service for mobile stations to send and receive e- mail, FAX and Telex via HF. The subscriber uses a proprietary software on his PC which is also capable of remote-controlling his TRX. Such a setup scans our DTS channels and stops on our traffic lists (FEC), transmitted every second hour. The subscriber station recognises his callsign on the list and automatically establishes a link to us in order to fetch the messages. Subscribers can link with SITOR, PACTOR 2 and CLOVER 2000 as well (automatically recognised). All of our present customers use the PTC II Modem from SCS in Hanau. The messages are scrambled and can't be copied by a radio amateur with standard equipment.. The FEC traffic lists are plain and may be monitored. The DTS channels (in kHz): 3010 4763 5440.5 8070 11172 13990 18230 20090 25067 Traffic lists 0000 UTC on 4763 5440.5 8070 13990 0200 UTC on 4763 5440.5 8070 13990 0400 UTC on 4763 5440.5 8070 13990 0600 UTC on 4763 5440.5 8070 13990 0800 UTC on 5440.5 8070 11172 13990 1000 UTC on 5440.5 8070 11172 13990 1200 UTC on 5440.5 11172 18230 20090 1400 UTC on 5440.5 11172 13990 20090 1600 UTC on 5440.5 11172 13990 20090 1800 UTC on 5440.5 11172 13990 20090 2000 UTC on 5440.5 8070 13990 20090 2200 UTC on 5440.5 8070 13990 20090 For the DTS service, we have 4 Rohde & Schwarz 850 receivers, scanning two to three frequencies (we could go up to 4 frequencies per receiver without letting customers wait). The receiving antenna is a Telefunken Alraun omni. The 4 transmitters are all Marconi 10 kW with automatic power reduction (95% of traffic is worked with less than 1 kW), antennas are omni. A set of receivers and modems is controlled by a computer, also remote controlling the transmitter via leased line (receiving site is Bern, transmitting site is in Prangins). The 4 sets are working independently and exchange data via network with our server and a specialised site- control computer, administrating allowed callsigns and billing data. Every customer has a virtual FAX number (stored in the FAX/TELEX server), where you can send a FAX message to one of our mobile subscribers. Please note that we are the only HF station having an operator assisted radiotelephone service in addition. If a mobile subscriber is just interested in data over HF, he has at least the opportunity to call us via HF in case of trouble (medical assistance, emergency- and service- calls are free of charge). But most of our customers appreciate also our favourable pricing for phone calls via HF (mostly less than INMARSAT or GSM roaming tariff and always better audio quality). Our watch frequencies for ships are (as listed in the ITU list of coast stations): Channel Frequency pair 408 4378 4086 822 8782 8258 1230 13164 12317 1611 17272 16390 2232 22789 22093 Aircraft and land mobile stations should call on (kHz): 4654 6643 8936 10069 13205 18023 Watch is from 0500 to 2100 UT. For the "oldtimers" we still keep up the SITOR Autotelex, but on a reduced number of frequencies (please advise, if you need them). (Kind regards, Marianne Maeder, Bern R Accounting, Nov 25, BC-DX via DXLD) ** TANNU TUVA/RUSSIA. On December 6 at 0530 I noted Tyvinskoye Radio from Kyzyl on 6100. I don't know if Tyvinskoye Radio is back on SW or still on SW. It had been on SW from this year's April for several months and then I hadn't heard them until yesterday. Today I received the station again at the same time. Radio Rossii relay was at 0600. Another surprise was today at 0101 when I received Radio Rossii back on 4895 from Khanty-Mansiysk or T'umen'. Signal was poor as a background for AIR. I tried to hear the same relay on 4820 but it's difficult to do because of Xizang and AIR on the channel (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [and non]. Today I noted Tibet back on 6130 around 1400. Good signal and same program as 4905, 4920, 5240, 7385, 9490, but with a different delay. I also heard this program on 6050 in the background of a station that seemed to be Tibet in Chinese (same as 5935 but with a different delay). Many of the new Xinjiang outlets are quite irregular, especially mornings / evenings in the higher bands. When active, these transmitters are audible all day even on 41 mb due to the winter propagation (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Nov 27 via DXLD) Yesterday I noted Tibet reactivated on 6110. Currently Xinjiang seems to use the higher frequencies only during local daytime (Olle Alm, BC- DX Nov 29 via DXLD) These additional Chinese transmissions are becoming a nuisance, I think. The dragon has had its tail tweaked and is now spitting fire! I heard the 'new' Lhasa channel 6130 at very good strength yesterday, but could not fully translate what I was hearing on 6050 - thanks for the probable explanation, Olle. What a mess! I think they should move back to their old OOB channels between 6 and 7 MHz (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Nov 29 via DXLD) The Chinese speaking station now on 4820 is Tibet, synchro with 6050 and in \\ with a large delay on 5935. 