READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP The next meeting of the Reading International Radio Group will be on June 6 in the Main Hall or Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading at 2.30 p.m. For more information email me or phone 01462 643899
ANGOLA Radio Nacional de Angola heard on 4949.7 1810-1915 May 16, Portuguese talks, news at 1900, SINPO 35332 at 1900, has been reactivated. Also presumed heard on 7216.8 May 15, carrier detected, heterodyne due to adjacent channel interference. (Carlos Goncalves, Portugal, DX Listening Digest)
ARGENTINA Radio Continental, Buenos Aires heard on 15820 in Spanish at 1640 April 21 in LSB with news bulletin. (Rubens Pedroso, Brazil, dxclube pr Yahoo group via DXLD)
Heard in Florida on 15820 LSB 2340-0005 May 3, they were relaying Radio Mitre coverage of a soccer game. (Terry Krueger, DX Listening Digest)
RAE has added an additional German broadcast 1700-1800 on 15345. (Douglas Kaehler, Germany, A-DX via DX Listening Digest)
Morocco dominating the channel on May 4, first day of this test, but also interference from Ethiopia jamming several opposition broadcasters using 15350 1700-1800 via Samara. It’s the same digital DRM like jamming using against Deutsche Welle last year, covered the range 15343.3 to 15356.8. (Wolfgang Bueschel)
BANGLADESH Bangladesh Betar's Domestic Services Relay heard on 7250 around 0215 onwards on April 23. Poor to fair strength, not as strong as on previous 4750. Audio had intermittent humming sound. On April 24 at 0200 very weak with hum sound, later too weak to copy and hum sound there. (Gautam Kumar Sharma, India via Swopan Chakroborty, DX Listening Digest)
The station I reported last month as Radio Bangladesh on 7250, noted under Vatican Radio, is incorrect. It is All India Radio, interval signal heard at 1614, into local music, language is Farsi. (Edwin Southwell)
They have moved here from 7115, Farsi is 1615-1730, Malayalam 1730-1830 per the Eike Bierwirth online frequency list. (Mike Barraclough)
BOLIVIA Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza heard April 26 from 2312 on new 4835, religious ceremony in Spanish with that reverb from inside of a Church followed at 0014 by an identification, SINPO 24322. (Lucio Bobrowiec, Brazil, Cumbre DX)
BRAZIL Radio Inconfidencia said on April 23 they the 6010 transmitter was off the air for maintenance, they are to increase the power of the transmitter from 5kw to 25kw. (Luiz Chaine Neto via Jorge Freitas, dxclube pr Yahoo Group via DX Listening Digest)
Radio Inconfidencia noted on May 24 at 0704-0720 on 6009.8, local Brazilian music and identifications at 0706 and 0709, good signal on clear channel. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, Cumbre DX)
Radio Guaruja Paulista heard on 5045 May 9, Portuguese talk, reactivated with 1 kW. (Adalberto Azevdeo, Brazil via Anker Petersen via Dario Monferini, DX Listening Digest)
CANADA CFRX heard on 6070 April 18 at 0544, generally good, identifies as "Newstalk 1010 CFRB". No sign of Chile. (David Norrie, New Zealand, DX Listening Digest)
The Eike Bierwirth list shows possibilities for European reception of CFRX, as well as ELWA Liberia. Belarus is scheduled 1440-2100, Voice of Korea 0900-1300, CVC Chile 2300-0200 and Voice of Russia 1400-1600. Opportunities then to try for CFRX, which is 24 hours as well as ELWA 0530-0900 and 1730-2300. (Mike Barraclough)
After a bunch of phone calls I finally got to CKZN 6160. I was surprised how many folks did not know what CKZN was or where, even folks that were with in 20 miles of the transmitter site. I talked to the engineer, a very friendly fellow and he was pleased that I could hear his transmitter here in Ohio. Of course I am hearing the back pattern of the antenna as he is beaming east from his site. The phone number for CKZN is 1-709-576-5082. Karen Tucker is the gal that does the QSL's: Karen.tucker@cbc.ca. Dxing, it's not just a hobby; it is an adventure! (Mike Rohde, NASWA Yahoo group via DXLD)
CHILE The CVC Portuguese service to Brazil was reprieved from closure April 31 and is currently operating 1200-0100 on 15410. However they have now decided to end the service completely, not only shortwave but internet streaming, at the end of this month. (Celio Romais, Brazil, radioescutas Yahoo Group via DXLD)
CHINA This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown and the authorities in China are getting ready. The State Administration of Film, Radio and Television (SAFRT) has already sent out a memo to CCTV (Central China Television), CNR (China National Radio) and CRI (China Radio International) as well as the thousands of local provincial radio stations to inform them about the “special measures” that will be in place from May 18th to July 31. The strictest order from SAFRT was directed to CRI. During this period CRI is not under any circumstances to do any live programming on its external and domestic service. News programmes like CRI News & Reports must have clearance from two censors instead of one which is normal. Programmes on the domestic side, which are mainly music, must be recorded 72 hours prior to broadcast so that managers can check the programmes.
