READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP The next meeting of the Reading International Radio Group will be on Saturday February 11 in Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading at 2.30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information email me or phone 01462 643899.
AFGHANISTAN Radio Afghanistan putting in quite a good signal here daily 1530-1600 on 7200. The audio quality is excellent. The signal itself clashes with hams in the same band. Afghanistan is technically the source of interference to them.
There is an Afghan news bulletin, followed by “International News.” The latter is often focused on Pakistani politics and policy. Much of the Afghan news is about development projects in health, welfare or education. Today’s broadcast featured a story about Kabul’s biggest ever supermarket. The two news bulletins are followed by Afghan music. Some days, there is an abrupt end to the English at 1550. But it is regular and very easy to listen to in comfort, if the hams are quiet. (Derek Lynch, Ireland, December 20, DX Listening Digest)
Mauno Ritola, Victor Goonetilleke, Sei-ich Hasegawa and Wolfgang Bueschel noted on December 21 that Eritrea had started using 7200, jammed by the External Service of Radio Ethopia, this from as early as 1452. (DX Listening Digest)
Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard´s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are deploying technology in a revolutionary way in Afghanistan using a short wave radio transmitter that can reach almost every radio in Zabul province. This is the first time a province-wide transmitter has been used in Afghanistan. The transmitter allows the Zabul provincial and district government to send messages to rural Afghan homes.
"The government was looking for ways to communicate with people on a greater scale, but there were gaps in the coverage. Short wave radio is the solution we came up with," said Master Sgt. Joel E. Fix. Our transmitter is one way," said Fix. "With this configuration, no matter where they are, there’s no reason the Afghans can’t get a signal. The frequency is close to but not the same as the one for the BBC. That makes it easy to find and remember," he added.
The transmitter owes its success to a technique called NVIS - Near Vertical Incidence Skywave which involves bouncing radio signals off the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere. Two NVIS antennas are placed horizontal to the ground unlike a traditional vertical transmitter. The second part of the NVIS antenna is called a ground wire and helps to boost the signal by forcing it to go straight up instead of outward and limited by the curve of the earth. "In a traditional short wave broadcast, you get your antennas up as high as you can go," said Fix. "It bounces off the F2 layer of the ionosphere but gives you limited coverage with `skip points´. Using NVIS and our reflector wire, the signal goes up at a very steep angle and straight back down which can penetrate deeper into mountain valleys. When we were looking at this system, it was a no brainer," he added. The transmitter is operated and maintained by coalition forces, including the U.S. and Romanian soldiers and broadcasts content from the local government. (Press reports via Mike Terry, Artie Bigley, Zacharias Liangas, DX Listening Digest)
No frequency given in any of the reports.
ALBANIA Radio Tirana not heard on 7530 at 2100 since December 15. (Edwin Southwell)
Last week Fllaka was off air due to blocking/relay problem in Shijak or Fllaka receiving-station according to Fllaka. During the last days, Shijak is off air due to power interruption according to Shijak. While TWR and CRI via Fllaka receiving-station are on air, with no interruption at all! (Drita Cico, Radio Tirana Monitoring Centre, December 20, DXLD)
Was back on that day. (Mike Barraclough)
ALGERIA RT Algeria Holy Qu’ran service via Issoudon, France is now scheduled 0400-0458 on 5865, 0500-0558 on 5865 7295, 0600-0658 on 5865 (changes to 7295 February 26), 1800-1958 on 9390 (changes to 11955 February 26), 1900-2058 on 7455 9390, 2000-2158 on 7455 (changes to 9390 February 26) and 2100-2158 on 7455. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
AUSTRALIA Radio Australia increased broadcasts to Papua/New Guinea December 16 due to the political crisis there. They are using an extra frequency, 17750, at 0930-1700. (Deborah Steele, ABC News, Twitter via Mike Terry, DX Listening Digest)
AUSTRIA On 6155 at 0559 December 6 I heard Radio Austria International identifications still being used, in German, English, French, Spanish, languages it no longer broadcasts otherwise, 0600 cut too late to news in German already in progress. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
