DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-189, December 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 Check the WOR websites: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/ http://www.worldofradio.com [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 #1107: (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1107ram (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1107.rm (SUMMARY) http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1107.html FINAL 1107 AIRINGS ON WWCR: Tue 1200 on 15685 FINAL 1107 AIRINGS ON RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on some of: 21815-USB, 15040, 7445-USB YAHOO PROBLEMS. Please do not use our yahoo address, but instead wghauser@hotmail.com ** AFGHANISTAN. Balkh Radio, which is based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh Province, continues to be observed. On Monday 3 December the radio broadcast as scheduled from 0230-0430 gmt (0700- 0900 local time) and 1125-1458 gmt. All broadcasts are on the usual frequency of 1584 kHz. On 30 November the station announced that a programme called "The Voice of the People" would be launched soon, and asked listeners to send in their questions and suggestions. (BBCM Dec 3 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Radio Free Europe hopes to expand in Afghanistan The New York Times reported on 2 December that after nearly 10 years, Radio Free Europe plans to resume broadcasts to Afghanistan. The Times said that if Congress approves, the network could be broadcasting to Afghanistan by early February 2002. Radio Free Europe already has about 20 staff reporters working in the region, reporting for its many services and RFE/RL hopes to open a full-time bureau in Kabul by January 2002, the newspaper reported. While Radio Free Europe waits for Congress to approve 14m dollars for two years of Afghan broadcasts, RFE/RL has increased broadcasts that already reach the Afghan population. The Persian service, a language close to Dari, has replaced some local programming with news of the war in Afghanistan. Jeff Trimble, RFE/RL's director of broadcasting, is charged with getting 20 reporters on the air for six hours per day, in both the Dari and Pashto languages. The broadcasts to Afghanistan will consist of mainly of news, but there will also be analysis and cultural features, as well as music. "Like any broadcaster, we want to be listened to," Trimble told the paper, adding "We'll put on what the people want to hear". Source: The New York Times 3 December 2001 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. In OPDX.538, we mentioned that well-known DXer Peter Casier, ON6TT (a.k.a. 5X1T), was in Afghanistan and not be surprised if he would try to obtain permission to operate. Well, on November 21st Peter was heard as YA/ON6TT/M operating in a convoy and later in the week the foreign ministry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance) issued the callsign YA5T, which can be used on all bands by Peter/ON6TT, Matts/ SM7PKK and Robert/S53R. The "Good News" is Wayne Mills, N7NG/1, Manager of the Membership Service Dept for the ARRL, reports: "The DXCC Desk has received acceptable documentation for YA5T operated by ON6TT, S53R, SM7PKK or ON4WW. The documentation is for QSOs made November 20, 2001 and after. No other callsigns or operations have been approved as of this date." Also, a press release on Tuesday, November 27th by Peter states, "The YA5T license is now secured and approved by the DXCC for with S53R, SM7PKK, ON4WW and ON6TT as operators. The team members all work for the United Nations World Food Programme. Only Peter, ON6TT, is in Afghanistan at the moment, though the other team members will come in and out of Afghanistan as per requirements by their organization. So for the first couple of weeks or months, the operators will operate after their normal work duties, in smaller scale ham operations. Their work demands are very heavy and the living and working conditions are not always favourable. Peter is expected to be on the air in the evenings local time, as of November 28th, out of Kabul. He will be flying out of Kabul by the end of the week, but should be back into Afghanistan a week later. At this moment, due to cargo restrictions on the humanitarian flights, the equipment will be low power only, with limited antennas, restricting pileup operations to the main stream bands. Once the working conditions and security arrangements allow it, the team will mount a much larger scale operation. The license has no time restriction, and allows the team to operate from anywhere in Afghanistan from 160m up to SHF, with power up to 500W..... The earlier operation of YA/ON6TT/M (the callsign that was to be approved by the authorities, but later changed) is not valid for DXCC. Any contributions coming with the QSL cards will be used for humanitarian projects within Afghanistan." Peter was spotted early Sunday (December 2nd) morning operating on 21295 kHz between 1300-1430z. He was also heard on 28495 kHz working Europe just before going to 15 meters. The QSL Manager for YA5T is KU9C. The QSL process has been coordinated between Peter and the Northern California DX Association (NCDXF). The NCDXF is providing financial assistance involving QSL expense and perhaps some additional help as conditions warrant. Bruce, WD4NGB, has set up a Web page for this operation with more info and pictures. Please visit it at: http://www.qsl.net/ya5t There are also indications that Marcel, F6EKD, has been given oral permission to operate as YA/F6EKD. He will obtain the proper written license and hopes to receive a proper YA callsign (KB8NW/OPDX December 3/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. 