DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-060, May 3, 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 1078: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1078.rm (STREAM) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1078.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1078.html RADIO ENLACE: Nuestra nueva serie de informes DX para mayo comienza el viernes 4 y domingo 6 en Radio Enlace de Radio Nederland. NEW SONY PORTABLE: ICF-SW7600GR. See http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/rxtips.txt (Joe Hanlon) ** ALASKA. Delta station prepares final production April 23, 2001 By AMBER DARLAND For the News-Miner "Bittersweet" is the word Tom Clementson uses to describe the last broadcast for Delta Junction's only radio station, American Forces Network Alaska at Fort Greely. The program, scheduled for April 30, will be the end of a radio station -- and the end of an era. Clementson is the station commander for the 60-year-old AFN affiliate, which was slated for closure under the 1995 Fort Greely base realignment decision. He has been researching the history of military radio in Alaska in preparation for the final production. "It's a monumental historical occasion as far as military radio is concerned," Clementson said. To capture the sentiment of finality for the last production, the station's broadcasters are preparing a historical overview and timeline of the station's existence in the Interior. The program will be a one-hour extension of the morning show with guest commentary from people who listened to or worked during different periods in AFN`s history. "What we want to do is offer closure to what has been, in my opinion, a crucial part of this community and for all of Alaska," Clementson said. Isaac Payne, a 2000 Delta High School graduate and two-year station employee, is excited about the final broadcast and said he has been "piling up" information for the last show. Payne said one his favorite projects for the April 30 farewell is collecting tape-recorded comments about the affiliate from Delta residents. "It's nice to know that you made a difference," he said of the positive community feedback. Clementson said the comments from community members are an important part of the final production. "It`s simple logic. The people in the Delta-Greely community are why we've existed, and that's why we want them to be a part of our last show. It`s a historic occasion -- signing off the military`s oldest radio station," he said. Delta Junction resident P.R. Miller has listened to AFN Alaska for more than 40 years. He said technology has changed most since he first started tuning in to the station. "When I was in radio, you went to talk to someone and you took notes," Miller said. "Right now with tape recorders, you get a lot of these nice interviews, person-to-person type interviews, historical interviews, and that works. That`s about the best thing they (AFN) have got going." While the quality of programming has changed over the years, Miller said the radio station`s role in the community has always been important. In the past, however, its reach extended far beyond that of Fort Greely and Delta Junction. According to Clementson, AFN Alaska provided service to AFN Honduras; Panamá; Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; and 88 other affiliates at its peak. "This was the last station in what was the largest (military) network," Clementson said. "It's really going to have a major impact on the community." He is concerned for Delta Junction residents because local media are limited to the town`s bi-weekly newspaper, the Delta Wind, and instant information is only available through the army radio station. Finding a way to distribute emergency information to the community is the station`s top priority due to the area`s susceptibility to fires, serious wind events and flood potential, Clementson said. To address that issue, the station is working to establish an unmanned radio affiliate through the Army Broadcasting Service. The affiliate will not broadcast regular local service announcements, but it will allow Fort Greely officials to interrupt with emergency information if necessary. AFN Alaska employees will begin building the smaller service in May, with tower and antenna construction scheduled to be complete in early June. Clementson said he is hoping for only a short outage while the radio service is transferred to the new station. Construction of the unmanned facility is a top priority for station employees, but their main focus until April 30 is the production of the farewell program. In light of the station's history-making final broadcast, Clementson made one request to Delta-Greely residents: "Folks that have looked to us in the past, just give us about an hour or so of your time. Especially from 9 to 10 a.m. – that`s when the produced piece is going to run, and I think you'll really get something out of it." © 1999-2001 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) April 30, 2001 -- Greely radio broadcasts end -- Associated Press FAIRBANKS -- A 47-year-old tradition ended Monday when the Army aired its final live broadcast from its Fort Greely, Alaska, radio station. The station is being shut down as part of a Pentagon base closure move. The American Forces Network affiliate was established in 1941 on Kodiak Island. It moved to Fort Greely in 1954. The station has provided news, music, interviews, weather and emergency information to military and civilian audiences around the post, as well as to the nearby community of Delta Junction ever since. At 10 a.m., the station was to switch to a satellite feed. Fort Greely is scheduled for closure in July. The roughly 638,000- acre Army post has only 61 troops remaining on duty. Fort Greely was placed on the Army's base realignment and closure list in 1995. Copyright 2001 Army Times Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) WTFK??!! All this and nobody ever mentions it. Per FM Atlas, 90.5 and 93.5, tho seems like they were once on MW (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Rádio Áustria: Num dos últimos programas "Buzón Internacional", Isabel Miró e Jayme Carbonell agradecerem aos ouvintes que estão escrevendo para a Rádio Áustria pedindo a manutenção dos programas em espanhol. Segundo eles, os programas em espanhol dependem apenas das cartas e e-mails dos ouvintes! 