DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-004, January 10, 2008

        DX LISTENING DIGEST 8-004, January 10, 2008
 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
 edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.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.

Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not
having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of
noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits

For restrixions and searchable 2007 contents archive see
http://www.worldofradio.com/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

SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1390  **flexible times
Thu 0700 WRMI   9955**
Thu 1530 WRMI   7385
Fri 0030 WBCQ   7415
Fri 0730 WRMI   9955**
Fri 1200 WRMI   9955**
Fri 2130 WWCR1 15825 [not expected 7465]
Fri 2330 WBCQ   5110-CLSB
Sat 0900 WRMI   9955
Sat 1730 WWCR3 12160
Sat 2230 WRMI   9955
Sun 0330 WWCR3  5070
Sun 0730 WWCR1  3215
Sun 0900 WRMI   9955
Sun 1200 WRMI   9955 [new]
Sun 1615 WRMI   7385
Mon 0400 WBCQ   9330-CLSB [irregular]
Mon 0515 WBCQ   7415 [time varies]
Mon 0930 WRMI   9955**
Tue 1130 WRMI   9955**
Tue 1630 WRMI   7385
Wed 0830 WRMI   9955**

Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite
and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at:
http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html

For updates see our Anomaly Alert page:
http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html

WRN ON DEMAND:
http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24

WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE:
http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php

OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO:
http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html
or http://wor.worldofradio.org

** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Radio Solh, 15265 via UK, enters another month
and another year still playing exactly the same music every day at the
same time, including the sticking CD at 1346-1349+ as reconfirmed Jan
10. The final tune before 1500* is growing on me (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** AFRICA [and non]. The BDXC Africa on Shortwave list has been
updated for January of 2008. http://www.bdxc.org.uk Click on Articles
Index Page. In addition to the Africa on Shortwave list you'll find
that the Indian Sub-Continent on the Tropical Bands and the Middle &
Near East on Shortwave lists have also been updated (Steve Lare,
Holland, MI, Jan 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ALBANIA. Radio Tirana Webradio --- Hello from Switzerland, I really
appreciate the German service of Radio Tirana, but it is a real pity,
that I can't receive it most of the time, because I have to work in
the evening hours. In the office I can't use a shortwaveradio; we only
have Internetradio as a possibility to receive radio.

I'd really like to listen to Radio Tirana more often and like to ask
you if you know if there are any plannings to put Radio Tirana on the
web as webradio in the next time.

If not, I would really like to help Radio Tirana to a bigger audience.
I could provide a private streaming server for audio. The only
question would be how to get the audio from your transmitter to the
server? Best regards (Martin Stoeckli, Switzerland, Jan 10, to and via
Drita �i�o, R. Tirana Monitoring Center, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Hello Martin in Switzerland! The new present web page of Albanian
Radio television is http://www.rtsh.al where Radio Tirana Channel 3 is
the foreign service, where you will have the 'Internet' option to
listen to in the future (Drita �i�o, ARTV-Albanian Radiotelevision,
Head of Monitoring Center, RADIO TIRANA, ibid.)

Hello Drita, thank you for your eMail. It would really be a pity to
lose Radio Tirana on Shortwave. Put everything on the internet, so
every information can be controlled by other countries and
governments. I think, Internet can only be a addition to other ways of
distribution. Mobile internet? Not the next 10 years. Using mobile
internet in foreign countries? Not payable (I don't pay 39 [euro?] per
Megabyte...).

Internet as a addition would be great, because I cant use shortwave
here in the office, because of all the PCs and electronical devices.
They make too much interfering noise to hear anything. And at the
moment the conditions are not the best here to receive Radio Tirana.
For the omnidirectional aerial we are too far in the West in
Switzerland, the French programme can be heard much better. And on
Mediumwave the English Radiostation Sunrise is the winner on the dial,
unfortunately. So I hope for a internetstream soon. If I can help you
with that, let me know. Best regards, (Martin (who is 32 years old and
listens to shortwave since he's 16 ;-)), via Drita, ibid.)

Thanks Martin, for your comments. I hope that our Internet stream will
begin this year (Drita �i�o, ibid.)

** ARGENTINA. 6059.97, R. Nacional, upbeat vocals and instrumentals at
0840 UT on Jan 1, brief announcements with quick IDs after every other
song; pips at 0900, but never interrupted the program for a ToH ID.
Good signal, with moderate QRM from smaller Brazilian signal on 6060.0
kHz (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Jan 6 via BC-DX Jan 11 via DXLD)

** AUSTRALIA [non]. VT Communications changes:
CVC International, cancelled from Jan. 7
1000-1100 on 11815 MOS 035 kW / 295 deg to WeEu English DRM
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** BAHRAIN. 9744.6, Radio Bahrain Following up on Zacharias' tip. 
Heard via DX Tuner Sweden. Arabic music at 1545 tune in. Lots of
splatter, but best in LSB. World news in Arabic at 1600-1604 Jan 9. 
Lots of program promos after the news, but the splatter made it hard
to catch an ID; I finally got one at 1608 (Hans Johnson, Naples FL,
Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** BHUTAN. 6035, Bhutan Broadcasting Service, Sangaygang, checked them
from 2355: no signal till 0055 when heard weak tone and carrier. Then
suddenly at 0100 started music. I feel since the SW would not
propagate at 0000, they bring up the transmitter on SW at 0100
straight into the programme. On Jan 06 at 0033 I was hearing them
weak, a bit stronger at 0050 but bad splatter from 6030 Bible Voice to
India from Wertachtal (500 kW). (Goonetilleke, WORLD OF RADIO 1390,
DXLD) It seems they have a new s/on time around 0100. I heard them at
*0050, Jan 04; *0100-0140, Jan 05; on Jan 07 it was very weak and only
audible at 0140-0155; *0100 on Jan 08, instrumental music, native
songs, talks in Dzongkha, 34333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX
Window Jan 9 via DXLD)

** BORNEO. RADIO BROADCASTING IN BORNEO - BALIKPAPAN, KALIMANTAN

We continue in our onward series of programs here in �Wavescan� that
present the story of radio broadcasting on Borneo, the world's third
largest island. On this occasion, we visit Kalimantan, which is the
Indonesian area of the island, and in particular, the town of
Balikpapan. In fact, there is so much radio information associated
with Balikpapan that we will concentrate on this location for this
occasion, and then in another forthcoming program, we will visit the
other areas of Indonesian Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.

The city of Balikpapan is located on the east coast of Borneo and it
is the second largest city in the Indonesian state of Kalimantan
Timur, East Kalimantan, with a current population around half a
million. Balikpapan has a good natural harbor and a large
international airport, and it is a hub for the export of timber and
petroleum. However, in its earlier days at the time when radio was
wireless, Balikpapan was a small coastal town under the colonial
administration of the Dutch East Indies.

Balikpapan's Oldest Continuous Radio Station

The Dutch authorities at The Hague in their homeland over in Europe
began an interest in the usage of wireless very early. They
established a Wireless Company in 1916, they installed two spark Morse
Code stations on the Dogger Banks in 1917, they made their first
wireless broadcast in 1920, they installed their first wireless
stations in their East Indies in 1921, and they made the first
wireless communication between Holland and their colonial enterprise
in Java in 1923.

The first wireless station in the Dutch East Indies territory on
Borneo was established in Balikpapan close to ninety years ago, in the
year 1921 and its story extends over a lengthy period of time. It was
a commercial facility established by the Dutch for Morse Code
communication with shipping. This station was installed for the
Batavia Petroleum Company and it operated under the Dutch East Indies
callsign PKF. The original installation was a simple electrical
facility, and as time went by, the mode of operation was upgraded with
the implementation of electronic valve or tube equipment.

Somewhere around the year 1936, station YCP made its appearance in
Balikpapan as a 3 kW facility on the international communication
channel 8575 kHz and we would guess that this was the same station in
a new vogue.

As was the custom in those days, many communication stations also
entered into a spate of irregular broadcasting as time and
circumstances permitted. The available information would suggest that
this was also the case with station YCP in Balikpapan during this pre-
war era. Back in the year 1939, there are at least two references to
the fact that QSL cards were issued from the colonial radio
administration in Bandung on behalf of transmissions from station YCP
in Balikpapan. In fact, at this stage, station YCP in Balikpapan was
administered from station YBZ in Menado, and it is well established
that the Menado station was in use with both communication traffic and
program broadcasting. A year later, the callsign of the radio station
in Balikpapan was amended from YCP to YCC and the channel in use at
this stage became the more familiar 9120 kHz.

With the changing fortunes of war in the Pacific, the Japanese took
over the Balikpapan station undamaged on January 24, 1942, and history
tells us that the station was used by the Japanese administration as a
communication facility for the next two and a half years.

Surprisingly, six months before the coming change of political
administration in Balikpapan from the Japanese to the Australians,
presumably this radio station was heard in the United States as Radio
Borneo on 9120 kHz with a program of music and talks. It would be
interesting to learn who made these radio broadcasts at this time, and
for what purpose.

Then on July 1, 1945, Australian troops arrived at Balikpapan Harbor
on board HMAS Kanimbla, a ship that itself had been a noted radio
broadcaster a few years earlier. During its earlier usage as a
passenger liner, the Kanimbla was on the air with program broadcasting
under the callsign 9MI. A black and white photograph lodged in the
government archives in Canberra, Australia, shows the undamaged aerial
masts at the Balikpapan station at this stage and the caption states
that the station had been in use by the Dutch, the Japanese and the
Australians. We might also add, that it was in use again subsequently
by the Dutch, and then the Indonesians.

Australian Radio Stations in Balikpapan

As soon as things settled down in Balikpapan, the Australian army
personnel got themselves busy in the area of radio broadcasting. They
began to make program broadcasts over the camp amplifier system under
a pretend radio station callsign TBC, which had the probable meaning,
�The Balikpapan Company�.

The first actual radio broadcasting station in this sequence was 7KM,
which could be understood as a valid callsign for a mediumwave
broadcasting station on the island of Tasmania in Australia. This
shortwave station was established in August 1945 by the Australian
Signal Corp and it operated with just 12 watts in the 7 MHz band.
Station 7KM was originally allocated the channel 7880 kHz but it soon
moved to 7960 kHz to avoid interference. The transmitter itself was a
low power Australian army unit, though the auxiliary equipment was
assembled from abandoned Japanese equipment. Broadcasting station 7KM
was on the air for three broadcast sessions daily, it was on the air
for just 10 weeks, it was heard quite regularly up to 500 miles
distant, and it was closed in October when the AAAS station 9AG was
inaugurated in Balikpapan.

Next on the radio scene in Balikpapan was the mobile station 9AG. This
200 watt broadcast facility was part of a 21 station network
established by AAAS, the Australian Army Amenities Service. Original
government announcements in Australia at the end of 1944 and in early
1945 indicated that this particular unit was not allocated to a
specific location, but it would be available to move to any desired
location in the Pacific/Asian arena. It was stated at the time that
each of the seven mobile stations at 200 watts would be built into
three army trucks, each truck rated at three ton capacity.

Although several of these mobile mediumwave stations were heard
throughout Australia and New Zealand with test broadcasts beginning
around mid 1945, there is no tangible evidence that 9AG was heard with
any test broadcasts. Perhaps mobile station 9AG did make a series of
test broadcasts in Australia and these broadcasts escaped detection by
radio monitors? Perhaps 9AG did not make any test broadcasts before it
was taken up into the islands? Or perhaps 9AG was taken up to
Balikpapan in crates with the intention of installing it into a
regular building that was already under construction? Who knows?

Suffice it to say that station 9AG was inaugurated in its own building
in Balikpapan in October 1945 and it was on the air as an AAAS
entertainment mediumwave station at this location for a period of a
little under half a year. The last day of operation for station 9AG as
an AAAS station was February 28, 1946. Next day, this station was
taken over by the Dutch colonial government in Borneo.

Radio Balikpapan

Now, in assessing the available information, we would suggest that the
Dutch colonial authorities took over both of the radio stations in
Balikpapan from the Australian army; that is, the mediumwave station
9AG as mentioned earlier, and also the long established shortwave
station that utilized generally just the one channel, 9120 or 9125
kHz. The date for this acquisition was March 1, 1946; and it would
also be suggested that they activated both units, mediumwave &
shortwave, with their programming in Dutch & English on that date.
However, due to propagation conditions, it would appear that the
mediumwave unit was not heard in Australia nor New Zealand, though the
shortwave unit was heard in both the South Pacific and North America.
In fact, both the noted Rex Gillett in Adelaide and the equally well
known Miss Sanderson in Victoria received QSL letters from this
station during this era.

A news report published in the United States declares that Radio
Balikpapan shortwave was off the air for about a month, and we would
read this as the time interval during which the station was
transferred from Balikpapan on the east coast of Borneo to Pontianak
on the west coast. When this station returned to the air at its new
location, the on-air identification announcement stated: �Radio
Balikpapan Pontianak�. And we note that the two locations, Balikpapan
& Pontianak are more than 500 miles apart. Interestingly, at this
stage there were three shortwave transmitters on the air in Pontianak,
one of which was listed as 125 watts, the exact power rating of the
transmitter at the previous location in Balikpapan.

Now, around the same time as the Dutch authorities took over the
mediumwave and shortwave stations from the Australians in Balikpapan,
a new shortwave station in Balikpapan appeared on the radio dial. This
station also identified on air with a Tasmanian callsign, 7ER. This
new shortwave station emitted a mere 8 watts and it began operation on
6980 kHz, though this was soon modified to 7205 kHz to avoid
interference. Radio station 7ER utilized Australian army equipment,
though plans were announced for the installation of a 100 watt
shortwave transmitter abandoned by the Japanese. We would guess that
the make shift studio for the broadcast of this programming was in
reality the camp amplifier system that was on the air earlier with
programming under the callsign 7KM.

Summary

In summary then, there were three different wireless and radio
installations in Balikpapan in the earlier days, which were as
follows:-

1. Wireless communication station PKF which apparently morphed into
YCP which became YCC, and which was in use successively by the Dutch,
the Japanese, the Australians, and again the Dutch, and lastly by the
Indonesians in two widely different locations as Radio Balikpapan.

2. Camp amplifier radio station TBC which probably served as the
makeshift studio for the low power shortwave stations 7KM & 7ER.

3. Australian army mobile station 9AG which was taken over by the
Dutch authorities and became Radio Balikpapan.

Radio Broadcasting in Borneo - Kalimantan Balikpapan

The Balikpapan Station

Year  Date  Location  Event  Reference

1921  Balikpapan PKF Batavia Petroleum Co     YBWT&T 82.7 544
1923  Balikpapan PKF Batavia Petroleum Co     YBWT&T 82.7 482
1936  Balikpapan YCP 8575 kHz 3kW, address c/- YBZ Menado   RST-TK
02.166 94
1938 Dec Balikpapan YCP QSL card black print on buff IDXA-TGC 1-39 RD
1-39
1939 Feb Balikpapan YCP QSL black/buff from Bandung 9120 RN 3-39 45
1940  Balikpapan YCP callsign changed to YCC, 9125 kHz IDXA-TGC 2-40 5
1944 Dec Borneo  Music & talks heard in USA on 9120 kHz  NNRC 1-45 12
1945 Aug 31 Balikpapan Photo radio station masts, used by Dutch,
Japanese & Australians http://cas.awm.gov
1946 Sep Balikpapan Heard as phone station on 7460 & 7960 RN 10-46 136
1947  Pontianak ID Radio Balikpapan Pontianak, on 5480 & 6650 & 8090
     kHz   WRHB
1948  Pontianak ID Radio Balikpapan Pontianak, on 5480 & 6650 & 8090
     kHz   WRHB
1949  Pontianak ID Radio Indonesia, Studio Pontianak on 8090 kHz WRHB
1950  Pontianak Radio Indonesia, Studio Pontianak YDW 2350 kHz  WRHB
1951  Pontianak Radio Indonesia, Studio Pontianak YDW 2350 kHz  WRHB

======================================================================

6. Radio Broadcasting in Borneo - Kalimantan Balikpapan

WRHB Entries

Year Identification                   YCN 40 W  YCN2 125 W  YCN3 250 W

1947 Radio Balikpapan Pontianak       5480      6650        8090
1948 Radio Balikpapan Pontianak       5480      6650        8090
1949 Radio Indonesia, Studio Pontianak                      8090
1950 Radio Indonesia, Studio Pontianak        2350 YDW
1951 Radio National Indonesia Pontianak       2350 YDW

(Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan Dec 30 via DXLD)

** BRAZIL. BRASIL - A emissora brasileira que est� ocupando a
freq��ncia de 3325 kHz, atualmente, � a R�dio Mundial, de S�o Paulo
(SP). Foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre (RS), pelo colunista, em 23 de
dezembro, �s 2342, quando estava no ar o interessante programa Arm�nia
Eterna. Na ocasi�o, foram executadas m�sicas t�picas da Rep�blica da
Arm�nia. Mais detalhes sobre o programa podem ser conferidos aqui
http://www.armeniaeterna.com.br/

BRASIL - A R�dio Congonhas, de Congonhas (MG), encerra a sua
transmiss�o na freq��ncia de 4775 kHz exatamente �s 2300. Foi o que
constatou o colunista, em 23 de dezembro, em Porto Alegre (RS). Na
ocasi�o, a emissora apresentava um programa com dupla sertaneja que
executava m�sicas ao vivo no est�dio. Em seguida, um locutor leu uma
mensagem de otimismo e terminou a programa��o com rezas e a ben��o.

BRASIL - As for�as armadas t�m aten��o especial para com a Amaz�nia e
usam tamb�m o r�dio para a sua miss�o de defesa da regi�o. Est� no ar,
na R�dio Difusora, de Manaus (AM), em 1180 e 4805 kHz, aos domingos,
das 1000 �s 1045, o programa Amaz�nia Verde Oliva, que � produzido
pelo Centro de Instru��o de Guerra na Selva, unidade do Ex�rcito
Brasileiro sediada em Manaus. Na pauta do programa, m�sica,
informa��es sobre a regi�o e as atividades da for�a terrestre na
Amaz�nia. A dica � do bi�logo Paulo Roberto e Souza, desde Tef� (AM).

BRASIL - O governo brasileiro tem interesse em manter as ondas curtas,
conforme manifesta��o do ministro das Comunica��es H�lio Costa, dada a
um grupo de professores e pesquisadores da radiodifus�o, recentemente.

BRASIL - A R�dio Cultura, de S�o Paulo (SP), � a �nica emissora
brasileira que ainda transmite na faixa de 16 metros. Foi captada, em
Jarinu (SP), pelo Rudolf Grimm, em dois de janeiro, �s 1840, pela
freq��ncia de 17815 kHz, quando emitia m�sica popular brasileira.

BRASIL - Para aprender os meandros da l�ngua portuguesa, a dica �
acompanhar o programa Nossa L�ngua Portuguesa, irradiado, nos s�bados,
�s 7h, na hora brasileira de ver�o, pela R�dio Cultura AM, de S�o
Paulo (SP). O professor Pasquali Cipro Neto comenta os erros que a
maioria da popula��o comete e indica os caminhos corretos para o bom
uso da l�ngua portuguesa. Em ondas curtas, o programa pode ser captado
em 9615 e 17815 kHz. Confira! (C�lio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX
Jan 6 via DXLD)

** BRAZIL. Nacional da Amaz�nia, nem em 6180 e 11780 kHz! � lament�vel
constatar que a cada dia que passa, a R�dio Nacional da Amaz�nia est�
com o sinal cada vez mais enfraquecido aqui no Rio Grande do Sul.
Estava tentando sintoniz�-l� a pouco, e para minha surpresa em tanto
em 6180 como em 11780, emitiam uma emissora em Mandarim com sinal
local. Nos 11780 kHz, escutava-se apenas e de fundo, quando a emissora
que estava emitindo nesta l�ngua, ficou somente com a portadora,e da�
surgiu a Nossa Nacional bem l� no fundo do po�o. Em 49 metros nos
6180, a mesma emissora que estava na mesma canaleta nos 11780,
comandava o dial. Pois nem com a aus�ncia de �udio, nada se captava da
Nacional. ACORDA SR. MINISTRO H�LIO COSTA.!!! Acorda.!!!! (�dison
Bocorny Jr., Jan 7, radioescutas yg via DXLD)

Aten��o, boa noite... N�o adianta criticar o sr. Ministro das
Comunica��es, para os bem informados, que a respons�vel pelas
emissoras do Governo � a Radiobras
http://www.radiobras.gov.br/estatico/contatos.htm (Clovis Sobrinho,
ibid.)

Eu aqui a r�dio que pego melhor ainda � a RN Amazonia em 25 metros
11780 (S�rgio, Fatima, Portugal, Jan 8, ibid.)

[and non]. 11780 was inbooming here Jan 9 at 0653 check, with
wakeupshow, 4:53 am in the DST areas, but mostly for Amaz�nia at 3:53
am? Nothing, however, on 6180, unQRMing XEPPM 6185 for a change, which
had some nice and clear jazz going. But Jan 10 at 0641 check, 11780
was missing, tho Chile was VG on 11805, also audible on 11745 (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CANADA. Hi Glenn, Just received this e-mail:

Hello Ron: The future of CKZU is currently being evaluated. There is a
distinct possibility that the operation could close. However a final
decision has yet to be made, and will depend in part on whether the FM
application is approved and the new service is implemented. At this
point a "wait and see" approach is best. Thank you again. Kim Belle
CBC Audience Relations (via Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, Jan 9, dxldyg
via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

I would hate to see CKZU go, having listened to it over much of
western Canada when no other CBC was available. I think CKZU shares
the valuable-for-housing CBU-690 transmitter site in Steveston BC
(Steveston is the SW corner of Richmond) Thanks, Ron (Eric Flod�n, NC,
ibid.)

Hi Eric and Glenn, I have responded to Kim's e-mail and expressed my
opinion that as a listener of CKZU-Vancouver, I would be disappointed
to have them close their SW operation. Perhaps it would be appropriate
if others who feel the same way were to also e-mail Kim Belle (CBC
Audience Relations) at: cbcinput @ toronto.cbc.ca (Ron Howard, ibid.)

I don't know about the evaluation, but you have the site correct.
Except I don't think where they are would be considered valued for
housing, unless you mean house boats! I used to live practically under
their towers, even visited the site with an engineer once. The towers
sit on the flood plain, outside the sea-side dyke, on the western end
of Lulu Island, the main island of Richmond, which sits in the mouth
of the Fraser River (Steveston is part of Richmond). (As an aside, I
used to be able to watch CBU's modulation on an oscilloscope just by
hooking a short piece of wire to the 'scope's input, the signal was
that powerful.) At the time, CKZU was using a dipole strung between
two wooden poles, but I haven't seen the place for a long time, so
don't know if that's still the case (Dave Bennett, VE7YJ, Aldergrove,
BC, ibid.)

I'll defer to Dave's knowledge -- my view came from a conversation
with a co-worker (who works in Steveston) who, as it turned out, did
not know the precise layout of the antennas . . . as I learned in a
conversation today (Eric Flod�n, BC, ibid.)

