Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

News bits and "bytes" from the world of shortwave radio

All times UTC *sign-on sign-off* // parallel frequency

Cuba - DXers Unlimited program link
Arnie Coro's radio program for June 27-28 edition at:
http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com/2009/06/dxers-unlimiteds-weekend-edition-for-27.html

Laos on 7145
Lao National Radio (presumed reactivated), 1250-1338, June 28. Playing southeast Asian music. This is the same type as routinely heard on 6130 via LNR. French began before 1300 UTC. English began at 1326, with frequency given (so probably an ID). Between the summer QRN and the amateur radio operators, reception was poor. They must have had timing problems today, as I noticed the gong/bell started late at 1203 on 6130 and the switch in languages here was early by about four minutes. My local sunrise was 1249, Vientiane, Laos sunset at 1148. (Ron Howard, CA)

Madagascar monitoring
RTVM (presumed) 6134.91, 1406-1427, June 12. Thanks to a tip from Dan Sheedy in southern California, I heard them in French. Sounded like the news was followed by Afircan hilife music. Signal began as fair but faded down to very poor. Was unable to heard the \\ 7105 that Dan has been hearing. For me PBS Nei Menggu (China) on 7105 is just too strong to catch anything under them. Dan noted a sign-off at 1446 on June 7.

6134.89v RTVM (presumed) 1342-1406 + 1449-1452.* June 28. For the first time I noticed segments of both French and assume Malagasy. Commercials to Africa hihlife music and conversation in Malagasy (clearly not French) between two men which seemed to be a comedy. Station went off the air in mid sentence, almost fair quality. Unable to confirm any parallels. (Ron Howard, CA)

Malaysia monitoring
5964.92 Klasik Nasional, 1106-1125 Jun 8. News in progress with lady announcer, 1110 Klasik Nasional jingle. Some sort of Qu'ran program consisting of verses alternating with flute music and commentaries by man and woman announcers. Tuned out at 1125. Signal Fair at best.
(John Wilkins, CO)

5964.90v Klasik Nasional FM via RTM, 1353-1359, June 13. Vernacular text by lady DJ with pop songs. Signal fair and covered by strong China Radio Internaitonal sign-on.

6049.60v Radio Suara Islam, 1402-1415, June 16. Vernacular. Reciting from the Qur'an, looking for possible new station ID, but just the usualas, "Radio Suara Islam FM" and "Radio Suara Islam, Kuala Lumpur." Station had transmitter problems today, as pre-1400 (Asyik FM time slot) had open carrier with no audio, while the Suara Islam audio was not up to their usual good
standards.

11884.67v Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia) via RTM (presumed), 1221-1229*, June 9. Chinese service including pop music during strong signal, but very distorted audio.

11884.70v Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia) via RTM, 1221-1232*, June 14. Chinese, \\ 15295 (1230*) both good signals and both terrible audios. English ID at 1229 as, "this is the Voice of Malaysia.") After VOM audio ended at 1230 on 11884.70, heard another audio feed from RTM with no distortio. Unable to ID and suddenly off at 1232.

11884.68v 1230-1237*, June 19. Heard another RTM oddity! The distorted audio of Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia) in Chinese ended at 1230. After that, clearly heard the non-distorted audio feeds of both Asyik FM (\\ 6049.60v) and Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional (\\ 5964.90v). Both equal strength. To date I have not heard a new ID for Asyik FM. (Ron Howard, CA)

Mexico on 6104.66
XEQM/Radio Candela, 0757-0820+ June 18. Noted a very good signal here with plenty of ID's as "Candela". At 0758 promos and canned ads until the hour. On the hour, seems a couple of minutes of live comments, possibly news. Then typical Mexicana type music with canned ID during and between tunes. Could not catch entire ID phrase but "Candela" was very clear by a female. Signal was good.(Chuck Bolland, FL)

Radio Pakistan transmitter site update
I have now received a printed copy of R Pakistans external and domestic services. There is no longer any listing for Peshawar or Quetta and so I assume the shortwave transmitters there are now definitely closed.

However, Islamabad (Rewat) API-8 100kW is listed as carrying Regional Program Rawalpindi-III (listed Pindi-III program) via 4790 at 0045-0215 and 1445-1815, and on 7265 at 0900-1215. The same program also via Rawalpindi (10 kW) on 4790 at 0230-0425 and 1335-1430. I think these timings will actually be 1 hour earlier due to DST. There are no longer programs in Balti or Sheena listed, and of course their schedules never list the Kashmir clandestine transmissions. (Noel R. Green-UK/DSWCI-DX Window Jun 15/24)

Russian MW/SW transmitter site history
Leningrad / St. Petersburg. If interested in one video with a lot of photos of our Leningrad transmitting centres during 1950-1980s including one song of our legendary local rock-group called "Mify" (Myths), the link is:
http://narod.ru/disk/1238507000/spbrc.wmv.html

On the lower left side of the column, transfer the 6-digit INDEX number
into the small window, and click to GREEN icon 'skatchad'.

click on underlined link line
http://narod.ru/disk/start/21.dl3sc-narod.yandex.ru/1238507000/hbe6f683d2ddf0d9442c1cb461555fe09/spbrc.wmv

Under 'katchast file', and media player starts the spbrc.wmv file:
sometimes the traffic speed is very low, then start with
http://www.spb.rtrn.ru/

One more link:
http://www.spb.rtrn.ru/info.asp?view=1548 is without sound.
(Mikhail Timofeyev-RUS/HCDX/BC-DX #918)

BBC World service update
Behrouz Afagh, head of the BBC World Service's Asia-Pacific division, said BBC Persian's transmissions have been jammed on and off for two to three days. Afagh said Thursday that the service had found a new satellite that would not be vulnerable to jamming from within Iran. He rejected accusations of meddling or bias. "All we do is to report what's going on [on] the ground. It is factual reporting of what's happening," Afagh said. "We have had people from all sides, but it is more difficult to get from [President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad's side. But we do reflect their views." With foreign reporters restricted in their movements, BBC Persian is relying heavily on videos and photos uploaded by Iranians, which BBC staff members try to authenticate before posting, the broadcaster said. It said it also is increasingly airing footage from Iranian state television. (DSWCI-DX Window 6/24/09)

WYFR adds freqs to lineup
The following additions, effective 15 June 2009, are added to the Family Stations transmissions via Radio Taiwan Int'l.
0900-1000 UT China 11565 kHz Mandarin
0900-1100 UT China 9855 kHz Mandarin (Monday & Tuesday)
1000-1100 UT China 9855 kHz Mandarin (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
1000-1100 UT China 9920 kHz Mandarin
1200-1300 UT China 11535 kHz Mandarin
(Evelyn Marcy, FL/WYFR)

UniWave DRM Radio expected this summer

Look for the first consumer receiver that Digital Radio Mondiale proponents hope will be a commercial success to be available in July.