15476, 20:52-, RN San Gabriel, Nov 10 Manzanillo, Mexico logging. Sony 2010. Just above threshold with Spanish vocal music. Talk by YL at 20:54:20, but too weak to hear any ID. Haven't heard this one at this time in Victoria for years (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6060, 02:01-, R. ARGENTINA EXTERIOR, Nov 13 Manzanillo, Mexico logging. Sony 2001. RAE with multilingual ID, then at 0202:30 'Welcome friends to another English language program from RAE'. Fair reception (not heard since in Victoria). Parallel 11710, of course is excellent (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. **M** ABC'S RADIO CENTENARY CELEBRATION. ABC Radio will host a celebration of radio's 100 year anniversary in Melbourne on Dec-12. The event will feature Rampaging Roy Slaven (John Doyle) who will broadcast an "address to the nation" at 11.55 which will be heard on all 6 ABC Radio networks simultaneously. Following the address will be the launch of the ABC's new internet radio station DIG. The function is at the Victorian Arts Centre (AMT via EDXP via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4600.33, Radio Perla del Acre, Cobija. Nov 20 2001 - cd 0102* UT. Reactivated, first time for me here in Quito. OM-DJ and ID by YL: "Están escuchando Radio Perla del Acre 91.1.....". Greetings and music. Schedule 1100-0100 UT (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4956.22, Radio Cultura, Campos, 0645-0704, Dec 2, Portuguese, Man announcer, Musical program (very nice regional music), ad, tc, ID "Radio Cultura... informações... banda tropical, 4955 Rádio Cultura...", SIO 242 (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, SWBC via DXLD) ** CANADA. Bleak situation (Ricky Leong, QB, DXLD) http://www.cbucc.org/barg01/bc35.htm --------------------------------------------------------- Bargaining Communiqué # 35 --------------------------------------------------------- December 2, 2001 (17:15 hrs) Taking Back Your Rights Dear Members, At noon today, we received yet another proposal from CBC. They intend to make this `proposal` their `posted conditions` at 6 pm. The fundamental takebacks are still on the table. CBC made slight moves on part-time work and telephone calls at home. They are still insisting on: Taking back your right to a meal break, Taking back your right to any time between shifts, Taking back your right to double time after 12 hours worked, Taking back your right to $12 second meal money, Taking back temporaries` rights to 6% in lieu of vacations, Taking back your right to overtime after 7.75 hours (they say it will only start after 8 hours), Taking back your right to expect to work on CBC Arts and Entertainment productions, Taking back your right to expect that almost all employees will be paid for full time work. They are proposing a two-tiered compensation system, in which new employees and temporaries would get less pay than current employees and no severance. The system they are proposing is so complex that they could not provide us with a final document. Their total takeback demand is over $6 Million dollars on a payroll of $63 Million, AFTER their wage increase (1.5% and 2%) and two- tiered wage system is factored in. They have not moved on wages, layoff provisions, annual leave, or any other positive issue from our perspective. We are continuing to try to engage a discussion around a creative solution to many of their problems. However, our deadline for job action as of NOON MONDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, remains in effect. We will continue to keep you posted. In Solidarity, Your Negotiating Committee, Blayne Paige - Ottawa, Mike Sullivan and Len Deiter - CEP National Representatives, Rick Warren - Vancouver, John Seccareccia and Anton Szabo -Toronto, Chris Turner - Fredericton (via Ricky Leong, QE, DXLD) From: http://www.cbucc.org/strike/Defending%20our%20rights.html The CBC has offered us a bad deal on several fronts. The CBC would reduce our collective agreement to well below industry standard. They are demanding significant takebacks in both monetary and quality of life issues. CBC`s deal takes about $6 M out of our pockets while leaving us open to scheduling abuse. CBC is forcing double standards within our unit. Two people doing the same job will be compensated differently. People will not be compensated based on his or her present job requirements. On retirement some will get a severance, others will not. CBC would erode the existence of full time jobs with the increased use of part time and reduced cost of temporary employees. All of this is pushed by the CBC`s mission that they must lower our language to that of the CWA(CMG). So now, not only do we find ourselves fighting for improvements that would benefit the Guild but their language is pulling us down. The really infuriating part is that the CBC already has language that would allow them to save millions of dollars by managers managing. We have many times seen how scheduling improves when managers decide penalty and overtime costs are running high, only for them to creep up again over time. This is not caused by the collective agreement but it is caused by the people, paid to juggle scheduling, not doing their jobs. The schedulers should be the ones taken to task, not CEP members. Then there is our history. In 1996 we gave up more than any other employees in the CBC. We did this because we recognised the financial plight of the Corp. We were promised by the Management of the time that this would bring about a new relationship of trust and mutual respect. Now Management throws this in our face. They want to take the last few crumbs left in our collective agreement. They demonstrate by their position a lack of thanks or respect for us as people and employees. The Union is seeking improvements in advanced warning of scheduling changes, improvements to health and dental benefits, better staff reduction language, creating more full time jobs and pay increases. Management wants; no severance for new employees, short term part time (short shifts) employees, uniform low rate of overtime pay which encourages longer hours of work (including days off), right to never give a meal break without restriction, right to assign back to back shifts without a chance to go home and sleep and to top it all off pay increases that don`t keep up with the change in cost of living. The CBC`s latest offer in practical terms has something bad in it for everyone. In philosophical terms it has something bad in it for everyone. We will not accept it. Following from: http://www.cbucc.org/barg01/bc36.htm December 3, 2001 (02:30 hrs) Deadline Approaches Dear Members, The CBC bargaining Committee Chair told us today they would not be