DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-049, April 7, 2001 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com {Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. For restrixions and searchable 2001, 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html [NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn] WORLD OF RADIO on WWCR: Glenn, The Friday evening 9:30 PM Central broadcast has been bumped up to 9:00 PM. This coming Sunday (April 8), the 2 PM has been pre-empted for a Holiday Special. The 1[:30] AM that was on CR#3 (5.070) has been lateraled over to the other transmitter, and is now on 3.210 [UT Sunday]. Other changes pending, but not till the end of the month (Dawn Keen, WWCR Program Director, April 7) RADIO ENLACE: Nuestro primer informe DX de abril se emana dentro de Radio Enlace en Radio Nederland del viernes 6, repetido el domingo 8 a 17 minutos después de las 00 y 03 del lunes universal. ** ASIA [non]. The full sked for RFA, with sites, etc., is easily and freely available from the NDXC Web site. All RFA services with sites, but not languages, are also included in the public version of the HFCC master schedule, under "IBB" designators. Languages and frequencies are shown at the RFA Website. World Harvest Radio`s Web site has detailed info on RFA transmissions broadcast via their KWHR facility, with times and freqs. Regards (Bob Padula, Australia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Hola desde Brisbane, amigos oyentes; Nota, Voz Cristina Australia de Cox Peninsula (Darwin) anunció "Christian Voice International - Africa Service" Freq : 21680 kHz, 0300-0700 UT. Satélite fed desde Londres. Hasta la vista (Chris Martin, Qsld., April 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) G`Day from Sunny Qld, Yesterday I logged CV Of Aust on 21680 with the test program "Christian Voice International - Africa Service" which is satellite fed from the UK. I noted severe noise on this channel which I believe is coming from the transmitter site itself. I spoke with a Joe Fahy at Cox Peninsula and he monitored off air the sig, also monitored on a Spec An. He said everything was clean and suggested as it was the equinox I was getting the noise from the polar region !!?? My location here in rural Qld is free of noise. I use both a Drake SPR-4 and a Sony 7600G. The noise to me makes listening not a happy thing. It is not present on adjacent channels. Today at 0210 the carrier was on with tone as well as 'the' noise - again. Could others monitor this and report their reception on the list as to the quality of signal received. The folk at the admin office in Noosaville Qld for Christian Voice, inform me they have received 240 reception reports so far. I don`t think they have sent any veries out as yet. Cheers (Chris Martin, ARDXC, April 6 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA will have a lot of substitute programs for the Easter weekend, Friday-Monday April 13-16, some explained on this week`s Feedback (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. 9870, April 5, 0124-0134 Radio Austria International in English & other languages - IDs & Strauss waltzes but no programming. Very strong but why? (Bill Flynn, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM. Glenn: I copied about 3 minutes of R. Borderhunter's transmission today, before it abruptly ended. Just got word that his amplifier is still giving problems. He will work on it tomorrow (David Hodgson, TN Apr 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also UNKNOWN site at bottom re 6900, 15440 ** CANADA. CHWO AM 740 - Prime Time Radio and the Ontario DX Association are pleased to inform that the QSL cards for AM 740 have arrived and will be sent out by mail over the next week. Our apologies for the delay but with the many changes made by a radio station, some things must be attended to before others. We appreciate your patience and encourage you to tell everyone to listen for AM 740, Toronto. We also have station information, program schedule and pictures of your favorite personalities at AM 740 at our web site: http://www.odxa.on.ca/chwo.html (Brian Smith, QSL Manager for AM 740 & Ontario DX Association Director, odxa@compuserve.com April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. I haven`t heard anything from Falun Dafa at 2200 the last two nights - all is peace and quiet in the 12115 - 12135 part of the spectrum. They`re not heard on their previous 9 MHz channels, and a tune around elsewhere hasn`t so far produced results. Have you any news of what has happened, Olle? (Noël Green, England, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. James Latham has been away to a conference in Taiwan, where he also visited CBS and was quite impressed with their facilities. RFPI audio server was down for a while allowing Charlie Wilkinson to install a new one. Bandwidth has been reduced to 8 kbps to make it more reliable and accessible to more people with slower connexions, while maintaining adequate audio for mostly speech programming. Martin Lee, author of ``The Beast Reawakens`` is expected to guest soon, perhaps next week, on Far Right Radio Review. If live it would be UT Thursday or Sunday at 0230; other Global Community Forum times are Wed and Sat 2030 (RFPI Mailbag April 6, notes by gh for DXLD) ** CUBA. 23410, R. Habana, 11705 x 2, 1258 April 7, second harmonic of 11705 outlet. The fundamental was audible under a Japanese language program. Also \\ to 6000. Signal dropped out completely @ 1300, but popped back in, around 1310 with fair strength (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Japanese = NHK via Sackville ** CYPRUS GREEKISH. CBC Nicosia SW schedule in Greek towards W & C Eu, Fri/Sat/Sun only, via Merlin site Zyggi, east of Limassol: 6180 2215-2245 s....fs Cyprus 250 314 EUR 7205 2215-2245 s....fs Cyprus 250 314 EUR 9760 2215-2245 s....fs Cyprus 250 315 EUR (Merlin summer schedule, via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX, Mar 14 via BC-DX) This was referred to as needing upgrading, and English IDs ** CYPRUS TURKISH. We read the statement from Radio Bayrak, that they have no plans to reactivate the shortwave outlets. So was the new shortwave transmitter, which was widely reported a few years ago, only a phantom? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. I was all set to hear DX Partyline on its first airing, UT Friday April 6 at 2310 on the webcast, but soon was reminded, after a less obtrusive commercial, that German, not English, is on at this time. Fortunately, reception was adequate via the ionosphere on default 17660. In fact, English is not on webcast after 1900 or 0400 either when DXPL airs Saturdays/UT Sundays, so that leaves Sat 0610 and Sun 0110 the only chances (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. You possibly have heard in the news about the attack of the government against the free radio last week in Greece. Below I will try to concisely overview what`s happened with the abrupt shut- off by the press Ministry of the Imitos antenna farm in Athens. Please notice that it includes an up to date overview (till Tuesday) but using as unbiased as possible view of the facts though the reality is more against the government`s and radio council`s policy. Just before the start of the Airport of Spata Athens on 27th of March the government closed down 64 radio stations transmitted via the Imitos antenna farm, a point near Athens. Police raids and engineers from the National Electricity company have been sent downhill of the Imitos point. Police blocked journalists from reporting on hills whereas electricity engineers cut off grid from 55 radio transmitters (under time share format for 64 stations). Also a TV station has been shut off which resumed a little later by a back up generator. As the press minister Mr Reppas declared next day, due to unknown delays between the Radio & TV committee (RTVC) and the Press Ministry, the decrees for shutting down have been delivered the same or next day after. 28 stations are still under operation from another point (Penteli) which under certain conditions can be audible up to Konstantinople (Istanbul) as transmission engineers say. The proposal from the radio council (by the guidance of the Ministry of Press) is to provide a scheme of 20 + 8 or 20+ 15 station licenses (primary /secondary) by the second transmission point (Penteli) although older studies (one on 1991) proposed a 55 station list and another of 70 stations list from Imitos transmission point without interfering the new airport. However members from the Pilot Association declared there was not any significant interference so far (except from some pirates). The shut off stations are 64 in total, including radio stations, sharing a 65% total market rate with a total equipment investment up to 3 gigaeuros, and up to 100 kW of EIRP each transmitter in order to defend from neighbor frequency QRM. Most of them operate for more than about one sesquidecade. The general managers of some are the founders of the free radio. They have made many requests to the government to provide a solution for it. It is assumed that about 2500 employees will lose their work. Some of these stations, however, already use satellite or internet broadcasts. Field Measurements last year in Spata airport base however, showed a rise of about 20 dB over the threshold 10 years ago, introducing noise effect that can cause problems on 'radio instruments' (VHF walkie-talkies?), an engineer declared in a TV debate. Strong protests have been made against this action, from all sources including people from the Governing party. Alpha network, Blue Sky TV and Sky radio are the only radio and TV sources for covering extensively the subject: Alpha TV (and also Alpha radio) is the only TV station covering 'window' debates and reports in its main newscast revealing a bad management and bad level discussions between the government and the Radio TV Committee for the selection of the criteria for the remaining 8 (secondary) licenses. A special committee for technology assessment just started in order to manage the technical aspects. Sky Radio 100.4 on 30 March has made a special 'radio day' inviting 17 of the shutdown stations for 'mutual' programming (mostly discussions and partial music programming). The press minister accused Sky of doing it. Proto radio, Greek satellite radio based in Germany, relayed for 2 days Radio Gold. Musical protests also have been made last Thursday. More than 3000 people attained in it. Opposition party New Democracy asked the Press Minister to review his decision and include all the shut down stations in the 'queue' for 28 licenses. A district attorney will take over the disputes between the radio council and the press Ministry in order to clarify the criteria and the process for the 8 or 15 secondary licenses. This is the second time the Socialistic government made such a major attack. Its first time was back on 89 against the opposition held mayor of Thessaloniki to terrestrially relay sat TV channels, was unsuccessful due to strong protests from people close to the transmitter site. Further info (most in Greek) can be found on (taken from http://wwwmedia.net.gr) http://www.eone.gr (Poll and Message boards) http://www.radio-gr.com http://www.freeradio.gr http://www.apn.gr/webpress http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeradio http://www.radiogold.gr http://bbs.kybernografoi.gr http://freeradio.8m.com, http://www.musiccorner.gr/lampsifm http://www.radiodays.8k.com http://www.melodymaker.gr http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/radio_gr/ http://www.iakovidis.gr/epikaira10/epikaira.htm (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. I monitored once again ERA Thessaloniki April 6 (via Avlis of course): 11595 was still on after 1620, so certainly stays on air until the frequency change is imminent. At 1657 recheck 15595 was off, instead 9935 already up with open carrier but as usual no modulation until top of the hour. Otherwise the announced schedule should be correct, the switch to 7430 indeed takes place shortly prior to 2100. I am somewhat confused about the programming. Tonight it was not in // with MW 1044 and included identifications like "third network", which certainly John Babbis forced to call the station "ERT-3". On the other hand they played on top of the hour the well-known canned announcement, which refers to MW 1044 and FM 102.0. So far ERA Thessaloniki operated two networks only, I wonder if they now have a third one, which joins the first one for the news? The programming after 2100 consisted of old records of Greek music, really nice. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re Macedonia - 7430 was very strong here before 2200 last night. And, as you report, and despite any announcements, 11595 does continue until c1655. I've also heard the canned ID mentioned, but don't have the opportunity to check SW against MW. The programme is "all Greek" to me. Early morning propagation has been very variable recently but I have been hearing VoGRC on 21530 & 17520 on air around 0500 (via KAV, according to IBB), so I assume they do come up at 0400 as listed. However, I have so far been unable to trace 15630 (Avlis) at that time - it may/may not be on. 9420 is heard with a break in transmission between c0550-0600, but I have yet to confirm what 21 & 17 do at that time. 15630 is heard after 0600. Despite attempts to do so, I have not yet found Glenn's reported 21535 to be audible (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, England, APril 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`ll have to recheck that. Possibly a receiver overload product from 9775; some of my rx get phantoms on 13m, tho it did not seem so at the time. Héllenes Around the World announced at end of Sat April 7 show 1654 on 17705 via Delano that would be back the week after Easter, i.e. skipping April 14 until April 21 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Replying to Noël above: The same here, and this was also the reason why I stayed on 7430, it was just strong enough to override the horrible local noise floor. The same to me of course, if not anybody had pointed out it before I wouldn`t know at all that this ID refers to 1044 kHz and 102.0 MHz. By the way, the jingles are quite new but they kept the station voice when they replaced the old ones. The MW outlet is in fact a pest here, because it is a source of interference to co-channel Wilsdruff with the MDR all-news network. So far I noted it always in // with shortwave, but last night not so. I must add that I have not definitely identified the interfering signal underneath MDR, but it sounded neither like Radio Liberty nor like SER, suggesting that it was indeed the usual Thessaloniki (Kai Ludwig, FGDR, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. The latest schedule of All India Radio and other information on Indian Broadcasting is available in my new site (UNDER CONSTRUCTION). Please check in http://bcdx.qrzindia.net 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, India, April 7, hard-core-dx via DXLD) [beware of MIDI music automatically starting, ruining anything else you may be taping or listening to as you go to this site --gh] ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Re: If I took my radio to the moon, what would I hear? I understand there has been such a thread on rrsw recently, which I have not read. I wrote an article a good many years ago called ``DXing Earth,`` I think, which was a cover story in Popular Electronics, on this subject. My present thinking is that most VHF and UHF broadcasts would be a mishmash (assuming adequate sensitivity to receive the signals at all), since there are so many stations of roughly equal power on the same frequency at essentially the same distance and direction. FM capture ratios would probably not apply -- not a single station able to dominate all the others. However, to the extent that most radiation goes out in the horizontal plane, you would likely have a progression of stations from the earth`s limb areas, as the world turns. Those on the approaching limb would pop in as soon as in view from the Moon, and then fade as the incidence approached vertical. The reverse toward the receding limb, and of course vanish when beyond the horizon. Terrestrial DX could extend the range slightly beyond the limbs. A search of the world`s TV and FM listings might produce a few frequencies not chockablock with stations every hundred miles or so, e.g. the Japanese 76-90 MHz FM band, and perhaps some of the higher UHF TV channels. The latter would also have an advantage when they are running huge ERPs such as 5 megawatts, typical in the USA. That`s video, but corresponding audio is no more than 1/10 of that. When Earth is presenting the Pacific Ocean to the Moon, there might be little else in view but a stations from the west coast of North America, some of them with not too many co-channel frequencies. This of course is all theory, and one wishes some astronauts had devoted at least a few minutes to bandscanning when they had a chance. If anyone knows of any reports of such activity, or has any further thoughts on this subject which I find fascinating, please share them (Glenn Hauser, Terra, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don`t think you'd hear anything from Earth at all below 3 MHz. During the Earth`s daytime all such signals would be absorbed by the D-layer. At night, they`d be reflected back away from space by the F- Layer. Shortwave: I doubt you`d hear very much. The only circumstance that might produce reception would be when a shortwave station had chosen a frequency that was above the MUF. Of course, stations try to avoid this, as their signals aren`t reflected back to Earth but simply go off into space.... VHF/UHF: I agree with Glenn. You might get nothing at all or far too much on every channel. Finally, the Apollo moonshots came when I was a boy just getting interested in radio (as well as being fascinated by the space activity). I remember the Apollo Service Module had something described as an "S-Band antenna" for communications with Earth, which even then caught my attention. I know about L-Band, C-Band and Ku- Band, but does anyone know what frequencies S-Band encompasses? (Chris Greenway, BDXC-UK April 7 via DXLD) When the ionosphere is doing its job of reflecting (or