That's the word from the DRM Consortium, which offered a presentation in its "theater" in the Continental booth at the spring NAB Show.

DRM is a digital radio system for short-, medium-and long-wave. The system is designed for digital transmission of voice and associated data services at frequencies below 30 MHz.

Though DRM has had a software receiver and professional-grade units, Michel Penneroux, head of AM Broadcast for the TDF Group and chairman of the DRM Commercial Committee, said it has not had success in introducing a tabletop, though several companies have tried.

The Di-Wave 100 receiver from UniWave Development SAS (uniwave.fr/?lang=en) in France will enter mass production in July, he said.

Features include program information in the display, USB connection, MP3 playback, MPEG4 playback and a multi-language graphic user interface.

He expects other receivers to come on the market from NewStar, ADI, NXP, Himalaya and Mirics.

Other big news for DRM is the decision by Russia and India to adopt the technology

Given the combined population of the two countries, these decisions should give manufacturers an impetus to speed the development and introduction of affordable DRM receivers, or so proponents hope. The countries have combined population of nearly 1.3 billion.

Indian state broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) announced its decision earlier this year following a series of DRM trials beginning in 2007. The technology also was highlighted in a dedicated session at an international broadcasting conference in Delhi in late February.

AIR currently airs regular DRM transmissions from a 250 kW shortwave transmitter near New Delhi, and it is in the process of converting four other shortwave transmitters to DRM. The broadcaster also plans to add 78 medium-wave transmitters operating in DRM to its national network over the next five years.

In Russia, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies has issued an order opening multiple short- and medium-wave frequencies up to DRM broadcasts. Russia began testing the system in April 2006.

Ruxandra Obreja, who chairs the DRM Consortium and is controller of business development for the BBC World Service, said she was excited and encouraged by the developments in India and Russia. DRM implementation on their large broadcasting networks will give radio a new and exciting "digital" lease of life, she said.

Brazil is also interested in DRM and Germany is now testing the technology, according to DRM experts who spoke at the NAB convention.

Lindsay Cornell, principal systems architect for the BBC, also discussed DRM+, an expansion of DRM technology that brings its features to the FM bands.

Using DRM, proponents hope to provide advantages over FM analog such as using a lower transmission power level to provide the same amount of coverage, provide new audio possibilities such as surround sound and increased spectrum efficiency, he said.

DRM+ is expected to join the family of open worldwide DRM standards later this year, according to the DRM Consortium.
(Radio World)

Blog Logs - pirate radio

Selected pirate loggings from the fine folks at Free Radio Weekly.

All times UTC *sign-on sign-off*

Captain Morgan
6924.7USB, 2314-2345, SIO 242/242. Program of rock music with their signature Twilight Zone theme song clips here and there. Male announcer voice hard to copy until I figured out that the center freq was 300 Hz below 6925. Weakened at times, making copy difficult. (Zeller, OH/FRW #697)

Cat Butt Radio
6925USB, 0122. Signal good-fair with static. Audio problems and dropouts. Female DJ, punk rock by female bands. (Hassig,IL?FRW #697)6925USB, 2122-2132. SINPO 35433. Catt Butt Radio followed station XXP sign off. (Ragnar/FRW #697)

Jack Buck Radio
6925USB (tentative) 0002-0010, SIO 242. Program of rock music. Announcer's ID at open and close of programming. It sounded like Jack Buck to me, or similar. FRN people were calling this one Cat Butt. The actual ID is unclear. (Zeller, OH/FRW #697)

Radio Casablanca
6940AM, 0214-0334. Very entertaining program of period music related to classic movie Casablanca. SINPO 32333 with good audio, fairly steady signal with some fades and occasional interference from local RFI (bad streetlight in my neighborhood). Blue Skiy (confirmed by Radio Casablanca via e-mail), I'm In Heaven (artist unknown), Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon. Positive ID as Radio movie Casablanca. Ended with tunes La Marseillaise and Bogey's line from Casablanca, "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." (Jenkins, TX/RW #697)

Radio Dismuke
6925USB, 0253, SIO 232. Signal just above the noise, been on for at least a half hour now. Station ID at 0254, but couldn't make it out. Another ID and off at about 0313. ID from Evil Elvis on #pirateradio, corrected by L Cee on the FRN www.dismuke.org/radio (Fansome, PA/FRW #698)

Radio Gaga
6935USB, 0117-0145+. Fair signal. Show started after a SS TV broadcast. Played several Carrs tunes like, Let the Good Times Roll, and Jim Hendrix's Third Rock from the Sun. Station ID given in CW. (Majewski CT/FRW #698)

Radio Mushroom
6925USB, *0112-0138.* SIO 232. Modest level in static. Program of rock music that including Bowie's Suffragette City and also Radar Love. I had some trouble copying the announced ID and address, but there was a clear ID at QRT by announcer. (Zeller, OH/FRW #698)

The Crystal Ship
5285.3AM, 0226-0237+, SIO 343. The Poet with a program of rock music by Yes and Hendrix. One military marching skit in the middle of the show. Good level. Had to go to bed before the program was over. (Zeller, OH/FRW #697)

Voice of the Robots
6925USB, 0021-0043, SIO 333. Station ID and music. ID at 0024, and (?) rap-like song, more music at 0027. Station ID at 0030 in robot-like voice to gmail adress a couple times(?). Hard to tell but thought he also said time is wasting, then some SSTV or QRM from SSTV?. Music at 0031, and 0043 ID and QRT. (Silvi, Ohio/FRW #697)

We Monkey Radio
6925USB, 2120. SINPO 35333. WMR coming in with some slight and fast fading. Program repeated at 2135 (Ragnar/FRW #698)

Red Rhino Radio
6925USB, 0038-0102+, SIO 322. Radio ID at 0058 redrhinoradio@gmail.com. Most of the stations music distorted, but much cleaner after the 0050 SSTV, and seemed to drop from 6925.1 to 6925.0. Tough copy. Per e-mail from RRR, the SSTV was not them, so probably the main source of the apparent distortion. (Frodge, MI/FRW #697)

WBCQ shortwave program picks

Looking for some great programming on shortwave radio ? Shortwave Central takes a look at WBCQ, broadcasting from Monticello, Maine. Today we focus on the best in programming on two of their frequencies 5100.0 and 7415.0 kHz.
Gayle Van Horn