73's! (Célio Romáis, Brasil, May 2, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. 15440, Radio Ezra, Card "Putting Sanity back into Christianity", Full details and personal note on the back from station owner John D Hill, posted from England in response to my email report. Confirms the use of Wavre, so Belgium it is! (John Wright, Australia, May 3, Cumbre DX via DXLD) We still suspect Wavre is a `cover` site for Bulgaria or somewhere else. Europeans should be able to check this out independently, by skip zones, etc (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hello, This week on Quirks & Quarks our feature item is called, "Alleviating Alzheimer`s": More than 200,000 Canadians over the age of 65 suffer from Alzheimer`s, yet it has remained a medical mystery -- until recently. Now researchers are closing in on the causes, and getting closer to a cure. We`ll have the latest. Plus -- Boom, bang and echoes from the dawn of the universe. That`s Quirks & Quarks, Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One (Bob McDonald -- Quirks & Quarks -- CBC Radio quirks@toronto.cbc.ca http://www.radio.cbc.ca/programs/quirks DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s Sat 1505 and 2305 UT on RCI (gh, DXLD) ** CROATIA. Estimados amigos: Aquí una buena noticia. Nuevamente pude escuchar a Croacia en 9925 kHz transmitiendo en español hacia Sudamérica el 2/5/01 a la 0145 UT. Luego de identificarse en idiomas croata e inglés, escuché su anuncio en español como hacía mucho tiempo yo no había observado... La voz masculina dijo: ``Están escuchando La Voz de Croacia, programa especial en onda corta en la frecuencia de 9925 kHz para Sudamérica, la costa oriental de Norteamérica y la región occidental de Norteamérica; para Nueva Zelandia en la frecuencia de 9470 kHz y para Australia en la frecuencia de 13820 kHz``; luego continuó el programa en idioma croata. A las 0203 volví a escuchar una identificación más corta: ``La Voz de Croacia, programa especial de la radio croata en onda corta``. A las 0242 escuché noticias en inglés hasta las 0247 cuando ¡Oh sorpresa! comenzó un noticiero en español que duró 7 minutos a cargo de dos voces (masculina y femenina). A las 0256 el anunciante cerró el programa diciendo: ``Aquí Radio Croata; escucharon el programa especial de 2 horas (0100-0258 UT) La Voz de Croacia, que emitimos en onda corta para Sudamérica... [ver arriba] Sin embargo, pocos minutos después (0300 UT), siempre en 9925, se repitió la emisión transmitiéndose el mismo noticiero en español a las 0310. Agradeceré su difusión. Creo que se trata de una buena noticia cuando ya dábamos por perdida a la conocida como Radio Nacional Croata, ahora La Voz de Croacia en idioma español. Saludos cordiales y hasta pronto (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DIEGO GARCÍA. This base for US military operations against Iran and Iraq is a small island with 44 sq km land area. Its resources are coconuts and fish. Prior to the construxion of a military base, its 3000 natives were evacuated to Mauritius to allow for the housing of 1700 US and British personnel with 1500 civilian constructors. To entertain these 3000-odd people there are 1 AM and 2 FM stations with 1 TV station. Frequencies are unknown. As far as is known, the island is to be handed back to the civilian population this year and it is hardly likely that the listed frequency [AFRTS 12579] will be heard again. A Reach aircraft has also been heard by Neville McKenty at 1138 on 13306 contacting Diego tower (Evan Murray, April NZ DX Times via DXLD) BIOT (Chagos Archipelago), 12579, AFRTS verified after 38 days via eMail. RR was sent also via eMail. v/s Michael Foutch JOC, Chief Broadcast Operations Specialist (Klaus Elsebusch, Germany, May 1, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE / ITALY. Contrary to the report in DXLD 1-059 I can confirm that the Radio Bleue transmitter in Paris on 864 kHz is still radiating in AM stereo. Clear stereo separation when checked at 2020 UTC today on my Sony SRF42 AM stereo walkman. David Duckworth, who runs the UK AM stereo campaign, also confirms that Paris is definitely still in stereo on 864 - he checks it on a regular basis. However, he has noticed that for some time now, stereo separation has only been possible using the Sony SRF42 walkman. His two other AM stereo receivers, an Aiwa walkman and a Clarion car radio, both of which have pilot lights to indicate AM stereo transmissions, are only receiving a mono signal. However on the SRF 42, which does not have a pilot light (it has a tuning indicator light instead) the signal is clearly in stereo. So it would appear that while the stereo pilot signal from Paris 864 has been switched off or gone faulty, the transmitter itself is still radiating in stereo. David tells me that the Sony uses a different chip from the Clarion and Aiwa which may explain how the Sony could work in stereo without the pilot signal. Studio X from Italy is very difficult to pick up in the UK but I have heard it a couple of times recently in the late evening on 1584 kHz and using the SRF42 with a MW loop it has faded up above the interference just long enough to confirm that is also in stereo (Dave Kenny, Caversham UK, 2 May, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder if the Radio Bleue transmitter has switched to one of the other AM stereo systems than C-QUAM which is still compatible with the SRF42 but not with the Clarian or the Aiwa. Just a thought! Rgds, (Gareth Foster, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. From DTK schedule: Radio Sunshine in English: 10.00 - 14.00 Sun only on 6015/non-dir to Eu <<<<<<< from May 6 (via Observer, Bulgaria, WORLD OF RADIO 1078, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 7265, Sudwestrundfunk, 0533-0542 fade out April 29, OM with long German talk, Crash Test Dummies "Hum Hum Hum" song. SINPO 2,3,3,2,2 (Joe Talbot, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Loggings from DXpedition at Don Moman`s QTH, Northeast of Edmonton, Alberta, using various beverages and a rotatable 4-30 MHz Log Periodic antenna at 94'. ** GOA. India, 11740, AIR Goa, 1530-1545 April 29, English nx, poor with co freq QRM, // 9700 not heard. Log Periodic at 300 degrees (Joe Talbot, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 4832, R Litoral, La Ceiba, April 30th, 0220-0235, English, popsongs, religious program, endless emphatic sermon. 