refracting) signals back to earth, is it really 100%, or does a fraxion of each signal actually make it through? I believe the incidence angle would have a major bearing on this (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. See UNKNOWN SITE at bottom ** JAPAN. News just in: the time signal of JJY will cease broadcasts on 8 MHz from April 18th. Special cards are available. Hope this is not a start of a big trend to leave SW bands (Karl Kruger, England, 73's :-{)} Electronic DX Press April 7 via DXLD) Just in from where? It appears the closure date keeps getting put off, but has anyone actually heard it since the original QRT date of March 31? (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN. R. Japan summer schedule: English 0000-0100 NoAM(Ea) 6145C 0100-0200 EaAS 17845 ME/NoAF 11880S(x Gabon), 11870 SoAM 17835 SoAS 15325 SoEaAS 11860I, 17810 0300-0400 CeAM 17825 Oceania 21610 0500-0600 EaAS 15195 EUR 5975B, 7230BW FE-RUS 11715, 11760 NoAM 13630 NoAM(We) 6110C Oceania 21755 SoEaAS 17810 0600-0700 EaAS 15195 EUR 7230B NoAM 13630 Oceania 21755 SoEaAS 11740I 1000-1100 EaAS 15590 Oceania 21755 SoEaAS 9695 1100-1200 EaAS 15590 NoAm(Ea) 6120C SoEaAS 9695 1400-1500 ME/NoAF 17755G (xSLK relay) NoAM 9505 SoAS 11730 SoEaAS 7200 1500-1600 EaAS 9750 SoAS 11730 SoEaAS 7200 1700-1800 AF(So) 15355G NoAM 9505 EUR 11970 2100-2200 AF(Ce) 11855A EUR 6115B, 6180BW, 11830 HWI 21670 Oceania 6035I, 17860 0000-0015R SoEaAS 13650, 17810 0100-0200R Oceania 17685 0600-0700R AM/HWI 17870 2100-2200R AM/HWI/CeAM 17825 R = Regional Sce, others Gen. Sce. Stns: Yamata (G.C: 139.50E/36.10N): 3 x 100 kW and 7 x 300 kW. And a 100 kW tx is reserved. Relays: B = Skelton-UK 300/250 kW or BW = Woofferton-UK 300/250 kW C = Sackville-CAN 250 kW F = Montsinery-GUF 500 kW G = Moyabi-GAB 500 kW I = Kranji-SNG 250 kW S = Ekala-SLK 300 kW A = Ascension Isl 250 kW (NHK schedule leaflet, Apr 1, BC-DX via DXLD; English only excerpted) ** JAPAN. R. Japan has moved its website to http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.html Here is the new A-01 English schedule from the website: 0000-0015 17810, 13650 SEAs 0000-0100 6145 NA 0100-0200 17835 SA; 11880, 11870 ME/NAf; 17845 As; 15325 SWAs; 17685 Oc 0300-0400 17825 CA; 21610 Oc 0500-0600 6110, 13630 NA; 5975, 7230 Eur; 11715, 11760, 15195 As; 17810 SEAs; 21755 Oc 0600-0700 13630 NA; 17870 Hawaii; 7230 Eur; 15195 As; 11740 SEAs; 21755 Oc 1000-1100 15590 As; 9695 SEAs; 21755 Oc; 6120 NA 1100-1200 15590 As; 9695 SEAs 1400-1500 9505 NA; 17755 ME/NAf; 11730 SWAs; 7200 SEAs 1500-1600 9750 As; 11730 SWAs; 7200 SEAs 1700-1800 9505 NA; 11970 Eur; 15355 Af 2100-2200 17825 NA; 21670 Hawaii; 11830, 6115, 6180 Eur; 11855 Af; 6035, 17860 Oc Prime Time Shortwave http://www.angelfire.com/wi2/shortwave/ (Daniel Sampson, Arcadia, WI, Apr 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Rather more compact, and I have not cross checked with above version to see if they match completely (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. Last night during the aurora, XEOI, Radio Mil on 6010 was S9+10, playing romantic vocals and man giving ``Radio Mil`` IDs after virtually every selection. Also the 4-note familiar IS as in the old days. I don`t recall ever hearing XEOI so loud. About the only other stations audible on 49m were 6090 Antigua and 6150 Costa Rica, with Dr Scott presiding. Vancouver on 6160 to the north of us was inaudible –- not a trace (Bill Flynn, Cave Junxion OR, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Fred Cantu has changed his Mexican radio/TV URL, updated his new site and dated it 14 March 2001. There is a message in red text on the old site, http://www.onr.com/user/fcantu/index.htm It says: Attention: Please note our new address http://www.mexicoradiotv.com Atención: I followed that and Fred`s new e-mail is fredcantu@mexicoradiotv.com I couldn't summon up the will to check all his links though or see if an e-mail bounced though. Best regards (CHRIS McWhinnie, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Indeed I tried one of the Radio Centro audio links from this page and it did work, and yes, as of Friday morning April 6 they were still giving CST UT -6 timechecks. I was aware Cantu had another site, but he is still responsible for updating or deleting the old site (gh, DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. A-01 SW schedule of Persian outlets via Grigoriopol`, Pridnestrovye site: 7520 1730-1815 smtwtfs 500 116 Persian W AS 7520 1730-1815 smtwtfs 500 116 Persian W AS 11535 1630-1830 .....f. 500 116 Persian W AS 11535 1630-1830 .....f. 500 116 Persian W AS 11540 1630-1830 s.....s 500 116 Persian W AS 11540 1630-1830 s.....s 500 116 Persian W AS 11590 1630-1830 .mtwt.. 500 116 Persian W AS 11590 1630-1830 .mtwt.. 500 116 Persian W AS 11635 1630-1715 to zone 40 500 116 12055 1730-1820 39-41 250!116 Persian ME 12055 1820-1900 39-41 500 116 Persian ME (via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX, Mar 14) 11635 confirmed as R Internationale at 1645. 11535 and 15690 parallel program, but several seconds delay (Olle Alm, Sweden, Apr 1) Radio Voice of Iran (Radyo Seda-ye Iran) in Farsi from March 25th noted *1630-1830* on 11535 or 11540 or 11590, but only one freq used for one txion. The stn changes freqs every day trying to avoid the Iranian jammers (Roberto Petraitis, Lithuania, CRW Mar 30) 11535 KRSI new freq, but jammed as well as x11590 where the bubble jammer still was (Noel R. Green, UK, Cumbre Apr 1) (all via BCDX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES: Re: RN mixture on 18915: The audio was loggable & a bit distorted but no echo or delay noted. It was much more distorted the next day and absent the 3rd day (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. I today verified Radio Pakistan`s Chinese service at 1200-1230 is using new 15100 and 17895 instead of 11895 & 15465. 15100 is a clear frequency but 17895 is co-channel with Riyadh, which has a crash start in mid-programme at 1200. 