DX LISTENING DIGEST 0-141, November 19, 2000 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 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html ** ARGENTINA. 1660 KHz, Radio Gamma (Valentin Alsina) opera ahora en esta frecuencia (ex 1460 KHz) y de este modo se suma a la lista de emisoras activas en la banda ampliada de OM publicada en CXND-80. (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital Nov 19 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. R. Austria International`s published schedule has now arrived, and still claims English is at 1630 to NAm on 17865 via Canada, even tho this transmission has been entirely in German every time we have checked, including Sun Nov 19 when Wolf Harranth`s familiar voice was on at 1630 with Intermedia. Perhaps we need to keep checking in case ORF really intends to put English on then and ever gets their act together? But the schedule is deliberately ambiguous since from the layout it has both 0230 and 1630 on both 7325 and 17865; anyone not knowing better would read it that way! The master schedule shows Report from Austria (i.e. English) at these precise times, if they are to be believed: 0230-0300 daily 0737-0800 Mon-Sat, 0734-0800 Sun 1000-1045 Sat is a program ``My Music`` but that does not necessarily mean it is in English; shading is the same as German blocks 1230-1300 Mon-Sat 1337-1400 Sun 1430-1500 daily 1630-1700 daily (to WNAm only; allegedly) 1930-2000 daily 2230-2300 M-F Flash des Ondes, the weekly media program in French, immediately precedes some of the odd English timings, each with a different length as shown: Sun 0710-0734, Sun 1830-1900, Mon 0715-0737 (Glenn Hauser, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 5160, R Galaxia, Guayaramerín: In checking up on some information, I just today spoke with Sr. Arteaga of R Paitití/R Galaxia who told me that R Galaxia is not yet on the air, even though the equipment has been tested and ready for over a year. Apparently the Bolivian government is dragging its feet on licensing documents. Sr. Arteaga told me that R Paitití is currently broadcasting with an expired license and he is having trouble getting it renewed. He indicated that he expects it to take at least 6 more months until the license for R Galaxia is finally issued so the station can go on the air. On a side note, Sra. Montán of R Mamoré also told me the same thing today in regards to their FM broadcast license, although the SW license is still valid and the station is on the air daily. Her husband, the station owner, has been in La Paz for about a month trying to settle the paperwork for the documentation. Additionally, Sr. Benedicto Ibarra of R Mosoj Chaskii indicated that they had waited 7 years (!!) for their license to be issued, since they decided not to give any "kick-backs" to government officials. It sounds like we DXers need to hope for a change in policy from President Banzer's government. In the meantime, we better log and confirm all the stations we can because, with a floundering economy and a corrupt government, it looks like the problems will get worse before they get better. Bolivian elections are still almost 2 years away (Walt Fair, Venezuela, Nov 9, visiting Bolivia, Cumbre DX via DXLD) SOP in LA ** BULGARIA. Do you remember that a couple of years ago VoA used the Plovdiv-Padarsko site? In 1994 the schedule was 0600-0630 on 12035 and 1800-1900 on 13680. If I remember correct the target of these outlets was Africa. Airtime on the Bulgarian shortwave transmitters is offered by Ludo Maes already for some time; actually I was curious who will be the first client... Unfortunately I cannot reach the website now, the http://www.airtime.org URL I have in mind belongs to a IP number, so it should be correct, but I got no connection until now. [Same here both Nov 18 and 19 -gh; continued under FRANCE] (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn! Just thought I'd point out that the page of photos of the RCI transmitter site at Sackville, which was recommended in DXLD, isn't actually new...but the URL has changed. (I remember, some years ago, when Mr. Hawkins got in touch with us to see about arranging a tour of the site.) FYI, the RCI relays in Arabic via R. Monte Carlo Middle East on 1233 kHz via Cape Greco, Cyprus, are still on the air. For B00, though, they've moved from the evening to the morning, and are now running at 0330-0359 UTC. (That sort of ties in with the piece you ran about the lease renewal for R. Monte Carlo Middle East.) Finally, we still don't have the sked for the special