4820 must have reappeared only within the last couple of days as I have regularly kept an ear on this former Tibetan channel (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Nov 30 via DXLD) Tibet's Chinese channel seems to have a feeder problem, as I have heard their Tibetan program in the background on both 4820 and 6050. The unID Tibetan language Chinese station on 3990 (also on 5969.6 and 7130) was heard s-on at 2300, but since it had some problems staying on the air, the nominal s-on may be earlier. The Lhasa station signed on at 2250 on 4905, 4920, 5240, 6110, 6130, 6200, 7385, 9490. Judging from the satellite usage, there are at least three groups (sites?): a) 6110, 6130; b) 4905, 7385; c) the rest. In addition there are relays from distant sites (Baoji, Xi'an). (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Dec 1 via DXLD) 4800 - a new CNR 1 transmitter located most probably in western part of China (Tibet, Xinjiang?) has the following schedule: *1300-1730*, *2000-2400*. 4820 - Xizang PBS, Lhasa (Tibet), Chinese service, starts now already at 2000 UT. The station closes down later as listed: at 1730 UT. Heard also on \\6050. CNR 1 was on both frequencies still at 2300, but at recheck at 2345 both were in \\ in Chinese, but they did not relay CNR 1 anymore ! No \\ program found (Karel Honzik, Czechia, hcdx Nov 30 via BC-DX via DXLD) The NDXC monitoring of the constantly changing CNR scene is found at the following URL: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis-Mars/6235/b01ch.transmittert (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX, Dec 1 via DXLD) [sic -- doesn`t work. Go to http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/ and click on CHN/TWN Frequency List] ** TURKEY. Estimado señor: La presente es para comunicarle que he recibido un e-mail de la Voz de Turquía comunicándome que a partir del 10 de diciembre de 2001 cambiarán la frecuencia de su única transmisión en español a las 1730 UT de los 11670 a los 11690 kHz debido a interferencias de la BBC. Dear Sir: This e-mail is to let you know that on December 10 the Voice of Turkey is changing the Spanish broadcast frequency at 1730 UT from 11670 to 11690 kHz because of interferences from the BBC. Atentamente. Sincerely yours. (Ramón Vázquez Dourado, España-Spain, Dec 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. MARCONI 100TH ANNIVERSARY **M** The 100th anniversary of the reception of the first trans-Atlantic radio signal by Guilermo [sic] Marconi at Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland, takes place on Wednesday the December 12th [sic]. In celebration, a number of United Kingdom special event stations will be active to commemorate the event. Most of the operations will take place on the 12th of December itself. Even Great Britain's Radiocommunications Agency is getting into the act. It will be operating GB100WT from its laboratory site at Whyteleafe, Surrey, during part of December including, they hope, the full 24 hours of the 12th of December. The Radiocommunications Agency expects to be operational on the High Frequency bands as well as 2 meters and 70 centimeters. The station will be operated by Radiocommunications Agency staff in addition to members of local radio clubs and will welcome QSOs with stations worldwide (RSGB via Amateur Radio Newsline Dec 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U K. CROWBOROUGH DIAMOND JUBILEE. My special exhibition will be staged from 1st May - 30th June at Ashdown Forest Centre, Wych Cross, Sussex. The exhibition will include photos of site plus photos of what's left of "Aspidistra", the secret war time transmitter plus copies of documents from war office and foreign office etc. Plus other items including its use by BBC External Services until 1982. Also during first weekend in