Times UTC & EDT USA


5100 kHz
Su 06:00PM 08:00PM ET 2200 0000 UTC Area 51

Su 08:00PM 11:00PM ET 0000 0300 UTC Radio New York International

Mo 07:00PM 09:00PM ET 2300 0100 UTC Area 51

Tu 07:00PM 09:00PM ET 2300 0100 UTC Area 51

We 7:00PM 09:00PM ET 2300 0100 UTC Area 51

Th 07:00PM 09:00PM ET 2300 0100 UTC Area 51

Fr 07:00PM 08:00PM ET 2300 0000 UTC Area 51

Fr 08:00PM 09:00PM ET 0000 0100 UTC Allan Weiner Worldwide

Sa 06:00PM 08:00PM ET 2200 0000 UTC Area 51

Sa 08:00PM 09:00PM ET 0000 0100 UTC Radio Timtron Worldwide


7415 kHz
Su 03:00PM 04:00PM ET 1900 2000 UTC Trailer Trash Radio

Su 04:00PM 05:00PM ET 2000 2100 UTC This Week In Amateur Radio International

Su 06:00PM 07:00PM ET 2200 2300 UTC The Last Roundup

Su 07:00PM 08:00PM ET 2300 0000 UTC Le Show with Harry Shearer

Mo 02:00PM 03:00PM ET 1800 1900 UTC Money Talk

Mo 03:00PM 03:30PM ET 1900 1930 UTC Frecuencia Al Día

Mo 03:30PM 03:45PM ET 1930 1945 UTC Amos and Andy

Mo 03:45PM 04:00PM ET 1945 2000 UTC Herald of Truth

Mo 04:00PM 05:00PM ET 2000 2100 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Mo 05:00PM 06:00PM ET 2100 2200 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Mo 11:00PM 12:00AM ET 0300 0400 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Tu 02:00PM 03:00PM ET 1800 1900 UTC Money Talk

Tu 03:30PM 03:45PM ET 1930 1945 UTC Amos and Andy

Tu 04:00PM 05:00PM ET 2000 2100 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Tu 05:00PM 07:00PM ET 2100 2300 UTC QSO Radio Show

Tu 08:00PM 09:00PM ET 0000 0100 UTC The Pirate's Cove

Tu 11:00PM 12:00AM ET 0300 0400 UTC Financial Survival 2000

We 02:00PM 03:00PM ET 1800 1900 UTC Money Talk

We 03:30PM 03:45PM ET 1930 1945 UTC Amos and Andy

We 04:00PM 05:00PM ET 2000 2100 UTC Financial Survival 2000

We 05:00PM 07:00PM ET 2100 2300 UTC Radio Disclosure

We 11:00PM 12:00AM ET 0300 0400 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Th 02:00PM 03:00PM ET 1800 1900 UTC Money Talk

Th 03:30PM 03:45PM ET 1930 1945 UTC Amos and Andy

Th 04:00PM 05:00PM ET 2000 2100 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Th 05:00PM 07:00PM ET 2100 2300 UTC Radio Disclosure

Th 07:00PM 07:30PM ET 2300 2330 UTC Goddess Irena 1 music show

Th 11:00PM 12:00AM ET 0300 0400 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Fr 02:00PM 03:00PM ET 1800 1900 UTC Money Talk

Fr 03:30PM 03:45PM ET 1930 1945 UTC Amos and Andy

Fr 03:45PM 04:00PM ET 1945 2000 UTC Herald of Truth

Fr 04:00PM 05:00PM ET 2000 2100 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Fr 05:00PM 06:00PM ET 2100 2200 UTC Behavior Night

Fr 06:00PM 07:00PM ET 2200 2300 UTC Bluegrass State of Mind

Fr 07:00PM 08:00PM ET 2300 0000 UTC Fred Flintstone's Music Show

Fr 08:00PM 09:00PM ET 0000 0100 UTC Allan Weiner Worldwide

Fr 11:00PM 12:00AM ET 0300 0400 UTC Financial Survival 2000

Sa 05:00PM 06:00PM ET 2100 2200 UTC Marion's Attic

Sa 06:00PM 07:00PM ET 2200 2300 UTC WGOD Presents

Sa 07:00PM 08:00PM ET 2300 0000 UTC The Lumpy Gravy Radio Show

Sa 08:00PM 09:00PM ET 0000 0100 UTC Radio Timtron Worldwide
(programming and schedules subject to change)

Antenna construction underway for Alaska DRM tests

The experiment to see if an entire state can be covered by digital shortwave signals is slowly progressing, according to another NAB Show presentation.

Dr. Donald Messer, longtime shortwave broadcasting and Digital Radio Mondiale proponent, updated attendees about his plans to test DRM for an ambitious “local” shortwave service covering the state of Alaska.

Dr. Donald Messer discusses the Alaska DRM tests. Photo by Jim Peck

With more than half of Alaska’s population concentrated around Anchorage and a few other urbanized areas, and the remainder widely distributed over a half-million square mile land mass, the state is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world. This creates a challenging environment for the economics of FM and AM broadcasting, even before the harsh weather and limited accessibility of transmitter sites are considered.

The result is that many people throughout the state have limited or nonexistent access to broadcast radio.

Messer said three surplus 100 kW transmitters have been obtained from the Department of Defense and are now being tested into dummy loads in an underground mine near Fairbanks, and the first of three crossed half-wave dipole antennas has been constructed.

The test plan includes a series of experiments to determine what frequency bands and power levels are needed to provide reliable year-round service, as well as which combination of RF bandwidth, error correction and QAM constellation size provides the best balance of throughput and signal robustness from the DRM system.

Of particular interest is the nature of ionospheric propagation at high latitudes; providing statewide broadcast service requires a consistent and predictable “bounce back” of signals from the ionosphere and understanding the behavior of these reflections will require extensive experimentation, Messer notes.

To assist in the analysis of reception variability, a network of 18 remote receive sites will be set up around Alaska’s periphery to feed reception data back to the project headquarters in Fairbanks. Messer expects construction of the transmission system and remote receivers to be completed later this year. After that, a two-year data collection and experimentation project is planned.

Messer seemed careful not to sound over-optimistic that the system would work.
(Radio World)

Radio Gloria International set for Sunday broadcast

Date: June 28, 2009

Time 0900 to 1000 UTC

6140 KHz

The transmissions of Radio Gloria will be broadcast over the transmitting station Wertachtal in Germany.

The transmitter power will be 100 000 Watts, and we will be using a non-directional antenna system (Quadrant antenna).
(Tom Taylor)

Radio Netherlands Program Guide - June 27-July 3

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.

SATURDAY 27 June
*** The State We're In ***

An Iranian woman who was in Tehran for the disputed election and the ensuing protests explains the involvement of women in the demonstrations, and how the experience has changed her perception of her home country.

Philip Seiler served 18 years in San Quentin and came out a different man - and it was education he believes that transformed him. The Director of the San Quentin College Programme, Jody Lewen agrees.

Jean Freidman Rudovsky visits a women's prison in La Paz to find out how the inmates are trying to re-create a semblance of normal life inside, by starting small businesses to earn money, and even keeping their children with them.

Peter Woolf came from a family of criminals, he was a thief and a drug addict from the age of 10. By the time he was 30 he had spent 18 years in prison. Peter is representative of many of the more than 80,000 prisoners in Britain's jails.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1535 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

Broadcast time on SW (UTC):
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Note that we run Network Europe Week every hour on Monday until 1600

*** Network Europe Extra ***

Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership of international broadcasters.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0300 North America
1200 North America
1500 Europe

SUNDAY 28 June
*** Radio Books (primary program) ***

'The Birds' - by Luc De Vos

Flemish columnist and writer Luc De Vos is also the lead singer with the Belgian pop group Gorki. He's a regular guest on TV programmes and has written a series of autobiographical novels.

