DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-099, August 20, 2007
Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com
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SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1370
Wed 2200 WBCQ 7415 [first airing of each edition]
Wed 2300 WBCQ 18910-CLSB or 17495-CLSB
Thu 0600 WRMI 9955
Thu 1430 WRMI 7385
Thu 1500 KAIJ 9480
Fri 0630 WRMI 9955
Fri 1030 KAIJ 5755
Fri 1100 WRMI 9955
Fri 2030 WWCR1 15825
Sat 0800 WRMI 9955
Sat 1630 WWCR3 12160 [irregular; confirmed 8/18/07]
Sat 2130 WRMI 9955
Sun 0230 WWCR3 5070
Sun 0630 WWCR1 3215
Sun 0800 WRMI 9955
Sun 1500 WRMI 7385
Mon 0300 WBCQ 9330-CLSB [irregular; not 8/13/07]
Mon 0415 WBCQ 7415 [time varies]
Mon 0830 WRMI 9955
Tue 1030 WRMI 9955
Tue 1530 WRMI 7385
Wed 0730 WRMI 9955
WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULE:
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 [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]
http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html
or http://wor.worldofradio.org
** AFGHANISTAN [non]. R. Solh, 17700 via UK, Aug 20 at 1348 tune in,
fair signal but music CD was skipping at the rate of almost 4 times
per second. 1349 switch to talk about Taleban, no skipping, 1349,
vocal music with drumming, also OK; still audible during the following
hour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {not Aug 19}
** ALASKA. 7370, KNLS --- While looking for Wantok R. Light [7325],
found OC here 18 August around 1033. Noted OC all the way to the ToH.
Came back at 1102 and found 2 stations at equal level. VOA in Spanish
and KNLS playing soft religious vocal song sounding very much like
Meatloaf!! Got KNLS ID call at 1106 after song. KNLS would be decent
without the VOA QRM. Tnx Glenn Hauser tip. 73 (Dave Valko, JRC NRD-
535D, Hammarlund HQ-129X, Collins R-388, and several portables. Ant:
60 meter T2FD, 60 meter Windom; QTH: Dunlo, PA, USA, HCDX via DXLD)
** ANGOLA. 4950, RNA-Canal “A”, Mulenvos, 2149-2205, 15 Aug,
Portuguese, African songs, news at 2200; 35231. Their signal is almost
always marginal despite the new tx, but is 4950 omnidirectional?
(Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ARGENTINA, 6214.3, R. Baluarte, Ptº Iguazú, 2152-2202, 18 Aug,
Portuguese, songs, announcements; 24231 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal,
DX LISTENING DIGEST) Carlos` full reports in the dxldyg
** AUSTRALIA. 2485, VL8K, Katherine NT simply blasting in at 1056 with
rock vocal. 2310 and 2325 same time only fair signals. 7 August (Bob
Wilkner, FL Japan Premium via DXLD)
** AUSTRALIA. Re 7-098, FROM COMMISSION TO CORPORATION: 75 YEARS OF
THE ABC
This story reminded me of a publication sent to me when I first
started listening to Radio Australia in the mid 60s. It was called
"The Constant Voice" and told the story of the creation and operation
of Radio Australia through its 25th anniversary in 1964. It featured
many photos, drawings and stories about the station and its listeners.
Among the letters from listeners was one from a family, shipwrecked
for 67 days on a Polynesian island, who listened almost every night to
Radio Australia (on what looks like a Zenith TransOceanic). Also some
nice photos of the facilities at Shepparton. Very interesting to go
back forty years (Jerry Lenamon, Waco, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BHUTAN. BBS-BHUTAN GETS NEW HEAD
http://www.abu.org.my/public/dsp_page.cfm?articleid=3072&urlsectionid=1061&specialsection=ART_FULL&pageid=247&PSID=3372
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) has a new Managing Director. She is
Pema Choden, who has joined the national broadcaster from the Foreign
Ministry. Ms Choden, who headed the ministry's Policy and Planning
Division, succeeds Mingbo Dukpa. He has resigned as Managing Director
to enter politics, and will run as a candidate for the newly formed
People's Democratic Party in Bhutan's upcoming elections.
The country's first democratic elections are due to be held in two
rounds in February and March next year. The polls will signal an end
to the absolute monarchy and the start of constitutional democracy.
Mr Dukpa headed BBS for more than four years. The BBS website quoted
him as saying he would contest the Deothang-Gomdhar constituency in
southeastern Bhutan near the Indian border. He is among a number of
senior government officials who have quit their jobs to enter politics
as the elections approach.
Meanwhile, BBS radio has extended its reach by inaugurating a new 100
kilowatt shortwave transmitter. Installed with financial support from
India, the receiver will enable BBS to reach listeners as far afield
as New Zealand and the Netherlands. Friday 17 Aug 2007
(via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dxldyg via DXLD)
** BOLIVIA. Silent: 4732. Radio Universitaria, Cobija, Pando may have
been a short term experiment. Nothing for the last few days 1000-1130
and 0000 to 0200. RTTY is still there :-( This may be similar to
Bolivia 4728.2, Radio Aripalca, Aripalca, Depto. Potosí, which was
broadcasting 1000 to 1100 in February of 2007 and then off (Robert
Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium Aug 17 via DXLD)
** BRAZIL. Silent: 4876.3, Radio Difusora Roraima, Boa Vista --- This
one is very irregular at best and check the frequency regularly; have
heard nothing for last few weeks (Robert Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium
Aug 17 via DXLD)
** BRAZIL. 6135, Radio Aparecida, Aparecida, 0915-0930, August 17,
local music, Portuguese announcements, ID. Poor with QRM from Radio
Santa Cruz-Bolivia on 6134.79. Weak // 5035 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. More discussion of spelling of 4755 Catholic station: see
LANGUAGE LESSONS
** BURKINA FASO. 7230, R. Burkina, Ouagadougou, 1301-1435, 12 Aug,
French, news,…, Vernacular, talks; 55444 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
5030 coming in well here at 1840 UT Aug 20 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. CFVP, 6030, heard here UT Sunday Aug 19 at 0700-0730, then
blocked by R. Martí/Cuban jamming. Johno Wright also heard it (Chris
Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I asked if it wasn`t really UT
Mon Aug 20, but he assured me it was Sunday. Normal truce silent
period is UT Monday 03-09 (gh, DXLD)
** CANADA. Age of Persuasion blog, including Terry O`Reilly himself,
discussing possible third series on CBC, and availablizing previous
series on CD: http://www.oreillyradio.com/?p=32#comments
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CAYMAN ISLANDS. Radio Cayman One --- Noisy but intelligible
coverage of hurricane Dean passing the Cayman Islands.
http://www.radiocayman.gov.ky/servlet/page?_pageid=1792&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&_mode=3&orgcode=18
(Joe Buch, DE, Aug 20, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD)
** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. 7220, R. Centrafricaine, Bimbo, 1301-
1425, 15 Aug, Vernacular, news (tentatively), French, African pops at
1410; 25332 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHAD. Hi Jari, Wonder if you have anything further about Chad back
on 6165 or at least gone from 7257v. I still haven`t heard it around
7260 again in the 05-06 period, and of course 6165 is out of the
question with RN there (Glenn Hauser, to Jari Savolainen, via DXLD)
Hi Glenn. I haven't got much time to listen to the radio at the
moment. But y'day, the 19th after 1800 UT there was again a Chad-
sounding station under Croatia with normal modulation quality. But no
positive ID yet. Maybe you could ask Tarek to confirm. Or maybe Chris
Greenway, if he's in UK maybe some of his friends in East Africa could
check 6165. Haven't noticed distorted signal anymore after my first
posting on/around 7257 (Jari Savolainen, Finland, Aug 20, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
No sign of it here around 7260, 0530+ UT Aug 20 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake, very good on 9930, Aug 20 at 1404. No trace of
KWHR with Sound of Hope underneath even during the ever-so-brief
pauses in music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [non]. Re 7-097, this should have been classified as [non],
since it transmits from Taiwan to the Mainland: ``9745, Voice of Han
logged Aug. 12 at 2100-2200 UT starting with ID, news and then several
talks in Chinese by YL and OM announcers, interspersed with several
songs. I was looking for Bahrain but this was the only one heard!!!
(José Turner, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)``
** CROATIA. 6165, Croatian Radio-Voice of Croatia, 2215-2230,
August 17, English programming with IDs. "Croatia Today" news
program. Sports news, weather. Program about cultivating lavender.
Local music at 2228. Spanish at 2230. Weak with co-channel QRM.
Much stronger on // 9925 via Germany.
[non]. (via Germany). 9925, Croatian Radio-Voice of Croatia,
0200-0213, August 18, English "Croatia Today" news program, which
was a repeat of the 2215 broadcast. Local music at 0213. Good signal.
Listed // 6165 not audible due to Radio Nederland-Sines dominating
frequency (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
[non non and non]. 6165, Croatian Radio-Voice of Croatia, 0600-0604,
August 19, Four minute English program with IDs, news, sports, &
weather. Poor with co-channel QRM. Much stronger on // 9470 via
Germany (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. As I tuned past RHC, 9550, Aug 20 at 1402 I was pleased to
hear this frequency mentioned correctly, but my pleasure was quickly
dashed as the very next frequency given, 9600, was off the air as it
always is after 1300. Why in the world can`t they get their act
together for something so simple(?) as conveying the correct frequency
list at any given time? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. 1540, Radio Sagua, Sagua de la Grande, Villa Clara; 1745+
August 16 with an oldie Cuban vocal at tune-in followed by two Mexican
rancheros, neat (and never-before-heard) interval signal of sorts just
prior to 1800, then live male, "Radio Sagua, desde Sagua la Grande,
Cuba, 2 de la tarde." Into Cuban pop vocals. Excellent local level, in
fact I though it was domestic until the ID. [JPCRSP]
1550 CUBA jammer; August 16. Huge signal, the WRHC, Coral Gables
blocker, not to be confused with a wobbler. [ENP-F]
JPCRSP = John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, Florida;
ENP-F = Everglades National Park at Flamingo, Florida
(Terry L. Krueger, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [non]. 6135.0, 2245, G, Radio República WRMI-Rampisham, Com
19/08, Esp, 35333.
15205.0, 2253, Radio República WRMI-? En paralelo con 6135, 19/08,
Esp, 45444. Cordialmente, (Tomás Méndez, Spain, playdx yg via DXLD)
Well, the 6135 broadcast via UK has nothing to do with WRMI, so I
doubt that 15205 does either. Let`s see if this can be heard again, or
a mistake. No, nothing on 15205 at 2219 check August 20 (Glenn Hauser,
OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Jeff, can you shed any light on this? (Glenn to Jeff White, via DXLD)
None at all, I'm afraid. Maybe an error at the transmitter site? (Jeff
White, RMI, Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. R. Martí and dentroCuban jamming observations on
25m: Aug 20 at 1358 RM in clear on 11845, no jamming audible, and on
11930 no RM just yet but jamming audible. At 1400 recheck, RM audio
was on both frequencies and so was jamming, at about equal levels
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** DJIBOUTI. 4780, Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti, Doraleh,
1635-1704, 15 Aug, Arabic related Vernacular, seemingly talks about
the Koran, local songs & newscast at 1700; 25433. Rated 55343 on 13
Aug at 1838 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ECUADOR. 4909.19, Radio Chaskis, Otavalo signs on 1050 to 1110 with
excellent Flauta Andina, which is less evident on the tropical bands
as the remaining Latin Americans tend to be run by religious
organizations. 1025 suddenly up with the most intriguing Flauta
Andina. Truly beautiful music from the land where Tuesday the 13th is
unlucky. :-) August 12th.