June 2002, Crowborough amateur radio club will mount a 48 hour special event station from the site on all HF amateur bands plus 6 and 2 mbs. Regret no visits to station are permitted. This station is being mounted with full permission and support from Sussex Police who own the site. Your chance to tune in and QSL Crowborough despite the fact it closed in 1982!! Possible call sign GB0A. More details later (David Ansell in BDXC "Communication" magazine Dec via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Glen[n], Glad you asked. My friend Brother Stair has booked airtime seven days on 7415 from 1000 to 1600 UT to increase his listener base. [I had heard him after 1100, but not at 1400 recheck, unless faded out; next day, however, Dec 7, he was still audible at 1420, but losing out to stronger Chinese co-channel –gh] New program: Pocket Calculator on 7415, Saturdays 0200-0300 UT, program on technology of the 70's and 80's. New program: How To Ask For A Happy Life, Sunday 2130-2200 on 7415, program about what the title says. The Hour of the Time with William Cooper shall continue on WBCQ. We will be running repeats of some of his classic programs in the coming weeks. Mon-Thu 0200-0300 UT on 7415. [so days of week here are local] New religious programs on 9335: Full Gospel Hour, Saturdays 2100-2300 UT and Stand Therefore with Chris Blodget, Saturday 1200-1400 UT. Oldest running programs on WBCQ are Allan Weiner Worldwide, Fridays 0100-0200 UT, And Harry Shearer with Le Show, Sunday 0000-0100 UT, all on 7415. Listenership is up by 50% or more. Constant influx of new listeners every day. Grundig can't keep up with orders for shortwave radios!! This is no dying medium. By the way, ship project is still a go for this summer. A floating shipboard shortwave radio studio will hopefully bring more exciting programs on WBCQ to millions. Cheers, (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, First of all, I want to make clear that I am NOT Alan Maxwell, just a nobody who is helping him make a web presence! I am a big fan of yours; you contribute so much to the hobby. KIPM has a homepage: http://homepage.mac.com/KIPM And listeners should email: kipm_outerlimits@hotmail.com to contact Max. QSLs that are sent through the post to his PO drop box will get a full color QSL card (8.5 x 11 inches and awesome) and examples of these can be seen on the homepage. Listeners who would like to send email reception reports will get a e-QSL which is totally different and separate from the mailed items. Keep up the great work! (Acs, KIPM Outer Limits Homepage Web Guy, Dec 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Re unexplained delays in VOA, IBB program feeds: During the sightseeing tour to IBB-VOA-RFE-RL Munich Ismaning satellite feed control center in June 1999, were the different IBB programs are delivered to 600 [!] EUR/all AF/NE/ME/AS/PAC target stations -- even to FM and TV stations in deep African jungle --, via 19 different satellite dishes up to 13 meters in diameter. We learned that IBB use different path to the various AS/PAC transmitting sites via EUR to Asia, and the opposite path around via the PAC. The automated IBB net is highly sophisticated, and even the Tinian, Marianas station, downunder in the PAC, can be remote-controlled by the Munich control center. So, the signal may upload to Atlantic Ocean satellite, download to Munich, upload to Indian Ocean satellite, download to SLK, THA, PHL, or Tinian Marianas. And when MCB facilities are used in RUS/CIS, the signal is downloaded from Indian Ocean satellite to Moscow, and fed again into the Russian satellite circuits to reach Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, P-Kamchatskye, or ARM/TJK/KAZ etc. And on the Diesel generator power fed relay stations, common practice is, for lowering main power peaks, to delay the same program of same language when sent to a second or third transmitter at same site (Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 6, BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. Thursday December 6 8:19 PM ET. FEATURE- Firesign aims ``Weirdly Cool'' comedy at younger crowd --- By Kevin Krolicki LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The city at night: one man walks the dark streets alone -- alone except for the voice of an omniscient radio announcer and, oh yes, a talking dog programmed to turn on his master when he hears an Edgar Allan