His Radio Books story begins in 1978 when a young priest is teaching religion and music to adolescent boys - including one from an important political family. Thirty years later the boy is the country's new premier when he encounters the priest again - in a most unusual manner!

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
0930 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1430 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1530 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1930 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2030 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0430 North America
1030 Africa and Asia
1230 North America
1700 Europe
2230 Asia, North America, Safm

MONDAY 29 June
*** Curious Orange (primary program) ***

Things are changing around here... so, before we tune out for the summer, we want to say thanks to you, our listeners... and we don't want to hurt the earth - or your pocket-book - doing it.

So, we'll start by taking you shopping in Amsterdam - former diamond capital - for ethical diamonds.

Then, with your nice new rock in hand, we'll take you out to dinner in a greenhouse... one of the best local organic restaurants in Amsterdam.

After having your fill of fine food, we'll take you out for some live music from our recurring favourite Dutch musician: Lucky Fonz III.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1415 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1540 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1815 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1940 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2015 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1540 Europe
1740 Europe
2240 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1440 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1900 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2040 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1700 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast time on SW (UTC):
1500 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530
1900 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

*** Euro Hit 40 ***

Europe's No.1 chart Show.

*** Classic Dox ***

The best of Radio Netherlands Worldwide documentaries from our archive.

'Thirty Years of Poetry International' (originally broadcast 13-06-1999)

Poets from every continent are represented in this celebration of voices. Illustrious names including Nobel Prize winners Joseph Brodsky, Wole Soyinka and Seamus Heany are featured along with winners of the Poetry International Award honouring imprisoned poets like Breyten Breytenbach and Jack Mapanje.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America, Africa, Asia
1200 North America

*** European Jazz Stage/ World Music ***

European jazz music alternates every week with a selection of the finest World Music.

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

Phenomenal performances by Dutch top orchestras.

TUESDAY 30 June
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.
Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1440 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1900 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2040 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

An Iranian woman who was in Tehran for the disputed election and the ensuing protests explains the involvement of women in the demonstrations, and how the experience has changed her perception of her home country.

Philip Seiler served 18 years in San Quentin and came out a different man - and it was education he believes that transformed him. The Director of the San Quentin College Programme, Jody Lewen agrees.

Jean Freidman Rudovsky visits a women's prison in La Paz to find out how the inmates are trying to re-create a semblance of normal life inside, by starting small businesses to earn money, and even keeping their children with them.

Peter Woolf came from a family of criminals, he was a thief and a drug addict from the age of 10. By the time he was 30 he had spent 18 years in prison. Peter is representative of many of the more than 80,000 prisoners in Britain's jails.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1030 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1430 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1530 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1815 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1940 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2015 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1030 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1530 Europe
1730 Europe
2230 Asia, North America

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

WEDNESDAY 1 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1440 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1900 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2040 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America

*** Reloaded (primary program) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1415 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1515 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1815 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1945 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2015 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

*** Newsline ***

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

THURSDAY 2 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1440 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1900 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2040 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America

*** Earthbeat (primary program) ***

Monitoring the Earth's heartbeat is our task. We look at our footprint on this big round world of ours and run stories of the people trying to make that footprint lighter.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1415 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1545 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1815 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1940 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1540 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

FRIDAY 3 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1440 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1900 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2040 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America

*** Bridges with Africa (primary program) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1415 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1815 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2015 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0430 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1730 Europe
2230 Asia, North America

*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe
(R Netherlands)

Bonaire relay station to continue test transmissions

The Bonaire relay station will be carrying out test transmissions for Family Radio commencing, continuing for a maximum of two weeks. The test transmissions will carry Family Radio’s English programming.

Details as follows:

2229-0100 UTC, targted to Brazil on 15315 kHz (beam 133 degrees) commencing Friday Jun 26

0001-0158 UTC to South America on 15580 kHz(beam 182 degrees) commencing Saturday Jun 27
(R Netherlands)

Swedish Radio to drop Belarussian service

Swedish Radio has decided to discontinue the service in Belarusian, from September 1, 2009. The broadcasts on medium and shortwave began on a test basis in 2004. Elle-Kari Höjeberg, responsible for Swedish Radio's broadcasts in foreign languages, says that since then "there has been an explosion in other platforms that medium and shortwave". She adds that Swedish Radio will look for new ways to reach an audience in other parts of the world. Ingemar Löfgren, head of SR International, which also includes Radio Sweden, says his ambition is to strengthen and prioritize other areas within the department. He points out that SR International will continue to broadcast in Russian, a language that is also understood in Belarus.
(Radio Sweden/Alokesh Gupta)

VOA provides accurate news and information to Iran

Danforth W. Austin interviewed on live program 'News Talk'

Washington, D.C., June 25, 2009 - The Voice of America's (VOA) mission is providing accurate news and information to the people of Iran and the world, the agency's director said today, adding the free flow of information is a "fundamental human value."

Danforth W. Austin, in an interview with News Talk, a daily show aired on the VOA Persian News Network (PNN), told viewers in Iran VOA would continue giving them a full and balanced view of events inside their country and around the world.

"That is our promise to the people of Iran," Austin said. "The access to free and credible information is very important … Right now, the VOA is the only way many people in Iran can find out what is going on in their own country." He added the free flow of information "is a fundamental human value regardless of religion or background."

Austin denied Iran's allegations that international broadcasters, including VOA, worked to threaten the country's territorial integrity. "That's simply not true," he said.

VOA's specific mission is journalism, providing credible, trustworthy information that people can use to form their own opinions, Austin said. The U.S. Government-funded agency reports on those who support – and disagree – with U.S. policy, he added, explaining that VOA encourages debate and an open forum.

Moreover, Austin said VOA would be delighted to secure interviews with senior Iranian officials, as well as officials from the United States and other countries. "That’s good journalism," he said.

Austin's comments came amid a growing crackdown on international media in Iran, including efforts to jam VOA's satellite television signals. He said a "number of steps" are being taken to deal with the jamming.

VOA, with a TV and radio audience of nearly 30 percent of adults inside Iran, has played a major role in keeping Iranians informed during the tumultuous period since the June 12 presidential elections.

Since then, VOA http://www.voapnn.com/ has been flooded with videos, pictures, emails and telephone calls from inside Iran; added a daily breakfast show and a Special Report; created a dedicated Twitter account, and posted material on other sites, including YouTube www.youtube.com/user/PNNVideo ).

RFE/RL & VOA to Expand Reach into Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region

Washington, DC, 06/25/2009
Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will receive additional resources to expand critical radio broadcasts to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region as part of the $106 billion emergency war bill signed today.