moving on any of their main issues. This after handing us the same basic set of proposals they have handed us so many times before. This after your committee offered possible solutions to several of their key issues over the past week. It is clear that CBC has never intended to really engage in any negotiations. For them to say otherwise is misleading. We have had contact with Fred Mattocks who claimed on his ``As It Happens`` radio interview that the Corporation was in a position to compromise. There was no compromise. We have also requested a meeting with Robert Rabinovitch. We hope he realizes the perilous direction his IR department is taking us. We hope that the people in charge of production understand the Union went out of its way to try and find common ground so there would not be an interruption to our valuable programming. It is our opinion that we are headed down a course that is not going to be pretty for either side but we cannot accept the long list of takebacks that the CBC is demanding. We cannot accept this on either a practical or ideological level. We are in a battle to preserve hard earned rights, rights that the members in Unit 1 and 3 will be fighting for as well. As we promised to our members we will exhaust all possibilities. We are responding to the CBC`s final proposal in the hope that real bargaining will finally begin. We will be in touch with Local Presidents to discuss the present situation and our next steps. We will keep you posted. In Solidarity, Your Negotiating Committee, Chris Turner - Fredericton, Blayne Paige - Ottawa, Mike Sullivan and Len Deiter -CEP National Representatives, Rick Warren -Vancouver, John Seccareccia and Anton Szabo -Toronto. Following from: http://www.cbc.ca/onair/jhtml/newsitem.jhtml?ID=2012 CBC IMPROVES OFFER, IMPLEMENTS NEW TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT Toronto, December 2, 2001 – The CBC confirmed that it is implementing new terms of employment for more than 1,600 technicians effective today at 6 p.m. ET. The technicians are members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union. The new terms of employment include: significant improvements over Thursday`s comprehensive offer with regard to penalty rationalizations, callbacks and the introduction of part-time employees; a 1.5 per cent wage increase effective this week; a further 2 per cent wage increase effective July 1, 2002; and an immediate lump sum payment of $500. The new terms of employment are a temporary measure allowing CEP members to stay on the job if they adhere to the Corporation`s new proposals, while bargaining for a new collective agreement continues. CBC is fully committed to bargaining tonight and tomorrow to reach an agreement before CEP is in a legal strike position at 12 noon ET, Monday, December 3. ``We remain committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement,`` said Fred Mattocks, executive director of production and resources for CBC Television. ``We are optimistic that we can reach an agreement that is fair to employees and helps CBC achieve its business objectives.`` CBC began bargaining with CEP on May 11, 2001. On September 5, CBC applied for conciliation. The conciliation process ended November 6 at an impasse and triggered a 21-day cooling-off period, which ended at midnight, November 27. On November 29, CBC announced it would implement new terms of employment for CEP members effective December 2. Fact Sheet– Highlights from CBC`s Comprehensive Offer Following are highlights of Sunday`s comprehensive offer from CBC to CEP. CBC made this offer at the bargaining table Sunday, December 2. CBC is implementing the offer as new terms of employment for CEP members effective 6 p.m. ET Sunday. The terms of employment are different from those outlined on Thursday, November 29. This is because CBC and CEP have continued to bargain over the last several days. It is important to understand that all other provisions of the collective agreement remain in effect except Articles 67 (No Strikes or Lockouts) and 72 (Effective Date and Duration). Highlights of Sunday`s comprehensive offer are: Salary Increase (same proposal as Thursday, November 29): - $500 lump sum payable immediately to all continuing employees (13 weeks or greater) in lieu of retroactivity to June 30, 2001; - 1.5% salary increase for all employees effective December 3, 2001; and - a further 2% salary increase to all employees effective July 1, 2002. Penalty Rationalization (revised proposal): - Penalties such as meal displacement and turnaround are currently received by only a minority of unionized employees. Under our proposal, CEP employees would receive increases in their base rate of pay, rather than penalty payments. We believe this is a fairer and more reasonable arrangement. - Callbacks: CEP members will continue to receive penalty payments for telephone calls at home. - Eligible employees will have 55% of the average penalties paid to their classification added to their base salary. This is a 5% increase over Thursday`s proposal of 50%. This means employees will enjoy higher pension benefits upon retirement, as this money will be added to their base pay. - In the case where an individual earned penalties last year which were less than 55% of their classification`s average, the actual penalties earned will be added to that individual`s base pensionable salary. In the case where an individual earned penalties last year which were more than 55% of their classification`s average, the individual will receive a one-time lump sum payment which represents the difference between their classification`s average and their actual penalty earnings last year, less $3000. - If our proposal on meal displacement and turnaround is accepted, approximately $2.1 million will be provided to CEP employees. We have committed to CEP that it is not our intention to increase the instances of missed or displaced meals or turnaround situations for CEP employees. Overtime (same proposal as Thursday, November 29): - We are proposing that provisions for employees represented by CEP will be the same as those of their colleagues. For example, the current CEP agreement provides for an overtime rate of 2x for all hours worked in