73's (Noel Green, England, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. ``KBBN`` : we got the go ahead to install our shortwave transmitter. They have assigned 20 or so shortwave frequencies in the past to other church groups who have not done anything with them. This is why they have been hesitant to give us a frequency, but they say that there is no problem and are 100% for what we are doing. They will help us any way they legally can (Brad Wells, PNG, Mar 31, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. RDP Portugal current A-01 schedule Port Mon-Fri [0000-0200 Tue-Sat] EUR 0500-1200 9815 LPV 30 degr / 11 dB 0500-1200 11960 RHOS 52 / 20 0645-0800 11850# HRS 55 / 18 1600-1900+ 15445 RHOS 52 / 19 1600-1900 15525 LPV 30 / 11 1600-1900 17650 RHOS 66 / 20 1900-2300* 13720 LPV 30 / 11 ME 1300-1500 21810 RHOS 81.5 / 19 AF 1000-1200 21830 HR 142 / 18 1600-1900 17680% HR 144 / 20 1900-2300* 11945% HR 144 / 20 USA/CAN 0500-0700 15585 RHOS 310 / 19 1200-2300* 17575 RHOS 294 / 20 2300-0200 9715 RHOS 294 / 19 2300-0200 11655 RHOS 310 / 20 VEN 1900-2300* 21540 RHOS 261 / 19 2300-0200 13700 RHOS 261 / 19 Brazil/Cabo Verde/Guinea 1000-1200 21655 RHOS 215 / 20 1000-1200 21725 RHOS 215 / 20 1600-1900 21655 RHOS 215 / 20 1600-1900+ 21800 RHOS 215 / 20 Brazil 2300-0200 13660 RHOS 215 / 18 Port Sat & Sun EUR 0700-1355 12020 RHOS 52 / 20 0700-1355 13640 LVP 30 / 11 0830-1000 11995# HRS 55 / 18 1400-2000 13770 RHOS 66 / 20 1400-2000+ 15555 LPV 30 / 11 1900-2300* 13720 RHOS 52 / 20 AF 0700-1655 21830 RHOS 142 / 18 1700-2000+ 17680% RHOS 144 / 22 1900-2300* 11945% RHOS 144 / 18 USA/CAN 1200-2000+ 17575 RHOS 294 / 20 VEN 1200-2000 17615 RHOS 261 / 19 1900-2300* 21540 RHOS 261 / 19 Brazil/Cabo Verde/Guinea 0700-2000 21655 RHOS 215 / 20 1200-2000+ 21800 RHOS 215 / 20 All 100 kW from Centro Emissor de Onda Curta São Gabriel, except marked % = 300 kW. # marked which is via Pro-Funk [Deutsche Welle] Sines relay 250 kW. + may be extended up to 2300. * reserved for extended schedule ONLY. (C.R. de Assunção Gonçalves, Portugal, via Noel R. Green, Mar 31, BC- DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Tonight I checked Gardarika 7370 around 1830 and found indeed an interference problem. Not only 7365 is occupied by Radio Vatican but also 7375 by VoA Botswana, which is quite strong here (that`s usually the case with the northern beams from BOT here). In addition I found the signal weaker than previously on 6235, and this weaker signal was squeezed between signals on +/- 5 kHz as described. It certainly needs further checks but the result of this first one was not convincing (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It`s interesting to read that Gardarika is also suffering splash from Botswana in eastern Germany. It's the same here, and BOT 7375 is a regular potent signal at my location at 1700+. Mikhail says the 7370 beam is changed to 215 deg -- this beam heading cannot be used on 6235 "as TWR is on 6240 at 2000-2015 in Arabic to North Africa". (Noel Green, England, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [and non]. Today I checked the extended Russian broadcasts of VoR, primarily aiming at "FSU" (a nice term, should I call eastern Germany "FGDR" now?). Indeed Berlin-693 now has Russian through 1200-1500, while Wachenbrunn-1323 still carries English 1400-1500. By the way, today occurred a major studio break-down at VoR English service. Both 1323 and 15510 had only dead air until shortly after 1400, then fill music, the instrumental pieces which are widely used on VoR productions, one after another, interrupted by evident attempts to make do (dead air, pips). Shortly prior to 1430 a canned apology was played, unfortunately when I was in the kitchen, so I only heard that "from March 25 Voice of Russia uses a new [computer?] system to [play??] ..." Finally after 1430 they managed to bring up their programming. Looks like the fun with digital studio systems has now also reached VoR... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Regarding BSKSA 21600: The issue of English when the transmitter comes up was already discussed when BSKSA started these French broadcasts on shortwave. They originate from a foreign language network which is otherwise carried only within Saudi Arabia on FM and low power MW, and this network carries English prior to French. Certainly it would make sense to put the English programming they anyway produce on shortwave, too... Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But that would amount to acknowledging that Britain and the USA are at least as important to SA as France is... (gh, DXLD) ** SERBIA. Dear Glen[n], I have found an update on the situation with Radio Yugoslavia`s shortwave service on their website. It reads thus: ``On August 18, 2000, the international community, through the International Media Commission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, banned the operating of Radio Jugoslavija`s transmitting short-wave center near Bijeljina. Immense efforts are being invested by highest state bodies for this problem with the international community to be resolved as soon as possible.`` What a nuisance for all those who want to hear them again! Best 73's, (DXDave [Harries], Bristol, England, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. Subject: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A PERIMETER ROAD AND TWO CONCRETE GUARD TOWERS AT THE INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING BUREAU'S TRANSMITTER STATION AT THE IRANAWILA, SRI LANKA SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTER STATION, IRANAWILA, SRI LANKA. -- Solicitation Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 16:06:16 -0400 (EDT) Summary: Apr 04, 2001 (FIND, Inc. via COMTEX) --; NOTICE TYPE: Solicitation; NOTICE DATED: 040201; OFFICE ADDRESS: Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau, Office of Contracts (CON), 330 C Street, SW, Room 2500, Washington, DC 20237; ZIP CODE: 20237 SOLICITATION NO.: SOL BBGCON1701-S5207; RESPONSE DEADLINE: DUE 052201; CONTACT: POC CONTACT POINT/CONTRACTING OFFICER: Walter Patterson, Station Manager American Embassy - Colombo, IBB Transmitting Station, 6100 Colombo Place Washington, D.C. 20521-6100 Telephone Sri Lanka 011-94-32-559-31 or 32; Edward Pritchard, Contracting Officer (202) 205-8411; Telefacsimile (202) 260-0855 Source: Commerce Business Daily - FIND Date: 04/03/2001 14:08 Document ID: FC20010403200000099 NOTICE TEXT: The U. S. International Broadcasting Bureau at Iranawila, Sri Lanka requires the design and installation of an extension to the perimeter road at the Operations Area end of the facility and the design and construction of two concrete guard observation towers connected by the road. The drawings package will be available to prospective offerors at the MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE to be held at the Iranawila site at 10:00 a.m. Local Time on May 1, 2001 to discuss the project. The Contractor shall also provide as-built drawings as a deliverable. The proposed period of performance of this work is 180 consecutive calendar days from Contractor's receipt of the Notice-To-Proceed. The Iranawila Transmitting Station, Sri Lanka intends to distribute a solicitation document (RFP) for this negotiated firm-fixed-price procurement. Qualified prospective offerors who plan to attend the aforementioned MANDATORY CONFERENCE may request a copy of the forthcoming solicitation by submitting a written request to the Station Manager at the above listed address or to the Contracting Officer at the telefacsimile number listed above. All responsible sources may submit a proposal in response to the forthcoming solicitation document, and all proposals shall be considered by the government. Due to the site-specific requirements and design/installation details, all questions to the RFP should be directed in writing to the Iranawila Transmitting Station, attention Walter Patterson at E-Mail wpatterson@sri.ibb.gov. This notice is not a RFP. Copyright (c) 2001: FIND, Inc. (via Mike Cooper, April 3, DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND [non]. Australia may no longer be a target of SRI, but English to Africa at 0730 comes in well on 15545 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, April 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s Jülich, 160 degrees ** TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS. Subject: New country for FM seekers. Mike, years ago while living in the Turks & Caicos Islands (halfway between southern Bahamas and Haiti) I built some FM stations for the western island of Providenciales. Over the ten years the stations have grown and for those who might like to try for a new country on FM, the following. Provo has the following stations active 24 hours per day. mostly relaying satellite fed programming but some local adverts and occasional IDs: 88.7 WPRT, 90.5 WIV-FM at 40 watts (*), 92.5 WIV at 250 watts (*), 93.7 (may be up or down one channel) WIV at 200 watts, 102.5 (*) at 40 watts, 106.3 "Reo Stubbs FM." WIV stations will all be 250-300 watts by sometime in May. Typically they are into east- west Logi (log-yagi) antennas with at least 6 dB gain so EIRP is closer to 1 kW for each. Any of these would be interesting Es catch in the new season and as Turks & Caicos are just 700 miles east of Miami, they should once spotted be quite outstanding and all alone as far as FM CCI. (PS - I can direct people to a verie signer when appropriate) (Bob Cooper, New Zealand, April 5, via Mike Bugaj, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U K. BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, 5 picks for rest of this weekend: SATURDAY: 4 at 2115-2200 UT: 10:15pm The Reith Lectures 2001: The End of Age : The Reith Lectures 2001 tackle the topic of ageing. Prof Tom Kirkwood examines the impact of science upon the human lifespan - both now and in years to come SUNDAY 4 at 0505-0535 UT: 6:05am Something Understood: Mark Tully considers the human tendency towards curiosity. While it is arguably the engine of progress, are there also dangers associated with the constant quest to know? [repeat at 2230 but conflict with World Routes on 3] 5 at 1100-1130 UT: 12:00pm Five Live Report: John Sweeney uncovers evidence of corruption in high places in Burma, the country which, for the past ten years, has been the world's biggest supplier of heroin. The ruling military junta claims to be winning the war against narcotics, a view backed by the United Nations Drug Control Programme. So why does Lo Hsing Han, the godfather of the Burmese heroin trade, head a multinational company built on drug money and play golf with the generals who run the country? 2 at 1500-1530 UT: 4:00pm Ballroom Lives: Lionel Blair presents a four-part series exploring the heyday of the ballroom. 2: The 1940s. With the advent of World War II, the government tried to close down ballrooms - but the urge to dance was too strong. Around the country, people gathered to foxtrot and waltz and to attempt the jitterbug - the favourite of the American servicemen. 3 at 1645-1730 UT: 5:45pm The Sunday Feature: The Romantic Road Julian Evans begins a second series of literary travels across modern-day Europe. 1: Russia. Taking as his starting point Alexander Pushkin - author of the verse-novel `Eugene Onegin' - Evans talks to writers in St Petersburg and Moscow about their debt to the great Russian writers of the 19th-century and about how their work has been shaped by the massive changes that have taken place in Russia over the past 100 years. 3 at 1730-1830 UT: 6:30pm Private Passions: Michael Berkeley talks to journalist Glyn Moody, whose book `Rebel Code: Linux and the Open Source Revolution' investigates how the free `open source' movement in the computer industry has come to challenge the dominance of Microsoft. He has also been involved in organising chamber concerts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a Satie weekend at the Almeida Festival. His musical choices range from Bach and the Viennese classics to Alkan, Satie, Sibelius and Thomas Ades's `Asyla'. 4 at 1900-1930 UT: 8:00pm A World in Your Ear: Emily Buchanan presents highlights from English-language radio programmes from around the world. In this edition, a focus on religious stations, as Radio Vatican defends its new 24-hour service and potentially lethal transmitters, radio in Nigeria covers the conflict between Christians and Muslims, and a white witch provides broadcasts for pagans. 