DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-009, January 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 reproduced in its entirety without permission. For restrixions and searchable 2001 contents see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html THIS WEEK ON WORLD OF RADIO 1066: See topic summary at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1066.html HEAR WORLD OF RADIO 1066: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1066.ram (STREAM) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1066.rm (DOWNLOAD) ESCUCHAR MUNDO RADIAL, ENERO-FEBRERO: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/mr0101.ram (CORRIENTE) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/mr0101.rm (BAJABLE) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/mr0101.html (TEXTO) ** ARMENIA. The Voice of Armenia presents 20 minutes of French, 20 minutes of German, and 20 minutes of English. On Mon to Sat this is at 2000-2100 on 9965 and 4810. In English, there is a mailbag program on Sat. On Sun, VOA broadcasts at 0900-1000 on 15270 and 4810. I first got this info from the DX program of R. Bulgaria. I have checked it by listening. The programs are different from any other station I have heard. This info is correct, and the info in Passport 2001 is not. I have not yet written to the station, and I am not sure I will (David Crystal, Israel, Jan 8 by P-mail, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. R. Minsk, 7210, Jan 7 0300-0329 English news, local folk music, ID, program on local languages. Weak, but in the clear. \\ 5970 was poor with a lot of adjacent channel splatter (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) that was UT Sun; English not daily ** BELGIUM. Due to the uncertain situation in the Dem. Republic Of Congo, RVI will be transmitting on extra frequencies: 0500-0700 : 11650 Wavre (extra from 18 January) 0700-0800 : 21530 Wavre (extra from 18 January) 1200-1230 : 21630 Wavre (normal schedule) 1700-1730 : 15385 Waver (extra from 17 January) 1900-2000 : 15520 Jülich (normal schedule) The px at 1900-2000 can be heard in Central Africa on 13770 (Jülich to M. East & E. Africa), 13645 (Madagascar to S. Africa) 5910 and 9925 (Wavre to S. Europe). (Paul Brems, member of DX-Antwerp via Silvain Domen, Belgium, Jan 17, WORLD OF RADIO 1066, DX LISTENING DIGEST; also via Wolfgang Büschel, Andy Sennitt) ** BELGIUM. RTBF INTERNATIONAL: Contacted today at 1700 local time on 17 Jan, RTBF International told me there are not yet any plans for additional bcs to C Africa. The station maintains its current schedule (totalling 57 hours/week via DTK Jülich to C Africa). However, the Wavre tx on 9970 will stay on the air until 2200, instead of 1815 UTC to transmit football coverage on 17, 19 and 20 Jan 2001. So this has nothing to do with the situation in Congo. (RVI via Paul Brems, member of DX-Antwerp, Jan 17 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. From what I can tell today, R. Nacional da Amazônia is back on 6180. Programming is a bit different from the old RNA, a lot of links with R. Nacional do Rio on 1130. I will be checking this new incursion by RNA onto 6180 this evening when reception conditions are more favorable here in SP (Rudolf W. Grimm, São Bernardo - SP, Jan 19, radioescutas, translated by gh for DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R. Cultura`s actual audio link for great Brazilian music is http://www.tvcultura.com.br/radioam/radioam.asx as heard on 17815, or http://www.tvcultura.com.br/radiofm/radiofm.asx for their FM side, classical (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Did you know that the CJBC call letters, now belonging to the CBC French station in Toronto [860] originally stood for ``Jarvis Street Baptist Church``? In the early days of broadcasting, from what I have heard, there were Catholic, Evangelical and Jehovah`s Witnesses -run stations in Toronto which attacked each other with such vitriol that the government revoked their licences -– and religious broadcast stations are only just now being allowed in this country (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Jan ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. CLANDESTINE from TAIWAN to CHINA. 8300, New Star Broadcasting Station 1430-1445 Jan 14. Tone at 1430, then female announcer with identification in Chinese, then comments and pop music. At 1435 same announcer appeared with five groups of numbers in standard Chinese. This continued to 1445 when a brief musical bridge was aired and the station closed. Fair signal. SINPO= 34433 (Mike Ford, England, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Clandestine, Voz de la Resistencia, 6233.72, tnx to WOR report, heard Jan 12 1125-1210+, LAm music, Spanish announcements, IDs by M & W at 1137. Poor to fair, best in USB. First time heard in a while despite many attempts (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. Radiodifusora Nacional de Colombia on 9634.97 kHz is now audible almost all night long local time in Denmark with a surprisingly good signal. Heard mid-January from 2230 to 0500 -- except for one hour at 0100-0200 when the frequency is also used by Radio Sweden (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Jan 17, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. R. Pampa, 4260.67, Jan 13 0225, third harmonic of 1420. Spanish ballads, IDs, anmts, poor, weak, but fading up to fair level at times. RTTY QRM. Tnx to WOR report (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Hello: I tuned to HCJB at 1525 UT on 21455 and heard it in AM mode (or, so I thought), with fair signal (but occasional severe fading) into the Montreal area. I switched to SSB to try and clean up the signal. The switch was set at LSB... and I heard nothing. I found a signal on USB, though. Compatible-USB anyone? Later: Contrary to what I wrote an hour ago, HCJB on 21455 is now booming into Montreal on a true AM signal. Very curious. 