34434. Obviously this station has English programs, too (Michael Schnitzer, Germany): once again I spent some very nice days on our traditional DX-Camp Bavaria, which takes place twice a year at a lovely location 45 km north-east of Nuremberg. I could tune in to a lot of stations on the tropical bands. Antennas used: 300m Beverage antenna to Indonesia Pacific, India, Africa, Bolivia/Perú, Central America. Receiver: my 13 years old and yet well running JRC NRD-525 (via hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** LAOS. 6130, Lao National Radio, 29 April 1145-1215, Program of Laotienne mx hosted by F announcer in local language. Traditional mx followed by the haunting 6+1 giant bell gongs, more traditional mx, Presumed ID by F, and into presumed news by M & F (Don Nelson, OR, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. This e-mail is being sent to you as you have either registered to be consulted have been issued with access to the RNZ archive, are following this issue or have been involved in projects with Michael Sutton. Please e-mail if your wish to be removed from future mailings or received a duplicate. ========= Users attempting to access http://www.rnz.co.nz are experiencing denial of service as a direct consequence of actions by the Radio New Zealand on the 20th of April 2001. ========== As previously advised we received an extension of time from Radio New Zealand Limited enabling the continued operation of the site through to 31 May 2001 while we progressed negotiations for a formal Licence Agreement. 1. On Saturday the 20th April 2001 I discovered that despite the agreed extension Radio New Zealand Limited, without notice or consultation being received, unilaterally ordered that the Domain Name record for http://www.rnz.co.nz be reassigned from http://202.27.156.109 to http://202.98.58.52 which itself is incorrect -- instead it should have been http://203.98.58.52. The address you are now been sent to is "black-holed" somewhere in China..... I cannot explain this action. 2. On the same day, 20th of April 2001, The Listener put on sale a magazine (dated 28th April) which included an article on page 39 by Russell Brown titled "Radio with Pictures - Radio needs the Web, but does RNZ need Michael Sutton" see http://www.awacs.co.nz/radionz/press/listener_28042001.htm (~107k image). 3. Over the past 4 days I have investigated what has happened and consulted with my advisers who have requested Radio New Zealand to explain by the end of business today why and what they are doing and how they will correct it. 4. The first draft from Radio New Zealand of a License Agreement which may permit operation from June 2001 onwards was received at my Office yesterday 23rd April. I am currently reviewing the draft licence agreement supplied by Radio New Zealand Limited and I hope to respond through my advisers within the next few days. However my priority at this point has to be to discover just why access to http://www.rnz.co.nz on http://202.27.156.109 has been terminated. This has now directly damaged my interests and activities as well as terminating your Global access to Radio New Zealand National - Live on the Internet where it has been since March 1997 24*7... Should you be able to help, please call. I would appreciate being copied into any communications you may have. The Minister of Broadcasting still advises all enquires that this is an operational issue. Best Regards Michael Sutton Director http://www.awacs.co.nz +64 4 4759235 +64 21 305500 Responsible for: Windows Media Server outsourcing (22kbs - 300kbs): http://www.xtrasite.co.nz/highspeed/ Multicast capable Real Server Systems: (16kbs - 34kbs) multicast enabled Radio New Zealand http://www.rnz.co.nz >>> Use http://202.27.156.109 BBC World (Live Satellite and 168 hour video archive matched to past program schedule) http://www.bbcworld.co.nz:8080/welcome.html Alternative Sites (Windows Media 300kbs - 1024*768): multicast capable http://www.awacs.co.nz/iidieiv http://www.awacs.co.nz/bbcworld (via Joel Rubin, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 2410, Radio Enga, 1132-1206 April 30, OM playing hard rock mx, skit/play, "Country Roads" song at 1203. 3,4,3,3,3+. A great signal from this PNG after a mediocre weekend of DX. The PNGs with better signals than Indos this AM! (Talbot-Alberta). 3205, Radio West Sepik, 1135-1204* April 29, OM playing lots of local mx, ID, mentioned "Christian Radio", close down announcements, played National Anthem and off. 3,4,3,3,3 (Talbot-Alberta). 3325, Radio North Solomons, 1106-1131 April 30, OM reading local listeners names, "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, off briefly several times. 3,3,3,3,3 (Talbot-Alberta). 3365, Radio Milne Bay, 1041-1105 April 30, OM playing Bob Seger`s "Against The Wind" and country mx, mentions of Milne Bay. 3,4,3,3,3+ (Joe Talbot, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Loggings from DXpedition at Don Moman`s QTH, Northeast of Edmonton, Alberta, using various beverages and a rotatable 4-30 MHz Log Periodic antenna at 94'. ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Minister denies role in broadcast sacking | Excerpt from report by Papua New Guinea newspaper The National web site on 3 May Communications Minister John Kamb would not have sacked National Broadcasting Commission [as published - Corporation] managing director Bosky Tonny if he had his way. "He is such a good worker," Mr Kamb told The National yesterday, in sharp contrast to his colleague minister Vincent Auali`s stated reason for sacking Mr Tonny. The reason cited by Mr Auali, "non-performance", appears to be an afterthought because Mr Tonny`s dismissal letter did not contain any reason for his removal. Mr Kamb denied that he had anything to do with Mr Tonny`s sacking, saying that he was not present when the National Executive Council [cabinet] made its decision on 12 April. Mr Kamb said he was only responsible for the Government Printing Office, [the telecommunications provider] PANGTEL and the Censorship Board and not the NBC, even though he was the communications minister. [The National reported on 2 May that it was Kamb who replaced Tonny with a doctor, Kristoffer Ninkama, who it said hails from Chimbu, the province in which Kamb`s constituency lies.] Mr Kamb said in fact, he would have opposed the decision proposed by Privatization and Corporatiztion Minister Auali, who is also the minister responsible for NBC. "I was not present