BELGIUM Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal (RVi) will cease to exist after 31 December 2011. That also means also that the Wolvertem transmitter (near Brussels) operating on 927 will be switched off on 31 December at 23:59:59 hours local time. Norkring is the owner of the transmitter. It is unclear if they will put airtime on the market for rent. Mails to them are left unanswered. But I think the transmitter is in bad shape. It is left on the air at night with unmodulated carrier since several weeks ago. We have seen this too during extremely cold periods in recent winters. So I think there are no plans to use the site for other purposes. (Guido Schotmans, Media Network)
VRT has also published a statement about the closure of mediumwave 927. It says the closure follows the European trend whereby more and more mediumwave stations are being closed. It says 1.7 million kW hours annually (equivalent to 745 tons of CO2) will be saved. According to VRT, relatively few people listened on mediumwave. (Media Network)
Pur Radio1 based in Eupen, Belgium, is broadcasting an expanded schedule on shortwave since 18 December, and is now heard with programmes in German and Dutch on 6085 at 0700-1200. Good reception reported today in Almere, the Netherlands by Ehard Goddijn. Pur Radio 1 rents airtime from German broadcaster Radio 700. The transmitter is located at Kall-Krekel in Germany. Pur Radio 1 previously broadcast on 6005 on Sundays at 1200-1400. (Media Network)
BHUTAN Following a visit from an All India Radio engineer Bhutan Broadcasting Service returned to shortwave on December 13. (Alokash Gupta, India, Cumbre DX)
Noted beneath PBS Yunnan on 6035 at 1247 December 13 mostly playing indigenous music with few announcements. Not heard at 1400 re-check. On December 22 they were testing their transmitter on 5030 1248 to 1355 tune out, mostly with reduced modulation and hum, sometimes with full modulation, parallel to 6035 as noted the day before by Jim Young and some Japanese Dxers.
Email from them after I sent them a report said: “After verifying the
frequency with Short wave coordination conference which is conducting in Kualalampure, Malaysia, we may use or look for good free frequency and will do our second channel broadcasting. (Ron Howard, California, ibid)
BOLIVIA Radio Logos tentatively heard on 4865 at 0202 November 15 with programme similar to Alas/HCJB. No identification but recording checked by Henrik Klemetz who says it sounds like ALAS programming. (Thomas Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD)
WRTH says power is 5kw but one of the engineers who helped set up their facility years ago, says it's only 1 kW. Radio Logos is downloading the Spanish language satellite service of HCJB, in Ecuador. This service is called "ALAS" (an acronym meaning Wings if read as one word) and has been logged down under in the early morning and in Europe at night. No local identifications have ever been heard. (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX Listening Digest)
Radio San José, San José de Chiquitos heard at 0020 November 20, Seems to be reactivated, heard every local evening since November 17. (Bob Wilkner, Florida, Cumbre DX)
BRAZIL Radio Record on 6150 is being heard in the clear almost every morning after 0715 when Radio Austria closes down on 6155. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DXLD)
CANADA The Ontario DX Association (ODXA) has been appointed QSL Manager for radio stations CKMX Classic Country AM 1060 and CFVP Shortwave 6030, owned and operated by Astral Media, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Serving as the QSL Manager will be Harold Sellers. QSL cards have been printed and will be sent in response to accurate reports for either 1060 or 6030.
Reports may be sent by postal mail or e-mail to any one of the following:
Harold Sellers, 3211 Centennial Drive, Apt. 23, Vernon, British Columbia V1T 2T8, Canada, QSLCalgary @ gmail.com or Director of Engineering, Astral Radio Calgary, 300 - 1110 Centre St N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 2R2, Canada. In the near future the Ontario DX Association website http://www.odxa.on.ca will also permit the submission of reception reports. Past unanswered reports can now be sent to me. Use either mail direct to me or email to QSLCalgary @ gmail.com
Photographs of the CKMX-CFVP transmitter site may are at http://bit.ly/t39mGO (Harold Sellers, DX Listening Digest)
That link has articles on many Canadian shortwave stations.
