READING INTERNATIONAL RADIO GROUP The next meetings will be on July 24 in Room 3, Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35-39 London Street, Reading at 2.30 p.m. All are welcome at the meetings, 14 DX’ers attended the last one. For more information email me or phone 01462 643899.
AUSTRALIA Mike McClusky is the new Chief Executive Officer of Radio Australia as of May 31. In an interview for Pacific Beat he said in part:
What is definitely taking place is a change in the way people consume media, there is no doubt about it and that means people are accessing content through radios, through televisions, through the internet via computer, through mobile platforms and in many ways through vodcasting and podcasting type activity, and on demand. So audiences are changing and they are changing in Asia and the Pacific just as they are changing elsewhere. What we have to understand is how our audiences are consuming the media and then also start to say how are we going to deliver it to those people in a way that is meaningful to them, no matter where they live.
We have to continue to provide content in a traditional form, where people have not been able to change and adapt to new technologies and in the most modern form. But that is not abnormal for a modern media organisation to actually be able to provide content in multiple platforms, in a multiple form of ways so that people can access the content no matter where they are, whether they are using a mobile phone type device or whether they are using a sophisticated computer. The full interview is at http://bit.ly/awAXR5 (Mike Barraclough)
Broadcast Australia has asked DRM member company Continental Electronics to supply two new DRM-ready 100 kilowatt transmitters for two of its short-wave stations. The state-of-the-art Continental Model 418G-DRM transmitters will enable Broadcast Australia to transmit programming in analogue AM and digital (DRM) modes from Tenant Creek and Shepparton. Both transmitters are expected to be on the air and fully operational by late summer. (DRM Newsletter, June 2010, Cumbre DX)
Radio Symban is now back on air 2368.5 from its third shortwave transmitter site in Sydney's SW (Leppington). I noted the station on air June 26, 2010 at 0125. (Ian Baxter, June 27, Shortwavesites Yahoo Group via DX Listening Digest)
AZERBAIJAN Voice of Justice in Stepanakert, Mountainous Karabakh has retimed its evening transmission on 9677 Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1500-1530 to 1300-1330 (WRTH Domestic Update via DX Listening Digest)
Station was heard June 2 at 0525-0553 on 9677.4 announcing the following address: Voice of Justice, Tigranmetz Street 23 A, Stepanakert, Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. Probably on the envelope you have to add via Armenia. (Rumen Pankov, Radio Bulgaria DX programme via Yimber Gaviria, DX Listening Digest)
BELARUS. Domestic service, medium wave transmitters operate between 1400-2100 and shortwave 0200-2100 except 6080, 6115 and 7265 which are 1500-2100. Shortwave transmitters also operate 0200-0100 irregularly. (WRTH Domestic Update via DXLD)
6010, 6040, 6070, 7235, and 7280 have been on the air throughout the day since these transmissions were reactivated. They appear to be more or less 24 hours. 6190 can be heard here at Belarus sunrise when Germany is still in darkness. On May 26 I heard 6010 and 6070 identifying "Radyo Brest" at 1530. (Olle Alm, Sweden via Wolfgang Bueschel)
BOLIVIA Radio Nacional de Huanuni heard June 11 on new 5965 at 2255-2325. Spanish dialogue between 3 persons, songs and announcement. Reactivated, SINPO 25232. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, PLAYDX via DXLD)
BRAZIL Radio Canção Nova in Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo has returned to 4825, heard at 1730 May 30, very weak on clear channel. (Edison Bocorny Jr., Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, radioescutas Yahoo group via DX Listening Digest)
Radio Daqui, Goiânia heard June 14 2020 to 2103 off on 11830, identification 2034, frequency announcement 2100, abrupt off in the middle of a song. SINPO 35433. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, PLAYDX via DX Listening Digest)
CANADA In an amusing piece the website canadaeast.com tells us how residents in Tantramar marsh hear voices from their bathtubs, refrigerators, washing machines and toasters. These are apparently coming from the nearby Sackville transmitter site of Radio Canada International (RCI), though I am slightly puzzled at the sentence “Speaking in tinny, muffled tones, these voices ramble, sing and chat in Italian, Chinese, Portuguese and various other sing-song languages of the world” as RCI does not broadcast in Italian. (Andy Sennitt, Media Network)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Curt Bender and Dan Anderson and myself went to Central African Republic in April to set up two new shortwave stations. One is in Boali for ICDI where they were currently broadcasting on 6030. The new transmitter will broadcast on 3390 during the evening hours. We were able to do some test broadcasts with Lazy H antenna at 1 kW.