Jamming during this period will also be stepped up. So if you tune to the shortwave dial starting on or around that date, the very popular Firedrake will be heard just about everywhere and anywhere in the world. As many of you might know, Firedrake does not just interfere with signals beamed to China, but also with signals beamed to other regions. CRI’s master control room located on the south side of the 3rd floor is the main switching centre for this. On the left side is the master control for each of CRI’s languages, on the right side another control room with the word “interference for broadcasts (translated)”. This room controls the over 20 jamming sites located in China. Some of them are: Hainan Island (main jamming centre), Shunyi (just outside Beijing), Ho Hot (Inner Mongolia), Dandong, Dalian Province (on the DPRK (North Korean) border), Ningbo (between Hangzhou and Shanghai)
A while ago I did an interview with Mark Fahey in Australia who discovered that the signal use to feed Firedrake to the various jamming sites is Chinasat 6B.The interview is online at www.satdirectory.com/firedrake.html
China also uses domestic stations to jam. Over the past 8 years I have heard some very funny stations on shortwave which only seem to pop up during the National People’s Congress, National People’s Consultative Congress and of course around June 4th (or June 3rd in China). Stations I’ve picked up during these times on shortwave are: Beijing Traffic Radio on 4 frequencies, Hangzhou People’s Radio on 2 frequencies, Shanghai Children's Radio on 11 frequencies, Shanghai Traffic Radio 6 frequencies and many more.
During this period listening on shortwave in Beijing is impossible as Firedrake and all these local stations fill up the dial from 5.9 to 26 MHz. Even stations that are on a frequency targeted to let’s say India or Africa are also affected. And just to be on the safe side, the Great Fire Wall of China increases to the point where it is also impossible to listen to online radio unless it’s a local Chinese station.
Normally CRI does not use a delay, but a new delay in the live studio was installed and was activated on May 9 for all live and recorded programmes. In the switching room next to the studio, the DAT player has a Chinese classical music tape in it, in case of any problems. Ahhhh, all this brings back some fond memories! (Keith used to work at CRI)
On May 12 when I tuned on my shortwave radio from 5500 to 6200 there was jamming almost everywhere. When I check the rest of dial it was insane. CRI News & Reports which is during the rest of the year live at 1100, today it was recorded. The schedule for CRI News & Reports is the following. Text is written from bad quality Xinhua feeds. Each shift of 4 writers and 1 editor prepare the news. After this, the editor checks the script for things like (Taiwan province of China, Hong Kong SAR, Chinese Motherland etc., etc., etc.).