Flauta de Ecuador.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH9QjDV8hBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYYuWN1HRBk
(Robert Wilkner, FL, Japan Premium via DXLD)
** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, RNGE, Bata, 2213-, 12 Aug, noisy carrier &
whispering audio; 55343; better on 14 Aug but still unreadable (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ERITREA. 7180, Voice of the Broad Masses-Program 2, Asmara, August
17, 0357-0425+, Still heard on this frequency. ex-7175. Tune-in to IS.
Talk in local language at 0400. Horn of Africa music. Fair. Also heard
Voice of the Masses-Program 1 on 7100 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** ERITREA [non]. 15315, V. of Democratic Eritrea via DTK, Aug 09
*1700-1705, 25432-25421, Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with opening music,
ID, Opening announce, Talk and Eritrea pops (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan,
Japan Premium via DXLD)
** ETHIOPIA. 9560.50, V. of Democratic Alliance via R. Ethiopia, Aug
13 *1500-1510, 33443, Arabic, IS, Opening announce, Talk and Eritrea
pops.
9560.55, R. Ethiopia, Aug 13 1357-1416, 34433-33433, Amharic and
Arabic, Ethiopian pop music, ID at 1358, IS at 1359, 1400 Three gongs.
9560.60, R. Ethiopia, Aug 12 1357-1413, 34433, Amharic and Arabic,
Ethiopia pops, IS and ID at 1359, 1400 Three gongs, News (Kouji
Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD)
** GABON. Moyabi on 16m signals have improved; Aug 18 after 1400,
17660 Afropop music distraxion was quite listenable with usual fare,
as was AN1 on 17630. So I checked for the harmonic 19160 = 2 x 9580,
but the MUF is not quite up to that yet, assuming it is still
radiating at the previous level, but bears further checking, including
later in the day as previously heard well even into the local night
after 2100 or 2200 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
I have checked the situation from here yesterday 14 Aug, and can
confirm that 17630 is definitely Africa No. 1. I have noted them from
around 0900 tune-in to 1030 sign-off (as scheduled). They did not sign
on at 1100 as scheduled, but rather around 1130 UT. Then they stayed
on with a pretty good signal until the presumed sign-off at 1600 (the
signal basically faded away after 1500). The Afro Pop Jammer noted on
17660 from around 1200 till past 1500 when it again faded away.
Interestingly enough, the signal was quite a bit stronger than 17630
kHz. The V. of Hope [= Libyan clandestine Sawt al Amal] was not heard
on 17660 (i.e. complete silence on the channel during the breaks
between the songs) nor on any nearby frequency. No Libyan transmitter
heard either for that matter. I wonder if V. of Hope is still active?
(Vashek Korinek, RSA, DXplorer Aug 15 via BCDX Aug 20 via DXLD)
** GERMANY. Königs Wusterhausen Re: ``... a report about the
increasing copper theft which also mentioned the Königs Wusterhausen
radio museum. Searched and found a more detailed newspaper report:
http://www.maerkischeallgemeine.de/cms/beitrag/10993883/62249/
It specifies the victim as a "longwave transmitter from 1950" which
the museum now considers as destroyed.``
Another version also includes mentions of "building 2", "Sender 21"
and Berlin-Tegel and speaks about "missing parts not available
anymore" instead of flatly considering the transmitter as destroyed.
If so it would not be either one of the longwave rigs but instead the
1932-vintage 100 kW mediumwave transmitter, pulled out from
Berlin-Tegel in 1948 and reactivated at Königs Wusterhausen in 1949.
(Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Seems to me Königswusterhausen used to be always run together as one
word, should be OK in German, but has there been a deliberate effort
to keep them separate? (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
** GERMANY. IBC Tamil, 7115.01 at 0008 in Tamil. Via Wertachtal. Rare
that a DTK would be off frequency. So rare, that I tuned to CKLW to
see if my radio was out of whack. Not the case. Strong signal here
every night. 73/ (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
The Wertachtal station has been notified and will check it out (Kai
Ludwig, Germany, ibid.) Come on; it`s only 10 Hz (gh, DXLD)
Liz, Although modern SW transmitters are rarely more than a few Hertz
off channel (if that), I would hesitate to describe a 10 Hz deviation
as "out of whack". Did you mean 7115.10 rather than 7115.01? (Chris
Greenway, ibid.)
Hi Chris, .01 is right. It sounded fine in AM. I just happened to be
in USB mode, where it sounded ripply on 7115.00. I have an NRD-525
which gives quite accurate readings for the DX perfectionist. I get a
lot of .01s (and .99s) but just not on DTK before. 73/Liz (Cameron,
ibid.)
** GERMANY. Berlin Stallupöner Allee site --- A variant of the topic
of transmitter sites on aerial images: Yahoo and Microsoft still show
the mediumwave facilities of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg at Berlin,
Stallupöner Allee, closed down for good on New Year's Eve 2005 at 2300
UT. Google already shows that the station has been demolished since:
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.503137&lon=13.231519&z=17.6&r=0&src=ggl
To the left the 130-metre-tall mast from 1988, to the right the site
of second mast dismantled already earlier, surrounded by satellite
antennas for general purposes (i.e. not directly related to the
mediumwave transmitter; they were put up there because the place was
just suitable). (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** GREECE. V. of Greece 7475 at 0321 with traditional singing. Listed
as "Know Sea Songs" in the sked translated by John Babbis on 18 March.
Then suddenly Orthodox chants and talk at 0325 but not liturgy, which
begins at 0500. 9420 unusually weak tonight. 19 August (Liz Cameron,
MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUINEA. 7125, R. Guinée/R.Conakry, Sonfonya, 1308-1419, 12 Aug,
unreadable talks due to low audio; 35343; rated 35343 on 14 Aug at
0845 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** HUNGARY. WWW.RADIO.HU currently in the state of redesigning
MAGYAR RADIO (MR) [Hungarian Radio] has a new logo, which can be
viewed on: http://www.radio.hu
The website is now redesigning. All data have been deleted, including
the audio archive (also Radio Budapest audio archive). Currently, on
the website are only the links for live webstreaming, which has been
improved (80 kbps aac+), and they are introducing a new MR webplayer
on: http://stream001.radio.hu
http://stream001.radio.hu/mr1.m3u
http://stream001.radio.hu/mr2.m3u
http://stream001.radio.hu/mr3.m3u
Best regards! (Dragan Lekic from Serbia, Aug 17, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA [and non]. INDIA UNAFFECTED BY CHINESE RADIO, TV SIGNALS
Indiantelevision.com Team (18 August 2007 3:25 pm)
http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k7/aug/aug254.php
NEW DELHI: Signals of both All India Radio and Doordarshan can be
received all over the country including the north-east region except
Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the help of a small-size dish
receiver system, following the launch of Doordarshan's Direct-to-Home
"DD Direct Plus". Meanwhile, Parliament has been informed that
Doordarshan transmission is not affected by foreign TV signals in
border areas, although Chinese TV signals are received in some areas
of Arunachal Pradesh during favourable seasonal conditions. Parliament
was also informed that Chinese radio channels are audible on different
frequencies in Arunachal Pradesh. But this has not affected the
coverage of AIR transmitters in this belt. A special package for
expansion of Doordarshan and All India Radio Coverage in North East
Region and Island territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep had
been approved by the Government in May 2006 (via Alokesh Gupta, New
Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD)
** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI-Palangkaraya (tentative), 1315-1335 fade, 18
Aug., M in Indonesia mentioning Palangkaraya, "oompah-style" music
(sounds like circus orchestra), into flute and plucked-stringed
instrumentals (awfully sedate if it's gamelan). No break at 1330 &
into noise (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA, R75/60' random wire, dxldyg via
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Planet shortWWWave English News podcasts
http://shortwwwave.com/podcasts/news/en/
This is linked from http://www.rfprograms.com/ which aggregates mp3
and in the case of RHC DXUL, off air recordings of several DX
programs, including WORLD OF RADIO.
The English news podcast menu covers the last three days, and from
these stations only: BBCWS, R. Japan, Deutsche Welle, VOA Special
English, RTI, RN, RNZI, R. Sweden, R. Prague, RTE Ireland, R.
Australia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. THE $200 BILLION RIP-OFF: OUR BROADBAND
FUTURE WAS STOLEN
By Robert X. Cringely August 10, 2007 bob @ cringely.com
This is part three of my explanation of how America went from having
the fastest and cheapest Internet service in the world to what we have
today -- not very fast, not very cheap Internet service that is
hurting our ability to compete economically with the rest of the
world. Part one detailed expected improvements in U.S. broadband based
on emerging competitive factors, yet decried that it was too little
too late. Part two explained how U.S. broadband ISPs are different
from most overseas ISPs and how those differences make it unlikely
that we'll ever regain leadership in this space. And this week's final
part explains that this all came about because Americans were deceived
and defrauded by many of their telephone companies to the tune of $200
billion -- money that was supposed to have gone to pay for a broadband
future we don't -- and never will -- have. . .
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070810_002683.html
(via DXLD)
** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. WORLDSPACE HUNTING FOR CASH: Worldspace’s
operating expenses continue to far outweigh its revenue, according to
a quarterly summary filed by the satellite company with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. “The company has incurred an
accumulated deficit of approximately $2.4 billion through June 30,
2007 and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable
future,” it stated. Full article:
http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0100/t.7895.html
(via Mike Barraclough, DXLD)
** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. 4045 USB continues to be a good frequency for
logs of Caribbean sailing vessel checking in at 1045 for weather
conditions (Robert Wilkner, Pómpano Beach FL, Japan Premium Aug 17 via
DXLD)
4045 USB, Florida, 1045 hurricane weather report on 15 August and then
discussion with sailing vessels; same 16, 17 August (Bob Wilkner,
Pómpano Beach, Florida, NRD 535D, Drake R8, "on the ground antenna",
ABDX via DXLD)
** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Contrary to my recent remark, this page I had
bookmarked remains stuck at Florence, Sept. 10, 2006y; I guess it`s an
orphan: http://www.hwn.org/home/activationplans.html
(Glenn Hauser, OK, Aug 18, 2007, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. CELL PHONES TAKING OVER, BUT HAM RADIO
STILL HELPFUL IN HURRICANES
By Stephanie Horvath | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Justin Hornby, a 20-year-old mechanical engineering student, got his
amateur radio license in June, attracted to it by his love of
tinkering and building. He didn't expect the hobby would be dominated
by gray hair.
"They call the guys who pass away 'silent keys,'" Hornby said of ham
radio operators. "They have magazines with obituary listings. Those
listings get longer and longer. It's kind of worrisome."
Communicating by ham radio today is a little like hooking up a black-
and-white TV and antenna to watch your Friday night shows. In an era
of simple, swift, worldwide communication with cell phones, instant
messaging and Internet calling, amateur radio seems like a quaint
hobby. But ham radio operators in South Florida cling to it, even
though they're having a hard time translating their passion to the
younger generation.
"Back then as a kid, it was cool. It was something to do to spark my
interest," said Robert Broderick, 52, the president of the Palmetto
Amateur Radio Club in Fort Lauderdale. Of his 120 members, only a
couple are young people, despite the club's attempts to start radio
clubs at a couple of local high schools. "You can't grab the young
kids. They want to get on their Game Boys. Talking around the world
isn't a big whoop-dee-do anymore."
Hornby is in the minority. He is one of only half a dozen students in
Florida Atlantic University's amateur radio club; the rest of its 20
members are older folks from the community. . .