** CANADA. TERRY O'REILLY AND THE AGE OF PERSUASION: Canadians
sometime like to sneer at the ugliness of "attack" ads in U-S
politics. But Canada isn't free from that kind of thing � remember the
short-lived ad that targeted a certain Liberal leader's facial tic?

Terry O'Reilly returns this week to kick off another great season of
The Age of Persuasion with a look at political advertising. Parties
and candidates spend a fortune to come up with ads. Yet somehow these
campaigns invariably descend into a paint-by-numbers litany of
personal attacks and stratospheric promises. The media have changed
the way politicians campaign, from a discussion of issues to a clash
of personalities. Terry O'Reilly and The Age of Persuasion, Saturday
morning at 11:30 a.m. on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet via Eric Flod�n,
BC, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

His past shows have been well worth listening to -ef (Flod�n, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Heartily agree. Sat 1530v UT +1/2/3/4 h (gh, DXLD)

** CHINA. Beijing PBS News Service on 828 kHz now operating 24 hrs
service. (ex 2130-1700 UT). Programe sked of Beijing PBS is not
updated. http://www.bjradio.com.cn/06jmsjb/200701/t20070108_338339.htm
Streaming: http://listen.bjradio.com.cn/xinwen/index.htm
(S. Hasegawa, NDXC-HQ, Jan 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CHINA. 6065, CNR-2/China Business Radio, 1301-1400, Jan 10, "This
is English Evening, on China Business Radio", mostly in English,
business news, segments "BBC Learning English" and "Studio Classroom
Worldwide", played some music (Rihanna with "Good Girl Gone Bad",
etc.), fair, // 6155, 7130, 7245, 7315, 7375 and 9820 (Ron Howard,
Monterey, CA, Et�n E5, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CROATIA. Winter B-07 schedule of HRT HS-1 in Croatian:
0557-0856 on  6165 DEA 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu/NoAf, ex 0457-0856
0857-1356 on  9830 DEA 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu/NoAf, no change
1357-2156 on  6165 DEA 100 kW / non-dir to WeEu/NoAf, ex 1357-2356
2157-0556 on  3985vDEA 010 kW / non-dir to WeEu/NoAf, ex 2357-0456
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** CUBA. YouTube: Radio Havana Cuba --- Field producers for Media
Television Timothy Speaks Fishleigh takes an inside look at Radio
Havana Cuba's English service. A small group of dedicated Cubans and
international people struggle to get a Cuban point of view out to the
short-wave community. Hear them tell their story. 7 minute feature:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YwTny_4AeNY
(via Mike Barraclough, dxldyg via DXLD)

Includes Arnaldo Coro, identified as ``Founder, RHC``. Altho he
certainly played an important r�le, I doubt that even he would claim
to be THE founder of RHC. I wonder how old this is? He was axually in
the studio, not phoning in from home. Watch the backgrounds for an
idea of their antiquated equipment, our fault of course. Starting the
third minute, graphics about Radio Mart�, not with its theme music,
but RHC`s! Note the little-known names of some of the other RHC
personnel, not all Cubans. Even the head of the Creole service speaks
with an American accent (gh, DXLD)

** CUBA [non]. CLANDESTINE from [unknown] SITE to CUBA: 5955, R.
Rep�blica (tentative). I tuned in at 2310 Jan 10 and heard nothing but
Spanish and English pop and rock music until 0000. Best tune I heard
was one from Rush at 2327. I could not hear any jamming on this
frequency tonight. I just heard an open carrier after 0000 Jan 11; I
can't tell you if they perhaps signed off sometime after this point as
the station was fading. Just a weak carrier when I tuned out at 0019
(Hans Johnson, Naples, FL Kaito KA-1103 whip antenna, Cumbredx mailing
list via DXLD)

Much like my recent log of same, 5954.1 --- but is it really R.
Rep�blica without R. Rep�blica, any more so than WDHP 1620? (gh, DXLD)

** CZECHIA [non]. Some VT Communications changes:
Radio Prague, all cancelled from Jan. 2
0100-0127 on 11665 ASC 250 kW / 245 deg to SoAm Spanish
0200-0227 on  5995 SAC 250 kW / 268 deg to NoAm English
1100-1127 on 17515 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to WeAf French
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD) But I guess keeps 0000 ASC
11665, 0400 SAC 5990, 2330 SAC 6000 (gh, DXLD)

** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. The shortwave transmitter at Radio Amanecer
Internacional near Santo Domingo went off the air last February, but
it was re-activated again in August. This 1 kW unit on 6025 kHz has
since been heard widely in Europe and North America. Radio Amanecer is
owned by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in the Dominican
Republic, it is located in the three storey HQ building in Santo
Domingo, and it is affiliated with Adventist World Radio. Recently,
Adventist World Radio made available some of the electronic equipment
from San Jos� in Costa Rica for use at Radio Amanecer. In addition to
the shortwave transmitter, Radio Amanecer HIAJ also operates AM & FM
transmitters in the capital city, as well as three additional
mediumwave transmitters in country areas for nationwide coverage
(Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan Dec 30 via DXLD)

I think Radio Amanecer may be off frequency at the moment and may be
up on around 6048 as heard in Florida. Can anyone confirm? 73's (Hans
Johnson, Naples, Dec 27, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

Did not see any responses to this; have not noticed anything around
6048 here (gh, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** EGYPT. EGIPTO. Todo parece indicar que Radio Cairo ha ampliado sus
servicios en 6225; hoy 9 de enero la estoy escuchando emitiendo m�sica
a las 1950. El servicio parece en �rabe; espero a ver lo que ocurre a
las 2000 UT, ya que ayer 8 de enero pude escuchar un servicio en
franc�s de esta emisora, tanto hoy como ayer observo una emisi�n
digital sin identificar. Tambi�n observo de forma espor�dica una se�al
de burbuja, �quiz�s jammer? A las 2000 UT se escucha la presentaci�n
del servicio en franc�s, sin embargo cortan la emisi�n bruscamente.
Supongo que lo de ayer fue una emisi�n accidental. El servicio en
franc�s se escucha sin problemas en 6250 (Jos� Miguel Romero, Burjasot
(Valencia), Spain, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-108, YAESU
FRG-7700, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** EGYPT. 9250, Nile Valley Radio, 1653 Jan 9. Heard via DX Tuner
Sweden. I hoped to catch their 1700 sign on to see what schedule
information they would give. Checked at 1658 to hear music, but the
only frequency they announced at 1700 was an AM channel. IDs and then
into Qur`an (Hans Johnson, Naples FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** ERITREA [and non]. ERI/ETH jamming moved --- 10 Jan 1600 UT noted
Eritrea hopping between range 6180-6240 to avoid Ethiopian digital-
ute-like jammer. Same thing in the vicinity of 7175 (Jari Savolainen,
Kuusankoski, Finland, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ETHIOPIA [non]. CLANDESTINE from NOWHERE? to ETHIOPIA. 11900,
Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity. I believe this one is off the air, or
at least not on 11900 any longer. I checked for them this morning Jan
9 at 1543 via DX Tuner Sweden and heard nothing. I then took a look at
their website and noticed that the last audio file was from November. 
I then checked the audio files on the RMS system and found that I
couldn't hear either the program or any jamming (Hans Johnson, Naples
FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** ETHIOPIA [non]. VT Communications changes:
Radio Mustaqbal, all cancelled from Jan. 2
0545-0615 on 15400 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg to EaAf Somali Mon-Wed/Sat
0620-0650 on 15400 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali Mon/Tue/Sat
0730-0800 on 15530 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali Mon-Wed/Sat
0805-0835 on 15530 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali Mon/Tue/Sat
1130-1200 on 15340 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali Mon-Wed/Sat
1205-1235 on 17660 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg to EaAf Somali Mon/Tue/Sat
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** FRANCE. SARKOZY VEUT EN 2008 UNE CHA�NE "FRANCE MONDE" NE DIFFUSANT
QU'EN FRAN�AIS [08/01 - 20h13]

La salle de la r�gie principale de France 24 � Issy-Les Moulineaux en
novembre 2006Le pr�sident Nicolas Sarkozy a souhait� mardi qu'une
nouvelle cha�ne publique appel�e France Monde, regroupant les moyens
de TV5, France 24 et Radio France Internationale, soit cr��e "cette
ann�e" et qu'elle ne diffuse qu'en "fran�ais".

"Je pense qu'une cha�ne publique, France Monde, qui garderait
l'identit� de chacun des participants, ne peut que parler fran�ais", a
dit le pr�sident. "Avec l'argent du contribuable je ne suis pas
dispos� � diffuser une cha�ne qui ne parle pas fran�ais", a-t-il
d�clar�.

Nicolas Sarkozy a expliqu� qu'"on peut parfaitement avoir un sous-
titrage par r�gion : espagnol, arabe, anglais, pour porter une vision
fran�aise".

L'id�e est de cr�er "le plus rapidement possible, en tout cas cette
ann�e" un "label France Monde, c'est-�-dire une holding, qui
regrouperait les moyens de TV5, de France 24 et de RFI selon des
modalit�s � d�battre" pour "porter une pr�sence de la France beaucoup
plus massive que ce ne l'est aujourd'hui", a d�clar� le pr�sident. . .
http://actu.dna.fr/080108115130.ema5buhv.html
(via Mike Cooper, DXLD)

SARKOZY PLAN FOR FRANCE MONDE �JUST PLAIN STUPID� - JONATHAN MARKS

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a new state-owned
channel called France Monde, bringing together the resources of TV5,
France 24 and Radio France Internationale, to be set up �this year�
and to broadcast only in �French�. �There could perfectly well be
subtitles according to region - Spanish, Arabic, English - to provide
France�s point of view�.

International media consultant Jonathan Marks believes this plan is
�just plain stupid�. Jonathan says this is clearly a case of death by
integration. RFI and France 24 are two completely different beasts.

Read the commentary France 24- Sarkozy Remark is Bonkers
http://criticaldistance.blogspot.com/2008/01/france-24-sarkozy-bonkers-decision.html

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pm and
is filed under For Consumers, For Media Professionals, Full feed. You
can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You
can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to �Sarkozy plan for France Monde �just plain stupid� -
Jonathan Marks�

Richard Hunt Says: January 9th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
The idea of using French audio only is truly bizarre and seems like
�typical Frog arrogance�. They need to look to Deutsche Welle TV which
has alternating one hour blocks in German and English. Or emulate
Euronews - no on screen presenters, but several languages on different
soundtracks.

Martin Says: January 9th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Another channel like Euronews which has a pro-French/European bias
(Media Network blog via DXLD)

More about this:
http://kimelli.nfshost.com/index.php?id=3096
(kimandrewelliott.com, via DXLD)

FRENCH MINISTER DISAGREES WITH SARKOZY ON FOREIGN BROADCASTING
Text of report by French news agency AFP

Paris, 9 January: French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on
Wednesday [9 January] that he did "not completely" agree with
abandoning the broadcasting in foreign languages advocated by
President Nicolas Sarkozy for the future publicly-owned channel
"France-Monde". . .
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/french-minister-disagrees-with-sarkozy-on-foreign-broadcasting
(January 9th, 2008 - 18:12 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD)

** GERMANY. CVC International via DTK T-Systems Media&Broadcast from
Jan. 1:
1400-1600  7145 JUL 040 kW / 290 deg to WeEu English DRM >> not active
1400-1600 13865 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian >> not active
1400-1800  9885*JUL 100 kW / 090 deg to EaEu Ukrainian# + Russian
* strong co-ch from 1600 WYFR in English via WER 500 kW / 135 deg to
EaAf, also Voice of Russia in Russian/Hindi/Bengali/English till 1700
# Svitle Radio Emmanuil (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** GERMANY. AFN W�rzburg update --- Radio operations of AFN W�rzburg
("AFN Franconia") are still up, but meanwhile they announced on air
that the farewell programme will go out on Jan 31. Probably only the
morning show is still on air, recently only automated programming
without real content had been heard during their drivetime slot
anymore. http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,485588,page=2
(Kai Ludwig, Germany, Jan 10, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** HONG KONG. HONG KONG MAGISTRATE RULES FOR ACTIVISTS OVER RADIO
LICENSING | Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong Radio 3 on 8 January

"Newswrap":

[Presenter] A magistrate has thrown out provisions in the
Telecommunications Ordinance which govern applications for radio
licences. Eastern Court Magistrate Douglas Yau ruled that they were
contrary to freedom of expression guarantees in the Basic Law and the
Bill of Rights. This came after five activists were charged with
operating a radio station without a licence. The magistrate later
agreed to put his ruling on hold pending a hearing by a higher court.
Maggie Ho has the details.

[Ho] The five, including lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung and former
legislator Tsang Kin-sheng, were charged over broadcasts they made
through a station called Citizens' Radio. They applied for a licence,
but the government rejected the application.

The five argued in court that the prosecution was unconstitutional.
Eastern Court Magistrate Douglas Yau agreed, arguing that the decision
on whether to grant a licence lay solely at the unfettered and
unchecked discretion of the Executive Council, which was not
independent of the government.

The magistrate also noted that the recommending body, the Broadcasting
Authority, also lacked independence. He said that the lack of
independence of the deciding and recommending bodies was not in
accordance with the requirement that any restrictions on freedom of
expression must be prescribed by law, and was therefore in breach of
the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights. He said that to comply with
constitutional requirements, a licensing system should set out the
scope for discretion, the criteria for a decision, reasons for
rejection and a way to challenge such a decision. The magistrate noted
that the law was silent on all these matters.

[Presenter] In the afternoon, the prosecution told the magistrate that
the government would appeal to the High Court. It asked for the ruling
to be put on hold until an appeal had been completed. The prosecution
argued that if the ruling was implemented, anyone could set up a radio
station illegally and this would affect radio frequencies now used by
the emergency services and air traffic controllers.

The magistrate agreed to the request and adjourned the case to the
11th of next month to see how it was progressing.

One of the defendants, Leung Kwok-hung, vowed to continue broadcasting
through Citizens' Radio. Source: RTHK Radio 3, Hong Kong, in English
1000 gmt 8 Jan 08 (via BBCM via DXLD)

** INDIA. Dear Friends AIR Delhi noted on 6085 instead of 6030 at
0200-0310. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS National Institute of Amateur Radio
Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad, Jan 9, dx_india via DXLD)

** IRAN. Frequency changes for VOIROI/IRIB in Kazakh:
1300-1357 NF 11750 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg, ex 11745 \\ 9660
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** IRAN [non]. Fair and fluttery signal in Russian, or similar, Jan 9
at 1437 on 5815. Per Aoki this is VOIRIran via Lithuania, 100 kW at 79
degrees, something you really don`t expect to hear on 50+ meters at
this hour, but there have been some other reports of this from C&W
NAm. From 1527 to 1530 they make a beam switch to 259 degrees for R.
Racja from Poland to Belarus (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ISRAEL. Frequency change for Kol Israel effective Dec. 15, 2007:
1400-1455 NF  9390*ISR 250 kW / 330 deg, ex 15760 in Hebrew Daily
1500-1600 NF  9390 ISR 250 kW / 330 deg, ex 15760 in Farsi Fri/Sat
1500-1625 NF  9390 ISR 250 kW / 330 deg, ex 15760 in Farsi Sun-Thu
1600-1725 NF  9390 ISR 250 kW / 330 deg, ex 15760 in Hebrew Fri/Sat
1625-1725 NF  9390 ISR 250 kW / 330 deg, ex 15760 in Hebrew Sun-Thu
* strong co-ch VOA in Pashto (Deewa Radio)
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** KOREA NORTH [non]. VT Communications changes:
North Korea Reform Radio, new station from Dec. 24
1200-1230 on  9630 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE  Korean
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** LAOS. A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to Vietnam &
Laos. The feedback from Vietnam will probably be published in the next
DXLD (is currently in the message area of Glenn's Yahoo Group).

Regarding Laos from my friend's feedback:-

This a country, unlike Vietnam, where you can find many people who do
speak some English. Usage of the French language is quickly nearing
extinction in Laos. I was informed, as my friend's bus travelled past
the suspected LNR transmitter near the airport, that he was only able
to see a couple of mediumwave towers on the antenna site. I had hopped
he might have been able to see some shortwave antennas on the site; I
recall these certainly weren't seen on the Google Earth image (this
site was discussed within our group message area previously).

He was later able to contact LNR & was told that this was their
mediumwave site, but the SW site descriptions of Ban Chommany Neuk,
KM6 was correct for the SW transmitter site as was the site of
Transmitter Hill in Sam Neua for 4678 kHz. Attempts to obtain
coordinates proved fruitless, unfortunately.

It appears transmitter installation dates for the following
frequencies are as follows:
6130 kHz - 1995
7145 kHz - 2001
4678 kHz - 1980?

LNR confirms that only two SW sites now exist with Laos.

Transmitter manufacturers:-
567 kHz - Harris DX-200 (USA)
6130 kHz - Continental (USA)
7145 kHz - JRC (Japan)

So it "appears(?)" that the SW site is not where we thought it was;
co-located with the MW site - so where is it??

The provided (rather than monitored) SW transmission schedule of 6130
& 7145 kHz was:
6130: 0500-1500 & 1600 to 2300 UT
7145: 2330-0030, 0500-0630 & 1130-1400 UT

'Viang Chan' seams to be the appropriate name for the capital given
that the name 'Vientiane' is a relic from the French colonial era.

[later]  Vientiane - further clarification. Just realised that some of
the information that was posted about LNR was previously posted by
Wolfgang in BCDX-795 Feb 2007 issue from the LNR website; apologies
for the repeat.

[km 49 Harris MW tx site] Anyway the MW site near the airport must be
for 640 kHz as the site for 567 kHz is definitely around 50 km north-
ish of this site, (maybe closer to 45 km) as mentioned in BCDX & WRTH
2007. Area not Hi-Res at the moment.

Further clarification: The date of operation of the 50 kW shortwave
transmitter on 6130 kHz is from May 1995. For the 10 kW on 7145 kHz,
date of operation was from February 2001. Prior to these transmitters,
there was another shortwave transmitter which operated from 1960; its
antenna still exists to this day but is no longer used. I wonder what
frequency this used? My WRTH's only go back to 1983 with 6130 & 7145
kHz both in use as separate txers/services. Some further info coming
(Ian Baxter, Australia, SW TXsite yg Jan 9 via BC-DX via DXLD)

** LIBYA [non?]. SITE? Libya's Voice of Africa --- This station has
made some changes that I noticed while listening to their English
program on 17725 today Dec 14. The first is in modulation. When I have
listened to this service in the past, there was always quite the hum
that made listening difficult. That hum is now gone and the signal
strength and modulation are both very good.

The second is in programming. It seems there used to be more music and
"facts and figures" type of programming. After a few songs, I heard a
program talking about the achievements of the Palestinian Al-Fatah
movement, which was from 1410 to 1433.

I did get a kick out of the man who gave the opening announcements. He
was speaking in English and using quite flowery language about how
great Africa will be once it is a single state and the resources it
will have at its disposal. Arabic has a tradition of using flowery
language, but it just doesn't sound right in English; it comes off
sounding to me as crude propaganda.

News was announced as starting at "4:30 PM," but it did not start
until 1433. Not sure why there was the 3 minute delay. News was read
by a man with Qaddafi referred to as the "leader of the revolution,"
but they did not give his name. Heard via DX Tuner Sweden (Hans
Johnson, Naples FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

** LITHUANIA. Updated winter B-07 KBC Radio in English via Sitkunai:
2200-2258 NF  6265 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu Daily, ex 6235 Fri/Sat
0100-0158 NF  6265 SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Daily, ex 6235 Sun
[above already corrected here to 2130-2230 -- gh]
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

En realidad de lunes a s�bado de 2130 a 2230. Web de KBC Radio. 73
(Jos� Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DXLD)

** LUXEMBOURG. For at least a week now Luxembourg DRM on 5990 and 6095
kHz has been off nights. The schedule seems to be 0730-1800 UT. Has
there been any official information? (Olle Alm, Sweden, wwdxc BC-DX
Jan 10 via DXLD)

** MEXICO [non?]. Op 4, 5 en 6 januari, hoorde ik op 1610 kHz vanaf
0100 +- utc een signaal. Met soms lichte mx and talks in het spaans.
Bij nadere informatie via e-mail, zou dit radio Universidad Aut�noma
de Chapingo, Chapingo, M�xico moeten zijn. Met name ook nog UACH
genoemd (250 watt zender). Ik zal proberen in de komende dagen om evt.
een opname temaken, indien ik hem natuirlijk kan ontvangen!! Mvg.
(Maurits van Driessche, Belgium, Jan 9, Benelux DX [not a yg] via
DXLD)

Hallo Maurits, Jammer dat je geen opname hebt. Laat jij niet standaard
een opname meelopen? Had je ook een tijd waarop 1610kHz wat harder
was? Groet (Han Hardonk, ibid.)

Maurits, 1610, CHHO, Toronto ligt meer voor de hand. Zij hebben ook Z.
Amerikaanse px's met ID "Radio Voces Latinas" (Max van Arnhem,
Netherlands, ibid.)

** MEXICO. Despu�s de m�s de tres semanas se escucha nuevamente la
se�al de XEXQ Radio Universidad de San Luis Potos� en los 6045 kHz. La
escucho desde las 2230 UT (16:30 del centro de M�xico) con un SINPO de
4. La programaci�n es de m�sica cl�sica. 73�s (Juli�n Santiago D�ez de
Bonilla, Jan 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** MEXICO. As Juli�n Santiago advised, XEXQ has returned to the air
after more than two sesquiweeks; classical music, but only a poor,
squeezed signal here on 6045 at 1318 Jan 10 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** MEXICO. XEYU, 9599+, Jan 10 at 1330 with RFI news relay for about
10 minutes; good signal and no significant het (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** NETHERLANDS [non]. While scanning through the 49 meter band Sunday,
happened to come across an English language news cast from Radio
Netherlands on 5955 kHz at 1500 UT. Transmitter had a heavy buzz on
the carrier. Went off air for a second, literally, and returned
without buzz. Must have been an audio Mix up. Anyone tell me where
this transmitter is located? Best Wishes (Chris Lewis, England, Jan 9,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)

RN`s usage of 5955 is extremely complex, differing on weekdays vs
weekends, a mixture of Dutch and English, a mixture of DRM and analog,
and a mixture of transmitter sites --- and has undergone several
changes in the last few weeks. As of Jan 6, on Saturdays and Sundays,
Wertachtal in Dutch is supposed to close at 1458, and Armavir open in
Dutch at 1500. But a conflicting listing is supposedly still in
effect, Armavir daily from 1458, language not specified. On weekdays,
Armavir opens an hour later at 1600. All the above concerns analog, no
English mentioned. So what you observed may have been a handover from
Wertachtal to Armavir, or just Armavir, which I suppose would be more
likely than Wertachtal to have a buzz problem.