at that meeting and even if I was there, I would have defended him (Mr Tonny) any way, he`s such a good worker," he said... Source: The National web site, Port Moresby, in English 3 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Papua New Guinea: Ombudsman queries replacement of broadcast chief | Excerpt from report by Papua New Guinea Post-Courier web site on 3 May The Ombudsman Commission has raised questions over the National Executive Council [cabinet] decision to sack Bosky Tonny and appoint a medical doctor, Kristoffer Ninkama, as NBC [National Broadcasting Corporation] managing director. Chief Ombudsman Ila Geno said the commission was seeking more information about the cabinet decision to replace Mr Tonny, who has 30 years experience in broadcasting, with a medical practitioner. Opposition Leader Bill Skate has described the sacking of Mr Tonny as "a national disgrace and an international embarrassment". Describing the decision as "rather strange", the commission indicated that it wanted to know why Mr Tonny was sacked six months short of the end of his contract, whether Dr Ninkama was selected from a field of several candidates, whether appointment procedures in Section 193 of the constitution had been followed and whether the Public Services Commission was consulted. "The managing director of the NBC is a very, very important leadership position. Especially in the year or so leading up to an election," said Mr Geno. He said that they have ascertained that the revoking of Mr Tonny`s appointment and replacement by Dr Ninkama was made by the NEC - a decision confirmed by the Prime Minister`s Office. "But there must have been a submission to revoke Mr Tonny`s appointment and replace him with Dr Ninkama. The Ombudsman Commission is keen to find out which minister put this submission to the NEC. This should not be a 'cabinet secret'. It should be - and must be - public knowledge. That is what transparency and accountability are all about. People need to know why a man of Mr Tonny`s vast experience and qualification was sacked," he said. "The Ombudsman Commission wants to find out whether there was any association or link between the minister who promoted the submission and the man selected to take up the job. If there is an association of any sort, the minister had a duty under Section 6 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership to reveal the association to the NEC, the parliament and the Ombudsman Commission and to obtain authorization before dealing with the matter. The Ombudsman Commission has certainly not given authorization in this case... Source: Papua New Guinea Post-Courier web site, Port Moresby, in English 3 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Fans of international broadcasting might find this article interesting: (Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) Out of the Past Forget glasnost and perestroika. Russia`s harsh crackdown on the media is an unhappy echo of the Iron Curtain era. - By Sherry Ricchiardi From AJR, May 2001 POLICE AND SHARPSHOOTERS crouched on rooftops, their high-powered rifles aimed at a building that harbored "enemies of the state." Inside, a group of journalists huddled behind locked doors, mustering courage for a final stand to save the lone independent radio station in a remote, oil-rich region of Russia. See the article itself at http://ajr.newslink.org/ajrsherrymay01.html (via Cuff) Deals with the cases of R. Titan, Ufa; NTV; and Babitsky, i.a. (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. U.S. Nat`l Press Club: Vladimir Gusinsky of NTV: Media in Russia Wed. May 3. Listen later on demand at (e.g.): http://www.npr.org/programs/npc/ (Chet Copeland, DXLD) Gusinsky of NTV to Speak on Freedom of the Press in Russia at National Press Club Luncheon Event: Vladimir Gusinsky, Chairman of the Board, Media -- MOST, parent company of NTV "Freedom of the Press and the Future of Russia". The Press Club broadcast by C-Span and National Public Radio http://www.usnewswire.com:80/topnews/Current_Releases/0427-103.html (Chet Copeland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SLOVAKIA. Glenn, Heard R. Slovakia International on 5930 *0100- 0126* UT May 3, 2001. Program containing News and Business News. SINPO 52552, severe QRM from WWCR on 5935. I also checked 7230, but heard nothing. I didn`t have a chance to check 9440 as I was more interested in program content. Will check this evening. Also, I need to check their announced frequencies for 0100 UT as they do not match the frequencies provided at their website http://www.slovakradio.sk/rsi/schedules.html 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC Krist, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They supposedly replaced 7230 with 6190 some weeks ago, tho I have not confirmed it; should make you hams happy (gh, DXLD) p.s. I've noticed my typed UTC are changed to UT. Is UT the preferred way? I've also noticed many broadcasters still use UTC. Please remember these things are old-new to me (Kraig) Kraig, `UTC` is certainly the usual way to refer to it, but I have this thing about it: There are several varieties of UT: UT1, UT2, and UTC, with the third symbol actually supposed to be a subscript -- and unless you are WWV or making precise scientific measurements, it doesn`t matter a bit whether it is Coordinated or not. For purposes of referring to times on the radio, plain old ``UT`` is sufficient. I am sure most people don`t realize they are wasting 5 syllables, (or one letter) over and over. I`d appreciate your saving me the trouble of deleting all the C`s (and everyone else: I really need to get busy on an optional but recommended style guide for input to DXLD –- meanwhile, if people would only do as I do!). Furthermore: it is NOT necessary to put ANY timezone after every single time mentioned, nor kHz after every frequency! Save us all some trouble and bandwidth (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AMERICA. Dear Friends: Radio Blandengue from some place in South America will be on the air next weekend performing his pirate activities on 14566v kHz LSB according to the following sked: ALL TIMES AND DATES ARE UT May 5, 2001 0800 – 0830 Emisora Z del Dragón 0830 – 0900 Radio Marabunta 0900 – 0930 Radio Rayo del Sur 0930 – 1000 Radio Blandengue 2100 – 2130 Emisora Z del Dragón 2130 – 2200 Radio Marabunta 2200 – 2230 Radio Rayo del Sur 2230 – 2300 Radio Blandengue