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flphampnaug19,0,6137817.story
(via Dino Bloise, FL, dxldyg via DXLD)
** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Pirate Power: see U K
** IRELAND. ÉIRE, 252 kHz, RTÉ, Summerhill, noted with DRM a few past
evenings, but reverted to AM on the 19th; observed 1102-1135, 17 Aug,
English, news, weather report 1104, music dedication program till
1200; 33342, QRM de ALG (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** ISRAEL. Glenn, I translated the "notes" column of the REKA schedule
found at: http://reka.iba.org.il/Doc/DOC104418.pdf
I have attached a document with my translation. Note that the "Relayed
on Reshet Hey" rows don't give the complete picture of what's on
shortwave, as there are plenty of languages earlier in the day, which
are also relayed on Reshet Hey (Israel Radio International). As
mentioned earlier, the only unique Reshet Hey'/IRI --PROGRAMMING-- is
1.5 hours of Persian. This is not an official document - I just want
to convey the translation of one column. [reformatted, UT added by gh]
UT Language Local Comments
0330 English 06:30
0345 French 06:45
0400 Russian 07:00 Sunday-Friday News from Heleni Hamalka Street
Studio (Jerusalem)
0410 Russian 07:10 Sunday and Monday from Heleni (Newspaper Summary)
0500 Russian 08:00 Sunday-Friday News from Heleni
0600 Russian 09:00 Sunday-Friday News from Heleni
0700 Russian 10:00 Sunday-Friday News from Heleni
0800 Russian 11:00 Sunday-Friday News from Heleni
0900 Russian 12:00 Sunday-Friday News from Heleni
0930 English 12:30
0945 Mugrabic 12:45
1000 French 13:00
1015 Georgian 13:15
1030 Amharic 13:30 Saturday until 15:00 [1200 UT]
1145 Bucharian 14:45 Sunday-Friday. On Saturday Amharic
1200 Russian 15:00 Sunday-Thursday (Not sure of the Hebrew
abbreviation) + News from Heleni
1300 Russian 16:00 Sunday-Thursday News from Heleni
1400 Russian 17:00 Sunday-Thursday News from Heleni
1500 Georgian 18:00 Sunday-Thursday News from Heleni
1555 Amharic 18:55 Sunday-Thursday Shortened news from Heleni
1600 Persian 19:00 Sunday-Thursday broadcast from the computer (pre-
recorded) from the general Persian library. On
Friday and Saturday Russian.
1630 Romanian 19:30 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1645 Ladino 19:45 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1700 French 20:00 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1715 Spanish 20:15 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1730 English 20:30 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1745 Yiddish 20:45 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1800 Amharic 21:00 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1835 Tigrit 21:35 Sunday through Thursday
1845 Hungarian 21:45 Relayed on Reshet Hey
1900 Russian 22:00 Sunday-Thursday News from Heleni
2000 Russian 23:00
2100 Bucharian 24:00 Sunday-Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, Persian
from the computer (recorded)
2115 Music 24:15 Nightly broadcast from the computer (recorded)
Friday and Saturday, from 24:00 [2100 UT]
(via Doni Rosenzweig, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ITALY. 26000, R. Maria, Adrate, 1940-, 11 Aug, talks; 15332 (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** JAMAICA. WRC-4 in DC is saying Jamaica is in the sights of
Hurricane Dean, at Cat 4 with 120-140 mph sustained winds. Which means
some stations could stay on day power at nite or be off tomorrow nite.
God be with Jamaica. 73, (Bruce Collier, York, PA, 722ft ASL, Aug 16,
dxhub yg via DXLD)
As a follow-up -- hell is set to begin tomorrow in Jamaica, and I
believe Dave H reported hearing them in Jersey last night. Check 700,
720 for possible emergency broadcasts at different powers/patterns?
Other Caribbeans too. 73, (Collier, Aug 18, ibid.)
Sounds like them on 720 at 10:10 pm EDT [0210 UT Aug 19] tonight, loud
with reggae music, with WGN phased out (Brett Saylor, PA, Aug 18,
ibid.)
720, RJR Innswood, call in programme but no discussion of Hurricane
Dean 0245 to 0300 [presumably UT] // weak 700 kHz, 18 August (Bob
Wilkner, Pómpano Beach, Florida, NRD 535D Drake R8 "on the ground
antenna", ABDX via DXLD)
Dean must be over Jamaica for an undeserved punishment, but RJR 720
Innswood is still on with their nighttime reggae parade at 0415. Hard
to believe that will continue on the air much longer. 73s (Raúl
Saavedra, Costa Rica, UT Aug 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
6Y5EE and 6Y5IC have indicated that they have lost commercial power in
the last half hour. Both are in the Kingston area. 6Y5EE reported wind
speeds up to 50 MPH. This is just the beginning as the eye of H. Dean
is still a ways to the southeast (Steve Lare, MI, 1944 UT Aug 19,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] 6Y5EE reporting wind speed at
85 MPH from the NE at 2037. It's going to be a rough night in Jamaica.
Monitoring 14325 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, ibid.)
Power 106 FM is a talk radio station with live call-in programming as
the hurricane Dean approaches. Interesting listening.
http://go-jamaica.com/power/
(Joe Buch, DE, Swprograms mailing list via DXLD)
Hi Joe, I was listening earlier and it was running an interesting
phone in with many Jamaicans calling and emailing from around the
world as well as in the country Just now both Winamp and Real Audio
were off, just a hum (Mike Terry, England, 1840 UT Aug 19, ibid.)
Mike, Still good here. Maybe the server is full. I have been listening
to Real Audio stream for about an hour. JB (Joe Buch, 1849 UT? ibid.)
I could not get a connexion at first, but let it keep trying and
finally made it. High background noise level, like maybe picked up off
the air with far from full quieting. Hardly anything but noise left by
2100 UT, as if the increasing roar of Dean itself were causing this.
73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) [later that evening came back OK, tho still
hard on the ears]
Poor quality feed now back on at http://www.go-jamaica.com/power/
(Mike Terry, England, 2054 UT Aug 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
It is 2142 EDT (0142 UT) and I am hearing Power 106 with full quieting
from my home location. Using one of the Real Audio feeds at "full
quieting". Cable and Wireless reports 85% of its lines are still
operational (Joe Buch, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
700, Jamaica RJR // 720 RJR with fade in 0200 GMT and news and "call
in" programming. 19& 20 August. All RJR frequencies are logable except
770 buried under a Cuban station (Bob Pómpano Beach, Florida Wilkner,
NRD 535D, Drake R7, Drake R8, UT Aug 20, ABDX via DXLD)
First impressions are that Jamaica has missed the worst of Hurricane
Dean per the now clear feed at http://go-jamaica.com/power/ It has
left floods and a trail of damage. BBC news and agencies give a worse
account; it`s interesting how the accounts differ (Power 106 is
getting regular calls from around the island and further away). The
local station has been running an informative service, a fine example
of the impact of internet radio these days on world communications.
Encouraging to hear the presenter just say "remember the old song -
`Don't Worry``` and added "we should give God thanks" (Mike Terry,
England, 0530 UT Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LAOS [non] Despite what the Hmong Lao Radio office in Minnesota
told me recently that HLR was off SW for good, there it was again on
11785, Saturday August 18 on 11785 via WHRI, usual very strong signal
aimed usward from SC, but FE QRM still audible underneath. Hmong talk,
and a bit of rustic music before closing. Presumably back on previous
sked of Sat & Sun only, 13-14 on 11785. Checking website,
http://www.h-lr.com/ found nothing in English about status of
broadcasts, nor on linked different site for HLR,
http://www.hmonglradio.com/ which BTW has a quotation from the Judeo-
Christian Bible atop, so apparently this group has also alienated
itself from main Lao culture religiously. There are also links to many
other Hmong broadcasts/stations on both pages, some overtly Christian.
The debate forum linked,
http://www.topix.net/forum/world/laos/TCCP77O4IRQGF2DAT/p10#lastPost
at the moment has 2410 posts on 121 pages, mostly in English, and
mostly squabbling among different Hmong/Lao faxions about Vang Pao,
for whom HLR is trying to raise defense fund money (Glenn Hauser, OK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LATVIA. 9290 this weekend:
Sat August 18th :
Radio Six International 0700-0800 UT
Latvia Today 1000-1100 UT
Radio Casablanca 1100-1200 UT
Sun August 19th :
Latvia Today 1900-2000 UT
Good Listening (Tom Taylor, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
9290, Not a peep from any of the relays here this morning 18 August in
the 0655-0802 time frame. Then again I may not have had the antenna
tuned exactly either!! (Dave Valko, JRC NRD-535D, Hammarlund HQ-129X,
Collins R-388, and several portables. Ant: 60 meter T2FD, 60 meter
Windom; QTH: Dunlo, PA, USA, HCDX via DXLD)
9290, Latvia Today, Ulbroka, 1920-2000*, August 19, English
programming about the history of the Baltic area giving dates of
important events. Local pop music. IDs. Poor but readable (Brian
Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALAYSIA. 11884.72, Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia) via RTM,
1022-1113, August 19, Asian language, pop songs, 1029 choral anthem,
ID "This is the Voice of Malaysia", into Mandarin Chinese programming,
with pop songs, some in English, ToH 2 pips, assume news (Cantonese
listed), back to Mandarin Chinese and pop songs, mostly fair, except
the news had very low audio. During the whole time their transmitter
was cutting in and out for very brief periods (Ron Howard, CA, Etón
E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALAYSIA. 7270, RTM-Sarawak, Kuching, 1456-1509, 15 Aug, Iban (as
listed), talks, announcements, tunes; 25322, vy. poor / fluttery by
1500. [Iban people were head hunters…] (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALI. 4835.5, R. Mali, Kati, 2220-, 14 Aug, Vernacular, phone-ins,
seemingly some health program; 55343 and unusual good audio; // 5995
strong but with an empty carrier! (Gonçalves)
7285.5 R. Mali, Kati, 1303-1430, 12 Aug, French, newscast, vernacular,
talks; 55343, reasonable audio. This must be the same transmitter also
used for 4835.5 (as observed on 14 Aug). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALI. 4835.58, RTVM, Bamako, *0556-0620+, August 18, IS on local
stringed instrument. National Anthem at 0559. Opening French
announcements at 0600. Local music at 0602. Weak. Very low modulation.
Somewhat better on // 5995 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MARKET REEF. OJ0B - MARKET REEF DXPEDITION STUCK IN STORM
The planned departure is delayed because the OJ0B gang cannot be
picked off the reef. Please follow the team's progress via the sm0w
blog at: http://www.sm0w.com/
Some 11.000 QSOs are handed out so far, and the operators will
continue until it is safe to collect the group from the reef. The
transfer RTTY team is also waiting in Aland Islands, OH0.
Everything is OK and the team remains in good spirits. A lot of U.S.
contacts were made on 80M last night, and we continue checking the low
bands. One FT1000 got burnt due to close proximity of the low-band
antennas.
Martti, OH2BH for the OJ9B team. ======= === ========= 73 and Good DX!
(I.C.P.O. Bulletin (August 16-24, 2007) Islands, Castles & Portable
Operations via Dave Raycroft - VA3RJ, Aug 17, ODXA yg via DXLD)
They keep referring to ``the deserving`` among their contacts. Does
this mean they are playing favorites, with those who have contributed
financially, or what? (gh, DXLD)
** MAURITANIA. 7245, R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, 1305-1435, 12 Aug,
chanting, French, reports about flooding; 55343. This outlet is still
silent mornings till around 1200 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 9600, R.UNAM, Ticomán, 0949-1015, 15 Aug, light music, ID
“R. Universidad” with musical background, news 1001; 24432, adjacent
QRM 9605 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Re 7-097: ``9599.26, Radio UNAM, Mèxico DF; 0208-2036 11 August, 2007.