Because of this "special time", the scripts are then sent to Li Pei Chun, head of the English service, or if he's not there, another director, who then passes them to one of the main censors on duty. It's 5:15 am (Beijing Time). At 6:00 am the script is done, recording starts at 6:10 am. At 6:40 am, one more check. Then it's fed to master control. Any major news stories that come in after 5:15 am are left out. During 911, CRI reported on it three hours after it happened. The reason was, the on-duty censor didn't feel it was important. What is funny is that if you are in China and want to get news about China, the best spots are CNN International, BBC, and Radio Australia. If something major happens in China, there is normally a delay of 2 to 3 hours. (Keith Perron, Taiwan, DX Listening Digest)
According to Chinese DX’er Zhang ShiFeng, Shangdong Shidao Maritime Meteorological Station started regular transmission in Chinese at 0020 on April 3 on 6750 USB. The daily schedule is at 0020 and 0920, the broadcast includes maritime meteorological information on Bo Hai, Bo Hai Strait, and Yellow Sea (Huang Hai), produced by Shandong Meteorological Agency and seven regional maritime meteorological agencies. The broadcast is aimed to propagate as far as 1500km. When the warnings are issued, the station transmits at any time. I confirmed the broadcast at 0920, continuing about 3 minutes. Their address is: Shidao town, Rongcheng city, Shangdong 264309, China. (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, DXLD)
On May 6 several Chinese stations moved out of the 7100-7200 band. Changes were:
Xinjiang PBS in Chinese 0300-1200 now on 7260, ex 7155
CNR-2 in Chinese2200-1700 on 7150 now cancelled.
Nei Menggu PBS in Chinese 2200-1700 on 7420, ex 7165
Xizang PBS in Chinese 0900-1800 and 2000-0300 on 7450, ex 7170
Xinjiang PBS in Kyrgyz 0330-0530 and 1030-1230 on 7295, ex 7120.
Nei Menggu PBS in Mongolian 2200-1700 on 6040, ex 7210
Xizang PBS in Tibetan 1000-1800 and 2100-0200 on 7255, ex 7125
Uyghur PBS Xinjiang PBS in Uyghur 1230-1800 and 2330-0300 on 7205, ex 7195. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
CNR-1 echo jamming noted on May 10 1415-1425 on 7130 and 7185, this is against Taiwan which has different programming on these two frequencies. (Ron Howard, California, ibid)
Ron’s description of echo jamming is when the Chinese operate more than one jamming transmitter and out of synch causing an echo. In this case the jammers were relaying CNR-1 which Ron heard in parallel on 5030.
CROATIA Voice of Croatia via Germany has replaced 7375 with 9925, noted at 2323 May 15. English segments presumably at 2215 and 0200. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
CUBA Radio Republica now broadcasts 2300-0400 on 9545 via Rampisham. (WRTH update via Glenn Hauser)
Chinese and Cuban officials have been discussing installing four new 250 kW transmitters at one of the Radio Havan Cuba transmitter sites, but not for Radio Havana broadcasts. So we may be able to hear CRI relays even better or US broadcasts to Cuba even worse. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
ECUADOR Due to the construction of a new airport and due to financial considerations, HCJB’s shortwave ministry has been downsizing. This process is now in its final phase. By April 1, 2010, all transmitters at the Pifo transmission site will be shut down. They will maintain 49 metre broadcasts to reach the Andean area and the headwaters of the Amazon River Basin. This would be done from their high-power AM site. The number of antennas at Pifo has declined from a total of 31 to 8 at the present time. The site will eventually be closed entirely. At its peak, it had 12 transmitters and 31 antennas.
They have 3 – 100 kW HC-100 transmitters. One will stay in Ecuador for regional coverage as previously mentioned, but the other two will be refurbished and moved to other locations.
All other transmitters will be dismantled and scrapped. One of these is a 50 kW unit. (NASB Newsletter via DX Listening Digest)
ETHIOPIA Anguilla was off 6090 April 24 allowing me to log Amhara State Radio. Signed on 0254, initially poor, good level by 0310. Local instrumental and vocal music, time pips on the hour, Anguilla back on at 0406. (Brandon Jordan, Tennessee, Cumbre DX)
Heard in Denmark April 25 0259 to 0310, vernacular announcement and local music, SINPO was 44433, stronger than University Network. (Anker Petersen, PLAYDX via DXLD)
I received an email reply from Amhara State Radio. They said that it has been established for 12 years, initially 1 hour a day, now transmits for 9 hours a day. Email address is dereradio2000@yahoo.com. (Bjorn Fransson, Sweden, DX Listening Digest)
The Addis Dimts Radio broadcast 1600-1700 on 15195 via Samara has been cancelled. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
Voice of Tigray Revolution heard on 6170 at 0259 May 17, opening announcement after five minutes of flute interval signal, not heard here for some time, presumably replacing 5980. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DX Listening Digest)
Voice of Oromia Liberation Front is now 1600-1630 on 11760 via Wertachtal Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, ex 11975 Julich. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
FRANCE Four of Radio France International’s (RFI) five trade unions called all employees to walk-off the job May 12, demanding the scrapping of a management plan which would see the international radio network lose nearly a quarter of its workforce. The 'plan to save employment', announced by the new management at RFI in January, proposes laying off 206 out of just under 1,000 employees, in an effort to 'modernise' the station. Two thirds of the staff subsequently voted on the resolutions, more than 95% of the votes were in favour.