1637 UT Jan 18. Later2: Hi Glenn, Now I am truly confused... after the two messages I sent you today, I checked the radio again in the 2300 hour, only to find that HCJB on 21455 was once again missing its lower sideband. Are they doing transmitter work/testing of some kind? I know they were a test site for DRM earlier this winter and 21455 kHz was used. Would it have anything to do with that? Regards (Ricky Leong, QC, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) (Re: above and DXLD 1-008) Beware, -- what means afternoon, before 1545? WYFR Okeechobee-FL 100 kW on that channel 1545-1945. 21455 1545-1945 zone 28 WYFR 100 kW 44 degrs USA WYFR FCC. And remaining HCJB Quito 2000-1530. 21455 2000-1530 Zones 27-30,55,58-60 QUI 1 kW 035/225 degrees EQA HCJB English except Japanese segment 2200-2300, Spanish 2300-2400. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, Jan 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 15/01/01 Digital Radio Mundial (DRM) heard on 21455 kHz with digital test transmissions and Analogue IDs in Various Languages. In an e-mail to 21MHz.com, Hans Linkels - The Chairman of DRM System Evaluation Group wrote:- "The transmission was originating from Pifo (near Quito) in Equador, using a Siemens 30 kW PEP linear transmitter. The transmission was an experimental DRM transmission directed towards Europe, to be received in Hilversum, Netherlands and Kingswood Warren, England. The program contents consisted of a part analog signal (as you might have received), a part regular 16QAM DRM, 64QAM DRM and about 75 seconds of 2-PSK used for channel sounding purposes. Because of the spectral contents the 2-PSK signal might have induced some out-of-band radiation for which we apologize. However this is not a regular DRM signal." (Graham Powell`s new site http://www.21MHz.com via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. SATERN Fielding El Salvador Earthquake Health-and- Welfare Traffic NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 18, 2001--Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, reports that health-and-welfare requests continue to flow in from El Salvador. SATERN has been maintaining its routine daily net on 14.265 MHz at 1500 UT, but will continue to monitor the frequency. McPherson says that if it becomes necessary, SATERN will run a formal net to handle traffic. "Quent Nelson, WA4BZY, our coordinator for health-and-welfare continues to process these requests," McPherson said. "Contact has been made with Richard Webster, YS1/K9ULW, in El Salvador, who has been one of the primary amateurs assisting the endeavor." Relief traffic reportedly was being handled on 7090 kHz as necessary. McPherson said the level of traffic in the wake of the earthquake disaster has not been overwhelming, "but each message is important to the requestor," he added. McPherson said he got an encouraging message today from Eric Hegerle, N3VOC, a SATERN member in Pittsburgh. Hegerle reported that a local ham had been asked if he could find out information about a relative in El Salvador. He sent a health-and-welfare inquiry through the SATERN Web site and got a reply back within 24 hours. Hegerle told McPherson the ham signed up with SATERN as a result of his experience. McPherson expressed his appreciation to all amateurs who have been helping in the earthquake relief effort. "This kind of operation continues only through the great support of the Amateur Radio community and the dedication of folks driven to help those in need," he said. "Thanks to you all!" (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR. Rescue Radio: Hams Aid In Aftermath of Central America Quake Ham radio operators joined rescuers in search of survivors in buried homes after a powerful earthquake struck El Salvador and Guatemala on Saturday January 13th. We have more in this report: Rescuers in El Salvador now put the death toll from the January 13th quake at over 700 and fear the number could rise as excavations continue. The quake was centered off the Salvadoran coast, about 65 miles southwest of San Miguel. This, according to the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado. Measuring 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale, the trembler also rocked Honduras and Guatemala. Buildings swayed as far away as Mexico City. But most of the damage was centered in El Salvador. Around the city of San Salvador and its suburbs the quake shattered buildings and knocked out utilities. It also temporarily disrupted telephone service and most other normal lines of communications. Because of this, early reports by radio from hard-hit outlying areas were described as sketchy. Several news reports cited ham radio operators and other radio hobbyists becoming a lifeline to these regions in the minutes and hours following the quake. Another kind of radio almost helped save one man`s life. He was buried under rubble for thirty-one hours before raising someone on his cellular telephone to let them know where he was. News reports say that he is in critical condition when taken to a San Salvador hospital suffering from kidney and heart failure. He died on Wednesday the 17th. As we go to air, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network is making available a health-and-welfare inquiry form via its website. Go to http://www.qso.com/satern to find out more. And while no formal net has been called up, Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network volunteers are in stand-by mode on their net frequency of 14.265 MHz. Meantime Rafael Estevez, WA4ZZG, of the SIRA group in Miami tells Newsline that another net is on 7.090 MHz is handling what can best be described as internal communications. Other reports say that Salvadorian hams will remain on alert until all telephone service is restored and they are told to stand down. For Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF A 1986 earthquake centered near San Salvador killed an estimated 1,500 people and injured an additional 8,000. (Newsline, SIRA, others, Newsline January 19 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA/UNITED NATIONS. UN starts broadcasting in Eritrea Text of report in English by Eritrean Visafric news agency web site on 17 January UNMEE`s [UN Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia] Public Information Office has successfully launched its first radio programme, which was broadcast over the Eritrean airwaves at 1330 [local time, 1030 gmt] on 16 January. The programme is produced in four languages: English, Tigrinya, Tigre and Arabic. Radio UNMEE`s programme can be heard on Channel 1, 945 kHz mediumwave, from 1330 to 1430 [1030-1130 gmt] on Tuesdays, and on Channel 2, 837 kHz mediumwave, from 1400 to 1500 [1100-1200 gmt]. At the same times, the programme can be heard on the shortwave 41 metre band - Channel 1, at 7100 kHz, and Channel 2, at 7175 kHz. The programmes are repeated every Wednesday at 1000-1100 [0700-0800 gmt] on all channels. Radio UNMEE will feature news of the latest developments from the peacekeeping mission, and important markers in the unfolding peace process such as the prisoner of war exchange. Additionally, Radio UNMEE will focus on humanitarian issues such as the situation of internally displaced people, and keep listeners informed about the ongoing mine awareness and demining programmes. The first programme was introduced by the special representative of the secretary-general, Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, who is chief of UNMEE. Radio UNMEE has always intended to broadcast its programmes in Eritrea and in Ethiopia, in English and translated into the three major national languages. Radio UNMEE is ready to broadcast a parallel programme on Radio Ethiopia, but awaits final word from the minister of foreign affairs concerning UNMEE's radio access. In Ethiopia the broadcast languages are Amharic, Afan Oromo and Tigrinya, in addition to English. Source: Visafric news agency web site, Asmara, in English 17 Jan 01 (BBC Monitoring via DXLD) ** ERITREA. 19 January 2001: A press release from the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) states that UNMEE`s Public Information Office successfully launched its first radio programme in Eritrea at 1330 (1030 UT) on 16 January. The programme is produced in four languages: English, Tigrinya, Tigre and Arabic. Radio UNMEE`s programme can be heard on Tuesdays on Channel I, 945 and 7100 kHz, from 1330 to 1430 (1030-1130 UT), and on Channel II, 837 and 7175 kHz from 1400 to 1500 (1100-1200 UT). ((c) Radio Netherlands Media Network via Andy Sennitt, DXLD) ** GABON. Vous pouvez consulter notre site Internet pour trouver toutes les informations sur la Radio : http// www.africa1.com . Notre E-Mail : africa@ africa1.com Vous pouvez également nous écouter en direct sur Internet (sur notre site). Mais sachez que l'on nous capte parfaitement en Ondes Courtes aux Etats Unis, au Canada, au Japon et même en Australie et en....Sibérie ! Amical salut d'Africa n 1. cordialement, Africa N 1 mailto: af_africa@africa1.com (Georges Courreges, ANO via Mike Terry, hard-core-dx via DXLD) now webcasting, finally found the link, http://www.comfm/com/live/radio/africa/playerw.html and heard at 0130 Jan 20 (gh) ** GREECE. [Responses to John Babbis` comments in DXLD 1-008; note that his remarks were a week old, via P-mail, no doubt valid then] John, yes, 9935 and 11595 are both off. But the old ex-VOA COLLINS 35 kW unit is still in use on 7430.29 kHz tonight, 1746 UT. Signal level nothing spectacular though. Maybe temporary powerline cut? Last week they had abnormal snowfall in Thessaloniki/Northern Greece region, seen on German TV. Or they moving around the new-{used} 250 kW units from former Portugal site, around the tx building. BTW, the sister- units from Portugal were moved to Iranawila (one or two units, despite the new MARCONI type which were erected there), and to Tinian Northern Marianas too (four units?) 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, jan 18, DXLD) Only a few days ago I noted a vastly improved signal from Greece on 7430, but unfortunately I made no notes of times or days. Today it`s only one of the VOA vintage units again. The home service frequency of 9420 is also dead (at 2000) and has been unheard evenings for several days. I got the impression that this one was also a Thessaloniki outlet, but I never confirmed that. It is listed as Avlis. I used 9420 as one of my evening references to determine the minimum propagating distance from the southeast. 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, Jan 18, DXLD) Hello, repeated checks of Thessaloniki 7430 between 1800 and after 2200 showed it always off-frequency on about 7430.3, also with usual signal strength and (slightly distorted) modulation, so this is certainly still one of the ancient 35 kW Collins transmitters. On 9935 no trace of any signal, so most likely indeed not on air. Perhaps it should be noted that these transmitters carry "Macedonia 1" from Thessaloniki, // 1044, so the parliament session from Dresden, which lasted today until shortly prior to 10 PM, had Greek music as underlay... I guess the last remark needs some explanation: Both Wachenbrunn 882 and Wilsdruff 1044 are used to carry sessions of the parliaments of Thuringia and Saxonia, respectively. These broadcasts are handled by the MDR studios at Dresden and Weimar, so one will hear the regular FM program of MDR Radio Thüringen on 882 during session breaks, while Dresden plays music tapes instead. It is also planned to switch 882 and 1044 into MDR Radio Thüringen or MDR Radio Sachsen, respectively, if no MDR info signal is available neither via regular landline nor via satellite due to disasters like a major studio equipment failure. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 18, DXLD) Returning to the subject of Greece, I noted them active again on 9420 later in the evening, maybe from 2100. Evidently more observations are needed to establish what is going on. 73s (Olle Alm, Jan 19, DXLD) Also right [Jan 19 at 1115 UT] now the usual Thessaloniki daytime channels 9935 and 11595 are off, not any signal on 7430, either. Yesterday I already wrote about MW 1044 from Thessaloniki area (perhaps even co-located with the shortwave transmitters?), which is on air and certainly running full 150 kW, so I think there are no power supply matters which result in the limited shortwave operations. Transmitters from Portugal: The Tinian site was constructed with the equipment from Maxoqueira, which consisted of six 500 kW Asea Brown Boveri transmitters. Maxoqueira was opened in 1991 and just two or so years later shut down; certainly it was the shortest-living high power shortwave site which ever existed. Regarding the Gloria site, the TDP from Ludo Maes gives this about where the 250 kW Continental transmitters from the eighties were removed: 5 x Avlis (rather ERA for installation at either Avlis or Thessaloniki), 5 x Playa de Pals, 3 x Iranawila, 2 x Kavala. The four 250 kW General Electric units from 1964 were evidently scrapped like the even older, lower powered transmitters (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 19, DXLD) Hello all, Thessaloniki switched from 9935 to 7430 at 1700, apparently still the old txer, although spot on frequency today. No other Thessaloniki outlets traced during the afternoon (Olle Alm, Jan 19, DXLD) Right now at 2130 I note Thessaloniki 7430 (// MW 1044) on even frequency and with a powerhouse signal. The audio sounds also somewhat different now, especially there is no noticeable non-linear distortion anymore. I suspect this is indeed one of the 250 kW Continental units instead of the old 35 kW Collins which was used yesterday (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe English news was missing for a while from ERA5 in the 0600 hour, or maybe I was only checking weekends, but ran across it Fri Jan 19 at 0611-0619, very good on 7475, aside a weak whooper on 7480 absent RFPI; nothing audible on 11900 Delano. John Babbis has this English news as M-F 0610-0620 also on 9420, 15630, 17520. The night before at 0547, VOG was again on 7457, not 7455, aside the RTTY which was as usual on 7455. With the ATS-909 narrow selectivity, I could evade it by tuning to 7458 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN/IRAQ. CLANDESTINE MIDDLE EAST (Cumbre DX follow up). The below, which I found on the Radio Free Iraq website, explains why we are still hearing Voice of the Mojahed- IS IRAQI-IRANIAN DETENTE COLLAPSING? According to London's "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" of 8 January, an Iranian source said to be "close to the government" said that the 7 January explosions near a Revolutionary Guards center north of Tehran should be considered "a declaration of the end of the truce between Tehran and Baghdad." When Iraqi Assistant Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Qaysi visited Tehran recently, the source said, a "quasi-agreement" was reached to put an end to the activities of the opposition groups in both countries in preparation for concluding a comprehensive security agreement between them. This accord was followed up by a joint decision to stop strengthening the radio and television programs broadcast by the Mojahedin-e Khalq from Iraq and Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) from Iran (David Nissman, Radio Free Iraq website, via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Radio Iraq International was noted January 17th with a splendid signal for their English transmission. Previously they have been suffering from a lot of modulation problems. Heard from tune in at 2020 (I suppose the English broadcast commenced around 2000 - or 2015?) on 11784.95 kHz with some interference from DW in Portuguese (via the Rwanda site) till 2050 when the frequency became clear and hence reception became virtually perfect with talk on Iranian literature and a scientific magazine. Modulation was very good even though a bit low on some of the spoken features. Music was only very slightly distorted. An enormous improvement to previous transmissions from Baghdad which were hardly readable. The transmission in English ended at 2104 and then went into German. By this time some interference again and signal strength from Baghdad deteriorated (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Jan 17, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. In reviewing a website for Voice of the Worker http://www.wpiraq.org/english/ which was updated 1/17/2001, there was a note as follows: ``Tune to the new radio station (voice of the worker-communist party of Iraq) in the Middle East now! 19m, short wave.`` Has anyone heard this station? It either has not yet started or is starting today! (Dan Henderson, Jan 17, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 19m would be new, but this station has been active for years on 4000 at both 1600 and 0400 (Hans Johnson, Jan 18) Regarding the piece on the status of the Voice of the Worker station- I emailed them to see if they were on 19 meters yet. Here is their response from Fatah Mamand: "unfortunately the radio has not started broadcasting the programs yet due to the lack of funding as our first radio station was closed down by P.U.K and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the North of Iraq." So off for now, but hoping to reactivate (Hans Johnson, Jan 19, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) Hi Dan, Thanks for the notice regarding the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq`s announcement regarding their radio station. It appears to be the same clandestine radio operation they have been running since 1996. The Voice of the Iraqi Communist Workers Party has been inactive, according to monitoring reports, since mid-1999. If the news of a new 19m frequency is true then it means they have most likely found a sponsor outside of Iraq to broadcast their programs. This makes sense as Saddam`s long-term health remains in doubt and his immediate future is in question with the Bush administration`s anticipated support for the main democratic opposition group, the Iraqi National Congress - whose own Radio Hurriah should hit the airwaves early next month. Get set for an exciting year for the airwaves over Iraq. The Worker- Communist Party of Iraq maintains a separate webpage for their station, which continues to publish its traditional frequencies: http://www.wpiraq.org/english/radio.htm More information on the station and other clandestine radio stations can be found at: http://www.clandestineradio.com (Nick Grace C., Managing Editor ClandestineRadio.com via hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA English at 2000 Jan 19 was back on 11605 instead of 6280, and much better there. Finished with 6280 earlier than