May 6, 2001 0000 – 0030 Emisora Z del Dragón 0030 – 0100 Radio Marabunta 0100 – 0130 Radio Rayo del Sur 0130 – 0200 Radio Blandengue Only verify the correct reports received by snail Mail. QSL guaranteed, and don`t forget to include 2 IRC Addresses for reports: ------------------------------------------------------- Emisora Z del Dragon, Casilla 159, Santiago 14, CHILE e-mail: emisoraz@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------- Radio Marabunta, Casilla 159, Santiago 14, CHILE e-mail: rmarabunta@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------- Radio Rayo del Sur, Casilla 159, Santiago 14, CHILE ------------------------------------------------------- Radio Blandengue, Casilla 159, Santiago 14, CHILE or Radio Blandengue, Box 293, Merlin Ontario NOP 1WO, CANADA e-mails: radio.blandengue@altavista.net rblandengue@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------- http://members.xoom.com/blandengue/ http://go.to/blandengue (R. Blandengue, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. Madagascar, Radio Voice of Hope, 15320, 0430- 0501 April 29, YL with talk on the World Council of Churches, the violence in Sudan. A very interesting station. 4,5,4,4,4 (Joe Talbot, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Loggings from DXpedition at Don Moman`s QTH, Northeast of Edmonton, Alberta, using various beverages and a rotatable 4-30 MHz Log Periodic antenna at 94'. ** SWEDEN. Speaking of Sweden, I found it in a most unusual place at 0300 May 2: 9625 kHz, the frequency used for CBC North Quebec. The signal was also stronger and clearer that I expected from a 348 degree beam heading from Sackville. CBC North usually fades in and out at my location, not to mention it being interfered with from adjacent channels. indeed, this is happening again. Meanwhile, Sweden is still on 9495, with a strong signal at my location (Ricky Leong, Quebec, UT May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here too at 0340 check May 3: 9625 was synchronized with much stronger 11895, so Sackville (or Montréal) does it again, mixing up feeds internally, this time at the expense of the poor Northern Quebeckers. 24 hours later, 9625 unseemed Swedish (gh, DXLD) ** TANNU TUVA. Tuvinskoye Radio on 6100 kHz. I cannot notice any system in the transmitter operation yet. Some days it switches on at 2200, other days at 2300, sometimes is heard only after 0800, and some days does not work at all. Domestic programs from Kyzyl in Tuvinian and Russian observed at 2210-2300, 2310-2400 and 1010-1100. QRM from Xinjiang, China at 0000-0431 and 1100-1800 (in Chinese). Voice of Malaysia in Indonesian uses the same frequency at 2200-2400, but it does not cause much interference (Vladimir Kovalenko, Tomsk, Russia, Signal May 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. In an e-mail to Voice of America employees, VOA director Sandy Ungar has revealed some of the details of the major new U.S. international broadcasting initiative in the Arabic language. It will be a 24 hour a day service consisting of news, analysis, editorial comment, talk, and music. It will include five separate targeted streams directed to Jordan, West Bank/Gaza, Egypt, the Gulf states, and Sudan. These streams will be at 7 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. local time in the target country. The rest of the day, a single program for the entire Arab region will be available. Because the targeted streams span three time zones, the pan-Arab service would have to be at least 20 hours per day. It might have to be 24 hours per day, to serve the Arab countries not in the five streams, such as in the Mahgreb. So, this would be eight hours of targeted programming time five targets, plus 20 to 24 hours of pan-Arab programming, for a total of 60 to 64 hours a day. Add to this the nine hours per day of Radio Free Iraq, and that would be 69 to 73 hours per day of U.S. international broadcasting in Arabic (Kim Elliott, VOA Communications World April 28 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. "[Harry] Shearer Delight" (Long Article) Dallas Observer Online Apr 26 http://www.dallasobserver.com:80/issues/2001-04-26/stuff.html ...(Shearer) likewise turns up on NPR`s Fresh Air so often they should think about renaming it Fresh Har; he`s the go-to guy when Terry Gross needs a jester to talk politics (he was ever-present last November, the celebrity equivalent of the word "chad"). This is in addition to his weekly show (titled Le Show) on KCRW-FM, the Santa Monica-based public radio station that allows him free rein to talk about everything from George Dubya to "Yob culture" (the British, that is) to the XFL`s dismal ratings. Le Show is available over the Internet at http://www.kcrw.org Shearer also remains one of the few constants on The Simpsons, which limps toward the end of its 12th season; it's perhaps easier to name the characters he doesn't voice (all of the Simpsons) than those he does (everyone else...). ---------- Harry Shearer`s Le Show from KCRW is heard 'live' on WBCQ shortwave, many U.S. public stations, and on demand. (For links, see) http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgi-bin/program.pl?programid=60 (Chet Copeland/NYC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 2579.86, WNDN Meridian, MS (2 x 1290 harmonic), 0907-0918 May 1, Soul/Gospel music, live announcer between songs 0915 ad/promo block with ID. Fair to poor signal with occasional good peaks (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25950, Entercom [KGON] Per Larry Holtz, station engineer, "we will be increasing the transmitter power from 50 to 100 watts in about 1 week. That may help. In about 2 months we will replace the antenna with a higher gain one which will have the equivalent effect of increasing the power about 3 times." (DIRECT via Johnson May 2, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Portland OR ** U S A. WMLK had planned to have their 250 kW on the air by now, but the start date for this transmitter has been pushed back to June. This per WMLK (DIRECT via Johnson May 3, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. I`m sorry to inform the list that Tom Sundstrom has had a serious fall which has incapacitated him completely. Tom is currently unable to receive E-mail, but he does have a phone beside his bed, so personal friends should feel free to call him with a bit of encouragement. Tom thinks it will