Poe parody. Elsewhere, harried computer jocks hurtle off the information superhighway, happy shoppers sign away their first-born babies for baubles, and an experimental cosmetic surgery begins to unravel as a breathless reporter rappels for position on the building outside to broadcast the play-by-play action. For fans of Firesign Theatre -- the four-man comedy collective that first erupted on Los Angeles radio 35 years ago -- the hard-boiled adventures of Nick Danger, Third Eye, represent a kind of familiarly surreal terrain. But for the larger audience of newcomers to the recorded humor of Peter Bergman, 62, Phil Proctor, 61, Phil Austin, 61, and David Ossman, 65, the effect can be a kind of audio vertigo. ``It's side-splittingly funny, deeply layered and at the same time subversive,'' says comedian John Goodman, a Firesign admirer, who pays tribute to the group in a one-hour PBS special with fellow fans George Carlin and Robin Williams. The special is airing at different times in different U.S. regions during December. Even after 20 albums, two Grammy nominations and a half lifetime of anarchic collaboration credited with reinventing recorded comedy, Firesign retains much of the underground status that made it a fringe favorite in the 1960s and 1970s. GRAB A YOUNGER AUDIENCE But with the television special, a monthly live show carried by XM Satellite Radio, and a compact disc, ``The Bride of Firesign,'' released in September, the self-described fighting clowns are looking to carry their high-octane humor to a younger audience. ``People like us or hate us and are going to be exposed to us now,'' says Bergman, whose counterculture radio show became the launch pad for Firesign in 1966 and who now produces a regular feature on public radio, ``True Confessions of the Real World.'' Die-hard fans don't have to worry about any easing up on the blistering wordplay, jarring non-sequiturs or refracted social commentary that were the signature of cult classics such as ``Don't Crush that Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers.'' ``It's like reading a book. If you don't enjoy reading, you won't like the Firesign Theatre,'' says Bergman. The puns -- like Nick Danger himself-- are still relentless, ruthless even. (''With Ruth gone, I have to answer my own phone,'' says the ruthless Sam Spade parody.) The cultural footnotes still fly past: Poet Robert Bly becomes a figure in a soulless corporate training tape and architect Frank Gehry deconstructs a building so badly that it ends up with chain-link steps. And commercial parodies pile up: U.S. Plus, an ominous mock sponsor, is back having discovered intellectual property: ``We Own the Idea You Thought was Yours.'' CLASSIC FIRESIGN BITS ``Weirdly Cool,'' the PBS special, features a reprise of some classic Firesign bits, including an ad the group produced for a Los Angeles Volkswagen dealership in 1969 that keeps looping back to the number five instead of the sales desk's phone number. The TV spots went on to a kind of fame as hotly sought arcana on the Internet, while the dealership folded when its license was revoked by Volkswagen, which didn't like the ads, Bergman said. ``It was just so dense. That influenced me,'' says Williams of the Firesign comedy. Other unexpected Fireheads, include political foes former Vice President Al Gore and conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh -- both of whom came of age when the group's psychedelic-era classics were being debated in college literature classes. Proctor, an actor who also lends his voice to Howard in the ''Rugrats'' cartoon, says he believes a new generation of restless young is ready for Firesign, having tired of gross-out gags. ``I think that we're actually at a time in history where we have a generation that is a very smart generation of kids,'' he says. ``We want to see if there is a new audience that will respond to our kind of humor.'' Reuters/Variety (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. From the Chicago Tribune IN BRIEF Live from Met --- John von Rhein, December 7, 2001 The 62nd season of live radio broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg." The broadcast will be heard locally over WFMT-FM 98.7. James Levine conducts, with Karita Mattila as Eva, Ben Heppner as Walther, James Morris as Hans Sachs and Thomas Allen as Beckmesser. Copyright © 2001, Chicago Tribune (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Normal