Decent audio this particular day with classical chamber-type music,
Spanish male with ID, brief talk, back to music (Terry L Krueger,
Clearwater, Florida, USA, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Correxion:
time should read 2028-2036 UT (Krueger, DXLD)
** MONGOLIA. 4895, Mongoliin R, Murun, 2237-2249, 14 Aug, Mongolian,
orchestral themes; 34332, QRM de B. (Gonçalves)
4930, Mongoliin R, Altay, 2238-2251, 14 Aug, Mongolian, talks; 35342,
echoing audio (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MOROCCO. 1079.8, RTM-“Q”, site?, 1426-, 12 Aug, Arabic, prayer;
55444 but very poor evenings due to QRM de E; bad audio.
1143, RTM-“A”, site?, 2248-, 18 Aug, Arabic, songs, talks; 54443, QRM
de España & very bad audio.
1593, RTM-(“B” network?), Marrakech, 2123-2237, 15 Aug, Arabic, Arabic
songs, western pops; 33421, adjacent & co-channel QRM. // 1632 kHz
with FM-like modulation.
1632, RTM-“Q”, site, 1424-, 12 Aug (check observation on 15 Aug),
Arabic, prayer; 55444 but extremely difficult to copy due to weird
audio - can this frequency be a transmitter spur? If so, I don't find
the fundamental frequencies. Check 1079.8 kHz but this is not the
fundamental.
1632, RTM-"B", site?, 1841-2240, 15 Aug, (cf. obs. 12 Aug), French,
western pops, references to program "DJ Mix", newscast 1900, Arabic
music, Arabic program at 2040, chats & phone-ins; 55444 but
readability is very difficult, to a point that switching the FM mode
actually helped a bit; // 1593 Marrakech which I noted one evening
(check above). So this spur or whatever the signal on 1632 kHz may be
actually broadcasts at least the “B” network, the “Q” (Kor`an) network
and some other, possibly Regional.
1632, RTM-“B”, site?, 1402-1855, 19 Aug, Spanish, newscast, Spanish
songs, then Arabic+French as from 1500, talks, music, news; 55454. I
was able to perceive most of the newscast content in Castilian by
switching to the FM mode of the NRD-545.
1638 H, RTM-“A”, Rabat, 1320-, 12 Aug, Arabic, talks; harmonic of 819,
still with bad audio; 35353.
7308 H, RTM-“C”, Sébaa-Aioun, 1305-, 15 Aug, Berber, talks, music;
25332. Harmonic of 1044 kHz (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** NEPAL. 5005.03, R. Nepal, Aug 12 1256-1316, 34443, Nepali, Talk and
music and news, ID at 1310, etc.
5005.03, R. Nepal, Aug 13 1315-1325, 33443, Nepali, News, ID at 1315
and 1323 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) Haven`t seen
this reported from NAm for quite a while (gh)
** NEW ZEALAND. 15720, RNZI, Rangitaiki, 2240-2241 (! - read on), 15
Aug, National R prrogramming; 25433 via the on-the-ground K9AY; at
2241, the transmitter went off and stayed off until at least 2335
(Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NIGER. 9705, La Voix du Sahel, Niamey, 1313-1440, 12 Aug,
vernacular, phone-ins, discussion; 24242, but rated 55343 at 1430
(Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
9705, LV du Sahel, Niamey, 2145-2158*, August 12, local music, French
talk. Koran at 2151-2157. Sign off with choral National Anthem. Poor.
Weak with adjacent channel splatter. Normal sign off time is 2300 but
on Sundays they sign off at 2200
9704.99, LV du Sahel, Niamey, 2235-2300*, August 17, French talk,
French ballads. Koran at 2253-2258. Distinctive fanfare followed by
choral National Anthem at 2259. Short test tone at 2300 and off. Poor
to fair reception (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3334.97, R. East Sepik, 1014-1033 18
August. “Baby When You Talk to Me” by The Outfield, then live M with
song announcement, short canned ad by W along with same live M
mentioning 5 o’oclock and PNG, then back to music with pleasant island
pop song, 1020 M again with song announcements, and continued music
with ”More Than a Feeling” by Boston. Has drifted down from the usual
3335 since the last time I’ve hrd it. Best PNG on 90 meters. Also
noted the 120 mb Aussies doing well, 2850 N. Korea, and a signal from
presumed RRI Gorontalo on 3266.44 (Dave Valko, JRC NRD-535D,
Hammarlund HQ-129X, Collins R-388, and several portables. Ant: 60
meter T2FD, 60 meter Windom; QTH: Dunlo, PA, USA, HCDX via DXLD)
** PERU. Silent: 4790.20, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, gone since late July
4835.6v, Radio Marañón, Jaen, off the air, both 1000 to 1130 and from
0000 to 0200 since the middle of July 2007 (Robert Wilkner, FL, Japan
Premium Aug 17 via DXLD)
** RUSSIA. 16 August 2007, 6160 kHz, 0319 UT, Radio Pomorje
(Arkhangelsk). Russian, 44444 (Sergey Vinokurov, Zarechny, Penzenskaya
oblast ("open_dx") via Rus-DX Aug 19 via DXLD)
WRTH transliterates the name both as Pomorya and Pomorye. The final
letter contradiction may be a matter of declension. What is it in
original Cyrillic? I had to look this up because in ``Pomorje`` it is
unclear whether this j represents a y-sound or a zh-sound. Please do
not confuse matters by using German or French transliteration when
writing in English about Russian names! The ambiguous J should be
avoided (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. 5920, (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka) // 7320 (Magadan), 0708, 17
Aug., ID: "Radio Rossii" (rod-yo rah-sss-i); apparent split of // at
0710. 5920 into Russian discussion & 7320 into pop music, ID with bird
calls. 5920 // 5940 // 7320, 0715, 18 Aug., with Russian pop
(sounds/like Abba in Russian) and W DJ (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA,
R75/60' random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. 5940, R. Rossii via Magadan, 1252-1300*, August 17, fair-
poor, Russian music till ToH, 5+1 pips and off. Parallel with 7320
(fair) also via Magadan and 5920 (good) via Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka.
7200 via Yakutsk was not heard at this time. 9765, R. Tikhiy Okean (R.
Pacific Ocean), Vladivostok, *0835:34-0900*, August 17, on with
"Govorit Vladivostok", chimes IS, ID along with sound of ship's bell,
gives phone numbers, usual Russian programming (news items, numerous
recordings of reporters interviewing people, etc.), Russian ballad,
ToH one pip and off, mostly good, // 12065 (fair) (Ron Howard, CA,
Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. Last couple of UT evenings around 1700 there's been a
Russian army station Radio Zvezda on 8886. I believe this is 9615-729
mix, both transmitters co-sited at Samara. So it should also be
audible on 10344. I have some local noise on 10344, so can't confirm
it yet. Some time ago I reported similar Zvezda-mix on 6561 and 8016
(plus/minus 729 from 7290). 73, (Jari Savolainen, Finland, Aug 20, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. BBC ordered off Moscow FM: see U K [non]
** SAUDI ARABIA. Log Saudi Arabia in English on the 17 Aug 2007 at the
hour of 1200 UT using the frequency of 15250 with a clear reception.
Program consist of the news to be followed by a program about book and
also another program on exercise. It sign off at around 1227 without
any ID. Would appreciate any DXer who can provide me with the latest
address where I can write in for a QSL CARD. Used my SONY ICF SW7600GR
receiver with the built in telescopic aerial to log this broadcast
coming from Saudi Arabia 73's (Peter Ng - MALAYSIA, Aug 20, dxing.info
via DXLD)
** SEYCHELLES. BBCWS Mahé relay was coming clear and VG this Sat. 18
after 1300 on 15420, 280º, surpassing the regular good signal we get
here from the same Indian Ocean site for that same slot on 17885,
270º. Despite further than Ascension 17830, both providing better
arrival here. 73 (Raúl Saavedra, Costa Rica, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** SINGAPORE. 7275, Mediacorp R. Singapore - Olikkalanjiam channel,
Kranji, 1453-1514, 15 Aug, Tamil, advertisements (tentatively), news
(?) 1500, music; 35433, adjacent QRM as from 1500 on only (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TIBET. CHINA(non)/TIBET. 4905 // 4920, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, 1235-
1300+, 17 Aug., M/W in Tibetan, orchestral Tibetan music, mention of
Xizang with short anthem/chimes at 1300. Listed // 5240, 6130, 7385
for 1300-1400 unheard. Fair signals on both frequencies with
(presumed) AIR-4920 under (Dan Sheedy, Encinitas, CA, R75/60' random
wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** UGANDA. 4975.96, Radio Uganda, Kampala, 2245-2314*, August 18, On
late with religious programming in vernacular & English. Quite a few
"Praise the Lord" statements. IDs. Local music. Abruptly pulled plug
mid-sentence at 2314. Fair signal. (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) I wonder what the occasion was? Unseems Catholic tho one could
check that church`s festival calendar (gh, DXLD)
** U K. PIRATE POWER The Sunday Times August 19, 2007 Paul Donovan
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article2265263.ece
Tidal waves of nostalgia for the North Sea pirates have been flooding
radio-land: an exhibition in Harwich, a glitzy West End reunion with
ageing DJs and their dewy-eyed fans, a champagne party welcoming back
Emperor Rosko to Britain, the jolly six-day frolic of "Pirate BBC
Essex" broadcasting the original, wonderful 1960s pop music from a
lightship half a mile off the coast, and coverage ranging from Johnnie
Walker's funny Radio 2 special last weekend to pieces on Today. All
mark last week's 40th anniversary of the Marine Broadcasting Offences
Act, which eventually forced the pirate vessels off the air, bringing
the likes of John Peel, Tony Blackburn, Ed Stewart and (later) Johnnie
Walker into the BBC, with the creation of Radio 1.
If you remember Caroline, Shivering Sands, Big L and the Perfumed
Garden, then you probably remember what it was like to be young in the
1960s, and this month has evoked much of its heady excitement. All the
same, there are dangers in romanticising unlicensed radio, whether now
or then. Harold Wilson's government claimed that the pirate ships,
despite providing a service of all-day pop for which there was clearly
a huge demand, endangered ship-to-shore transmissions. The point
remains valid today, even if today's illicit DJs are urban rather than
maritime.
"Pirate radio stations can cause interference to safety-of-life
services such as the fire brigade and air-traffic control," says the
regulator, Ofcom. "We conducted more than 1,000 raids against illegal
broadcasters last year and secured 63 convictions. " Andrew Harrison,
boss of the trade body RadioCentre, says that, in addition to
disrupting emergency services, today's pirates "drown out legitimate
stations, denying listeners the station of their choice, pay no tax
and put lives at risk by tapping into high-voltage power supplies from
communal lifts".
It seems perfectly possible to accept those arguments - and my Radio 3
reception certainly suffers from the propinquity of an illicit reggae
neighbour - while recognising that the pirate stations have done much
to widen listener choice. The North Sea pirates (the first of which
was begun by a young Irish music producer called Ronan O'Rahilly, when
he could not get his Georgie Fame record played on the Light
Programme) championed Stax, Tamla Motown and Atlantic soul, which
until then had received little airtime.
Today's pirates play more esoteric varieties of black music, also
marginalised by the mainstream. But it was the pirates who operated
between these two periods, the ones associated with the 1980s, who
contributed the most.