be well into June before he is able to walk again (Andy Sennitt, Holland, swprograms May 3 via DXLD) FWIW, Tom`s postal address, for get well cards, is P O Box 2275, Vincentown, NJ 08088, USA. Although I don`t know that he`ll be limping down to the PO any time soon. I just got off the phone with him, and he seems to be in reasonably good spirits, able to joke around and all. He`s got a really good doctor, the head of the appropriate department at a major hospital in Philadelphia, so I expect he`ll be up and dancing before too long (as Andy says, sometime in June or so) (Ralph Brandi, NJ, ibid.) ** U S A [clandestine]. United Patriot radio heard some nights here on 3260 USB. Many clear IDs at the top of the hour, whereas I have yet to hear an ID on 3270, which according to past issues of DXLD, is WGTG (Liz Cameron, MI, Apr 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) There is no regular s/on time for United Patriot Radio. WWFV is supposed to switch from 6890 USB to 3270 at 2455 but this can vary slightly. 6890 comes in well although the SSB is hard to tune. 3270 is a dog and it seems to take a few minutes to warm up. The stn IDs as WWFV (not WGTG) before the switch (Liz Cameron, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CLANDESTINE to/from USA. 6900: UPR heard on this new frequency in USB [using the Javaradio in IL], relaying Genesis at 1500 and an ID at 1506. ex-12182v and 6880. Anderson thought he was being jammed on 6880, but others have identified this as an longtime military printer traffic frequency. The relationship between this station and the Kentucky State Militia (KSM) remains confused. In late April, some sources indicate that Anderson believed that he was about to be raided and that the KSM went to heightened alert status RED at this time. The commander of the KSM had previously issued a press release kicking Anderson out of the KSM and ending any ties between the KSM and Anderson's radio operations. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tells Cumbre DX that they have been monitoring Steve Anderson and his UPR. The ADL accuse Anderson of making anti-Semitic comments on the air and have identified him as a member of the Christian Identity 'church.' In recent weeks, both the Louisville and Somerset, Kentucky, newspapers have published articles on UPR. So the mainstream media is starting to pay attention to this station (Hans Johnson, Apr 30, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 1543-1553+, 1855, 1950, 2115-2133+, New freq [still referring to 6900, presumably -gh] for 9AM-9PM per many web posts. Common Sense Coalition call-in px. Poor at noise level w/occasional fair peaks. \\12172/U WWFV at S20. @1855 still there but buried deeper & about the same @1950. @2115 SIO=353 & still \\12172 WWFV. Didn`t hear any UPR IDs throughout this (Harold Frodge, MI, Apr 30, Cumbre DX via DXLD) The following is from the May 2001 issue of "73 Amateur Radio Today". "Take My License - Please! In what has to be one of the most bizarre enforcement incidents to date, a ham not under investigation has told the FCC he has canceled his own ham radio license. The now-former ham who took this action is Stephen H. Anderson, the ex-AA8DP of Somerset, Kentucky. Back on January 24th, FCC chief rules enforcer Riley Hollingsworth sent a note off to Anderson asking that he either confirm or deny that he was in control when Technician class licensee Charles Puckett KF4ZMG operated, transmitting on 3.860 MHz - a frequency not authorized under Puckett`s Technician-class license. Puckett had earlier told the FCC that Anderson was in control at the times the transmissions had been made. Nothing out of the ordinary, you say? Well, we will let Riley Hollingsworth tell you what happened next: 'The license of Stephen H. Anderson AA8DP, of Somerset, Kentucky, was canceled by the Wireless Bureau after Anderson sent the license into the Enforcement Bureau and informed us that the United States government was a foreign corporation -- and that`s certainly news to me. He informed us that he did not recognize its jurisdiction and he didn`t recognize the jurisdiction of the FCC.' Anderson`s letter also told the FCC that he does not reside in any territory or possession of the federal government of the United States of America. As such, says Anderson, he is not 'subject to any regulation by this fictitious entity.' The regulatory agency was very understanding. It did not question Anderson`s motives or reasons for sending in this letter. It simply canceled his license, and Anderson is no longer a radio amateur in the eyes of the FCC. Thanks to the FCC, and Bill Burnett KT4SB via Newsline, Bill Pasternak WA6ITF, editor." On April 22, 2001 I searched the FCC`s Universal Licensing System for AA8DP and found his license was granted 7/21/1994 and canceled on 2/12/2001. I searched the ARRL for AA8DP and found the following. "FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Log January 2, 2001. SOMERSET, KY: The FCC on December 8, 2000, sent a Warning Notice to Amateur Extra licensee Stephen H. Anderson, AA8DP, citing "monitoring information before the Commission" alleging that the licensee operated radio transmitting equipment on 6.890 MHz, a frequency not available to him under his Amateur Radio license. FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth cautioned Anderson that such operation could lead to license revocation, fine and equipment seizure. The frequency in question, 6.980 MHz, is licensed to international broadcast station WGTG [sic]. According to Hollingsworth, the licensee allegedly transmitted on the station`s frequency after taking issue with something the station was broadcasting. Hollingsworth gave Anderson 30 days to respond. FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Log February 15, 2001 SOMERSET, KY: The FCC wrote Amateur Extra licensee Stephen H. Anderson, AA8DP, on January 24, 2001, regarding allegations that on various occasions in December 2000 Technician licensee Charles N. Puckett, KF4ZMG, operated transmitting equipment on 3.860 MHz -- a frequency not authorized under his license. "In response to our inquiry to Mr. Puckett of December 18, he stated that at the times of his transmissions on 3.860 MHz, you were the control operator and that you identified the transmissions," FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth wrote. Hollingsworth requested that Anderson indicate at what