The other station was for the government site at Bimbo near Bangui where they currently have a Chinese built shortwave transmitter operating. We used another 1 kW transmitter with Lazy H antenna from a small room at this facility. The frequency there was 5035. The government was able to do one test broadcast before we left at the end of April but they still needed to put the air-conditioning in the room. (Hank Zeck, HCJB Global Technology Centre, Indiana, DX Listening Digest)
According to TDP, www.tdp.info/caf.html, the original shortwave transmitter at Bimbo was a 100 kW Thomson from 1970, and then a 20 kW from 1980, with no `year out` shown, though it’s been off the air for several years. 1 kW will hardly serve as a replacement with nationwide coverage, but will at least get them back on the air. (Glenn Hauser, ibid)
CHINA China Huayi BC heard June 1 on 6185, ex 5050 at 1213, usual format of talk till 1230 then non-stop pop songs till 1300 pips and off, no sign-off announcement. (Ron Howard, California, DX Listening Digest)
While I was in Beijing mid June, I went to visit some old friends in the technical department at China Radio International. Li Zhou Qui, who was head of the distribution department until he retired in 2009, told me that the Chinese have leased some land outside of Havana to build a relay station. He referred to this station as a way for Cuba to earn a few millions year, but it was going to be a challenge to the island’s poor electric grid. As this "new relay station" is not intended for broadcasts, but rather as a way to create more interference than anything.
Within CRI, the only group who listens or even knows anything about shortwave is the technical staff. Most of which have been working at CRI since the early 1980s. The average age of the staff in master control and the distribution department is between 50 and 65. They are also regular SWL's who enjoy listening to the VOA, BBC and other stations their masters call "enemies of the state".
Within CRI they are very vocal about jamming. The only reason nothing happens to them for speaking their minds is because they have been at CRI for so long and also because they are senior members of the CRI CPC Committee. They didn't know the time frame for this relay to go online. All they know is, a few senior members of the Ministry Of Communications have been in Havana since October last year . (Keith Perron, Taiwan, DX Listening Digest)
COSTA RICA Radio Exterior de Espana Cariari relay noted May 27 at 1231 on 5930 making a sub audible heterodyne with rumbling Petropavlovsk, while parallel 5970 was weak but clear. The other transmitter on 15170 noted at 1254 terribly distorted breaking up and unlistenable on the fundamental and splattering spikes out as far as 15020-15320. Except for strong signals from Cuba on 15120 and WYFR on 15130, which suffered heavy interference, it was impossible to tell what other signals were trying to be heard in this entire range! No improvement by 1430 check, splatter range roughly 15030-15310.
Combined with the Radio Havana spurs from 15360 on 15323, etc., most of the 19 metre band was polluted by these two engineering nightmares. At 1303, even the big signal from CRI Sackville on 15260 had interference from Cariari. Suspect this problem had something to do with the new unit being DRM-capable.
On May 28 15170 still crackling on fundamental and exporting modulation spikes some 100 kHz above and below, but not as bad as the day before. Next check at 1327 had improved more, splattering only plus/minus 30 kHz. Severity no doubt depends on the received strength of the fundamental at any moment, as well as transmitter output.
Still malfunctioning May 31 and June 1 but on June 2 REE finally got the new DRM-capable transmitter tweaked, no longer crackling and driving spikes up and down the band, very good and clear signal at 1227, at 1242 I heard the Monday to Friday Catalan news segment. (Glenn Hauser, Oklahoma, DX Listening Digest)
On the 9630 REE DRM transmission 0015 June 17 noted a sharp drop-off of DRM signal observable on the scope at 9625 and 9635, but not to zero; DRM noise continues with lower and tapering intensity for another 10 or 15 kHz. CBC on 9625 useless in AM and USB, but fair in LSB, even using portable with whip inside the house. Decent mono audio for the most part at 20.96 kbps (and no text or photo streams included,) though the odd DRM vocal fuzz is apparent; I have yet to hear DRM audio which doesn't distort into fuzz in the middle of the vocal range, though low and high audio frequencies. (Terry Wilson, Michigan, ibid)
On June 14 at 2304 the 5954.2 Elcor transmitter noted with anti-Castro monologue. Continued with some short breaks in transmission and occasional music. At 2351 identified as Radio Republica. On June 16 tuned in 2258 and the Cubans were jamming the frequency. (Terry Krueger, Florida, DX Listening Digest)
CUBA If stations want to stay relevant, they need to change with technology or be left behind. A good example of a station being left behind in the dust is Radio Havana Cuba (RHC). I'm still in touch with many people there and they have told me that the bulk of listeners these days are only DXers. They joke within RHC that if it was not for them and a few others, DXers would not have anything to listen to. Even when I was there and would host Mailbag from time to time, almost all the letters were from DXers, and now even more so. The Cuban Interest Section in Washington estimates their weekly audience is less than 10,000. This was confirmed to me once at a reception at the Cuban Embassy in Beijing (Keith Perron, Taiwan, DX Listening Digest)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA Radio Africa, Malabo 15190 sent a date, time and frequency QSL Card showing Station Engineer, standing in front of the Studio Transmitter Room, of Radio Africa. Also sent from Pan American Broadcasting was a cover letter, complete programme schedule for the organization, which use these transmitter facilities. Reply came from Pan American, California address, for both a posted e-mail initial report, subsequently a follow-up, with reply in 8 months total time. Verification signer: Jeff Bernald, Pan American Broadcasting. For reports direct to the station the address is: Radio Africa network, P. O. Box 851, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. (Edward Kusalik, Canada, Cumbre DX)
ETHIOPIA At our recent AGM, IBB Monitor leader in Finland Arto Mujunen indicated that jamming of the VOA is not necessarily totally by the Ethiopians. It sometimes starts less than 15 minutes after the VOA begins to use a new, unannounced frequency. That requires a huge monitoring network. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX Window June 16)
FREE RADIO Station heard on 6660, the beloved frequency of Russian pirates, May 26 with Beatles songs at 1908. (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Australian DX News via DXLD)
I heard a station on 4854.7 with mostly music several times in May around 2210. Thanks to help from Francesco Cecconi via Dario Monferini it was identified as Radio Nikolas Dynamitis, from the town of Tyrnavos in the Larissa Prefecture. This is the third harmonic of their X-band operation which used to be on 1625v, and is now on 1618.2. (Arne Nilsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DX Listening Digest)
GAMBIA A new programme for the Gambia began on May 22. It's 15 minutes per week, and the programme is in various local languages as well as English segments. The organization which sponsors and produces the programme is the Save the Gambia Democracy Project. Their website is www.savethegambia.org. Schedule is Saturday 1815-1830 on 15225 via Nauen. (Jeff White via Wolfgang Bueschel, Allen Dean)
Good reception in Birmingham June 12 1817-1830, talk in West African sounding language. (Tony Rogers, DX Listening Digest)
Googled Save the Gambia Democracy Project and found audio announcement in English, saying the new station is called Baati Rewmi or Voice of the Country. (Dragan Lekic, Serbia, DX Listening Digest)
GREECE Voice of Greece Radio Filia relays on 11645 0500-1000 now have French 0500, Spanish 0530, German 0600, Russian 0630, Greek programmes 0700-0900, English 0900 and Turkish 0930. (John Babbis, DX Listening Digest)
GUINEA Radio Familia presumed the station heard on 4900 May 23 at 2326 to 0005 off, African music, short identification "Familia", tentative national anthem before sign off. Poor signal strength. (Patrick Robic, Austria, DX Window)
Transmitter is located at Timbi-Madina. (WRTH update via DX Listening Digest)
INDIA Voice of Kashmir schedule is now 0230-0330 on 4870, 0730-0830 on 6100, 1430-1530 on 4870. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
IRAN Dr Arash Irandoost is a pro-democracy activist and founder of the Pro-Democracy Movement of Iran. In his blog at hakemiat-e-mardom.blogspot.com he writes “In reaction to Islamic Republic’s media crackdown, I have been discussing the merits of establishing shortwave radio broadcasting with media experts and those interested in overthrowing the Islamic Dictatorship of Iran. The idea has received wide acceptance as a viable option. I have decided to share it with the people of the world and ask them for their input and support, as they have been most generous and supportive allies of this pro-democracy movement.” (Media Network, June 2)
There are many shortwave news radios broadcasting to Iran…all type of foreign media are jammed by the Iranian government. I don’t see how this station would make a big impact, it’ll probably just be jammed like the others. (andi, ibid)
I agree with you. It isn’t clear whether Dr Irandoost is aware of the current situation, although given his background I would expect him to be. I think he’s interested in more aggressive programming than these other stations, as his blog mentions ‘regime change’. like you, I doubt that his plan is really feasible in 2010, and I wonder what “media experts” have suggested it is (Andy Sennitt, ibid)
ISRAEL Galei Tzahal noted on 15785 2135 to past 2205 on May 28, back on this frequency after several months silence. Hebrew talk and local pop music, fair to good reception. Weak on parallel 6973. (Brian Alexander, Pennsylvania, Cumbre DX)
KUWAIT Radio Kuwait sent me a gorgeous big full colour, full data QSL Certificate stating, "This is certify that Bruce Jensen is an official monitor of Radio Kuwait's transmissions"; signed by the Asst. Under Secretary for Engineering Affairs for a report on their Arabic broadcasts on 13650, received in 22 days. Also a ton of other stuff - CD-Rom with Kuwait facts and figures, station stickers in Arabic, two colourful postal cards, nice personalised letter and a full-colour glossy pamphlet with schedule, programme guide and Facts & Figures. (Bruce Jensen, California, Prime Time Shortwave Yahoo group via DX Listening Digest)
LIBERIA Star Radio website says that they are broadcasting test transmissions 0500-0900 and 1800-2100 on 4025. (Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest)
Tentatively heard in Sweden June 2 closing down at 2108 after English newscast and announcement, weak signal with interference from utility stations. (Thomas Nilsson, Dxplorer via Wolfgang Bueschel)
MALAYSIA Radio-Television Malaysia (RTM) has chosen the same Continental model as Radio Australia for its new shortwave transmitters. Three 100 kilowatt DRM-ready HF transmitters, along with other associated equipment, are to be installed in the RTM transmitting station at Kajang. RTM’s new transmitters are expected to be on the air and fully operational before the end of the year. (DRM Newsletter, June 2010, Cumbre DX)
MEXICO XEQM RASA Mérida, heard on 6104.8 0514-0600 June 10, music and announcements in Spanish, SINPO 24322. At 0600 blocked by BBC signing on the same frequency. (Manuel Mendez, Spain, Cumbre DX)
MYANMAR Myanmar Radio on 5985.8 has been heard over the past few days with sign-on just after 2300 in Burmese. Weak to fair reception on a clear channel. There is a greyline path around this time between South-East Asia and Northern Europe. Reception starts to deteriorate soon after. (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, June 16, BDXC-UK)
NETHERLANDS Radio Netherlands has cancelled the 1658-1759 English broadcast to Zimbabwe using 50kw from Madagascar on 7395, has been replaced by WYFR in Zulu to South Africa. (Dan Ferguson, DX Listening Digest)
The larger-than-expected number of votes for the right-wing Freedom Party (PVV) in the recent election has also become a major issue, and it's not clear yet whether the PVV will be invited to help form a coalition. Its leader Geert Wilders is on record as calling for the abolition of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Other parties also want to make cuts in public broadcasting, but the PVV is only the party that has gone as far as calling for RNW to disappear. (Andy Sennitt, Media Network, June 10)
Geert Wilders has rejected an invitation to re-open negotiations on forming a right wing cabinet. VVD leader Mark Rutte now appears to be setting his sights on a centrist cabinet, made up of his own centre-right VVD, the centrist Christian Democrats and the centre-left Labour Party. (Radio Netherlands news website June 29)
NEW ZEALAND Shortwave radio is likely to continue to play a major role in the Pacific for many years, the chief executive of Radio New Zealand, Peter Cavanagh, has said. In an interview with ABU News, he said advances in technology were helping Radio New Zealand International reach more people and provide a more technically robust signal.
“We currently broadcast to the Pacific using both analogue and digital (DRM) shortwave transmitters. Most of our local partner stations are now using our digital transmission to provide a higher quality and more reliable signal for re-broadcast to their own audiences. But many individuals and those living on the more remote islands are still very much dependent on analogue receivers - particularly in times of crisis such as the cyclone season - and it’s likely that analogue shortwave will continue to play a major role in the region for many more years to come.” (Media Network)
NORTH KOREA Radio Free Chosun now on 7505, ex 7515, at 2000-2100 via Tashkent. At 1500-1600 via Dhabbaya they are using 11560, 11565 and 13845 are alternate frequencies. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
PAKISTAN Radio Pakistan is in the process of installation of two new shortwave transmitters at Landhi Karachi. The transmitters are of 100kW. Owing to fund constraints, further delay is expected in completion of the project and bringing the transmitters in operation. It will be two more years before the project is completed. (Aslam Javid, Pakistan, DX Listening Digest)
PAPUA/NEW GUINEA Radio Fly, which as reported last month has started shortwave relays on 3915 and 5960, operates 2000-1200. Their mailing address is PO Box 1, Tabubil, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, email jobby.paiva at oktedi.com (David Ricquish, Pacific Radio Heritage Foundation via DX Listening Digest)
The Radio Fly website, http://bit.ly/9peGT5, says that the station provides a vital community information service to isolated areas of the North Fly region, parts of West Sepik, the rest of Western Province and some areas along the border of West Papua. It broadcasts in English and Tok Pisin. The isolated location of Western Province means that access to mainstream media is very limited, but Radio Fly fills that void. The station is vital for the Community Mine Continuation process, informing villages of visits from community relations officers, and keeping them apprised of the environmental conditions and mine activity. A large chunk of the programming is focused on health and education messages as well as sustainable development, which is a topic very close to the listeners’ hearts.
As well as playing a wide range of music and entertainment, Radio Fly serves as a medium for dissemination of relevant information. The Tok Save (announcement) service is widely used by people all over the province, to announce social and business gatherings such as government visits, sports meets, women’s training sessions, weddings, funerals, and workshops. Legal, health, farming and business-oriented programs are widely heard, and children’s and religious shows are very popular with regular listeners. Volunteers with a particular interest often come into the studio to present their own programmes, and there is a three-times-daily news bulletin, which covers local, national and international stories. (Website via Dave Kenny, Glenn Hauser, DXLD)
Aoki schedule shows 24 hour operation. (Dan Ferguson, shortwave listening via DXLD)
Several reports in DX Listening Digest and Cumbre DX of reception in many parts of North America on 5960 at times between 0600 and 1400.
PRIDNESTROVYE I wrote an email to Radio PMR Moldova to get some information about the English service schedule. The next morning opening my office email I received their answer with a complete QSL card confirming that I listened to their emissions on shortwave. Naturally I've deleted the QSL card (it was very nice and in colour) because I don't like have confirmation of broadcast never heard. (Dario Gabrielli, Italy, DXLD)
RUSSIA Radio Krasnoyarsk in Siberia was received in Sofia at 2345 on 6085. The station schedule is 2100-1700 relaying Radio Russia Moscow with local programmes Sunday through Thursday 2315-2400, Monday through Friday 0510-0610 and 0910-1010, Saturday and Sunday 0100-0210. (Radio Bulgaria DX programme via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DX Listening Digest)
Voice of Russia is now using 11655 0900-1100 to Europe. At the German service website the transmitter site is given as Lvov, Ukraine. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX Listening Digest)
We can presume from this that the North American English service broadcast 0000-0200 on 7440, formerly Radio Ukraine’s frequency, is also from Lvov. (Mike Barraclough)
ST HELENA I visited St. Helena on March 30 aboard the Queen Mary 2 which visited the island for the very first time. I went straight from the launch to the Radio St. Helena broadcast van where I was interviewed and got a big plug in for the annual shortwave broadcast. Several photos, and the audio of my interview are at http://bit.ly/dnDzQn. The station is targeting the first Saturday in October for the annual Radio Saint Helena Day on 11092.5. They are hoping that propagation will be better on the earlier date. (Joe Buch, Florida, swprograms)
SOUTH KOREA South Korea has delayed plans to begin psychological operations (PSYOPs) aimed at “sowing the seed of doubt” among North Korean residents, with the spread of propaganda leaflets and radio broadcasts via loudspeakers near the Military Demarcation Line. South Korea halted PSYOPs in 2004 when the late former President Roh Moo-hyun was in office, following the repeated requests from the North during military talks.
The announcement came after concerns about the safety of South Korean workers at the joint Gaeseong Industrial complex. North Korea issued multiple statements, threatening to close the Gaeseong project if South Korea resumes the PSYOP and to fire at the loudspeakers that were to be set up near the border. The North’s military also warned they would not guarantee the safety of South Koreans crossing the border, which was ensured under the military accords signed between the two sides in the past. (Korea Times, May 31 via Media Network)
SUDAN Radio Dabanga to Darfur schedule is now 0430-0527 on 13600 Madagascar and 13730 Dhabbaya, 1530-1727 on 11500 Madagascar and 13730 Wertachtal. (Station website, Aoki A10 online schedule)
SWEDEN Svenska Dagbladet report that Swedish yachters have petitioned the minister of culture, Mrs. Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, and asked her to intervene in order to rescue the overseas transmissions of Radio Sweden, due to cease on shortwave as of November 1. They say that having to rely on a computer with broadband connection could become expensive both for yachters and ordinary tourists. (Claes-W Englund ,Ullmar Qvick. ARC MV-Eko via Olle Alm via Wolfgang Bueschel)
TAIWAN The first Taoism shortwave broadcasting called Takai Shinlingde Suochi (key to open the spirit) was started on May 1 from Taiwan via CBS transmitter site. Schedule is 1100-1200 on 7460 to North East China, 1200-1300 on 1098 to Central and South China.
The programme is produced by the newly-risen Taoism Organization Ikuantao (IKT), and consists of 1 hour Taoism lecture in Chinese. The address of IKT is: No.766 Tongping Road,
Taiping City, Taichung County, Taiwan Taoism is the ancient religion in China, influenced Korea and Japan, but was persecuted and deadly destroyed in Chinese mainland during the Great Cultural Revolution in 1960-1970's. It has been recently revived in China and Taiwan. Good reception in Japan on 7460, no jamming from China at the beginning of June. (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, DX Listening Digest)
UKRAINE Email from Dana Smolyak, Chief Political correspondent, Radio Ukraine International June 9:
“We hope to return to shortwave in the near future. No way, RUI is not permanently gone.” (Kraig Krist, Virginia, DX Listening Digest)
The two announcers on the June Hello from Kyiv, where their future on shortwave was discussed a lot, said:
“We still don't know exactly when and how Radio Ukraine International is going to broadcast on shortwave. We all hope that Radio Ukraine International will be back on shortwave bands.
He (a listener who wrote in) is worried about the absence of Radio Ukraine International's shortwave signal and all we can tell him is that we're worried too. Hopefully shortwave transmissions will reach North America soon. (Mike Barraclough)
LATE NEWS: Radio Ukraine International heard again on shortwave
Radio Ukraine International returned to shortwave July 1, monitored as follows up to midday July 2 by myself, Wolfgang Bueschel, Kai Ludwig and Erik Koie in DX Listening Digest:
July 1:
11620: 0800 Ukrainian, 0900-1000 English
7440: 1700 German, 1800 Ukrainian, 1900-2000 English
6145: 2000 German, 2100 English, 2200 Ukrainian, 2300-0000 German.
July 1/2:
7440: 2300 Ukrainian, 0000 English 0100-0200 Ukrainian.
Schedule after 0200 not determined.
9840: 0500 English, 0600-0700 Ukrainian
11620: 0700-1000 Ukrainian. (
Mike Barraclough)
UNITED KINGDOM Latest RSL’s from Ofcom:
Alderney: Quay FM 87.7 July 26 to August 22
Bexhill on Sea: Bexhill FM 87.7 July 10 to 16
Billinghurst: Radio Weald 87.7 July 18 to 23
Boston: Endeavour Radio 87.7 July 3 to 30
Cholmondley Castle, Cheshire: Pageant of Power Radio 87.7 July 17 to 18
Cowes: Cowes Radio 87.7 July 30 to August 7
Croydon: Brit FM 87.7 July 14 to 23
Cumbria: Scout/Adventure FM 87.7 July 30 to August 7
Ebbw Vale, Gwent: EV FM 87.7 July 29 to August 7
Enfield: Radio Enfield 87.7 July 16 to 19
Fairford: Air Tattoo Live 87.7 July 15 to 18
Farnborough; Farnborough Int Airshow Radio 87.7 July 12 to 25
Gloucester: TAC Radio 87.8 July 2 to 4
High Wycombe: Blink FM 87.9 August 1 to 28
Horley: Spin FM 87.7 July 19 to August 15
Huddersfield: Radio Sangam 87.9 July 11 to August 7
Kelmarsh, Northants: Radio Kelmarsh 87.7 August 11 to 15
Kinglassie, Fife; K-Town FM 87.8 July 3 to 30
Kircubbin, Co. Down: Cuan FM 107.0 August 1 to 14
Liverton, Devon: NLR New Life Radio 106.2 July 24 to August 6
London SE1: Southside FM 87.7 August 1 to 28
London Soho: Ronnie Scott’s Radio 96.3 July 29 to August 13
Malmesbury: Radio Womad 87.7 July 21 to 26
Manchester: FM Manchester Radio 87.9 July 11 to August 7
Newark: New Wine FM 87.9 July 29 to August 7
Norwich: Jam FM 87.7 July 31 to August 7
Paddock Wood: Radio War and Peace 87.9 July 18 to 25
Peterborough: KFM Faith Camp Radio 106.2 July 31 to August 8
Peterborough: Radio Peterborough 106.2 June 26 to July 23
Plymouth: Efford Take A Part Radio 107.9 July 23 to 25
Portaferry: Ferry FM 107.2 July 16 to 23
Radford: YMCA Digital 87.7 July 1 to 28
Reading 1 Ummah FM 87.9 August 11 to September 11
St. Andrews, Fife: Radio Open Golf 107.5 July 14 to 18
Shepton Mallet: New Wine FM 87.7 July 23 to August 7
Snetterton Circuit, Norwich: BSB Radio 87.7 July 16 to 18
Westhoughton, Bolton; Washacre FM 87.7 July 28 to 31
Ramadan broadcasts, all licenced from August 10, 11 or 12 for 28 days:
Fast FM: Bradford 87.9, Newcastle 87.9.
MCR Ramadan Special: Whitechapel, London E1 1134
Pakistan FM: Bradford 87.7
Radio Haac: Harrow 96.2
Radio Ramadan: Edinburgh 87.7, Greenwich 87.9, Manchester 87.9, Oldham 87.7, Stoke on Trent 87.9, Walsall 87.8.
Radio Ramadham: Dudley 87.7, Glasgow 87.7
Radio Ramadhan: Bolton 87.7, Cardiff 87.7, Croydon 87.9, Huddersfield 107.9
Radio Ramzaan: High Wycombe 107.4, Leeds 87.7
Ramadan FM: Milton Keynes 87.7, Preston 87.9, Sheffield 87.7
Ramadan Radio: Blackburn 87.7, Keighley 102.1, Slough 87.7
Ramadhan Blessings: Bristol 87.7
Ramadhan Burton: Burton 87.7
TeesFast FM: Middlesbrough 87.7
New BBC World Service English frequencies: 0600-0700 15105 Rampisham to North East Africa ex 9410 Ascension, 0900-1100 additional 15285 via Singapore to South East Asia, 1800-1900 5875 Cyprus, ex 9485. (DX Mix News, Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
No one can argue against the simple truth that the availability of information on the internet killed shortwave broadcasting to developed countries. However once shortwave transmitting was already reduced and money cut from budgets, it became apparent that the internet could be much more easily blocked. One only has to look to China to see this happening right now.
I was party to a BBC internal memo that came out about 2 years ago, which clearly stated that for certain demographics, shortwave was both still the cheapest, and still the choice method of broadcasting because of internet blocking or lack of internet capabilities. The BBC has actually ramped up shortwave service to some countries, while continuing to drop their remaining broadcasts to the Western World.
The majority of the equipment has been mothballed rather than sold off, or moved to other transmitting sites. The majority of BBC frequencies are also still registered. If there were a major incident or attack on the infrastructure of the internet (the majority of transatlantic data still travels through hardline vs satellite due to the lack of bandwidth, etc.), have no doubt that the BBC and other broadcasters would resume broadcasting almost overnight via shortwave. (Darryl Jones, ODXA Yahoo group via DX Listening Digest)
UNITED STATES I sent an e-mail via Pastor Peters, http://sfawbn.com/contact.php, reporting on WTWW. Received no detail card in 22 days from WTWW picturing “President of WTWW George McClintock in front of the 100,000 watt shortwave transmitter“. WTWW address on card is: 6611 Ormond Dr, Nashville TN 37205 USA, but is postmarked Cheyenne WY 820. (Alan Pennington, Caversham, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD)
WRNO noted on June 10 on 7506.2 0342 to 0400 off with Arabic programme. Tarek Zeidan confirmed that it was a Christian religious programme. I sent an email to Larry Thorn at WRNO and he said that they have recently started doing this in the last hour.
The frequency is actually off a little due to a defective oscillator, and the replacements turned out to be too large to fit in the driver area of the transmitter. They are working to get new ones but so far they have not arrived. (Ron Howard, California, June 11 Cumbre DX)
More additional WYFR English transmissions: 1500-1600 on 17580 via Ascension, 1800-2000 on 9830 via Rampisham. (DX Mix News Bulgaria via Wolfgang Bueschel)
ZAMBIA Miriam Mtonga, Public Relations Manager for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation says that the Corporation is in the process of procuring the replacement parts for the shortwave transmitters which broke down earlier this year. A contract has been signed and “Delivery of this will take about five months” (Media Network, June 23)
ZIMBABWE Radio Voice of the People via Madagascar is now using 9875, ex 9895, for its 0400-0500 broadcast. (Dan Ferguson, DX Listening Digest)
Zanu (PF) supporters and self-styled war veterans in Buhera South are reportedly moving door-to-door in an effort to prevent people listening to foreign radio broadcasts by confiscating their radios. People from Buhera said the move was to force people not to listen to the radio reports on constitution making process that was expected to begin mid June.
An MDC councillor Tapiwa Ngorima said: “All those listening to radio stations broadcasting from outside the country are being told they will be identified, because they are accused of influencing others to support the MDC in the area.”
He said there were some incidents reported to police in Buhera but there have been no any arrests made so far. “We have cases where our supporters lost their radios after the Zanu (PF) and war veterans accused them of listening to Studio 7. Their radios were forcibly confiscated. We have made reports to the police in Buhera but nothing was done to bring the perpetrators to book,” said the councillor. Studio 7 is broadcast through the Short Wave from Voice of America. (The Zimbabwean via Yimber Gaviria, Colombia, DXLD)
Workers at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) are said to be threatening strike action after accusing management of looting licence fees and splashing out on luxury cars, while failing to pay salaries on time. Reports say workers got their April salaries 4 weeks late
(around the 20th May) and the same situation is anticipated for the May salaries.
Its alleged top managers at the state propaganda station have splashed out on luxury vehicles worth more than US$1 million. In addition they are being accused of buying generators and plasma screen televisions using money looted from licence fees. This money is meant to finance the operations of the broadcaster, including paying salaries.
Chief Executive Officer Happison Muchechetere denied the allegations as mere 'bar talk' and asked if those making the allegations were auditors. He admitted buying generators, but argued these were used by his managers to monitor their programmes when there was no electricity. He also boasted that ZBC had the highest paid employees in the country.
ZBC now relies on licence fees to fund its operations after most advertisers shunned the station owing to its annoying and relentless ZANU PF propaganda. Zimbabweans in urban areas, who have the money, have installed satellite dishes to watch foreign television channels. (David Pringle-Wood, Zimbabwe, DX Listening Digest)
CONTRIBUTORS: Allen Dean, UK; Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany MIKE