planned, or a mistake? (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe the same at 0500? At 0510 check Jan 20, nothing audible on 6280, 9435 only a weak carrier, so may have moved back to 11605 but not propagating tonight (gh, OK, DXLD) ** ISRAEL/LEBANON. New pro-Israel Arabic radio now calls itself "Eastern Radio" The new pro-Israel Arabic-language radio station which began test transmissions on 756 kHz in December with the identification "The Experimental Radio from the Mediterranean Basin", is now calling itself "Eastern Radio" (al-idha`ah al-mashriqiyah). The radio signed on at 0600 gmt on 18 January by identifying itself as "The Eastern Broadcasting House (dar al-idha`ah al-mashriqiyah). It then carried the following announcement: "Esteemed listeners, you are tuned to the Eastern Radio (al-idha`ah al-mashriqiyah) which, at this stage, comes to you across the eastern Mediterranean coast on 756 kHz mediumwave. You can listen to us on the internet through the Carmel News Agency in Washington. The URL is: http://www.carmelnews.org. You will also be able to receive us via satellite in the near future. "Esteemed listeners, we broadcast to you truthful and pure material that is not fabricated nor issued by the ruling circles and hirelings. We are with you on the first step in the 1000-mile journey to reach the shores of security and safety, the shores of peace and better life, the shores of sovereignty, freedom, and independence in the full sense of the word. "You can contact us on the internet or at the following postal address: Post Office Box No 52341, Limassol, Cyprus, postal code 4062. You can also contact us via fax number 44-207-6917678, at the London Office; or via fax number 1-202-4680261 at our main Washington office. "Dear listeners, the good easterners everywhere. We welcome your contacts and will respond to them. Write whatever you like; do not worry. All things will ultimately change and what remains will be the good and the useful. May peace be with you wherever you are." The radio carried a 30-minute programme entitled "Between the Past and the Present". The programme discussed the Iranian revolution`s January 1979 developments and the "Sanguinary events" that preceded Imam Khomeyni`s return from exile. The programme also discussed the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the 1991 Gulf war, with an anti-Iraq slant. At 0640 gmt, the radio carried a 5-minute "Political Commentary" on the recent deaths of former Lebanese president Charles Hilu and the Shiite Lebanese Cleric Muhammad Mahdi Shams-al-Din. The commentary states that they are "the most prominent symbols of moderation, logic and dialogue among the Lebanese leaders and figures." The radio then repeated the above opening announcement. The programmes were interspersed with Lebanese songs and music. At 0700 gmt, the radio repeated the above programmes and went off the air at 0800 gmt. No sign-off announcement was observed. The radio was checked and found to be active on the Internet as announced above. The frequency 756 kHz was used in the past to broadcast a pro-Israel Lebanese radio from Kfar Killa in southern Lebanon called Voice of the South. It went off the air on 24 May 2000 when the Lebanese forces withdrew from southern Lebanon. Source: BBC Monitoring research 18 Jan 01 (BBCM via DXLD) ** JORDAN. R. Jordan, 11690, Jan 13 1415-1508+ in English. Tune-in to continuous US, Arabic pops, 1500 ID. At 1502 started to acknowledge listeners` reception reports. Gone at 1518 check. Fair to good but a lot of strong RTTY QRM on frequency making reception poor and very difficult (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-17680 ** KASHMIR. Hello Friends, Thanks to Mr Dan Henderson, GRDXC Member # G110, we have been informed that there is a New Frequency for AIR Leh in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Following is a short description of the program heard by me today 19-01-2001 on 4770 khz (NEW FREQUENCY). All times UT: 14.48 : A Discussion by OMs about elections (probably the local elections) in Kashmir & later reference to High Court was made. 14.55 : Dogri song (OM) {Dogri is an offshoot dialect of Punjabi spoken in Jammu region} 15.01 : Mention of 'Ladakh Scouts' 15.02 : Dogri song (YL) 15.06 : Another Dogri Song! (YL) 15.15 : National News in Hindi The Signal was not that good considering the proximity of the station to my location: Punjab. 73's, (Harjot Singh Brar (Globe Radio DX Club Online Forum) via DXLD) ** KIRIBATI. 9810, Radio Kiribati: Not logged in years; my guess is that they are not coming back. In several calls in 1999 and early 2000, they claimed to be awaiting spares. They even claimed to have returned at one point, but not a single monitor on either side of the Pacific was able to hear them. In the spring of 2000, Don Nelson made quite an effort to determine what parts the station needed to come back on the air. The idea was for hobbyists to supply the spares needed to bring the station back. The lack of response left me with the impression that Radio Kiribati wasn`t really interested. And in November of 2000, we have heard they are off due to critical personnel being on long-term sick leave and that because of this, there were no plans to repair the shortwave transmitter. It`s hard not to conclude that these are just excuses. Not wanting to disappoint, Radio Kiribati simply responds to queries with an excuse rather than a direct no. Seemingly, a new way has been found to service this audience or they simply have no influence in keeping their service on. Don suggests that the chief engineer, who is sick, was perhaps the only advocate for the shortwave. After over two years off the air, my feeling is that despite Kiribati`s talk of returning to shortwave, they are gone just like Cook Islands, Tonga, and Tahiti. R.I.P. (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX, Jan 16, via DXLD) Making excuses, or even lying, rather than giving an honest negative is a common trait in many cultures, not including American, where we value honesty and directness (gh) ** KOREA NORTH. The Frontline Soldiers station seems to be active on an irregular basis on all the three frequencies (1614v, 2624v, 3025v), approx. 