election night broadcasts...but it should be available on Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, RCI, Nov 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Tuning RCI live webcast in early before Make Believe Mailbag after 0500 UT Sunday, I was pleased to hear Global Village with some great Ukrainian music. Searching for all the Internet-type RCI programs on UT Sunday got this list, which fills in some gaps when there is no English on SW, such as this program; and it looks like they got the Mailbag times fixed (with extra airing such as 2200): via http://www.rcinet.ca English Sunday at 02:00 Canada Newsweek English Sunday at 02:30 Canada Review English Sunday at 03:00 The House English Sunday at 04:00 Global Village English Sunday at 05:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag English Sunday at 05:30 Canada Review English Sunday at 06:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag English Sunday at 08:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag English Sunday at 09:00 Quirks And Quarks English Sunday at 13:00 The Sunday Edition English Sunday at 18:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag English Sunday at 18:30 Canada Review English Sunday at 21:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag English Sunday at 21:30 Canada Review English Sunday at 22:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag Here is the rest (Mon-Sat) of RCI webcast schedule. Note especially the material at 0300-0500 UT on other nights, not on SW, including a replay of Cross Country Checkup Sunday night. English Monday to friday at 05:00 Canada Today English Monday to friday at 06:00 Canada Today English Monday to friday at 08:00 Canada Today English Monday to friday at 13:00 This Morning English Monday to friday at 18:00 Canada Today English Monday to friday at 21:00 Canada Today English Monday to friday at 22:30 Canada Today English Monday at 02:00 Maple Leaf Mailbag English Monday at 02:30 Canada Review English Monday at 03:00 Cross Country Check-up English Monday at 09:00 Tapestry English Tuesday to saturday at 01:00 The World At Six English Tuesday to saturday at 02:00 Canada Today English Tuesday to saturday at 03:00 The World At Six English Tuesday to saturday at 03:30 As It Happens English Tuesday to saturday at 09:00 This Morning Tonight English Saturday at 05:00 Canada Newsweek English Saturday at 05:30 Canada Review English Saturday at 06:00 Canada Newsweek English Saturday at 08:00 Canada Newsweek English Saturday at 13:00 The House English Saturday at 14:00 Basic Black English Saturday at 18:00 Canada Newsweek English Saturday at 18:30 Canada Review English Saturday at 21:00 Canada Newsweek English Saturday at 21:30 Canada Review English Saturday at 22:00 Canada Newsweek (Glenn Hauser, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. Coming soon to CBL`s old frequency: 740 CHWO Oakville, ON. Nov. 17 1200 UT (and most of the day), open carrier, no tones or voice IDs. CHWO-1250 have been granted license for big band/nostalgia format on 740. Carrier noted again at 0600, Nov. 18 (Mike Brooker, Ont., hard-core-dx via DXLD) see also TAHITI ** CHECHNYA. Russia: Shortwave monitoring facility used in Chechnya | Text of report from Russian news agency Agentstvo Voyennykh Novostey web site on 1st November Rostov-on-Don, 1st November: In the grouping of Russian troops in the Northern Caucasus, testing has been completed on a facility for monitoring shortwave radio transmissions. This was reported to the Agentstvo Voyennykh Novostey correspondent by the technical director and chief engineer of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise, the "Gradient" All-Russian Scientific Research Institute, Vladimir Vernigora. In his words, this facility was used successfully in Groznyy in the Argun gorge, in Novolaksk and other regions of Chechnya. It is capable of determining in real time the frequency, azimuth and location angle of a radio transmission source, against which either an artillery or missile strike could then be launched. That is how several of the Chechen bandit formations' radio transmitters had bearings taken on them and were destroyed. The facility consists of three SOP-K (shortwave) automated stations for detecting and taking bearings on communication system signals and a TSU-K central station for control and determination of the location of radio transmission sources. Each station has its autonomous power supply and is housed in two cargo vans on KamAZ vehicles. The complex operates in the 1.5-30 MHz frequency range, with 