excess of 12 hours. This is out of step with the majority of CBC employees in the English networks who receive overtime at time and one-half (1.5x). Meal Allowances (same proposal as Thursday, November 29): - Meal allowances will be paid the same way for everyone. We don`t believe it`s fair that employees working side by side receive different payments for meals. Our proposed meal allowance payment for all employees is $9.25 after 12 hours. Payments in Lieu of Benefits (same proposal as Thursday, November 29): - We propose to pay all short-term CEP employees 12.5% in lieu of benefits including vacation. Part-time Employees (revised proposal): - We are proposing the introduction of part-time employees for short-term needs only, including backfill for absent employees and coverage for employees pursuing training opportunities. Production Guarantees (same proposal as Thursday, November 29): - We are proposing to remove minimum guaranteed levels of in-house TV Arts & Entertainment production. Although it is not our intention to reduce in-house TV A&E production, we need maximum flexibility to achieve our programming mandate within a constantly changing production environment. CBC is fully committed to continue bargaining with CEP to reach an agreement before the CEP is in a legal strike position at 12 noon ET Monday, December 3 (all via Ricky Leong, QE, DXLD) ** CHILE. Radio Parinacota not have E-mail, alone to send report to: Casilla 82 Arica Chile Somebody had received this radio station? Here it is listened with a SIO 333 from the 01:00 UTC. 73' (Hugo López, Chile, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CHINA. I found CNR 2 yesterday 2 Dec and also today 3 Dec on 15050 from at least 1120 with English language lessons and close program as English Shijie jiemo. Signal is S9, same for 3-12 (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Usual cat-and-mouse with Taiwan (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. Recent changes/additions to Chinese stations in the tropical bands: 3950 Xinjiang Chinese 0000---1800 (--- = not necessarily continuous) 3960 Xinjiang remains silent 3985 CNR-2 2100---1600 3990 Xinjiang Uighur 0000---1800 3990 Unknown (Qinghai?) in Tibetan, 2300---1400, // on 5969.6, 7130 4035 Tibet remains silent 4220 Xinjiang remains silent 4330 Xinjiang Kazakh 0000-0325, 1205-1800 (// 6015, 7340, 9470 at various times) 4500 Xinjiang Mongolian/Kirghiz 0000---1700 (// 6190, 7120, 9705 at various times) 4735 Xinjiang remains silent 4750 Qinghai Chinese 2220---1605 (?), // on 6145 (evenings), 6260 4750 Unknown with CNR relays 2000-1730, buzzy and unstable carrier, may be in Tibet and may have own prgrams at times, but not confirmed 4800 CNR-1 2000-??, 1300-1730, strong signal 4820 Tibet Chinese (// 5935, 6050) 4905 Tibet Tibetan 2250---1700 (// 4920, 5240, 6110, 6130, 6200, 7385, 9490) 4920 Tibet Tibetan 2250---1700, presumed to be a separate site from 4905 as one of them sometimes has a satellite feed 4980 Xinjiang Uighur 0000---1800 // 3990 (and 6120, 7195, 7285, 9560, 11885, 13670 at various times) 5060 Xinjiang Chinese 0000---1700 // 3950 (and 5960, 7155, 7310, 9600, 11700 at various times) 5240 Tibet Tibetan 2250---1700, site as 4905 5440 Xinjiang is silent 5800 Xinjiang is silent (via Olle Alm, SW-Bulletin Dec 2 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 2950.58v, HJ__ Tricolor Radio, unknown QTH. Nov 2001 - cd 0130* UT. Heard now and then with mixed sound quality but often distorted audio. Closes always around 0130 with ID and the Colombian national anthem. Sometimes also heard weakly on its fundamental 1475.29v kHz. I seldom reproduce stations earlier presented in my bandscans but "Tricolor" is exciting and QTH is still missing. Often nonstop music without speech, and a lot of cumbias. Announces MW 1480 kHz and mixes "Radio Tricolor/Tricolor Radio"-IDs. 2979.98, HJAG Radio Garzón, Garzón. Nov 2001 - 1059 UT. At this time ads followed by ID and national anthem. A very "active" harmonic- frequency with 3-4 stations within a few 1/100-parts. Radio Garzón varies in frequency between 2979.98-2980.01 kHz and every morning has a program called "Amanecer campesino". Sometimes also heard on its fundamental. ID: "Ésta es Radio Garzón 1490 kHz....." or "La nueva Radio Garzón". Harmonic from 1490 kHz (2 x 1489.99). 2979.99, HJBS Emisora Punto 5, SF de Bogotá. Nov 2001 - 0300 UT. A lot of Mexican music. Also heard on its fundamental. Harmonic from 1490 kHz (2 x 1490.00). (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. 9644.64 // 5054.59 Faro del Caribe, San José (Costa Rica). Nov 2001 - 0040 UTC. Reactivated and lousy audio on both frequencies. "Phone-in"-program (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. I visited the Radio Progreso, Cuba web site at http://www.radioprogreso.cu and found some interesting information. Click on Los Mas Escuchado for this week`s top twenty songs. Progreso Por Dentro provides a nice history. At Programación is the schedule and a list of AM/FM affiliates: 640-Las Tunas, 640/90.3-Ciudad de la Habana, 660-Santa Clara, 680-Cienfuegos, 680/99.3-Santiago de Cuba, 690-Jovellanos, 700-Baracoa, 730-Nueva Gerona, 740-Camagüey, 810- Guantánamo, 820-Ciego de Ávila, 850-Mayarí­Arriba, 870-Sancti Spíritus, 880-Pinar del Rio, 890-Chambas, 900-Cacocun, 920-Pilín, 90.3-Holguín, 94.5-Ciénaga de Zapata [Bruce Conti, NH, Dec 2, NRC-AM via DXLD] ** ECUADOR. Bandscan from Björn Malm, c/o Susana Garcès de Malm, Avenida la Prensa 4408 y Vaca de Castro, Quito, Ecuador. Tel: +593 2 598 470, email: bjornmalm@yahoo.es, rx: NRD-535, Loewe HF-150 samt Sangean 808ATS. Ant: lw 24m, kopplad till magnetic longwire balun [see also BOLIVIA, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, GUATEMALA, PERU, UNIDENTIFIED] 2459.88v, HCMV5 Radio Popular, Cuenca. Nov 2001 - 1100 UT. ID, ads followed by catholic mass and Ecuadorian music. Weak also on its fundamental frequency. ID only as "Radio Popular" - listed as "Radio Popular Independiente". Varies in frequency roughly 2459.88-2460.10 kHz. Harmonic from 1230 kHz (2 x 1229.94). 