CFRX Toronto heard on 6070 at 0850 December 26, heavy splash from Super Radio Deus E Amor on 6060. (Wolfgang Bueschel)
CHAD RN Tchadiènne noted on 6165 to 2344 off November 23, later than usual. On November 24-25 they were on to past 0018, covered by Radio Netherlands after 2359. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, Cumbre DX)
Been observing extensively since November 20 and it appears that this service is now on air 24/7 (possibly has a break on Fridays though, haven't had opportunity to verify that). The shortwave transmitter on 6165 has been carrying the same French / Arabic / vernacular programming every time I've checked via various Global Tuners, including overnight. (Dave Kernick, DX Listening Digest)
CHINA A ceremony was held here on December 3 to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the state-run China Radio International (CRI). The event was attended by more than 700 people, including the country's major publicity officials, leaders of top news organizations, foreign diplomats and representatives of overseas listeners.
Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, praised CRI's 70 years of service in a congratulation letter, urging the station to build a world first-rate broadcaster with increasing global influence. Li urged CRI to create favourable international opinions about China and constantly boost China's soft power by further enhancing its news coverage. Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Party's publicity department, said at the ceremony that CRI should further introduce China to the outside world with enhanced communications skills.
The Beijing-based CRI was founded on December 3, 1941 in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, the capital of the CPC from 1936 to 1948. The station now broadcasts to the world around the clock in 61 languages, the most among media worldwide. The radio also has television and mobile phone information service, as well as newspapers. The station broadcasts more than 3,000 hours of programmes on a daily basis in 2011, and have received more than 3 million letters from overseas listeners in 2011. (Xinhaunet.com via Mike Terry, DX Listening Digest)
Yunnan PBS, Kunming presumed the one heard on 7210 at 1340 November 25 with westernised pop songs and brief announcements in an unknown language in between, definitely not parallel to 5975 Voice of Vietnam also listed on the channel. On a remote Hong Kong receiver Vietnam on top and Yunnan faintly audible underneath. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DX Listening Digest)
COLOMBIA Colombian Army troops knocked out the radio station of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in an operation. The headquarters of the transmissions was discovered and dismantled. La Voz de la Resistencia was located in a rural area of Cubarral in the central Eastern department of Meta. According to a statement of the XIII Army brigade it had been on the air for at least 15 years. It had been dismantled by troops from the same brigade in April 2010 but had been re-established by FARC a few months later. During the same operation nine camps, each with a capacity for between 30 and 50 rebels were discovered. In one of these camps the troops found equipment used for the operation of the station: a computer, a printer, a dynamo, three microphones, a console, two transmitters, a headphone, an amplifier, and chargers for the computer.
The headquarters of the "Voice of the Resistance" was protected with 60 improvised explosive devices. 12 kilos of black powder, six cans of liquid solder, about 12 kilos of explosives and more Shrapnel were also found.
The station of the FARC had coverage in the municipalities of La Uribe, La Macarena, Vista Hermosa, Granada, San Jose del Guaviare, Mapiripán in the department of Meta and Cundinamarca Sumapaz moorland, and others. In the last 15 years on the air it had been instrumental in political indoctrination political, keeping up the morale of the guerrillas and launching strong criticism of state institutions. (El Telegrafo, November 19 via Jorge García Rangel via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DX Listening Digest)
Had been operating on 6070 and 6080.
CYPRUS Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation heard in Greek on 6135 7220 and 9760, which had the best reception, December 17. I tuned-in from 2220 with a Radio Play or Radio Serial in progress (plenty of goat/sheep sound effects in background!). This until 2231, then a brief announcement by a woman followed by local music until abruptly off at 2245. (Alan Roe)
Broadcast is 2215-2245 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
DIEGO GARCIA AFN Diego Garcia on 4319 USB heard at 1609 December 2, clear from interference with good audio. Rock song followed by Christmas song. (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX Listening Digest)
ECUADOR HCJB Global Voice transmissions via Santiago, Chile transmitters are now German 2300-2400 on 9835, Kulina 2245-2300 and Portuguese 2300-0045 on 11920 all 50kw to Brazil. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
ERITREA Voice of Asena in Tigrinya schedule now 1700-1800 on 12115 via Samara Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
ETHIOPIA Dmetse Tewahedo schedule is now 1830-1930 on 12120 via Samara Saturdays. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
FRANCE Radio France International webpage updated December 3 gives English shortwave schedule as to East Africa 0400-0500 on 9805 7425, 0500-0600 on 11995 and 0600-0700 on 15160. To Central and West Africa 0600-0700 on 9765, 0700-0800 on 15615. The broadcasts have been affected in recent months by strike action. (Mike Barraclough)
FREE RADIO Radar Serbia Radio, a Serbian free radio station, had a test broadcast to Europe December 17 on 2023 with 40 watts. There were at least 4 reception reports received from Austria, Germany and Great Britain.