Then there`s DRM also on 5950-5955-5960, a schedule which just changed
January 9, M-F only. Wertachtal 210 degrees in English and Nauen 240
degrees in Dutch alternate hour by hour: 1200 Wertachtal, 1300 Nauen,
1400 Wertachtal, 1500 Nauen, both 40 kW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) More detail about that from the Media Network blog:

RNW schedule change for 5955 kHz DRM transmissions

Starting today we have a change on our 5955 kHz DRM transmissions.
This will be the new schedule on weekdays only:

1159-1257 UTC
Site: Wertachtal
Antenna: W314  - Omni
Power: 40 kW
Mode B; MSC=64QAM; SDC=16QAM; Long Interleaver
Parametric Stereo
17 kbps AAC+SBR
Service ID: E38300
RNW English

1259-1357 UTC
Site: Nauen
Antenna: N501 (2/4/0.5)
Azimuth = 240 degrees
Power: 40 kW
Mode B; MSC=64QAM; SDC=16QAM; Long Interleaver
Mono
17 kbps AAC+SBR
Service ID: E38400
RNW Dutch

1359-1457 UTC
Site: Wertachtal
Antenna: W314  - Omni
Power: 40 kW
Mode B;  MSC=64QAM; SDC=16QAM; Long Interleaver
Parametric Stereo
17 kbps AAC+SBR
Service ID: E38300
RNW English

1459-1557 UTC
Site: Nauen
Antenna: N501 (2/4/0.5)
Azimuth = 240 degrees
Power: 40 kW
Mode B;  MSC=64QAM; SDC=16QAM; Long Interleaver
Parametric Stereo
17 kbps AAC+SBR
Service ID: E38400
RNW Dutch  - Uruzgan FM
(January 9th, 2008 - 15:16 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD)

[non] In A-08, RNW plans to add some broadcasts via another new site
for them: Tinian (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PAKISTAN. I had noted that there has been no English from Pakistan
the past few days, so I e mailed the organization and asked them if it
has been cancelled. In a return e mail, it was stated that this
service had been cancelled as of January 5th 2008 (English to Europe
0730-0830 15100 and 17835) (Chris Lewis, England, Jan 9, WORLD OF
RADIO 1390, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PALESTINE [and non]. ISRAELI MILITARY �JAMS PALESTINIAN RADIO WITH
PROPAGANDA�

The International Middle East News Center, quoting local sources, says
that several Palestinian radio stations on FM in the Gaza Strip have
been jammed by Israeli military propaganda. The stations, which were
affiliated with the Islamic Jihad and Hamas, have been replaced by
recorded messages in Arabic broadcast from the nearby Israeli military
bases.

Some of the messages broadcast on the jammed signals include, �The
army warns you of the consequences of cooperation with the �ravagers�,
and those who do so will be reached and punished. Hamas brings you
only suffering. We promise that your suffering will come to an end,
and you will feel soon that the Israeli army will deal with you better
than Hamas did. You will soon see the strength of the Israeli army.�

This development took place on the heels of an Israeli attack that
resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians earlier on Wednesday. In
addition, according to the report, the Israeli military broadcast
encouraged the Palestinian population of Gaza to rise up and overthrow
the democratically-elected government led by the Hamas party.
(Source: International Middle East News Center) (January 10th, 2008 -
12:28 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD)

** PRIDNESTROVYE. Transdniestria --- Its a rare thing when
Transdniestria gets mentioned outside the DX Press; in fact, other
than in an (I assume) out of print book called Stalin's Nose (a sort
of travelogue around eastern europe in the early stages of the post-
communist era) and another book called Balkan Ghosts, I've never seen
it mentioned anywhere.

So this item in todays Wall Street Journal (Opinion Journal- Best of
the Web) e-mail got my attention, and reinforced my impression of the
place as a real-life "Duchy of Fenwick"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053084/

The item links to an article at The Tiraspol Times online about the
local's impressions of the US presidential race. It does have some
interesting information about this little would-be nation, including a
map. The page is here:
http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/ron_paul_wins_in_freedom_loving_transdniestria.html
(Fred Waterer, Jan 8, ODXA yg via DXLD)

From today`s WSJ email:

Red Alert --- Ron Paul may be a fringe candidate in the U.S., but he's
very popular in at least one foreign locale, reports the Tiraspol
(Moldova) Times:

If Transdniestria could vote in the U.S. Presidential election, Ron
Paul would win. So says local journalist Roman Konoplev, editor-in-
chief of news agency Lenta PMR, after polling voters and publishing a
comparative analysis of the candidate's foreign policy positions.

Paul, a ten-term Congressman from Texas, is seeking the Republican
Party's nomination for the U.S. Presidency on a platform of a non-
interventionist foreign policy which respects democracy and the right
to self-determination.

"What this means, for us, is that he will not make it U.S. policy to
oppose our freedom and independence, " says Roman Konoplev. "Instead,
the issue will be decided strictly on the basis of legal principles.
And according to international law, we have the same right to
independent statehood as our two neighbors, Moldova and Ukraine, and
as a number of other countries which also declared independence in the
breakup of the Soviet Union nearly twenty years ago."

Transdniestria, also spelled Transnistria, is part of Moldova but
exercises de facto independence. In a 1997 news article, The Wall
Street Journal described the place:

Here Lenin is venerated, journalists are muzzled, dissidents are
jailed and history is invented. Run by a crowd of unrepentant
Communists led by Lenin-look-alike Igor Smirnov, Transnistria is a
haven for arms smugglers, money launderers and outlaws on the lam. It
has only 750,000 people, but has become an outsized irritant to
international efforts to pacify and rebuild its troubled region. . . .

"It's as if a tiny terrorist group took over part of the U.S.," says
Charles King, a political scientist at Georgetown University.

Maybe Paul should move there and run for office. Sounds as though he'd
be an improvement (via Fred Waterer, ODXA yg via DXLD)

** ROMANIA [non]. ROMANIA/MONACO-FRANCE/AUSTRIA, Radio Armonia in
Romanian now is on the air on Saturdays 1100-1130 on 9795, repeated
1630-1700 on 5950. Announced address is: Radio Armonia, Smardan street
13, 700399 Iasi, Romania (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 6
via DXLD)

We previously had the axual transmitter site for this program; what
was it? (gh, DXLD)

** SAUDI ARABIA. Second Program is heard here regularly 0600-0700 on
9675 \\ 11855 kHz (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Jan 6, via wwdxc BC-DX Jan
11 via DXLD) Jeddah always odd 11854.92...96 kHz (Wolfgang B�schel,
ibid.)

** SERBIA [non]. Hello Glenn, Noted International Radio of Serbia with
excellent reception here at 2200 on 6100 kHz, with strong signal and
good modulation, with special feature on Christmas in Serbia. DRM on
6095 was off, so no interference. 7115 also received well here at 0100
in English, then into Italian at 0130 (Chris Lewis, England, Jan 9,
WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** SUDAN [non]. 9825 R. Miraya FM relay via IRRS, at 1735-1810 UT in
Ar talks, discussions, phone-ins. Very good signal until 1800 when AWR
s/on on the same channel. If this AWR programme (for Sudan) is relayed
by Austria as listed, then we have two transmitters literally next to
each other broadcasting to the same country at the same time. Rather
absurd with more and more clear SW channels becoming available all the
time (Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Jan 5 via BC-DX Jan 11 via DXLD)

Miraya is supposed to run at 1500-1800. At the beginning they were
starting as early as 1300, and now they are running past 1800? We now
know that is via Rimavsk� Sobota, Slovakia, if that is what you mean
by transmitter ``literally next to`` the one in Austria? (Glenn
Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** SUDAN [non]. The Sudan Radio Service broadcast in English, M-F at
0300-0330 on 5975 via Kigali, which is well heard in NAm, is being
moved to another site, Dhabbaya, UAE at 240 degrees, likely to worsen
reception here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** SWAZILAND [non]. VT Communications changes:
Trans World Radio Africa from Jan. 2
0830-0900 on 11985 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg to WeAf French, ex 0830-0915
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** UKRAINE. Radio Ukraine International reactivated transmissions to
NAm from Jan. 1
0000-0100 on  7440 LVV 600 kW / 303 deg in Ukrainian
0100-0200 on  7440 LVV 600 kW / 303 deg in English
0200-0400 on  7440 LVV 600 kW / 303 deg in Ukrainian
0400-0500 on  7440 LVV 600 kW / 303 deg in English
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD) As first reported here (gh)

Radio Ukraine International - Livestreamlink
http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=1 Ukr
http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=2 En
http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=470 De
ohne Problem.

Und auch Real Player (bei mir �ber Ersatz "Media Player Classic"
rtsp://real.nrcu.gov.ua:7554/encoder/rui.rm
rtsp://real.nrcu.gov.ua:7553/encoder/ru1channel.rm
rtsp://real2.nrcu.gov.ua:7555/encoder/ru3channel.rm
(Wolfgang B�schel, wwdxc BC-DX Jan 6 via DXLD)

Da der Stream auf
rtsp://real.nrcu.gov.ua:7554/encoder/rui.rm
lautet brauchst Du den RealPlayer oder andere Software die RealAudio
kann.

Mein Noxon kann das nicht und unter Linux habe ich den RealPlayer noch
nicht installiert. Insofern kann ich mit einem Testergebnis nicht
dienen.

und wer den "Media Player Classic" Ersatz nicht mag
http://www.surfmusik.de/radio/radio-ukraine-int,5104.html
(Lutz Andreas, Germany, A-DX Jan 6 via BC-DX Jan 11 via DXLD)

** UKRAINE [non]. Kai, may you can read the Russian text entries on
website http://www.svitle.org/news_ru.php ??
(Wolfgang B�schel, wwdxc BC-DX, dxld Jan 3/5)

Well, svetliy means "shining", so this station is called "Immanuel's
Shining Radio", on their website I also see a short reference to
"Radiostantsiya Emmanyil". It appears that this station has a Catholic
background.

The 67.28 MHz frequency on their website belongs according to Victor
Rutkovski to its own 500 watt transmitter in Kiev. They also mention
that they are on air via the Sirius 2 satellite (which would be a
likely audio source for the presumed Juelich relays of course, if they
did not simply pick up the audio stream). I found nothing in frequency
lists so far, but recently unID test transmissions in the Ukrainian
mux on 11.766 GHz were reported, so probably Radio Immanuel had been
put on satellite just a few days ago?

The first partner they mention in such a list is HCJB (being referred
to as "Radio Golos And"). They also mention rebroadcasts by stations
in Kanada, "various American countries" and the CIS. Also noteworthy a
"what we need" page: Furniture, studio maintenance, equipment, just
anything a radio station could need. Perhaps the three small images
are authentic, but I very much guess that the Neumann U 87 is merely a
"symbol photo". That's what I find on a first look (Kai Ludwig,
Germany, dxldyg Jan 3 via BC-DX via DXLD)

** U S A [non]. Frequency changes for Voice of America:
0300-0330 on  7380 and 9440, new additional txion in Swahili Mon-Fri
1500-1530 NF  7145 LAM 100 kW / 080 deg, ex 11630 in Uzbek
1500-1530 NF 11550 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg, ex 15390 in Uzbek
1600-1700 NF  7430 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg, ex  5840 in Hindi

Frequency changes of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
0900-1100 NF  7220 PHT 250 kW / 021 deg, ex  9355 in Russian
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** U S A. CNN'S STEVE REDISCH IS NEW VOA EXECUTIVE EDITOR. He was
"most recently CNN�s deputy Washington bureau chief and executive
producer in charge of the CNN White House unit." At VOA, Redisch "will
supervise the daily operations and activities of VOA�s news, programs,
language services, broadcast operations and Internet departments."
Voice of America director Dan Austin e-mail to staff, 7 January 2008.
(kimandrewelliott.com via WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DXLD)

"Executive editor" is a new job title, and appears to function like an
all-purpose deputy director. Posted: 08 Jan 2008 (Kim Elliott, ibid.)

REDISCH JOINS VOA AS EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Washington, D.C., January 9, 2008 - Veteran television news executive
Steve Redisch joined the Voice of America (VOA) this week as Executive
Editor. He supervises the daily operations and activities of VOA's
news, programs, language services, broadcast operations, and Internet
departments.

Redisch joins VOA after a 20-year career with CNN, where he earned two
Emmy Awards and a National Headliner Award.

"Steve's record of strong news judgment, keen competitive instincts,
experience working in audio, video, and Internet media, and his
reputation as a team builder and leader, make him the ideal individual
to help VOA continue to grow as an international multi-media provider
of exclusive, trustworthy news and information," said VOA Director
Danforth W. Austin.

Redisch began his broadcasting career in 1979 at WTOP all-news radio
in Washington, D.C. after attending American University.  In 1987 he
moved to CNN's Washington bureau as a television writer and producer,
and in 1992 he relocated to Atlanta as a producer for the growing CNN
International network. 

Some of the many highlights of his CNN career include launching the
network's flagship primetime news show, The World Today, as executive
producer in 1998; serving as executive producer of such special events
as political conventions, State of the Union addresses, and the 2001
Presidential Inauguration; and managing the news gathering staff and
directing editorial content as Deputy Bureau Chief and Executive
Editor in Washington, D.C from 2002 until 2005.  Most recently, he
oversaw the bureau's multi-million dollar budget while coordinating
White House coverage with other networks and media outlets, and
adapted the bureau's reporting to meet the different demands and
requirements of CNN's many distinct shows, networks, and Internet
platforms. 

For more information, please contact VOA's Office of Public Affairs at
202-203-4959 or via E-mail at publicaffairs @ voa.gov #   #   # (via
DXLD)

** U S A. HARRIS CORPORATION AWARDED CONTRACT TO HELP MODERNIZE VOA
WASHINGTON

Harris Corporation has been awarded a contract from broadcast systems
integrator Communications Engineering Inc to help modernize the
International Broadcasting Bureau�s Voice of America (VOA) facility in
Washington, DC. Communications Engineering Inc. (CEI) is designing the
facility�s new broadcast system.

Under the contract, Harris Broadcast Communications will provide
master control, routing and quality control systems - including 12
channels of master control playback controlled by a Harris automation
system, extensive ingest and record list control, NEO modular series
frame synchronizers and converters, and Videotek VTM-3100 test
monitors. (Source: Harris)(January 9th, 2008 - 15:40 UTC by Andy,
Media Network blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DXLD)

VOA DEBUTS AFRICAN MUSIC BLOG

The Voice of America (VOA) has launched African Music Treasures, its
first weblog (�blog�) designed especially for African music fans
around the world. Matthew Lavoie, host of VOA�s popular Music Time in
Africa music show, will moderate the blog featuring music from VOA�s
extensive and rare African music collection, music commentary, audio
clips, bios of interesting musicians, and chats with online
participants.

�Our archive is overflowing with rare music from every country in
Africa,� said Lavoie. �I�m excited to share it with my fellow
enthusiasts,� he added. One of the featured artists on the new blog is
Rwandan musician Bizimungu Dieudonne. Dieudonne became a well-known
performer throughout Kigali in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was
later killed in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Audio clips of Dieudonne
favorites, including �Tabara Ryangombe,� a song depicting the
struggles of Rwandan youth, are available on the blog.

VOA�s African music archive houses more than 10,000 music titles,
including the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. Sarkisian, an
internationally known musician and ethnomusicologist, amassed the
collection during nearly 50 years of traveling in and broadcasting to
Africa.

Join African Music Treasures by logging on to http://www.VOAafrica.com
and clicking on the African Music Blog link.

(Source: VOA) (January 9th, 2008 - 13:26 UTC by Andy, Media Network
blog via WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DXLD)

VOA LAUNCHES RADIO PROGRAM FOR RWANDAN YOUTH
  
http://voanews.com/english/About/2008-01-08-heza-launch.cfm

PRESS RELEASE -  Washington, D.C., Jan. 8, 2008 -- The Voice of
America (VOA) has launched Heza, a weekly, half-hour Kinyarwanda-
language radio program that addresses issues of concern to Rwandan
youth.

Heza includes roundtable discussions, news stories by young
journalists, and music by some of Rwanda's most popular music bands.
The first program featured music by and an interview with "Kigali
Boys," one of Rwanda's most popular hip-hop bands.

"I am very excited by the first Heza broadcast," comments VOA Central
Africa Service Chief Robert Daguillard. "The show is energetic and
fast-paced. This is youth radio at its best!" he added.

The roundtable discussions and much of the music heard in Heza are
recorded at the Maison des Jeunes de Kimisagara, a youth center
operated by Forum des Jeunes and located in Kigali, the capital.

The program is a co-production of the German Development Service (an
international development aid organization funded by the German
government), the Voice of America, and the Forum des Jeunes Giramahoro
in Rwanda. The partners' goal in producing Heza is to help promote
inter-ethnic reconciliation, to help foster civil society, and to
combat hatred and prejudice.

The program, broadcast on shortwave and 104.3 FM, VOA�s 24-hour
station in Kigali, Rwanda, airs on Sundays at 0330 UTC (repeats:
Sundays, 1630 UTC and Saturdays, 1600 UTC). (VOA press via Zacharias
Liangas, Greece, WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DXLD)

** U S A [non]. Some WYFR Family Radio changes:
1400-1500   13840 NAU 500 kW / 105 deg SAs in Pashto, new from Jan. 2
1800-1900    7490 ERV 300 kW / 305 deg WEu in German, ex A-A 200/312
1900-2000 NF 5820 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg WEu in German, ex 7240
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** U S A. Winter B-07 of WEWN:
English
0000-0500 on  5810 EWN 500 kW / 020 deg to NoAm
0000-0500 on  5810 EWN 500 kW / 285 deg to CeAm
0500-0800 on  5810 EWN 500 kW / 040 deg to WeEu
0500-1500 on  5850 EWN 500 kW / 020 deg to NoAm
0500-1500 on  5850 EWN 500 kW / 285 deg to CeAm
1500-2200 on 11530 EWN 500 kW / 020 deg to NoAm
1500-2200 on 11530 EWN 500 kW / 285 deg to CeAm
1600-2000 on 15785 EWN 500 kW / 040 deg to WeEu
2000-2200 on 17595 EWN 500 kW / 085 deg to WeAf
2200-2400 on  7560 EWN 500 kW / 040 deg to WeEu
2200-2400 on  9975 EWN 500 kW / 020 deg to NoAm
2200-2400 on  9975 EWN 500 kW / 285 deg to CeAm
Spanish
0000-1100 on  7540 EWN 500 kW / 220 deg to SoAm
0000-1100 on 11870 EWN 500 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1100-1500 on  7540 EWN 500 kW / 220 deg to SoAm
1100-1500 on 11875 EWN 500 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1500-2000 on 11550 EWN 500 kW / 220 deg to SoAm
1500-2000 on 17510 EWN 500 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
2000-2400 on 11550 EWN 500 kW / 220 deg to SoAm
2000-2400 on 15745 EWN 500 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jan 9 via DXLD)

** U S A. KAIJ DEMISE? Glenn, the item in DXLD 8-003 regarding the
removal of the KAIJ transmitting facility does not surprise me. If you
drive by the site along U.S. Highway 380 you can easily see that it is
being rapidly overtaken by urban sprawl from the Dallas suburbs. The
land alone might be worth quite a bit. When the facility was built in
the early 80's, it was WAY out in the country. Big question is: will
they find another site, or just fold up operations completely?
(Stephen Luce, Houston, TX, WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. WMLK suffered antenna damage in a recent ice storm and is
off the air pending repairs, according to station engineer Gary McAvin
(Hans Johnson, FL, Jan 4, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 9265

** U S A. A few weeks back, I took the opportunity to visit the silent
shortwave station WJIE, the old WJCR, which is located at Millerstown
in Kentucky. The son of the founder, Don Powell Jr, states that the
shortwave facility was sold to WJIE in Louisville, though all of the
equipment, transmitters and antennas, still remain at the original
location in Millerstown. The shortwave facility was on the air for a
brief period of time only as WJIE, and it has remained silent ever
since (Adrian Peterson, AWR Wavescan Dec 30 via DXLD)

** U S A. Jan 10 at 2230 I found Radio Weather running on WHRI 11765.
I forced myself to listen for a few minutes to confirm my suspicions
that Rod Hembree is palming off on gullible listeners not only his
wacky religious views, but communications news items which are
anything but. One of the topix was a Notice of Apparent Liability for
alleged indecency, issued to station WCZR. This is not easy to look up
on the FCC website, but a google search quickly found an FCC page
showing that a NAL for that station was dated February 20, 2004! So
here is a show almost four years old. He later included a Stardate
capsule, which are extremely dated but I did not catch what date if
any was announced (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. Re 8-003, sporadic E on 26 MHz --- Hello Dave and all,

``25.910 USA WBAP Ft. Worth, TX in FM at 1942 with mentions of Senator
Huckabee. 333 Jan 8/08 (Ross, ON)``

This broadcast auxiliary remote station callsign is WQGY434. WBAP
would be for the AM broadcast on 820 out of Fort Worth and the
broadcast auxiliary remote transmission you monitored is licensed as
WQCY434. Actual transmitter location: .2 MILES EAST OF CLARK ROAD & .4
MILES SOUTH OF BELTLINE ROAD CEDAR HILL, TX DALLAS County 32-34-39.4
N, 096-56-21.0 W. And the output power is 100 watts, 265 watts ERP.

``25.990 USA KSCS Arlington, TX in FM at with fiddle music at 1952
"All the best Country" at 1954 into country music selection. 333 Jan
8/08 (Ross, ON)``

Ditto above. Radio License Holding IV is the licensee of WBAP-AM,
KSCS-FM and WQGY434 above.

``26.130 USA WIBC Indianapolis, IN in FM at 2002 with "WIBC FM 93.3"
mentioned at 2004 Ad for Garleek and Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
Jan 13 http://www.indianabride.com  Several IDs "Indies News Centre
"FM Ninety Three One". 333 Jan 8/08 (Ross, ON)``

Broadcast auxiliary remote callsign - WQDS396. Actual transmitter
location - 40 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN MARION County 39-46-
03.2 N, 086-09-33.0 W. Transmit power 100 watts, 63 watts ERP (not
very efficient but does what they need in their local broadcast area).
Nice stuff, Dave. 73 de LVH (Larry Van Horn, N5FPW dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

The Studio Links are coming through on 25.990 and 25.910 MHz this
morning again. Also heard yesterday. Times UT.

25910, WBAP Ft. Worth, TX in FM. Noted again Jan 9 at 1624 with
political talk. 444.

25990, KSCS Arlington, TX in FM. Noted again Jan 9 at 1624 with
Country music selection. 444 (David Ross VA3MJR, ODXA yg via DXLD)

** U S A. KKMO-1360 Seattle, WA DX Test, 1/13/08 READY TO GO

An e-mail from CE Monte Passmore indicates everything is set to go for
the test this Sunday morning. Please note, the station WILL now use
Morse code and sweep tones to maximize opportunities to hear the
station. Here are the details:

Date: Sunday morning (late Saturday night), Jan. 13, 2008.
Time: 12 - 12:15 a.m. Pacific Time, 0800-0815 UT.
Modes of Operation: 5,000 watts using non-directional antenna pattern.
Programming: From 12:00-12:10 a.m. PST, programming will consist of
1,000 Hz tone at 0 db. From 12:11-12:15 a.m. PST, programming will
consists of college football marching songs. Morse code and sweep
tones are now also scheduled as part of the test.