times in December he was the control operator for KF4ZMG on 3.860 MHz, how the station was identified, from what locations in December transmissions on 3.860 MHz were made, and at whose Amateur Radio station the transmissions were made. The FCC requested the reply within 30 days. FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters February 21, 2001 February 13, 2001 Mr. Stephen H. Anderson, 245 Elrod Martin Road, Somerset, KY 42501 Amateur Radio license AA8DP Dear Mr. Anderson On February 12, 2001 you sent a letter to us, enclosing your Amateur license document, stating that "At this time, be advised that as of midnight E.S.T., on February 6, 2001 the contract with the agency Federal Communications Commission, an agent of a foreign corporation, under the auspices of Amateur Radio license AA8DP, is hereby rescinded. All authority assumed by the F.C.C. is null and void". You further stated "I do not reside in any territory or possession of the Federal Government of the United States of America and am not subject to any regulation by this fictitious entity". Accordingly, your Amateur license for AA8DP has been cancelled by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau effective February 12, 2001. Any further operation of radio transmitting equipment would be a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 301, and would subject you to criminal penalties. " (73 via Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. Re: 7200v report: I believe this is a product of some ham radio operator, considering the fqcy and the day (holiday, absolute quiet in Uruguay) (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. He sintonizado por los 6155 kHz, banda internacional de los 49 metros a Radio Banda Oriental (CWA155), transmitiendo desde Sarandi del Yí, Departamento de Durazno, en Uruguay. Aquí en Montevideo la recepción fue de SINPO: 44434. La dirección que se dio al aire: Sarandí 328, Código Postal 97100, Sarandí del Yí, Durazno URUGUAY. E-mail: norasan@adinet.com.uy Sr. Glenn Hauser, lo felicito por su página dx-ing y sus informes que escucho seguidamente en el programa Radio Enlace de Radio Nederland. Atte (Manrique Beceiro, Montevideo, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent, 17775 from 1300 to 1500 daily. English 1330-1400 is readable but the announcers` accents are heavy and the fading is usually very fluttery. But the music is very nice. Worth listening to (Liz Cameron, MI, May 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also audible here, and try the earlier English broadcast which has separate content, at 1200-1230, also on 15295 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VATICAN/ITALY. Vatican Radio Negotiates Guidelines Wednesday May 2 6:41 PM ET ROME (AP) - Vatican Radio agreed Wednesday to reduce some short-wave transmissions to comply with tough Italian environmental regulations. Negotiations on medium-wave broadcasts are continuing. The station is under pressure to reduce electromagnetic emissions because some people living near a radio transmission tower outside Rome fear they pose a health hazard. The government has threatened to shut down Vatican Radio, which beams Pope John Paul II`s words around the world in 40 languages, unless it meets Italy`s emissions' standards. It is now negotiating new guidelines with the Vatican. Vatican Radio director, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Wednesday the station would either move or stop using one of its 31 short-wave antennas, located near several homes in the town of Santa Maria di Galeria. Vatican Radio has already sharply reduced its transmissions on medium wave in what officials called a ``goodwill gesture.'' Italy`s environment minister Willer Bordon called the short-wave agreement ``absolutely unsatisfactory'' and urged the Italian prime minister to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance by the Vatican. An Italian prosecutor has charged Lombardi and two other Vatican officials with damaging the environment. They are scheduled to go on trial in the fall. Prosecutors say Vatican Radio violates the strict standards Italy adopted in 1998 on electromagnetic fields. The Vatican says the transmissions are in line with less strict international standards and maintains its officials are shielded from prosecution under a 1929 pact that established Vatican City as an independent city-state (via Yahoo News via Westenhaver, Daniel Sampson, Mike Cooper, DXLD) Italy: Greens ready to resign from cabinet over electrosmog issue | Text of report in English by Italian news agency ANSA web site Rome, 3 May: The Greens are ready to pull out of the government if the cabinet does not set limits on the amount of electro-magnetic emission residents and workers can be exposed to, Agriculture Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio said here on Thursday. "We will remain until next Wednesday`s cabinet meeting when the decree setting limits on the levels of electrosmog will be discussed. If it is not approved then we Green ministers are ready to resign", he announced. The other Green minister is Giannio Mattioli, the minister for European Union affairs If the Greens are forced to quit government, Pecoraro Scanio warned, "this will have repercussions on the electoral alliance and be suicide just days before the vote. What is for certain is that he Greens cannot remain in the Olive Tree (centre-left coalition) if it does not decide on electrosmog prevention." Pecoraro`s warning came after Environment Minister Willer Bordon, a Democrat, said that he had not changed his opinion on the need to pull the plug on Vatican Radio if it did not conform to Italian laws on the emission of electromagnetic waves. Speaking on the sidelines of a Friends of the bicycle Federation press conference, the Environment minister stood his ground on the need shut down the Vatican Radio broadcasting complex just north of Rome if it did not act immediately on electrosmog levels and added that requests for patience from radio officials only reinforced his opinion. "Such statements are a slap in the face for the cabinet!" Bordon said, adding that Premier Giuliano Amato "phoned me this morning. He has my full confidence. I understand his concern. But I see nothing new. I remain exactly of the same opinion." Turning his attention to the possibility he will resign if his position is not respected, Bordon said "If the elements do not