As mentioned last month the Global HF Pirate Weekend will take place on January 14 and 15. Several new stations will be participating. Schedule is 0700-1100 from Europe to Asia, Japan and Oceania, 1200-1600 from Europe to North America and vice versa, 2200-2400 from North America to Asia and Oceania. Most stations will transmit between 15 and 22 MHz. I will publish a detailed station list very close to the weekend. (Harri Kujala, hkdx2.blogspot.com)
Czech pirate Radio Bila Hora heard on December 31 with its annual New Years Eve broadcast on 3333.4, a weak but clear channel here at 2240. (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK)
They had broadcast December 17 on 2458.3 which was heard in the UK, also listed for their New Years Eve broadcast as well as 3333.4 but no reports of this frequency at deadline.
GERMANY Several mediumwave stations in Germany are due to or have recently ceased transmissions. The first to go, on 30 December, was the low power (0.6 kW) SWR station at Ulm on 1413. The following day it was the turn of high power (700 kW) gospel station ERF at Mainflingen on 1539 and the WDR mediumwave transmitter at Langenberg on 1593 which has been broadcasting in DRM mode.
On 8 January SWR will cease its mediumwave broadcasts of the “Bodensee Sender” on 666 (150 kW), Muhlacker on 576 (100 kW), Freiburg on 828 (10kW) and RheinSender/Wolfsheim on 1017 (100 kW). (Mediapages.nl via Media Network)
American Forces in Europe on 1143 is almost unlistenable here because two equal strength transmitters are carrying the same audio programming separated by 2-3 seconds. Overnight 1143, 1107 and 873 were all in parallel carrying the Power Net. At breakfast time noted semi-local programming but with weather report that covered Germany, Norway and Baghdad. (Steve Whitt, York, MWCircle via DXLD)
HCJB via Kall noted 1600-2000 on 3995, English programming 1900-2000, at 2000 Radio 700 programming till 2100 with oldies pop songs and identifications. (Edwin Southwell)
GREENLAND Coastal radio station Ammassalik Radio (OZL) in Tasiilaq on the Eastern coast of Greenland closed down for good on December 1. It was from this site KNR until recently could be heard twice a day on 3815. (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Hard Core DX via DX Listening Digest)
INDIA Reactivated AIR Itanagar heard on 4990 from 1332 to 1433 off, December 14. News in vernacular till 1336; into subcontinental music; 1415 local news in Hindi followed by local news in English; Itanagar weather forecast and max-min temperatures; followed by talk in English; poor reception with persistent heavy CW interference. (Ron Howard, California, Cumbre DX)
CVC International/The Voice Asia shortwave transmissions via Tashkent in Hindi to India now scheduled 0000-0400 on 6260, 0400-1100 on 13630, 1100-1400 on 9500 and 1400-2000 on 6260. Hindi to South Asia is 0100-0400 on 9975. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
AIR Leh Kashmir, listed 4760, heard on 4747.6 November 20. Hindi songs and public service announcements; weak beneath the noise floor, news at 0230. (Alokesh Gupta, dx_India via DX Listening Digest)
Ron Howard in Cumbre DX reports still getting a carrier on 4747.6 December 18 from 1300 to past 1500 but unable to extract any audio.
AIR Srinagar heard on 6110 0230-0255, November 21, Hindi news after pips, twice interrupted for adverts. Then continued in English at 0245: "All India Radio presents.... Morning News", opening with headlines. Completely in the clear at first but spoilt by co-channel Radio Fana Ethiopia carrier at 0249. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DXLD)
IRAN The Iranian government's latest way of informing Radio Farda’s most active listeners of the risk they're running is through SMS (text) messages directly to their mobile phones. The messages carry menacing threats:
"Dear citizen, based on information we received you have fallen under the influence of the anti-security propaganda of media connected with foreign powers. If you establish contact with media based outside the country, you will be guilty of violating the following articles of Islamic law (...) and we will deal with you according to the law."