For info on QSLs, please click on this link:
http://www.dxtests.info/2007/11/kkmo-1360-khz-seattle-washington-dx.html

Good luck to everyone in hearing this most exciting test (Jim Pogue,
IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator, Memphis, TN, Jan
9, WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. RADIO TOWER TO RISE AGAIN NEAR FULLERTON AIRPORT --- LA
MIRADA CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES KFI ANTENNA TO RISE 684 FEET.
By ERIC CARPENTER The Orange County Register Tuesday, January 8, 2008

LA MIRADA - The La Mirada City Council late Tuesday unanimously
approved a much-debated plan to rebuild a radio fdown three years ago
when a plane crashed into it, killing the pilot and his wife.

Clear Channel Communications, which operates KFI radio, will erect a
684-foot tower at 16608 Trojan Way in La Mirada, less than two miles
northwest of the Fullerton Municipal Airport. The previous tower,
built in 1948, was 76 feet taller.

Officials with KFI said a rebuilt tower will help boost the station's
radio signal again, helping it reach an area that covers 11 million
people across Southern California.

Since the tower was knocked down, the radio station has broadcast from
a temporary 200-foot tower that reaches about 6 million people.

KFI serves as an emergency-alert station in the case of a major
earthquake or other natural disaster.

Fullerton city and airport officials fought the proposal to re-build a
taller tower since it was introduced shortly after the December 2004
crash. They contended that anything taller than 500 feet would
continue to pose a serious hazard to local air traffic.

Fullerton pilots said the old tower was the most dangerous obstacle
when flying near the airport and sometimes surprised even the most
experienced pilots when landing because of "ground clutter," meaning
that the tower was sometimes hard to spot on approach among the rows
of business parks and homes on the ground.

"If you were starting fresh, you could not find a worse place to put a
tower," Fullerton Airport Manger Rod Propst told La Mirada council
members, reminding them that another pilot died when he collided with
the tower in 1970.

"If the tower was not there, three people would still be alive," he
said.

La Mirada officials said they studied the issue for more than two
years and leaned heavily on the opinions of aviation experts,
including the Federal Aviation Administration, which ruled that the
tower would not pose a serious risk to air traffic.

"I know this is a very delicate situation and it's not something that
we take lightly," said Councilman Hal Malkin. "The FAA and all kinds
of experts say it's an obstacle, but not a hazard�And it's something
worthwhile for the public good."

Before the vote Tuesday, council members asked Propst back to the
speaker's podium and challenged his assertion that rebuilding the
tower would be bad land-use planning. Two council members argued that
Fullerton should consider its own land-use decisions and consider
whether to close the airport.

"I'm not sure the airport is the best use of land," Malkin said. Then
citing Fullerton Airport crash statistics since it opened in 1927, he
added: "I could argue that if the airport had not been there, 38
people would be alive."

Propst defended Fullerton airport's safety record and said there is no
talk of closing the airport.

La Mirada Mayor Steve Jones tried to calm the debate, saying both the
airport and the radio tower are valuable to the community.

Officials with KFI said they looked for other locations for the radio
tower, but could not find an adequate alternate location. They said
that they volunteered to conduct a full environmental impact report to
ensure experts reviewed all safety issues.

"We are all excited that the tower will soon be back at full
strength," said Greg Ashlock, market president for Clear Channel.

Once construction begins, the tower will take about a month to erect.
That could be as early as this summer, Ashlock said (Orange County
Register via Erik Swanson Jan 10, via Ben Dawson, DXLD)

** U S A. KOOP RADIO PRESIDENT OFFERS REWARD TO NAB ARSON SUSPECT
  Posted: Jan 8, 2008 02:58 AM Updated: Jan 9, 2008 09:17 PM
  http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7591028&nav=0s3dDJGv

Investigators: KOOP Fire Was Arson [caption; includes video link]
The weekend blaze was KOOP's third fire since 2006. [caption]

The Austin [TX] Fire Department has announced that the blaze at KOOP
radio is being investigated as arson, and the station's president has
offered a reward for help in finding who started it.

KOOP suffered more than $300,000 in damages to its studio in the 3800
block of Airport Boulevard when a fire broke out over the weekend.

Kim McCarson, executive president of KOOP, said she hopes to be back
on the air in two to three weeks.

Andrew Dickens, president of KOOP, is offering a $5,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest of an arson suspect. People with
information may call the state arson hotline at (877) 434-7345.

"The possibility that someone would want to cause harm to this
community radio station is disturbing," McCarson said.

"In my opinion, the reason KOOP radio keeps burning down is their own
bad karma," said Jim Ellinger, founder and former on-air personality.
"They treat people really bad, myself included."

Ellinger was fired from the station in 1999. KOOP would not comment on
his remarks. The station said it plans to move forward from this fire
and will be back on the air soon.

The station has had its share of problems with fire. Almost two years
ago, a fire caused by a lit cigarette knocked the radio station off
the air for a week. Less than a month later, a huge downtown blaze in
a neighboring dance club destroyed the radio station's equipment and
offices, forcing KOOP to move to the Airport Boulevard studio (via
Artie Bigley, DXLD)

** U S A. Strange QSL report --- I just received a F/D QSL letter
confirming my February 28, 2004 reception of KRZI / 1580 in Waco TX. I
sent a cassette recording of my reception with the original report and
I sent a followup report during the 4th quarter of 2004. Of course the
KRZI calls are now on 1660 in Waco and 1580 no longer exists. What's
even more strange is that the QSL letter was dated 2006 and outdated
items mentioned in the letter seem to indicate that it was indeed
written in 2006. But the envelope it arrived in was postmarked
01/05/08. Strange! QSL report.....

1580 KRZI TX Waco. F/D V/L in 3 years and 11 months for a report with
a cassette recording and a followup letter in late 2004. Of course
1580 no longer exists in Waco and the KRZI call is now on 1660 there.
The QSL is dated 2006 and includes outdated information that seems to
indicate that it was written in 2006. It also contains an apology for
the delay in responding. The envelope was metered with current US
postage date stamped 2008. Very strange! They also returned my
original and followup reports. V/S Jcole McClellan, Technician. Add:
220 S. 2nd Street, Suite 2B2, Waco TX 76701.

(Patrick Griffith, CBT CBNT CRO, Westminster CO
http://community.webtv.net/AM-DXer/ http://community.webtv.net/N0NNK/
DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** UZBEKISTAN. Frequencies used by R. Tashkent until its demise some
three years ago, are again being coordinated for the A-08 season, such
as 17775, 15295, 11905, 9715, 9540, 7285. Could this augur its axual
revival? Or just wishful thinking? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** ZANZIBAR. 11735, RT Zanzibar surprised to find this on Jan 4 at
1518 tune, expecting to find little or nothing as has been typical at
my QTH in past years. Signal was marginal at first but continuously
recorded from 1518 to 1900 and again from 1939 to s/off at 2100. By
1600 the signal had improved to nearly S3 and on its way up. I was
able to hear the IS of drums at 1759.5-1800 and Spice FM En news by a
man at 1800-1809.5 at a nice S3 level. News summary at beginning and
end of this program.

Signal peaked from 1800-1900. Drum IS again at 1859.5-1900 and into
another news broadcast in vernacular. At 1939 re-tune a man
reading/singing Kor`an with transition into a man singing with drums.
Woman at 2000.5-2006 followed by vocal/instrumental Arabic music to
end of program. Ended with woman announcer and s/off at 2058-58.5,
band with national anthem 2058.5-59.5, carrier off at 2100:40.

In years past (pre-Chinese transmitter upgrade) this station would be
barely audible at 1500 and by 1545 or so would be gone for good
amongst heavy co-channel QRM. Deep QSB (S1 to S7 on the meter) but no
QRM. Average SINPO of 35433 (Bruce W. Churchill, Fallbrook CA,
DXplorer Jan 7 via BC-DX via DXLD)

** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE SITES to SOUTH AFRICA. 7125, SW Radio
Africa, 1704 Jan 9. Heard via DX Tuner Sweden with English
announcement giving their email address. Co-channel interference with
SW Radio Africa often in the background, but I could not hear any
jamming (Hans Johnson, Naples FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD)

UNIDENTIFIED. I checked this morning at 1400 and did catch the CW on
6075, it's either 8GAL or 8GAR, unsure here. One thing I did notice
was that there seemed to be either CW or other time pips at about 1359
+ 15 seconds. Either something else there off time, or just part of
the 8GAx preamble? (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, USA, Jan 9, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

Saludos cordiales, se da por hecho que el sistema Morse utilizado sea
el occidental, pero y si no lo fuera??, supongamos que sea CW en Ruso,
quiz�s saldr�a otra cosa, la cuesti�n es que no aparece nada c�mo en
8GAL y 8 GAR. Lo �nico parecido que e encontrado es un beacon checo
"8BL", probablemente militar. 73 JM (Jos� Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.)

Hi Glenn, I was unable to hear 8GAL, 6075 this morning at 1400 Jan 10,
nor did I note any off time pips (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

The 6075 CW marker: Did not manage to check at 1400 UT Jan 9 or 10,
but on Jan 10 I tuned in earlier at 1320. At that time there was RTTY
running, over Radio Rossii, and the RTTY was centered on the low side,
about 6074. I suspect this is the same station, 8GAL, but I am not
equipped to copy RTTY. BTW at 1326 I also noticed continuous
``dithering`` like RTTY but with no variations, around 6087, possibly
as jamming, still there at 1435, and I also sat on 6074 at 1435-1445
but no CW or RTTY heard then (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

UNIDENTIFIED. 6128 bubble jamming? Bubble jammer - or maybe faulty
transmitter from somewhere in Europe or NE/ME/NoAF, still on air in 49
mb around 6128 kHz, 12 kHz wide. Assume ETH ... 1740 UT - Jan 9th.

[Later:] ?? Iranian bubble jamming against Coalition Maritime Service
from Manama Bahrain. Reported a year ago on 6125 kHz. Arabic/English.
Sabre-rattling between Iranian and US marine yesterday on Persian Gulf
- seen on German TV. 73 wb (Wolfgang B�schel, WORLD OF RADIO 1390,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGSET)

UNIDENTIFIED. NUMBERS: Tuned across 9152 kHz at 1315 UT January 9 to
find a real mess. There was a CW "cut numbers" station on
approximately 9152 and a second CW "cut numbers" station with a very
harsh, buzzing tone spread across the spectrum from about 9145 to 9165
kHz! Both stations used the letters A, N, D, U, W, R, I, G, M, and T.
They were sending different five-letter groups separated by "AR AR AR"
and the break (dahdidididah) signal twice. Signals on both were
strong, and I originally thought the second station was jamming the
first. Frequencies approximate to the nearest kHz because I was using
the Eton E5. Tuned out at 1328 with both signals still going strong.
If this follows the usual practice with numbers stations from Cuba, it
should be again active around this frequency next week (January 16) at
about the same time (Harry Helms, W5HLH Smithville, TX EL19, dxldyg
via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

2008 WINTER SWL FEST

Registration Season has opened for the 21st (!?) SWL Winterfest (or
Winter SWL Fest) in beautiful and scenic Kulpsville, PA! For more
information, check out http://swlfest.com and
http://swlfest.blogspot.com/ 

Both sites have links to discussion lists and contact addresses for
more information about the Fest. Hope to see many folks there (Richard
Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA, Jan 10, swprograms [not a yg] via DXLD)

LANGUAGE LESSONS
++++++++++++++++

``ONDA CORTA``

On this page you will find an interesting translation from Spanish
"Onda Corta" to English...
http://www.radiorebelde.com.cu/programacion_ing.htm
(From the world's northernmost DXer, Bjarne Mjelde
http://www.kongsfjord.no weblog: http://arcticdx.blogspot.com
dxing.info via DXLD)

RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM
+++++++++++++++++++++

ONE REASON PEOPLE MIGHT BE GETTING TIRED OF LISTENING TO RADIO.

"I do subscribe to your podcasts feeds. However, I rarely listen to
the podcasts. I am quite sensitive to the clipping and compression
artefacts that are so evident in low-bitrate audio files like
podcasts. I would much rather listen to a shortwave broadcast with
some whistles and fading than to listen to a highly compressed audio
file." Robert Sillett, writing to Radio Netherlands, 7 January 2008.
(kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD)

A shortwave broadcast, even if it experiences some fading or
interference, is nevertheless an uncompressed, analog, double-
sideband, amplitude modulated signal. The fatigue brought on by
listening to compressed digital audio probably deserves more
attention. Posted: 08 Jan 2008 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.)

TWR FIXED-TUNED MW ANTENNAS

In an article [Nov Monitoring Times] by Ernie Franke, who is the chief
engineer for Trans World Radio, details are given of an antenna that
TWR is sending out to listeners through the post. This antenna is
electronically tuned to a particular mediumwave station and it is
posted out in a large sized envelope. The listener places this antenna
close to his radio receiver, and according to listener reports, the
signal strength is significantly enhanced (Adrian Peterson, AWR
Wavescan Dec 30 via DXLD)

FUTURE OF ETON E1 / GRUNDIG-USA G1:

It looks like the E1 is being discontinued, and the fate of the
"virtually identical Grundig G1" is uncertain. See
http://www.passband.com/category/receivernews/

Tnx to Paul McDonough of the Boston Area DXers for the alert.
(Jerry Berg-USA, DXplorer Jan 10)

Infos on http://www.passband.com/2008/01/
(Reinhold Schuttkowski, Germany, A-DX Jan 10, all via BC DX via DXLD)

DIGITAL BROADCASTING
++++++++++++++++++++

NPR, HARRIS CORPORATION AND TOWSON UNIVERSITY LAUNCH GLOBAL EFFORT TO
MAKE RADIO ACCESSIBLE TO HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED

First Over-The-Air Transmission From Special CES Station [WX3NPR]

LAS VEGAS, January 8, 2008 � (LVCC S227) � NPR, Harris Corporation and
Towson University today announced a new initiative to make radio more
accessible to the hundreds of millions of hearing and visually
impaired people around the world.

At a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas,
the three organizations announced the global accessible radio
technology initiative and provided the first live demonstration of the
accessible radio technology. The group also announced a new research
center for developing future technologies on the campus of Towson
University near Baltimore, MD. Additional plans call for the
establishment of an international consortium of equipment
manufacturers, broadcasters and other organizations to help foster
broad adoption of the initiative.

The initiative will be spearheaded by the three founding organizations
and will leverage cutting-edge HD Radio� technology to enable hearing-
impaired people to �see� live radio content on specially equipped
receivers by applying television closed-captioning processes to radio
broadcasts. . .
http://www.harris.com/view_pressrelease.asp?act=lookup&pr_id=2315
(via Benn Kobb, DXLD)

DRM AS SEEN BY THE ECONOMIST

Glenn, in an uncharacteristically partial story, The Economist
endorses using DRM as an alternative to FM in wide coverage
broadcasts. Not a single word on "minor" hurdles such as actually
finding stand-alone receivers in adequate volumes on the market, after
5 years of "testing".

It's nice to know that "DRM provides the same range as [...] 
traditional AM transmissions without the interference � on the face of 
things, the best of both worlds. It is also cheap. It can be 
broadcast by modifying existing AM equipment and does not use as much 
electricity as an equivalent AM service."

(I can't recall reading such a press release jargon in an otherwise
proverbially ironic publication). And what about electricity burned by
the PCs people are forced to rely upon in order to be able to - not so
easily - decode it? (Andrea Lawendel, Italy, Jan 10, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) Viz.:

DIGITAL RADIO --- STAY TUNED  Jan 8th 2008

How broadcasters plan to hop, skip and jump around the world with 
long-range digital radio . . .
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10490842
(via Lawendel, DXLD) Including:

``Reinhold B�hm, a senior research engineer at Dolby, a big audio
company that is part of the DRM consortium, says that in one test a
signal transmitted from Europe was received well in Australia with
only two "hops" along the skywave.``

You mean how many "hops" a SW signal takes depends on the type of
modulation used?? Wow, it's only 9:48 am here and I've already learned
something new today!! (Harry Helms, W5HLH, Smithville, TX EL19, dxldyg
via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE IN THE NEWS. "Unlike FM and existing digital-
radio services (which also use VHF) they do not need transmitters
every few kilometres. Indeed, some AM broadcasts, especially on
shortwave, bounce between the ionosphere and the ground in a way that
allows them to travel huge distances�sometimes halfway round the
world. This phenomenon, known as skywave, is particularly powerful at
night. DRM provides the same range as these traditional AM
transmissions without the interference�on the face of things, the best
of both worlds. It is also cheap. It can be broadcast by modifying
existing AM equipment and does not use as much electricity as an
equivalent AM service." Economist, 8 January 2008. [as above, via
kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD)

Some problems even within this one passage: 1) Americans will be
confused by the phrase "AM broadcasts, especially on shortwave," given
that "AM" and "SW" are separate bands on most American multi-band
radios. It should have been explained more clearly that the longwave,
medium wave (America's "AM"), and shortwave broadcasts bands all
employ amplitude modulation (AM). 2) "Skywave is particularly powerful
at night." Well, on shortwave, it is also "powerful" during the day,
generally above 12 MHz. 3) "DRM provides the same range as these
traditional AM transmissions without the interference." Actually, no.
DRM is much more sensitive to interference and reduced signal
strength, and completely drops out if vexed by one or both, whereas
analog shortwave may still be intelligible, even if there is low
signal strength or some interference on or near the channel. For this
reason, DRM may be more useful for short- and medium-range
transmissions, while keeping analog for long-haul circuits and adverse
conditions such as jamming. Posted: 10 Jan 2008 (Kim Andrew Elliott,
ibid.) DRM: see AUSTRALIA; GERMANY; LUXEMBOURG; NETHERLANDS; SERBIA

PROPAGATION
+++++++++++

ARNIE CORO�S DXERS UNLIMITED HF PROPAGATION UPDATE AND FORECAST

Solar activity is once again is expected to be between low and very
low for the next several days of this week. Solar flux is now near 80
units, and the A index was at a rather high 16 on Monday due to the
effects of a high speed solar wind. No sporadic E events expected to
occur in the Northern Hemisphere, but good chances of nice E skip
openings do appear to be possible South of the Equator. Best bands for
daytime short wave broadcast listening are the 25, 19 and 16 meter
bands, and nighttime reception will be best on 49 and 31 meters, with
25 meters also good on North to South propagation paths (Arnie Coro,
CO2KK, RHC DXers Unlimited Jan 8, HCDX via DXLD)

The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels through 04 January.  For
the remainder of the summary period (05 - 06 January), quiet to
active levels were observed at middle latitudes, while high
latitudes experienced unsettled to minor storm levels with an
isolated major storm period.  ACE solar wind measurements indicated
a recurrent co-rotating interaction region (CIR) late on 04 January
followed by the onset of a recurrent high speed stream.  The CIR was
associated with increased densities, velocities, and interplanetary
magnetic field.  Densities increased to a peak of 31 p/cc at 05/0610
UTC. CIR-associated IMF changes included increased Bt (peak 18 nT at
05/0645 UTC) and intermittent periods of increased southward Bz
(minimum -14 nT at 05/0712 UTC).  Velocities increased during 05 -
06 January. and reached a peak of 705 km/sec at 06/0007 UTC.

FORECAST OF SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY 09 JAN - 04 FEB 2008

Solar activity is expected to be very low. No proton events are
expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux
at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels during
09 - 11 January, 14 - 27 January, and 02 - 04 February.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels during 09 -
12 January.  Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active
levels during 13 - 18 January due to a recurrent coronal hole high
speed stream.  Activity is expected to decrease to mostly quiet
levels during 19 January - 01 February.  Activity is expected to
increase to unsettled to active levels during 02 - 04 February due
to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream.

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2008 Jan 08 2024 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2008 Jan 08
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2008 Jan 09      80           5          2
2008 Jan 10      75           5          2
2008 Jan 11      75           5          2
2008 Jan 12      70           5          2
2008 Jan 13      70          15          4
2008 Jan 14      70          15          4
2008 Jan 15      70          10          3
2008 Jan 16      70          10          3
2008 Jan 17      70          10          3
2008 Jan 18      70          10          3
2008 Jan 19      70           8          3
2008 Jan 20      70           5          2
2008 Jan 21      70           5          2
2008 Jan 22      70           5          2
2008 Jan 23      70           5          2
2008 Jan 24      70           5          2
2008 Jan 25      70           5          2
2008 Jan 26      75           5          2
2008 Jan 27      75           5          2
2008 Jan 28      80           5          2
2008 Jan 29      80           5          2
2008 Jan 30      80           5          2
2008 Jan 31      80           5          2
2008 Feb 01      80           5          2
2008 Feb 02      80          10          4
2008 Feb 03      80          10          3
2008 Feb 04      80          10          3
(SWPC via WORLD OF RADIO 1390, DXLD)

THOMAS GIELLA`S PROPAGATION FORECASTS MOVE TO FRIDAY ISSUANCE

Hello to all of the new subscribers. As of 1930 UTC today Thursday
January 10, 2008 we have 10,261 subscribers!!!

Just a note, I'm changing the day that my forecast is issued. In the
past I issued my forecast at 2200 UTC on Thursday and the forecast
covered Friday 0000 UTC through Thursday 2359 UTC.

I will begin issuing my forecast on Friday at 2200 UTC and it will
cover Saturday 0000 UTC through Friday 2359 UTC. The reason for the
change is so that contesters will have a more timely forecast for the
beginning of most contests.

So look for my propagation forecast #2008-02 at 2200 UTC on Friday
January 11, 2008 and it will be valid for Saturday 0000 UTC January
12, 2008 through Friday January 18, 2008. 73, (Thomas F. Giella,
KN4LF, Lakeland, FL, Jan 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###

DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-175, November 28, 2006

        DX LISTENING DIGEST 6-175, November 28, 2006
Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.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.

Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not
having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of
noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits

For restrixions and searchable 2006 contents archive see
http://www.worldofradio.com/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

FIRST SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1338
Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415
Thu 0000 on WBCQ 18910-CLSB
Fri 2130 on WWCR 7465 [ex-15825 for Dec thru Feb!]

Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite
and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at:
http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html

For updates see our Anomaly Alert page:
http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html

WRN ON DEMAND:
http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24

OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]
http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html
or http://wor.worldofradio.org
WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS: www.obriensweb.com/wor.xml

** ALBANIA. In order to escape the collision with Russia on 6130 at
1945, effective today Nov. 27, R. Tirana is moving this English
broadcast for Europe to 6170 and an hour earlier at 1845 UT. The
quarter-hour broadcast remains at 1945 on its other frequency, 7465.
And the half-hour English to Europe is still at 2100 on 7530. It`s
difficult to find a totally clear frequency on 49m, and R. Tirana will
no doubt be interested in reports on how 6170 is doing, which by the
way is non-direxional. Write to Drita Çiço, ARTV-Head of Monitoring
Center dcico @ abcom-al.com (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Viz.: All Shijak, 100 kW, until 250307

B06 ALR 27-Nov-2006 ALR
Version:01  Total reqs: 14 Subversion:00

FREQ STRT STOP CIRAF ZONES   AZIMUTH      DAYS    LANGUAGE

5910 1900 1915 28              0          234567  SER/CRO
6035 2001 2030 28              0          234567  ITALIAN
6110 2130 2300 28              300       1234567  ALBANIAN
6115 0245 0300 8               300       1 34567  ENGLISH
6115 0330 0400 8               300       1 34567  ENGLISH
6170 1845 1900 27,28           0          234567  ENGLISH  ******
7105 0730 1000 28              0         1234567  ALBANIAN
7425 0000 0130 8               310       1234567  ALBANIAN
7465 0245 0300 8               310       1 34567  ENGLISH
7465 0330 0400 8               310       1 34567  ENGLISH
7465 1945 2000 27              310        234567  ENGLISH
7465 2001 2030 27              310        234567  FRENCH
7465 2031 2059 28              0          234567  GERMAN
7530 2100 2130 27              300        234567  ENGLISH
(R. Tirana via DXLD)

Hello dear Drita, 6170 kHz as noted here in south-western Germany on
Nov 27th, at 1843-1857 UT. Listen to the attached MP3 record,
distorted sound most likely due to unusual strong signal from Croatia
on the lower adjacent channel. But same distorted sound also observed
on 7465 kHz during English and French outlets via 300-310 directional
antenna tonight 1945-2015 UT. The 6170 kHz channel was interference
free; no other station could be heard here. On 6175 kHz adjacent
channel noted three low signal level stations like Skelton NHK,
Armavir to Near East, and Kashi-China to Middle east too. The first
part recorded with 4 kHz filter, the second part with very wide 7 kHz
filter, and subsequently a whistle tone could be heard then. News
noted from 1845 til 1857:43 UT, and RT interval signal noted again.
Transmitter cut off at 1858:00 UT precise. Which antenna used today, a
Zero-dB non-directional antenna, or the 310 degrees beam towards Great
Britain and Ireland target?? 73 wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, to
Drita, via DXLD)

To Drita Çiço ARTV-Head of Monitoring Center --- Dear Sir or Madam! I
received your broadcast in English language today (November 27, 2006)
at 1855 UT on the new frequency 6170 kHz. Quality was good, strong
signal and not much interference. Good usable reception at my location
which is between Bremen and Hamburg in northern Germany. Radio was my
amateurradio-gear, antenna was a dipole, 45m length. Greetings! (Kai-
Uwe Hoefs, Visselhoevede, Germany, via Drita, DXLD)

Hello Drita and Wolfgang, I heard new 6170 at 1845 UT last evening
(Nov. 27) - the signal strength was mainly good but with some 'fading'
to lower levels at times. There was moderate to strong sideband
interference from Croatia using 6165, and their 100 kW transmitter was
putting in a stronger signal than SHI at my location. Wolfy seemed to
be experiencing less splash than I was. I didn't identify the two
stations using 6175 but they were only fair signals, and not causing
audible splash last night. In SINPO I would estimate 33532.

If I used the upper-sideband only facility on my receiver then
interference was less, but this facility is usually only available on
more expensive (or table top) receivers.

But the audio! What is the problem with the audio? As you can hear via
Wolfy's recording it is TERRIBLE, and that's why I give an overall
value of only 2 in the SINPO code. I had much difficulty in
understanding what was being spoken.

And I can tell you that I was also listening via the telephone to my
friends receiver - he lives in Leeds (about 60 miles due east from my
location) and he had very similar results to my own. And he also
complained about the audio!

I'll check again during this week and send you another report later.
Greetings from (Noel Green, Blackpool UK, via Drita, DXLD)

Hello Drita, After a tip from Glenn Hauser I listened in on Radio
Tirana's new frequency 6170 kHz at 1845 UT. Not that good, I must
confess. Maybe other listeners have got a better result. Here my
report: 1842-1845 the IS, 1845 ID with frequencies and transmission
time There after, I presume, news read by a woman. 1856 very short
piece of music (anthem?). 1857 suddenly off SINPO was 2/3 3222, but
poor modulation, as far as I could hear. My receiver is a Sangean 909
ATS with 6 m longwire antenna put around my pot plants in the living
room :-) Good luck with this frequency and all the best (Ydun Ritz,
Denmark, via Drita, DXLD)

Hello again Drita: Now at 1945 UT I am hearing Radio Tirana booming in
on 7465 kHz, enormous signal in Sweden, SINPO 55555 like a local
station! And the best thing is that the audio is quite OK. News and
Albania in a week. Wrong information about the times and frequencies
was given - the new schedule had not been taken into account. Indeed
the strength here is astonishing! Glad to give you such a report. Was
listening on the loudspeaker and the Japan Radio Company's NRD535D and
of course the 40 m L aerial. All Good Wishes and my greetings for the
Albanian National Day tomorrow! "Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar, me një
dëshirë me një qëllim...." (Ullmar in Sweden Qvick, ibid.)

** ALBANIA. 7210, China Radio International, 2222-2250 UT Nov 26, in
Spanish with Asian flute music, talk, fighting it out with co-channel
Cyprus; SINPO variable, mostly 22222, with 33233 after Cyprus off at
2245. All heard on a Grundig YB 400 PE with random long wire (Roger
Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ALGERIA [non]. 9455 mess --- 1900 UT both 9825 and 11815 with poor
S=1-2, skips over my head. But at 2000 a mess jam on 9455 kHz:

RDP Lisbon in Brazilian Portuguese, live coverage of Brazilian
football league, Sat/Sun only; and

IBB Saipan RFA Mandarin 1600-2200 UT; and Chinese Firedrake, and

poor RTA. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.:

UK [to Algeria and Africa] Radio Algerienne (Holy Koran Service in
Arabic) via VT Communications for B-06:

0400-0500 on 6090-Rampisham   6125-Woofferton
0500-0600 on 6025-Woofferton  6090-Rampisham
1900-2000 on 9825-Woofferton 11815-Rampisham
2000-2100 on 9455-Woofferton 11815-Rampisham
2100-2300 on 6055-Woofferton  9850-Rampisham
(Tony Rogers-UK, dxld Nov 20 via DXLD)

** ARMENIA. 4810, 25 Nov, 0422, Public Radio Armenia, in Armenian,
march, at 0430 usual IS and Farsi programme, 43433  (Eike Bierwirth,
Mainz, Germany, JRC NRD-525, 15m wire in the garden, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** AUSTRALIA [and non]. After info that Humpty Doo, 5050 kHz should
have been heard in Finland, I have daily listened on the frequency for
more than a week. All I can hear is Voice of Strait in China closing
at 1700:03 with a time signal 3 seconds behind DCF 77. Anybody else
having heard the 400 watt-station in Australia??? (Stig Adolfsson,
Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 26, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

See the tip from Jan Edh who also monitored the frequency without any
luck to hear the station. We have to wait a little further to see if
it is possible to log this one. Haven't heard if GN (Gert Nilsson)
managed to log it in Sweden. /SWB-editor

I worked for a long time with ARDS. I heard them but absolutely not
enough for a report and hardly as a log...

5049.9, 15.11 1930, ARDS Radio (tent. I presume? /SWB-editor), Humpty
Doo after a tip from GN (Gert Nilsson), but too weak (QSA 1-2) to
catch anything. JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 26, translated by
editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST))

** BELARUS. Updated B-06 schedule of Radio Belarus Minsk:
5970 MNS 250 kW / 250 deg
0200-0400 in Belarussian, co-ch Radio República in Spanish via DTK

6155 MNS 250 kW / 245 deg
0200-0400 in Belarussian

7170 MNS 150 kW / 075 deg
0500-0800 in Belarussian

7255 MNS 250 kW / 075 deg
1600-1800 in Belarussian

7360 MNS 075 kW / 270 deg
1700-1900 in Belarussian, totally blocked by CRI in English
1900-2000 in German
2000-2200 in English
2200-2300 in Russian

7390 MNS 150 kW / 260 deg
1700-1900 in Belarussian
1900-2000 in German
2000-2200 in English
2200-2300 in Russian

7420 MNS 250 kW / 255 deg
1800-1900 in Belarussian
1900-2000 in German
2000-2200 in English, co-ch Radio Sweden in Swedish/English till 2100
2200-2300 in Russian
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

** BELGIUM. Bill Wilkins, Springfield MO, forwards a program booklet
just received in the P-mail from RTBF, dated Sept. 2006. It`s
apparently designed for long-term validity, with this info about
French broadcasts on SW, all on 9970, and times converted here from
CET and CEST to UT:

      November-March           April-October
To SEu, 0700-1700                0500-2000
To CAf, 0400-0600 & 1700-2215    0300-0430 & 1900-2100

An accompanying map shows two major circular footprints, one centred W
of Sardinia in the Mediterranean, and the other centred in eastern
Congo DR. The European one has concentric larger but weaker circles
out as far as Hadrian`s Wall. The African one has a much large but
weaker circle which is not concentric with the smaller one over Congo
DR, but tangential to it on the SW side, and extending as far as
Carthage, so it`s centred somewhere east of what`s left of Lake Chad.

I suspect these SW coverage areas are just general guesses, in
contrast to the much more precise, altho uncalibrated, satellite
footprints on the following pages.

This geography does not make much sense for SW coverage as HFCC shows
this entire timespan is just 100 kW at 167 degrees from Wavre,
Belgium, and furthermore not for CAf at all, as CIRAF zones 27-28 are
S Europe; 37-39 cover only the northern tier of African countries, and
the Arabian peninsula. No mention of 52 for Congo DR:

9970 0300 2215 27,28,37-39 WAV 100 167 1234567 291006 250307 D BEL RTB

Are they really making any antenna changes at the various start/stop
times shown, or changing programming from European-orientated to
African-orientated, and back? There is also a detailed program
schedule, but I don`t see any such differentiation in it. Or do they
really think propagation conditions will account for the start/stop
times of European vs African coverage and that for only one hour in
the summer will both be served at the same time?

But the times do not exactly mesh. In Nov-Mar there is a one-hour
break at 06-07, but no break at 17. In Apr-Oct there is a one-hour
overlap at 19-20. Quite unusually, HFCC has no other station at any
time on 9970, which RTBF apparently owns for 19+ hours a day if not 24
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** BRAZIL. BRASIL – A Rádio Difusora, de Macapá (AP), foi captada, em
Jequié (BA), pelo Cristiano Almeida, em 24 de novembro, às 0512, pela
freqüência de 4915 kHz. Ele ouviu o segmento Madrugada 630 (Célio
Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Nov 26 via DXLD)

** BULGARIA. Somebody remembered to turn on the transmitter for the
weekly broadcast of R. Varna, but not to turn on the modulation. Just
strong open carrier on 7600 at several chex around 2320 UT Sunday Nov
26; supposed to run 2200-0400 into UT Monday (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

I was tuned to 7600 from 2150, and after a carrier switch on there was
some audio which disappeared again for some 15 seconds. After that,
there were no problems monitored anymore besides from a slightly
humming signal. Signal was quite strong here in Antwerp. Before 2200
there was pop music, Anthem at 2200 and news. Tuned to another qrg
around 2220. 73, (Guido Schotmans, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CANADA. What in the world is going on at RCI? Major changes
apparently effective Monday morning Nov 27; it`s hard to believe they
were unintentional.

The 14-17 UT broadcast consisting of The Link 1 & 2, then Sounds like
Canada from CBC, had been on 9515, 13655 and 17820.

But now I found RCI on only one frequency, 9610, sounding like what
was on 9515, undermodulated, at 1508 with RCI news, 1510 starting The
Link. Quickly scanned the 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 21 MHz bands and
did not find any // frequency.

I was hoping for a new frequency announcement around 1600 but instead
Jim Craig`s This Day in History feature just kept running past hourtop
– since the news earlier ran later than usual, the whole block may
have started late. Closed The Link at 1603 plugging its next hour, so
this was I, rather than the usual II during the 15 UT hour.

But then at 1604 abruptly changed to Russian, with RCI+ ID for Sirius
and into news in Russian, still in Russian at 1621. This is on the
schedule for RCI Plus at 1100 EST,
http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/B06_RCI_Plus.pdf
and no changes have been made in the accompanying RCI B-06 schedules
still showing 9515, 13655 and 17820 at 14-17 UT.

Has RCI dumped its usual morning programming and just plugged the RCI+
feed into one Sackville transmitter rather than three, on a new
announced frequency, without bothering to tell anyone what it is
doing? Perhaps this new frequency was chosen for being available
beyond the 3 hours 9515 was in use.

After 1635, 9610 was still in Russian, but RCI, not a relay of R.
France Internationale as on the pdf grid (why would RCI be relaying
RFI on its Sirius channel, anyway?). Everything seems to run a few
minutes late, still in Russian past 1700, wrapping that up at 1703,
into French song; 1704 back to English, YL, with RCI+ ID on Sirius
188, RCI news by Terry Hayes, 1709 into The Link again. Had other
things to do so did not keep monitoring, but 9610 seemed to be still
on the air at 1822 recheck amid local noise sources (Glenn Hauser, OK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Or perhaps some sort of major technical fault that impacted the
ability to distribute programming from the appropriate satellite
inputs to the appropriate transmitter outputs? (Richard Cuff /
Allentown, PA USA, Nov 27, ODXA via DXLD) No ----

A day late, Nov 28, RCI posted its revamped schedules effective Nov
27. There is now a continuous multilingual service on one frequency to
USA (really duplicating RCI+ on Sirius), and starting at 4 minutes and
45 seconds past each hour (here rounded off to 5), 16 hours per day.

Most notable is that ENGLISH HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED.
Furthermore, there is no longer anything on the schedule relayed from
CBC. The afternoon broadcasts, including DNTO and Cross Country
Checkup on weekends, are GONE! As are the Saturday and Sunday morning
broadcasts which included Vinyl Café, Quirks & Quarks, and part of
Sunday Edition. No As It Happens, No World At Six, no nothing.

This is all that is left of RCI English on SW to USA:
0005-0205 Tu-Sa 9755 268 degrees (The Links)
0005-0105 Su/Mo 9755 268 degrees (Blink Sun, Maple Leaf Mailbag Mon)
1705-1905 Daily 9610 277 degrees (M-F The Links; Sat Blink; Sun MLM --                              
                                implying that the last two occupy
                                both hours each day?!)
However, the technical and program schedules disagree over what is on
at 1505-1605: one says Spanish, the other English, and on Monday I did
indeed hear English, not monitored Tuesday. Probably confusion from
the original French on what E stands for, English or Espagnol.

New 7310, which Bernie O`Shea discovered testing a few weeks ago, is
now on the schedule, Sackville`s official entrée into the 40m band.

Here is the full lineup of RCI+ relays, and whatever the language,
they are aimed at the USA! Has RCI management lost its mind?

1205-1305 7310 277 NE USA Arabic
1305-1405                 Spanish
1405-1505 9610 277 NE USA Chinese
1505-1605                 Spanish (English!)
1605-1705                 Russian (Ukrainian Sat/Sun 1635-1705)
1705-1905                 English
1905-2005                 French
2005-2105                 Arabic
2105-2205 6100 268 NE USA French
2205-2305                 Chinese
2305-2400 [sic]           Spanish
0005-0205 9755 268 C USA  English except:
0105-0135                 Portuguese Sun & Mon
0135-0205                 Ukrainian Sun & Mon
0205-0305                 Chinese
0305-0405                 Spanish

RCI`s English and other language broadcasts to other worldparts seem
about the same as before, including English hours to Africa at 18,
Europe at 21, including some Sackville frequencies we can hear.

Around 1355 Nov 28 I ran across Spanish on 7310, but did not realize
it was RCI. And at 1405, RCI Mandarin starting on 9610. Also, Nov 27
observations of DRM in the mornings on 9800 are now explained as that
is now running // 9610 between 1505 and 2004 according to the
schedule.

All this info was extracted from the new schedules in pdf:
http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/RCI-TECH-B06-en.pdf
http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/PDF/B06_SW.pdf
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

This seems consistent with the change in RCI's mandate. Since the
goal is to reach current and prospective immigrants, the radio
schedule is rejiggered to reach prospective Arabic-speaking
immigrants, for example, who currently live within earshot of the
North-American targeted SW broadcasts.

Losing the domestic relays is a disappointment, but seems
understandable given how other broadcasters are abandoning shortwave
to reach [English-speaking] Americans.

One wonders why this change wasn't made at the end of October. Those
reading the NASWA Journal when it hits their mailboxes next week will
have to ignore about 1/3 to 1/2 of the Easy Listening column

I thought of something else... I don't think anyone else mentioned
this, but this renders the printed schedule I received about 1 month
ago totally useless. The printed schedule was already out of date when
it arrived -- because it showed the programming as it used to be --
e.g. Canada Today, not The Link -- but the timings and frequencies
were OK. Now even those are no longer valid. Given how RCI tries to
conserve financial resources, one wonders if this most recent change
was conceived in haste for one reason or another. It's unlike them to
waste money on printing and mailing a schedule when they know changes
are coming (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD)

I think this can be understood only in the context of what CBC has
done over the past year to make its content available throughout the
continent via Sirius. The feeling in management circles must be that
now that much more content than ever before is available to North
American (and, consequently, USA) listeners, RCI's mission can be
redirected. Certainly the availability of CBC1, CBC3, Première Chaîne
(i.e.: Plus), Bandeapart and RCI Plus -- all 24/7 -- trumps anything
they had been able to do previously via RCI on shortwave.

Given its longstanding audibility problems on SW in my part of the US
(northeast) and the arrival of CBC on Sirius, I can't say I will miss
it. I haven't listened to RCI on SW much at all over the last year.
It's a sad but true statement; but that's the way it is.

As a consequence of all this, we are witnessing RCI attempting to find
a new raison d'être. For now, it appears to be centering on new
immigrants, actual and potential. I'm not at all certain that this is
a winning formula. Perhaps we are seeing RCI (at least as we have
come to know it over the decades) in its final hours? (John Figliozzi,
Halfmoon, NY, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Given that stations of all stripes -- particularly those that have
long been niche stations like RCI -- have had trouble scoping out a
raison d'être since the early 1990s, I am more willing to give RCI the
benefit of the doubt and allow the new service an opportunity to find
its legs.

What I still have trouble figuring out is how immigrant Canadians will
find out about them; one thinks RCI would have to reach out to
Canada's existing multilingual / "ethnic" - formatted radio stations
and other mass media.

It would be interesting to see a comparison of how immigrants in both
Canada and the USA get their news -- does the Internet receive a
greater proportion of first mentions for immigrants than for native
English (and French) speakers? (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA,
swprograms via DXLD)

I'm also wondering whether some nutcase at CBC headquarters ordered
this as a cost-recovery exercise: Why offer paid subscriptions on
satellite when you're also giving away your programming free on
shortwave? (Ricky Leong, Calgary, Swprograms mailing list, via DXLD)

This stinks !! The Vinyl Cafe on Saturday mornings was a must listen
for me. I planned my morning around that program. I was already pissed
off about what they had done to the Sunday Edition. Fewer and fewer
reasons to even have a shortwave radio anymore (Mike Wolfson, ibid.)

The loss of domestic relays is disappointing especially for Canadians
living abroad. I'm just thankful I have internet access which allows
me to listen to the CBC when I want. In addition to Richard's comment
about being consistent with RCI's new mandate, I wonder if part of the
thinking is to force people to satellite radio who want to hear the
domestic output of CBC. It would be nice to hear from someone in the
know at RCI what is going on there! (Sandy Finlayson, ibid.) Deafening
silence (gh)

** CANADA. Sackville leapfrogging spurs on 6280 and 5800, 1130-1145+
Nov 17. Good, strong 6280 spur of 5960 CRI in English; weak 5800 spur
of 6120 R. Japan in English. 160 kHz separation (Brian Alexander,
Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CANADA. Hi, CHU puzzled me with a new announcement which included
the magic words "April 1, 2007 ...... change frequency" every 2
minutes. And indeed, looking for clues I found this on their website:
"On April 1, 2007, CHU needs to stop operating, change frequencies, or
re-licence. Contact radio.chu @ nrc.gc.ca or mail CHU Canada K1A 0R6,"
Read the full text at
http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/time_services/shortwave_broadcasts_e.html
I heard them on 3330, on Nov 25, 2006, at 0258 UTC, with SINPO 44344
(Eike Bierwirth, Mainz, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Yes, they have been saying that for several weeks now as first
reported in DXLD. Too bad they eliminate the pips during the messages;
should overlay them (gh, DXLD)

** CHINA. A programação em espanhol da Rádio Internacional da China
vai ao ar no seguinte esquema: das 0000 às 0100, em 5990, 9475 e 9745
kHz; das 0100 às 0300, em 9595 e 9710 kHz; entre 0200 e 0300, em 13685
kHz; das 0300 às 0400, em 9560 e 9665 kHz; das 0600 às 0800, em 15135
kHz; entre 2100 e 2300, em 6020 e 9640 kHz; das 2200 às 2300, em 9490
e 13700 kHz; das 2200 às 2400, em 6175, 7210 e 7250 kHz; entre 2300 e
0100, em 9590 e 9800 kHz. A CRI usa diversos retransmissores em tais
emissões (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Nov 26 via DXLD)

** CHINA. Strong signal from station in Vietnamese talk and music, Nov
26 at 2320 on 7220; must be from EAs, and better than anything on band
from Eurafrica. Then found // 9415 which clinches this as CRI, one
from Beijing, one from Xi`an as scheduled toward Vietnam, and
continued past 2330. 7220 was a bit behind 9415 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** CHINA. Firedrake also audible with fair signal on 9200 at 2328 Nov
26, presumably against Sound of Hope. Also at 1412 Nov 28, but gone
when rechecked at 1435 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Now can be heard Firedrake on 684 kHz at 1645 UT. Heavy QRMed by NHK-1
JOAG , IBC-JODF and JOLO. First reception on MW bands (S. Hasegawa,
NDXC-HQ controler: S. Hasegawa, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

What could be the reason for that? Quick look at frequency sexion of
WRTH 2006 shows there is a 1200 kW Chinese on frequency, plus 250 kW
Pyongyang! And one low-power Taiwan outlet (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

Pyongyang is QRT (Electric power shortage). V. of Shenzhou (CNR-6) is
side beam. hi (S. Hasegawa, ibid.)

** CONGO DR. 6209.654, 22.11 1605, unID in French with cd at 1610
ought to be Kahuzi, Weak, QSA 1-2  SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW
Bulletin Nov 26, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

6209.7, 15.11 1846, Radio Kahuzi with call in French. Overtime due to
president election was counted. Reports from suburban country, Heavy
disturbance from an (eastern?) station. QSA 2-3. JE (Jan Edh, ibid.)