3259.94, HC___ Stéreo Carrizál, Portoviejo. Nov 22 2001 - cd 0230* UT. Reactivated after being off air during 4 years. Was heard for the first time the evening of Nov 22, with nonstop, Latin American dance music in a hot-tempered tempo until close down at 0230, without saying anything. Kept on listening the next morning, Nov 23 0950, then with Mexican music.... The HC above was logged and e-mailed Nov 23, TN translates to English and pass over an e-mail to Glenn Hauser and the same date, Nov 23, you can find "Stéreo Carrizal" in "DXLD 1-180"! We are pretty fast in SWB but the Internet beats everything! The station has dropped some short "Carrizal"-IDs during evenings and continues to relay "Radio Capital" in Portoviejo during mornings. Portoviejo is the "capital" in the Manabí province (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Dejen Radio (presumed, because see further down) Sat. dec 3. on tuning in at 1745 till closedown at 1800 on new 12120(ex-12110)to avoid V. Of Greece. Went to check if this should be the case as well with Netsanet Le- Ethiopia Radio for its Sunday transmission, Dec. 3. Indeed at 1657 carrier with CIS-type intervalsignal on 12120. Now comes the tricky bit: announcer gave twice this ID: "Dejen Radio E U"... Did they swap slots? Something to check next time (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [or non]. 19580 (2 X 9790), RFI, 2143 DEC 3, African service in FF. Afro-beat MX, M announcer with ID in passing @ 2145. ID also TOH by YL. Harmonic: fair. Fundamental: strong, but lots of flutter. Not sure which TX this is from (aDvid Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HFCC B-01 has both Issoudun and Gabon registered in this hour; the latter certainly aimed more toward us: 9790 2000 2200 37E,38W,47,52,57 ISS 500 162 French F RFI TDF 3552 9790 2100 2200 37S,46,47S GAB 250 307 French GAB RFI TDF 3553 (via gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. The Good News site, new owner of WRNO, does mention SW, with this picture of ``our`` transmitter at Jülich, Germany: http://www.goodnewsworld.org/content/transmitter.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non]. Hello Everyone, So let's report on the special DRM Exhibition Test outlets of today Dec 3rd: 17555 Sines, Portugal had a 24 kHz wide signal at 0835 UT, on range of 17543 to 17567 kHz. 11970 Bonaire at 0840 UT had a 14 kHz wide signal, and was at 'fair' signal level range only, so the Chinese language station on 11975 was AHEAD, - Bonaire underneath. 11960 to 11974 kHz range affected. 5975 Jülich-DTK at 0910 UT produced a 13 kHz wide digital signal, 5968.78 to 5981.50 kHz. Nothing observed here in Europe on the Bonaire 12035 and 15420 kHz channels at planned and announced 0900-1000 and 1000-1100 UT, but maybe the DRM organization decided to change to other channels. Same happened for the Sines outlet 1200-1500, nothing heard on 17860 DRMwise, except a VOR English outlet to SEAs via Armavir-Krasnodar station heard with S=2 level and echo effect. No DRM signal noted on 17 MHz and neither on reserve frequency 15420. So at the final end, checked 19 mb, and found Sines, Portugal on 15225 kHz instead [of 15255 as in sked]. 15225 kHz Sines at 1230 UT covered a 15.6 kHz range, from 15217.06 to 15232.66 kHz. 6175 kHz via Rampisham, UK observed at 1545 UT, covered 12.34 kHz, in 6168.94 to 6181.28 kHz range. 5970 at 1605 UT via Rampisham too, covered 12.28 kHz in 5963.86 to 5976.08 kHz range. Regards, 73 (wolfgang df5sx büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I monitored today`s DRM transmission on 5970 (Rampisham): No obvious bleed-over but CRI on 5965 was wiped out almost completely. On the upper side powerhouse Wertachtal on 5980 was not affected but a weaker signal from a VOR transmitter (running 800 Hz tones prior to 1700 sign on) severely disturbed, too. This transmission was scheduled to end at 1655 but they did not turn off the awful racket prior to 1701, unmasking another transmission for existing listeners, i.e. in AM. Two phone calls prevented me from identifying it but it lasted until 1730, fitting to a registered IBB slot via Woofferton, so Merlin disturbed a Merlin transmission. Well done. On this occasion I noted a clash on 5980: A heterodyne appeared a short time before 1700. This should be Çakirlar (Turkey), beaming towards Europe, always undermodulated and now proved as off- frequency, too (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GHANA [and non]. I've noticed that WSM 650 kc has been fading in later and later at pre sunset as the solar flux level has continued to climb during the past week. A trend just opposite of what you would expect as sunset continues to arrive sooner and sooner. Basically D layer ionization is stronger and lasting longer due to the elevated solar flux. I've also noticed a similar effect on 60 meters with Ghana on 4915 kc fading in much later then normal at around 5:30 pm EST, versus the normal 3:30 pm EST. 73, (Thomas Giella, KN4LF, Plant City, FL, NRC-AM Dec 2 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, 0420-, R. Verdad, Nov 9, Manzanillo, Mexico logging. Sony 2010. Always a powerful signal, with mostly Spanish programming, but full ID in English as Radio Truth. Address POB 5, Chiquimula, Guatemala, Central America. QSL and banners available, and offerings accepted. Back into Spanish. Still there at 0445, but off by 0516 recheck (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`ve also noted this one as late as 0500, but didn`t bother to re-log it (Glenn Hauser, OK, Nov, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4698.75, Radio Amistad, San Pedro de La Laguna. Nov 19 2001 - 0315 UT. Noticed the station for the first time this date. Rather poor signal at evening - on the contrary a good signal during the following morning when they started at about 1100 UT - then on 4698.88 kHz. New, religious station with prayers and Tex/Mex- sounding music with religious content. ID often in EE in the middle of the tunes announcing 4700 kHz. Unfortunately a dull, difficult to hear sound. At first I thought of Honduras ("San Pedro") but got the explanation after reading DXLD from Nov 18. Larry Baysinger, KY, "found" the station at a visit in San Pedro de La Laguna (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) More like ``founded``, i.e., he built/installed their SW transmitter/antenna (gh, DXLD) ** HAWAII. Answers to Erika of the Honolulu paper on KAIM going dark Erika, Thanks for the note. Yes, it was Cliff's father who oversaw the KAIM move to 50,000 watts. If you remember, there once was a tower near a bowling alley in Kaimuki. Just off Harding Ave. This tower, not far from the KAIM Kaimuki studios, was the original KAIM tower. They operated with 1000 and later 5000 watts from this tower for years. This tower was diplexed with the long gone KOHO on 1170, a Japanese station whose studios where in the bowling alley building. Up until the mid 80's or so, the KAIM-FM antenna elements were side mounted on this tower. KAIM-FM was the first FM station in Hawaii (mid-50's) and KAIM stands for KAIMuki. But I know very little about the station..... Now, Dr. Billy Graham wanted to spread the word to all the Hawaiian Islands and some in the pacific as well (I remember KAIM running Pacific Language programs late at night. Also, up until 10 years ago, KAIM simulcast about 100% on the AM and FM). So, they decided the best way to do this was with a 50,000 watt AM transmitter that could reach most of Hawaii. To do this on their frequency of 870 AM, they would have to protect WWL on 870 in New Orleans. Back in that day, the FCC was very strict about protecting the "clear channel" stations, of which WWL is one. Nowadays, most clear channel stations are only protected for 750 miles, not nation wide, and low power and directional antennas must be used by the new stations on the clear channel frequencies. Anyway, WWL has a great signal. You can hear them day and night along the gulf coast of Florida! And they shoot all the way into Canada at night. To go to 50,000 watts, KAIM had to use a two tower directional antenna. Very rare in Hawaii, but 50,000 watts is 50,000 watts. These two towers send very little signal towards the mainland and New Orleans, and send most of the power along the island chain. A simple "cardioid" shape with the "null" towards WWL. A directional antenna needs space, and 50,000 watts causes trouble to consumer electronics close to it, so Molokai was selected as the KAIM-AM transmitter site. It is remote, has space, and from an electronics standpoint, if the KAIM directional antenna had been set up in Kaimuki for example, the "null" to protect WWL would have run right through the windward side resulting in little or no signal to the unwashed masses of Kailua and Kaneohe. The audio was sent by 950 MHz STL from the studio in Kaimuki, to Koko Head, and then on another 950 MHz STL to the transmitter on Molokai. During the time when KAIM was off the air due to transmitter problems, WWL 870 could be heard on the windward side with no problem at night. The site had many problems, and was off often. This wasn't such a problem when the old tower and transmitter was still on standby in Kaimuki, but when they lost that tower site, they had no back-up. KAIM was often the only station to be on the air during island wide blackouts, because it was on Molokai, and the others (even "Earl's KSSK) did not have generators. But as I say, I don't know much about 'em. Hope that helps, (Brock Whaley, GA, cc to DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Lucknow was noted on 4887.8 yesterday December 2, 2001 at 1215 to around 1430 when they changed over to their normal freq on 4880. They are on their regular channel 4880 today for the evening transmission starting at 1215 hrs. The Cricket commentaries on SW did not materialise. It was noted relayed by only by some MW stations at 0355 to 1125 UTC (9.25 am to 4.55 pm IST.) In the past, it was relayed by most stations on SW. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, Dec 3, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. Received the following QSL on Saturday. 4840, AIR-Mumbai, F/d PPC in 2 mos. V/s Manuswamy Indiran, Superintending Engineer for mint stamps and SAE (both used). Surprised to see this as Mr. Indiran had said he never received my letter and when he QSLd my report via e-mail, said he had no QSLs and to accept the e-mail as the QSL, leading me to believe he did not encourage written reports by post. Return Addr was: Broadcasting House, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai- 400 020. Everything was properly filled out, so Mr. Indiran is well- versed in the information DXers request on a QSL. 73s- (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, NY, USA, JRC NRD-515 and K9AY Loop, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. 3/12/2001. Hello, I find myself again in the position of needing to balance some of the remarks made about the output on Radio Caroline. I fully agree with the listeners expectation that the historically independent spirit of Radio Caroline should be evident in its current programmes. I am not able to listen to all the shows - but do feel confident to say the following do not fit in to the MOR or "it's indeed nothing particular" categories 6 pm Fridays - a Rock & Roll programme full of quality rarities presented by people who live in the genre. 9 pm Fridays Hard Country - country music that you do not hear on the commercial country (very soft rock) stations, i.e. music that give Country a good name... Evenings - Saturday & Sunday - core programmes that constantly surprise with their choices of new releases & interesting archive material Thursdays The Imagination Show and the show that I present on Wednesdays at 22.00 UK I would welcome the chance to discuss ANY of the tracks played on this show from a couple of weeks ago - in the context that any of them fall into the "nothing in particular, MOR" category. best regards & thanks Paul Sherratt The Global Jukebox ~ playlist Contact : paul sherratt office : 76-78 Nantwich Road Crewe Cheshire CW2 6AL UK e: mail@theglobaljukebox.com (Paul Sherratt, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Continually publishing playlists is not something I want to do in DXLD. I suggest those who wish to debate the merits of R. Caroline in this way do so directly with Paul (gh, DXLD) ** IRELAND. Glenn, perhaps you could shed some light: "And I conclude from the recent report about cut-backs at RTE that the shortwave transmissions will probably cease by the end of this