Despite the intimidation, Farda's listeners continue to send hundreds of SMS messages daily from all over Iran, risking imprisonment in Iran's notorious jails, where thousands of political prisoners serve terms and fear secret executions.
These SMS messages are tracked by the Iranian government on a daily basis, according to Mardo Soghom, a senior media market research analyst for RFE/RL. "We have noted that when the SMS numbers drop to 30-40 a day, which was the case nine months ago, it was due to these text message warnings sent by the Iranian government," says Soghom.
Constant jamming by the Iranian authorities has not succeeded in discouraging Radio Farda's journalists, who are officially banned from the airwaves in Iran but continue to broadcast news, features and music in Persian, 24 hours a day. The work of Radio Farda broadcasters is encouraged and validated by the messages sent in from listeners, who often pass along the slogan, "Radio is only Radio Farda."
Reza, a listener from Kermanshah, recently sent a text message to Radio Farda's SMS service that read, "All of us are listening to Radio Farda, with the hope for a better Iran tomorrow." The message played on Radio Farda's name, which means "Radio Tomorrow" in Persian. For Radio Farda's journalists, the most rewarding messages are usually the simplest. Writes a listener from Ghazvin, "Long live the one who established Radio Farda." (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website, BBC Monitoring via DX Listening Digest)
ISRAEL Kol Israel Persian service noted with assumed news reports at 1537 December 29 strong on 13850 and fair on 9985, ex 15760. No sign of jamming on either channel. (Mike Barraclough)
Galeh Tzahal heard on new 7635 at 1955-2005 December 14, Hebrew announcements, pop music and news.. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX Listening Digest)
JORDAN November 18 at 0547, few signals on 25 metres and 11960 is easily the strongest. Great lively Middle Eastern music. 0600 widely-spaced time signal, Arabic identification starts ``Sawt ul- Urdan`` I think, before cut off the air abruptly. I’m confident it was Radio Jordan. HFCC B-11 shows 0500-0715, 500 kW, 350 degrees to Central and Eastern Europe. But for years they have actually been on the air for only one hour. Aoki B-11 shows 0400-0500 but that was the A-11 timing; with summer time now off, it’s one real hour later at 0500-0600. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
Radio Jordan heard on 15290 1215 to 1231 off December 14, Arabic political commentary, fanfare, romantic songs, promo and identification, talk then abrupt cut off 1231. SINPO 55444. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, PLAYDX via DX Listening Digest)
MADAGASCAR The test transmissions of the first of the former Hörby [Sweden] shortwave transmitters newly installed at our Madagascar relay station have now been completed. The tests were very successful, with reports received from Colombia, USA, UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Israel and New Zealand. Everyone who requested a QSL-card for correct reports on these tests will receive one in due course. The transmitter will shortly be taken into service within the regular schedule, where it will replace one of the old Philips transmitters that will be taken out of service. (Andy Sennitt, Media Network, November 25)
The ex-Hörby [Telefunken] transmitters are able to run at 500 kW. However, we will run them between 100-250 kW because the feeder lines, baluns and antenna matrix switches were originally designed for 300 kW max. Furthermore 250 kW is enough to put a solid signal into the main target areas of the station. The main difference of course is the higher efficiency of the transmitters. But also the smaller size and semi-automated control are a big advantage. And the fact that we can still order spare parts, which wasn’t the case with the Philips. (Rocus @ Pdis , ibid)
MALAYSIA An email from Voice of Malaysia November 30 says that they have discontinued shortwave broadcasts and can now be heard only via internet streaming. (T.L Breyel, Kuala Lumpur, shortwavedxer.blogspot.com)
MONGOLIA Mongolian National Radio heard on 7260 at 1457 November 23, Mongolian closing announcement, distinctive National Anthem lasted about 2 minutes, then presumed off 1500. Poor under Voice of Russia English and last minute or so crushed by Radio Liberty Tajik opening here 1459. Again heard on 7260 at 0814 November 29, Mongolian male and female alternating. Fluttery but all alone on this frequency as co-channel XPBS is off Tuesday 0800 to 1100. Still holding out at 0910 re-check. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DX Listening Digest)
MYANMAR/BURMA On November 16, I again checked the Myanma Radio broadcast in English on 5985 at the end of the news at 1539 and continue to find they no longer use the strongly worded anti-VOA, BBC, Radio Free Asia and Democratic Voice of Burma slogan that had been in place here for many years. This reflects Myanmar’s increasing overture to the West to counterbalance their close relationship with China. (Ron Howard, California, DX Listening Digest)
In September, and following a visit by the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, access to a number of previously banned foreign news websites including Youtube, BBC, Reuters, The Bangkok Post, Straits Times, Radio Free Asia, Irrawaddy, DVB, and the Burmese service of Voice of America has been unblocked. Internet connections nonetheless continue to be very slow.