Xfm, for example, began life as an illegal station (called Q102), as
did both Kiss FM and London Greek Radio. Sunrise Radio - run by the
Asian entrepreneur Avtar Lit, whose son Tony recently hit the
headlines when he went from Labour donor to Tory by-election candidate
in five days - likewise began as a pirate, in Hounslow. All of those
are now legitimate and have given much pleasure and community spirit
to different groups of listeners, but all began in the knowledge that
they were breaking the Wireless Telegraphy Act. The paradox is that
pirates have greatly benefited the airwaves, while also making them
more dangerous (via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD)
Regarding the Wilson's governments claims of pirate broadcasts
endangering ship to shore transmissions there is, to my knowledge,
very little factual evidence that this ever occurred and in the case
of most stations no complaints were received. They were regularly in
touch with the emergency services and had a vested interest in not
causing them interference.
All the 60s UK offshore pirates operated in the medium wave band.
Therefore interference could only have come about through harmonics,
that is transmitters radiating at multiples of their operating
frequencies, or spurious signals, which occur close to their operating
frequency. The only evidence I have of interference is the Postmaster
General's reply to opposition spokesman Roy Mason (Labour)after
Caroline and Atlanta came on the air in 1964, he specifically asked
for instances of interference to marine services:
"Transmissions from Radio Caroline caused interference to British and
Belgian maritime services during the first few days she was
broadcasting. Interference to maritime services since then has been
negligible. Serious interference to maritime radio could recur at any
time if the powerful transmitting equipment on the ship is not
properly maintained."
This is of course true of any transmitter, and there are plenty on the
coastline. Caroline was initially in the part of the medium wave band
close to the marine frequencies so it is feasible that there was some
initial spill over when she first tested, subsequently rectified. The
fact that we heard, to my knowledge, of no specific instances of
interference from the offshore stations to marine communications tells
its own story. The transmitters were well maintained by qualified
engineers working for more money than they could earn onshore.
Radio Northsea International received letters of complaint from
Trinity House, the Coastguard service and the Ministry of Posts and
Telecommunications when it sailed from Scheveningen to a new anchorage
off the Essex coast transmitting on 1610 khz, just outside the medium
wave band and in the maritime mobile band. This was between March 23rd
1970 and March 27th 1970. On receipt of these complaints they
immediately left the frequency and began transmissions within the
medium wave band on 1578. It was then claimed, thought not
independently verified though feasible given the proximity of the
vessels, that there was spillover from 1578 into the maritime mobile
band causing interference to the Barrow Deep lightship, again RNI
closed down and moved further in band. There had been complaints of
interference when RNI was off Holland using 1610 and also complaints
about their usage of 6210, later Caroline also had complaint of
interference when using this band.
Since 1981 Vatican Radio has operated on 1611, still outside of the
allocated medium wave band and in the maritime band, with a 50kw
transmitter clearly audible in the UK.
The same is true of today`s pirates, the phrase "can cause
interference to emergency services" is used. They operate in the FM
band and use studio to transmitter links on separate frequencies. A
Freedom of Information request from a journalist or member of the
public as to the actual number of cases of interference from a pirate
station to emergency services, when, on what frequency and how this
occurred would put the matter in perspective.
I remember the authorities having to react when Caroline and Laser
started to get significant audiences. There was a press conference
with supposed experts coming out with all sorts of theories they had
worked out on their calculators as to the effect of harmonics. They
also claimed that as the ships were close to one another the
frequencies would start mixing together, which I have only come across
when the transmitters are next to each other in a transmitter hall.
From memory I believe that all this was challenged by a defence
solicitor in a prosecution of Laser or Caroline personnel and what was
supposed to be happening in theory was not happening in practice
(Mike Barraclough, England, Aug 19, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K [non]. BBC RADIO ORDERED OFF RUSSIAN FM --- THE BBC SAID IT
WOULD APPEAL AGAINST THE DECISION
The BBC's Russian-language service will no longer be heard on Russian
FM radio, after the country's media regulator ordered that it be
removed. The broadcaster's last FM distribution partner in Russia,
Bolshoye Radio, said it had been told to remove BBC content or risk
being shut down... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6951710.stm
(via Day Say, DXLD; Fred Waterer, dxldyg via DXLD)
BBC Press Release version:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/08_august/17/moscow.shtml
(via DXLD)
BBC RUSSIAN SERVICE OFF THE AIR IN MOSCOW
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2277998.ece
Well, so much for the strategy of dropping shortwave in favor of
"broadcasting via our Russian partners," or whatever the doctrine was.
Still available on MW, apparently (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, Aug 17,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
BBC LOSES LAST RUSSIAN FM OUTLET
Maria Esposito Friday August 17, 2007 MediaGuardian.co.uk
The BBC World Service has lost its last FM radio outlet in Russia
today, adding further substance to claims of a clampdown on foreign
media by the country's authorities. . .
http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,,2151051,00.html
(via Dan Say, DXLD)
RADIO STATION YANKS BBC PROGRAMMING
August 20, 2007. Issue 3724. Page 3.
By Alexander Osipovich, Staff Writer, The Moscow Times
The new owners of a Moscow radio station abruptly pulled the plug on
the BBC Russian Service on Friday, raising new fears about media
freedom. Finam, an investment company that acquired the BBC's host
station, Bolshoye Radio, in early August, said the BBC's broadcasts
had been removed because they violated the terms of the FM station's
license...
http://www.themoscowtimes.com:80/stories/2007/08/20/012.html
(via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD)
Daily Telegraph report on the BBC being taken off FM in Moscow:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/17/wbbc117.xml
(via Mike Barraclough, DXLD)
** U S A. DELANO CLOSING TO SAVE $1.8 MILLION/YEAR
Radio World Newsbytes :: Top Stories 8.17.2007
http://www.rwonline.com/pages/s.0100/t.7921.html
The International Broadcasting Bureau hopes to save about $1.8 million
a year by closing its big VOA Delano shortwave facility, which
occupies 800 California acres and has 23 antennas. As Radio World
first reported in July, the Delano facility will close at the end of
October.
The organization doesn’t know yet how many of the seven people working
there will lose their jobs. “We are working very closely with staff to
minimize the impact of closing the station through retirements and
reassignments and hope the fewest number of people possible will be
let go,” a spokeswoman told RW.
There are seven staff at present, including riggers, electronic
technicians, a station manager, administrative officer and secretary.
The facility has two major buildings, 23 shortwave antennas, seven 250
kW and two 50 kW shortwave transmitters; it provides shortwave
transmissions to Cuba, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific
Ocean.
A study by the State Department and BBG inspector general in 2004/05
identified several challenges for Delano including fulfilling its
mission with fewer employees; managing the transition of the staff to
newer, less-experienced employees; maintaining dated equipment for
shortwave broadcasting; working within a budget that “can be battered
by the vagaries of California’s electrical power supply and pricing
situation”; and working under the regulatory restrictions of having
endangered species on site and conforming to California’s
environmental rules for the use of pesticides and hazardous materials.
Another indication of the challenges at the site is given by the
report, which found that in 2003, Delano, then with a staff of about
20, had lost seven individuals to retirement or attrition,
“representing a combined loss of 127 years of experience. Three
technical positions remain vacant and, over the next three years,
three employees (with over 105 years of combined experience) will be
eligible to retire.” (via DXLD)
** U S A [non]. Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa (VOA) via Morocco 7145 at 0130 in
Urdu with animated talk. Many mentions of Pakistan and Supreme Court.
Very strong signal. 19 August.
R. Liberty 7105 at 0345-0359 in Circassian as per sked. (presumed).
Abrupt sign off at 0359. 19 August (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX
LISTENING DIGEST) also Morocco
** U S A. Hi Glenn: When you get a chance please visit our new web
page: http://www.wwrb.org
(Dave Frantz, WWRB, Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
As of August 17; seems about the same material, tho reformatted and
easier to navigate. Includes a desperately needed program schedule,
presumably now current: http://www.wwrb.org/pguide.html
But there is absolutely nothing of interest there, just gospel huxters
and Republic Broadcasting Network. Coverage maps still ignore polar
auroral zone blockage (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
** U S A. WBOH, 5919.98 at 0139 with preaching. Light hum in
background. // WTJC, 9369.92 but no hum. The latter was not heard at
2312. This station is often inaudible due to reception but [this was]
after dark. I think it was just off air. 18 August (Liz Cameron, MI,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. KVOH, 17775.03 at 1800+ in Spanish with contemporary
Christian music. Checked on and off throughout the afternoon and heard
no preaching. No talk. Sounded like they were on auto-pilot. 18 August
(Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. Haven't heard Reverend Melissa via Costa Rica for the
past two days, 18-19 August (Liz Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DX LISTENING
DIGEST) = Pastor Scott
** U S A. KTBN was missing from 7505, Aug 19 at 0542 check, but back
on at 1430 recheck and also following evening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WHRI, 7335, was on, very strong in Spanish preaching, Sunday
Aug 19 around 0810; CHU inaudible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** U S A. Everglades Logs --- All logs were made local daytime between
August 16 through 18 during breaks while hiking in (mostly) The
Everglades National Park and points nearby. Any times listed are GMT,
unless otherwise specified. Frequencies in kHz unless otherwise
indicated. Logs were made using the 2007 Hyundai Sonata's shitty stock
radio and equally shitty RadioShack DX-399 portable, with the latter
coupled to the not-so-totally-shitty but non-active RadioShack loop.
Appended static monitoring locations key are: JPCRSP = John Pennekamp
Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, Florida; BNP-CP = Biscayne National
Park at Convoy Point, Florida; ENP-F = Everglades National Park at
Flamingo, Florida; ENP-EC = Everglades National Park at Everglades
City, Florida. All other logs made while in driving mode.
New discoveries (at least for me, and with no prior reports to my
Florida Low Power Radio Stations archives) are indicated by
***[frequency]***.
530, FLORIDA (TIS) Southwest Florida International Airport, Ft. Myers;
only briefly audible with female parking loop while passing nearest to
the location on I-75 August 16 and 18. Not nearly the former signal
level, just as noted by David Potter a few weeks ago.
1180, FLORIDA (CLANDESTINE) Radio Martí, Marathon; these are my
various observations: equal level with at least two Rebelde
transmitters on 1180 at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, August
16; Martí local level at Everglades City and a little north on CR-9336
on August 17, almost no trace of Rebelde until a few miles away from
the water; nearly local level at Everglades City and Chokoloskee
Island on August 18, with Rebelde breaking through not far away from
the water (traces of it appeared after leaving the road from the
Everglades City airstrip) but still clearly audible all the way across
US-41 and then north on State Road 29, then westbound on I-
75/Alligator Alley, where the signal slowly dropped out and Rebelde
pieces were more dominant. Here at home (Clearwater, Florida) at 2100
GMT, August 19, Martí was punching through quite well with the theme
sounder under Rebelde and the 1181.00 carrier.
1300, FLORIDA WFFG, Marathon; August 18. Terrible telco-ish audio with
Rush Limbaugh feed, whilst the Miami area station also carrying the
feed sounded fine. [ENP-F]
1320, FLORIDA WLQY, Hollywood; August 16. Presumed the one with Kreyol
talk, very good. [JPCRSP]
1450, FLORIDA WOCN, Miami; August 16. Presumed the one with Kreyol
talk, excellent. [JPCRSP]
1610, FLORIDA (PIRATE) ethno-Haitian format, North Ft. Myers; August
16. Noted on I-75 southbound near Exit 136 on August 16. Pretty much
gone by Exit 128/Alico Road. Nonstop Kreyol talk with telco-ish audio.