360 degree bearing coverage. The facility's range is up to 3,000 km. Source: Agentstvo Voyennykh Novostey news agency web site, Moscow, in Russian 1 Nov 00 (via BBC Monitoring Nov 17 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. On 11590 Oct 27 at 1445, Radio Free Asia here, when I was looking for China Huayi BC, which might be heard when Free Asia closes. Classical music and perhaps I heard Mongolian. In any case definitely not Chinese! S 3 (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via Thomas Nilsson, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. I just checked CRI English from 2200 via Taldom: Most likely it is indeed now on 7170 as suggested by HFCC; the frequency is almost blocked by Skelton powerhouse on 7165 (Fri/Sat) but anything with narrow-bandwith audio is up there. 7175 was the frequency for this outlet in previous winter seasons. And yes, of course French via Samara on 7215 is 2030-2127, likely preceded by open carrier after VoR German service concludes broadcasting at 2000. It seems I need to relax... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. UNIDENTIFIED 4694.97 University Network 0217 Nov 16, Dr. Gene Scott preaching, very weak // 5030 and 11870 (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is a difference product: 9725 minus 5030 equals 4695. I suspect one could find others by differing -- and perhaps summing -- all possible pairs of TIDGS frequencies (if both be on the air) (gh, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague logged on 5055 kHz Nov 11 at 0315 in Spanish news, 0325 ID, SINPO 33443 (Herman Römer, Rijswijk Z-H, the Netherlands, Benelux DX Club list via DXLD) Hi Herman, Are you quite sure R. Prague was actually on 5055 kHz? Never have known them to use 60m band before. Regards, Glenn Hauser. Hi Glenn, I was also surprised, but the ID heard several times was 100% Radio Praga. After several IDs for me there was no doubt, indeed also for me the first time I heard them on the 60 mb (Herman Römer, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. [continued from Bulgaria] By the way, Ludo also showed the transmitters in France as available, but nobody wants to use Issoudun so far... Dr. Wegmüller reported that the "old" Issoudun facilities were completely idle prior to the temporary loss of Montsinéry. These are no less than eight 500 kW transmitters from 1973/1973, and probably further eight 100 kW transmitters from 1960/1962 are still available, too. So TDF has really an abundance of spare capacity Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. I thought we got Holiday things started too soon here in the U.S. I was wrong. V. of Guyana heard November 18, 2000 0022-0115 UT on 3290 kHz playing Christmas music. Stevie Wonder's "Someday At Christmas". Also heard mx "Christmas Waltz", "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland". Announcers were just about impossible to hear/understand. However, I did get a positive ID at 0024 of "This is the GBC. The Voice of Guyana" SIO 252. Happy, early, Holidays 73, -- (Kraig Krist, VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yeah, Guyana is a real winter wonderland. Got them beat here in Enid, where downtown Xmas decorations on public streets were up the week before Hallowe`en –- violating separation of church and state, and thus take up about 2.5 months per year (gh) ** IRAN [non]. ``KRSI``, Radio Sedaye Iran reinstated on 67 kHz SCS of KPCC 89.3 Pasadena CA, competing with KIRN 670 kHz AM, is also transmitting on 40 meters (7480 kHz) via RL/RFE`s facility in Prague, Czechoslovakia [sic] from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (PST) [1800-2100 UT] (Khalil, Nov FMedia! via DXLD) Really? ** ISRAËL. As of today (November 19th), Kol Israel's 0500 UTC broadcast (midnight EST, 7 AM Israel Time) is now also being recorded and available for on demand replay, on Sundays. http://www.israelradio.org/english.html (Daniel Rosenzweig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010 Kyrgyz Radio, 4010, does not seem to have English at 0010 any more. Have been checking for it several times now in November; fair reception (Börge Eriksson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via Thomas Nilsson, DXLD) ** MONACO [non]. 