Six of RFI's foreign-language services, German, Polish, Romanian, Albanian, Laotian and Serbo-Croatian, will be shut down by the plan. Four others, Persian, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese will have their broadcasts moved entirely online, a move unions object to, citing internet censorship in the destination countries. RFI currently broadcasts in 20 languages, with only one, Turkish, exclusively on the web. The strike is planned to be indefinite. (RFI via kimandrewelliott.com)
On May 27 the RFI website was reporting that their programmes were being disrupted by strike actions. The English morning broadcasts have been broadcasting African music when occasionally checked here. (Mike Barraclough)
GERMANY Frankfurt-based Hessischer Rundfunk will no longer broadcast on medium wave 594 as of 2010. This measure is part of a programme to save 64 million Euros until 2012.
The DRM test service from Burg on 1575, which started in August 2006, ceased at the beginning of May. The statement announcing this said: “Due to the low number of receivers in the market a regular digital mediumwave service is not convenient at present.” (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX Listening Digest)
As of July 1 ERF (TWR) will cut back its airtime on 1539 from 0500-2300 to merely 0500-0700 and 1730-2030. This is a cost saving measure. No word in this press release about foreign language programmes that go out at 0300-0400. (Kai Ludwig, Germany)
Deutsche Welle is now using 6180 from Sines 0400-0530 to Africa, ex 7430. 7430 from Rampisham is in English 0500-0530 replacing 9440 Skelton.
13650 from Trincomalee has replaced 15620 for English 1900-1930, Portuguese 1930-2000. It is also now used at 2000-2030 in English, replacing 15205. (Wolfgang Bueschel)
6180 heard with good reception May 24 at 0500. (Edwin Southwell)
GUINEA Radio Guinee is still using 7125, heard May 2 at 1218-1346 and 2151-2209, however the modulation level is low. (Carlos Goncalves, Portugal, DX Listening Digest)
INDIA AIR Bengaluru - National Channel heard on 9425 1430-1501, May 6 in English; news bulletin and sports news; “This is the National Channel of A.I.R. broadcasting on medium wave 191.6 metres corresponding to 1,566 kiloHertz in Nagpur and medium wave 246.9 metres, that is 1,215 kilohertz in Delhi, and also broadcasting on shortwave frequencies of 9,425 kiloHertz and 9,470 kiloHertz., on 31m band”; regular programme of “Vividh”(?) with conversation with Mrs. Kumar, Principal of Hans Raj Model School, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, about “Understanding Ragging”; public service announcement about sunstroke and ways to prevent it; after 1501 into Hindi. These programmes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday are primarily public service oriented with talks about health issues, education etc. (Ron Howard, California, Cumbre DX)
IRAN IranPressWatch reported April 29 that in an internet survey of Iranians, aged 20-29, "when asked what media sources they trusted, only 10% said they trusted the Islamic Republic’s sources, while the majority trusted Voice of America and BBC." Not a representative survey, but very detailed, with an sample of 4,024, including 2,523 inside Iran. The male respondents say they trust: VOA TV and radio (54%), Radio Farda (27%), BBC (23%), Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (10%). Women: VOA (40%), BBC (30%), Radio Farda (19%), IRIB (10%). (kimandrewelliott.com via DX Listening Digest)
Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran now using the 1386 transmitter in Lithuania 1700-1800 for Russian programmes. (Karel Honzik, Czech Republic via Wolfgang Bueschel)
ISRAEL Galei Zahal now broadcasts 24 hours on 6973 and 15785. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX Window)
MEXICO An email from the engineer of XEQM on 6105 says that they resumed broadcasts on May 8. (Julian Santiago, Mexico, DX Listening Digest)
MONACO Radio Monaco news bulletin are, since May 4, being broadcast by maritime station Monaco Radio Mondays to Fridays at 0700 and 1100 on 4363 8728 13146 17260 all in USB. Radio Monaco is a local station with three FM frequencies, address: Gildo Pastor Center, 7 rue du Gabian, MC-98000 Monaco.