** CUBA. Haven`t heard the third harmonic of DentroCuban Jamming
Command 6030 transmitters against R. Martí lately on 18090, but check
the frequency occasionally. Finally Nov 26 at 2259 there it was, light
clicking. Also heavier jamming on 5970 against nothing, Nov 26 at
2315, Sunday a day off for R. República via Germany. And on about
17920 Nov 26 at 2332 pulsing of a different type, fading in and out.
Does not work out as a likely harmonic or spur of anything, and
possibly was not really from jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** CUBA. RHC leapfrogging spurs on 6300, 5940, 0050-0100+ Nov 18,
mixing products of 6180, 6060 at 120 kHz separation. Both in at fair
level with Spanish programming (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** CUBA. Radio Havane Cuba back in Creole at 2245 UT on 5965 and 9505
kHz. Good reception in France on 5965. Regards (Jean-Michel Aubier,
France, Nov 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re 6-174: French was
airing instead in Creole blox recently (gh, DXLD)

Jean-Michel, Is Creole similar enough to French that it can be
understood by a typical French speaker? (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, Texas,
ibid.) & vice versa (gh)

** CUBA [non]. 6185, ENGLAND to Cuba. Radio República, 0148­0230,
11/25/06 in Spanish. Commentary and talk by OM & YL. ID, address in
Hialeah, FL, USA, slogans. On past expected 0200 switch to another
frequency (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Sat 800, Sangean 909; 110'
random wire, Eavesdropper, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD)

7210, ENGLAND to Cuba. R. Repúblicia (Woofferton [or Rampisham]),
0231, 11/20/06, in Spanish. OM & YL reporting the news. Great signal
(Brant Hunt, Aiken SC, Drake R8A, Par antenna, NASWA Flashsheet via
DXLD) So by 11/25 as above had extended 6185 past 0230, to 0400?
Instead of 7210? (gh)

** CUBA [and non]. 6855, CUBA and USA. V2a and WYFR co-channel, 2123-
2144, 11/25/06. V2a (``numbers`` station, Spanish, 5#, YL voice,
station, believed to be Cuban) in progress, ending 2144 leaving WYFR
in the clear with English hymns. V2a was dominating while on (Mark
Taylor, Madison, WI, R-75, Sat 800, Sangean 909; 110' random wire,
Eavesdropper, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD)

** CYPRUS. 7210, Cyprus BC, with talk in unidentified language, with
music of Eastern Mediterranean, poor to fair, at times well above co-
channel CRI [via Albania]. Off promptly at 2245 November 26. All heard
on a Grundig YB 400 PE with random long wire (Roger Chambers, Utica,
NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Fri-Sat-Sun only in Greek + 2 other
frequencies, which let us hope are doing better (gh, DXLD)

** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. REPÚBLICA CHECA – A Rádio Praga possui uma
emissão, em espanhol, que vai ao ar, entre 0000 e 0027, pela
freqüência de 11665 kHz. O detalhe é que usa retransmissor localizado
na ilha de Ascensão, que possui potência de 250 kW. Assim, o sinal
chega aqui na América do Sul como se fosse local. Vale conferir esta
freqüência e acompanhar um programa como o Lunes Musicales, irradiado
já na terça-feira universal, cuja produção e seleção de canções é de
primeiríssima qualidade! (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Nov 26
via DXLD)

The R. Prague relay via Sackville on 15160, Nov 28 at 1500-1529* was
very undermodulated. Last two minutes in Czech instead of English. I
wonder if at least one Sackville transmitter is on its last legs, or
are they not paying attention to the modulation level? (Glenn Hauser,
OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** DJIBOUTI. DJIBOUTI MEDIA GUIDE - NOVEMBER 2006 --- OVERVIEW

The Horn of Africa state of Djibouti remains one of the countries in
Africa where authorities continue to impose severe restrictions on the
licensing and operations of the media. The government is reluctant to
liberalize the media. It owns and operates significant media sectors
in the country, including the radio station with the farthest national
reach, the sole television channel, and Djibouti's principal
newspaper. Such control ensures favourable coverage of the
authorities.

The government's quest to keep tight control on the media is also
due to the fact that the private media is viewed as the only available
platform for expressing divergent views. The country's presidency and
ruling party remain powerful institutions. However, relays of
international broadcasters are permitted.

A repressive regime

The International Press Institute (IPI) noted in its 2005 annual
report that "the [Djibouti] media, generally, provides a government-
friendly digest of the day's events". The government, added the
report, "keeps a tight leash on all domestic broadcast media". Freedom
House ranked the country at position 154 out of the 194 countries
surveyed for its 2006 report.

The media control takes different forms: denial of broadcasting
licences, arrest and detention of journalists, seizure of newspapers,
and hefty court fines for papers and journalists deemed "offensive".
The government has expelled foreign journalists and "interrupted"
transmissions by foreign broadcasters over similar reasons. For
example, in January 2005 the authorities cut off the local Radio
France Internationale (RFI) transmission over a report on the 1995
death in Djibouti of a French judge. In October 1999, authorities
expelled a crew from France-2 TV channel for "attempting to tarnish
the image" of Djibouti and "orchestrating a disinformation campaign"
in the country.

Djibouti journalists also came under pressure from the US military
presence in the country. The US has stationed thousands of soldiers in
the country as part of its war against international terrorism.
According to a 2004 report by the IPI, the American military presence
has made Djibouti journalists "nervous" and they are "not encouraged
to report on the soldiers' activities".

Consequently, most journalists tend to exercise self-censorship. This
is especially so in the coverage of human rights, military issues and
opposition politics. Against this background, most citizens are said
to prefer listening to foreign radio stations that are available in
the country.

Most media operating in the country transmit in four main languages -
Arabic, French, Somali (Issa) and Afar. Somali is widely spoken as
ethnic Somalis make about 60 per cent of the total population.

Lack of infrastructure

The country's media also faces challenges from the high poverty levels
among the country's 600,000 people. UN sources estimate that 40 per
cent of Djibouti's population lives in "extreme poverty", which
means few can afford newspapers or TV sets.

Broadcast media, notably radio, remains the most popular form of
media. According to a June 2004 survey, by Canal France Internationale
(CFI) and RFI, 76 per cent of Djiboutis either listen to radio or
watch television. However, the survey found that most of this audience
is "not interested in the government-owned [broadcast] media". The
state radio has the largest national reach and broadcasts 24 hours a
day. There are no local privately-owned stations but foreign ones BBC
World Service, RFI and the Voice of America (VOA) - remain on air.
Also available is a US government-run regional Arab-language regional
station on medium-wave called Radio Sawa.

Television remains undeveloped. The government operates the country's
sole terrestrial and cable TV stations. Lack of electricity, in most
of rural Djibouti, and poverty have undermined the popularity of
television. The nomadic lifestyle of most rural Djiboutis has also
discouraged the state from investing more in television.

The press remains an urban media form limited to the country's elite
and expatriate communities. High poverty and illiteracy rates
continue to undermine the popularity of newspapers. According to a May
2003 report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU),
poverty indexes in some rural areas have taken "disastrous
proportions" affecting 96 per cent of the population. The report put
literacy rates at 29 per cent of the population. Though there are
about half a dozen privately-owned newspapers, most of them remain
limited in circulation. The government publishes the principal
newspaper in the country, La Nation, which remains a powerful tool for
the authorities and also commands the local advertising market.

Internet remains available and the government does not impose
restrictions on the technology. Although the country's
telecommunication infrastructure is poor, most of the state-owned
media operate online editions.

Media training remains insufficient and most private journalists have
to go abroad for additional skills. Staff working with the national
broadcaster usually benefit from attachments and training with some
overseas media organizations, such as RFI.

Salaries remain low and most journalists are reliant on other sources
of income.

Media Laws and Regulation

Theoretically, the National Communications Commission (CNC) is
supposed to oversee media operations in Djibouti. This body was
created following the passage by parliament of Law No 2/AN/92 of 15
September 1992. Article 3 of this law sanctions the right to
information for all Djiboutis.

However, the reality is different and the commission continues to
remain in the shadows of other powerful government departments like
the presidency and security organs.

The Djibouti Telecom, which falls under the Ministry of Communication
and Culture, oversees the telecommunications sector. However, UN
agencies and the ITU are said to be involved in a project to run
between 2003 and 2009, and which will lead to the creation of a proper
regulatory authority, the Djibouti Telecommunication Regulatory Agency
(ADRT).

The expected regulator will oversee the issuance and usage of
broadcasting frequencies.

RADIO

Radio is the most popular medium. This is due to its long history in
the country, the penetration of radio signals in the remotest parts of
rural Djibouti and the use of vernacular languages in broadcasting.
High illiteracy and poverty rates have also pushed most citizens
towards listening to the radio.

The state radio claims the largest reach, but most Djiboutis,
especially in the urban areas, prefer international broadcasters that
are available locally.

In 2004, the government refused the opposition permission to set up a
radio station. An 8 May 2004 report in the state-owned La Nation
newspaper defended the non-licensing of the station arguing that
Djiboutis should "give up the pernicious idea of a banal imitation of
Western countries as regards press freedom".

According to the paper, the state media was able to meet the public's
information needs.

1. Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti (RTD) Radio

This is the government-owned station and is operated by the national
broadcaster, Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti (RTD), which is
governed by Law No 42/AN/99/4 of 8 June 1999.

The station has its origins in a colonial-era and was set up by the
then French authorities in 1957. Transition from the colonial-era
station started in the late 1970s after the country's independence in
1977.

In 1983, with aid from former West Germany, authorities set up a
transmission centre at Doraleh just outside the capital Djibouti. The
centre broadcast in medium and shortwave, and FM, and enabled the new
station to expand its signal to rural Djibouti.

In June 2001, the station acquired digital editing equipment from
Belgium in a bid to "make a notable improvement to the quality of its
output". Earlier, in March 2001, UNESCO gave the station equipment
valuing 11m US dollars to improve its shortwave broadcasts.

The broadcaster operates a domestic and an international channel. The
domestic channel is available on FM in Arta (southeastern Djibouti) on
93.5 FM while the international channel is on 89.4 FM. In the capital,
the domestic channel can be heard on 91.3 FM while its international
counterpart is on 95.2 FM. In the southern region of Ali Sabieh, the
domestic channel can be heard on 90.2 FM, while the international one
is on 94.2 FM. The domestic channel is available in Ballembaley region
on 95.2 FM while the international channel can be heard on 91.3 FM.

Programming is in four languages - Arabic, French, Somali and Afar.
Its website address is http://www.rtd.dj/

2. Radio Sawa

This Arabic-language station is operated by the US government and
targets the Horn of Africa and Arabian Gulf.

Radio Sawa's broadcasts in Djibouti started following the signing in
June 2002 of an agreement between the two governments. The pact
provided for the installation of a medium wave transmitter and a 5-kW
FM transmitter at the state radio's relay station in Arta. Radio Sawa
is available on 1431 kHz mediumwave and 100.8 and 100.2 FM.

The station's website says that it "seeks to effectively communicate
with the youthful population of Arabic-speakers in the Middle East by
providing up-to-date news, information, and entertainment, on FM and
medium wave radio". Radio Sawa adds that it is "dedicated to
broadcasting accurate, timely and relevant news about the Middle East,
the world and the US".

The station broadcasts for 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Its website address is http://www.radiosawa.com

International broadcasters

Foreign broadcasters are also available on FM in Djibouti. They
include RFI, which can be heard on 92.0 FM in Arta, and 104 FM in
the capital Djibouti.

The BBC World Service is available in the capital on 99.2 FM, while
VOA can be heard on 102 FM in the capital.

TELEVISION

Television was launched in 1967, but remains undeveloped. Its signal
is largely unavailable outside the main urban centres.

The government operates the only TV station in the country. It also
owns the only company, Djib-Net, which has carried cable TV since
October 1999.

Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti (RTD) TV

This is a state-owned national broadcaster with programming in Arabic,
Somali, Afar and French. News on the government and President Ismail
Guelleh dominate most of the station's programmes.

The station embarked on nationwide transmission in 1986 through the
creation of broadcasting networks in the country's main towns. This
involved the setting up of relay stations. However, progress was
hampered due to insufficient studios and equipment.

The Japanese government donated production equipment which has
increased the number of viewers, according to the station's website
http://www.rtd.dj/

The station is on satellite following the passage of Decree No
99-0199/PR/MCC of 9 October 1999.

PRESS

There are no daily newspapers in Djibouti. The country boasts some six
publications whose circulation is limited to the capital. Most of the
papers are published in French. The government also publishes an
Arabic-language weekly.

The law allows political parties to publish newspapers. However, these
mostly contain political bulletins of their respective parties.

1. La Nation

Bi-weekly La Nation has the highest circulation in the country,
estimated to be some 4,300 copies and is an important source of news
in French. However, the paper has a pro-government bias. The paper
is the successor to the colonial-era Le Reveil de Djibouti which began
publishing in 1943.

Its website address is http://www.lanation.dj/

2. Al-Qarn

This is another government publication. It is an Arabic-language
weekly, which was founded in October 1998. Al-Qarn is published by
the Office of the Secretary-General of Information.

3. Le Renouveau

This is a prominent non-government-owned publication in Djibouti. Le
Renouveau is a weekly and is published in French by the opposition
party, Movement for Democratic Renewal (MRD). Editor Dahir Ahmad Farah
is also the president of the MRD, which was formed in 2002.

The paper remains critical of the authorities, especially on
governance issues. The editor has been subjugated to numerous arrests
over reports commenting on the country's politically and militarily
powerful personalities. The authorities have not hesitated to fine
the newspaper over articles deemed "offensive".

The paper's online edition can be found on the party's website:
http://www.mrd-djibouti.org

NEWS AGENCIES

Agence Djiboutienne d'Information (ADI)

This is the government-owned press agency. It was created in March
1978 and its mission is "disseminating, within the territory of the
Republic of Djibouti and abroad, information useful for the national
and international public opinions". This was in accordance with Law No
3/78 of 1 March 1978.

The agency collapsed in 1987 due to what its website says was the lack
of funding and qualified personnel. It resumed operations in November
1999 and remains an important source of news as seen from the
government's perspective. It disseminates news in French and Arabic.

The website address is http://www.adi.dj/

INTERNET

There are no government restrictions on access or operating of
internet services in Djibouti.

However, a May 2003 report by the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) noted the "bandwidth providing access to the global
internet is still inadequate". Access to personal computers is
limited. However, out of those who access the internet, most do so
through internet cafes located in the capital.

The ITU estimates that there were some 13,000 internet users in the
country in May 2003.

Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Nov 06 (via DXLD)

** ECUADOR. R. Chaskis, Otavalo, 4909.23, 1050-1115+ Nov 27,
Tentative. HC style music, Spanish announcements, weak in noise (Brian
Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

4909.2, R. Chaskis, 1057-1115, 11/24/06. Dramatic religious reading by
man. Prgm ended at 1110 into local music, then ID, greetings by
station announcer at 1115. Fair (John Herkimer, NY, NASWA Flashsheet
via DXLD)

** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. R. Africa, Bata, 15190, 1150-1157* Nov 17, sign-
off with ID and various addresses for reports. Strong carrier but very
poor, distorted audio with low modulation. Barely able to decipher an
ID (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ETHIOPIA. V. of Tigray Revolution, 5500, *0355-0415+ Nov 17,
distinctive IS, 0400 vernacular talk and Horn of Africa music. Fair-
good; // 6350 poor in QRM (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

5500, V, of Revolution of Tigré, Mek'elé, logged 1701-1724, 26 Nov,
Tigrinya, fet talks, changings; 45433 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) I don`t understand your program details (gh, DXLD)

7165.1, R. Ethiopia, Geja Jawe, observed 1723-1733, 25 Nov, French,
tunes, ID+chimes 1730; 23441, adjacent QRM; // 9560.12.

9560.12, R. Ethiopia, Geja Jawe, 1730-1740, 25 Nov, French, newscast;
44432, but weakish audio; // 7165.1 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** FAROE ISLANDS. Yes, Kringvarp Føroya has begun broadcating 24 hrs.
Heard them this morning at 2 UT with time pips and news on 531 kHz.
Their English Soul Nation hour is on Tuesdays at 14-15 UT. 73, (Erik
Køie, Denmark, Nov 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** FRANCE. See RWANDA [and non]

** GABON. ANU The Buzz, 19160, with bits of modulation also audible,
Nov 27 at 1522 was wavering between S3 and occasional S9 peaks (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** GERMANY. Frequency change for Bible Voice Broadcasting Network from
Dec. 1, with azimuths after kW:
0100-0200 on  5935 WER 100 kW / 085 Daily       ME  English, cancelled
1600-1630 NF 11780 NAU 100 kW / 145 Wed         EaAf Amharic, ex 13810
1630-1700 NF 11780 NAU 100 kW / 145 Daily       EaAf Amharic, ex 13810
1700-1730 NF 11780 NAU 100 kW / 145 Mon/Tue/Fri EaAf Tigrinya ex 13810
1730-1800 NF 11780 NAU 100 kW / 145 Mon/Tue/Fri EaAf Amharic, ex 13810
1800-1900 NF 11780 NAU 100 kW / 145 Fri-Sun     EaAf Somali, ex 13810
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

** GREECE. Glenn: I was all set to check out the "It's All Greek To
Me" program scheduled for 0030-0130 UT Monday. 9420 had already faded
out and 7475 was still audible, but it faded out just before 0030 UT-
better luck next week (John Babbis, MD, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** GREECE. This was the message  from Babis Charalampopoulos:
06:00 - 07:00 UTC  Avlis 2.  Del. frequency   7.475 MHz / 285
06:00 - 07:00 UTC  Avlis 2.  Add  frequency  15.630 MHz / 285

Languages
0600-0700 UTC AL  (Albanian)
0700-0800 UTC Eng (English) 
0800-0900 UTC F   (French)
0900-1000 UTC E   (Spanish)
(except Tuesday 0600-0800 UTC)

I this is what I think was meant; It is a daily program except for
Tuesday when there is a BREAK FROM 0800-1200 [sic] UT FOR OVERHAULING
THE TRANSMITTERS. Based on that information, I have amended my Voice
of Greece Schedule as below to reflect these changes:

THE VOICE OF GREECE (ERA S.A.)
B-06 Short-wave Transmission Schedule
(Effective from November 28, 2006 to March 24, 2007)
Service Areas UTC Frequencies Language-Avlis 1, 2 and 3 transmitters

EUROPE
0000-0600  *7475 9420 Gr (Eng Mon 0030-0130)
0600-1000  15630 9420 Gr (Al 0600-0700) (Eng 0700-0800) (F 0800-0900
                        ex Tue) (E 0900-1000 ex Tue)
1100-1600   9420 Gr (Eng Sat 1400-1500 and Sun 1105-1200)
1600-2000 *15630 9420 Gr
2000-2400   7475 9420 Gr

MIDDLE EAST, INDIAN OCEAN
1100-1600 *17525 Gr, Ar (Eng Sat 1400-1500 and Sun 1105-1200)

ATLANTIC OCEAN
0000-0300  12105 7475 9420 Gr (Eng Mon 0030-0130)
0300-0600  *7475 9420 Gr

0600-1000  15630 9420 Gr (Al 0600-0700) (Eng 0700-0800) (F 0800-0900
                        ex Tue) (E 0900-1000 ex Tue)

1100-1600   9420 Gr (Eng Sat 1400-1500 and Sun 1105-1200)
1600-2000 *15630 9420 Gr
2300-2400  12105 7475 9420 Gr

AFRICA
0000-0650 *12105 Gr (Eng Mon 0030-0130) (Al 0600-0650)
0700-1000  12105 Gr (Eng 0700-0800) (F 0800-0900 ex Tue) (E 0900-1000
                  ex Tue)
1100-1600 *17525 Gr, Ar (Eng Sat 1400-1500 and Sun 1105-1200)
2300-2400  12105 Gr

AUSTRALIA
1100-1600 *17525 Gr, Ar (Eng Sat 1400-1500 and Sun 1105-1200)

NORTH AMERICA
0000-0500   7475 9420 Gr (Eng Mon 0030-0130)

SOUTH AMERICA. PANAMA ZONE & SW AFRICA
0000-0700 *12105 Gr (Eng Mon 0030-0130) (Al 0600-0700)
2300-2400  12105 Gr

(*)Transmission ends 10 minutes earlier
Gr=Greek, Eng=English, Al=Albanian, Ar=Arabian, F-French, E=Spanish
LIVE AUDIO URL: http://www.ert.gr

Reports via e-mail: era5@ert.gr
Technical information: bcharalabopoulos@ert.gr

ERT S.A. MACEDONIA STATION
EUROPE 1100-1650 9935 Gr
EUROPE 1700-2250 7450 Gr

ERA 5 'THE VOICE OF GREECE' Messogeion 432, 15342, Ag. Paraskevi
Attikis, Tel +301 606 6308, +301 606 6297, Fax +301 606 6309

Macedonia Radio Station: Angelaki Str 2, 54621, Tel +303 124 4979,
Fax +303 123 6370

General Direction of ERA (Engineering Div.): Messogeion 432, 15342,
Ag. Paraskevi, Attikis, Tel +301 606 6257, Fax +301 606 6243
(John Babbis, MD, USA, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

I wonder what English program is now on at 07-08, 6 days a week? (gh,
DXLD)

** GREECE. ERA 5 VOICE OF GREECE B-06 in Greek: [NOTE: bracketed items
are changes/correxions by John Babbis based on the above schedule!]

2300-0650 on  7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to NoAm [0000-0450]
2300-0700 on  9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg to NoAm [0000-0500]
2300-0650 on 12105 AVL 100 kW / 226 deg to SoAm

0700-1000 on  9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg to WeEu [0500-1000]
0700-1000 on 12105 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to CeAf
[0500-0550 on 7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu]
0700-1000 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu [0600-1000]

1100-1600 on  9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg to WeEu
1100-1550 on 17525 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to AUS

1600-2000 on  9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg to WeEu
1600-1950 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu

2000-2300 on  7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu [2000-2400]
2000-2300 on  9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg to WeEu [2000-2400]
English transmissions:
Sat 1405-1500; Sun 1105-1200; Mon 0030-0130

ERA 3 RADIOFONIKOS STATHMOS MAKEDONIAS in Greek
1100-1650 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu
1700-2250 on  7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to WeEu
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

** GREECE. GRECIA, 9420, Voice of Grecia, 1728-1735, tentativa el 28
de noviembre en griego, se aprecia emisión de música griega pero con
graves problemas en la transmisión, audio con constantes cortes,
parece cómo un mal contacto. A las 1730 se escuchan unos tonos
horarios y un locutor con unas frases; el problema parece haberse
resuelto y se escucha con mas garantías, SINPO 35342 (José Miguel
Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio
Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** GREENLAND. Confirmed by a KNR technician: no English is broadcast
from KNR. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, Nov 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, 25 Nov, 0307, Radio Verdad, singing, 32322 (new
one for me!) (Eike Bierwirth, Mainz, Germany, JRC NRD-525, 15m wire in
the garden, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ICELAND. 13865, Rikisutvarpid (Reykjavik) *1407-1451*, 11/23/06, in
IC. No s/on or s/off heard; began with children's choir followed by OM
and YL. Initially fair then weak with QRN, but mostly listenable until
approx 1430 when QRN increased significantly and program could only be
heard with difficulty; 1445 - piano music heard before loss of carrier
at 1453 (Clem Shemanski, North Carolina, Sat 700, Sangean ANT-60,
NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD)

** INDONESIA. VOI, 9525, VG signal here, much better e.g. than Japan
9505/9535 or RCI 9610; Nov 27 during 1530 semihour again running
gamelan orchestra 6:24 loop with English IDs; not checked during 1600
hour when no doubt in Arabic; seems to be running a few minutes late
like RCI. 1703 music and opening Spanish, La Voz de Indonesia, news,
spoken syl-la-ble-by-syl-la-ble with accent. Made some mistakes a
native speaker would not, such as ``Indonesio`` as a noun, and
``democratíco``. 1712-1717 brief Arte y Cultura program about
something in East Java, then music from different propinsis of
Indonesia. Still on at 1802 into German. No sign of anything on 15150
at 1703 check where all these are supposedly scheduled toward Europe
instead of 9525 toward North America. At last I get to hear VOI in a
language I can understand; but the time is inconvenient (Glenn Hauser,
OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Glenn, I’m starting a week vacation, so being at home at 1930 VOI
surprised me with an even better signal in French that at first
hearing didn’t give any credit. I thought it was some other station,
while this woman announcer in French had that Indonesian music in the
background. Well, VOI in English came VG at 2000 too. I haven’t check
this situation neither Saturdays nor Sundays, so is my first time for
VOI 15150 in French and English. But you just mentioned 9525 in
today`s VOI monitoring and curiously nothing on 15150. The least thing
I could expect here is having conditions from VOI on 31m not even
after 1500. By the way 9525 has been strong here, specially last
Saturday. And RRI 9680 was still on the air after 1500.