12025, R. Montecarlo, presumed via RFI, 1620-1635 Nov 16, Newscast in Arabic with particular emphasis to Middle East topics, ID & jingle ID at 1630. WRTH 1999 reports Radio France International in Arabic on this frequency at the same time. Never noticed before, but I could have missed something. A Real Audio sample is available at http://digilander.iol.it/idswarehouse/RadioMontecarlo12025.rm JRC 525 50m longwire http://digilander.iol.it/idswarehouse/index.htm (Renato Bruni, Francolino (FE), Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12025 ISS 500 180 2/2/.5 daily Ar 37,38W,46N WeNoAF 1600-1630 1700- 1800 March 04-24 only 12025 ISS 500 180 2/2/.5 daily Fr 37,38W,46N WeNoAF 1630-1700 [Fr/Ar] (TDF B-00 operational schedule via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) This makes no mention of R. Monte Carlo as the Arabic program source; one would assume it be RFI ** NIGERIA. State radio SW, FM broadcasts to resume on schedule | Excerpt from report by Nigerian radio on 16th November The director-general of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Mr Eddy Iroh, has expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the shortwave and FM transmission site at the FRCN Abuja national station. Mr Iroh stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria correspondent, Sani Suleiman, in Abuja. He said adequate facilities will be provided at the site to recommence shortwave and FM broadcasts on schedule. The director-general said plans had been concluded to purchase automatic power cut regulators for all FRCN national stations to beef up the local power supply by NEPA [National Electric Power Authority]. The director-general stated that the recent promotion of the staff of the corporation was the climax of the welfare package earlier announced when he assumed duty... Source: Radio Nigeria-Lagos in English 0600 gmt 16 Nov 00 (via BBC Monitoring via DXLD) ** PERÚ. 6797.56, Radio Ondas del Rio Mayo, Nueva Cajamarca; 1045- 1106 fair to poor signal on 18/NOV/2000, with the early morning show "El Madrugador". At 1056 ID was given as "Ésta es Radiodifusora Comercial Ondas del Río Mayo que transmite desde sus oficinas centrales en el Jirón Huallaga 348, Distrito Nueva Cajamarca, Provincia de Rioja, Departamento de San Martín, Perú. OBX9N 1490 kHz onda media con 1 kW de potencia efectiva en antena. OCW9O 100.7 MHz frecuencia modulada estéreo. OAZ9Q 5045 kHz (sic) onda corta cobertura internacional." The station still announces its shortwave outlet as "5045 kHz" with a faked callsign OAZ9Q (Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, Tokyo, Relámpago DX Logging via DXLD) ** PERÚ. DX TV: Perú stn in Argentina, channel A2 "Frecuencia Latina", Lima, Perú. 18/11/2000, 0530-0600 UTC Audio QRK 4! Not video movie, advs (from px "Operación Vigilancia") with ID. F2?, sounding like that. 100% Not TEp (not shaking sound). Lima-La Plata= 3200 Km. No reception at A4 (Lima has it), so MUF was working next to 60 MHz and not more. (34"56' South / 57"58' West) Old Pal-N Hitachi TV set (w/fine tuning) + 22 elem. Log A2-13 (Jorge Aloy, La Plata, Argentina, WTFDA via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. FEBC presumed the station in Vietnamese as scheduled on 7480 at 1200 UT Nov 17; fairly good signal and would clash with RFPI if it were on at this hour, which it does not plan to be according to new registration, unlike 6969 which used to run on weekends until 1200; splash from WJCR 7490 could also be a problem, but 7475 open at this hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. Radio Maryja, the Polish Catholic station, 7030 in the middle of the 41 m amateurband "trashing" with prayers and divine services at 1855 Oct 30. A radioamateur who wants to go to heaven or what? The station does not respond to questions by e-mail. S 2 and then up to 3-4 (Björn Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via Thomas Nilsson, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The Russian State Radio Broadcasting Company the Voice of Russia will soon be moving on to a qualitatively new level of broadcasting in the short wave meter band. On November 14 and 15 it tested broadcasting in the AM digital band using a company Russian transmitter and equipment provided by Thomcast company. The signal beamed by a transmitting center in Dubna, near Moscow, was successfully picked up in Europe. According to the Voice of Russia chairman Armen Oganesyan, our listeners in the world will be able to receive our short wave programs as clearly as they do FM programs. (From VoR's Nov. 17 News Report via Sosedkin) Note: I checked this VoR's English report against its Russian original. Here's the more precise rendering of the second sentence: "On Nov. 14-15 our Radio Company conducted digital AM-broadcasting tests, using a Russian transmitter and equipment from Thomcast company." Nothing is said about "AM