Meanwhile, on September 14 this year, a Rangoon court imposed an additional 10-year prison sentence on the jailed Democratic Voice of Burma reporter Sithu Zeya, 21, on a charge of circulating material online that could 'damage tranquility and unity in the government' under the Electronic Act. His combined jail sentence is now 18 years. Fourteen video journalists employed by DVB are still being held after receiving long jail sentences. (Huffington Post, November 30, kimandrewelliott.com via DX Listening Digest)
Burma’s information minister, ex-Gen Kyaw Hsan, has agreed to air programmes produced by Voice of America (VOA) on state-run radio stations, according to the head of the VOA’s Burmese-language service. Than Lwin Tun told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that Kyaw Hsan agreed in principle to broadcast some VOA programmes using local FM and mediumwave stations totally or partly run by the Ministry of Information. These will be international news, English education, health, science and technology programmes. (The Irrawaddy December 16 via Media Network)
A recent letter from Democratic Voice of Burma states that they have had to drop one of their daily transmissions. Gives schedule as 1430-1530 on 4514. (Allen Dean)
So no longer broadcasting at 2330-0030 as shown in the schedule in last month’s column. 4514 is a strange frequency to choose, may be a mistake, frequency reported as 6225 via Almaty last month.
NORTH KOREA There's a lady in tears now (December 19) at 0900 on North Korean outlets on 9345, 9665, 9975, 13760 and 15245. Martial music on 9650 (Japanese service). Due to death of Kim Jong Il. (Noel Green, Blackpool, DX Listening Digest)
I’ve posted a recording of the English broadcast at 1000 on 6285 December 19, the first 25 minutes until the end of the news announcing Kim Jong Il‘s death at http://bit.ly/vH6LU1. The script took the form of a verbatim reading of a lengthy announcement from the central government. With the exception of the major news item, the broadcast was otherwise close to normal. It opened with the same two songs it always does, had a regular episode after the news on the work of Kim Jong Il and played patriotic and revolutionary songs. (Martin Williams, Tokyo, ibid)
Harold Frodge in Michigan noted that Voice of Korea transmissions were missing earlier on December 17 and 18; that should have been a clue that something significant had happened. (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
MND (Ministry of National Defense) Radio is a clandestine station from South Korea via New Cuncheon transmitter site, broadcasts jammed. Schedule is male version: 0500-0540 6230, 0700-0740 and 1000-1040 6135, 1200-1240 6230.
On December 8 a female version was added at 0600-0635 and 1100-1135 on 6435 and 6550. (S. Hasegawa, Japan, ibid)
Radio Shiokaze, via Yamata, Japan heard on 6135 at 1428 November 25, English closing announcement, usual piano outro to 1430 off. New frequency replacing 5910, no jamming heard. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, ibid)
Language rotation for Shiokaze: Full hour 1330-1430: English on Friday, Japanese on Monday-Thursday. 1330-1400 Japanese on Sunday, Korean on Saturday. 1400-1430: Korean on Sunday, Japanese on Saturday. (Hiroshi via S. Hasegawa, DX Listening Digest)
Radio Free North Korea now 1200-1400 on 9380 via Tashkent, ex 11510.
Voice of Martyrs now 1600-1700 on 7485 via Dhabbaya, ex 7530.