Seemingly an Internet feed and not locally generated programming. Not
on the air during the early evening return on August 18th.
[later:] 1610, Ft. Myers - we have a hit! The station that's been
sporadically heard on 1610 is Radio Independance!
http://www.radioindependance.com/
1610, FLORIDA (PIRATE) R-C-H, Homestead; this long-active Haitian
ethno-pirate was noted throughout extreme south Florida. Of course,
excellent in the Homestead/Florida City area. Also fair to good
through the northern half of Key Largo (weak to no trace on the
southern half of Key Largo), and also heard north to near the Miami-
proper vicinity where signal then drops off. Also present in the
southeastern quadrant of The Everglades National Park, daytime. The
most amusing log of this one was made at Biscayne National Park-Convoy
Point (2031 GMT, August 16), when a live, accented male came up
between Kreyol programming and said, in English, "You are listening to
Radio R-C-H, operating under FCC Part 15 rules, OH BOY!" Brilliant,
and that made my day!
***1610*** FLORIDA (TIS) FDOT Highway Advisory Radio, Sarasota; August
18. Noted a sign on northbound I-75 south of Fruitville Road (Exit
210). Tune-in to female loop on lane closures due to bridge
reconstruction over Palmer Blvd., with work due to be completed by
January, 2008. Nasty weather with horrid rain as I tried to drive;
cars hydro-skidding all around me but yet I managed to take control of
the radio and log it. The art of DX?
1610, FLORIDA (TIS) FDOT Highway Advisory Radio, Brandon; August 18.
This female looping I-75 median repair TIS remains active, peaking
just north of the SR-60 junction.
1610, FLORIDA (MIS) City of Sunrise; August 16. Huge signal, audible
on I-75/Alligator Alley, a good 15 miles west of the I-595 exchange.
Male loop referencing their website, city commission schedule, ComCast
channel 78 airings, etc. Logged on I-75. [= Municipal Info Station ?]
1620, FLORIDA (MIS) City of Hialeah Gardens; August 16. Possibly the
worst MIS/TIS ever experienced. Logged while southbound on the Florida
Turnpike with overmodulated audio consisting of a boring English/
Spanish female with generic city information, abrupt audio gaps, DTMF
and manual telephone keypad tones spastically atop, fragments of live
NOAA Weather Radio audio and other audio anomalies too extensive to
document while traveling in excess of 80 mph. An absolute insult to
the concept of MIS/TIS licensing. Amazingly stunned I remain at this
one, which has left my brain so damaged it is likely not to recover.
1620, FLORIDA (MIS) City of Plantation; August 16. Heard on I-75 with
Parks and Recreation events, backyard wildlife tips, generic traffic
department information with honking horns sound effects, male voice on
all. Logged on I-75.
***1620*** FLORIDA City of Coral Gables WQFW220; August 16. A new one,
apparently I'm the first to find this one which per the FCC Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau dB states this was granted active (issue
date) as of August 13th. Female loop over instrumental music bed, with
babble about how not to dispose of used motor oil, mention of roads,
several uncopiable URLs (...miamidade-dot? and ...dot-FL-dot-US), "...
And here's what's happening in Coral Gables... Coral Way...
www.coralgables..."). Poor signal on the car radio. [BNP-CP]
1640, FLORIDA (TIS) Florida Turnpike, Miami; August 16. Noted a sign
on the Turnpike southbound near Exit 29. A male with traffic
construction updates and generic hurricane evacuation blather.
1640, FLORIDA (MIS) City of Ft. Myers Beach; August 16. Presume the
one, barely audible for a couple of minutes on I-75 at the nearest
point to Ft. Myers Beach, August 16. Male with mostly uncopiable loop,
but one clear and predictable quote by a likely pasty, translucent-
skinned, bald and grossly bloated/snotty/pigfaced yankee transplant
(and no doubt a gloriously self-appointed city council-type) with the
proclamation of (direct quote) "...fines will be enforced..." Blessed
are those of us who don't live under your silly and frivolous bylaws
that make you and only you feel so important in your own pathetically
small "this is they way we do it up north" mind.
1670, FLORIDA (MIS) City of Pembroke Pines; August 16. Male and female
with loop on city events, how they will save you in the event of a
hurricane because they bought 16 generators and have two contracted
companies to clean up the debris, and all other things that would make
me warm and fuzzy about living in PP. Logged on I-75.
92.1 MHz, W221AY (WLRN translator), Islamorada; August 16. BBC World
News feed till 1933, WLRN ID, into local programming. The 93.5 Key
Largo translator was definitely not on the air during this check. But
see the below 93.5 log. No other WLRN translators audible this far
north (93.5 Grassey Key; 89.1 Big Pine Key; 100.5 Key West). [JPCRSP]
***92.7 MHz*** FLORIDA (PIRATE) unidentified, south Miami-Dade County;
August 18. Mono. Noted on Redland Road just north of Homestead with
Old School rap, recheck with Jimmy Cliff "The Harder They Come" and
into other old reggae songs, Caribe male announcer with live
advertisement reads for stores such as Maribu Café nightclub at 9940
Pines Blvd.
93.5 MHz, FLORIDA W228AY (WLRN translator), Key Largo; August 18.
Presumed the one, briefly popping up with male "...serving Ocean Reef
to Marathon..." then nothing else heard. That is assuming WLRN has
some generic promo's for the various translators in the Keys which
they may sporadically drop in.
***95.3 MHz*** FLORIDA (PIRATE) "Radiate FM," south Miami-Dade County;
August 18. Mono. Hard-core rap, one clear "Radiate FM" by live DJ
thug. Huge signal, somewhat overmodulated.
[Later:] In doing some I-net searches, my reported "Radiate FM" 95.3
MHz pirate is actually a licensed translator W237CP (74 watts),
relaying Florida International University's 88.1 WRGP.
And a program called "Carl's Corner" http://www.fombrun.com references
"RTA 88.7" and "Radio Verite Sou Tanbou 95.03 (sic)" but I'm unaware
of pirate activity on these channels. If 95.03 is a typo for 95.3,
there's a licensed Clear Channel station there, WOLZ.
96.5 MHz, FLORIDA WSLR-LP, Sarasota; August 16. The usual folkie
music, including Gordon Lightfoot. Male DJ IDed a couple of times as
simply WSLR. Excellent on I-75 while passing by Sarasota on August 16.
98.7 MHz, FLORIDA WFLP-FM, Collier County Rest Area (I-75/Alligator
Alley); August 16. One of two State of Florida LPFM stations on I-
75/Alligator Alley. At the Rest Area, I listened to a loop regarding
the Blackwater River, Collier-Seminole State Park, and interestingly
the current (for the day) weather forecast provided by a male,
appended by "... provided by WGCU Public Media..." A sign is posted
eastbound for 98.7, as well as at the Rest Area re-entry ramp. Presume
this one is coming off the huge microwave tower at the Rest Area.
Stereo.
***99.5 MHz*** FLORIDA (PIRATE) "Radio Galaxie," Homestead; huge
signal, stereo. Kreyol and with a long commercial block for small
stores in mostly Homestead, one in Kendall. Haitian konpa and pop-ish
Kreyol vocals, several ID's by male DJ that sounded like "Radio Gak-
SEE" but the more I though about it, the more I decided it is probably
"Galaxie" (a popular name for Haitian pirates for reasons I've yet to
figure out). Well, I'll stick to this station ID until someone can
prove otherwise. Suspect no relation to my FLPRS "Radio Cinque Etoile"
Miami entry on 99.5 MHz, as this one is definitely in or near
Homestead. A very big signal, fragments audible until a couple of
miles south of the Krome Avenue/US-41 junction.
104.3 MHz, FLORIDA WORZ-LP, Key Largo (Ocean Reef Club); August 16.
Wow, they operated as an alleged Part 15 station as "WORC" prior to
gaining an LPFM license. Now they blatantly operate with commercials,
in violation of LPFM rules. Commercials included the PakMail.com,
Daniels Jewelry, Andy Fisher and Sons Jewelry, KC Electrical Services
and Card Sound Properties. This is the most pathetic LPFM ever heard,
including signal coverage. The audio actually breaks up 1-3/4 miles
south of the Ocean Reef gates (at the CR-905A split to the mainland).
Audio is atrocious, with spastic audio breaks, clipping, no
functioning limiter. A canned male ID (wow, actually legal) was
dropped at one point. Format is slightly "hipper" -- now we have The
Four Seasons, David Essex and Amy Grant. This one was much cleaner and
with far greater coverage when it was a pira... uh, Part 15 station.
I can't believe there is actually an LPFM at licensed 100 watts that
only covers a one mile radius with an A-grade signal, but we have one
with WORZ-LP!
107.9 MHz, FLORIDA WFLU-LP, Miles City (I-75/Alligator Alley at State
Road 29); August 16. One of two State of Florida licensed LPFM
stations along this stretch of I-75 that function essentially as
TIS's. I've long wondered if these are active, and indeed both are.
Programming consist of 30-minute cycled loops (seemingly two-to-three
segments). All are very professionally produced with discussion of The
Everglades eco-system, water management, Road Ranger patrols, etc.
References to http://www.EvergladesRadioNetwork.com and quasi-ID's as
"ERN" in the mix. Signal was still pretty good at the Collier County
Rest Area (home of the second LPFM on 98.7 MHz -- see entry). Stereo.
Legal ID for both stations inserted, where cycle allows. Both this
station and 98.7 are in perfect parallel with the same audio feed. One
30-minute segment is a bit dated, with references to "Governor" Jeb
Bush. A 107.9 sign is posted eastbound, not too far past the toll
booth. No visible sign of a tower from I-75, at least that I could see
while zooming along at 80+ mph.
107.9 MHz, FLORIDA WMFM, Key West; August 18. Spanish relay (presumed)
of the Miami station, this listed at 25 kW. Fair to poor under another
Florida station with Country music format. Logged in the parking lot
of Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park.
OBSERVATIONS: Not heard and certainly inactive/never to reappear: 530
Biscayne National Park-Convoy Park, 530 Tropical Everglades Visitors
Center, Florida City; 530 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key
Largo; 1610 Florida Bay Research at US-1/Mile Marker 111. 530/1610 JN
"Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island also remains
inactive. [see also CUBA]
Who are the occupants of the building with tons of antennae just NE of
the Florida Turnpike and Bird Road in Miami? (Terry L Krueger,
Clearwater, Florida USA 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W
Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html
or:
http://www.geocities.com/geigertree/flortis.html DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 6300, ARGELIA: National Radio of Sahara Arab
Democratic Republic, via Rabouni, Arabic, 07/08 2223. Canções típicas
em AA, OM: talks, 35543 (Rudolf Grimm, Brasil, Conexión Digital via
DXLD)
ALGERIA/W. SAHARA, 6300, RASD, 2336-0003*, Aug 18, Arabic. Continuous
format of chanting/vocal music followed by pop-like Arabic music. OM
with brief sign-off announcement and NA snippet at 0003*. Fair (Scott
R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R8, R75, NIR10, MLB1, 200' Beverages,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) So no Spanish during this hour (gh)
** ZAMBIA. 5915, ZNBC, Lusaka, 2050-2058, 11 Aug, Vernacular, talks &
phone-ins; 55333; blocked by Family R in Arabic, meaning my July
observation mentioning “QRM de ISR, Arabic channel” may be wrong. Best
reception of the ZNBC considerably earlier than 2000 (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ZIMBABWE. 4828, Voice of Zimbabwe, Guineafowl, 1846-, 14 Aug, non-
stop African pops; 45333 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** ZIMBABWE [non]. CLANDESTINE, 4880, SW R. Africa via Meyerton, RSA,
1842-1858*, 14 Aug, English to Zimbabwe, reports about Zimbabwe;
44343, QRM de numbers station but also de stationn playing an endless
tune, so surely the ZWE jammer. SW R. Africa is s/on at 1700 (Carlos
Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ZIMBABWE [non]. SW Radio Africa, 12035 via Norway at 1853. Fair,
which is surprising because this is usually inaudible. 19 August.