With the exception of VOA's Radio Deewa, little independent news and information is available in the volatile border region. Extremist radio stations have proliferated in recent months, and the new programs will bolster current U.S. efforts to provide an alternative source of independent news and information to the Pashto speaking people in Pakistan. The expanded programming of Radio Deewa, and new programming from RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, will feature a wide range of news, political, and cultural programs with call-in shows and content geared toward women and youth. Programs will be distributed via shortwave, FM and the Internet. "Radio is a powerful medium. Extremists encouraging violence understand this," said D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) which oversees both VOA and RFE/RL. "Our broadcasts are an antidote to such extremism and we are grateful for the opportunity to expand our programs. They will be central to providing an alternate view, one based on accuracy and balance, which is generally absent from local media."

About Deewa Radio Created in October 2006, Deewa Radio targets an estimated 35 million Pashto-speaking people in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, including the NWFP where some 2.5 million people have been displaced as Pakistani military battle Taliban fighters. Deewa also reaches Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan.

Earlier this month, Deewa Radio added three hours of programming in the morning to complement the six hours of evening news and information broadcasts. In addition to news, programs include information about health, shelter, social issues, education, science and culture. The program provides a lifeline to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in camps and elsewhere. Up to 300 people per day routinely call in to Deewa Radio programs. VOA also reaches millions of people daily through its popular radio and TV Ashna in Dari and Pashto, as well as its Urdu radio program Aap Ki Dunya and Beyond the Headlines Urdu television program. About Radio Azadi RFE/RL will launch a new radio program for the Pashto-speaking people of Pakistan, complementing VOA's existing programming to the volatile region.

This expands RFE/RL's existing Afghan service, Radio Azadi, the most popular radio station in Afghanistan which reaches more than 50% of the adult population with programs in Dari and Pashto. It was launched in 2001 as part of an effort to build a peaceful and democratic Afghanistan following the ouster of the Taliban.
(BBG Press Release/Alokesh Gupta)

Vozandes Media flies new flag

Ecuador (MNN) ― After 55 years, a German radio ministry is sailing under a new flag and a new name.
Vozandes Media is the new name of the HCJB Global Voice, German Language Service (GLS). It still broadcasts from Ecuador, but now it works under HCJB Global's World Office in Germany rather than under its Latin America region.
In addition, Ecuador legally recognized Vozandes Media's status as a non-governmental organization at the beginning of June. The ministry is also enjoying new office space.
"I believe that the GLS is one of the few departments which used the same office space for 43 years," said Horst Rosiak, who heads Vozandes Media.
Due to the opening of an international airport near HCJB's antennas, German and Low-German shortwave broadcasts to the Americas are scheduled to end in 2010. Digital shortwave broadcasts reach Europe and the Americas.
Vozandes Media also reaches Europe through satellite and through a service called Phonecaster. Europeans can dial a certain telephone number and choose from a variety of German-language programs. The most popular program is in Low German.
Listeners may also download podcasts over the internet. HCJB Global receives responses to its German-language programs from 60 different countries.
The programs began in 1953 when Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services established the German Service, constructing the department's offices at the station 13 years later in 1966.
Today, it broadcasts 14 hours of programming to Europe, South America, and the South Pacific every week under the name Die Stimme der Anden (Voice of the Andes).
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/12830
(Alokesh Gupta)

Blog Logs - clandestine monitoring

Today's edition of Blog Logs, represent a sampling of clandestine loggings from the pages of DX Window. Our special thanks to Anker Petersen and the members of Danish Shortwave Club International.
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC // parallel frequency

Clandestines - via DX Window # 377

11500, Radio Free Chosun, via Gavar, Armenia, 1320, May 23, talks in Korean, light music, ex 12125, SINPO 342x3. (Liangas)

"When I was taking part in the student movement of the 1980s, the most encouraging thing was broadcasts towards South Korea from North Korea. We used to use the broadcast contents for our educational and propaganda materials. Of course, due to that activism, which was a National Security Law violation, I went to prison in the early 1990s". Lee Kwang Baik, the President of R Free Chosun (RFC), a lesser-known SW radio broadcast NGO in South Korea, explained his experience of executing a 180-degree turn from pro-North Korea social activist into North Korean democratization activist to Daily NK on Monday. He confessed, "In the mid-1990s, for the first time, I figured out that North Korea was not an ideal society, but a dictatorship in which the regime abused people’s human rights in the extreme just to maintain the system". In light of which, Lee introduced RFC’s goal, "North Korea should develop its economy through democratization and opening and reform. RFC is a broadcasting company to help North Korean people achieve this and to speak as a proxy for the North Korean people’s position and sentiment, so we named the organization RFC; not "Radio Free North Korea", but "Radio Free Chosun"". Chosun is how North Koreans refer to their own country.

Below is extracts of a transcript of the interview with Lee Kwang Baik:

- There are four civilian radio broadcasters for North Korea and also two foreign radio broadcasts like RFA and VOA targeting North Korea. What is the difference between you and them?

There are three different points. First, RFC has a distinct purpose: "North Korea should develop its economy through democratization and reform and opening", and we are striving to help North Korean people achieve it. Second, RFC is a broadcaster in which everyone, wherever they come from, can join our activities. Presently, North Koreans, South Koreans and Chinese cooperate on our goals. Third, RFC transfers overseas information by way of drama, so that North Korean people can understand easily and get it vividly.

- What are RFC’s representative programs?

We have "Episodes and Truth" that lets North Korean people perceive the truth of current issues, and a drama "Virtual Court of Kim Jong Il", that shows how extreme a dictatorship North Korea has, how terribly people suffer under the Kim Jong Il regime, and other hidden stories of the dictator. Additionally, we have also comments and statements in order to suggest
better directions for North Korea’s future.

- How many North Korean people do you think listen to RFC? How far away can North Korean people listen to it? Are you monitoring the broadcasting situation?

According to the results of InterMedia’s examination in 2008, the rate of those who had listened to RFC was around five percent, but we presume around one or two percent of people are listening to it. However, I think even this rate is significant. The first aim of RFC is to raise the listener rate to two or three percent in a few years. It is short wave radio broadcasting, so everywhere on earth people can listen to it. As long as jamming by the North Korean regime does not exist, it can be heard all over the country.

- You must want a lot from the South Korean government.

The government needs to support radio broadcasting with medium-wave frequencies, which are more stable than short wave ones, in order to lead North Korea to change itself, and it has to do so strategically, because of course the North Korean issue is a highly significant issue for the future of the Korean Peninsula. The state-owned Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) airs programs for the North Korean people at medium-wave, but it has to focus not only on transferring information but on having an interest in changing North Korean society. (The Daily North Korea Post via Sælaen in DXplorer)

11760, Voice of Oromia Liberation Front, via Wertachtal (500 kW, 135 degrees), Tu/Th/Su 1600-1630 Oromo to Ethiopia. New frequency since May 03, ex 11975. Broker WRMI and Media Broadcast. (Ivanov via BC-DX, May 15)

12050, Radio Biafra, via Skelton, UK, 1908, May 19, talks about politics in Nigeria, telephone calls to London and other places , mention on activism and non violence, mixed talks in Igbo and English, short mentions of Biafra, SINPO 45544. (Liangas)

Clandestines via DX Window 378
6518, Voice of the People, via Goyang, South Korea, 1905-1908, May 27, Korean talk, SINPO 35333 // 6600 . (Mille)

7520, Voice of Free Radio, via Tashkent, Uzbekistan (100 kW, 060 degrees), 1600-1700, ex 1600-1630 on 7530, Korean to North Korea as of Jun 01. Broker VTCommunications, UK. (Ivanov via BC-DX, Jun 02)

9895, Radio Voice of the People, via Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar, 0443-0456*, May 29, interview in English about violence in Zimbabwe, local vocals and more talks until closedown ann including postal and electronic contact information plus website. Fair to good. (D'Angelo)

11500, Radio Dabanga. Received a non detailed QSL-card with a full detailed handwritten confirmation on it for a reception report sent to Press Now, Witte Kruislaan 55, 1217 AM Hilversum, The Netherlands. No veri-signer. (Fernández, via HCDX, Jun 07)

11530, Denge Mezopotamia, via Mykolaiv, Ukraine, 1552, Jun 03, Kurdish talks, music, good. (Bernardini)

13730, Radio Dabanga, via Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar, 1531, Jun 03, many IDs and talks in Arabic, fair/good. (Bernardini)

15650, Miraya FM, via Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia, 1545, Jun 03, to Sudan, in English and "Simple Arab" as announced, talks, mail address, ID, fair/good, but fading. Broker IRRS. (Bernardini)

Clandestines via DX Window 379
3912, Voice of the People (presumed), via Kyonggi-do, South Korea, 0942-1008, Jun 10 and 15, Korean talks mentioning “Pyongyang”, slow instrumental music as a bridge to a some eloquent female talks. From 0955 strange noise sounding like a "strong wind" turninng to a near annoyed listening, until QRM SINPO 34333. (Otávio)


3930, Radio Voice of Kurdistan, 0152, Jun 06, Kurdish music and talk, at *0158 strong QRM unidentified, at 0200 a song of the Qur'an, ann and what appears to be an anthem, signal improvement, but the QRM is strong, SINPO 22332. (Freitas). Jamming! (Ed)

3985, Echo of Hope (tentative), Hwaseong, South Korea, 1002-1013, Jun 15, Korean talks, degrading, SSB QRM, same kind of noise heard on 3912, SINPO 2422. (Otávio)

6120, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze, via Yamata, 1403, Jun 12, for a long time now they have stayed with English on Friday. Heard with “Today’s News Flash”, items about North Korea, fair with no jamming. (Howard)

6300, RADS - R Nacional Saharaui, 2220-2232, Jun 12, many talks in Arabic and some music, SINPO 24342. (Slaen)

7395, Voice of People, via Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar, 1701, Jun 20, Shona/Ndebele, ID, short African music and talk, SINPO 25332. (Freitas)

9895, Radio Voice of the People, via Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar, *0358-0424, Jun 09, open carrier until sudden opening at 0400 with instrumental music, ID and frequency ann in local language followed by the same in English. After instrumental music, news in local language, mix of short vocals and other features. Good. (D'Angelo)

11500, Radio Dabanga, via Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar, 1549-1605, Jun 14, conversation, whistle of a strong carrier, but disappears in narrow mode and 1 kHz above the frequency, seems an interview by telephone, 1605 ID, weak signal. (Freitas)

15412.0, Voice of Tibet, via Yangiyul, Tajikistan, noted carrier at 1324, Jun 12, along with strong Firedrake (non-stop Chinese music jamming) on 15410.0. Firedrake off at 1330, leaving Voice of Tibet in the clear on 15412.0. After 1335 Voice of Tibet was heard on 15414.0 with fair reception and Firedrake starting up again at 1335, again on 15410.0. At 1400* both Voice of Tibet and Firedrake suddenly went off-the-air. (Howard)

Israeli Radio Show Captivates Iranians

By YAROSLAV TROFIMOV
JERUSALEM—In his Friday sermon, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reserved special wrath for "Zionist radio" that he said tried to drive a wedge between the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic. Such attention from Iran's supreme leader was music to the ears of Menashe Amir, a bespectacled Iranian-born Israeli who has been broadcasting in Persian from Jerusalem for the past five decades.

"We're listened to in Iran and considered very credible and effective," Mr. Amir says with pride. "We're close to the Iranian people, we know what they want, and we have our sources that give us detailed news about everything that's going on in Iran."

The spread of the Internet and satellite television in Iran over the past decade seemed to eclipse the prominence of Mr. Amir's old-fashioned shortwave broadcasts on Kol Israel, Israel's public radio. But now, as the Web in Iran is either blocked or dramatically slowed and satellite-TV channels are jammed by the government amid spreading unrest, Mr. Amir has suddenly become relevant again.

"Today we have many more listeners inside the country because Iranians are thirsty for any information" about the unrest, the 69-year-old Mr. Amir says. He estimates the Iranian audience for Kol Israel's 85-minute daily show in Persian is between two million and six million people. Independent audience numbers, for obvious reasons, are impossible to come by.

continued story from WSJ at: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB124571901245939581-lMyQjAxMDI5NDI1MzcyMTM5Wj.html

The World's Oldest Postcard

The story about the origins of the popular QSL card is very interesting. In the beginning, a QSL card was a postcard that was modified for use as a "Reception Report Card" or a "Verification of Reception" postcard. However, it becomes evident that the introduction of QSL cards was totally dependent upon the fact that postcards, or postal cards, were already in vogue. So, let's go back, and take a look at the early history of postcards.


Postcard historians tell us that the world's first postcard was a humorous painting on a piece of thin cardboard that was sent through the postal system.

The year was 1840, the country was England, and the stamp was the famous Penny Black.

Seven years later, professional groups in Switzerland began to send notifications about important professional events and meetings on pre-printed postcards to their members. The first known advertising postcard in the United States is postmarked in December, 1848.
The first postal card, that is a postcard that is pre-printed with the postage stamp already printed upon it, was issued in the United States in 1861; and the first officially printed postal cards were issued simultaneously in both Switzerland and Austria in 1869. So popular was this official Post Office postal card in Austria that 2¼ million were sold in the first three months.

As the processes of printing developed, so did the styles of postcards, and the first multicolored postcard was issued in the year 1889 in Heligoland, a German tourist island off the coast of Germany in the corner of the Jutland Peninsula in the North Sea. The first colored postcard in the United States was issued four years later to commemorate the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Interestingly, this card was printed with a colored picture on both sides.

Now, initially, when postcards were approved for transmission through the postal systems, only the name and address could appear on the same side as the postage stamp. A picture, and/or a written message could be placed on the reverse side, but no other writing was permitted on the postage side. Cards of this design are designated these days as "undivided back".

However, in the year 1902, England became the first country to approve the usage of what is now described as the postcard with the "divided back"; that is, the name and address and the postage stamp would be on the right hand side, and on the left hand side was space for writing a message. A vertical line separated the two sides, the message side and the address side. Seven years later, the United States Post Office gave approval for the usage of the postcard with the "divided back".

In the era around the early 1900s, the collecting of picture postcards became the top collecting hobby the world has ever known. In the year 1908 for example, the United States Post Office stated that 678 million postcards were posted in the United States. Remembering that the total population of the United States at the time was less than 90 million, this means then, that on a population ratio, more than 7 postcards were posted for every person in the entire country; men, women and children.

During this era of unparalleled popularity, the greatest volume of postcards worldwide came from Germany; and even in the United States picture postcards showing local American scenes were printed in Germany and shipped over in massive numbers. However, the tragic scenes of the Great War put an end to the German superiority in the postcard arena.

The year 1915 saw the introduction of what is now called the "white border" postcard; that is a thin white border surrounds the color picture. Even though there is an attractiveness to this presentation, yet the real motive behind this style was the economy of ink in the printing process.

Beginning in the 1930s, the postcard world introduced what is now known as the "linen era"; that is, the surface of the color picture is textured, making another attractive style of presentation. In 1939, the full color glossy style of postcard was introduced, and this era is now known as the "chrome era".

These days, it is considered that postcard collecting is the world's third largest collecting hobby, surpassed only by stamp collecting and coin collecting. And of course, the collecting of QSL cards is a major sub-section in the overall picture of postcard collecting.
More about these things another time!
(NWS17/Adrian Peterson)
Wavescan DX program

Iran's VOIRI/IRIB relay monitoring

Lithuania
Iran's VOIROI/IRIB relays via Sitkunai Lithuania missed on June 16 to 22,but appeared again in Russian today at 1430 UTC, \\ 9580 and 9900 kHz, but nothing traced here in Stuttgart on 3rd channel 7360 kHz from Kamalabad.2030-2127 UT Spanish 6055, and tomorrow morning sce in Italian 9770 kHz at 0630-0727 UT.
(wb, Germany)

LITHUANIA Frequency changes of VOIROI/IRIB:
1430-1528 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to RUSS, ex 6145 in Russian
1730-1828 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 6180 in German
1830-1928 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in French
1930-2028 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 17)

Does anyone hear the Sitkunai-Lithuania relays of IRIB currently? The Bulgarians recently listed the following changes, but 5940 is not audible here, and nor are the previously used frequencies...
(Noel R. Green-UK, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 19)
(wb, Germany)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jun 23 1921 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
15 - 21 June 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were detected. The visible disk was spotless during most of the period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels during the period. ACE solar wind measurements indicated nominal conditions with solar wind velocities ranging from approximately 280 to 370 km/sec during the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
24 June - 20 July 2009

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during most of the period. However, there will be a chance for unsettled conditions on 01 July.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jun 23 1921 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html



27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jun 23
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jun 24 68 8 3
2009 Jun 25 68 5 2
2009 Jun 26 68 5 2
2009 Jun 27 68 5 2
2009 Jun 28 70 5 2
2009 Jun 29 70 5 2
2009 Jun 30 70 5 2
2009 Jul 01 70 8 3
2009 Jul 02 70 5 2
2009 Jul 03 70 5 2
2009 Jul 04 70 5 2
2009 Jul 05 70 5 2
2009 Jul 06 70 5 2
2009 Jul 07 70 5 2
2009 Jul 08 70 5 2
2009 Jul 09 70 5 2
2009 Jul 10 68 5 2
2009 Jul 11 68 5 2
2009 Jul 12 68 5 2
2009 Jul 13 68 5 2
2009 Jul 14 68 5 2
2009 Jul 15 68 5 2
2009 Jul 16 68 5 2
2009 Jul 17 68 5 2
2009 Jul 18 68 5 2
2009 Jul 19 68 5 2
2009 Jul 20 68 5 2
(NOAA)

New solar Cycle 24 sunspot group emerges

Posted 22 June, 2009 at
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm and http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm

A new solar Cycle 24 sunspot group emerged in the SW quadrant of the Sun near S22E41. Later, NOAA/SWPC should assign it #11023, with a beta magnetic signature.

It appears that solar cycle 24 has finally come alive.
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o@arrl.net

LF/MF/HF/VHF/UHF Frequency Radiowave Propagation Email Reflector: 1. http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/spaceweather
NZ4O Daily Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm
NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm
NZ4O 160 Meter Radio Propagation Theory Notes: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm
NZ4O Solar Cycle 24 Forecast Discussion & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm

IBB schedule update for Kuwait sites

All times UTC

KUWAIT Summer A-09 for IBB via KWT 250 kW:
1800-2130 on 5830 / 046 deg FAR Farsi
0200-0530 on 5860 / 058 deg FAR Farsi
1400-1500 on 5870 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq.
0300-1200 on 5885 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq.
0500-0930 on 7220 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq.
0100-0200 on 7430 / 094 deg VOA English
1000-1400 on 7435 / 046 deg FAR Farsi
0000-0100 on 7460 / 086 deg AAP Urdu
2200-2300 on 7460 / 058 deg VOA English
2300-2400 on 7500 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan
0030-0100 on 7555 / 070 deg ASH Pashto
1600-1700 on 7555 / 054 deg RFE Uzbek
1830-2030 on 7555 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari
2030-0030 on 7555 / 070 deg VOA English
1200-1230 on 9310 / 070 deg DEE Pashto
1700-1800 on 9310 / 078 deg DEE Pashto
1430-1830 on 9335 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari/Pashto/Dari
0100-0300 on 9365 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan
0300-0400 on 9555 / 046 deg RFE Turkmen
0000-0100 on 11535 / 078 deg DEE Pashto
1230-1330 on 11550 / 070 deg AFG Pashto
1330-1430 on 11550 / 070 deg AFG Dari
1500-1600 on 11550 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan
1500-1630 on 11560 / 046 deg FAR Farsi, new additional freq.
1630-1830 on 11565 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari
1630-1830 on 11580 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari
1200-1400 on 11590 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan
1400-1500 on 11975 / 078 deg RFA Tibetan
0000-0230 on 12015 / 078 deg DEE Pashto
0230-0330 on 12140 / 070 deg AFG Pashto
1130-1430 on 15090 / 070 deg AFG Dari/Pashto/Dari
1430-1630 on 15090 / 070 deg ASH Pashto/Dari
0330-0530 on 15680 / 070 deg AFG Dari/Pashto
0730-0930 on 15680 / 070 deg AFG Dari/Pashto
0230-0430 on 15690 / 070 deg AFG Pashto/Dari
0430-0830 on 17670 / 070 deg AFG Pashto/Dari/Pashto/Dari
1000-1200 on 17750 / 078 deg RFA Tibetan
0600-0700 on 17780 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan
1000-1100 on 21530 / 070 deg RFA Tibetan

AAP=Aap Ki Dunyaa
AFG=Radio Free Afghanistan
ASH=Radio Ashna
DEE=Deewa Radio
RFA=Radio Free Asia
RFE=Radio Liberty
FAR=Radio Farda
VOA=Voice of America
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22/DX Mix News # 578)

Australia adds frequency to English schedule

Radio Australia has added 17665 kHz to their schedule, effective from July 4, 2009, at 0000-0200 UTC. Transmitting from Darwin, broadcast are targeted to southeast Asia. (DX Mix News #578).