Voice of the Wilderness now 1300-1330 Monday to Saturday, 1300-1430 Sunday on 9935 via Dhabbaya, ex 6275. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
North Korea Reform Radio heard with male and female talk in Korean at 1535 on 7590 December 31, fair on clear channel, Aoki has schedule as 1500-1700 via Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Mike Barraclough)
PAKISTAN Azad Kashmir Radio, Islamabad presumed the one on 7265 at 1204 November 28, bits and pieces of talk poking thru noise floor. Noted to 1209 sign off. Frequency is clear as CNR -2 does not show up here until 1230. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DXLD)
PERU Radio Universo in Cusco now has a licence for 6090, currently broadcasting 0130-0300. Reports to Carlos Gamarra Moscoso, Av. Garcilaso 411, Wanchao, Cusco. Send $5 for registered letter reply with QSL card and pennant. Power is 5kw. (Carlos Moscoso via Dario Monferini, DX Listening Digest)
RUSSIA From a report on development of broadcasting in the Russian Federation:
For broadcasting in the sparsely populated, remote areas of Siberia, the Far North, and that part of the European territory of the country which can not be covered by broadcast transmitters of other frequency bands, it is assumed the use of transmitters HF band. In this case its use is economically and technically justified. For these purposes, the existing infrastructure will be used by radio stations. - i.e. a new 250 kW shortwave unit for broadcasts in 25 and 31 metre band will be installed at Chita Alexandrovka site.
All mounted transmitters will be able to work both in analogue mode and digital standard DRM. The transition to digital broadcasting will take place gradually as the development of the park receivers. Work during the transition period can be either alternately (part-time, on schedule, the transmitter is in analogue mode, and the remainder in digital mode), or simultaneous operation of the transmitter in analogue and digital mode (Simulcast).
It is however expected that the timing of the transition to digital broadcasting will directly depend on the degree to which the population of household radio receiver (radio) digital standard DRM. Currently, the production of such receivers in the Russian Federation is practically absent, their minimum expected value of 5000 roubles. (Wolfgang Bueschel)
I have received in one day a QSL-email from the Director of GTRK-Sakha confirming my reception of Radio Rossii-Sakha on 7230. The regional programme comes from GTRK-Sakha, the regional branch of the national RTV company, website http://gtrksakha.ru/. Times of the regional programme in Yakut and Russian are 2110-2200, 0333-0400 and 0810-0900. I sent my report to gtrksakha at yandex.ru The reply came in 1 day with 14mb of photos about GTRK-Sakha people and Yakutsk city. (Mauricio Molano, Spain, DXLD)
Voice of Orthodox in Russian is now 1630-1700 on 7515 via Almaty Tuesdays and Fridays, ex 1530-1600. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
SOUTH AFRICA Channel Africa in English is now using new 6155 at 0300-0355 ex 6120. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
SUDAN Sudan Radio heard December 28 on 7200 from 0234 sign on to past 0331, sign on with local chants. Arabic talk. Indigenous vocals. Chirping birds. Good, but covered by Iran at their 0329 sign on. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, Cumbre DX)
On December 4 a Khartoum court released three Darfurians accused of collaborating with Radio Dabanga, an independent shortwave radio station reporting on the situation in Darfur. They are part of a group of seven Darfurians who were first arrested in 2010 by the Sudanese security services and were repeatedly tortured during their detention. Three others were ordered released, but remain charged with the lesser offences of ‘undermining security and public order’ and ’spreading lies’, which carry a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment. The seven originally faced charges including conspiracy against the state and espionage, punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Mohammed Abdullah Duma, spokesman of the defence team, told Radio Dabanga that they are happy with the Court’s decision to dismiss most charges and to release the detainees. He says that the defence is confident that the remaining charges will not lead to any convictions since the prosecutor ‘failed to provide any evidence whatsoever. (Media Network)