1400-2000. I last heard them on both SW frequencies in early January, and on 1614v on another day. Purpose is (probably) entertainment for North Korean soldiers stationed along the DMZ (hence the frontline). Contents are mainly radio dramas with occasional music and political talk. Programs are not parallel when two or three are on at the same time. They may all be feeders for local rebroadcasting. Name of the station is "Chonyon Chobyong durul wihan Bangsong" (lit. "Radio for Soldiers on the Frontline"). ID can be heard at s/on and a few minutes after the half-hour (Sonny Ashimori, Japan, Jan 17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 6570, Defence Forces Broadcasting Station, presumed here Jan 18 at 1615, local pop music with no announcements, 1630 announcements by man, woman and another woman in local languages; on the second long announcement Myanmar heard, instrumental tune on local instruments and off 1633 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). Listen next Sunday (21-JAN-2001) to us on 21890 kHz AM; we will be there starting around 1515 UT. Reception reports by email alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl or signing into our huge!! guestbook will be answered by email and snailmail (enclose reply fee) and receive the infosheet and QSL card. Hope you`ll pick us up. Greetings from your host/dj/operator Alfred Brandon. Greetings and all the best from Alfred (A*L*I) [Alfa Lima International] via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Vanishing Comrades: I have a fascinating book in my library called ``The Comrade Vanishes`` by David King. Mr King has amassed a stunning collection of Soviet era pictures, posters and illustrations, all with a disturbing characteristic. As people in the photographs fell out of favour and disappeared into the meat grinder known as the Gulag (or simply had a bullet fired into the back of their heads), they were airbrushed out of the photographs or their heads were replaced by other ``comrades``. They became unpersons; all references to them disappeared from the records. I was struck by the appearance of the latest On Target publication of Radio Netherlands. I thought at least there would be some kind of explanation of the new direction at RN, and specifically, the cancellation of Media Network. There is either a) an assumption that everybody already knows about this, or that b) everyone has access to the internet. Even if RN has a reasonable and understandable excuse for the changes (and I believe they do) that have been wrought at the station, there should have been some comment made in the first edition of On Target issued since said changes. Instead, ``Comrades`` Jonathan Marks and Anne Blair Gould among others have just disappeared, and the group photo is down to 26 persons from 32 the year before. Aural Tapestry seems to have disappeared as well; however it has gone on hiatus before. It`s nice that Mike Shaw, head of the English Language Service, seems pleased with the changes made at the station which he acknowledges on the front page. The expansion of Newsline and an emphasis on RN`s always strong documentaries is good news (no pun intended) but perhaps even a brief explanation of the MN changes and other personnel changes would be in order. Even an article expressing appreciation to Mr Marks for his work on MN in the same style as the item on the retirement of Robert Green in the recent issue. I`m not a conspiracy theorist (as a fan of MN, I guess I AM a `Marks-ist`) but it causes one to raise one`s eyebrows when so many people leave a station at apparently the same time. There are comments about new programming initiatives but as for the reasons for changes to programming and personnel, as in Soviet literature, one must ``read between the lines``. If RN would take the time to explain these things, perhaps listeners might have a better understanding and appreciation of the efforts at the station (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Jan ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. This sad news came to me today via one of Bob`s close friends in the UK. On January 13, 2001, the Gadget Guru, Bob Tomalski of the UK, journalist, broadcaster, and Contributing Editor to Radio Netherlands` Media Network suddenly passed away at the age of 47. The cause was attributed to a heart attack. Bob and I became good friends through our common association with Media Network, and we often chatted on ICQ about the latest toys and gadgets. This news was a complete shock to me, and it is just so very hard to believe that he is gone. Rest in peace, Bob. Details, pictures: http://www.trsc.com/musing_2001-01-18.html More information as it becomes available will be posted as received. :-( (--- Thomas R. Sundstrom, DXLD) We received the sad news today that MN`s Bob Tomalski has died. There`s a short obituary at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/tomalski010118.html (Andy Sennitt, RNMN, DXLD) ** OMAN. Dear Mike, We have one hour English program to Europe between 1400 to 1500 UT daily on frequency 15140 kHz; the rest is in Arabic. I am attaching our SW schedule for your information. Best regards (Salim Jameel Al-Nomani, Director of Frequency, Radio Sultanate of Oman, via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK, Jan 17 via DXLD) [later: Jan 20 at 1440 clashing as usual with HCJB Spanish, Oman mostly music anyway; meanwhile, 15150 went begging for an occupant (gh, OK)] ** RUSSIA. Starting Jan. 22, the Russian Service of the Voice of Russia adds one more hour to its schedule. A new broadcast will be on the air daily 1900-2000 UT on 6030 and 7170 kHz, targeted at Belorussia, Moldavia, Ukraine and Baltic region. Also from Jan. 22 VoR will be using additional frequencies 1143 and 6030 kHz from 2000 to 2100 UT, targeted at the above-named area (Pavel Mikhailov in DX_Bistro via Sergei Sossedkin, MI, Jan 19, DXLD) ** U K. I may quit kicking myself for missing the first few episodes of BBC WS` monumental 24-episode-series ``The Story of Africa``, history of the last bimillennium, previously previewed here, because of its inconvenient scheduling of Fri 1645 