You finally heard what I pointed out since April from the VOI Spanish,
how terribly they dare to change the accent and the gender of many
words. Funny that not even our pal José Miguel Romero has noticed
this. It would be like having Raúl Saavedra writing scripts for an
English broadcast. Maybe if I submit my curriculum vitae (36 years
expertise) to them, I could get a job in VOI`s Castellano department.
What do you think? Nothing to lose with just trying! (Raúl Saavedra,
Costa Rica, Nov 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** INDONESIA. 3905, 15.11 1450, RRI Merauke (very tentative!). The
station was somewhat low in frequency with ``typical`` Indonesian
music. Lots of static and lousy signal (QSA 1-2). Common back then but
has been inactive for a long time and is not present in DBS or similar
lists. But what are the options? JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov
26, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST))

** INTERNATIONAL. SNOOP, HERE IT IS --- SHORTWAVE RADIO USED FOR INTEL
 BY JAMES GORDON MEEK, DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
http://www.nydailynews.com/11-26-2006/news/wn_report/story/474663p-399278c.html

WASHINGTON - You don't need 007's "Q" to listen in on coded broadcasts
that are transmitted to spies in faraway places. Anybody can tune in
to the world's top spy agencies talking to operatives in harm's way.
All you need is a cheap shortwave radio receiver - the kind available
at any drugstore.

Tune it to 6855 kHz or 8010 on the hour. You might hear a girlish
voice repeating strings of numbers in a Spanish monotone.

"Nueve, uno, nueve, tres, cinco-cinco, quatro, cinco, tres, dos ... ,"
went one seemingly harmless message heard this week on a Grundig
radio.

It was the Cuban Intelligence Directorate or Russian FSB broadcasting
coded instructions from Havana to spies inside the U.S.

Turn the dial up to 11545 kHz and you might hear a few notes of an
obscure English folk song called the "Lincolnshire Poacher," followed
by a voice repeating strings of numbers.

That's believed to be British MI6 broadcasting from Cyprus.

On 6840 kHz, you may hear a voice reading groups of letters. That's a
station nicknamed "E10," which is suspected to be Israel's Mossad
intelligence.

Chris Smolinski runs SpyNumbers.com and the "Spooks" e-mail list,
where "number stations" hobbyists dutifully log hundreds of
clandestine shortwave messages transmitted every month.

"It's like a puzzle. They're mystery stations. There's no 'TV Guide'
for them," explained Smolinski, who has tracked the spy broadcasts for
30 years.

While hobbyists guess at the meaning of each cryptic message or which
spy service sent it, it's no mystery to intelligence officials, who
confirmed the purpose is espionage.

The signals are too strong to be made by amateurs and are often on
licensed frequencies.

The State Department once complained to the Israeli Embassy in
Washington that "E10" was blocking a U.S. broadcast, a source said.

"I can't imagine who else would waste the time in front of a
microphone reading numbers" but a spy, said James Bamford, author of
best-selling books on intelligence. Bamford believes number stations
are "simple but effective" spycraft.

"It's extremely effective," agreed a senior intelligence official. "If
you have a one-time pad, the code can't be broken, and you can send
out dummy broadcasts as much as you want to confuse your enemy."

A "one-time pad" is the key to unlocking coded shortwave messages that
the CIA calls OWVL - "One Way Voice Link."

It can't be cracked because it's known only to the sender and the
recipient and used just once before it's destroyed, said CIA legend
Tony Méndez.

"I've had a lot of experience hiding one-time pads so you could get
them into denied areas," said Méndez, now retired.

Mendez said he would often imprint the code on microfilm or even a
cigarette wrapper. Once inside the target country, a CIA asset could
make a shortwave receiver out of simple materials.

"The [shortwave] voices are not real people, they're computer-
generated," he added.

A CIA spokeswoman declined to comment.

One-time pads and coded radio began in World War I, said Thomas
Boghardt, a historian at the International Spy Museum.

Little has changed since, judging by recent cases involving spies with
shortwave radios, including an accused Russian spy nabbed in Canada
last week.

In Miami, the U.S. has charged Carlos and Elsa Álvarez with spying on
behalf of Cuba.

A prosecutor alleged in a court hearing last summer that the Cubans
received shortwave "messages in five-digit groupings." An FBI
interview transcript shows Álvarez admitted going into his bathroom
"on Fridays to listen at 11" for messages aimed at the couple, code-
named "David" and "Deborah."  Originally published on November 26,
2006 (via Artie Bigley, Mike Cooper, DXLD)

** IRAN [non]. BELGICA [sic], 7435, Radio Democracy Shorayee, 1737-
1745, escuchada el 28 de noviembre en idioma farsi a locutora con
comentarios y segmento musical, SINPO 35343 (José Miguel Romero,
Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-
108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Hi all, I got a nice personal email confirmation from Radio Democracy
Shorayee, new Iranian exile broadcaster on 7435 kHz. Website, only in
Farsi, http://www.radioshora.org where also the email address is: info
@ radioshora.org 73 and best wishes from (Björn Fransson, the island
of Gotland, Sweden, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** IRAN [and non]. 3970, 25 Nov, 0304, IRN-Bubble Jammer, 33333;
4840, 25 Nov, 0432, IRN-Bubble Jammer (Eike Bierwirth, Mainz, Germany,
JRC NRD-525, 15m wire in the garden, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ISRAEL [and non]. Adjacent channel interference Reshet Bet / WEWN

I'm not sure if anyone posted this before, but when I've listened to
Reshet Bet in the evening on 7545, there is quite a bit of adjacent
channel interference from WEWN Spanish service aimed at Latin America,
on 7540. I have emailed Moshe Oren - no reply as of yet.

7545 is used by Kol Israel just about 24 hours a day, over various
language services. WEWN is on 7540 0000-1200 UT:
http://www.susi-und-strolch.de/eibi/dx/freq-b06.txt
(Doni Rosenzweig, Nov 27, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

11605 kHz overlapping with Kol Israel Spanish

Hello dear Mr. Wiberg, [cc to Moshe Oren at BEZEQ in Israel]

see MP3 attachment of the Radio Sweden broadcast on 11605 kHz, today
November 27th, at 1645-1700 UT. 11605 kHz still suffers heavy
interference by KI at same co-channel. KI uses that frequency in
Spanish language til exact 1655 UT. After 1655, Radio Sweden newscast
is in the clear, as at the end of the recording.

Kol used that channel for decades, though Radio Sweden used 13580 kHz
instead in B-05 season in previous year.

MAYBE RADIO SWEDEN CAN MOVE DOWN 5 kHz TO 11600 kHz ???

I noticed that deliberate co-channel interference already three weeks
ago; when on holiday in Spain and Portugal on the southwestern tip of
Europe on the atlantic coast. Did send YOU and RADIO SWEDEN an e-mail
on November 5th. But no acknowledgement or reply so far.

Kind regards de Wolfgang Bueschel     DF5SX
Sprollstr. 87 70597 Stuttgart Germany

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 7:03 PM
Subject: 11605 kHz overlapping with KOL Israel Spanish

11605 kHz overlapping with KOL Israel Spanish, B-06 season

Co-channel interference !!! Today Oct 29th and Oct 30th also, Kol
Israel Spanish registered til 1630 UT, but extended til 1700, and
overlapping with Radio Sweden Home service relay on 11605 at 1645-
1700. Kind regards, Wolfgang Bueschel, Algarve coast in Portugal (via
Büschel, Nov 27, DXLD)

** KOREA NORTH [and non?]. Glenn, Re: Re: DXLD 6-173 and 6-174,
Strange sound under Pyongyang Pangsong (North Korea) on 6250 kHz.
Attached please find two recordings made on that frequency, where that
interference can be heard. Perhaps some kind of utility transmission
or jammer - an ineffective one, I think. 73, (Moisés Knochen,
Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Continuous rapid pulsing punxuated at irregular intervals by some
beeps. Yes, some utility definitely possible, as we must remember this
is not a broadcast band, anyway (gh, DXLD)

** KUWAIT. USA/KUWAIT. Updated B-06 for IBB via KWT 250 kW / 070 deg:
0030-0130 ASH Pashto     7595  9335
0130-0230 ASH Dari       7595  9335
0100-0300 RFA Tibetan    7470
0230-0330 AFG Pashto     9335 12140
0300-0400 RFE Tajik      9680
0330-0430 AFG Dari       9335 12140
0430-0530 AFG Pashto    12140 17530 19010
0530-0600 AFG Dari      12140 17530 19010
0600-0630 AFG Dari      12140 19010
0600-0700 RFA Tibetan   17715
0630-0700 AFG Pashto    12140 19010
0700-0730 AFG Pashto    12140 17530 19010
0730-0830 AFG Dari      12140 17535 19010
0830-0930 AFG Pashto    12140 17535 19010
0930-1030 AFG Dari      12140 17535 19010
1030-1130 AFG Pashto    12140 19010
1100-1400 RFA Tibetan   11590
1130-1230 AFG Dari       9335 12140
1230-1330 AFG Pashto     9335 12140
1330-1430 AFG Dari       9335
1400-1500 VOA Tibetan    7255
1400-1500 RFE Uzbek     11910
1430-1500 ASH Pashto     9335
1500-1530 ASH Dari       9335
1500-1600 RFA Tibetan    7470 11500
1530-1630 ASH Pashto     9335
1600-1800 RFE Turkmen    5820
1630-1730 ASH Dari       9335
1730-1800 ASH Pashto     9335
1800-1830 ASH Dari       9335
1830-1930 ASH Pashto     5750  7595
1930-2030 ASH Dari       5750  7595
2030-2130 VOA English    7595
2100-2300 RFE Russian    7425
2130-0030 VOA English    7405
2300-2400 RFA Tibetan    7550
AFG=Radio Free Afghanistan         ASH=Radio Ashna
RFA=Radio Free Asia                RFE=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
VOA=Voice of America          (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

** LIBYA. 1053.1 kHz, LJBC, Tripoli, observed slightly off channel,
2326-..., 25 Nov, Arabic, Arabic music, Big Ben like chimes 2330,
talks, prayer; 43442; // 1449 (at least). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** LIBYA [and non]. SAWT AL-AMAL OBSERVATIONS 27 NOVEMBER 06
Sawt al-Amal was observed as follows:
1230: Sawt al-Amal in progress on 17630 kHz, co-channel buzz jammer
and DW German.
1248: Sawt al-Amal switched to 17640 kHz, co-channel BBCWS English.
1313: Sawt al-Amal switched to 17635 kHz, clear channel, remained
there till off at 1359.
Please note:
Africa No.1 was untraced throughout.
Afropops radio was on 17660 kHz throughout.
Libya's Voice of Africa was observed in Swahili at 1305 on 17725 kHz,
accompanied by a loud buzz. Such a noise has recently been widely
reported (by DXers) on various Africa No.1 frequencies. Source: BBC
Monitoring research, 27 Nov 06 (via DXLD)

** MALAYSIA. 5964.94, Klasik Nasional FM (RTM), Nov 28, 1600-1633,
Anthem, news, reciting from the Qu`ran, YL DJ with pop songs and
ballads, singing station jingles, IDs for ``Klasik Nasional`` and
``RTM Kuala Lumpur``, many ``Assalam Alaikum`` greetings, mostly fair.
They now have their own website
http://klasiknasional.dapat.fm/Home/tabid/3216/Default.aspx  but it is
in Bahasa Malaysia (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, RX340, with T2FD
antenna, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** MEXICO. KEHUELGA 102.9 --- Hola amigos diexistas, Un ejemplo del
poder de la radio en los sucesos del país.

El sábado a las 2100 hrs. [local? = UT Sun 0300], sintonicé por los
102.9 FM la KHUELGA que trasmitía en directo a RADIO UNIVERSIDAD DE
OAXACA con comentarios sobre el enfrentamiento de ese día entre
miembros de la APPO y la PFP. La locutora pedía apoyo, daba aliento y
sugerencias a los ciudadanos así como noticias urgentes. Cada
determinado tiempo pasaban música de protesta. La señal era muy buena
pero con interrumpciones momentaneas donde los locutores de la
KEHUELGA retomaban la señal.

Excelente forma de conocer la situación de Oaxaca; si tienen
oportunidad de sintonizarla, háganlo (Pablo Angel, Club Diexista
Mexico yg Nov 27 via Dario Monferini, DXLD) So how far away is Pablo?
(gh)

Hola Pablo Angel, gracias por tu señalación; visitando
http://kehuelga.org/ su pagina WEB tiene varios documentos sonoros muy
interesantes de acontecimentos que acá en Italia ningún fuente de
información reporta (a parte la emisora independiente Italiana FM Onda
d'urto 98 MHz). El medio radio demonstra su gran valor documentativo
en este dramático acontecimento. Un muy cordial saludo desde Milán en
Italia (Dario Monferini http://www.playdx.com ibid.)

PROTESTERS IN OAXACA BRIEFLY RAID RADIO STATION TO TRANSMIT MESSAGE
By REBECA ROMERO Associated Press  NEWS from around Mexico Nov. 23,
2006, 2:13AM  --- Slaying of Mexican boss ends era of power

OAXACA, Mexico — Protesters calling for the resignation of the Oaxaca
state governor briefly raided a radio station in the capital city on
Wednesday to transmit a message rallying followers to a weekend march.

Members of the Oaxaca People's Assembly, or APPO, forced their way
into the Ley 710 radio station and warned that if they were not
allowed to broadcast their message, they would take over the station
as they did earlier for nearly three months. . .
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4355921.html
(via Artie Bigley, DXLD)

** MYANMAR. 5770, 15.11 1255, Defence Forces B.C.. Taunggi. Melodious
Burmese music. Did not understand a thing when I returned at 1445,
western music with country, pop (``Susannah``) and others and QSA 4.
JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 26, translated by editor Thomas
Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Have been meaning to recheck the NHK Warido
hour in Japanese at 23 UT Saturdays on 17605 via Bonaire to reconfirm
whether they still have a Western classical music show and the exact
time it starts. But this week I check 24 hours too late on UT Sunday,
Nov 26: 2259 open carrier is already on, and heard a few words of
Japanese, 2300 off, on, off again, 2302 on, joining Japanese talk in
progress, 2303 back to open carrier, off, on, 2304 off, 2305 on with
Japanese talk and some music, now seeming to manage to stay on the
air. 2313 was playing ``Pretty Woman``, and at 2322 some lite
instrumental music. Initially strong signal dropped off to almost
nothing by 2330, tho CVC Chile remained strong on 17680 (Glenn Hauser,
OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** NEW ZEALAND. Surprised to find RNZI on an unannounced new
frequency, 9765, Nov 27 at 0615 with music, then lengthy discussions
of dingos and Tasmanian devils, whether they should be re-introduced
onto Aussie mainland. Why? 9870 had been fine here. DRM remains on
9885-9890-9895 at the same time.

RNZI website says ``Frequency Schedule Changes effective immediately !
(07 Nov 2006   1914 UTC)`` but that refers to the previous jumble, not
the latest one, altho the schedule page still dated effective 08 Nov
instead of 27 Nov has this latest change entered, all daily:

08 Nov 2006 - 24 Mar 2007
 UTC     kHz      Target Azimuth
0559-1058  9765 AM, 9890 DRM All Pacific 0
1059-1258 13840 AM  NW Pacific, Bougainville, PNG, Timor 325
1059-1258  9870 DRM All Pacific 0
1259-1750  5950 AM, 7145 DRM All Pacific 0
1751-1850  9870 AM, 11675 DRM NE Pac, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands 35
1851-1950 11675 AM, 15720 DRM All Pacific 0
1951-2150 11675 DRM NW Pacific, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands 325
1951-2150 17675 AM  All Pacific 0
2151-0558 15720 AM, 17675 DRM All Pacific 0

Another notice on the website dated 24 Nov says DRM transmitter would
be off air for maintenance part of the time. If RNZI did not make some
schedule adjustment at least every three weeks, SWLing would be
boring. Once again Nov 28, 7145 DRM cut off promptly at 1400* (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

9765 kHz outlet looks new for me. S=6-7 signal into Germany now at
0710 UT. Ex-9870, where KBS Seoul in Korean is broadcast via Skelton
U.K. relay, 300 kW 110 degrees into Europe (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** NEW ZEALAND. Frequency change of Radio New Zealand International
from Nov. 27: 0559-1058 NF  9765 RAN 100 kW / 000 deg to All Pacific,
ex 9870 \\ 9890 in DRM (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

Per Adrian Sainsbury on Mailbox 11/27:  RNZI moved to 9765, ex-9870,
at 06-11 due to KTWR QRM from 9865, 0930-11 in Chinese (Joe Hanlon,
NJ 11/28, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Hi Glenn; There was recently some discussions about NZ signals (AM &
DRM). Just made a test receiving RNZI DRM 9890 (ACC mono 17.26kbs) in
Southern Finland using an ALA100-loop (3 x 7m), a WinR 313e with IF-
out to Dream 1.6 software. It seems that during good propagation
conditions at right time (9-10 UT for Northern Europe) I could decode
99.9 % of audio using this setup.

At the same time the analog program was not there on 9870. Usually
analog is rather good as far as "understanding" is concerned, bad
audio though. Later on 13840 was weak w a lot of QSB. Logging the
signal with winR313 gave an average signal level of about S6,5 (85
dBm).

Maybe these transmissions are OK for Pacific islands instead of
satellite feed, but indeed quite good for that time period in Europe
as well? Of course you need a good antenna; checking with small whips
means normally 0% audio! Checking the internet feed at the same time
gave good results, however at least with my setup, there were actually
more dropouts & buffering on the net.

BTW I still remember to have been listening to your DXLD in the 1970s
or -80´s with my tube communications rx (Trio9R59DS) with heavy
fading. Just recently I did the same driving to work at my car
(listening to FM!). Well, using my Ipod with downloaded podcast &
iTrip-transmitter. These small transmitter are now approved in
European Union. Does that mean more QRM on FM remains to be seen later
on. Best 73s TK (Tarmo Kontro, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** NEW ZEALAND. The media moves RNZI's DRM service to longwave ;-)
Hi All, You gotta love the media sometimes :-( --- An article appeared
in the press here today about DAB trials, but contains a little
mention of RNZI's DRM service:

``Radio New Zealand is transmitting long-wave broadcasts to the
Pacific using Digital Radio Mondiale, similar to DAB but used for AM
signals. DAB is also being trialled in Melbourne and Sydney.``
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3880157a28,00.html

8-) Cheers, -- (Chris Mackerell, P. O. Box 2241, Wellington 6140, New
Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4960, 15.11 1330, Catholic Radio Network, Vanimo.
Music, occasional calls/announcements in English at this time in the
night. Surprisingly good. QSA 3. JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov
26, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 7120, 15.11 1235, Wantok Radio Light, Port
Moresby. Religious songs in Pidgin. Somewhat muddy audio. After 14
o'clock it is not possible anymore. QSA 3-4 JE (Jan Edh, Sweden, SW
Bulletin Nov 26, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Hi Glenn, Well it certainly appears something is
going on with NBC Port Moresby. 4890 and 9675 have not been on at all.
Not a carrier, nothing. From casual observations I would say it's been
like this for a week or more.

The only time this came to my attention was when on Tuesday November
21 I was tuning past 585 kHz at 0830 UTC just on my sunset and noticed
Radio Sandaun in the clear. Normally at this time of late afternoon I
get NBC Port Moresby and Radio Sandaun fighting it out. So I checked
4890 out of habit and nothing!

This evening NBC Port Moresby on 585 kHz was not audible, which is
very odd. This past week I've noticed NBC Pt Moresby 585 kHz back on
but certainly down on strength. They are normally S3-6 at midday but
barely a peep from home above the noise floor. Yesterday I parked in
the beach car park at 2 pm during my lunch break and there was very
poor audio on the car radio, normally it's nice and clear. So maybe
585 is at reduced power? Either 4890 and 9675 are off SW at the
moment.