A new radio initiative of Free Press Unlimited started test transmissions December 29. Radio Tamazuj will carry special programming for people in the conflict areas between North and South Sudan, such as Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan. Tamazuj means “across the border”. Since November 2011 they have produced half an hour per week within the Radio Dabanga time slot. But from January 5 they will produce half an hour a day from 0400-0430 before the existing Radio Dabanga transmissions. Until that time test transmissions will be broadcast at 0400-0430 on 7315 (Issoudun), 11940 (Madagascar) and 13800 (Dhabbaya). A website will be launched shortly at radiotamazuj.org. (Media Network)
UKRAINE Dneprovskaya Volna ("Dnieper waves") sent a reply to my report saying their authorised power is 250 watts: “The station uses a system of broadcasting SOPV. One transmitter sends a carrier signal of the fundamental frequency 11980 kHz, and the second transmits the audio signal in the band, mode SSB, at the same frequency band of -3.5 kHz.” Schedule is Saturday and Sunday 0700-0900 on 11980. (Dmitry Kutuzov, Ryazan, Russia "deneb-radio-dx" Rus-DX via DX Listening Digest)
E-mail : radiodh @ rambler.ru (Alexander Golovikhin, Russia, ibid)
UNITED KINGDOM Latest RSL’s from the Ofcom website:
Bradford: Milad FM 87.7 January 27 to February 23
Brighton: Pegasus FM 87.7 February 8 to 15
Huddersfield: Milaad FM 87.9 January 26 to February 22
Milton Keynes: Milad MK 107.0 January 23 to February 19
Milton Keynes: Secklow Sound 87.7 January 1 to 28
Oldham: The Vacation Station 87.7 December 27 to January 23
Sheffield: Radio Milad Sheffield 87.7 January 24 to February 20
Shoreditch: Strongroom Alive 87.9 January 31 to February 27
UNITED STATES CVC La Voz transmissions in Spanish via Santiago Chile schedule is now 1100-0100 on 9635 and 17680. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
WBAP, Dallas Texas heard on 25907 with the ABC News consumer gift guide, local ads and traffic report at 1443, frequent identifications. Fair signal on the E1 but fair to good on my vintage Grundig Satellit 600 with soft, slow fades. Apparently, a studio-transmitter link of some kind? (John Figliozzi, New York, DX Listening Digest)
This is a narrow band FM Part 74 link. They are typically used for IFB to reporters in the field. There are three that VHF Low Band DX'ers chase: 25910 WBAP Dallas, 25950 KOA in Denver, 25990 KSCS-FM in Fort Worth. (John E., ibid.)
IFB means interruptible feedback, a special intercom circuit that consists of a programme feed sent to an earpiece worn via a wire, telephone, or radio receiver (audio that is being "fed back") that can be interrupted and replaced by a producer's intercom microphone. It is so the people in the field can be cued without an 8 second delay. (Wikipedia, nd5y, Texas, Radio Reference.com shortwave broadcast forum)
KSCS, Fort Worth heard on 25993 with country music hits and frequent identifications as "New Country 96-3, KSCS", fair signal at 1520. (John Figliozzi, DXLD)
And John’s frequencies are off, apparently from reporting slope-detection of Narrow Band FM. Really 25990, 25910. (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
The WBAP and KSCS relays on 25910 and 25990 both come from 2221 East Lamar Street in Arlington Texas, not Dallas or Fort Worth, although not far way from there. (Mark Sills, Texas via George Thurman, DX Listening Digest)
The board that supervises Radio/TV Martí failed to provide sufficient information to the U.S. Congress about its costs and audience in Cuba, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said December 13. In a strongly worded report, the GAO also recommended that the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) study “sharing resources” between the Martí stations and the Voice of America’s Latin America division.
The BBG, in a statement, said it would follow the recommendation to study sharing Martí resources with VOA, but repeated its argument that it is difficult if not impossible to estimate the size of the Martí audiences in Cuba. (Miami Herald via DX Listening Digest)
Artie Bigley has found and forwarded an FCC notice of violation dated December 14 sent to KJES, charging them with operating on 11714.803 kHz, which at 197 Hz off is 21 Hz beyond the .0015 % tolerance allowed, i.e. plus/minus 176 Hz from 11715.000! James T. Lyon at FCC San Diego gave Our Lady`s Youth Centre in Vado New Mexico 20 days to respond with an explanation of each violation and what they are doing to correct them. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
KNLS English schedule is now 1000-1100 and 1200-1300 on 9615, 1500-1600 on 9655. (Allen Dean, Station website)
VATICAN Vatican Radio is now using 5890 and 7410 via Tashkent, ex 5895 and 7335, for the 0040-0200 Hindi, Tamil, Malayam and English broadcast to South Asia. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
CONTRIBUTORS Thanks to Alan Roe, Allen Dean, Edwin Southwell and Wolfgang Bueschel. MIKE