year (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST)" The cuts referred to Radio One World. Is this the SW service of RTE, or is it the multi-ethnic/multilingual radio station in Dublin run by RTE? (Ricky Leong, QU, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kai, perhaps you could shed some light (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Ed, P5/4L4FN, continues to be active daily, however, he has changed his 10 meter frequency to 28580 kHz to get away from QRM of non-hams. According to Bruce's, KK5DO, Web page Ed has made contact with ten 10-X members and has qualified for his own 10-X number (his number is 72722) making it a new country for DXCC 10- X'ers after November 29, 2001. Reportedly, Ed has made his 1,000th QSO on November 25th, hopefully they will all count towards DXCC and make 1,000 hams so very happy. Online logs are usually posted about 12 hours after the contacts are made, if they do not appear, please just check back later. They will be posted as soon as possible. On November 21st, the Butternut Vertical HF and Bencher Keyer were delivered, and it was indicated that he is now using it (however, the Web site does not mention this as this was being written). It was stressed on the Web page to "Do NOT send E-mail directly to Ed. He is receiving E-mail that has gone to the Director of the World Food Program. This is a very bad idea. First, Ed cannot make schedules with all 1,000,000 hams that want one. Second, if Ed receives too many E-mails, they will terminate his E-mail and then we have no way to get in touch with him." So, watch for Ed's activity on 10 meters between 2200-2300z (sometimes later on the weekends). He was also spotted on 20 meters (14195 kHz/EU list operation) around 1230z this past weekend. QSL via KK5DO (KB8NW/OPDX December 3/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) There are rumors that the above operation be a pirate, not really in Korea North, but Korea South or somewhere else (Sheldon Harvey, CKUT International Radio Report Dec 2 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 2390, 2349-, XEJN Huayacocotla, Nov 8, Manzanillo, Mexico log. Sony 2010. Starting to fade-in nicely by this time. ID at 2352. Spanish vocals until 23:57:30, followed by public service announcements. Good reception with some deep fades (akin to MW) (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6817, 00:36-, Voz de las Huaringas, Nov 13, Manzanillo, Mexico logging. Sony 2010. Fair + reception with Spanish talk. Initially thought it was a race commentary, but with further listening, sounds more like just the style of the announcer. ID at 0043 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 3230.25, Radio El Sol de los Andes, Juliaca, la provincia de San Román, el departamento de Puno. Nov 19 2001 - 0100 UT. Difficult to hear, transmitting only once in a while or reactivated? Anyway, I have not heard the station before ... Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de San Román, cuya capital es Juliaca. Sus distritos son: Cabana, Cabanillas, Caracoto, Juliaca; con una población total de 164,450 hab. 4940.00, Radio San Antonio, Villa Atalaya, la provincia de Atalaya, el departamento de Ucayali. Nov 27 2001 - cd 0040* UT. Maybe reactivated as I never have noted any other than Radio Amazonas on 4939.48 kHz. Close down at this time with ID: "Radio San Antonio, radio intercultural... un mensaje de paz y alegría. Radio San Antonio se transmite en dos frecuencias: frecuencia modulada estéreo OBW8U 95.50 MHz y en onda corta OAW5A 4940 kHz (här anger WRTH OAW8A). Radio San Antonio AM y FM se transmite desde la esquina Rioja... teléfono 46 12 40 en Atalaya". The following day close down 0300 UT. Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de Atalaya, cuya capital es Atalaya. Sus distritos son: Raimondi, Sepahua, Tahuania, Yurúa; con una población total de 27,526 hab. 5601.90, unID Perú with weak, frequency stable signal. Nov 2001 - 0200 UT. 5775.27, La Voz de San Juan, la provincia de Utcubamba, el departamento de Amazonas. Last time heard only a few days around June 5 2002 on 5775.29 kHz. (see SWB 1461). Info from "Ventanaperú": 7.- Provincia de Utcubamba, cuya capital es Bagua Grande y cuenta con los distritos de Bagua Grande, Cajaruro, Cumba, El Milagro, Jamalca, Lonya Grande, Yamón; con una población total de 100,891 hab. I often report about new or reactivated, especially Peruvian, radiostations; unfortunately often active only a few days. When the information goes to print you only find "noise and crackle" on the frequency. But be patient with this fact --- usually the station will pop up again sooner or later at about the same frequency. 73 from BM in Quito! bjornmalm@yahoo.es (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. SIBC Goes Online - at a Price! 3 December 2001 As the Solomon Islands gear up for general elections on 5 December, national broadcaster the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) has just launched its new Web site. SIBC General Manager Johnson Honimae said: "With the web site, people from around the world will have access to information about what is happening in the Solomon Islands on a daily basis. However, although the news service will be free for a few weeks, SIBC plans to charge for access. It also hopes to attract advertising to the site. According to Honimae, if sufficient advertising is received, the access fee could eventually be scrapped. Funding and assistance in setting up the Web site has been provided by New Zealand (© Radio Netherlands Media Network Dec 3 via DXLD) http://www.sibconline.com.sb/ Apparently no audio. Programme schedule dated Nov 27 pretends SIBC is off the air 2200-0600 local, instead of, as all SW DXers know, relaying BBCWS overnight (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. Answer to the unID site for V. of Hope on 6040 reported in last issue: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 6040 0000-0130 41 DHA 500 85 1234567 281001-310302 USA VOH MER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) About the High Adventure Broadcast on 6040 at 0000-0130 to S. Asia the info from Alok Das Gupta of Kolkata, India is as follows: "This is from Abu Dhabi and the sked is 0000-0130 hrs, 250 kw, started on 1st Dec." The station was monitored today (Dec 3) but in different Indian languages. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Dec 3, Hyderabad, dx_india via DXLD) DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). This is the first I had heard of High Adventure having a postal address in Eastbourne. P O Box numbers are not always a good guide to the actual broadcaster's location, as their postcodes tend to relate to the delivery office address rather than the actual location of the studios. In this case however, I am pretty sure there must be a connection with The Hour of Revival Association, producers of Christian programming for a number of Short Wave broadcasters worldwide. Their studios have recently been redeveloped to provide new facilities on the top floor of their HQ, an unassuming little building (a former chapel?) next to the local newspaper offices and opposite Debenhams! The ground floor has been converted into a prayer centre. BN21 codes are issued to the central Eastbourne area, including my firm which is a five minute walk from the Revival offices. I did pay them a visit many years ago: maybe it's time to do so again: if I get a chance amidst all my Christmas shopping one lunchtime I'll try and pick up some schedules or leaflets. By the way, Eastbourne is something of a UK equivalent of the US southern "bible belt", so it would not surprise me if there is no connection with Revival after all! Have a good week people (MARK Savage, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. FORDLAND, Mo. -- A 1,627-foot broadcast tower toppled to the ground Friday morning from the weight of a foot of ice from several days of freezing rain. KDEB, Channel 27, and KTXR, 101.3 FM, broadcast from the tower. [Springfield MO] Pieces of the 33-year-old tower litter the ground. It collapsed on itself like an accordion. No one was around and the damage is confined to the area around the transmitter building at the base of the tower. Large junks of ice (right) littered the field -- ice that earlier had clung to the steel tower. The heavy cables that kept the tower upright lie twisted on the ground... http://www.ky3.com/newsdetailed.asp?id=1706 (Fred Laun sent the URL via Mike Bugaj, WTFDA Dec 3 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Czech-based US radio boosts broadcasts to Central Asia, Afghanistan | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 3 December: The Prague-seated Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) today announced an extension of its Central Asian broadcasts to include programmes in Azerbaijani, Turkmen and Farsi, one of the languages spoken in Afghanistan. In an e-mail message sent to CTK today, RFE/RL, a US-operated station, says it has taken the measure as a contribution to the fight against terrorism. As of today, the station has added two more hours to its regular Turkmen broadcasts, one and a half hour to the Azerbaijani broadcasts and one hour to the broadcasts in the Farsi language, RFE/RL President Thomas Dine wrote. In the following two months the broadcasts in Azerbaijan, Farsi, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek languages will be extended to include 20 more hours altogether. The station's Radio Free Iraq broadcasts in the Arabic language will be extended as well. RFE/RL spokeswoman Sonia Winter told CTK today that apart from the above mentioned extension, the station continued to prepare the launch of broadcasts to Afghanistan within the Radio Free Afghanistan project which the US House of Representatives had approved almost unanimously in early November. The broadcasts, held in Pashto and Dari, two main languages spoken in Afghanistan, are to inform Afghans about the reasons of the US strikes. Originally seated in Munich, RFE/RL was established in 1949 in order to spread news to and support democratic values in countries behind the Iron Curtain, including the then communist Czechoslovakia. It moved to Prague in 1995. At present it broadcasts to 25 countries in 27 languages for more than 1,000 hours a week. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1420 gmt 3 Dec 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6155, 02:13-, R. Sarandí del Yi, Nov 13, Tentative Manzanillo, Mexico logging. Sony 2010. Latin dance music, and pretty sure I heard 'Uruguay' at 0220. Faded to nothing but carrier by 0250 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {Silvain Domen apologizes for a mistaken identity in DXLD 1-189 under VIETNAM non. What he thought was Que Huong on 7385 was really Xizang (Tibet). Details in upcoming DXLD 1-190.} ** VIETNAM [non]. Que Huong Radio, Vietnamese on 7385, Sunday Dec. 3 from tuning in at 2355 till tuning off at 0130 Monday Dec. 4. Nice Asian music. Speech by M and F with ref. to Vietnam. Commercial breaks. ID at top of the hour and half of the hour. SINPO here in Belgium 45433. As this SW transmission is 'organised' by TDP, the transmitter site will remain a riddle for a while... (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2379.60 unID Spanish, QTH in LA? Nov 2001 - cd 0300* UT. Spanish program from VOA with "Buenas noches América" and then Radio Nacional de España with classical music. Closedown on the second at 0300 UT. They enumerate several SW-frequencies, which I can`t figure out, plus MW 1530 and 1580 kHz. VOA-Belize is on these two MW-frequencies. I remember very well when I stayed in Guatemala in 1992/93, that VOA-Belize on MW during evenings had exactly this format: Spanish from VOA and RNE (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Dec 2, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION. Re: ``KN4LF 7 DAY MEDIUM WAVE RADIO PROPAGATION OUTLOOK --- It's been a dismal MW DX season so far with one solar flare after another and attendant polar radio blackouts, polar cap absorption, high and mid latitude absorption and ionospheric storms...`` This may be true, but upper HF and lower VHF frequencies sure have been propagating nicely!!! Why not DX the full spectrum? Almost always something of interest going on. Looks like a nice source of propagation info (-David Hodgson, TN, Dec 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###