digital band." You can read more on VoR's digital test at: http://www.vor.ru/Exclusive/excl_next731_eng.html (Sergei Sosedkin, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK?? (gh) Site was actually Taldom (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 19, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOR`s revived morning one-hour broadcast in English to WNAm on 7180 at 1500 was still going past 1600 Sunday November 19, including Joe Adamov`s Moscow Mailbag at 1611, and finally faded out around 1645; so they have added another hour to it, and it was audible even this far east, latest ever, i.e. until 1013 local mean time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7839 kHz at 1945 17/11/00 R.S Mayak, St Petersburg (549+7290) U2 mx, Ads, I.S at 2000 (S5 signal on peaks). I'm Quite pleased about Mayak on 7839 kHz [as] I can't hear 549 kHz here, and I haven`t been able to listen to Mayak in clear audio since County sound blocked 1566 kHz 73's (tim bucknall, uk, harmonics@egroups.com via DXLD) ** SEALAND. [See also DXLD 0-130, 0-139] Great Britain Says It Will Punish UK Hams Who Contact Sealand. Is it worthy of being considered a separate nation or not? Nobody is quite sure but the United Kingdom's Radiocommunications Agency is making it clear that it will not permit a proposed DXpedition to operate from a man made platform called Sealand. It is also threatening punitive action against any British ham radio operator that makes contact with any Sealand station. This is because the UK claims ownership of the World War 2 "Rough's Tower" that one man has renamed and claimed as a sovereign nation. Jeramy [sic] Boot, G4NJH, reports from Nottingham in the UK: The Radiocommunications Agency says the proposed operation from Rough's Tower is illegal. The Agency has noted that certain persons intend to operate on amateur radio frequencies using the callsign series '1SL' from Roughs Tower situated in the Thames Estuary between 9 and 12 December 2000. The structure is situated within United Kingdom territorial waters. Consequently, any such operation which is other than under and in accordance with a valid amateur radio licence issued by the United Kingdom or other Administration, would constitute an offence contrary to section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949. If the persons concerned do not hold a United Kingdom amateur radio licence, it would be necessary for them to hold an amateur radio licence issued by another Administration, and with whom the United Kingdom has a reciprocal agreement under which nationals of that country can operate using their callsign together with the appropriate 'M' prefix for a limited period from within the United Kingdom. The callsign series '1SL' is not permitted for use in the United Kingdom. If an UK radio amateur were to reply to an operator using a '1SL' callsign, they would be in breach of clause of [U.K. Communications Law] 1(4) of BR68. Although some persons have called Rough Tower 'the Principality of Sealand' the United Kingdom does not recognise 'the Principality of Sealand' as a sovereign independent state and is not aware that any other state has accorded such recognition. Consequently, and as explained above, unless radio use on the structure is authorised under a licence issued by a recognised state, an offence will be committed." -- Jeramy Boot, G4NJH For those of you who have never heard of either Rough's Tower or Sealand, here it is in a nutshell. The story dates back to World War II when the British built the tower as an island fortress. It was later abandoned and eventually claimed by Paddy Roy Bates under the laws of salvage on the high seas. Bates formally occupied the man- made structure, proclaimed it an island and settled there with his family. He decreed it to be sovereign Principality in 1967. More on this strange story can be found on the web at http://www.sealandgov.com (RSGB, Newsline November 17 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Unfortunately the short wave bands don`t work well because of a severe "woodpecker" type interference on many occasions. I tried to listen to Radio Voice of Hope and heard them on 12060 at 0430 [Sat only] with quite good signals, but the woodpecker made strong interference all over the band. Is there anything I can do to avoid it? Do you have that problem in other parts of the world? From where does it come? Please help! By the way: at 0505 Radio Rossij made reception impossible. They came on with a strong carrier at first and then with an ID and a program in Russian. Best wishes from (Björn Fransson, Gotland, Sweden, Nov 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAHITI. Take a look at our Trans-Pacific DX section and you will see that Bruce Conti has a report from New Hampshire! An east coast TP report for 738 may become even more difficult, because tonight (NOV 16-17) I am hearing a huge open carrier on 740 kHz, probably the new Toronto station testing. To put this in perspective, John Bryant`s TP report from Washington is amazing by itself! A rare week, when I dominate the TA section! If only I could hear some MW TA`s. It is very interesting to observe at least one LW TA every night (Jim Renfrew, PA, NRC International DX Digest editor, via DXLD) 738 POLYNESIA RFO Mahina, Tahiti NOV 12 1030 - Tentative, my first ever transpacific reception! Man and woman in French faded up briefly, otherwise a 2 kHz het against 740. XEX Mexico on 730 kHz was strong. WWNZ Florida was dominant over an unID Latin American signal on 740 kHz until WSBR Florida switched to day facilities followed by WJIB Massachusetts popping up at 1100 UTC, essentially wiping out what was a weakening signal with local sunrise approaching at 1135 UT [Bruce Conti, NH, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD] ** THAILAND. Glenn, R. Thailand heard November 19, 2000 1230-1259* on 9810 kHz. Male announcer with ID. Nx. Item on U.N. and peace process. Talk on Rice. SIO 252. Without the good audio and announcers I probably would not have been able to copy the signal as it was almost unusable 73, (-- Kraig Krist, VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UK. Skelton 3955, 6170 and 7165 have tonight again usual "Global Sound Kitchen" programming instead of the Virgin Radio 1215 kHz network as substitute. [as happened last week, q.v.] (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 18, DX ISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A Burrowing Owl Update We have an update on this year`s big T-hunt that is following the migration pattern of those rather elusive Burrowing Owls. And there is a new challenge as well. Here's Newsline`s Joe Moell, K0OV: Dozens of hams are listening intently with their receivers tuned just above 172 MHz this fall. The signals they are seeking don't have ham radio callsigns, and their transmissions are only a few milliseconds long. They are the radio tags on 52 endangered Burrowing Owls that left Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada for warmer weather down south, probably in southern Texas and northern Mexico. Burrowing owls were seen in Texas in late October, according to the latest report from Canadian biologists, but no Canadian leg bands have been spotted on them. The fall migration is complete, so hams in mid-central states can stand down until spring. But hams in Texas and surrounding states are still needed to monitor for the tags all winter long. Now another biologist is seeking ham help. Scott Weidensaul of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Pennsylvania wants hams from Maryland to South Carolina and points west to listen for tags now being put on Northern Saw-whet Owls. For all the details of both owl tracking efforts, go to my Web site: http://www.homingin.com All of the tag frequencies are there, as well as histories of these monitoring efforts and interesting information about both bird species. Find out why they are called "Burrowing" and "Saw-whet" owls. You'll also find suggestions for equipment for monitoring and direction- finding on 172 MHz. That's homingin.com...or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to my Callbook address for a hard copy (Joe Moell, K0OV, Amateur Radio Newsline November 17 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Mike Trout, 53, announcer on James Dobson`s Focus on the Family, abruptly resigned because he had an extramarital affair with a woman who`s not his wife (Nov FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. 2360.00, WHAM - Rochester, NY (harmonic) 1113 Nov 16, Local weather, // 1180. Very weak signal (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KIM: A correction from last week. I said that VOA directors have always been appointed by the president. Actually, presidential selection of VOA directors dates back to 1967. Before that, they were appointed by the director of the U.S. Information Agency or, in the very early years of VOA, the director of the Office of War Information. Now, please note this frequency change. This is for the sideband transmission of Communications World from Greenville, Saturday at 7 UTC. The frequency as of next Saturday, November 25th, is 6873 kilohertz. That's new 6873, Saturday at 7, your choice upper or lower sideband, replacing 10869. The other sideband transmission, Sunday at 14 Universal Time, remains on 18275. Propagation on 18275 at 14 should improve as we approach winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Mark Hattam in the U.K. goes beyond that, asking if VOA intends to use the 11 meter band. That's the rarely used international broadcast band between 25670 and 26100 kilohertz. Mark has been hearing a studio link transmitter of WFLA in Florida on 25870, and it uses only 100 watts. Well, Mark, VOA has no plans to use 11 meters. VOA also has a shortage of transmitters and antennas that work on that band. Hmmm, but I wonder if I could fire up a 10-meter amateur transmitter on 11 meters, and transmit Communications World for a half an hour a week? Just a thought (VOA Communications World Nov 18 via John Norfolk, Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** U S A. WOR`s new broadcast on WBCQ-2, 9335 CUSB, UT Sunday 0030 was clear of splatter this week Nov 19, since WWFV 9320 was running open carrier most of the half hour, except for some fitful words around 0045, and from 0057 resuming with live ID by Dave Frantz as ``WWFV-WGTG`` (so which is it at the moment, really?), and about to start Rev. Fultcher; however, even during cheering a couple of minutes later it was not splattering upon us. WOR started late but ran to completion at 0102, immediately followed by ``Pagan Potpourri`` which upon recheck 0149 was playing Tom Lehrer`s ``Oedipus Rex`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. From http://www.wwfv.org/ Press Release: Dated 11/18/2000 Radio Station WWFV began broadcasting with its new transmitter (Global-2) in 1998. WWFV is the ONLY international shortwave station located in the continental United States broadcasting in full Single Side Band, military compatible directly to our men and women in all branches of the armed services. For the last two years, Radio Station WWFV has been receiving massive kudos from our service men and women stationed all around the globe (many voting for the first time ever,) by bringing directly to them the unambiguous, unvarnished Christian / patriot / conservative political truth, in direct combat with the liberal pro-gay, anti conservative, politically correct propaganda mills of the Armed Forces Radio Television Network that also broadcasts on Single Side Band. As a direct result of WWFV being able to directly reach our men and women in uniform, the presidential elections have been swayed in favor of the unambiguous, unvarnished Christian / patriot / conservative political truth. (via John Norfolk, DXLD) With that kind of absurd line, it`s no wonder WWFV has no takers from the liberal/left, which they claim to be trying to get to buy time too. The SSB/military argument is novel, but bogus. So people in the military can`t or won`t pick up US SW stations broadcasting in AM?! See DXLD 0-136 about AFRTS also carrying far-right talkshows, (starting with Rush Limbaugh) (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. This isn't on quite the same topic as John's comments, but is another criticism of AFN's services. While in Germany recently I had the opportunity to hear both AFN and BFBS (British Forces). To me AFN borders on being propaganda: message after message of how in x year y airman did some patriotic deed and killed a lot of nasty foreigners for the US military and awful rhetoric about how this and that must be upheld for one thing or another. Such messages tend to intersperse rather mediocre music programming. I believe the AFRTS TV service is no better, as an American I encountered while travelling had stayed with a military friend and complained about the propaganda-like content on US forces TV, even though it offered a little taste of home. BFBS on the other hand was a slickly produced contemporary music station with local news, information and announcements with no need, indeed no room for the likes of propaganda in their format. It seems like the US government/military is foregoing the entertainment of personnel with policy. (Dan Atkinson, England. http://www.danatkinson.co.uk swprograms via DXLD) ** VANUATU. On 4960.0 Nov 18 at 1110 finished for today with speech and soft mx, 1115 National Anthem. Noted first time this autumn. Carrier noted earlier but no speech has been audible then. Nice surprise! Poor (Leif Råhäll, location near Malmö in Southern Sweden, SW Bulletin via Thomas Nilsson, DXLD) ###