DX LISTENING DIGEST 0-109, September 10, 2000 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com {Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only providing full credit be maintained at all stages and we are provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. All times, dates and days are UT, u.o.s. For searchable contents of this and previous issues see http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html } ** ANTARCTICA. 15475.57 at 2040 Aug 27, R Nac Arcángel San Gabriel, S/YL/tk/ID/s-off at 2045. 24222. 15475.59 at 1934 Aug 29, S/YL/tk/s-mx/ wandering to .60 - .65 /ID and nx "las noticias" at 2000. From 2000 up to 15475.74, increased signal to 33333. ID at 2030 s-off at 2045 (Michael Sander, Denmark on Mon Island, A-DX via BCDX via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. The V. of Armenia, Yerevan is now called National Radio of Armenia, and English is now 0940-1000 Sats [? Ex Sun] only on 15240. 1815-1900 on 234 1395 and 2055-2115 on 4810 9965 (Jonathan Murphy, Ireland, WDXC-UK {sic} Sept 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. http://cbc.ca/onair/jhtml/newsitem.jhtml?ID=1362 CBC RADIO PRESENTS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS FROM THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES TO BE HEARD ON CANADIAN RADIO This fall, from September 15 to October 1, CBC Radio once again becomes Canada's official Olympic radio network for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Summer Games and will deliver more than 75 hours of Olympic programming in 17 days. "The coverage our listeners can expect from us will take them beyond the scores. We will tell them the great stories of these Olympic Games – whether it`s celebrating our Canadian athletes or expressing the drama and excitement that unfolds in Sydney," says Susan Mitton, director of programming, CBC Radio. Beginning September 15 at 4:55 a.m. (5:25 a.m. NT), CBC Radio Sports hosts Kevin Sylvester and John Hancock will bring listeners a summary of the day`s major stories and sporting events on LIVE AT 55. This program will be heard at five minutes to the hour, every hour, 24 hours a day during the Olympic Games, until its concluding broadcast October 1 at 11:55 a.m. (12:35 p.m. NT). Robin Brown will provide daily reports, as well as host THE INSIDE TRACK, heard Sundays at 1:30 p.m. (2 p.m. NT). Programs will include conversations with many Canadian Olympic athletes, such as Todd MacCulloch, a seven-foot Canadian NBA player competing on Canada's national team, who has heard every tall joke there is and labours to put them to rest; Anne Montminy, who combines world-class diving with studying for the bar; and a feature interview with 15-year-old diver Alexandre Despatie, the youngest member of the diving team. In addition, Olympic reporters Teddy Katz, Suzanne Blake, Nick Davis, Conway Fraser, Chris Grosskurth and Rick MacInnes-Rae will provide up-to-date reports to many of CBC Radio's local and national programs from Sydney. A comprehensive Web site has been created as a complete guide to CBC Olympic coverage and the Sydney Olympic Summer Games. Located at http://cbc.ca, the site includes athlete profiles, news about the Games and an interactive zone. (via Ricky Leong, PQ, DXLD) OLYMPICS: If you want comprehensive info about broadcasts on this subject, look elsewhere, or in previous issues of DXLD where we gave R. Australia and BBC plans long ago. It can be assumed most major SW broadcasters will be covering them to some extent. As for webcasting, I suspect we will find a lot of streams blocked because internet rights are not granted; in fact on CNN.com I saw a report that one company, http://www.quokka.com has exclusive webcasting rights (including still photos, not streaming video) in a 50-50 agreement with NBC, which paid over 700 megadollars for US TV rights. While we would find many events involving individual competition, especially those with an artistic element, such as water ballet, worthy and not in the category of stupid ball games, the amount of drug-enhancement is reported to approach 90 percent, thus making the entire exercise meaningless in terms of winners and losers; it is also an exercise in excessive nationalism, which can be justified only in that it does not involve killing. I cannot imagine why anyone would pay hundreds of dollars for a ticket to some of the events (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS. Some changes of various SSB relays via Belarus: Sept 2nd +1800-2055+ 2382 and 3355 Mayak (x2738 and x2829). Sept 3rd +0225-0400* 2382 and 3355 VoRUS in Ru (-0300*), Mayak (*0300-0400*) *0400-0540+ 4982 Mayak (no any \\freqs incl. 5134). (Mikhail Timofeyev, Russia, Sep 3, BC-DX via DXLD) The pattern and content of the SSB in the 2-4 MHz range from Belarus indicate that these are not real transmissions or feeds, but rather "training frequencies" of a military telecommunications unit. There have been examples of similar activities in other countries, like R. Andernach in Germany which during manoeuvres used to go on the air with their mobile transmitter(s) on various MW frequencies relaying public broadcasters for training purposes (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 3, BC-DX via DXLD) Hi, "Schulungssender des Belarussischen Bundesheeres" aus der Güssriegelstr., nice reminiscences, ed. (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Yesterday, scanning the tropical bands, I heard R. Relógio Federal: Sept 7 at 2251 on 4918, SINPO 44444, but the announcer said ``on the 71 [sic] meter band at 4905 kHz``. New frequency? Readout on my receiver was 4918. Suggestions? (Júlio Baldim, Salto-sp, ...) 4.920, Sept 7 at 0035, Nova Rádio Relógio, Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 'Sintonia do Amor' program and announcing station address as: Rua Paramoco', 131, Ilha do Governador, CEP 21930-110, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and e-mail: radiorelogio@plug.com.br SINPO 44444 (Célio Romáis, Pôrto Alegre, ...) Júlio, unfortunately we have been aware of this frequency disorder of R. Relógio for many years. The frequency left free is 4905. Who knows why, the frequency used is the one you heard. They are varying from 4910 to 4920. So far, no logical explanation, and it may be that they are even unaware of it. Even if they were, I don`t think they would fix it. Until it is proven to me otherwise, this is another case of negligence in the radio medium. Note: Even if the personnel of R. Relógio answered that everything was in order, it would still be difficult to believe that all the receivers of Brazilian and foreign DXers are miscalibrated at the same point on the spectrum. Therefore it is absolutely certain that it is the station`s own fault. Célio, I do want to ask you to confirm the address of R. Relógio: according to previous info I had, it is on Rua Paramopama, and not as you said (Rua Paramoco). I could be wrong, so I am asking for confirmation from anyone who has been in recent contact with people at the station or who live in Rio. Thanks, because this fundamental information will prevent the unpleasant surprise of having our letter returned `address unknown`. A big hug to Júlio, who lives in a beautiful and calm city, and also to other members of the list (Rudolf W. Grimm, DX Clube do Brasil, São Bernardo - SP, Brasil, Sept 8, all radio-escutas, translated by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. Friends on the list (especially those who enjoy FM DX): Cláudio Rótolo de Morães, Florianópolis, informed me yesterday on the phone, that he has already heard the [season`s] first Caribbean FM stations last night. That is, the period has started, running until March, in which one may search for catches ``at the bottom of the well``: but in the capitals and large cities we may find it difficult. If trying for those at the greatest distance, from the Caribbean region, this always occurs between 2330 and 0100 UT. A list of stations received in previous years was already carried on this list, and also published by some Brazilian and foreign radio periodicals. If needed, we can publish it again. Hug (Rudolf W. Grimm, DX Clube do Brasil, São Bernardo - SP, Brasil, Sept 8, radio- escutas, translated by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I recall, besides a number of Lesser Antilles stations, this has extended as far north and west as Puerto Rico, but I am not sure if Dominican Republic has been reported. It stands to reason this trans- equatorial scatter should be two-way, but southern Brazilian FM stations have rarely, if ever, been reported from the Caribbean. If we have any readers in that area, we urge you to give this a try. The Brazilians find it does not take large antennas, and even manage it on portables and car radios. The key is to get away from the cities where there are absolutely clear frequencies. This might be difficult to accomplish in PR, but should be relatively easy elsewhere in the Caribbean. We can only wonder if TE could ever attain the Florida Keys, if any clear frequencies could be found (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CANADA. Minor correxion to 0-108: Time for Tapestry on RCI is UT Mon 0205, not 0105 (Bill Westenhaver, RCI, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Hi, Please visit the RFPI website to hear the newest RFPI-produced programs in RealAudio http://www.rfpi.org/webcast.html Mailbag Sept 8; Far Right Radio Review Sept 2 on ``Stop Dr Laura``; FRRR Aug 26 also on Dr Laura; Global Community Forum, August 19 on the prejudicial social atmosphere in CR; GCF Aug 12 on ``Joe Chemo`` to combat Joe Camel – see http://www.adbusters.org ; Millennium Dreams, August 5, Guest: Jason Kucsma, co-editor of Clamor Magazine; Tropical Conservation Newsbureau Report, Sept 4, on the alarming decline of Leatherback turtles in CR; TCNB Aug 28 on global climate [see website for more detailed synopses -gh] (Radio For Peace International, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI continues to be understaffed, with all the previous volunteers gone home. If anyone would like to volunteer for a 3-month period, contact info@rfpi.org Spanish programming has been off for some time, since the person responsible for that has been occupied with the paperwork for RFPI`s AM license, but hope to resume Spanish eventually. James and Debra Latham have been busy moving to a new home, so Joe Bernard is holding down the fort. Programming news: The UN Today at 2145 and 2345 M-F plus repeats now includes elements from some other shows, such as Caribbean Echo, so the latter has been dropped, but still on the schedule are the UN features given in previous DXLD. [Sounds as if UN Today is the same show UN has just started broadcasting to Africa via Merlin sites at 1730, replacing the previous UN Daily News on RFPI -gh] Possible new program is from Project Censored, a longer show and/or 5-minute features. See http://www.projectcensored.org RFPI expects to have FM-quality MP3 streaming within the month but only during non-business hours of 0000-1200 UT and 24h on weekends, since the line is shared with University for Peace. Expects to have own line and 24/7 (an expression I decry – might as well say 168/4.3 or 1440/24 -gh) service in six months (Joe Bernard, with Frances Chavarría, RFPI Mailbag Sept 8, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, RFPI had better hurry up and reactivate 6970; Sept 9 and 10 from before 1100 until past 1200 we noticed RTTY on the frequency. And 15049 is falling above the diurnal MUF trench during the same hour; Sept 10 it perked back up around 1155 with daylight ionization buildup, only to disappear an hour later during a propagation disturbance (gh, OK, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [non]. I listened to your last World of Radio, when you talked about the clearance on the Radio Shack DX-375. I bought one of these a couple months ago for $50. Wanted a radio that size with more presets than my Sony ICF-2002, which is otherwise fine. I have been pleasantly surprised by this unit`s performance. It is basically as described in my `97 PWBR, except I haven`t had any problems of the microprocessor being disabled by static discharge. I`m surprised that it compares so well to the RS DX-398 (Sangean ATS-909). I was interested in the Sangean 505, which is similar in some ways to the 909. One thing I won`t be able to do with this radio is listen to RFPI when they go back on 6970. The DX-375 is not continuous coverage. It has a break between 6250 and 7100 (John H. Curley, Franklin TN, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 2700.09h, Ondas del Yuna, Bonao, 0014 Sep 7, old friend audible here again with usual bachata format, no-frills ID 2035 [sic --must mean 0035]. Squeezed by ute on the low side. On 4930.06, R Barahona, 2325 Sep 7, back-to-back merengues, nice- sounding signal in the absence of the 4930.60 Honduran. Finally an ID at the end of a news promo as "Radio Barahona Internacional, la ... informativa del sul." 2352. Rare here. On 4911.09, R Barahona, 2345 Sep 8, NY Yanquis vs Boston Red Sox, ads and "R Barahona Internacional ... 1240 ..." IDs between innings. Strong signal but horribly distorted, wobbling carrier, and practically unlistenable. (all 3: Jay Novello, NC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. So is YLE Radio Finland going to resume the weekend one- hour English broadcasts, ``off for the summer`` from July? Not yet, no signals when 11985 and 13770 checked at 0000 UT Sunday Sept 10. Not checked at 0100 for the quarter-hour English and Latin, but both were on in Finnish when retuned at 0117 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GIBRALTAR. 1458 kHz: The GBC have started testing their new transmitter initially with only 500 W while it is expected eventually to increase to 5 kW design output. They expect comments plus requests for QSLs from folk outside their estimated coverage area. All locally produced programming ends at 2000 hours local after which they relay BBC World Service overnight. [George Gaskin via Roger Bunney via Steve Whitt via MWC e-mail news 20.07.00; via ARC Info Desk AUG 2000 e-mail via NRC International DX Digest via DXLD] ** GREECE [non]. What has become of ``It`s All Greek to Me``? Sunday Sept 10 from 1804 via Delano on 17705 plenty of Greek music on VOG, but only announcement at 1824 was in Greek, not English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. Very active ham from here this month: 5R8/AD6KA, Ken. More info at http://www.qsl.net/ad6ka I`m trying for this one! (Bill Flynn, OR, Sept 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADEIRA. During a trip to Madeira I had a chance to check MW activities. RDP Madeira is still active around the clock with relays of RDP Antena 1 on 531 603 1125 and 1332. They have local programs during the morning. 531 is from Porto Santo Isl. Posto Emmisor do Funchal txs on 1530 and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. During the evening they relay DW in Port. From 2315 local and overnight they relay R Renascença. Estação R de Madeira which used to transmit on 1485 is currently off the air, after it was bought by another local stn. The listed relay of R Turista was already not on the air when I stayed in Madeira three years ago (Harald Kuhl, Medium Wave Circle Aug 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9580.4v, PBS Manila. Good in Tagalog Sept 4 0920 w/phone-in program, syndicated finance-type px in English 0930, then list of network stns and ID 0953. Seems very irregular, and I would be surprised if the tx site is really Tinang, as listed in DSWCI DBS 2000. Spoilt by RKI on 9580 from 1000 (Craig Seager, Australia, BC-DX via DXLD) ** SA`UDI ARABIA. Long established v11708 Holy Qur`an program left that channel recently, now on 13690 hetting RFA Tinian in Chinese (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX Sept 8 via DXLD) ** SERBIA. And regarding the Bijeljina and Stubline sites: The main problem should be that no antennas are available at Stubline, so it would be rather useless to remove the Brown Boveri beasts from Bijeljina to Stubline. I did some bandscanning today but found no trace of Radio Yugoslavia, so either the Tanjug announcement was rash or they use a schedule outside the 1500...1700 range (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sep 2, BC-DX via DXLD) Due to the limited resources: The cheapest way to erect antennas in short term at Stubline would be the good old RHOMBIC antenna type, like at Croatian site Zagreb Deanovec. And feed them with 100-125 kW of power. They are not slewable, but WEu/NAm antennas would cover NE/ME, when changed over to back radiation (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. 7530, R. Hargeisa, 0327-0400: tuned into female ancr and what sounded like bits of ME-style mx at 0335 Aug 26. Barely above threshold level. There for about 10 mins. Last audio hrd was around 0347. Was sitting on freq at 0331 Aug 29 when what sounded like ME- style mx popped up from no signal at all, as if signing on. Possible Holy Qur`an recitation at 0333. Faded to threshold at 0350 although mx still heard at 0356. Surprised to hear flute mx at 0359 for a minute then lost (signoff?). Was on freq again 0327 Aug 30 when a definite carrier came on. Test tone followed, then a type of Anthem or march mx to 0331. A male ancr said a few words, then mx which a Jordanian co-worker confirmed as the Holy Qur`an followed. Seemed to have more talking this night by both male and female announcers. Fade was around 0348. Thank you to Chuck Rippel and George Maroti for pointing out Sam Voron's logs made from Somalia and reported by Hans Johnson in Cumbre and DXing With Cumbre (John Sgrulletta, NY, Aug 26- 30, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 15425, SLBC at 0108-0120 Sept 1 with instrumental music. This is their usual format and can be heard at my location at least a few times a week. The Hindi broadcast can be heard a little less frequently on 11905 beginning at 2430 although it sometimes can be fairly clear (Liz Cameron, MI, Sep 1, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** THAILAND. What`s the unID at 0959-1059 on 11805? language may be Bahasa Malaysia, asks a listener whose name is not at hand. Checked Sept 8 at 1050, and recognized it as Thai, some interruptions, but included familiar R. Thailand chimes. Carrier cut at 1100* just as ID ``Thini...`` started. But I recall previous reports of a R. Thailand transmission here not in their published schedule, believed to be for Thai troops abroad, in Timor? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U K. From: http://www.globalsoundkitchen.com/cooking.html Times and frequencies for United Kingdom: Friday Night 22:00 - 02:00 (GMT + 1) 7325 kHz + 3955 kHz. 22:00 - 02:00 (GMT + 1) Live on the internet. 22:00 - 02:00 (GMT + 1) Live on Sirius Digital Satellite 12.111 GHz Horizontal ¾ FEC, Symbol rate 27195. Saturday Night 22:00 - 02:00 (GMT + 1) 7325 kHz + 3955 kHz. Global Sound Kitchen is a weekly four hour radio broadcast, cooking up the newest sounds in dance. Every week, Space D and Lady Sophia host guest DJs from the biggest club scenes across the world. Global Sound Kitchen is broadcast across the planet on shortwave radio and through the web on Real Audio and Windows Media Player so wherever you are, the sound is fresh and truly global. Most of the tracks we play are brand new releases, unsigned artists, white labels or just recorded live which means that you get to hear long and lovely clean sets pretty much as the artist cut it. The music is raw and underground, drawn from the true roots of drum 'n' bass, ambient, garage, hip hop and house. Tell us what's cutting it where you are. Contact us on +44 207 453 1610 or e-mail us at studio@globalsoundkitchen.com Shortwave radio is accessible anywhere in the world although atmospheric conditions will affect reception. We broadcast on a number of frequencies so try them all and tune into the one that works best for you. Sometimes we have to change frequencies so we will try to warn you but please keep up. The latest frequencies will always be available on the web site. If you require any further information about this programme write to Claire Marshall, G-One Ltd, 50 Lisson Street, London, NW1 5DF. (via Mike Terry, Sept 9, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Ha! Listen to Last Night of the Proms on the web from BBC Radio 3, as I suggested in last issue? My ISP decided to take a lengthy outage, so I am back to good old SW. 17690 and 15265 were not on at 1800, but as implied in the actual concert start time, heard with Bow Bells at 1813, and 1815 into concert, both quite poor, as expected here. Rechecked at 2015, 12035 was on instead of 15265, and not too bad, for Camptown Races, Doo-Dah, Doo-Dah, and enjoyed all the usual festivities which lasted until 2142; 17690 was R. Budapest in Hungarian as scheduled at 2000-2100, so what did BBC do with its other frequency? Answer: left 17690 on, again barely audible at 2100 after Budapest closed. The Hungarian interruption must have been rude for would-be vicarious Promenaders, but Merlin should have known Hungary was there. BTW, if I were a station-counter, I`d be trying to make a case that this was BBC Radio 3 with a special SW relay, not the World Service itself. The lack of publicity about the special frequencies by BBC itself, and in other DX/listening media, is astounding and regrettable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UNITED NATIONS [non]. UN Radio not heard at 1730 UT Sat Sept 9; Bob Padula suggests that is because the Millennium conference of heads of state is over (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And I suggest it be because they are Mon-Fri only. Try again Monday. Note that 15265 scheduled for Arabic at 1830 was in use for the Prom Concert on Saturday, no conflict (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Haven`t heard anything about Art Bell`s lawsuit against WWCR recently. It`s in a Nashville court. Haven`t seen anything in Nashville paper about it since spring. Wonder what is current status of suit? I find it ironic that Art Bell, who owes his success to a liberal acceptance and tolerance of free speech, would sue the station. of course, I don`t know the details. There may be good reason for Mr Bell to sue WWCR. But if he followed the legal maxim ``when in doubt, sue everyone,`` that`s unfortunate. Because a few suits like that, pursued successfully, could have a chilling effect on free speech. If you want, I could send anything I see in the Nashville paper re the lawsuit. I have enjoyed World of Radio for years (John H Curley, TN, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please do! ** U S A [non]. I e-mailed NPR and asked what "Day" and "Night" referred to regarding AFN broadcasts. My question was whether "Day" meant day at the transmitter site, AFN Headquarters in the US, or ????? The reply was that was the information AFN gave ("Day" and "Night") so they posted it at the NPR site that way. I suggested revising the site to use the start and end time for each frequency in UTC since this is "universal" to DXers, gave them examples of how to do this, etc. In short, the response is NPR is contacting AFN and they are looking into making such a revision at the NPR website. (Lee Silvi, Mentor, OH USA, September 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UYGHURSTAN [non]. Radio Free Asia. A revised schedule was introduced on Aug 24, and bcs in Uighur are now listed: 0100-0130 17590 Tinian, 15405 Saipan, 11520 Yerevan, 9350 Dushanbe 1600-1630 13625 Tinian, 9370 and 7460 Dushanbe. Here are some reminiscences on Uyghur broadcasts: [from RFA site??] UYGHUR BROADCASTS BEGIN ON RADIO FREE ASIA 1998-12-14. Radio Free Asia (RFA) begins broadcasting to China in the Uyghur languange on Dec 14, 1998. The half-hour broadocasts will be heard twice a week, on Tue and Fri, on SW frequencies. The Uyghur (pronounced Wee-gur) service will deliver news, commentary and feature stories focusing on developments in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of NW China. The bcs are intended to reach an estimated 10 mill Uyghur listeners in Xinjiang and surrounding areas who lack access to free news media. Freedom of speech in this region is even more restricted than it is in other parts of China. The vast Uyghur region comprising about one sixth of China`s territory is bordered on the east by China`s Gansu and Qinghai provinces and on the south by Tibet. The region also shares borders with MNG, RUS, KAZ, KGZ, TJK, AFG, PAK and IND. The Uyghurs and their forerunners are Turkic-speaking people who have been living in Central Asia since the first millennium BCE. Their ancestors can be traced to the people who lived along the ancient Silk Road. Heading the Uyghur sce will be Dolkun Kamberi, a senior editor who holds a Ph D. in cultural anthropology from Columbia University. Professor Kamberi is one of the few scholars in the world able to read ancient forms of Turkish and other ancient scripts of CAs. He is fluent in Chinese, Turk, Uzbek and Uyghur. As a curator in China in the 1980`s, Dr. Kamberi and his staff mounted one of the first museum exhibitions of its kind on the minority populations of NW China. Uyghur is the ninth service offered by RFA. RFA began bcing in Mandarin in Sept 1996, followed by Tibetan in Dec. The Vietnamese and Burmese lang sces went on air in Feb of 1997, Korean in March, Lao in Aug, Khmer in Sept and Cantonese in May of 1998. RFA is a private corporation that was established in 1996 to provide nx and information to listeners in China, Tibet, Vietnam, Burma, North Korea, Laos and Cambodia. It is funded by grants from Congress. RFA`s mission is to be a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within Asian nations whose people do not have full freedom of expression. Listener confidence in the quality and credibility of its broadcasts is RFA's highest priority. RFA is a journalistically independent organization whose autonomy is key to providing objective domestic news and information. (via Dr. Hansjörg Biener, Germany, Sep 4, BC-DX via DXLD) ** VATICAN etc. We are familiar with Voice of Russia on mediumwave transmitters in the FRG as well as the Astra DTH satellite system (via World Radio Network) but this is nevertheless a surprise: In the B00 season Radio Vatican will start to carry VoR via the Santa Maria di Galeria facilities, schedule will be 2100-2130 on 11625 to East Africa and 0200-0300 on 9765 to North America. This according a reliable source who wishes to remain anonymous. I remember that a possible airtime exchange with VoR was also mentioned by Deutsche Welle when announcing the refitting of the RTE Sines (Portugal) site a while ago, but now the first VoR shortwave outlet on "western" transmitters will originate from elsewhere... (VoR is not involved in the already existing DW outlets via Russia, instead these slots are hired directly from MCCBN.) The undisclosed source also mentioned the schedule for Swiss Radio International: 1830-2030 on 6165. This outlet primarily aims at the United Kingdom and currently originates from Jülich but this site is so close to this target area that 49 metres will skip over it in winter, in B99 forcing Deutsche Telekom to use the further south Wertachtal site instead. Ah, what's up with TDF, I remember a lively lament about a considerable amount of capacity idle after the RFI cut-backs? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###