and 1945 (and even more so other days at 0930, 1130), on SW, not streamed. I finally tuned in Fri Jan 19 at 1945 on 17830 and better 15400, both Ascension, and heard instead ``Inside Track`` about football in Tanzania! I rechecked page 38 of January BBC On Air, where the series is much- hyped, as starting in January, at the above times. However, the daily program schedules for January do not show it at any of these times. The Feb BBCOA is in, so checked the equivalent ``Regional Programmes in English`` page 50. Has this all been a chimaera? We are referred to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa and on the second try it is found, leading specifically once searched for to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index.shtml which says in fact the series starts Feb 9, on yet a different schedule: East/South Fri 0930, Sun 0430, Tue 1630; West/Central Sun 0430, 0730, Tue 1630. Reception will not be as good here at 1630 on 15400 and 17830, but possible. Probably it will be available ondemand at the website. Back on page 50, I now see this: The Story of Africa: now *30* minutes each from Feb 9. ``In the January issue we publicised the start of this series. Following publication, the transmission date was postponed. Apologies to our readers in Africa.`` Why not to me? (Glenn Hauser, Africa[non], DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Dear Friends, Waveguide, the BBC-WS broadcasting news programme, host this week Harold Sellers of Ontario DX Association and me for a chat with Richard Lambley about radio listening in 2001 and ahead. If you wish to listen to Waveguide please tune in the BBC World Service on this Saturday Jan 20 at 0430 UT and 0845 UT or Sunday Jan 21 at 0845 UT in Europe. Among frequencies: 648, 6195, 9410, 12095 kHz. The programme is on the air also on Sunday at 1945 to West Africa and on Monday at 0345 to the Middle East and 0945 to East Asia. I`m very happy of having shared many ideas with Harold as this is also my first contact with N American DXers as EDXC Secretary General. By the way, let me thank DXers who sent me messages after my interview with REE last week. Notwithstanding the programme was aired at uncommon hour for the European listener and transmitted to Latin America, many European friends listened to it. Thank you to you all for your comments. All the best in the week end, 73's, (Luigi Cobisi, European DX Council via Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 picks for Saturday and Sunday Jan 20-21: Saturday Jan 20 GMT: 1200-1300 3 Private Passions 1230-1300 4 News Quiz 1300-1400 2 comedy sketches 1730-1754 4 Back Row – films : Michael Douglas 1815-1900 4 Loose Ends - Sheridan Morley 1900-1945 4 Saturday Review 1940-2005 3 Metropolitan Opera Interval - Opera Quiz 2000-2100 4 Archive Hour – Queen Victoria Sunday January 21 GMT: 1200-1230 4 Just A Minute 1300-1445 3 Philip Jones Memorial Concert – brass ensemble 1330-1400 4 Opening Nights: West Side Story 1600-1630 2 Gilbert & Sullivan Story 1600-1645 3 Discovering Music 1630-1700 2 Sing Something Simple 1645-1745 3 Performing Verdi 1815-1900 4 Pick of the Week 1830-1930 3 Private Passions 2000-2030 4 Feedback 2030-2100 4 Word of Mouth - computer lingo 2330-2400 4 Scents & Sensibility – Mark Tully 2335-2420 3 World Routes – Rajasthan http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 (from website listings via gh, DXLD) ** U K. Special Event Stations Commemorate Marconi Centenary A number of special event stations commemorating the centenary of Marconi`s "First Little Miracle", as he called it, will be on the air from the 21st to 23rd of January. GB100LD will be located at the Lizard in Cornwall and GB100GNI at the Niton Radio station on the Isle of Wight. On the 23rd of January 1901, Marconi received a wireless signal from Niton, 196 miles away. This was the longest distance over which a wireless transmission had been made. Members of the West Wight Radio Society will be recreating this historical event with the Radio Officers Association Radio Society on the Lizard. The station on the Lizard has been allocated the permanent special event callsign GB2LD and will be available for individual radio amateurs to operate. Further details were published in the January 2001 edition of RadCom. GB2PK, located at Porthcurno in Cornwall, will also be on the air on the 23rd. The station is located at the Cable & Wireless Porthcurno and Collections Trust Museum of Submarine Telegraphy. A radio receiving station was set up at Porthcurno in 1902 by the Eastern Telegraph Company, because it was worried that Marconi`s wireless successes threatened the monopoly of cable communications (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News January 21 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A syndicated far-right talk show originating in TX I happened to hear on WJJG in IL around midday Jan 18 had a caller from KY saying he had found a loophole in the Communications Act of 1934 which allows him to set up a large number of pro-militia SW stations, no license needed. Gave his address as cpuckett@ure.net (George Thurman, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If anyone cares to enquire of him and report back to us, be my guest (gh) ** U S A. Glenn- I just heard the VOA announce today- January 19- at about 1915 UT that 36 staff positions are being cut from the VOA, and the following services while be discontinued- Thai, Uzbek, and Portuguese to Brazil. No date for when the services will cease was given (Bill Bergadano, DX Central, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Services to be closed: Thai, Uzbek, Portuguese to Brazil. Reduced: Bulgarian, Romanian, Slovak, Turkish. Merged: Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian. 36 jobs will be eliminated. Savings will allow improvement of: Arabic, Indonesian, Macedonian, Russian, Spanish to Andes. Bush has not yet asked Sandy Ungar to resign (Kim Elliott, VOA Communications World Jan 20, notes by gh for DXLD) ** U S A. Washington, Jan. 19, 2001 – In accordance with its second annual strategic analysis of all language services of U.S. Government-supported international broadcasting, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) today announced shifts of resources and broadcast hours of selected language services. The Board`s action will eliminate three services, reduce ten others, and enhance another six. The affected broadcasters include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America, where 36 staff positions will be eliminated. The International Broadcasting Act of 1994 requires the Broadcasting Board ``to review, reviewuate, and determine, at least annually, after consultation with the Secretary of State, the addition or deletion of language services.