3 at 2215-2300 UT: 11:15pm World Routes: Lucy Duran meets singer Michel Moushabeck, who has rediscovered a forgotten repertory of Palestinian songs. And record producer Ivan Duran talks about the lively music scene in the tiny [sic] republic of Belize. 4 at 2230-2300 UT: 11:30pm Something Understood: Mark Tully considers the human tendency towards curiosity. While it is arguably the engine of progress, are there also dangers associated with the constant quest to know? 4 at 2315-2348 UT: 12:15am Under African Skies: Three-part series in which Robin Denselow talks to African musicians about the development of their music and its cultural and political impact within their countries. 2: Baaba Maal had to overcome prejudice to become a singer in Senegal. Robin explores why Baaba is celebrated by Western musicians as well as being a superstar in Senegal. (BBC websites, chosen by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Article from: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,42892,00.html?tw=wn20010407 by Declan McCullagh 2:00 a.m. Apr. 7, 2001 PDT. If you`ve ever wondered how far Howard Stern`s raunchy broadcasts can go, the FCC has finally answered your question. In a fascinating 28-page report released Friday, the nation`s radio and TV censor has offered dozens of examples of broadcasts that it deems "indecent" and some that are acceptable for airing. See http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Enforcement/Orders/2001/fcc01090.txt (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. KKOB Albuquerque NM, 25910; Full data! verie on letterhead in 10 days. They didn`t use my SASE. This partly makes up for the QSL I didn`t get from them on 770 several years ago when they denied being the station I heard IDing as "The Great Voice of the Southwest". Address: Citadel Southwest, Radio Center, 500 4th St. NW, Albuquerque NM 87102-2102. V/S Mike Langner, Chief Engineer. Veri text: "That you for your reception report of our newly-installed FCC Part 74 transmitter. We will be using this facility to send "pre- profanity delay" audio to remote broadcast locations when stations in our cluster broadcast from remote locations. Since "off-air" monitoring when using a 7-second delay is impossible, this 25/26 MHz transmitter will be our headphone and PA system feeds. ... Here in Albuquerque, we too, often hear WFLA in this same band. In fact, the afternoon you heard our signal, WFLA was coming in "loud and clear" into Albuquerque on 25.87." [Not hrd by me the day of this reception.--HF] If the logos at the bottom of the letterhead represent their "cluster", then I assume that any of the following might appear on 25910; 610 KNML, 770 KKOB, 1050 KHTL, 92.3FM KRST, 93.3FM KOB, 96.3 KHFM, 99.5 Magic FM & 103.3FM K-Bull (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** U S A. I left the WLIO 26.410 link up when I left work. If you are wondering what it sounds like, you can listen to a sample at http://www.nrcdxas.org/mp3 as I put up a real audio file, and an MP3 with an example recorded by a DXer (Fred Vobbe, Lima OH, April 6, NRC via DXLD) And he said he would leave it on all weekend (gh) ** U S A [non]. The following has just been received from Scott Westerman at World Beacon: Greetings friends, Here is an update on our planned test transmissions from the United Arab Emirates. First a little background. For the last year, The World Beacon has relied on an excellent Merlin transmission facility at Rampisham, England to broadcast our programming to Africa. We`ve used a 500 kW transmitter on 9675 kHz from that location with a southern directional pattern. Our other primary site is Sentec`s [sic] Meyerton facility in South Africa. We broadcast in the 3 and 6 MHz band from this location targeting southern Africa. We have also experimented with frequencies in the 11, 15 and 17 MHz bands. 9675 kHz has been an excellent worldwide frequency for the Beacon. We have received favorable reports from around the world on this channel. Ironically, it has turned out to be less than perfect for our primary target area due to the phenomenon known as equatorial flutter. The pattern also leaves much of East Africa unable to reliably hear our broadcasts. Earlier this year, I set our Merlin engineers on the task of solving this problem. They have recently begun to manage the transmission facilities in the United Arab Emirates located in Abu Dhabi. There is an excellent 250 kW transmitter there that seems ideally located to give us better African coverage without the equatorial flutter issue. We had originally planned to test a 17 MHz frequency from that location, but it has occurred to us that if we an make 9675 kHz work from Abu Dhabi, it will be a great year-round frequency that won`t need to change with the seasons. So, we plan to compare 9675 kHz from the UAE with our 9675 facility in Rampisham. Here`s how the test will work. At 18-19 hours UT and 21-22 we will broadcast as per usual from Rampisham. At 19-21 hours, we will use the Abu Dhabi equipment. We have listening posts throughout the continent that we will be able to use to compare the quality of the two transmissions, after which, we will be able to make a decision on whether or not to shift our operations from England to UAE on 9675 kHz. At this point, I`m hopeful that the test will commence on Tuesday, April 10. I`m told that it may take a day or two more to get all the ducks in a row, but the plan is to test extensively as soon as possible. How can you know exactly when the test will begin? Three ways. I will be posting complete details of the test times and dates on our website at http://www.worldbeacon.net Listeners to the Beacon will also hear regular announcements during the testing period, explaining which transmitter is currently being used. And finally, I will shoot you all a quick email when the plans for this test are finalized. To encourage hobbyists to help us evaluate the world wide impact of this potential change, we`ve created a limited edition QSL card to commemorate the test. We will send this card to anyone who reports reception on 9675 from the UAE during our test period. Reception reports should be sent either via regular mail to: THE WORLD BEACON, 8133 Baymeadows Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256, USA or via Email to reception@worldbeacon.net (via Andy Sennitt, hard- core-dx via DXLD) Before you get too excited about this project, remember that the purpose of WB is to impose even more American gospel huxters on the African people, who already have a sufficient variety of their own religions; the ultimate in neocolonialism and imperialism. And we wonder whether the predominantly Moslem UAE realizes what their transmitters are about to be used for, or if the deal with Merlin relinquishes any veto power or editorial control (gh) ** URUGUAY. 