73/Liz Shortwave Obsession: http://www.geocities.com/alera1/
Radioblonde Blog: http://radioblonde.blogspot.com/ (Liz Cameron, MI,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ZIMBABWE [non]. VOA'S 'STUDIO 7' FOR ZIMBABWE EXPANDS PROGRAMMING
TO WEEKENDS
http://www.voanews.com/english/About/2007-08-17-studio-7-expands.cfm
PRESS RELEASE - Washington, D.C., Aug. 17, 2007 - The Zimbabwe
Project at the Voice of America (VOA) is expanding its Studio 7
broadcasts to Zimbabwe with the addition of one-hour programs on
Saturday and Sunday, bolstering its existing schedule of 90-minute
evening broadcasts Monday through Friday in response to the country's
deepening crisis, upcoming elections and state jamming of VOA signals.
Weekend broadcasts will begin on Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and
19, at 7 p.m. Zimbabwe time (1700 UT) on 909 medium wave from Botswana
and shortwave frequencies 4930, 13755 and 15775 kiloHertz.
VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe has been on the air since January 2003 and
posted strong audience growth through 2005 and 2006 to establish an
audience of more than 1 million listeners in the Southern African
country. Jamming of Studio 7's medium-wave signal began in mid-2006
and the government has acknowledged that it is responsible.
The Studio 7 weekend programs are to comprise 20-minute segments in
the indigenous Shona and Ndebele languages as well as English, which
is widely spoken in Zimbabwe. As during the week, the Saturday-Sunday
programs will pursue breaking or developing stories while presenting
discussions on critical topics including the continuing political and
economic crisis, efforts to mediate a solution to the crisis,
intensifying shortages of food and other essential goods, and efforts
to stem a major HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Studio 7 will add audience participation to the mix with callbacks to
listeners who would like to express their views on news topics,
especially in the run-up to the general and presidential elections to
be held in March 2008 following local ballots in January.
Since its inception, Studio 7 has established itself in Zimbabwe as a
balanced and reliable source for news and analysis of the evolving
crisis which has pitted the government and ruling ZANU-PF party of
President Robert Mugabe against the opposition Movement for Democratic
Change and a broad array of reform-minded civil society organizations.
The Zimbabwe Project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International
Development and has been developed, managed and operated by the Voice
of America. Studio 7 reports are prepared by a largely Zimbabwean
staff in Washington and stringers in Zimbabwe.
Studio 7's web page, http://www.VOANews.com/english/africa/zimbabwe/
also offers news in English, Shona and Ndebele, and recently launched
e-mail newsletters in all three languages.
Opposition leaders and civil society activists cite Studio 7
broadcasts as a major factor in the democratic reform process given
the virtual exclusion of dissenting voices in the state media. Studio
7 provided extensive and balanced coverage of the 2005 general
election - interviews with ruling ZANU-PF and opposition candidates in
many constituencies were aired back-to-back - and delivered intense,
high-impact reporting on the government's May-July 2005 campaign of
forced evictions and home demolitions. Reporter Carole Gombakomba's
telephone interviews with victims of the exercise received a 2006
commendation from the Association of International Broadcasting (VOA
Press release via Mike Barraclough, DXLD)
UNIDENTIFIED: 1181.0 mystery carrier: heard since UT August 17,
seemingly from Cuba, or possibly Florida: very lengthy thread on this
held over till next DXLD (gh)
UNIDENTIFIED. Very strange signals on 1660 kHz received in Memphis
Right now at 1 PM Central [1800 UT Sat Aug 18], I am receiving two
separate stations on 1660 kHz. Both are repeating the same message
over and over. The dominant stations message is:
"Testing 1, 2, 3. Testing 1, 2, 3. This is car number 8"
I fired up a few portable receivers to see if this was an image or
something, and quickly discovered a weaker station in the null of Car
#8 repeating the same message except the car number is 13. Any ideas?
73, (Brandon Jordan, Memphis, TN, http://bcdx.org IRCA via DXLD)
Never heard that, but I'll listen. 1660 around here is pretty busy,
unfortunately. Maybe there's a Car 54 in there somewhere? (grin)
(Craig Healy, Providence, RI, ibid.)
Well, this used to be the police band. Just look at the dials of
vintage radios (gh, DXLD)
Roflmao, that is one of the first thoughts I had when I tuned in to
these signals, lol! I've emailed fellow Memphis DXers Jim Pogue and
Adam Myrow to ask them to give 1660 a tune, but not heard back from
either. Had to run a few errands and was picking up car #13 on the car
radio. I was mistaken about car #8 being dominant here. It is the only
one I can hear on the SE/NW ALA100, but on the portables and car
radio, car #13 is dominating the frequency. They are still going 2
hours later. 73, (Brandon Jordan, IRCA via DXLD)
There is a teeny weeny station for the drivers ed at Mesa HS in Mesa,
AZ. They sound just like that but they are on 1650. I would not be
surprised that a local school was checking out their transmitters for
upcoming drivers` education classes (Kevin Gilbert, AZ, ibid.)
UNIDENTIFIED. Indonesia, 6067.11, RRI Jayapura, Tentative, 0930-1013*
Aug 20. Noted a carrier here during the above period. Could not suck
any audio out of it due to condx and QRM nearby, but it was steady
until 1013 when it dropped off the air. The carrier never returned. I
was hoping to listen a while longer since Asia fades in better
immediately after sunrise here, but the carrier didn't co-operate.
Because of the odd frequency and the signoff time, I am thinking this
might be Jayapura? But others say that Jayapura is inactive, so the
question remains unanswered. Maybe someone closer to the source can
check it tomorrow?
6067.11, RRI Jayapura, Tentative, 1130-1145+ carrier is active again
starting at 1130. Still no audio present, so it still questionable as
to who it might be?
[later:] Cancel my RRI Jayapura log. I just checked the PWBR and it
shows the North Korea, Voice of Korea also on a variable frequency
there with a spilt schedule, so I am thinking it might be them? But
that is also tentative. Sorry for the confusion (Chuck Bolland,
Clewiston, Florida Using WR 305e/pd, dxldyg via DXLD)
Well, PWBR files them both under 6070v. Aoki has nothing on 6067, but
VOK on 6070 with no mention of variation, and break shown as 1050-1100
(Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. Re 7-098, 7175: Hi Glenn, I'm afraid my observations on
Aug 16 differ from Wolfgang's. The mystery Arab was definitely there
again, carrier appeared 1557, then several minutes of dead air.
Unfortunately I was briefly called away but the usual vocals had
already started by 1610. Same singer, same style, but still no
announcements, VBME wasn't really in the way most of the time. Co-
channel VOIRI carrier came on as early as 1647 but, unlike yesterday,
the songs continued and were faintly audible until VOIRI piano IS
started 1658. Obviously this needs further monitoring. Tnx for
response. 73 (Martien Groot, Schoorl, Netherlands: TenTec 340), DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. Hi Noel, I don't know whether you were listening to 7175
just now (Aug 18) but to add to the confusion the unID now played the
complete album of some female US R&B singer who to my inexperienced
ears sounded like Mariah Carey? Carrier appeared at 1600, vocalist did
not start until 1603 with a song I believe is called "Picture of you"
and which I recognized because I have definitely heard it before.
Other songs were totally unknown to me. At 1648 after a one-minute
silence "Picture of you" came on again and I presume the same sequence
was then repeated. Audio quality not as uneven as on previous days;
in fact VOIRI was having a hard time making itself understood at 1700!
Should be able to trace the name of the singer, see what I can find.
Your help is appreciated! 73, (Martien Groot, Netherlands, Aug 18, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
Hello Martien, I'm sorry, but I can't offer any more information. I've
been trying to hear 7175 but the signal is not sufficiently strong to
overcome a local buzz interference that peaks to about S9 near to
7180. It's only later in the evening, when signals are stronger, that
I can hear anything on and around this frequency. However, I would be
very surprised if it was Libya playing US R&B music - whatever would
the Colonel say about that!!!! I know the name Mariah Carey, but the
music is not to my taste I'm afraid. But keep monitoring it, and the
operator may just make a mistake to give a clue about what it is. I'm
puzzled why only you and Mauno have reported hearing it so far - but
maybe some other listener will stir himself to tune the frequency
eventually. It would be nice to know where and how well it is being
heard. 73 from (Noel Green, England, Aug 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Hello Noel, this time I let Spectrum Lab draw the carrier traces. In
capt54 we have a(nother!) unID signing off at 1447 about 20 Hz below
7175 kHz. Eritrea fades in gradually at about the same time. In capt55
we have the unID Arabic singer sign on at 1551, very close to nominal
frequency. Unfortunately the recording has been interrupted and the
close-down isn't visible, but it is usually at about 1650. 73, (Mauno
Ritola, Finland, ibid.)
So unID singing is probably to jam Eritrea? (gh, DXLD)
UNIDENTIFIED. 9290, 0704-0722, 18 Aug., OK carrier with bits of
English above noise. Perhaps R. Six Int'l via Latvia; or VoLGM via
Mars. Maybe winter condx will give me a better shot (Dan Sheedy,
Encinitas, CA, R75/60' random wire, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. Aug 17 at 1305 I came upon an extremely distorted signal
centered on 11900, a woman speaking slowly, sounded like Chinese, but
not sure if standard, or even some SE Asian language. This was one of
those typically extremely maladjusted transmitters, putting out FM
instead of AM, and making noises even during pauses in modulation.
Covered almost 10 kHz and slope-tuning to the side helped a little in
intelligibility. First thing I did was to look for // on another
receiver, but did not find any on 11-12, 13 or even 9 MHz bands, and
that includes CNR and CRI. Despite extremely unpleasant listening, I
stayed with it, for the cause, hoping for something identifiable. 1315
a bit of music and into M&W dialog. Briefly there was enough spread to
be audible on WYFR when tuned to 11910.
Then I noticed the frequency was varying. At 1325 it was centered on
11895. There was no break at hourbottom. At 1335 down to 11890, but at
1338 back up to 11895, where it stayed more or less. 1341 some waily
singing, reminding us of C&W/blues, but 1343 back to talk, 1344 some
more music, 1346 sounded like a children`s chorus. 1351 a few notes
which might have been an IS, unrecognizable. Briefly the sound
reminded us of the defunct Hmong Lao Radio. 1355 a mix of music, not
now or ever recognizably Christian-hymnic. Off abruptly at 1358:30.
Then on goes the computer to research the possibilities. This is
difficult because we do not know what frequency it was supposed to be
on. As often the case with such situations, it may well be none of
11890-11895-11900 but much further away. So instead we look for
transmissions in Chinese or SE Asian languages between 1300 and 1400.
It may well be one of these, from EiBi, with Aoki and HFCC also
checked:
12-14 CRI Vietnamese 11990 Kunming // at 13-14 9685 Xian
13-1357 VOK Chinese 11735
13-14 KFBS Vietnamese 9920
13-14 VOR Mandarin 12065 Chita
13-14 RTI Hakka 11915 // 15155
13-14 YFR English 11895 Irkutsk in case language has changed
11-14 YFR Chinese 12150 Almaty but into English 1400, // 9865 P-K
Of these, I think my first choice/guess would be RTI 11915. Signal was
pretty strong, and more likely FE coastal site than inland. What do
others discover? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Jamming warm-up for RL/RFE Tajik via Udorn at 14-15 UT??? 73 wolfy
(Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, ibid.)