`` Language service review and the setting of language priorities are key components of the BBG`s broad responsibilities as an independent federal entity since Oct. 1, 1999. The measures announced today are another step in what the Board envisions as a realignment of strategic priorities and reallocation of U.S. civilian international broadcasting`s resources over several years. The measures also underscore the need to use broadcasting funds efficiently to provide accurate, objective news and information and to support emerging democracies, as well as to make creative and cost-effective use of the Internet and other new media to deliver programming. The Board has decided to eliminate the Voice of America (VOA) services in Portuguese to Brazil, Thai, and Uzbek, reduce VOA broadcasts in Bulgarian, Romanian, Slovak, Armenian, and Turkish; and enhance broadcasts in Arabic, Indonesian, Hindi, Macedonian, and Spanish to the Americas. The Board-mandated reductions for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) represent a scaling back of shortwave broadcasts and a shift of resources into other broadcast media along with emphasis on marketing and advertising. Shortwave broadcasts in Armenian, Bulgarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Russian, and Ukrainian will be curtailed, as allowed by expanded FM broadcasting, and daily broadcasts in Slovak will be shortened. Enhancements will include expanded Arabic and Farsi Internet sites and AM capability, stepped up recruitment of Russian affiliates, and expanded Romanian service to extend broadcasts to Moldova. In undertaking its second annual language service review, the BBG examined where the U.S. should broadcast and how effectively the broadcasters are in reaching their target audiences. The Board reviewuated the services using such criteria as audience size and awareness of the broadcasts in the target areas, media environment, political and economic freedom, transmission effectiveness, cost, broadcast hours, and language overlap between the broadcasters. Created by the International Broadcasting Act of 1994, the bi- partisan Broadcasting Board of Governors is responsible for policy and budgetary oversight of all U.S. Government-supported civilian overseas broadcasting, including the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio and Television Marti, WORLDNET Television, and Radio Free Asia. The Board is appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and the Secretary of State is an ex officio voting member of the BBG. The current members, not including one vacancy, are Marc B. Nathanson, Chairman; Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State; Tom C. Korologos; Edward E. Kaufman; Alberto Mora; Cheryl Halpern; Norman J. Pattiz; and Robert M. Ledbetter, Jr. As of Oct. 1, 1999, in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, the Broadcasting Board of Governors is also an independent federal entity with over 3,300 employees, encompassing all U.S. Government-supported broadcasting. The Board is committed to assisting the affected employees with extensive job counseling and out-placement services (BBG Jan 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: [SWBC] VOA coverage of Inaugural activities VOICE OF AMERICA INAUGURATION COVERAGE IN ENGLISH JANUARY 20, 2001 1600-1800 UTC 909 BOT (1600-1730) 1197 MUN (1630-1700) 1260 RHO (1600-1700) 1548 KWT (1600-1700) 6035 SAO (1600-1700) 6040 MOR 6045 PHT 6110 PHT 7125 UDO 9575 KAV 9645 IRA 9760 PHT 11920 UDO 12005 PHT 12040 PHT 13710 BOT (1600-1700) 15205 KAV 15240 MOR 15395 IRA 15445 BOT (1700-1800) 15485 ASC (1600-1700) 17590 DL 17895 MOR 21620 DL 21735 DL 1900-2030 UTC (PARADE COVERAGE) 909 BOT 1197 MUN (1900-1930) 1530 SAO (2000-2030) 4950 SAO 6035 SAO 6095 KAV (2000-2030) 7415 BOT 9690 KAV 9760 KAV 11855 ASC (2000-2030) 11920 UDO (1900-2000) 11975 SAO 13710 BOT 15240 MOR 15580 GR 17580 GR (2000-2030) 17595 SAC [N.B.: ANOTHER SACKVILLE VOA RELAY SPECIAL -GH] 17885 ASC (2000-2030) (Dan Ferguson, IBB, SWBC@topica.com Jan 20 via DXLD) Older version: ** U S A. Inaugural coverage in English 1600-1800 UT Sat Jan 20: 15205 Kavala 6040 Morocco 15240 Morocco 11920 Udorn ENGLISH TO AMERICAN REPUBLICS 1600-1800 UT: 17590 2162077 21735 1900-2030 UT: 17595 21735 ENGLISH - ASIA/OCEANIA/PACIFIC 1600-1800 UT: 6045 6110 9645 9760 (1600-1700) 12005 12040 15395 1900-2030 UT: 9525 9890 11870 11970 13725 15180 15410 ENGLISH - EUROPE/NORTH AFRICA/ MIDDLE EAST 1600-1700 6040 ADDED TO NORMAL FREQUENCIES 9760 REPLACED BY 9575 1900-2030 11845 ADDED TO NORMAL FREQUENCIES (Dan Ferguson, IBB Frequency Division via Graham Powell, hard-core-dx via DXLD) EMITTENTI RADIO INTERNAZIONALI IN ESPERANTO. 0700-0730 UTC R.Habana Cuba 9820 dom As/NAm 1100-1127 UTC China Radio Int. 7150,7170 day EAs/Jap 1300-1327 UTC China Radio Int. 11650,11840 day SEAs 1430-1500 UTC Radio Polonia 7275,7285 day Eu 1500-1530 UTC R.Habana Cuba 11760 dom Am/Car 1900-1930 UTC Radio Polonia 7130 day Eu 1930-2000 UTC R.Habana Cuba 13660,13715,13750 dom Eu 2000-2027 UTC China Radio Int. 7110,7265,9965 day Eu 2000-2020 UTC RAI Internat. 5955,7290 sab Eu 2020-2030 UTC Radio Vaticana 527,1530,4005,5883 dom Eu 2020-2030 UTC Radio Vaticana 1611,7250,9645 mer/gio Eu 2130-2155 UTC R.Austria Int. 5945,6155,13730 dom Eu 2130-2155 UTC R.Austria Int. 5945,6155,13730 ven Eu 2200-2230 UTC R.Habana Cuba 13660,13715,13750 dom Eu 2230-2257 UTC China Radio Int. 9860,11700 day SAm 2250-2300 UTC Radio Vaticana 527,1530,4005,5883 dom Eu 2330-2400 UTC R.Habana Cuba 6070,9505,11760 dom Am/Car (Marcello Casali via Radiorama 1/2001, radioincontro Jan 19 via DXLD) ###