Monaco Radio and Meteo France weather reports are at 0730 0800 0930 1030 1203 (sic) and 1730. The shortwave transmitters are in Fontbonne, near to Trans World Radio’s.
Monaco Radio’s address is Naya Sarl, 1 chemin du Fort Antoine, MC- 98000 Monaco, email info@naya.mc. (Christian Ghibaudo, France, DX Listening Digest)
News bulletin confirmed here May 27 at 1100, fair reception on clear channel 8728. (Mike Barraclough)
Trans World Radio sign off is now at 0750 Sundays, ex 0820, on 6105 Nauen, 9800 Fontbonne. (Edwin Southwell)
MYANMAR The price of shortwave radios has been increasing recently in Sittwe markets after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested on 14 May, said a town elder. "I went to a store at Sittwe market two days ago to buy a Chinese-made shortwave radio but the prices had increased at least 20 percent as many radio buyers crowded the market," said the elder.
The price of a Chinese-made shortwave radio was previously only 2500 kyat, but it has recently increased to 4000 kyat. "Despite the price increase, I bought a Kubo branch radio for 4000 kyat that day because I need to listen to news about Daw Suu broadcast by foreign-based radio stations. At present, every Burmese wants to know about Daw Suu after her arrest. I realized why the radio prices have increase at least 20 percent recently in Sittwe," he said. There are four foreign-based radio programs that are popular in Burma - the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Democratic Voice of Burma. Homes are noisy with the radios every morning and evening with residents listening to the latest news of Burma. (marinara.com via Alokesh Gupta, India, DX Listening Digest)
NETHERLANDS From Wednesday 20 May to Saturday 6 June Radio Waddenzee/Radio Seagull will be broadcasting on 1602 15 miles offshore from the MV Jenni Bayton near the island of Griend which is a small, uninhabited, Dutch island in the Wadden Sea. The ship, home of both stations, is usually moored alongside a pier in a small Dutch seaport called Harlingen. Once a year the ship is towed out at sea, manned with DJ's and engineers and broadcasts using the ship's transmitter. The land site, from which they usually broadcast, is switched off for the occasion. (Station website)
PAKISTAN Owing to some problem in the Radio Pakistan external service studios' technical section, whenever background music is played during announcements it suppresses the audio and one is unable to know what is being announced. Most of the background music and signature tunes selected for various segments are very unpleasant and annoying. But the most horrible piece of music is Radio Pakistan's interval signal which can be used to frighten children. There is need to record it on latest equipment and making it soft and subtle as was done recently for the national anthem. (Aslam Javaid, Pakistan, DX Listening Digest)
ROMANIA Radio Romania International is using new 17760, ex 17770, at 0530-0600 in English parallel to 15345. (David Crystal, Edwin Southwell)
For the 2030-2100 English broadcast to North America they are using new 9690, ex 15465, 11940 remains in parallel. (Dean Bonanno, Connecticut, DX Listening Digest)
RUSSIA Adygeyskoye Radio via Krasnodar heard on 7325 at 1721-1728 on April 24, pop music and announcements in Adyge, SINPO 33443. (Jose Miguel Romero, Spain, DXLD)
Eike Bierwirth’s online list has their schedule as 1700-1800 Monday and Friday, 1800-1900 Sunday. Kabardino-Balkar Radio uses 7325 1730-1800 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
ST HELENA Radio St. Helena reports were received from the following countries: Japan 124, USA 35, Germany 33, UK 15, Italy 12, Spain 9, Sweden 7, Brazil 4, Austria 3, France 2, Belgium 2, Greece 2, Mexico 2, India and 1 each from Ukraine, Finland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Indonesia, Canary Islands, Portugal, New Zealand and South Korea. The QSL cards arrived on 16 April and have now been sent out. (Robert Kipp, DX Listening Digest)
SAUDI ARABIA One of the BSKSA transmitters has heavy buzz, schedule is 0600-0900 on 17730, 0900-1200 on 17805, 1200-1500 on 21505, 1500-1800 on 15435 and 1800-2300 on 11915. (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, April 27, DX Listening Digest)
I caught the last few minutes of BSKSA Riyadh at 0753 on May 6 on 17785. The English transmission was followed by a couple of Kenny G Songs and then into French. Reception quality was good, with no interference only a little fading. (Chris Lewis, England, DX Listening Digest)
This is the `accidental` English broadcast, just turning on the French transmitter before 0800 (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
SERBIA A press release from International Radio Serbia says that the situation is very difficult due to irregular financing which has led to a number of unsettled debts and delays in salaries. Ministry proposals would result in a reduction of 20% in Radio Yugoslavia’s budget. (Luigi Cobisi, Italy, DX Window)
SLOVAKIA IRRS-Shortwave schedule has been updated effective May 1. We slightly reduced our Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening broadcasts by one hour, now ending at 2000 on 7290. (Ron Norton, IRRS, via Alokesh Gupta, Cumbre DX)
SOMALIA Radio Hargeisa QSL card received from Radio Hargeisa, c/o Konsularische Vertretung of the Republic of Somaliland, Zedernweg 6, 50127 Bergheim, Germany. (Roberto Pavanello, BCL News Italia via DX Listening Digest)
Email from Radio Hage says that their schedule on 6915 is 0300-0400 and 0900-1100. They were off the air when they sent it, hoped to be back by April 24. (Don Durham, RNZI Mailbox May 3 via Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
IRIN Radio is now on 9840 1730-1830 except Fridays, ex 9865. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
Radio Horyaal is back on shortwave, schedule is 1730-1800 except Fridays on 9840 via Dhabbaya.
Somali Interactive Radio Instruction Programme schedule is 0545-0615 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday on 15200 via Meyerton, 0620-0650 on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday on 15200 via Dhabbaya. (WRTH update via Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
SPAIN I have reconfirmed that Radio Exterior de Espana is still carrying news in co-official languages, heard Friday April 24 at 1254 on 15170 via Costa Rica concluding news of Basque country presented in Castilian. This should be Monday to Friday 1240-1255 in Catalan, Galician and Basque. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
SUDAN Sudan Radio sign on time is variable, heard on 7200 on May 2 at 0215 tune in with local music. On May 9 heard at 0239 with abrupt sign on, Qu’ran and Arabic talk at 0253, identification as “Huna Omdurman”. Adverts, announcements and chirping birds. On May 10 (Sunday) signed on at 0320, much local folk music, abrupt sign off at 0432. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, Cumbre DX)
SWAZILAND Due to financial constraints TWR Africa’s morning shortwave broadcasts now end an hour earlier at 1000 and the evening broadcast half an hour earlier at 2200. (TWR Africa Newsletter via Alokesh Gupta, Cumbre DX)
TWR Swaziland using 9500 0500-0900 in English, not listed in the club Times and Frequencies in English pamphlet. (Edwin Southwell)
SWITZERLAND Radio Reveils Paroles de Vie via Nauen heard April 30 on 15675 at 1840 in French, talk, pop music, identification and off 1845. (Jorge Freitas, Brazil, Cumbre DX)
This is now their only shortwave broadcast, Tuesdays and Thursdays 1830-1845. Their address is Chapons-des-Pres 4, 2022 Bevaix (NE), Switzerland. (Mike Barraclough)
SWEDEN There will hopefully be transmissions with the Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz CW (A1A) on Sunday, June 28 at 09:00 and 12:00.