change, the results do not change. That is what I was taught". Source: ANSA news agency web site, Rome, in English 1150 gmt 3 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Italy: Ministers dissatisfied at cabinet decision on Vatican Radio "electrosmog" | Text of report in English by Italian news agency ANSA web site Rome, 2 May: Agriculture Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio and Environment Minister Willer Bordon said they were "dissatisfied" with the results of today`s cabinet decisions on Vatican Radio electrosmog emissions. "The radio`s announcement to spread out their antennas to get under legal limits is good, but the time frame suggested by the bilateral Italy-Holy See Committee (on the Vatican Radio) is far too long," Pecoraro Scanio said. The cabinet agreed to make Vatican Radio "immediately" spread out its shortwave transmissions, but gave the station more time to find a solution for the medium-length waves that exceed legal electromagnetic emissions limits. The bilateral committee, which held a restricted meeting yesterday, proposed that the radio station be given 15 days from today to bring its emissions in line with legal "electrosmog" limits. Pecoraro Scanio noted that a solution could be found if there were "willingness" on the part of the radio, but that "it seems like someone is trying to buy time to get past the (13 May) elections and to keep postponing" a definitive decision. Meanwhile, Bordon said he would wait until he read the official cabinet communiqué before commenting in detail on the issue. But he did express disapproval of the outcome of the meeting, saying that the bilateral committee on Vatican Radio electrosmog "brought unsatisfactory results". Source: ANSA news agency web site, Rome, in English 1509 gmt 2 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Minister threatens to resign over Vatican Radio transmitters | Text of report by Italian radio on 3 May The Vatican Radio transmission site problem: The government and the Holy See have reached a preliminary agreement to move the short wave transmission site from Cesano, just outside Rome, while it is still necessary to wait for the medium wave transmitters. This solution did not satisfy Environment Minister [Willer] Bordon, who, yesterday, at the end of the cabinet meeting, wrote to the prime minister [Giuliano Amato], asking for precautionary measures to be taken against Vatican Radio, suggesting he could resign. Source: Rai Radio 1, Rome, in Italian 0600 gmt 3 May 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) The AFP news agency claims that the Italian government ordered yesterday a closure of the Santa Maria di Galeria site. The shortwave antennas will be dismantled "immediately", the mediumwave antennas "are supposed to follow later". On the other hand dpa reports, that minister Bordon considers to resign because he rejects a compromise which was made yesterday. Find below copies of both German-language reports. Probably the "compromise" consists of a reprieve for the transmitter site. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, May 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Italienische Regierung ordnet Abbau von Vatikan-Sendemasten an Rom, 2. Mai (AFP) - Eine umstrittene Sendestation des päpstlichen Senders Radio Vatikan muss wegen gesundheitsschädlicher Magnetfelder auf Anordnung der italienischen Regierung schließen. Die Kurzwellenantennen von Radio Vatikan in der Nähe Roms würden umgehend abgebaut, teilte die Regierung in Rom am Mittwoch mit. Die Mittelwellenantennen sollen später folgen. Zwei Tage zuvor hatte italienische Landwirtschaftsminister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio mit einem Hungestreik gedroht, sollte die Sendeanlage nicht bis zum 7. Mai ihren Betrieb einstellen. Scanio ist einer der beiden Grünen- Minister im Kabinett von Ministerpräsident Giuliano Amato. Die italienische Regierung und Radio Vatikan hatten sich wochenlang vergeblich bemüht, eine einvernehmliche Lösung zu finden. Die Einwohner der 30 Kilometer nördlich von Rom gelegenen Stadt Santa Maria di Galeria hatten Radio Vatikan wegen magnetischer Umweltverschmutzung verklagt. Die Magnetfelder der in dem Ort installierten Antennen des Kirchensenders hätten schwere gesundheitliche Schäden und sogar Leukämieerkrankungen verursacht. Nach Angaben des italienischen Umweltministeriums haben die Antennen eine Spannung von 18 Volt pro Meter. Sechs Volt pro Meter sind gesetzlich erlaubt. Auch innerhalb der italienischen Regierung hatten die päpstlichen Sendeanlagen für Konflikt gesorgt. Ministerpräsident Giuliano Amato verhinderte, dass Umweltminister Willer Bordon der Sendeanlage per Dekret den Strom abdreht. © AFP (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) Roms Umweltminister droht mit Rücktritt - Streit mit Radio Vatikan Rom (dpa) - Der Streit der italienischen Regierung mit dem Vatikan um die Gefährdung durch Elektrosmog hat eine überraschende Wende genommen. Gut eine Woche vor den Parlamentswahlen drohte Umweltminister Willer Bordon (52) in Rom am Mittwochabend mit Rücktritt. Bordon hatte den Vatikan in den vergangenen Wochen bereits mehrfach gegen den Willen von Ministerpräsident Giuliano Amato ultimativ aufgefordert, die Belastung um eine große Sendeanlage nördlich von Rom zu reduzieren. Der Minister, der der Regierungspartei "Die Demokraten" angehört, wird von den Grünen unterstützt. Vor weiteren Schritten wolle er jedoch eine Antwort Amatos auf sein Schreiben abwarten, sagte Bordon am Abend vor Journalisten in Rom. "Danach ziehe ich die Konsequenzen." Einen am Mittwoch gefundenen Kompromiss lehnte Bordon ab. Messungen am Antennenfeld hatten jüngst ergeben, dass die gesetzlich festgelegten Grenzwerte deutlich überschritten werden. Die Bevölkerung berichtet seit Jahren über auffallend viele Krebsfälle im Umfeld. Gefährdet seien vor allem Kinder. Über die gewaltigen Sendemasten nahe der Ortschaft Cesano sendet Radio Vatikan seine religiösen Programme in 37 Sprachen um die Welt. ©dpa (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. CLANDESTINE from ALGERIA to MOROCCO. 7470(7469.5u), National Radio of the Arab Saharan Republic, heard 2236 in Arabic while a male reading a patriotic commentary alternate with western Sahara folk songs. Interview at 2250 very shortly before signing off at 2303* April 30. SINPO/43332 (Mahmud Fathi, Germany, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ###