WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK Full details of how to order discounted copies of the World Radio TV Handbook 2010 through the club are on the back page of this months Contact, an order form is enclosed. Please note that the deadline for orders is November 25.
READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP The next meeting will be on December 5 in 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.
ABKHAZIA/SOUTH OSSETIA Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) announced plans to launch daily broadcasts to the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia beginning this month. The 60-minute daily programme will be produced by journalists in RFE/RL's Prague headquarters and correspondents in Georgia (including South Ossetia and Abkhazia) and Russia.
The new broadcasts will be in Russian and will be available on shortwave. Broadcasts may also be available on FM frequencies. A website, "Caucasus Echo", will debut simultaneously with the first broadcasts. The web presence will be optimised for dial-up connections, which predominate in the region. (RFE/RL via Arnaldo Slaen, Cumbre DX)
ALASKA An experiment that fires powerful radio waves into the sky has created a patch of 'artificial ionosphere', mimicking the uppermost portion of Earth's atmosphere. According to a report in Nature News, the experiment is called the 'High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program' (HAARP), near Gakona, Alaska. It has spent nearly two decades using radio waves to probe Earth's magnetic field and ionosphere.
One of the most obvious results of the experiments is that they can create lights in the sky that are similar to auroras, the glowing curtains of light that naturally appear in the polar skies when electrons and other charged particles pour down from Earth's protective magnetosphere into the upper atmosphere. There, at an altitude of about 250 kilometres, the charged particles collide with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen and make them emit light, similar to the process inside a fluorescent light bulb. HAARP's high-frequency radio waves can accelerate electrons in the atmosphere, increasing the energy of their collisions and creating a glow.
The technique has previously triggered speckles of light while running at a power of almost 1 megawatt. But since the facility ramped up to 3.6 megawatts it has created full-scale artificial auroras that are visible to the naked eye. In February last year, HAARP managed to induce a strange bull's-eye pattern in the night sky. Instead of the expected fuzzy, doughnut-shaped blob, surprising irregular luminescent bands radiated out from the centre of the bull's-eye, according to Todd Pedersen, a research physicist at the US Air Force Research Laboratory in Massachusetts, who leads the team that ran the experiment at HAARP.
The team modelled how the energy sent skywards from the HAARP antenna array would trigger these odd shapes. They determined that the areas of the bull's-eye with strange light patterns were in regions of denser, partially ionised gas in the atmosphere, as measured by ground-based high-frequency radar used to track the ionosphere. The scientists believe that these dense patches of plasma could be gas that was ionised by the HAARP emissions.
"This is the really exciting part - we've made a little artificial piece of ionosphere," Pedersen said. "The novelty is not seeing the aurora - it's the fact that we can actually create enough high-energy electrons to form plasma," said Mike Kosch, chair of Experimental Space Science at Lancaster University, UK. "It shows something completely different and new that we hadn't expected. We didn't know we could do that from a radio array on the ground," he added. (Times of India via Mike Terry, DX Listening Digest)
ALGERIA Radio Algeria Holy Qu’ran service in Arabic now scheduled via Issoudon, France 0400-0457 on 5865, 0500-0557 on 5865 7295, 0600-0657 on 5865, 1800-1857 on 9390, 1900-1957 on 7455 9390, 2000-2057 on 7455. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via DXLD)
AUSTRIA Radio Austria International have cancelled the 5 minute weekday Spanish transmissions. (Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DX Listening Digest)
Shortwave schedule is now to Europe 0600-1400 on 6155 13730, 1600-1800 and 2100-2200 on 6155, to Middle East 0600-0630 on 17870, to Asia and Australia 1300-1330 on 17855, to Middle East 0600-0630 on 17870, to Central North America 0000-0030 and to Eastern North America 0030-0100 both on 7325 and to South America 0100-0130 on 9840. Schedule is valid till December 31. Google translation of the German webpage says; Please note that the operation of the shortwave radio station ORF Radio Austria International can be guaranteed only until the end of the year. For more information about the programme from January 2010 we unfortunately can not currently make available. (Mike Barraclough)
BELGIUM Radio Vlaanderen International ceased transmissions on shortwave as of October 25. (Gayle Van Horn, Monitoring Times, North Carolina)
The latest RTBF three year plan says shortwave broadcasts will be discontinued but no date given. (7sur.be via Jean-Michel Aubier via Wolfgang Bueschel)
Scheduled in B-09 0400-2315 via Wavre on 9970 and RTBF confirmed here 1355 November 1, good reception on clear channel.
Radio Traumland, from the German speaking part of Belgium, is now using the Moosbrun transmitter Sundays 1400-1500 on 6180, excellent reception from 1400 sign on November 1 reading listeners letters reporting reception of the new frequency. (Mike Barraclough)
BOLIVIA Radio San Miguel heard on 4699.3 0122 to 0135 September 23 in Spanish, talk and easy listening music, identification 0129 followed by a five minute string of adverts, poor to fair reception. (Scott Barbour, New Hampshire, Cumbre DX)
On October 4 was on 4700 0155 to 0230, ballads and Spanish talk. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, ibid)
BRAZIL Radio Senado heard on 5990 September 22 at 2145 to 2200 off, politics, identification and off, very strong signals. (Giampiero Bernardini visiting Elba, Italy, DX Listening Digest)
Radio Maria, Anapolis, Goias, Brazil has been logged on 4885. This station with call sign ZYF692 has previously been broadcasting under the name Radio Voz do Coraca Imaculado, but it has now been taken over by Radio Maria Brasilia. Transmitting power is 1 kW. Test transmissions are scheduled 0700-2400, possibly only weekends. (finndxer.wordpress.com via Dario Monferini, PLAYDX via DX Listening Digest)
Radio Nove de Julho Sao Paulo heard on 9819 0912 to 0927 October 4, religious programming, SINPO 24322.
Radio Rio Mar heard signing on at 1000 on 9695 with full identification and frequencies followed by local songs, SINPO 24322. (Manuel Mendez, Spain, Cumbre DX)
Radio Cultura in Belem has reactivated 5045 after 11 years. The Government has invested 1.1 million Real in the project. Address: BR-316, Estrada da Pirelli, na Area de Protecao Ambiental da antiga Fazenda da Pirelli, Bairro Marituba, CEP: 67105-740, Ananindeua (PA) (Celio Romais, Atividade DX via DX Listening Digest)
This reactivated station identifies itself as "Cultura FM" during the night and it is listed in WRTH as Radio Cultura do Para. A very nice signal here in the middle of Europe, the strongest Brazilian station in the 60 metre band. Its night programme consists of non-stop music with occasional short announcements, in more than 10 minute intervals, containing "Cultura" or "Cultura FM" identifications. (Karel Honzik, Czech Republic, DXLD)
Heard in Wisconsin from 0738, announcements 0745 and just prior to 0800 followed by news headlines, identification then back to music. (Mark Taylor, NASWA Flashsheet)
CANADA After a few weeks on 6160.9 CKZN noted back on 6160 September 28. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
CHINA CNR-1 heard on 9450 with echo jamming at 1452, September 16. Strong jamming of Sound of Hope, which I was unable to hear at all; parallel and one second slower than 5030. (Ron Howard, California, DX Listening Digest)
I’m still learning new SWL tricks. One that I haven’t mastered yet involves jamming. Can you explain what "echo jamming" is? (Richard Bianchino, ibid.)
There are two types of Chinese jamming that are directed against such stations as Sound of Hope, Radio Free Asia, BBC, etc. that broadcast in Chinese or similar language (Tibetan, etc.). One is “Firedrake”, which is just non-stop Chinese music similar to Chinese opera music, but never with any singing, just loud music.
The second type is regular CNR-1 programming that they transmit from one or more sites, with two or more transmitters and out of sync, causing a very distinctive echo effect to the audio, which makes it almost impossible to hear (or understand) the underlying station. Which of course is the whole purpose of the jamming. The CNR-1 programming can be confirmed by checking for a parallel with a known (non-jamming) CNR-1 frequency. I use 5030 to hear if the programming matches up as the same.
Recently there are some frequencies that actually use both Firedrake and CNR-1 echo jamming, just to be doubly sure no one can hear the jammed station. (Ron Howard, ibid)
Since the middle of September more jamming can be picked up in the evening hours all for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. My sources in Beijing told me that in areas like Xinjiang the Public Security Bureau (PSB) has also been doing some home to home searches in some neighbourhoods and confiscating radios that can be used for listening to foreign radio.
One case has been confirmed. Liu Shaogua an electrical engineer with the China State Power Grid was visited on September 23 by officials from the PSB after they were informed by someone in his compound that he had been listening to the VOA, BBC and other foreign broadcasters. His internet connection was also cut until the end of October. (Keith Perron, Taiwan, DX Listening Digest)
PBS Yunnan heard on 6035 at 1247 September 24 in Vietnamese; pips; nice to hear they still use the English identification “This is the Voice of Shangri-La brought to you from Yunnan Radio”; interference at 1300 from the BBC, Yunnan was below threshold level after they signed off at 1330. No sign of BBS/Bhutan. (Ron Howard, California, Cumbre DX)
CONGO DR Radio Okapi via RSA heard on 11690 September 28, good reception at 0540 with hilife music, frequent interruptions by French DJ. 0542 Okapi jingle and FM frequency, 0551 phone interview to Red Cross guy about water issues. (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
Current schedule is 0400-0600 on 11690 and 1600-1700 on 9635, both via Meyerton, South Africa. (Aoki online frequency schedule via Mike Barraclough)
Radio Kahuzi 6210, as a follow-up to the e-mail QSL I received some months back, sent two full-data cards, one a full-colour postcard showing Bukavu, the second being a full-data "hand-made" card from the Radio Kahuzi Club "utilizing dried banana bark." Snail mail address on the envelope: BESI/ Radio Kahuzi, P.O. Box 110173, Bradenton, FL 34211. (David Sharp, Australia, DX Listening Digest)
CUBA Checking some of Radio Havana Cuba’s frequencies October 10 between 0405 and 0415 there's the sound of a telephone ringing on all of them. 6000 is the strongest where it's as loud as the English broadcast; the two Spanish frequencies, 6060 and 6140, the telephone ring is much softer but noticeable. (Travers DeVine, DX Listening Digest)
On 5898 October 12 at 0536, spy number/letter transmitter surely as powerful as any RHC broadcast outlet, 250 kW, with phone ringing every few seconds along with huge hum. 0540 briefly overridden by huger multi-tone data burst, then resumes ringing. (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
It was not the sounds of a physical phone, but rather the lines being feed to the transmitter site. Normally they feed using microwave but there was a problem with this and they switched back to landlines. (Keith Perron, ibid)
11760 Radio Havana English service heard October 3, identification, news, poor due to interference from 11755 until the station there signed off, DXers Unlimited at 2100. However the next day Spanish service heard on 11760. (Edwin Southwell)
CZECH REPUBLIC Radio Prague has had its budget for next year cut by 20% and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for shortwave broadcasts to be terminated at the end of this year.
David Vaughan, the former head of the English service, has called for listeners to show the station support and to protest against this proposal by writing to the Ministry and Czech embassies abroad. His letter has been printed in full in the Radio Topics section of this months magazine. (Jonathan Murphy, Ireland)
The October 25 edition of Mailbox featured many letters/emails from listeners about this. The announcer said that: “These cuts may result in a reduction of Radio Prague’s shortwave broadcasts as of January 1, 2010. The current broadcasting schedule is valid until December 31st. Czech Radio is now in talks with the ministry and a new broadcast schedule will be agreed on by the end of the year depending on developments. I’m afraid this is all the information we have at the moment as negotiations are still taking place. (Mike Barraclough)
A domestic press report has a statement from Czech Radio spokesman Rene Zavoral which translates as “We will try to keep the shortwave service, as required by law, and seek to find funds for it elsewhere.” (zpravy.idnes.cz via Kai Ludwig, DX Listening Digest)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Radio Amanecer heard on 6025 at 0450 on October 3, in the clear for about 3 minutes after co-channel Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Arabic had broken down, then continued to presumed 0455 close. Ron Howard reported 0306 sign off, perhaps they are running late on Sundays? (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DXLD)
I checked the HFCC and Aoki frequency lists for the new season and 6025 should be clear in Europe 0000-0300. (Mike Barraclough)
Email reply from longtime Radio Amanecer station engineer Socrates Dominguez who says he managed to persuade his "boss" that the Adventist broadcaster should return to shortwave. He built the nominally 1 kW shortwave transmitter from "parts" he scrounged up in the Dominican Rep. about 20 years ago. The transmitter uses a vertical antenna, 18 ft. long aluminium pole with wire radials. He says it simulcasts with their 1580 outlet. (Don Jensen, Wisconsin, NASWA)
ECUADOR Monitored what I thought was presumably the final broadcast of HCJB from Ecuador, except for the prolonged regional service on 6050, October 1 on 9745; tune in around 0430 and something was being said about the finale, but nothing out of the ordinary in the next 30 minutes which was the regular program `El Camino`. Automated identification at 0459:30 plugged the mountain peaks of Ecuador, gave frequencies as 9745 for Mexico and 21455 for Europe. So that frequency closed down 18 months ago still survived in outdated announcements to the very end. Sign-off made no indication it was the very end, but said they would be back on air at 3:30 am in Quechua, no frequency, but 6050? 0500 national anthem, over at 0503, a few seconds of open carrier, and then gone forever.
On October 4 I heard Radio Havana Cuba’s Spanish DX programme at 2148. Allen Graham of HCJB was being interviewed by Ruben Guillermo Margenet, whose home he recently visited in Argentina. Just as I tuned in he mentioned that HCJB was broadcasting via WRMI. Imagine that, WRMI being mentioned on Havana Cuba, comrade to the archenemy DentroCuban Jamming Command which blasts away against WRMI on 9955 not only when in Spanish but when in English. En Contacto is one of Radio Havana’s least political shows.
Allen said that he was born in Kansas, then moved to California before exiting the country to become a missionary. Admitted that most Cubans would no longer be able to hear HCJB as it exits shortwave, since they don’t have much internet access. HCJB will instead see what it can arrange in various LA countries to be heard on local FM. (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
HCJB started broadcasts October 1 in German 2300-2400 on 9865 via the Calero de Tango, Chile transmitter site. (Stephan Schaa, Germany, ibid)
Portuguese and Kulina transmissions continue on 11920 2245-0230 until November 15. They then hope to use the same frequency for 2 hour relays via CVC Chile because of all the pre-tuned radios that are in the field. Depending on transmitter availability the transmission may start at 0000. (Allen Graham, DX Partyline, ibid)
ETHIOPIA Voice of Peace and Democracy via Radio Ethiopia heard on 7165 September 25, abrupt sign on 0400 with opening identification announcements and talk in listed Tigrinya. Local drums. Horn of Africa music. Very weak, parallel 9560.06 - drifting to 9560.2. 7165 fairly well covered by co-channel interference from presumed Voice of Broad Masses of Eritrea and noise jammer at 0405. Monday, Wednesday and Friday only. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, Cumbre DX)
TDP brokered transmissions via Samara, Russia now scheduled:
Addis Dimts Radio 1200-1300 Sunday on 21525.
EOTC Holy Synod Radio 1600-1700 on 15195.
Radio Xoriyo Ogadenia 1700-1730 Monday and Friday on 7530 9610.
Voice of Asena 1730-1800 Monday, Wednesday and Friday on 9605.
Ginbot 7 1700-1730 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on 7530 9610. (Alokesh Gupta, Cumbre DX)
Radio Oromia heard on 6030 October 19 signing on at 0321, Xylophone interval signal mixing with CFVP followed by talk and Horn of Africa music. (Ron Howard, Cumbre DX)
FRANCE A Paris appeals court has ordered Radio France Internationale (RFI) to make adjustments to its plan to cut staff by 206 posts. In a decision on September 28, the court found that the RFI plan contained a number of irregularities, and ordered management to make more serious efforts to redeploy personnel to other public broadcasters.
Both unions who called the strike and management expressed satisfaction over the court decision. The unions point to the suspension of the redundancy process, saying that "it is a warning to other public broadcasters who may want to go down the same road". Management noted that the plan to lay off 206 personnel was not rejected by the court. RFI's managing director, Genevieve Goetzinger, said that management would continue with the plan, by "rapidly including the two modifications demanded by the judge. The entire procedure should be completed within a few days."
The court decision comes against the background of the longest strike in public broadcasting since the general strike of May 1968. The strike began on 12 May, was interrupted on 10 July, and started again at the beginning of September. (BBC Monitoring via DXLD)
FREE RADIO A man has been banned from every roof top in London after he pleaded guilty to installing pirate radio equipment on a tower block in the city.
Kieran O’Sullivan received the antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) following a successful prosecution by Ofcom. He also received an 18 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, a three month curfew, a £1,200 fine, and had his radio equipment seized. Ofcom worked with Camden Council and police to secure the prosecution following complaints from residents about Freeze FM operating from estates in Hampstead. (Ofcom website)
GERMANY MV Baltic Radio via Wertachtal heard with excellent reception at 1000 on 6140 November 1 starting their first Sunday of the month broadcast with announcements in German and English marking 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall followed by David Bowie’s Heroes. European Music Radio will use the 1000-1100 slot on the third Sunday of the month and Radio Gloria International on the fourth Sunday.
Adventist World Radio heard with good signals via Wertachtal 1530-1600 on 11675, Wavescan carried Sundays. Wavescan also broadcast Sundays in the 1230-1300 transmission on 15495 via Wertachtal, reception fair with some fading. (Mike Barraclough)
GREECE Radio Filia English programme 0700-0800 now heard on 12105 followed by an hour of French. (Mike Barraclough)
Sunday English Greek in Style music programme now heard 1105-1200 on 9420 15650. (Edwin Southwell)
GUINEA Radio Conakry heard with good strength signal and nice audio on 7125 October 5
so must have repaired their transmitter. On October 4 the signal was just a carrier with no detectable. Talk in vernacular to 1800 followed by programme of local music, went off abruptly in mid-tune at 1848, back when rechecked at 1957 and still sounding good at 2120. (Alan Pennington, Scotland, BDXC-UK)
HUNGARY Shortwave schedule of Hungarian Radio is 0200-0300 on 6100, 0500-0600 on 3975, 1100-1200 and 1700-1800 on 6025 and 2200-2300 on 3975. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via DX Listening Digest)
INDIA AIR Srinagar heard on 6110 at 0228 October 15, adverts in presumed Hindi, news after pips, in English from 0245. Frequency seemed clear until co-channel Radio Fana showed up at 0254, poor level. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DX Listening Digest)
Radio Kashmir Srinagar verification letter has been received in one month for a report on 4950 for report sent by email and post. Address is Mr. Ayaz A. Malik, Station Engineer, Radio Kashmir, Srinagar 190001, Jammu & Kashmir. Email: rks_se@yahoo.co.in (Jose Jacob, dx_India via DX Listening Digest)
INTERFERENCE International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 reports that the Russian over-the-horizon radar is active daily on 14440 and is producing splatter plus and minus 110 kHz. The upper part of the amateur 20 metre band is affected, too. The location of the ABM2-radar is in the area of Smolensk. The German PTT has been informed. (GB2RS news via Mike Terry, DX Listening Digest)
Over the horizon radar pulses presumably from Cyprus, 25khz wide, logged here mid October including at 1448 October 15 15490-15515, interfering with DW Russian via Rampisham, British military versus British civilians, October 14 at 1404 on 17790-17815 in the middle of the 16 metre broadcast band and October 17 at 1402 on 17640-17660 interfering with BBC English from Ascension on 17640. (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
KURDISTAN Denge Mezopotamya schedule is now 0500-1500 on 11530 and 1500-2100 on 7540 via Ukraine. (Alokesh Gupta via Wolfgang Bueschel)
LAOS Lao National Radio heard on 7145 at 1353 October 21, English female newsreader twice referred to Philippines, continued to 1357 off after brief musical outro. Tantalisingly close to being able to make out a few more occasional words. Hams out of the way for a few minutes only.
Also heard on 6130 at 1543 October 19, Lao female announcer, songs to presumed 1602 off. Would have been quite a decent signal if Tibet PBS hadn't been solidly on top. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DX Listening Digest)
MADAGASCAR Radio Nationale Malgache heard on 7105 at 1415 September 30 in French, Lionel Richie and hi life music but mostly talk, tuned out at 1455, parallel 6135 which had slightly better reception. In the clear now PBS Nei Menggu has left the frequency. (Ron Howard, California, Cumbre DX)
Radio Mada Internationale, the station that supports the deposed president of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, has resumed shortwave broadcasts brokered by World Radio Network 1530-1600 Saturday and Sunday on 15670. (WRN via Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
The reactivation of shortwave is connected with the GTT (Gasy Tia Tanindrazana) which describes itself as a collective of various associations and individuals from Madagascar, Europe and other countries opposed to the coup in Madagascar, that is striving for respect and legality. Radio Mada Internationale now describes itself as the radio station of the GTT. (Media Network)
Transmitter site is Grigoriopol, Moldova. (Aoki B-09 online schedule)
MALAYSIA Radio Suara Islam via RTM heard on 6175, 1445-1505 in Bahasa Malaysia, identification, frequency announcement, website, religious segment & westernised pop ballads into news at 1500. Unusually strong, easily dominated co-channel CNR1, slightly off frequency. Also, Klasik Nasional FM noted on 5965 in the clear as early as 1356 on September 30 and again on October 2 at 1600, Bahasa Malaysia news in the clear after co-channel BBC Bengali off. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DX Listening Digest)
MALI Radio Mali is now 7285.9, heard October 16th at about 0820 with information for students in French in parallel to 9635, latter is a bit stronger, but 7285.9 is also heard well during most of local morning. (Robert Foerster, Germany, DX Listening Digest)
NEPAL There was a strong carrier on 5005 with occasional talk until 0050 October 5, when AIR Thiruvananthapuram signed on at 0050 on 5010, strong co-channel splatter made reception impossible. Perhaps Radio Nepal? (T. R. Rajeesh, India, DX Window)
Have been regularly monitoring 5005, especially 2300-0300. It is Radio Nepal, carrier sometimes strong here but poor audio. (Gautain Kumar Sharma, Assam, India, ibid)
NETHERLANDS The 1395 transmitter was due to be reactivated November 1 as Big L International 21 hours a day, off air 1900-2200 when TWR Albania uses the channel. Technical problems delayed the launch by a few days. (KBC Radio website)
NIGERIA After barely a month on 17520 via WHRI, Voice of Biafra International found back on 15665 which it had used during most of the summer, October 9 at 1915 check, Fridays only at 1900-2000. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
NORTH KOREA Presumed Free North Korea Radio via Armenia heard October 20 at 2012 on 7530. Talks, sometimes over background music, generally fair reception, transmitter abruptly off mid-song at 2059. Immediate spin of the receiver dial to 7510 just in time to hear, audible between notes of Radio Ukraine International's interval signal, the same song as on 7530 coming to an end. At 2100 lady announcer just audible underneath Ukraine which I therefore presume is Open Radio North Korea from the same transmitter site. (Alan Roe)
Aoki for B-09 has Radio Free North Korea 1900-2100 on 7530 and Open Radio North Korea 2100-2200 on 7510 both via Armenia. (Mike Barraclough)
PRIDNESTROVYE Radio PMR noted with excellent reception at 2345 October 26 on 6240, identification followed by news items in German. Per the Aoki online frequency schedule these broadcasts are 2230-2400 Sunday to Thursday, English 2230 and 2315, French 2245 and 2330, German 2300 and 2345. (Mike Barraclough)
RUSSIA Russian talk and SSB ham heard at 1310 September 25, both on exactly 7200. Russia is also audible on 7200 as early as 0500 now. Per the online Aoki frequency list this is NVK Radio Sakha/Radio Rossii, 100 kW non-directional from Yakutsk at 1900-1500, also registered on 7230 in parallel, ex 7345. HFCC says 250 kW and 45 degrees. Yakutsk is 62 north, 130 east. 7200 is supposed to be off-limits for broadcasters as the boundary frequency between ham and BC bands now in Regions 1 and 3. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
It is a 250 kW transmitter, apparently from the last generation of high power shortwave broadcast transmitters made by Komintern Leningrad, similar or identical to transmitters at Rimavska Sobota, Minsk, Taldom I think. Its purpose is to enhance the longwave service which could be weak in some remote areas of Siberia, the antenna should of course be designed accordingly. This rig on the transmitter site outside Yakutsk was for quite some time faulty but now the problem appears to be finally fixed. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, ibid)
Radio Rossii heard on 7230 0804-0823 October 20 in Russian, "Novosti Sport", mentioned Komsomolska Pravda, adverts, 0810 identification as Radio Rossii Sakha, into presumed Yakut news, parallel 7200 about equal level. As far as I could make out previously regularly heard 7345 was silent, 7320 had different programming from 0810 onwards. (Martien Groot, Netherlands, ibid)
7320 is GTRK Magadan. (Aoki online frequency list via Mike Barraclough)
I was surprised to hear GTRK Pomorye on 6160 0315-0401, September 24 mixing with Vancouver at a decent level. It was carrying their own local/regional programme, at 0400 Pomorye joined the R. Rossii network, with pips and identification. Now CKZN is back on frequency reception of Pomorye here is more difficult. (Ron Howard, California, DXLD)
The English name for the region is Arkhangelsk, extreme NW Russia not far from Finland. (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
Radio Tatarstan heard on 11915 at 0935 tune in November 1, talk in Tatar, seemingly book or play reading, off 1000 following announcements over music. Per Aoki online frequency schedule they now broadcast 0510-0600 on 15105, 0710-0800 on 9860 and 0910-1000 on 11915. (Mike Barraclough)
ST. HELENA Radio St. Helena day is November 14, the schedule is 2000-2100 to India/SE Asia, 2100-2200 to Japan/Asia, 2200-2330 to Europe and 2330-0100 to North America/Central America/Caribbean all on 11092.5 USB.
Airmail reports with 5 Euros or 3 or more US dollars to Radio St. Helena, P. O. Box 93, Jamestown, St. Helena. STHL 1ZZ. South Atlantic Ocean, via Airmail, via United Kingdom and Ascension. They have an email address for listeners to contact the station during the broadcast: Radio.Announcements4669@msn.com (Robert Kipp, Gary Walters, DXLD)
SLOVAKIA Radio Slovakia International, as of October 6, had received no funds for running the foreign service and the contracts of staff members have been terminated at the end of this year. They still hope to get financing, if not they will only broadcast in Slovak and English on the internet. (Satnews.de via Kai Ludwig, DX Listening Digest)
The Austrian DX Board (ADXB) is issuing a special QSL card for correct reception reports on Radio Slovakia International in all languages between 1 November and 31 January. This is part of the celebrations on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of ADXB, the only Austrian DX club. Reports should be sent to: ADXB, P.O.B. 1000, A-1081 VIENNA, Austria. The handling fee is 1 IRC, 1 US dollar or 1 Euro. (Edwin Southwell)
The IRRS schedule has a new broadcast 0300-0600 daily on 9835 in Arabic, suspect it is the long awaited morning service from Miraya FM from and to Sudan. (Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
SOLOMON ISLANDS Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation heard again on 5018.4, noted 0927-1000 October 7 with music and talk in Pidgin. (Chuck Bolland, Florida, DX Listening Digest)
SWEDEN Radio Sweden has discontinued mailing QSL cards to listeners in response to reception reports. (T.R. Rajeesh)
UNITED KINGDOM Latest RSL’s from the Ofcom website:
Ballymena: Radio Cracker 107.6 November 27 to December 24
Basildon: Gateway FM 87.7 November 27 to December 24
Biggleswade: Biggles FM 104.8 November 27 to December 24
Bradford: Radio Haaj FM 107.8 November 10 to December 7
Crewe: The Cat 87.7 November 23 to December 20
Eastbourne: EYR 87.7 November 18 to 20
East Lothian: East Coast FM 87.7 November 30 to December 27
Leeds: South Leeds Community Radio 87.9 November 21 to December 12
Leicester: Nankana Radio 95.1 October 26 to November 22
Leicester; Radio Hajj 87.7 December 7 to January 3
Peterborough: OSCAR Radio 96.3 November 10 to December 7
Selston, Nottinghamshire: Radio Salistune 102.4 November 21 to 27
UNITED STATES The new shortwave station in Lebanon, Tennessee has the Callsign WTWW, I’m guessing that this stands for We Transmit World Wide. (FCC website via Travers DeVine, DX Listening Digest)
Indeed it does, they now have a website http://wtww.us. Updated October 21, photographs show the transmitter fully wired and rhombic pole holes being drilled. (Mike Barraclough)
In a phone conversation September 29 George McLintoch said that construction was fully on schedule. If there are no unanticipated problems the station could start testing on air by the middle of this month, programming by December 1. The main lobe of the antenna will be 50 degrees, but as with WWCR, rhombics are rather non-directional with certain nulls. The station also has an old antenna from KAIJ which might be used later. Final decision on programming for transmitter one not yet made; second transmitter should be on the air next year. Frequencies are the ex KAIJ ones, 9480 daytime, 5755 nighttime. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
WBOH 5920 closed their shortwave service October 24. Their sister station WTJC continues on 9370 on a 24 hour schedule. (Gayle Van Horn, Monitoring Times, North Carolina)
URUGUAY Radio Uruguay Montevideo heard on 6125 at 1446-1459 September 27 with Spanish Media and DX programme "Radioactividades". The programme conducted by Daniel Ayala included an article about CX10 Radio Ariel with very interesting old audio clips. Complete identification as: "...Radio Uruguay... con su repetidora en 103,9 MHz, en Colonia del Sacramento." and "La Radiodifusion Nacional del Uruguay es un Servicio Publico Estatal...", SINPO 24432. (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DX Listening Digest)
I had a positive identification for Radio Uruguay on 6125 October 1. The frequency was clear when checked at 0910 but on rechecking at 0919, I found pleasant folk music followed by commercials and a recorded identification as "Radio Uruguay 1050 AM, Montevideo, Uruguay". (Bryan Clark, New Zealand, DX Listening Digest)
VATICAN For the first time Vatican Radio is going to use regularly the Radio Veritas Asia transmitter in the Philippines to India for their second morning transmission at 0200-0320 on 15460, the service is in Hindi, Tamil, Malayam and English.
In exchange Radio Veritas Asia will use Vatican Radio transmitters for Urdu at 1430-1457 on 9585 and Filipino to the Middle East at 1500-1553 on 11715. (Alok Dasgupta via Alokesh Gupta, Cumbre DX)
VENEZUELA I have just received a fat express mail envelope, apparently cleared by US Customs, from Radio Nacional de Venezuela full of propaganda, and two QSL cards verifying the date only. Also enclosed were frequency schedules and a badly xeroxed beam heading and coverage area map. The e-mail shown at the bottom of the paper envelope found inside the plastic express mail package is rnv@rnv.gov.ve. I had sent the reception reports to them care of Radio Havana Cuba. (Dave Askine, NASWA Yahoo group)
I received similar along with a box of pills labelled Loratadina 10 mg 10 tabletas, manufactured by MEDIGEN. Box says: Indicación y Posología: A juicio del Facultativo. (Ed Insinger, New Jersey, DX Listening Digest)
Drugs.com says Loratadina is not known to be marketed in USA, just in Venezuela and some other South American countries. It is used to treat symptoms of hay fever such as runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
Radio Nacional de Venezuela schedule is 1000-1100 on 6180, 1100-1200 on 6060, 1200-1300 on 11705, 1500-1600 on 11680, 1900-2000 on 15290, 2000-2100 on 17705, 2200-2300 on 11670, 2300-2400 on 13680 15250. (DX Mix News Bulgaria, ibid)
The 1500-1600 and 2300-2400 broadcasts include a lot of material in English. (Harold Sellers, Canada, Sergei Sozedkhin, Illinois, ibid)
VIETNAM Voice of Vietnam English service relay via Moosbrun is now at 1800-1830 on 5955. (Edwin Southwell)
CONTRIBUTORS: Germany: Wolfgang Bueschel, India: T. R. Rajeesh, Ireland: Jonathan Murphy, UK: Alan Roe, Edwin Southwell. United States: Gayle Van Horn.