Re my Aug 17 report on the extremely distorted FE signal varying
around 11895 --- rechecked Aug 18 at 1354 but did not find it or
anything like it nearby, distorted or not. Harold Camping drone was
weak but clear on 11895 Irkutsk. There was a carrier on 11915, Taiwan?
aside very strong WYFR 11910, with 11915 going off at 1359:00, a semi-
minute later than the mystery blob the day before. Steve Lare, MI, and
Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, also looked for it Aug 18; unheard. Nor
have I heard it at all since Aug 17 (Glenn Hauser, OK, Aug 20, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
In checking this morning WYFR 11910 does seem to be splattering a bit
after 1300, but nothing quite like you noticed yesterday (Steve Lare,
Holland, MI USA, ibid.)
I checked also 1300-1335 UT portion today Aug 18th:
11870, IBB Tinian RFA Khmer, S=2, then from 1330 UT RVA Manila in
Hindi S=3
11885, CRI Urumqui, Uighur?, S=3
11890, NHK Ekala, Hindi, S=3
11895, YFR Irkutsk, sermon in US accented English, strongest stn at
S=6 level.
11905, SLBC Ekala, Hindi, tiny S=2
11910, Three stations! Strongest REE Beijing relay SP S=5. YFR poor in
English, and an unID third station with brass instrument music
underneath, latter tiny, but Jamming BBC Uzbek? on 11915?
11915, RAI Rome, Arabic, S=4 [BBC Uzbek not heard 1300-1330]
11925, CRI Lingshi, Mandarin, S=3
73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.)
Today (Sunday Aug. 19) at 1300-about 1345 there was no signal
detectable on 11900. Adjacent were :
11885, unidentified very weak signal - XJBS Urumchi?
11890, NHK Sri Lanka in Hindi / Urdu
11895, American English religious - assumed YFR via Novosibirsk
11905, Assumed Sri Lanka - SoAsian style music
11910, WYFR in English / assume Spanish was REE via Beijing
11915, BBC Uzbek 'til 1330 with Chinese jammer. RAI bird call appeared
c1325 and into Arabic 1330.
I think Glenn is right in assuming that the distorted signal came from
somewhere else - but where??? A quick tune through 25m didn't reveal
anything seriously misbehaving. 73 (Noel R. Green, England, Aug 19,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. Cut Numbers? Strong (S7) code on 15290 at 1915 on 20
August. I'm 90% sure this is cut #s --- I haven't transcribed code for
a year or two. Exactly on frequency without a hum, typical of Cuban
transmitters. Sounds like it's coming from next door. Is anyone else
hearing this? 73/Liz (Cameron, MI, dxldyg via DXLD)
Unfortunately, I was out. Cut numbers == only 10 morse code letters
each substituting for a digit. Nothing on 15290 at 2103 check (gh,
DXLD)
S9 here in So Cal. Rick N6NKN, WPE9IVG/6 (Zolla, 1925 UT Aug 20,
dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Interesting. It was being sent over a carrier. Now only a carrier at
S9. 1937Z. 1943Z, Radio Venezuela? (Richard Zolla, N8NKN, ibid.) What
do you mean by that? (gh)
Yes. I mentioned this earlier in a message that didn't get through so
you might see it again (Liz Cameron, MI, ibid.) Viz.:
Thanks for noting the carrier. I just assumed real CW. Sounds like
Venezuela now at 1944. Fidel must have sent a message to Hugo (Liz
Cameron, ibid.) So is there now a regular 19-20 UT broadcast of RNV CI
via Cuba on 15290, with which this got upmixed? (gh, DXLD)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Analog shortwave forever! (Chuck Ermatinger, with a PayPal donation to
woradio at yahoo.com)
AUDIBLE ATROCITIES
++++++++++++++++++
``Vociferous appetite``
--- said Erin Burnett, on MSNBC`s Hardball, Aug 17 at about 2122 UT,
referring to China`s need for commodities. Apparently her main hangout
is at CNBC on Street Signs: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838408/ plus
Squawk on the Street: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838381/site/14081545/
--- whew, at first it looked like `squaw` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
LANGUAGE LESSONS
++++++++++++++++
Re Conceição vs Concepção
My Novo Michaelis dictionary (Brazilian big size) uses the spelling
conceição exclusively for the dogma of the Imaculada Conceição and the
spelling concepção for all other cases (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) Never thought of that distinxion as an explanation (gh)
POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS
++++++++++++++++++++++++
DIRECT TV TO UTILIZE BPL
Direct TV has announced it plans to offer Internet service via BPL:
http://www.betanews.com/article/DirecTV_to_Offer_Internet_Over_Power_Lines/1187193360
(via Steve Bass Columbus, Ohio, Aug 17, DXLD)
RADIO [?] EQUIPMENT FORUM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
A REVIEW OF THE TANGENT QUATTRO WI-FI INTERNET RADIO
In February 2000, On VOA's Communication World, I said "listening to
Internet streamed audio through a personal computer is not the same
kind of cozy experience as listening to a portable radio, or a
bedside. Because of this, I've long wondered why a device that
receives Internet audio, that looks and feels like a radio, has not
been developed."
That introduced my report about the Kerbango Internet Radio, which was
about to come on the market. Except, it never did. It hasn't been
until the past year or so that internet radio appliances have finally
taken off.
This is largely due to Reciva, a UK based company that provides
modules, software, and links to 6,141 internet radio stations for a
new crop of devices that really do look and feel like radios. Three of
them are available at C. Crane. Of those three, I recently acquired
the Tangent Quattro, and have been giving it a workout. . . .
http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/?id=2158
(Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com Aug 17 via DXLD)
DIGITAL BROADCASTING DRM: see IRELAND
++++++++++++++++++++
SONY'S HD RADIO
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/18/sony-xdr-s3hd-hd-radio-hands-on/
(Kevin Redding, ABDX, Aug 20 via DXLD)
DIGITAL RADIO WITHOUT THE PAIN?
What Satellite and Digital TV August 14, 2007
http://blog.wotsat.com/page/whatsat?entry=digital_radio_without_the_pain
Radio stations in Norway, Italy and Holland are testing an ingenious
way to piggy-back digital radio onto existing analogue FM stations -
but it's not compatible with DAB or DRM.
While Britain has set a course to use DAB digital radio technology,
European broadcasters are still looking at their options. In the UK,
DAB has many critics because it's already outdated and very
inefficient.
Among the current front-runners are DAB+, a hugely-improved version of
the original, and DRM, which is designed as a successor to long-
distance analogue radio broadcasts like AM, Short Wave and Long Wave.
FMeXtra uses a clever old trick and the latest new compression
technology to squeeze up to four CD-quality stereo channels or a
complete surround-sound signal into empty FM frequencies.
It uses 'subcarriers' - empty frequencies next to a radio station's
main FM frequency - small chunks of which are sometimes used for data
services like RDS.
Digital Radio Express, the American company which developed FMeXtra,
claims there's around 46 kHz of spare spectrum in a typical stereo FM
signal, and 79 kHz with a mono FM station. That's enough for 64 kbits
of digital data in a stereo signal or 156 kbit in a mono signal.
The latest MPEG-4 aacPlus audio compression techniques can be used to
squeeze FM-quality stereo into 24 kbit, CD-quality into 32 kbit and a
complete 5.1 surround sound track into 128 kbit. By contrast, DAB
requires about four times the bandwidth to match the quality.
Stations testing FMeXtra in Europe include Radio 538, Juize FM, Radio
10 Gold, Sky Radio and TMF Radio in Holland, Radio 1 Oslo in Norway,
and Otto FM in Italy.
However, it's early days and there's only one radio available right
now, the Aruba, which costs about 126 Euros (via Mike Terry, dxldyg
via DXLD)
I will never cease to be baffled by such marketing claims. More
realistic figures for the first two quality specifications are 96 and
128 kbps, respectively, in the later one case rather LC-AAC than
HE-AAC (a.k.a. "aacPlus"). Realistic figures for MPEG-1 Layer 2 would
be 192 and 256 kbps.
Concerning the subject of digital radio systems, being not compatible
to each other: So various parties try this FMeXtra. Other parties try
IBOC (btw, I understand that the Radio Regenbogen experiment here in
Germany does not include a simulcast of the FM component, as it had
been described in some reports, but two additional programs only).
Still other parties try DRM+. And then there are of course the
attempts to establish DAB+, a DAB variant with AAC audio codecs
instead of Layer 2. DVB-H could also be used for radio. What an
unbelievable mess!
Btw2, looking at the detailed agenda for the DRM presentations at IFA
reveals an emphasis on DRM+, the VHF variant. Niedersächsische
Landesmedienanstalt, the licencing body of Niedersachsen (it's of
course not a company), appears to consider DRM+ as a serious option,
judging from their participation in this presentation. Baden-
Württemberg tries IBOC, so the mess is there not only between the
European countries but even between the states of Germany.
Btw3, the full press release from the DRM consortium
http://www.drm.org/pdfs/press_release_138.pdf
mentions that so far 1,500 units of the Morphy Richards receiver have
been sold. Two years ago a chart had been shown which gave these
figures for the expected marketing penetration: 2006 = 1,000,000 sets,
2007 = 2,000,000 sets, 2008 = 4,000,000 sets. So about one thousandth
of the intended marketing penetration has been achieved by now.
(Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 19, dxldyg via DX LKISTENING DIGEST)
DRM SIGNAL APPEARANCE
An observation about the appearance of DRM signals on standard
receivers in AM mode: The mode D with a maximum of error protection,
meant for the most difficult conditions on shortwave, does not produce
the well-known hiss but instead a quite different noise which can be
described as a loud roar, at least as disturbing as the familiar
hiss. http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,451822,519755#msg-519755
(Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 20, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
PROPAGATION
+++++++++++
NVIS IONOSONDES
Jerry Reimer, KK5CA of Spring, Texas, sent in some interesting
comments about NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation
and antennas, and ionospheric data available on the internet. An
automated ionospheric sounder, or isosonde [sic – ionosonde], beams
energy straight up while sweeping the signal up in frequency, thereby
determining the MUF or Maximum Usable Frequency of that area by
measuring the reflected signal. Jerry says that NVIS communication
(which is used to communicate with stations out to about 200 miles
maximum) is best at a frequency 50 to 80 percent below the MUF from
the isosonde [sic]. So if the MUF of the patch of ionosphere overhead
is 10 MHz, then NVIS is best between 2-5 MHz. With NVIS, users are
trying to get high angle radiation instead of low angle, which is
usually the goal with other modes of HF communication. A page
explaining Vertical Incidence Soundings is linked from
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/ by clicking on the Vertical
Soundings link on the left of the page.
OWF MAP
He also pointed out some interesting real-time maps showing continent-
wide communication between various points at
http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/4/1
For instance, if you select Hourly HAP Charts, then select Kansas
City, what you will see is the best frequencies for communications
with Kansas City from across the continent at that time. So you can
look at the color region over any point on the map, and this is keyed
to the best frequency for communicating with Kansas City from that
point (QST de W1AW, Propagation Forecast Bulletin 34 ARLP034 From Tad
Cook, K7RA August 17, 2007 To all radio amateurs, via Art Blair, IRCA
via DXLD) ###