start time is 1830 UT, but Wagner requires much earlier, 1700 this first week, evidently (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. SPECTRUM USE: FCC OPENS UP MORE SPECTRUM TO COMMERCIAL USERS The government has moved to eliminate a cap on how much spectrum any one wireless company can own in a given market. The decision opens the way for mergers between major carriers and allows them to provide more mobile services such as high-speed Internet access. The Federal Communications Commission had previously limited the amount of spectrum that an operator could own in a particular geographic area, in an effort to prevent a single giant company from squelching competition in that market. But in a recent 3 to 1 vote, the agency decided to immediately raise the amount of bandspace a company can own from 45 MHz to 55 MHz. This is an increase of more than 20 percent. The FCC plans to completely eliminate the limit in January 2003 (FCC via Amateur Radio Newsline Dec 7 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. Here's the results of the most recent DX test that have been received here: WPRI268-1620, Leominster, MA - tested Sunday, December 2, 2001 at 12:00-1:00 am EST: This test was heard in a very limited area, but it DID run. It was heard by Barry Mclarnon (VE3JF) in Ottawa, ON way under WDND-IN and WTAW-TX and by Steve Howe in St. Albans, VT with WDND and WTAW partially nulled. Bruce Conti in Nashua, NH also reports hearing WDND and WTAW as well, and says he has received WPRI268 better in the past. Ron Musco in Poquonock, CT says he heard the station weakly as well as a NOAA broadcast and an ESPN Radio program that he assumes was WDND. In Clinton, ON, Jeff Falconer heard WPRI268 tentatively with sweep tones and Morse code. Rick Kenneally in Wilton, CT (SW CT) reports something similar, as well as WDND, WTAW, and a NYC TIS. However, Mike Battaglino in Madison, NJ (N NJ) was unable to hear this test, as were Mark Connelly in Billerica, MA, Steve Francis in Alcoa, TN, Blaine Thompson in Ft. Wayne, IN, Neil Kazaross in Barrington, IL, myself in Lafayette, LA, Rich Line and others on a DXpedition for MARE, Mike Brooker in Toronto, ON, Frank Aden in Boise, ID, Kevin Redding in Mesa, AZ, and R.C. Watts in Louisville, KY (Lynn Hollerman, LA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Me too, unable to hear! (gh, Enid OK) ** U S A. 1710, Lubavitcher Radio: I asked a friend of mine to listen to this on his drive home from New Brunswick, NJ to Cedarhurst, Long Island. He drives the Belt Parkway right through Brooklyn and Queens and understands Yiddish. Here's his report (Dave Hochfelder, NRC-AM via DXLD) I'll continue to monitor, but here's a brief report (I'm in a rush right now): Definitely a Lubavitch station at 1710. Could hear it along the Belt Parkway yesterday between 4 and 5 pm and this morning [Dec 7] between 6 and 6:30 am, so probably 24 hrs (except on the Sabbath). Programming was Chasidic Jewish music plus prerecorded religious sermons. Did not come in clear anywhere, but was clearest atop Mill Basin Draw Bridge at southern border of Brooklyn and Queens. Could be heard faintly in Far Rockaway, Queens, but not at all in Elmont, Queens. This suggests it is in southeast Brooklyn or southwest Queens. Occam's Razor recommends assuming it's in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the international Lubavitch HQ, but of course the Lubavitch are all over Queens and Brooklyn. Only heard an announcer at one point when reception was not too hot. Thought I heard him say (in Yiddish) "This is something-something- something-lamed-vav." Lamed-vav can mean "LV" or "35". I'll continue to try to check in on it from time to time to see if I can hear more info. Hope this helps. ************************************************************ Michael N. Geselowitz, Ph.D., Director IEEE History Center, Rutgers University (College Avenue Campus) New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8538, USA http://www.ieee.org/history_center/ (via Hochfelder, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent B-01 in English: 0100-0130 As 5955 5975 7215 1200-1230 As 5955 5975 6025 9715 1330-1400 As 5955 5975 6025 9715 2030-2100 Eu 5025 11905 2130-2200 Eu 5025 11905 The transmitters on both 5035 and 5060 are not in use any more (Karel Honzik, Czech Republic, HCDX via BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ###