DX LISTENING DIGEST 0—120, October 7, 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. For restrixions and searchable 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html ** AUSTRIA. Following further statements about the fate of Radio Austria International (ROI) were given in the "Intermedia" show of Oct 6 by ROI director Roland Machatschke: The budget for the next year will be 90 million ATS instead of just 80 million as originally expected, anyway just slightly more than half of the previous one. The slight correction allows ROI to keep all Arabic, Esperanto and Spanish on air although cut by about a half. The whole program volume is to be reduced from around the clock to 14 hours. ROI will maintain all its own satellite outlets in 2001, including the one in the "Astra Digital Radio" system, which meanwhile started to became obsolete. To manage this it was unavoidable to cancel the anyway rather erratic relays by the German Radioropa 261 longwave service as well as the contract with World Radio Network; Machatschke stated that probably WRN will continue to rebroadcast some ROI stuff without payment "but of course we cannot demand that". On shortwave ROI will continue to serve all target areas for "at least one hour per day"; the airtime exchange with RCI will continue but cut to a single hour per day only. During recent weeks ROI moved from the ORF centre into the Argentinierstraße radiohouse of the domestic services, for a particularly sensitive hearing resulting in different audio characteristics as is always the case between different studios. Machatschke announced that within the next two weeks the whole equipment from the old ROI headquarters will be installed at the radiohouse, hopefully resulting in a final solution of the problems which occured recently in the play-out process. Machatschke also emphasized that he is absolutely unable to judge whether or not ROI will continue to exist beyond 2001 (Kai Ludwig, Oct 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Among a number of special programs Monday Oct 9 on CBC: THEY'RE LIVING AMONG YOU: Steve Rukovina hosts this shocking - and sometimes completely unbelievable - Thanksgiving documentary about the hitherto-unknown Saskatchewan conspiracy to take over global culture. That's They're Living Among You: Everybody's From Saskatchewan, Thanksgiving Monday at noon (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. (CBC Hotsheet via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [non]. RFPI: Heavy and very fast RTTY is wiping out RFPI on 6969, first noted UT Sat Oct 7 at 0120, and still going strong past 1130. If anyone can copy an ID from this and/or get a fix on it, please report to info@rfpi.org and to us. Fortunately, RFPI`s other frequencies were clear and propagating in the evening. But they were not available overnight, and 6969 had heavy RTTY whenever checked. It appeared to be absolutely continuous, although quite frequently would briefly go into ``idle``-sounding mode, making us wonder if it is really conveying info or just running a loop for the purpose of jamming RFPI. Only after 1130 did RFPI 6969 start to gain the upper hand. Although RFPI`s signal was starting to fade, the RTTY was fading a bit earlier, indicating it is eastward from us into daylight. (WOR site Anomaly Alert via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4814.9, R. Alli Michic, (captado en Cuenca) 2210-2330 44444 mx moderna px religioso en dialecto y español, mx y después de un largo periodo, recién dan su ID "Radio Alli Michic trasmitiendo para usted.." (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Ecuador, Chasqui DX via DXLD – undated but he was in Cuenca Sept 3-6 per other logs; gh apologizes for the delay) ** GUIANA FRENCH. I have not been checking constantly, but on UT Oct 7, CRI relay in English on 9730 was back on the air, closing at 0456, so the site may be coming back after the Sept 10 fire. A bit earlier at 0130 I noticed that SRI 9905 was again trailing a satellite-delay behind 9885, the usual situation from GUF and SUI respectively (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND[non]. http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/news/0926b.html RTE says: "The replay of the All Ireland football final taking place on October 7th will start at 3.30 pm, not 4.00 pm. It was originally set for a later start but after consultation that time was changed to its original throw in..." So we're back again to a SW start at 1430 UTC, I suppose (Finbarr O'Driscoll...Ireland, Oct 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERÚ. 4039, R. Tocache, Tocache (captado en Ayabaca), 31/08 2325- 2355 mx por Caña Brava ID "Aquí Radio Tocache, gracias a los amigos de la cooperativa agraria Tocache.." px Música Tropical. NOTA: esta frecuencia correspondía a Radio Marginal, pero ahora se identifica como Radio Tocache?, estación no captada desde hace buen tiempo en Lima. (Pedro F. Arrunátegui, Perú, Chasqui DX via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. 9690, Radio Romania International, English broadcast at 2300-2359 October 6 was audible only on 9690 kHz and that was only fair to good. The other three frequencies at this hour were not audible here in Northeast Ohio. This seems to be a seasonal thing as Romania is very variable to Ohio in October and late March/early April each year (Lee Silvi, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA. Subject: [HCDX] Uprising in Yugoslavia - OCT 5, 2000 Hi, I have been monitoring the MW band during the uprising in Yugoslavia on October 5, 2000. It was early afternoon here in central Europe when the parliament and Serbian TV building in Belgrade (Beograd) were set on fire. At that time reception conditions on MW were still very bad. Later in the afternoon I could hear more: 684 + 1107 kHz (Beograd 1 + Novi Sad relaying Beo-1) -------------------------------------------------------------------- ...before 1600 UTC - Program about Olympic Games 2000 1600 UTC - Musical requests program (announced). Instrumental music non-stop only. 1659 UTC - ID of "Beograd 202" 1700 UTC - Relay of Beograd 202 - music with IDs / jingles 1805 UTC - Report about "aggression" in the streets of Belgrade 1808 UTC - Music ............. At this time the station seemed to be still in hands of the former regime. --------------------- Before 2200 UTC everything looked very different: 2150 UTC - Relay of a speech (Mr. Kostunica?) on 666 kHz (Sombor), 684 kHz (Beograd), 1566 kHz (Smederevska Palanka). 1107 kHz - no signal; 1440 kHz - no signal. 2203 UTC - End of the speech, separate (own) programs on the frequencies mentioned. 2210 UTC - (New) Radio Beograd with news, music, interviews. No real ID, just talking about Radio Beograd. A man praising the situation which now allows certain people (from the oposition) to talk to people on waves of Radio Beograd. 2218 UTC - Finally heard something on 1107 kHz (too much QRM from AFN Germany). A former relay of Beograd 1, now a brand new radio - Novi Radio Novi Sad (New Radio Novi Sad). People from the street talk about the recent development in Novi Sad. 2240 UTC - Radio Sombor (666 kHz) heard with its own program. 2245 UTC - 711 kHz (Nis) in // to 684 kHz. 2250 UTC - Finally heard something also on 1440 kHz: program // to 684 kHz, but the modulation is very low, that was why I did not hear anything under RTL and Saudi Arabia before. Later in the night nothing special has been happening on Serbian radio waves. Brief checks showed only music played on all mentioned stations // to 684 kHz with an exception of Novi Sad 1107 kHz which I cannot confirm due to a heavy QRM from AFN Germany. Unfortunately the daytime conditions are still very bad (almost like in summer) so I do not hear anything from Serbia, which is around 1000 km from my location here in the middle of Europe. What surprised me yesterday a bit was that the new transmitter on 1188 kHz (Marcali, Hungary) did not raise its activity. I would expect relays of Radio B2-92 like it was during the elections, but as I could check it time to time they were running their "new stuff" of RFE and probably also VoA relays, both in Serbian. OK, Radio B2-92 has been complaining about bad reception of this transmitter on the territory of Serbia - I do not believe it too much as the signal of this transmitter is very good thruout Europe ... and what more: RFE and VoA do not complain about the coverage. I think that RFE and VoA (and those in the background) are not interested to give space to this "amateurish" station, because they want to do things their own professional way... The whole development in Yugoslavia these days (and also on radio waves) seems to me too much "velvet" (do you remember the Velvet Revolution in my country in November 1989?). Miloshevich disappeared (today´s news say he is in Bor near border to Romania, preparing a big comeback), so maybe we can expect some more interesting development on radio waves coming from Yugoslavia. Do not tune off. GOOD DX, (Karel Honzík, redakce DX REVUE, Plzen, hard-core-dx Oct 6 via DXLD) With the ousting of Miloshevich, I am expecting a fairly quick decision on allowing RY to resume broadcasts from the Bijeljina transmitter site in Bosnia. I imagine it's considered important that the new government is able to communicate with expatriates. As has been pointed out, their Web site is functioning, but only has text information. The audio files were not available yesterday. And before anyone asks, RY is operating from a different building to the one that was damaged on Thursday. In the meantime, the best source of immediate news from Belgrade is the Web site of Radio B2-92/B92 (the two have now merged) at http://www.freeb92.net/. You can also listen to them via various audio streams (links on the site) though the quality is not always the best (Andy Sennitt, swprograms Oct 7 via DXLD) When the RY shortwave facility near Bijeljina was closed, an Independent Media Commission spokesperson told me the reason was that no broadcast facility in Bosnia can be foreign-owned. Even though Miloshevich is gone, the foreign ownership issue remains. Bosnian ownership would have to be established, then it might become a shortwave-site-for-hire. With the financial problems faced by the new Yugo government, I wonder if shortwave broadcasting will be a high priority? (Kim Elliott, swprograms Oct 7 via DXLD) I know what they said, but isn't it funny that they only "discovered" this restriction a few weeks before the Serbian elections? :-) The Bosnian Deputy PM was on BBC Newsnight with a barely concealed grin on his face when it became clear that Miloshevich was out. I bet some sort of deal is arranged sooner rather than later (Andy Sennitt, standard disclaimer, swprograms Oct 7 via DXLD) New pres to be sworn in at 1500 UT Saturday October 7 (gh, from news reports) ** SOMALIA. What sounds like Voice of the People (Aydid) is being heard consistently on 6315 (x 6750 / 6805) from fade-in around 1610 until 1900. Poor at first but usually comes up to good strength. Best on LSB due SITOR 'UFN' (which I'm informed comes from Novorossiysk). Plays lots of Horn of Africa type music, and news heard at 1700. (Noël Green, UK, Oct 4, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** THAILAND. Bob Padula wrote: ``The external service of Radio Thailand now announces itself as "THE VOICE OF THAILAND". Observed at good level with English 1900-2000 on 7195, and continuing on 9680 in German from 2000, from Udorn. Parallel with 1905 from the lower powered transmtter at Pathumani.`` Actually they've been using the phrase 'Voice of Thailand' in some of their tourism-promotion programming in English (including at 1400- 1430) for quite a long time. This appears to be the title of the programme, and I don't think the name of the station has changed. The announcement in English played between each language segment continues to give the ID as 'Radio Thailand World Service', noted on numerous occasions at 1100-1145 on 7 October. These announcements have recently been re-recorded by a different announcer, so the American chap with the American accent has been replaced by what sounds like a Thai chap with a British accent. I'm not sure what up-to-date information is available about Radio Thailand's transmitter sites in the Bangkok area. There certainly appears to be a site at near Rangsit in Pathum Thani Province just north of Bangkok which houses a number of the lower-power HF transmitters (and maybe one or more of Radio Thailand's MW transmitters which appear to be located N of Bangkok). Some Thai sources and maps also mention a site at Salaya in Nakhon Pathom Province, just W of Bangkok, which houses a 100 kW transmitter (to confuse the issue, some sources mention a 1000 kW transmitter here, but my best guess is that this is either a typo or a pipe-dream). [hmmm, does that term come from Thai opium dens? gh] The only 100 kW MW transmitter listed in the Bangkok area is used by Radio Thailand's Education Service on 1467 kHz, and amateur direction-finding suggests this is probably coming from the Rangsit area rather than Salaya. My best guess is that Salaya may be home to the transmitter on 11905, but I'm not at all sure. To muddy the waters further, the Radio Thailand English-language service on 918 kHz does appear to be coming from a location to the W of Bangkok, so maybe this is the transmitter at Salaya. 918 (x-927) is listed with just 10 kW, but there may have been a power increase a few months ago. Recently I've noted 11905 with very distorted audio at times, and it may also be operating intermittently. I very tentatively heard the other external-service transmitter on 9655 a couple of weeks ago, but if it's active at the moment then the signal is extremely weak. In practice the only external service HF frequencies reliably audible within Thailand are the relays via VOA Udon Thani. (Alan Davies, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, Oct 7, Electronic DX Press via DXLD) ** U S A. KLVZ-AM plans Oct. 9 switch to classical music By Dusty Saunders, News Broadcasting Critic Denver's classical music lovers will still have Bach, Brahms and Beethoven on the radio. Following Wednesday's announcement that the classical music format on KVOD-AM (1280) will be dropped by new owners in favor of Spanish programming, Crawford Broadcasting said Friday KLVZ-AM (1220) will switch to classical no later than Oct. 9. The station currently features Christian music and talk programming. KVOD has been purchased by Latino Communications of Denver. Don Crawford Jr., head of Crawford's local broadcasting outlets, said the switch "is a natural," in light of Latino Communications' decision. The station will concentrate on "traditional classic" rather than on more "obscure" modern music, according to Crawford. KLVZ (formerly KBNO) operates with 660 watts in daytime but drops to 60 watts at sundown, making it difficult to pick up in many parts of the Denver area. Noting there's a possibility of increased power, Crawford added the KVOD call letters would be added if Latino Communications drops them. Crawford called the format a "great companion" to Crawford-owned KLZ- AM (560), which features nostalgic music. September 30, 2000 (© Denver Rocky Mountain News via InsideDenver.com via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Colorado Public Radio Acquires Denver Station From Colorado Public Radio's website CPR Acquires Denver Station to broadcast classical music 24 hours a day Colorado Public Radio announced today (10/6/2000) that it has acquired a second Denver radio station to provide Colorado Front Range listeners with full-time classical music programming. The 1340AM station, acquired from Catholic Radio Network for $4.2 million, will begin classical music broadcasting immediately upon Federal Communications Commission approval of the sale. ``This is a major step toward Colorado Public Radio’s long-term goal of providing a two-channel radio network for listeners statewide,`` said Buzz Victor, Chair of the Colorado Public Radio Board of Directors. ``Given the recent turmoil in Denver radio, we feel a strong obligation to ensure the survival of classical music radio as a vital community resource.`` Colorado Public Radio’s KCFR will continue its current schedule of in-depth news and classical music programming at 90.1FM, while the addition of 1340AM will allow for the continuation of full-time classical radio in Denver. Special programs such as the weekly Colorado Symphony Orchestra concert broadcasts will now be heard on both 90.1FM and 1340AM. Latino Communications LLC recently announced that it will switch the current KVOD classical music format at 1280 AM to Spanish-language programming. Latino Communications and Colorado Public Radio have agreed to transfer the KVOD call letters and music library to Colorado Public Radio. ``KVOD has been a mainstay of classical music programming in Denver for more than 30 years,`` explained Max Wycisk, Colorado Public Radio President. ``In the changing media world it is natural that KVOD can become a non-commercial, public radio service. Colorado Public Radio has been working for several years to produce the highest quality classical music service possible. Now all of our classical programming will have a full-time home in Denver.`` 1340 AM reaches the entire Denver metro area and beyond, broadcasting with 1000 watts of power 24 hours each day. Programming details will be announced once the acquisition is completed. (via ``Ruby Hill``, KVOD.com listener forum via DXLD) It's finally happened. CPR got their second Denver station. Interestingly, they paid over $1 million more than Ferrufino paid for 1280 AM. And for an inferior quality signal: 1280 broadcasts at 5000 watts, 1340 at 1000 watts. It is Ruby's opinion that CPR had little choice other than to buy an AM station given the ever-escalating prices of Denver FM frequencies. Certainly it's not the solution that CPR sought nor will be happy with. Given the timetable for ramping up their 24-hour classical service, they had little choice. By being awarded the KVOD library, CPR has made it much more difficult, probably intentially so, for any other entity to start up a new classical radio operation. The combined CD libraries of KVOD, KCFR and additionally KCFR's partner in L.A., KUSC cover roughly the same time period of acquisition: 1982 to present. One would expect that there would be countless duplications not only of major works by different performers but of the very same performances. Ruby would be very surprised if any of the current KVOD staff were offered positions with the new KVOD. Ruby's best guess is that 1340's programming will be a simulcast of 90.1 with the exception of the non-music programming. Eventually all of 1340's programming will be sourced from the Classical Public Radio Network, a joint venture between KCFR and L.A.'s KUSC. The only exceptions would likely be the Colorado Symphony broadcasts and an occasional Opera Colorado performance. It may boil down to whose satellite broadcasts do you prefer: Crawford will be airing WCRB's SuperRadio programming from Boston, KCFR and the new KVOD will be airing CPRN with programming assembled in L.A. and Denver. You can certainly expect the latter to employ state of the art voice-tracking, etc., all at the expense of a true local presence. Crawford will be using local announcers at varying times to be determined. Which one, if either, will air Karl Haas? Believe it or not (and you should because it's true), NPR outlets make their money from the news/talk programming, NOT the music. Philadelphia's WHYY and WRTI do not differ dramatically in ratings but DO in dollars raised. WHYY, airing news/talk has much more money in their coffers than does WRTI which programs classical during the day, jazz at night. BTW, classical listeners dole out the bucks more so than the jazz audience. Given the listenable range of 1340 AM and the potential dollars lost in fundraising, it would make more sense to move ALL of the classical programming to 1340 and air nothing but news/talk on 90.1 FM. Ruby isn't advocating this but that's the harsh reality. Commercial radio outlets would die to have the ratings that Morning Edition and All Things Considered garner. The biggest problem with CPR's concept of NPR programming is that they simply choose to repeat rather than air additional programming. Do we need to hear two 2-hour blocks of ATC? Wouldn't listeners be served better by airing Prairie Home Companion and Car Talk once in order to air Saint Paul Sunday, Schickele Mix or any of countless other fine offerings? It will never happen. CPR's goal is to maximize revenue. They pay no additional monies to repeat programming, additional programs would require additional money to be spent. (``Ruby Hill``, KVOD.com listener forum via DXLD) This is ironic. 1340 is where KDEN-AM was parttime simulcasting classical music with KDEN-FM before KDEN-FM became KVOD (Norm Metcalf, ibid., Oct 6 via DXLD) Max Wycisk said he would never put news/talk on AM, because "nobody under 45 will listen to it." Since hardly anybody UNDER 45 listens to classical radio, I guess he figures the music belongs on AM! At 1280, KVOD demonstrated SOME surviving local content and support for local arts groups. But at 1340, presumably with 24-hour syndication from the Classical Public Radio Network, there will be little resemblance to the original. This, just in ... KLVZ (1220) reportedly will continue with its plan to switch to classical music on Monday. How "local" will it be? Reports are in conflict. Even though 1220's signal will be weaker than 1340's, a demonstration of localism could be an important point of differentiation between KLVZ and KVOD-1340. That may not be economically feasible, however. So Denver may have to be content with two syndicated classical formats. After all, isn't that better than ONE syndicated classical format? [Remember, the first prize is one night in Hoboken; the second prize is TWO nights in Hoboken!] (Friend of Ruby, Oct 6, KVOD.com listener forum via DXLD) ###