6045, R. Sarandí Sport, Montevideo, April 6 at 1216: Reactivated and carrying the development of "La Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay", the most important bicycle competition in Uruguay, which takes place every year in this Easter week. Xmsn lasts for around 6 hours, from around 1200 or a bit earlier. The b/c is \\ to MW 890. Race will end next Sunday April 15 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1200 UT is after sunrise, so chances afar, if any, quickly diminish (gh, NAm) ** VIETNAM. 4660v, Lang Son BS: No sign of this at all, I`m afraid. Some of the details of the report of this station were perhaps a bit unexpected, particularly that it relays VOV2, which would make it the only VTN regional I know of relaying that network. There are a couple of VOV2 mediumwave frequencies (Nha Trang 576 and Danang 702) which carry regional programming a few times a day on an opt-out basis, but these are from high-power MW sites which have 2 transmitters carrying VOV1 and VOV2/Regional, both of which are on air continuously 2200- 1600. Other regionals relay VOV1 on MW and VOV1 or VOV3 on FM, if they relay any national programming at all. The start of regional programming reported at 1130 would be unusual, as VOV1 and VOV2 carry a common news programme at 1100-1145 which is either relayed in full by other regional stations I have heard or not relayed at all by them. Also I would expect the ID of Lang Son to be 'Day la dai phat thanh truyen hinh Lang Son' ('This is Lang Son Radio/Broadcasting *and TV* Station') in common with most other regional stations. The Lang Son station is listed with this name at the following web page which you may find interesting, and maybe also a little confusing when it tries to tackle anything technical: http://www.vnnews.com/t_anh/information/radio_system.htm Of course, none of this proves that the Lang Son SW station does not exist; maybe it just behaves a bit strangely compared with other VTN regionals. If it`s operating irregularly, it may be that I`ve just been unlucky in my attempts to hear it. As you [Johnson] pointed out previously, the presence of Houa Phan in Laos on 4661v complicates the issue. The Lao station is clearly heard throughout SE Asia, and is the only broadcast signal in this part of the spectrum I was able to hear in N Vietnam at the end of last year. There were no signs of any unexplained heterodynes affecting this signal. The thought also occurs to me that another possible complicating factor around 4660 for a receiver with a 470 [sic] kHz IF would be an image from Lao Cai 5600v (Alan Davies, Philippines, Mar 31, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNKNOWN SITE. Re: ``15440 Radio Ezra, started Mar 25, broadcasts are organized by Water into Wine Ministries from the UK. 1100-1115 Suns only. Website is http://www.water-into-wine.com (Ludo Maes-BEL, Mar 28, Cumbre)`` ``6900 Eurosonor R, 1600-1700 Suns only starting Apr 1st. Their website is http://www.eurosonor.de/radio/ (Ludo Maes-BEL, DXLD)`` NG: I`m listening to 15440 at 1100. I heard CRI go off - then tones - and now a religious txion in British English. Is this Hans Johnson's "Water into Wine" broadcast? About S=7 but not very good audio quality. I couldn`t understand what was said at sign-on, but has improved a little. WB: I saw this entry in the HFCC file, BUT is 30 mins later, and daily service!? Seemingly Rome-Italy relay ? KL: "Not very good audio quality" would indeed fit, a narrow audio bandwith is always significant for the Prato Smeraldo txs. This is especially striking at night when comparing 6060 with 846. KL: Regarding 6900: "A 50 kW transmitter in Western Europe" - but why do these guys refuse to say where it is located, if it is a regular broadcast transmitter? And why this frequency? Rather strange, isn't it? NG: I received mail from Mike Barraclough who tells me that Radio Ezra (Water into Wine) using 15440 Sunday at 1100-1115 is shown as coming from Wavre 100 kW on the broadcasters web site, and he wondered if 6900 was also from the same place. I`m puzzled by the listing as Wavre for the Ezra txion. There are three active txers (acc to Ludo Maes TDP) and they should all have been in use at 1100 Sunday. There are/were four more (which he lists as out of use or on standby - ex RTBF?) - three dating from 1952 and a 50 kW unit from 1969. Maybe one of these is kept as a standby unit and was in use at 1100?? KL: Is it actually certain that this is a regular broadcast? I have so far only cross-red the reports about it, because this freq seems to indicate a pirate to me. It`s indeed not within the usual range of European pirate stns, but rather odd for a broadcast stn. NG: I read that 6900 is a 50 kW txer located in western Europe so, as Ludo Maes is the organiser, could it be the one at Wavre? KL: The only other possibilities I am aware of would be RAI Prato Smeraldo and TDF Issoudun [sic latter mostly highpower 20 x 500 kW, and some remaining old 100 kW units too??, also old Allouis site contains 100 kW units too]. All other txs in "western Europe" are higher powered, away from Jülich which is certainly not the origin, and RDP, which I guess would use a higher frequency. Needs some monitoring I guess... Of course the 6900 and 15440 operations could well be related (Noel Green, UK; Kai Ludwig, Germany; Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Apr 2/5 discussions in BC-DX via DXLD) ###