This is the annual transmission on “Alexander Day”. The station is open to visitors. We are glad to receive reports and will exchange QSL-cards. QSL-reports can be sent via email to: info@alexander.n.se, by fax to +46-340-674195 or by mail to Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen, Grimeton 72, S-430 16 Rolfstorp, Sweden. (Lars Kalland via Andrea Borgnino, bclnews.it via DX Listening Digest)
This longwave transmitting station started broadcasting on December 1 1924. The transmitter was built in 1923 and has the only workable machine transmitter in the world. The Alexanderson alternator is a rotating machine invented by Ernst Alexanderson for the generation of high frequency alternating current up to 100 kHz, for the purpose of radio communication. The dimensions of the transmitter are 6.6 by 3.5 metres and it weighs 50 tons. For its radiating element it uses a wire aerial hung on six 127-metre high freestanding steel towers looking like gigantic pylons. These towers are grounded. The VLF transmitter Grimeton was used until the fifties for transatlantic radio telegraphy to Radio Central in Long Island, New York, USA. After the fifties it was used until 1996 for transmitting orders to submarines. On July 2, 2004 the Grimeton VLF transmitter was declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. (Wikipedia, SAQ website)
TAIWAN From June 15 Radio Taiwan International will add two new frequencies for North America, at 0200-0300 9680 and at 0500-0600 5950. (Alokesh Gupta, Cumbre DX)
These are via WYFR. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
UKRAINE The April 26 Radio Ukraine International mailbag programme said they were adding Famous Ukraines and a book programme. As to the dropping of the DX programme the reason given was “All things must come to an end”. (Dean Bonanno, Connecticut, DX Listening Digest)
UNITED KINGDOM BBC, or the British Broadcasting Corporation is renowned for their deliberate and biased misrepresentation of facts and events during its history of news reporting. It is true that human beings are not perfect and susceptible to "human - mistakes". But apparently the reporters and editors of BBC seem to have a knack for deliberately misinforming the events without due diligence. During the last decade, the reports and news items carried by the BBC in the mass media including its official news web, are ample proof of the unethical, unprofessional and conscious misrepresentation of facts and events across the world. A closer view shows that the news items are always more or less biased towards the attitudes of the reporter or the editor.
Despite the mounting proof that BBC has been falsifying current events, the BBC always hides behind a veil of a piece of legislation called the "Freedom of Information Act". They say, that the act provides them "immunity" to publish any item, irrespective of whether it is verified, accurate or not and whether it has been soundly investigated and factually correct as they are not compelled to divulge the source of information. The fact that BBC is in dire need of funds to maintain its operations have also made it susceptible to biases when reporting. (Sri Lankan Defence Ministry statement, Ardic DX Club via DX Listening Digest)
Latest RSL’s from the Ofcom website:
Basildon: Gateway FM 87.7 June 29 to July 26
Biggleswade: Biggles FM 87.9 June 19 to July 16
Bradford: Miraj FM 87.9 June 26 to July 19
Chester: Lache FM 87.7 June 12 to 14
Circencester: Corinium Radio 87.7 July 3 to 5
Donnington Park: Download Radio 87.7 June 10 to 15
Hartley Witney: Radio Hartley Witney 87.7 June 11 to 21
Henley on Thames: Regatta Radio 87.7 June 24 to July 5
Leeds: Roundhay Radio 87.7 June 22 to 28
Lincolnshire Showground: Lincs FM 87.9 June 23 to 25
Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Lune Valley and Barrow Agility FM 87.7 June 27 to July 5
Peterborough: Zephyr FM 87.7 June 29 to July 17
Prestatyn: Light FM 87.7 June 7 to 14
Pudsey: PGFM 99.9 July 6 to 17
Shepton Mallet: Worthy FM 87.7 June 21 to 29
Silverstone: Radio Silverstone 87.7 June 17 to 23
Skipton: Craven College Radio 87.7 June 15 to 19
Southampton: Express FM 87.7 June 26 to 28
Uckfield: Uckfield FM 87.9 June 28 to July 19
Waddington: Airshow FM 103.6 June 22 to July 5
Warminster: Kingdom FM 87.7 June 22 to 27
Warrington: Newlove FM 87.7 June 27 to July 12
Wimbledon: Radio Wimbledon 87.7 June 15 to July 6
Wimbledon: Radio Wimbledon Centre Court 97.8 June 22 to July 5
Wimbledon: Radio Wimbledon Number 1 Couty 97.8 June 22 to July 5
Windsor: Radio DMS 107.2 June 12
Wolverhampton: Radio Cosford 87.9 June 12 to 14
Watchtower Convention stations will broadcast from: Bournemouth 87.7 June 18 to 21, Gillingham 87.7 June 25 to 28, Leeds 87.7 July 2 to 5, Newcastle 87.7 June 18 to 21, Nottingham 87.7 June 25 to 28.