Cheers -- (Craig Edwards, Nhulunbuy (Gove), Northern Territory,
Australia, nutritionandsports @ bigpond.com  ced34654 @ bigpond.net.au
http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/nhulunbuy_2005_12.dx
http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions see Australia Nov 27, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** PERU. 5015, Radio Altura, from 1037 to 1116 UT Nov 26, in Spanish,
with OM talk, female vocal, announcements with echo chamber, into OM
talk, high Andean music, ID and frequencies at 1101, much weaker by
1116 tune out. SINPO 32222 with QRN from Radio Rebelde on 5025. All
heard on a Grundig YB 400 PE with random long wire (Roger Chambers,
Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PHILIPPINES. Radio Veritas Asia going to make few changes. Below
are the changes for Sinhala and Hindi effective December 3, 2006.
Sinhala 0000-0027 UT from 12000 to 9510
Hindi   0030 0057 UT from 11710 to 11870 --- 73 from (Ashik Eqbal
Tokon, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Nov 28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** POLAND [non]. POLÔNIA VIA GUIANA FRANCESA – A Rádio Polônia está
utilizando os retransmissores localizados na Guiana Francesa, entre
2030 e 2100, nas freqüências de 9640 e 11940 kHz. O destino do sinal é
a Europa, mas a sintonia está excelente no Brasil, na segunda
freqüência, conforme constatou o José Moacir Portera de Melo, em
Pontes e Lacerda (MT). Graças a isso, segundo o Moacir, em 19 anos de
escutas em ondas curtas, é a primeira vez que ele consegue ouvir a
estação polonesa, em que pese o sinal chegar, é claro, via
retransmissor. De acordo com o Moacir, nas emissões dos domingos há
até mesmo um espaço de dexismo (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX
Nov 26 via DXLD)

** POLAND [non]. R. Polonia via Wertachtal, 6015, at 1857 with close
of English program, address, times of other SW and satellite
broadcasts, etc., off at 1859; fair (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) See also RUSSIA

** RUSSIA. 11975, Kamchatka Rybatskaya, 0000, 11/25/06, in Russian.
Long talks by M announcer and what would best be described as Russian
easy-listening music. Signal improved steadily during broadcast and
was quite good by 0100 s/off. Program is UT Sun only. Fair/Good (Mark
Schiefelbein, Springfield, Missouri, Kenwood R-5000/Sony 2010, NASWA
Flashsheet via DXLD)

** RUSSIA. Interesting early-afternoon 49-meter signal from Europe
heard 11/26: Voice of Russia on 6055 in English at 1810 with news
followed by "Music and Musicians", fair (Joe Hanlon, NJ, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) Armavir, 315 degrees toward us; See also POLAND [non]

** RUSSIA [and non]. VOR in Japanese, balalaika recital with some
fancy fingerwork, Nov 27 at 1440 on 6005 in the clear and // 5995
mixing with R. Australia`s Health Report on risk factors for heart
attax. BTW, No sign of RHC in between on 6000, which used to run until
1500; maybe that transmitter is the one that is on new 15370 or 13680
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** RUSSIA [and non]. The Kremlin has apparently pulled the plug on the
BBC following the London killing of defector Alexander Litvinenko "The
London Paper" on November 28 reported that "The BBC's Russian Service
has been off the air in Moscow and St Petersburg since last Wednesday
due to what Russian authorities have described as 'technical
problems'. One insider put it differently, however: 'They turned the
transmitter off'." Livinenko issued a statement from his death-bed
claiming that he was poisoned on the orders of President Putin (Roger
Tidy, UK, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** RWANDA [and non]. RWANDA TAKES FRENCH RADIO OFF AIR --- Rwandan
President Paul Kagame President Kagame has always accused France over
the genocide Rwanda has ordered Radio France International to halt
local broadcasts, in an escalating row over events leading to the 1994
Rwandan genocide. The move follows a cabinet decision to stop all
activities of French state institutions, officials said. Rwanda
severed diplomatic ties with France on Friday after a French judge
implicated President Paul Kagame in the assassination of his
predecessor. The act sparked a mass slaughter which claimed 800,000
lives within 100 days. Thousands of people in Rwanda have been holding
anti-French protests in the capital, Kigali. The BBC, Voice of America
and Germany's Deutsche Welle are the only international radio stations
now broadcasting to Rwanda on FM. . .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6188550.stm
(via Zacharias Liangas, DXLD)

** SCOTLAND [non]. Just to confirm, that our Saint Andrew’s Night
special broadcasts from Scotland will be carried on one of our usual
shortwave frequencies – 5775 kHz – at 150 kW via IRRS. The programme –
a LIVE traditional Scottish Ceilidh from the Community Hall on the
tiny Hebridean island of Lismore – will be carried on 5775 between
2100 and 2200 UT [Thursday November 30!]. It will also be available
between 2100 and 2300 on 945 kHz MW from Riga, Latvia (2.7 kW) and on
local FM in the Western isles of Scotland as well as online, of
course, at http://www.radiosix.com (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director,
radio six international, Nov 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5775 = BULGARIA,
top secret (gh, DXLD)

** SENEGAL [non]. West Africa Democracy Radio, 12000 via UK, 0720-
0800* Nov 17, tune-in to English talk with manager of World Bank. 0725
IDs mentioning the 17 MHz frequency. Gave website address, full IDs
and ``WADR`` IDs. Some Afro-pop music, lite instrumental music. Abrupt
sign-off; weak but readable (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

I wonder if WADR don`t even know they`re on 12 MHz during the first
hour, and whether they mentioned the old 17 MHz frequency or the new
one? (gh, DXLD)

** SRI LANKA. Re 6-174: Being a child in the middle 50s in my hometown
sea port of Caribbean Tiquicia of Puerto Limón, I got in touch with
the name Ceylon thanks to stamps, a hobby enjoyed by my father and my
older brother. After all these years I guess that to be exposed to
philately is just a step away from collecting distant radio signals.
In fact, I have mentioned before that my dad owned a Philco Tropic in
those good old days that everything gave us a sense of more exotic
things, so different as today technology has converted the global
dimensions into a ghetto. Yes fellas, I still preferred the name of
Ceylon over Sri Lanka, because those simple stamps with Queen Victoria
(or any other queen) enclosed in an oval frame in some upper corner of
the stamp stuck in mind and comes alive every time I hear that name of
Ceylon. Not that all our hobbies were the best, but they were ours. So
keep enjoying while we breathe. 73s!!! (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, Nov
28, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** SWEDEN. OBITUARY --- The chairman of the Arctic Radio Club, Leif
Blomqvist, Halmstad, Sweden, passed away on November 27 at the age of
73. Beginning his DXing career fifty years ago, in 1956, Leif remained
a very keen DXer and QSL hunter all his life, especially interested in
Medium Wave DX. For many years he was also the organizer of the yearly
ARC conventions for Medium Wave DXers from Sweden and abroad. R.I.P.
(Ullmar Qvick on behalf of Arctic Radio Club, Nov 28, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) see also ISRAEL

** TIBET [non]. KUWAIT, 11500, Radio Free Asia, 1508-1512, escuchada
el 28 de Noviembre en idioma tibetano a locutor y locutora con
comentarios, a las 1510 se inicia transmisión Firedrake Jamming y poco
después la emisora queda totalmente anulada, SINPO 23322 (José Miguel
Romero, Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio
Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** TURKEY [and non]. VOT, 5960, Nov 26 at 2314, English to NAm but
unusable against much stronger signal from RHC 5965 in French. Instead
I listened to RCI with CBC TWTW on 6100 [for the last time; see
CANADA], promised feature on RCC Pope Benedict`s upcoming visit to
Turkey, and fears that the Christian faxions will forge an east-west
alliance to try to take over Constantinople again. Really (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U K [non]. Ran across BBCWS in English to Africa on 11795, new? At
0636 Nov 28, // 11765 but a reverb apart. HFCC shows 11795 is
Ascension, in use for this semihour only, while 11765 is South Africa
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also RUSSIA [and non]

** U K [non]. Dear Glenn, I am just back after a trip to Kadamat
Island of Lakshadeep Is. (VU7), India. While there I noticed the
following announcements on several days at 0300-0315 on 7460/7465 on
my small Grundig Mini 300 World band Receiver.

"This is the BBC. There is currently no service on this channel but
you can hear BBC program in English and Arabic 24 hrs a day on
satellite channels. Details of all our channels are in
bbcworldservice.com "

This was repeated continuously with short music in between. I don`t
know if this was reported in the dx press. If it is new info, please
publish it in DXLD. I checked the BBC site, Passport to World band
radio 2007/6, WRTH 2006 but could not get any info. Yours sincerely,
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan
Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Here`s HFCC B-06:
7460 0230 0315 40 KCH 500 116 1234567 291006 250307 D MDA MNO GFC 5529

Which means that it`s something registered by Merlin, not necessarily
BBC itself. Then we find a report from last month:

CLANDESTINE 7460 Radio Payam-e Doost, Grigoriopol, 0240-0246, October
15, Farsi, long talk by female, 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

And this from last July:

IRAN [non]. MOLDOVA / USA: Esquema de la estación religiosa Radio
Payam-e Doost, en idioma farsi con destino a Medio Oriente, y vía los
transmisores ubicados en Grigoriopol (500 kW).

HORA UTC KHZ
0230-0315 7460
1800-1845 7480

La estación puede ser aceptablemente recepcionada en el cono sur de
América a partir de las 0230 UTC. Cabe señalar que la emisora se
identifica como \"Bahai Radio\".

QTH: Radio Payam e Doost (Bahai Radio), P. O. Box 765, Great Falls, VA
22066, USA. E-mail: payam @ bahairadio.org
Web: http://www.bahairadio.org/farsi/shortwave.asp
(Marcelo A. Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital July 2 via DXLD
6-096)

So I wonder what you would have heard before 0300. Perhaps Baha`i
Radio is only running half an hour, or feeds were mixed up, or it has
been totally cancelled? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** UNITED NATIONS [non]. New schedule for UN Radio in French Mon-Fri
from Nov. 27:
1900-1915 NF  5970 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg to SoAf, ex 1700-1715 on  7170
1900-1915 NF  9685 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg to NoAf, ex 1700-1715 on  9565
1900-1915 NF 15240 MEY 500 kW / 350 deg to WeAf, ex 1700-1715 on 17885
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

** U S A [non]. Some frequency changes for IBB:
Voice of America, with azimuths after kW:
0130-0200 Bangla      NF 15205 PHT 250 kW / 283 ex 15160
0430-0500 Hausa       NF  9600 BOT 100 kW / 350 ex  6015 Mon-Fri
0500-0530 Hausa       NF  9600 BOT 100 kW / 350 ex  6015
0530-0600 Croatian    NF  7315 BIB 100 kW / 105 ex  9635
1000-1030 Portuguese* on 18985 IRA 250 kW / 239 Sat/Sun, from Dec. 2
1000-1030 Portuguese* on 21590 IRA 250 kW / 251 Sat/Sun, from Dec. 2
1430-1530 Burmese     on 12120 IRA 250 kW / 057 additional frequency
1930-2000 Turkish     NF  9570 MOR 250 kW / 059 ex 11870 Mon-Fri
2030-2100 Serbian     NF  7125 BIB 100 kW / 105 ex  9505
2200-2230 Serbian     NF  7125 BIB 100 kW / 105 ex  9505 Mon-Fri
2330-2400 Burmese     on 12120 PHT 250 kW / 283 additional frequency
* news and information about medical and social aspects of HIV/AIDS

Radio Liberty:
2100-2300 Russian     NF  7425 KWT 250 kW / 070 ex  9520 UDO 250 / 335

Radio Free Afghanistan:
0430-0600 Pashto/Dari NF 17530 KWT 250 kW / 070 deg, ex 17575
0600-0700 Pashto/Dari NF 17530 IRA 250 kW / 340 deg, ex 17575
0700-0730 Pashto/Dari NF 17530 KWT 250 kW / 070 deg, ex 17575
0730-1030 Dari/Pashto NF 17535 KWT 250 kW / 070 deg, ex 17575
(DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Nov 27 via DXLD)

** U S A [non]. ESTADOS UNIDOS VIA CHILE - Recordamos que a primeira
emissão do programa Rádio DX, pela CVC - A Sua Voz, vai ao ar às 1532,
em 15410 kHz, nas sextas-feiras. Também é reprisado no seguinte
esquema: nos sábados, às 1100, em 15410 kHz; nos domingos universais,
às 0200, em 11745 kHz; nas segundas-feiras universais, às 0000, em
11745 kHz. Rádio DX possui exatos 26 minutos de duração. Conta com a
produção e apresentação de integrantes do DX Clube do Brasil. As
edições anteriores podem ser baixadas acessando
http://radiodx.podomatic.com
(Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Nov 26 via DXLD)

** U S A. KRSN DX Test Didn't Happen --- The DX test for KRSN failed.
We will try to reschedule it soon. I'm sorry for the inconvenience...
:-( Here's a note I got from David Sutton, owner/operator of KRSN.

Mike, I'm sorry but the control room computer crashed at around 11:30
on Saturday 11-25-06.  I was in bed. That's when it does a log save so
we have a record of when the commercials played.  ... Again, I'm
really sorry the computer crashed, can we reschedule it? I'll sit here
and make sure it goes off next time! David

(Mike Westfall, N6KUY, WDX6O, Los Alamos, NM, Nov 26, ABDX via DXLD)

** VATICAN. VATICAN RADIO BROADCASTS SPECIAL PROGRAMMES DURING POPE’S
VISIT TO TURKEY

Vatican Radio has a number of special live broadcasts on mediumwave,
shortwave and satellite during the visit of Pope’s historic visit to
Turkey, which started today and continues until Friday 1 December.
Full details of these broadcasts can be found on the Vatican Radio
website. http://www.vaticanradio.org/CoorPro/entrasmisspec.htm
(November 28th, 2006, 16:19 UTC by Andy, Media Network blogo via DXLD)
See also RADIO PHILATELY

** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. ARGELIA, 7425, Radio Nacional Saharaui, 1814-
1825, escuchada el 28 de noviembre en idioma árabe a locutora con
boletín de noticias, segmento musical entre comentarios y temas de
música folklórica local. Hacía varios días que desde Valencia no se
conseguía captar a esta emisora; se desconoce si han sido problemas de
propagación o que a estado inactiva, SINPO 43343 (José Miguel Romero,
Burjasot (Valencia) España, Sangean ATS 909, Antena Radio Master A-
108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

7425, National Radio of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic, 0800,
11/12/06. Male reporter gives the news and then later female Arabic
song interrupted by a male announcer to make announcements till 0816
UT. Fair signal (Brant Hunt, Aiken SC, Drake R8A, Par antenna, NASWA
Flashsheet via DXLD)

** ZAMBIA. 5915, Radio Zambia (Lusaka), 0349, 11/20/06, in vernacular
and English. Male and young lady reporting local news plus playing
native songs in unknown language young lady introduces 2 to 3 songs
signal fading around 04:20UTC. Fair signal (Brant Hunt, Aiken SC,
Drake R8A, Par antenna, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD)

UNIDENTIFIED. Hi, Glenn, While listening for some sunset DX, I came
across something of interest on AM-590. It sounded like a test tone,
appeared to be around one kilohertz. It ranged from very poor to a
fair signal, mainly in bleed over from local CKWW-580. Seemed to be
strongest between 135  and 180  (Or, perhaps, 315  and 360 ?) I first
noted it at approximately 17:30 EST (Or 2230 GMT.) Equipment used was
GE Superadio III with 200 mm ferrite rod antenna. I was wondering of
anyone else heard this. Thanks! (Eric Berger, Suburban Detroit, MI,
Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Or maybe a station off-frequency from 590 (Glenn Hauser, ibid.)

Good morning Glen[n], As of last evening, myself in NY, and at least
one DXer heard a loud tone on 590 kHz. I included our loggings below.
I heard same tone this AM on my car radio at 5-6 AM est on my way to
work. Any idea what that would be?

BCB Propagation Logger © :

Nov 27 2228 UT, 590, Hearing what sounds like test tone strongest
toward SE, in CKWW-580 slop. Between 900 Hz and 1 kHz. Anyone else
hearing this?  de Eric B     

Nov 28 0151 UT, 590, yes Eric it's 30 DB over 9 here. Herb NY  

Nov 28 0208 UT, 590.This is a little strange, if you zero beat it,
there are three  tones, 589, 590, 591 Herb

Regards, Thanks for all the great WOR shows and 73, (Herb Shatz,
Account Executive, Clear Channel Outdoor NY-NJ Division, South
Hackensack NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Well not an off-frequency het if heard on both sides. Any new US
stations on 590 expected to be testing? Or it could be Cuba. Heard
only at night? (gh, DXLD)

Yes, seems only at night, I just checked, heard NJ Turnpike HAR
station. As I mentioned below, there were three carriers. 589, 590,
591 kHz blending together. 30 db over in Hudson Valley NY. (I work in
NJ)If it's a broadcast station, depending on where it is, could be a
monster. I'll keep an ear out on it. Thanks for getting back to me
Glenn (Herb Shatz, ibid.)

Have him weak here, LOBS appx. 210 - 220 degrees > S XE/Cent America.
Who is? Dunno. Area possibles:
 R. Quiche, Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guat., 5 k/snot
 R. Nacional, San José, Costa Rica, 5 k/snot -  onna air again?
 Couple Hondoland sta's but only 1 k/snot power.

What is it not? Rule out don Fido. 590 R. Musical wobbly of late - bag
adjustment needed.

But not tonight. Not tonight it is. Spot on freq, no wobbles, no hets
for 590 Musical which consistently LOBS > due S this qth. Het appx. 30
- 40 degrees W of Musi., again in line w/ 210 - 220 Hdg.
Trying RDF. Will advise. Dr. Zecchino (P.V. Zecchino, T.D.,
Manawobblito Key, FL, IRCA via DXLD)

[Later:] OK - Re: 590 het: RDF LOBS appx. 197 > eastern Hondoland,
Guatemala, thru Costa Rica. Rule out XE. Strength increasing.
Listening w/extreme vigilance throughout evening. For once, not don
Fido. Recall somewhere 'roun' '88, Baggie Maximo running something
around 588 - 589 Kc. Tonight's het @ 591 Kcs. Dr. Zecchino (PV
Zecchino, T.D., Manamanyhets Key, FL, ibid.)

To add to Dr. Z.'s Florida gulf coast report, I have a fairly constant
pair of hets on 589 and 591 approx., easy  to see on Spectran. The 589
het is strongest most of the time.

Also strong carriers on 590, which would be R. Musical and WAFC
Clewiston, my two regulars on the channel, trading top dog but neither
appreciably off frequency.

The hets. have been there for a while, since before 0200Z until now
at 0240Z, Nov 27 2006. Wobblers have been pretty much limited to 930
R.Surco this evening, with just a touch from 1100 RCH (W. Curt Deegan,
Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida, [Ten-Tec RX-320D; LF Engineering H-
800; Spectran], ibid.)

I am getting a carrier at both 589 and 591 tonight right now @ approx
0300 UT, of a fairly constant amplitude, thought it was maybe a
computer or the TV but wasn't (got it earlier also). I get a constant
carrier at 589 and 591 on two different radios. These are an SP-600
and an R-390A, the signals were about 80 over S9, don't know how these
compare to other rigs. I can't hear any audio though. The het appears
at all three frequencies which is as it should be, should be a 500 Hz
tone, the difference of the 1 kHz space I believe between the
carriers. With the crystal filter phasing on the SP-600 I can get rid
of the het and just hear pretty much silence at both frequencies.
They are really strong here, they're two strong constant carriers
here, no audio that I've heard, but I haven't sat on them either, have
to go to bed early tonight (Bob Young, Millbury, MA, various
boatanchors, 2 400' LW's & Mizek phaser, ibid.)

UNIDENTIFIED. 1430, Silent carrier (apparently), 1721-..., 26 Nov,
het. with DJI+UKR; 13431 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

1476.1, Silent carrier, 1731-..., 26 Nov, het with Austria fading in;
23441. Seemingly from a southerly latitude. 73, (Carlos Gonçalves,
Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

UNIDENTIFIED. 9795-9800-9805, DRM, Nov 27 at 1558. 9800 is Sackville
DRM but not scheduled at http://baseportal.com/baseportal/drmdx/main
until much later, 2045-2359. [later: it`s RCI: see CANADA]

More unID DRM, not on the schedule above at any time, 11955-11960-
11965, at 1556 Nov 27 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

UNIDENTIFIED. 2-way SSB in Spanish on 15140, Nov 26 at 2306, but in
huge splash from WYFR 15130. Think they said something about QSYing
and nothing further heard. By a semihour later the WYFR signal had
diminished markedly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PUBLICATIONS
++++++++++++

COMPROBACIÓN TECNICA DE LAS TRANSMISIONES Nº 312, ITU.

Saludos cordiales, un nuevo listado de la ITU, Nº 312, ya está
disponible en formato pdf.
http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/monitoring/files/pdffiles/312.pdf

Atentamente (José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

RADIO PHILATELY
+++++++++++++++

75th OF VATICAN RADIO: SPECIAL SERIES OF 5 POSTCARDS

Last 12 Oct. 2006 the Postal Service of Vatican City has emitted a
special series of 5 postcards with cancellations to celebrate the 75th
anniversary of Vatican Radio. The 5 postcard reproduce the pictures of
Guglielmo Marconi and all Popes that have spoken to the microphones of
Vatican Radio. Info and pictures of all postcards are available on
http://swli05639fr.blogspot.com/ 73's (Francesco Cecconi, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: See CANADA; NEW ZEALAND; UNIDENTIFIED 9800
++++++++++++++++++++

PROPAGATION
+++++++++++

MORE LONG-HAUL TRANS-EQUATORIAL FM DX, CARIBBEAN TO SOUTHERN BRASIL

ESCUTAS DE RUBENS FERRAZ PEDROSO, BANDEIRANTES-PR, BRASIL, RECEPTOR:
SONY ICF SW 7600GR

SANTA LÚCIA
97.3, 0203 20/11 R. Saint Lucia, Castries, OM (Jerry George), id OM:
                ``This is Radio Saint Lucia``, depois anúncios
                políticos by YL, EE 45344
97.3, 0045 21/11 R. Saint Lucia, Castries, OM/OM, talks, EE 43343
GUADELOUPE
97.0, 0208 20/11 RFO, Basse-Terre, YL/OM, talks, FF 34333
92.9, 0223 20/11 R. Madras, Basse-Terre, mx caribenha, FF 33333
ANTIGUA
91.1, 0215 20/11 Observer FM, Saint John’s, mx caribenha, YL, EE
                45333
SAINT VINCENT & GRENADINES
107.5, 0220 20/11 NBC, Kingstown, OM, mx caribenha, EE // 90.7 MHz
                25232
90.7, 0221 20/11 NBC, Kingstown, mx caribenha, OM, EE 25332 RFP
UNID
95.7, 0227 20/11 Unid (Praise FM - Saint Vincent & Grenadines?? ), mx
                caribenha, EE ????? RFP
(@tivadade DX Nov 26 via DXLD)

ARNIE CORO'S DXERS UNLIMITED'S HF PLUS LOW BAND VHF PROPAGATION UPDATE
AND FORECAST

Now here is item one of today's program, an update about solar cycle
23. Yes, my friends, we just saw another three days in a row of zero
sunspots, and this according to scientists is a good indicator that
the solar cycle is still traveling towards its minimum, expected to be
happening by the end of next year, 2007. So, be prepared to watch many
days of incredibly low maximum useable frequencies that will come
associated with very low ionospheric absorption as the D layer becomes
almost transparent to lower frequency radio waves because of the very
little solar radiation impacting on it.

And now amigos, as always when I am here in Havana, at the end of the
program here is Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited's HF plus low band VHF
propagation update and forecast. Solar activity continues at very low
levels with several days of zero sunspot count, and then a slow rise
to a count of about 12, with the microwave 10.7 centimeters solar flux
hovering around 80 units. We also felt the effects of a high speed
solar wind gust, but that is over now, and you should expect
propagation conditions that are typical for periods of very low solar
activity and very quiet geomagnetic field, so I think that the higher
end of the HF spectrum from about 22 to 30 megaHertz should be
performing just like another VHF band, amigos (Arnie Coro, CO2KK, RHC
DXers Unlimited Nov 28, HCDX Nov 27 via DXLD)

We saw three days of zero sunspots on November 22-24, but a new
sunspot 926 appeared over the weekend. We should expect sunspot
numbers above 12 over the next few days, with low geomagnetic
activity. The U.S. Air Force predicts solar flux around 80 for the
next 10 days, and a planetary A index around 5 until December 6. The
next recurring coronal hole expected to push up the geomagnetic
indicators should have maximum effect around December 7, a couple of
days before the ARRL 10 Meter Contest (Tad Cook, ARRL Propagation Nov
27 via John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD) ###