DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-200, December 19, 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 #1110 [available early UT December 20]: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1110.ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1110.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1110.html FIRST AIRINGS on WBCQ: UT Thursday 0030 and 0600 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS on WWCR: Thursday 2130 on 15685, Fri 1030 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Friday 1930, Saturday 0130, 0730, 1330 on some of: 7445-USB/AM, 15040, 21815-USB UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Glenn, Many thanks for your excellent bulletins- always fascinating and useful. I do give DXLD regular plugs in my Radio-related websites column for UK Communications glossy magazine 'Radio Active' (ironically it's lacking a website itself since being taken over by PW publishers- Short Wave Magazine & Practical wireless) Seasons greetings to you and yours from Hale, Cheshire UK (Chris Brand, Dec 19) ** AFGHANISTAN. Afghanistan/Europe: Plans to set up public service radio station | Text of press release by the Denmark-based Baltic Media Centre dated 19 December Baltic Media Centre (BMC) are about to start the first phase of a large media project in Afghanistan for the European Commission in order to establish an independent public service radio broadcaster in the country. BMC's chief consultant Waseem Mahmood and head of training Charles Fletcher will be going to Islamabad in Pakistan on 2 January 2002 and afterwards continue to Kabul in Afghanistan. The immediate aim of the travel is to establish an agreement with Radio Kabul and a number of local journalists on creating a public service programme which editorially will be independent from the many contesting parties in Afghanistan. The aim of the radio itself is to contribute to a democratic, peaceful and stable development of the country. The radio programme will initially broadcast practical information on different subjects such as the development in the country, the political negotiations, how to obtain humanitarian aid, the refugee situation and not the least help pave the way for creating a dialogue with the people of Afghanistan. The objective of the project is further to train local journalists in how to produce balanced and professional radio which in a longer perspective will enable them to become important participants in a democratic and pluralistic media landscape. EU has donated 234,759 euros for the project. After the first three months the intention with the project also is to seek to establish a cooperation between Afghan radios from different parts of the country, which also means different ethnic and political radios. These radios will then in turn form the core for the creation of a national public service radio broadcaster. Hence the project in its second phase - and in cooperation with the media, media NGOs and politicians - will become an important factor for the democratic and political development of Afghanistan. Based on its extensive experience from media projects in south-east Europe, the Baltics and Asia, focusing on democracy and stability development, BMC approached EU's Rapid Reaction Mechanism for support for this project, which is expected to have a vast influence upon the future development of the society of Afghanistan. Three weeks ago BMC - in cooperation with Article 19 and the Danish IMS organization - were on a fact-finding mission to Pakistan in order to establish the immediate needs and possibilities for forming an Afghan radio which was supposed to broadcast information on the emergency aid and refugee situation in the country. However, due to the rapid development of the war in Afghanistan, it was decided to move ahead to initiate the long-term effort of the project in order to promote democracy, peace and stability in the country from day one. [International Media Support (IMS) is a Danish organization offering rapid response to media in crisis situations. It is partly financed by DANIDA and the Danish Foreign Ministry's programme for peace and stability (FRESTA).] Project Manager is BMC's chief consultant Waseem Mahmood, who can be contacted on phone +45 2160 8516. BMC's Director, Bent Norby Bonde, can be reached on phone: +45 4025 3300 or +45 7020 2002. More information can also be found on the BMC web-page: www.bmc.dk BMC, Skippergade 8 DK-3740 Svaneke - Denmark Tel: +45 7020 2002 - Mobil: +45 2020 0803 E-mail: kimcaspersen@bmc.dk Homepage: http://www.bmc.dk Source: Baltic Media Centre press release, Svaneke (Denmark), in English 19 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. New Dutch-based Communication Initiative for Afghanistan -- 18 December 2001 Radio Reed Flute http://www.xs4all.nl/~jo/ is the name of a new communication initiative for Afghanistan that has been launched in The Netherlands. The purpose of the initiative is "to use Internet and radio to enable Afghans in Afghanistan and in the Diaspora to communicate and create a civil society network aimed at rehabilitating and reconstructing Afghanistan." Jo van der Spek and Chris Swart have been working on various similar projects in Amsterdam, Hungary, Kosovo, Lesotho, South Africa and Romania. Qader Shafiq, a community worker and writer from Kabul and living in Nijmegen, is playing a key role in the project. He's busy finding contributors in The Netherlands and Germany. Nasir Rahim, also from Kabul, produces a local radio and TV programme (RTV Asmai) for Afghans in Amsterdam. The editors and contributors are mostly Afghans who live and work in The Netherlands and share an urge to do something for their country's people. Zubair Faisal Abbasi, a development consultant and journalist based in Islamabad, Pakistan, is carrying out fact-finding and liaison. His presentation of the concept received serious interest from the Afghan Women's Council, and also from Radio Pakistan, which expressed its willingness to provide technical facilities for Radio Reed Flute. A community radio station is being set up to cover the area around Peshawar up to Jalalabad and Kabul. This project is supported by a German donor, FeST. Radio Reed Flute intends to set up various Internet nodes to produce and distribute radio programming. Internet makes it possible to collect programme material relatively cheaply. Furthermore, other products can be developed using the same technical facilities: Web sites, mailing lists, Audio CD production, publishing, etc. The content would be produced by local editorial teams. Some four or five prototype nodes are now being developed in several places in The Netherlands. Each node has Internet connectivity, (some broadband), a CD writer (for audio CD's and CD-ROMs) and a printer. The Internet connections support streaming, allowing the sending and receiving of audio/radio on a peer to peer basis, as well as serving up to 900 listeners online. The intention is that audio can be picked up from the Web site and rebroadcast on terrestrial frequencies around the globe (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. There were a number of messages with Voice of Armenia schedules. I regularly hear the station on 4810 at around 12-15 UT with heavy interference from CRI on 4815 (Vladimir Kovalenko (Tomsk, Russia) ** CANADA. The politicians strike back... (Ironic, because the politicians don't fund the CBC properly anyway.) (Ricky Leong, Dec 18) ========== from http://www.cbucc.org/strike/news/cep1312.htm Political support grows for locked-out CBC workers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2001 OTTAWA - Canada's public broadcaster is experiencing a complete lack of credibility from political parties thanks to its vindictive attempts to break the union by locking out its workers, says Brian Payne, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. The union representing 1,600 locked out technical, design and maintenance staff at the CBC has learned that no federal political party will grant any audio or video interviews to CBC Radio or to CBC Television as a result of the labour dispute. In the wake of news reports that the Yukon Premier's office has urged public service employees not to inform the CBC of news conferences, CEP canvassed other political parties for their views. Finance Minister Paul Martin's office told CEP "that within 30 seconds of hearing of the labour problems at CBC, Martin, and his staff made a decision that they would honour CEP's picket line and would not do on-camera interviews." Martin's office said "that Mr. Martin will continue to not respond to any of CBC's requests for on-camera interviews". A media spokesperson for Stockwell Day, leader of the Alliance Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, told CEP "that the party does not want Alliance members to give any interviews to CBC." A media spokesperson for Joe Clark, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada told CEP that "the federal PC party will not respond to any of CBC's requests. That includes any form of interview on radio or television." A press spokesperson for Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Québécois Leader, says "the Bloc was very aware from the beginning of what CBC had done to its workers. We immediately took the position to not grant any form of interviews to Radio Canada. And that includes any form of electronic interviews". And of course, Alexa McDonough, leader of the New Democratic Party, has made it clear from the beginning that "the NDP would not respond to any of CBC's requests for interviews." At a rally on Parliament Hill, Dec. 12, the CEP president told a crowd of locked-out workers that "It's not only public broadcasting that's at stake here, it's the right of any Canadian worker to sit down with their employer and negotiate a collective agreement. "Parliament must realize that CBC is creating a dangerous precedent by imposing a collective agreement on its employees. "It's a tactic used by the worst of private sector employers", says Payne. MORE INFORMATION - BRIAN PAYNE, CEP PRESIDENT (613) 230-5200, ext. 266 OR MICHELLE WALSH, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, (613) 230-5200, EXT. 232 (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) Some snarky comments... And yes, a mention of Sackville somewhere down there: (Ricky, Dec 18) ========== from http://www.cbucc.org/barg01/bc55.htm Bargaining Communiqué # 55 December 16, 2001 Last Week's Activities Dear Members, Your negotiating committee has discussed the situation in caucus on Friday, and has explored options for dealing with the outstanding issues, when CBC finally indicates a willingness to compromise. Meanwhile the membership remains solid, and have had various successful events on picket lines across the nation. In Vancouver, the picket line was withdrawn briefly after a private radio talk show host, upset over cancellation of last weekend's Canucks game, mentioned guns to heads, CBC and the strike in the same sentence. When his meaning was cleared up (CBC would hold a gun to anyone's head to get the Toronto game on, not so Vancouver) the pickets returned. In Whitehorse, there is good CMG support, and support from federal and territorial politicians. In Yellowknife, extreme cold has meant no pickets, but two security goons remain in a running vehicle night and day outside the building. In Central BC, mountains of snow blankets most transmitter sites. In Edmonton, roving pickets have kept CBC off guard. Calgary has had a solid picket line, and as time wears on not as many guards are visible. Saskatoon has a nervous manager being shown which end of a video camera to point, and Purolator and Canada Post refuse to deliver. Regina has had food bank drop-off on the picket line, and radio announcers on both French and English are telling the public about it. One guard had to be taken away with frozen toes (they should get a union and better boots), and Pat O'Brien (regional manager) was fined $100 by the fire department for boarding up a fire door. Winnipeg has food bank boxes on the line. The lone RATT in Thompson kept CBC off the air there, and the nurses Union has sent solidarity picketers over to help Saint John, NB, has had a quiet time with all 5 members picketing. Fredericton has begun picketing the legislature, and is getting help from other unions. In Halifax the police discovered that the goons had no provincial licence, and will have to be hired by a local licenced firm. Maritime Tel and contractors refused to cross picket lines. Sackville has had a fairly quiet time, and several retirees have joined their picket line. Charlottetown had an incident with a newspaper deliverer, who was later asked by his bosses not to deliver to CBC anymore. Sydney CBC cancelled the open house, and there was also support from a first nations group who refused to appear on CBC radio. Goose Bay's manager had started to sleep in, so the pickets made sure they were there early so he had to come in to the station each morning early. Corner Brook continues to be quiet. St. John's had an interesting time of the Marconi broadcast. CBC stole the feed, after the premier of the province asked CBC not to use it. LPI goons will be charged with watching and besetting, after they spent the day overtly following local CEP officers. Pickets were set up at the house of assembly to keep CMG out. Windsor has been building their shelter. They are asking Guild members to bring two by fours rather than coffee. A laid off member who subsequently had a heart attack has been helping with picketing. Ottawa had major success keeping CBC's budget coverage less than stellar. Many thanks to STARF techs who refused to help CBC get material on the air. They will be leafleting the Corel Centre this weekend, though not stopping anyone going in. They also had a rally on Parliament Hill and had good support from the NDP caucus. They have heard that Guild members have been told directly from Rabinovitch's office that they are no longer to apologize for technical difficulties due to the lockout. A fundraiser for Share Central has been cancelled despite offers from the Ottawa local to let it continue. In Toronto, a Pancake Breakfast was hosted by the Ontario NDP, with leader Howard Hampton helping out. A 'friend' donated hockey tickets to next Tuesday's game, which were raffled off and the proceeds given to the Food Bank. CMG has been collecting money for the picketers at each entrance to the building, and as much as $6,000 has been collected so far. We will continue to keep you posted. Mike Sullivan, National Representative, CEP On behalf of your Negotiating Committee, Rick Warren -Vancouver, John Seccareccia and Anton Szabo -Toronto, Chris Turner - Fredericton, Blayne Paige - Ottawa and Len Deiter - CEP National Representative (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. National radio to resume shortwave broadcasts | Text of report by Congolese TV from Kinshasa on 17 December Very soon, the national radio will once again broadcast on shortwave to enable the entire DRCongo and the rest of the world to follow the news and programmes offered by the public media, of course, from Kinshasa. The minister of communication and press, Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi, made this known at the end of a visit of the Congolese National Radio and Television studios. Our correspondent reports. [Unidentified correspondent] Communication Minister Kikaya Bin Karubi, who discussed with the acting general manager of the RTNC, [name indistinct], the technical problems that cause the transmission quality to be poor, announced some good measures that will take effect starting from next week. [Karubi] I am here to assess the state of the studios because we are ready to achieve the goal that we had set, which was to cover the entire country as far as radio and television are concerned. What does it mean? As we are speaking, we have technicians in Moyabi, Gabon, working in partnership with Africa No. 1, which has powerful transmitters. This partnership should enable us to cover the entire DRCongo, and why not, the entire Africa. Some frequencies are reserved for us, and we are going to use them starting from now in order to see how we can improve the audio coming from this Kinshasa studio. This should enable us to cover the entire territory. This is the beginning. This is not the end, rather, a promising beginning. As the head of state keeps saying, we must be able to speak to all Congolese at the same time. This is why we are putting emphasis on radio broadcasting because the only and best way to reach the people wherever they are [Karubi pauses] I think I can say without making a mistake that in every family in [DR]Congo and in every village, there is at least one radio set. [Unidentified correspondent] Do you think you will achieve your plan by 1 January? [Karubi] I am hoping to achieve that by the end of this week. Source: RTNC TV, Kinshasa, in French 1900 gmt 17 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. REGULACIONES ADUANERAS DE CUBA CON RELACION A MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIONES. Está prohibida la entrada de videocaseteras que importen los viajeros que lleguen al país procedentes de los Estados Unidos de América, directamente de ese país o a través de terceros. [VCR] Los viajeros necesitarán de autorización expresa del Ministerio de Comunicaciones para la importación de equipos y medios de comunicaciones: equipos transmisores de radio y transceptores, terminales de facsímil, pizarras y equipos telefónicos, centrales y equipos telegráficos y de telex, receptores de radio y TV profesionales que difieran de los domésticos, receptores del sistema de posicionamiento (GPS), antenas y estaciones receptoras de satélites, estaciones terrenas de comunicaciones por satélite. Cuando alguno de estos equipos formen parte del equipaje personal de un viajero, sea este acompañado o no, y no se disponga en el momento del despacho de la referida autorización, los mismos quedarán retenidos en la aduana de entrada por un período de hasta 30 días, prorrogable por solicitud expresa a 30 días más. Transcurrido este término sin haberse presentado la autorización correspondiente, los equipos serán declarados en abandono legal. Cordiales 73's (Oscar, FL, DXLD) LA IMPORTANCIA DE RADIO MARTI PARA LOS CUBANOS Ernesto Díaz Rodríguez Para mi no es posible valorar la importancia de Radio Martí sin señalar el impacto que el inicio de esas transmisiones tuvo para los que padecíamos encierro y aislamiento por defender los ideales de libertad y justicia, de los cuales disfruta el pueblo de los Estados Unidos de América, donde la democracia tiene sus más sólidas raíces. Me encontraba entonces confinado en la Prisión de Boniato, junto a otros presos políticos "plantados", padeciendo de las más rigurosas condiciones de vida. A partir de ese instante, 20 de mayo de 1985, gracias a un pequeño radio que afortunadamente habíamos logrado mantener en forma clandestina, cada día recibíamos con entusiasmo esa voz de esperanza que nos llegaba en las ondas de Radio Martí. Por primera vez en muchos años, los presos políticos cubanos disfrutábamos de un medio adecuado de información, y lo que es aún más importante, por primera vez le llegaba al pueblo de Cuba, a través de esas noticias, un rayo de luz y transparencia. Quien conozca el sistema brutal de desinformación que ejerce a través de todos los medios de comunicación el gobierno de Cuba, podrá valorar cuánto necesitamos los cubanos de Radio Martí (y también , por supuesto, de TV Martí). No es por casualidad, sino por una realidad bién palpable y justificada, que desde el inicio de sus transmisiones Radio Martí se haya convertido en la emisora más popular que en toda su historia ha disfrutado nuestro país y el hecho de que TV Martí aún no lo ha conseguido; eso sólo se debe a la efectiva interferencia del gobierno cubano. Considero importante destacar la evolución casi constante en el incremento de la calidad, tanto informativa como recreativa, que z través de los años ha venido llevando a cabo Radio Martí. En la actualidad hay diversos programas que imprimen a la emisora un nuevo dinamismo. Como es breve el espacio de que disponemos para dar a conocer nuestros criterios y recomendaciones, no trataré de enumerarlos. Con Radio Martí los obreros de todas las ramas, los trabajadores del mar y los campesinos, reciben una información objetiva de lo que cada día ocurre en nuestro país sobre el desarrollo del movimiento sindical independiente. A través del programa "El Presidio Político en Cuba " por primera vez el pueblo ha podido conocer en detalles la tortura, el sufrimiento y la desolación que han padecido bajo el gobierno de Fidel Castro los prisioneros políticos cubanos, y al mismo tiempo se ha podido conocer el ejemplar grado de dignidad y estoicismo de esos hombres y mujeres que han padecido o padecen encierro por defender en nuestro país los principios democráticos de libertad y justicia. Mi felicitación más sincera al colectivo de Radio Martí, no sólo por estos logros significativos, sino además por su empeño en posibilitar que en Radio Martí todo cubano tenga un espacio para exponer sus inquietudes y hacer llegar libremente sus opiniones y mensajes al pueblo de Cuba. Radio Martí en mi concepto, es un vehículo formidable para estimular a ese pueblo infeliz, pero valiente, que durante más de tres décadas ha tenido que sufrir todo tipo de humillaciones y miserias bajo la dictadura castrista. Es también de importancia vital para acelerar el tránsito pacífico hacia esa libertad que tanto añoramos y necesitamos. Considero, por último, que debe trabajarse incansablemente a fin de mantener la calidad de las transmisiones. También, porque considero que ése es el sentir y la voluntad del pueblo de Cuba, apoyo que se utilicen técnicas más adecuadas que permitan a TV Martí romper la actual interferencia del régimen. Un país poderoso en tecnología como los Estados Unidos y con nuestra voluntad y la firme decisión de su gobierno sabemos que pudiera hacer esto posible. Radio Martí y TV Martí reflejan el espíritu de José Martí, el gran líder de la independencia de Cuba, al que deben su nombre las dos estaciones. Del ideario martiano es el pensamiento: Los hombres se dividen entre aquellos que aman y construyen, y aquellos que odian y destruyen". (Ernesto Díaz fue durante 23 años prisionero político en Cuba. Desde su liberación en 1991, ha estado trabajando desde el exilio en apoyo de los grupos sindicales independientes en Cuba.) Cordiales 73's (Oscar, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. ESTIMADO AMIGO: Le estoy remitiendo la presente página que es posible le sea de utilidad. http://www.tvmambi.com Cordiales 73's (Oscar de Céspedes, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Extremely anti-Castro site with lots of video, links; alleges Castro in league with Iran to bring down the USA, etc. (gh, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Copyright (c) 2001 Radio Prague (Vysilani do zahranici CRo) News DECEMBER 19th, 2001 By: Daniela Lazarova RFE/RL may have to move out of city centre ------------------------------------------ The National Security Council has advised the Czech government to start talks with Radio Free Europe on moving the station to a safer location. The Prime Minister Milos Zeman told reporters on Tuesday that the matter should be resolved as soon as possible "in the interest of Prague citizens". The defense ministry has allegedly proposed five alternative buildings located away from the city centre. RFE spokeswoman Sonia Winter said the station had no plans to move but would consider any government proposals. The glass-plated RFE/RL building at the top end of Wenceslas Square is considered a major security risk and since the September 11th terrorist attacks it has been surrounded by armored vehicles, soldiers and police. The security measures have disrupted traffic along a nearby highway. (via Chris Brand, Hale, Cheshire, U.K, British DX Club http://www.bdxc.org.uk and IT Perspectives Ltd http://www.it-p.co.uk Dec 19, DXLD) Czech chiefs back plan to move US radio from Prague centre over security fears | Text of report by Czech Radio on 18 December [Announcer] Radio Free Europe is expected to move from the centre of Prague to a safer location in the very near future. The National Security Council recommended today that the government start seriously considering moving the radio station. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Kavan, five buildings located in the outskirts of Prague are currently under consideration. [Moving RFE to one of these locations] is expected to reduce the risks that Prague citizens would face in the event of a possible terrorist attack. Kavan said he did not expect any serious problems to hamper [the Czech Republic's] negotiations with the US side: [Kavan] I have nothing to add as regards this matter because I believe that our negotiations will reflect the fact that today's statement does not differ to a great extent from those issued in the past; it is only firmer and more precise. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been asked to conduct these political negotiations with the US side. Naturally, we will successfully carry out this task. [Reporter] Speaker [and Chairman of the main opposition Civic Democratic Party - ODS] Vaclav Klaus and the Senate [upper house of parliament] chief, Petr Pithart, support the decision to move RFE from the centre of Prague. Source: Czech Radio1 - Radiozurnal, Prague, in Czech 1300 gmt 18 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. R. Pueblo, 5009.78, Dec 15 0045-0234*: classical and religious music, Spanish and phone talk, IDs, s/off with NA. Strong but slight distortion; tnx to WOR tip. Also next night to 0247* (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 3280, 3 Dec, 0700, unID SS with programme from R. María Ecuador - most likely LV de Napo with night broadcast - incredibly strong, QSA3 - from 0700 until 0830. Something for BM - exciting. Another SS station can be heard now and then around 0730 (Tore B. Vik, Norway, SW Bulletin Dec 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) HI GLENN, LA VOZ DEL NAPO 3279,57 kHz seems it has been bought by RADIO MARIA ECUADOR. WEB: http://www.radiomariaecuador.org e-mail for reports: comentarios@radiomariaecuador.org THE REAL AUDIO THEY OFFER IS NOT LIVE, JUST THE SS ROSARIO IN SPANISH...... Reported by Gert Nilsson in SWEDEN at 0800 on 17 December. (from Hard-Core-DX-list) 73's (Dario Monferini, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Remember it`s HCJB's 70th birthday of their first day on air on 25th December 1931. Far as I know Special QSL for Xmas day broadcast for 70th anniversary. Happy birthday HCJB; been tuned in myself since 1983 (Many years on the SW bands From SE England, Karl Kruger 73's :-{)} GRDXC via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. Advice from Transmission Management, Deutsche Welle, is that effective Dec-20, the evening English broadcast to Australia/NZ/Asia 0900-0945 is to use the new frequency of 9510, from the Antigua site. This will replace 6160. Other freqs for this service in parallel are 7300 (Irkutsk), 17820 and 17845 (Trincomalee). (Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia, EDXP Dec 19 via DXLD) This service is also well-heard in NAm for those awake, so N.B. (gh, DXLD) ** HONDURAS. R. Litoral, 4830.06, Dec 16 0355-0457*: Tune-in to Xmas music, religious music, short English religious messages, IDs, canned Spanish announcements. 0428-0453 English religious program ``Searchlight``. 0456 s/off English announcements with address and phone number. Good; on later than listed 0400 s/off (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DGIEST) ** INDIA. 9545 A.I.R. Khampur per ILG 0107-0122 17 Dec, Urdu Sub-cont. music - alternating choruses, sitar(?). Lady: ID(?) 0118. Clear channel SINPO 34433 (Bill Flynn, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA [non]. Congratulations to the Indian Ham Dr. Bhaskar Balakrishnan, VU2QV who is taking charge as the Ambassador of Cuba on December 23, 2001! During his earlier assignments abroad he used to operate Ham Radio from Zambia as 9J2QV etc. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Dec 18, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA? This morning (December 19) at 0032 I received quite good signal on 4760 which usually belongs to AIR Port Blair. Then I found spur on 4765. At 0037 original signal moved to 4755 (with more interference from Qinghai on 4750) and I found more spurs. All ones were 4745, 4750, 4760 and 4765. By 0047 main frequency had drifted to 4753 and then to 4752, 4751, 4748, 4746 and finally to 4743 at 0140 when I finished monitoring. Spurs also drifted but only plus/minus 5 kHz ones were audible. I didn't hear any ID because couldn't spend all the time for 4760 staying on strange transmission of Radio Pakistan (q.v.). (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Dec 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Don`t forget AIR Leh also on 4760; if Port Blair, we would normally file this under ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS (gh, DXLD) ** MICRONESIA. 1503, V6AJ sent friendly letter in one month for taped report with $1 for RP. Confirmed power as 1 kw. Signed by Keitson Jonas, Voice of Kosrae, P.O. Box 147, Tofol, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia 96944. MW Country #46. (Bruce Portzer, WA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** NORFOLK ISLAND. Norfolk Language Faces Challenge -- 14 December 2001 The unique language spoken in the Australian territory of Norfolk Island is up against its toughest challenge - standard English. The Norfolk-Pitcairn language is a hybrid of 18th century English and Tahitian, and was brought to the island by the Bounty mutineers. But with more of their descendants marrying non-islanders, and having a small population to start with, Norfolk Island is facing a challenge to retain its special heritage. This week's edition of Pacific Beat Focus on Society on Radio Australia comes from Norfolk Island, and there's a rare opportunity to hear samples of the spoken language. The programme's available online in streaming Windows Media format: http://abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/focus/m331385.asx The Web site of Norfolk Island Radio - 2NI, http://users/nf/nfradio/ is only in English. But you can see and hear some examples of Norfolk words and phrases on this page (© Radio Netherlands Media Network via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Today (December 19) at 0042 Radio Pakistan Islamabad program (later I heard the same program on 7100) appeared on 4770 instead of 4790. There were serious transmitter problems because signal disappeared continuously. Then at 0115 signal moved to 4772. Then disappeared again and appeared on 4780 and finally on 4788 where stayed for about 20 minutes. At 0142 I noted final change of frequency to 4789 (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Radio San Antonio, Atalaya, Perú, 4940, answered an e-mail report after exactly one day! The director of the station is Gerardo Zerdin zerdin@terra.com.pe Sr. Zerdin is a Catholic priest and comes from Croatia. He expresses his surprise that many people in the world can read and write the Spanish language. Obviously he has got some reports recently written in good Castellano. He promises to send to me a "certificado de recepción" in the next days via the normal postal way. However he points out that the postal services wouldn't run very well there, because there are a few roads only. The only way of transport would be the Ucayali river and sometimes an airplane is landing in Atalaya. Well, we will see, if the Rio Ucayali can carry a QSL, too. In any case I was very pleased to get once again a message (even if only an electronic one) from this exotic corner of the world. Bye (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, Dec 19, Hard-Core-DX mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. R. Unión, 6296, Dec 15 0810 usual distorted, wobbly signal, with Spanish talk, OA folk music, YL announcer (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Re. Johan Berglund's info about Mix-Master on 4940 with strange program in Yakutian on Sunday. It seems to me he heard Voice of Russia in Dari which uses 4940 in parallel to 4965 and 4975 from 1300 to 1500. I never heard non commercial and non Russian programs at Mix- Master. Sorry, I didn't mention DW frequency (DXLD 1-199). It's 9940. (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. VOICE OF RUSSIA B-01 October 28, 2001-March 2, 2002 / Updated on Dec.16: 0000-0100 Portuguese 9965 9810 9480 7570 7440 7410 7390 7350 7310 0100-0200 Spanish 9965 9860 9810 9480 7570 7440 7410 7390 7350 7310 7180 7125 0200-0300 English 13665 12020 9765^ 7335 7250 7180 Russian 17665 17595 17565 15595 12010 9810 9480 9385 7260 7240 7125 1323 1215 648 Spanish 9965 9945 9860 7570 7440 7410 7390 7350 7310 0300-0400 English 13665 12020 7335 7250 7180 Russian 17665 17595 17565 15595 12010 9810 9480 9385 7350 7260 7240 7125 1215 0400-0500 English 17595 15595 13665 12020 12010 7330 7180 7125 1548 693 0500-0600 English 17595 15595 12020 12010 7330 7180 7125 1548 693 0600-0700 English 21790 21485 17665 17655 15470 15275 12010 11770 1323 693 0700-0800 English 21790 21485 17665 17655 15470 15275 12010 11820 11770 1323 693 0800-0900 English 21810 21485 17665 17655 17525 17495 15470 15275 12010 11820 11770 1323 1251 693 0900-1000 English 21810 21485 17665 17525 17495 15470 15275 11820 11770 1323 1251 693 1000-1100 German 15540 12010 1386 1323 1215 693 Korean 11695 9450 7490U 7390 7355 7305 4010 1251 648 1100-1200 Chinese 9450 7490U 7390 7355 7340 7305 6170 6145 5940 4010 1251 801 648 585 1100-1300 German 1386 1323 1215 693 1200-1300 Chinese 9470 7340 7305 6145 5940 1251 1080 801 585 Japanese 7490U 7155 6170 5930 720 630 Korean 9450 7355 4010 648 Urdu 15490 12055 12025 11500 7350 972 Vietnamese 15470 6205 603 1300-1400 Chinese 9470 7340 4010 1251 585 Hindi 12055 12025 11500 7350 1269 Japanese 7355 6170 5930 720 630 Mongolian 15550 7305 5940 4850 1080 801 209 Russian 15470 15460 12015 9490 9450 7170 7155 7105 6185 6145 1323 1269 1251 1215 1143 999 693 648 1300-1500 Pashto/Dari 15535 11655 5995 4975 4965 4940 972 648 1400-1500 Chinese 9470 7340 6145 4010 1251 1080 801 585 Russian 15470 15460 12015 9490 9450 7315 7155 6205 5930 1323 1269 1251 1215 Russian 7105 6185 6045 1314 1278 1143 999 "Commonwealth" Urdu 12055 12025 11500 7350 7305 1500-1530 English 11500 7350 7315 7260 6205 1386 1323 1215 1143 693 Hindi 12055 12025 9900 7305 972 1500-1600 Russian 7445 7170 6185 6045 5995 1278 1143 999 "Commonwealth" Turkish 9830 9470 6005 1170 1500-1700 Persian 9840 9360 7155 5925 648 1530-1600 Bengali 12055 12025 9900 7305 1530-1600 English 11500 7350 7315 7260 6205 1386 1323 1215 1143 972 693 1600-1630 Albanian 9450 7370 7340 5920 1600-1700 English 9830 7305 7260 6005 4975 4965 4940 1494 1251 972 German 7390 7380 7300 7290 7125 6145 1386 1323 1215 693 Russian 12030 7315 5890 1323 1314 1170 612 603 Russian 12015 9470 7445 7440 7170 6185 1278 1143 "Commonwealth" 1630-1800 Serbian 9450 7370 5920 1548 936 1700-1800 Arabic 9840 9480 7130 6090 6005 5925 1314 1170 English 9830 9470 7260 5890 1269 648 French 11510 9875 9865 7440 7360 7335 6145 6130 5975 German 9775 7340 7300 7290 7125 1386 1323 1215 693 Romanian 7390 7380 999 1700-1800 Russian 7445 7170 7155 6185 6045 1143 1278 "Commonwealth" 1800-1830 Finnish 6175 5940 1494 Mon to Fri 1800-1845 Hungarian 7380 7310 6030 1170 1800-1830 Arabic 9480 7390 6090 5925 1314 1170 French 9875 9470 7440 6145 6130 5975 1800-1900 Bulgarian 5920 936 621 English 11510 9830 9775 7340 7335 7260 6175* 5940* 1494* 1251 German 7300 7290 1386 1323 1215 693 Italian 9450 7420 7370 Polish 7125 1143 Russian 7360 5950 648 171 Russian 7445 7170 7155 6185 6045 1278 "Commonwealth" 1830-1900 Arabic 9480 7390 7130 6090 5925 1314 1170 French 9875 9470 7440 7230 6145 6130 5975 Norwegian 6175 5940 1494 Tue/Thu Swedish 6175 5940 1494 Mon/Wed/Fri 1845-1930 Czech 7380 7310 6030 1170 1900-2000 Arabic 7390 7130 6090 5925 1314 English 11510 9875 9775 7440 7360 7340 7335 6175 5950 5940 French 9470 7420 7230 6145 6130 5975 German 7300 1386 1323 1215 693 Greek 9830 9450 5920 936 621 Russian 7445 7170 6185 6045 1143 1278 1089 "Commonwealth" 1930-2000 Slovak 7380 7310 6030 1170 2000-2030 Albanian 9775 7360 936 621 English 15735 7390 7340 6175 5950 5940 1386 Russian 7445 7380 7355 7310 7170 6145 6045 1215 1143 1089 612 603 2000-2100 French 9480 9470 7420 7300 7230 6130 5975 1323 2030-2100 Bulgarian 6000 936 621 English 15735 9775 7390 7340 6175 5950 5940 1548 1386 Russian 7445 7380 7360 7355 7310 7170 6145 6045 1215 1143 1089 612 603 2100-2130 French 7230^ Portuguese 7360 6145 2100-2200 English 15735 7390 7340 7300 6175 5950 5940 1494 1386 1323 Russian 9480 9470 7445 7370 7355 6045 1215 1089 999 693 603 2100-2230 Serbian 6000 1548 2130-2200 Spanish 7360 6145 2200-2300 Russian 1323 612 "Commonwealth" *=Sat/Sun ^=via Vatican Relay 73 from (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 19, via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. Hello Glenn, The item in #199 was taken from a series in which the other station on 21810 was known by the recipients - 21810 was a Voice of Russia transmitter (unknown) which had been opening with English service at 0800 - but not heard since transmission on the 15th. The Saudi had been heard as background QRM, but ID became possible when VoR didn`t appear from the 16th. Seasons Greetings - keep up the good work........73's, (Noel Green, England, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Coming up on Radio Sweden, this week, and over the holiday period (note that everything is subject to change): Tuesday December 18: Yokohama meeting on exploitation of children, and "Close Up" features opera singer Malena Ernman, starring in "Cabaret" Wednesday December 19: The sustainable society conference, and "Money Matters" features Christmas shopping Thursday December 20: In "Heartbeat", the allergy machine, exercise on prescription, and more from the aNnual meeting of the Swedish Medical Society Friday December 21: Weekly Review Saturday December 22: In "Studio 49", embryonic stem cell research after the green light and the face of neutrality after EU membership Sunday December 23: "Sounds Nordic" repeat with chart trends and Black & Becker Monday December 24 (Christmas Eve): A Swedish Christmas Fair at Taxinge Castle Tuesday December 25 (Christmas Day): Myths and stereotypes about Swedes Wednesday December 26 (Boxing Day): In "Network Europe" (formerly Radio E's "Weekend"), does paying more tax give you better health services and is less work automatically better? Sunday December 30: "Sounds Nordic" special, as Gaby Katz brings you the best of 2001 in Swedish music Monday December 31: A Swedish look at the world after September 11 Tuesday January 1: Kris Boswell takes you to the largest gathering ever of Nobel Peace Prize winners to find out what the prize has meant to them, and just what "peace" really is. Saturday January 4: (**sic - presumed January 5**) In "Network Europe", a panel of Europeans debate the prospects for enlargement during the Spanish EU presidency. Sunday January 5: (**sic - presumed January 6**) "In Touch with Stockholm" with long-distance chats worth remembering (SCDX MediaScan Dec 18 via Alan Roe, swprograms via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. CBS-Radio Taipei Internacional ha cambiado la frecuencia de su transmisión en español para Europa a las 2130 UT de los 9955 a los 7130 kHz. El cambio estará vigente hasta el 28 de febrero del 2002 (Ramón Vázquez Dourado, España, Dec 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. Dubai IDed in Arabic just as I tuned in at 1500 Dec 18, measuring it about 21605.2. Close (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. The reason no one heard the Thunderer Squadron transmission on 1700 kHz on 12 December is that they switched to 17682 kHz. That achieved transatlantic communication, but did nothing to show that Marconi heard Poldhu in 1901. The following is from http://www.atlantic-leap.org -- click on The Big Day: ---- So how did we do? Well after a mammoth three days of tests and repairs the sparker became reliably functional, however the range was greatly inadequate. The aerial and secondary circuit were mismatched owing to a lack of a capacitive component. This would have normally been provided by the deck of a ship, to introduce this to our land based version would have required 4 zinc plates each 12 feet square buried under the surface to act as a capacitor to earth. So we incorporated a modern boost transmitter at a naval shore station (INSKIP). We tested the ether throughout the day at 1.7 MHz and adjacent frequencies. The greatest distance we were achieving was approximately 800 miles. By 13:00 it became apparent that the signal would never get over the 1800 mile mark so we had to change our plans. For the next two hours Naval allocated frequencies were used to achieve connectivity across the Atlantic, 17.682MHz was eventually identified and tested with our US/Canadian counterparts. The RX aerial had to be reconfigured and retuned using a modern RXER. Once this was achieved a relay circuit was established at Poldhu, this circuit took the spark signal to INSKIP using a Motorola 9505 where the signal was frequency translated and retransmitted using 10Kw at 17.682 MHz. The signal started by Senor Guglielmo Giovanelli Marconi took this path and was received at 16:03 in St Johns where it was audibly witnessed by the world. Without the use of modern equipment and having to use a much higher frequency we would have never had a re-enactment of that day. Although we had to use modern components, the Transmission was a success but failed to prove if Marconi had achieved a crossing that day. To truly prove his achievement, we would need exactly the same atmospherics, no other interfering transmissions and exactly the same equipment. None of these criteria can be realistically met so we came as close as possible to provide some authenticity for the celebrations (via Kim Elliott, DC, Dec 19, DXLD) ** U K. My favorite current BBC favourite quiz shows returns Sunday December 24, 2001. Try at 2030 UTC and if it's treated like Brain of Britain it should be available on demand. Light Entertainment: Just A Minute. The panel game in which guests attempt to speak for sixty seconds without repetition, deviation or hesitation. As always they are kept in check by chairman Nicholas Parsons. Panellists this week are Tim Rice, Sue Perkins, Ross Noble and Tony Hawks (Larry Nebron, CA, Dec 18, swprograms via DXLD) I agree, Larry. Just a Minute is one of the funniest and most enjoyable programs available in *any* medium. The banter among the participants is often hilarious. For those who prefer the "more traditional" shortwave approach , it airs on the Americas stream at 0405 UT Tuesdays on 5975 (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** U K. Subject: Festive Proms PROMS REPEATS: As we mentioned in our last message many concerts from Proms 2001 are to be repeated over the Christmas and New Year period. There have been some changes to the schedule since then, and many of you will be pleased to hear that slots have now been found for several of the Late Night Proms. This is another chance to catch Andreas Scholl's performance of Vivaldi and Handel (as part of a Christmas Day double bill with the BBCSSO playing Beethoven's Ninth), the Later Prom with Jools Holland, Julian Joseph and Nitin Sawhney, Leonard Slatkin's big band and jazz night, Ian Bostridge and the Britten Sinfonia, the London Sinfonietta playing Stravinsky, Hesketh and Henze, Acis & Galatea as presented by the Academy of Ancient Music, and the BBC Singers and London Brass in music by Britten, Birtwistle and Takemitsu. You can also re-live some of the other highlights of the season, including Simon Rattle conducting Fidelio and one of the revelations of the summer when the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra brought us the complete incidental music to Peer Gynt by Grieg... and Radio 3 welcomes in the New Year with the 2001 Last Night. In an exclusive interview Nicholas Kenyon, Director of the Proms, reflects on the highlights and events of Proms 2001 and talks about the difficult decision to change the Last Night in the aftermath of September 11th. This plus full details of the repeats can be found on the Proms website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms JOHN'S EARBOX: THE RETURN OF JOHN ADAMS Among the undoubted highlights of Proms 2001 was John Adams' 'Harmonium' on the First Night, and his appearance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a Prom that included music by Ravel, Satie and Debussy as well as his own 'Naive and Sentimental Music'. Adams graces these shores again in January for a major weekend festival presented by the BBC SO at London's Barbican Centre on Friday 18 - Sunday 20 January 2002 entitled 'John's Earbox'. The scope of the weekend reflects the increasing significance and affection for Adams. Over the course of the three days Adams will discuss his work in person, and the festival culminates with him renewing his on-stage partnership with the BBCSO for the UK premiere of 'Guide to Strange Places' (a BBC co-commission). The appetising menu also includes the UK premiere of the controversial opera 'The Death of Klinghoffer', the Chamber Symphony, 'Gnarly Buttons' with Michael Collins (clarinet), 'Grand Pianola Music', the piano concerto 'Century Rolls' with Emanuel Ax, the massive orchestral masterpiece 'Harmonielehre', the seminal 'Shaker Loops', and the Violin Concerto with Leila Josefowicz. Performers include the BBCSO with chief conductor Leonard Slatkin, Simon Haram, the London Sinfonietta, Daniel Hope, the Smith Quartet and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Symphony Orchestra. Full details of John's Earbox, as well as an interview with John Adams recorded during his Proms visit in September, can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/so/barbican/adams.shtml There will be extensive coverage of the weekend on BBC Radio 3 - for full broadcast details see the Radio Times or http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/classical/johnadams.shtml Information about the activities of all the BBC orchestras and performing groups is available online via http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/ (BBC Proms mailing list via DXLD) ** U K. The online mob have recreated a number of Pres symbols and captions, many even animated with "Flash", on their website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/tv/testcards/index.shtml Take a look, and see what memories it brings flooding back! TTFN, (Peter --- via Gareth Foster, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Subject : FBN via Lithuania Hello, Good opportunity for QSL hunters: this coming weekend there will be three special Christmas broadcasts of Fundamental Broadcasting Network (USA) transmitted via facilities in Lithuania. 1. Saturday Dec. 22 at 06:00 UTC on 612 kHz MW 2. Saturday Dec. 22 at 12:00 UTC on 9710 kHz towards Russia 3. Sunday Dec. 23 at 14:00 UTC on 9710 kHz towards Western Europe 612 kHz is from Vilnius, 9710 kHz is from Sitkunai. Reception reports should be addressed to: Fundamental Broadcasting Network, 520 Roberts Road, Newport, NC 28570 USA Email: fbn@bmd.clis.com 73 de (Sigitas Zilionis, Vilnius, Lithuania, December 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. Yes .... the remote control memory and my notes says so. I can't understand why these things happen so often, this time I thought I had checked my writing, but Oh, no.... NINE-SEVEN-SEVEN-NINE POINT EIGHT 73 (Johan Berglund, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN/U S A. New US Arabic TV channel may be based in Aden | Text of report by Jordanian weekly Al-Sabil on 11 December Seasoned sources have disclosed that Yemeni security departments were exerting serious efforts to arrest two tribal chiefs in compliance with US demands that view both men as members of Al-Qa'idah, led by Usamah Bin-Ladin... In a related development, media sources in Sanaa said intensive efforts were under way to establish a US news satellite channel, to be broadcast in Arabic to influence the Arab and Islamic public opinion and compete with the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel, which played a big international role during its coverage of the US-British aggression against the Taleban movement and Al-Qa'idah in Afghanistan. The sources pointed out that a committee designated by the US administration nominated Dubai, Beirut or Aden as headquarters of this Arabic-speaking satellite channel. The sources said it was more likely that Aden would be chosen to host the US channel, particularly after reports that the Yemeni Information Ministry was determined to authorize the establishment of a number of satellite channels in Yemen within the framework of modernizing the Yemeni international media. The sources said the US news satellite channel is expected to cover the Arabian Peninsula and countries of the Arab Gulf and the Horn of Africa. Source: Al-Sabil, Amman, in Arabic 11 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED Re 3189.5: Hi, today 16th Dec. they identified at 1200 as Russkoye R. Most probably via the Belarus utility/military transmitters. At 1201 the news interrupted with a utility message about transmitter being tuned. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE In case anyone would like to hear what DRM sounds like on an ordinary radio, below is the current schedule of tests as listed on Radio Netherlands Media Network web site. I have listened on a number of occasions and the DRM signal just sound like white nose or old fashioned jamming on a AM radio. Although it can be heard several kHz either side of the central frequency it doesn't appear to cause too much interference to adjacent channels and there is none of the annoying splatter you might get with a strong AM adjacent channel. (dk) Long-Term Tests Under Way Long-term DRM tests from Bonaire and Rampisham beamed to Europe have commenced, and will continue until the end of the current broadcast season. The schedule is shown below. Transmissions from Bonaire are daily, those from Rampisham are on weekdays. 0757-0900 Bonaire 11970 0900-0927 Bonaire 12035 0927-1000 Bonaire 12035 1000-1100 Bonaire 15420 1200-1450 Rampisham 5875 1500-1600 Rampisham 7320 (via Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) WHITE`S RADIO LOG ONLINE Thanks to John Ebeling, I have all 32 pages of the Winter 1951 White's Radio Log uploaded on the Memorabilia site. The log scanned real well and the print is large enough for anyone to read. Use http://members.fortunecity.com/wtfdamem/ This URL goes right to the page: http://members.fortunecity.com/wtfdamem/WRL.html Check out the list of TV and FM stations. The list also has SW and BCB loggings. Thank you, John! (Mike Bugaj - Enfield, CT USA, WTFDA via DXLD) ###