UNITED STATES Bible Voice Broadcasting Network 1400-1500 Saturday/Sunday English broadcast is now on 17805, ex 15680, and via Wertachtal.
WYFR has added two new English broadcasts 1400-1715 on 15715 to South Asia and 1800-1900 on 13830 to West and Central Africa, both via Wertachtal.
Two additional frequencies are now used for English at 1800-1900, 9465 via Dhabbaya and 11875 via Ascension. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
The final edition of AWR Wavescan produced in Singapore was broadcast May 31, with the usual scheduled repeats.
Wavescan is now being produced in the United States for broadcast worldwide. The scripts will be researched and written in Indianapolis, Indiana and produced in the WRMI studios in Miami. Each edition will include a station profile on an important or a little-known shortwave station from a historical perspective. There will also be other features from the fascinating world of international radio broadcasting, as well as regular bulletins of DX news. It is intended that the regular DX bulletins from Japan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Australia will be included as usual in these new broadcasts of "Wavescan." The annual worldwide listener contest will continue as planned.
WRMI will broadcast the programme on 9955 Sunday 0830 and 2130, Tuesday 0015 0400 and 1130, Wednesday 1130, Saturday 0130 and 0730, all these beamed to the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as on Mondays at 1530 and Fridays at 1430 beamed to North America. Wavescan will continue to be broadcast over the other stations in the AWR network. (Adrian Petersen AWR via Jeff White, DX Listening Digest)
Cheetah Radio is scheduled 1600-1700 Saturdays on 11885 via Wertachtal according to the WRTH Update. This is Power Learning which also broadcasts on WRMI. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
Voice of America noted on 6120 May 20 signing on 1900, Facebook Africa programme to abrupt sign off 1927. News and News Now heard at same time on May 22 and 23, on May 23 continued at 1930 with Special English. (Edwin Southwell)
The frequency has been added to their online schedule, site currently not known. (MB)
VATICAN Vatican Radio is now using 7335 and 9650, ex 5915, at 0040-0200 including English 0140-0200. 12070 has replaced 9310 at 0200-0320 including English 0300-0320. (Alok Dasgupta via Alokesh Gupta, India via Cumbre DX)
VENEZUELA Radio Nacional de Venezuela via Havana noted on 13680 with very good signals at 2302 opening in stilted English with programme summary, the latter part of the hour in Spanish, parallel 15250. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
WRTH update gives the schedule for the Spanish/English broadcasts of Radio Nacional de Venezuela as 1000-1100 6180, 1100-1200 6060, 1200-1300 11705, 1500-1600 11680, 1900-2000 15290, 2000-2100 17705, 2200-2300 11670, 2300-2400 13680 and 15250. I heard the station May 19 at 2304 on 13680 and 15250, English programme on socialist healthcare, fair signal on 13680, weak on 15250 but both clear channel though moderate fading. I asked Glenn about the English portions of these broadcasts.. He replied: “As for when English appears, that seems to be unpredictable. Some broadcasts have a bit of English at the start, then going in and out of Spanish during the hour. Others are all-Spanish.”
The A09 WRTH update also lists the schedule of the Alo Presidente broadcast as 1400-1800 Saturday and Sunday on 11690 12010 13750 17750, 13680 also used Sundays. (Mike Barraclough)
ZAMBIA Christian Voice non-directional service is now 0600-1700 on 6065 and 1700-0600 on 4965. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
The majority of this service is now in local languages rather than English. (Andrew Flynn, ibid)
ZIMBABWE SW Radio Africa has cancelled its broadcast on 12035 via Rampisham at 1700-1900, now only on 4880. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
CONTRIBUTORS Germany: Wolfgang Bueschel, Israel: David Crystal, UK: Edwin Southwell. Until next month, MIKE