VOA - Radio Sawa changes frequency

Via: São Tomé

Voice of America - Radio Sawa
Hello Darfur in Sudanese Arabic:
0300-0330 UTC new frequency 9650 SAO 100 kW / 076 deg, ex 11635, parrell 4960 SAO, 5995 NAU
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22/DX Mix News # 578)

Aussie shortwave signals continue to flourish

HF propagation into Melbourne, on our shortest day, continues to be represented by good signals from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East during our late morning to mid afternoon periods on 6, 7, and 9 MHz.

I have included a summary of this propagation in episode 156 of the Australian DX Report audio magazine, which features news and information about shortwave broadcasting, propagation, monitoring notes, new schedules, extracts from schedules, and schedule updates.

There is also a special segment summarizing current reception here in Melbourne, of African signals in the 49 metre band, 2100 to 2300.

It's 15 minutes duration, and may be downloaded from the website of the Australian Internet Radio Service at: http://airm.edxp.org

The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, Mobile Telephone delivedry, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.

You can also hear the episodes on-air, via WWCR Nashville, every Sunday at 0200-0215 on 5070 and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825. The WWCR release is also available as streaming-audio, live, from http://wwwcr.com
Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 155!

Bob Padula,
Melbourne

Cheetah Radio changes frequency

Cheetah Radio, a new station via Media Broadcast, has changed their frequency for the English schedule. Broadcasting on Saturday, 1600-1700 UTC on 11730 (ex. 11885). This move is to avoid co-channel interference from China’s PBS Xinjiang. Cheetah Radio is currently transmitting via the Julich, Germany site, programming is targeted to South Asia. (DX Mix News # 578/Alokesh Gupta, India)

Radio Prague to end Sackville Canada relay

Due to budget cuts and down sizing, Radio Prague will terminate their Sackville, Canada relay in English on July 1, broadcasting on 6080 kHz at 0330 UTC.
The current broadcast relay via WRMI will continue.
(Frank Hillton, SC)

Special Voice of America Newscasts Keeps Iranians Informed

Currently broadcasting 9 hours of live TV daily

Washington, D.C., June 22, 2009 – As videos, pictures, e-mails and calls from Iran poured into the Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. international broadcaster introduced a two-hour Special Report to keep its millions of viewers informed.

"With the Iranian government crackdown on media operating inside the country, the Persian News Network (PNN) has become a lifeline to our audience, allowing them to know the latest events unfolding there," said Alex Belida, acting director of PNN, which reaches nearly 30 percent of Iranian adults every week by satellite television.

Special Report is preempting regularly scheduled programs, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tehran time, at least for this week. PNN also recently introduced a daily breakfast show, The Morning Show, from 7:00-8:00 a.m. Tehran time. The programs examine events in Iran in the aftermath of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's declared victory, the ensuing protests and the global reaction to developments in Iran.

VOA's coverage is drawing an overwhelming reaction from inside Iran. Direct visits to PNN's Internet site http://www.voapnn.com from inside the country increased over 800 percent since early June.

Citizens of Iran have sent thousands of videos and pictures - over 300 videos in one 24-hour period - depicting events inside the country. Videos are shown on PNN after careful review. (You can see the latest videos from inside Iran by going to: http://www.VOANews.com/persian/_-electionprotests.cfm or by going directly to PNN's YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/PNNVideo ).

PNN's viewers have also sent thousands of e-mails, and posted comments on PNN blogs, Facebook, a dedicated YouTube channel, Twitter and other social media sites. Callers have phoned in to various PNN shows.

VOA's PNN has the largest combined radio and television audience of all international broadcasters in Iran, with nearly one in three adults in Iran watching or listening to PNN broadcasts at least weekly. Research indicates 96 percent of Iranians daily watch TV, which is the preferred medium for getting news and information.
(VOA)

Violence in Iran increases

In the past day the violence has increased in Iran. It started this morning (Sunday) with a suicide bombing attack on a shrine of Iran's revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The bombing was most likely planned at the shrine to anger Iranians because they revere Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the founder of the Islamic Republic. The attacker and another person were killed in the blast, which succeeded in wounding eight pilgrims.

Later in the afternoon, a witness reported that she was on her way to a protest in Revolution Square with a group of people, but was blocked by a row of riot police in central Tehran. The group of protesters sat down in defiance of police. She stated that helicopters hovered above the group of roughly 300 before the protesters were forced to disperse due to tear gas.

Another eyewitness who was able to arrive to Revolution Square reported that there were about 20,000 riot police officers all around Tehran, made up of Basiji militiamen and soldiers, armed with rifles, tear gas, and water cannons. The riot police outnumbered the 3,000 protesters who were able to arrive.

There have also been reports that an innocent elderly man and younger female were both shot and killed. These are two of over 150 deaths, according to unconfirmed reports, over the last seven days.
(WikiNews)

Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran

English

All times UTC

0130-0200 on 7235 9495 "Voice of Justice"

1030-1127 on 15600 17660

1530-1627 on 7305 9600 9635

1930-2028 NF 5940 SIT (via Lithuania relay) 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in English
(DX Mix News #577)

Iranian Police Attack Hundreds of Opposition Protestors
AP-TEHRAN — Riot police attacked hundreds of demonstrators with tear gas and fired live bullets in the air to disperse a rally in central Tehran Monday, carrying out a threat by the country's most powerful security force to crush any further opposition protests over the disputed presidential election.
Continued story from Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,528063,00.html

(flickr)

RFE, Radio Liberty and Radio Farda add transmissions to Farsi services

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Farda, have added additional transmissions to their Farsi services. Sites as indicated
Via: Germany/ Kuwait/ Philippines/ Sri Lanka
All times UTC

0130-0200 on 5885 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg
0130-0830 on 15475 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg
0200-0230 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg
0230-0300 on 5885 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg
0230-0400 on 9480 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg
0300-0500 on 9805 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg
0300-1200 on 5885 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg
0500-0930 on 7220 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg
0800-1200 on 17880 IRA 250 kW / 322 deg
0830-1130 on 15610 LAM 100 kW / 108 deg
1330-1400 on 15330 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg
1400-1500 on 5870 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg
1400-1800 on 15330 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg
1500-1630 on 11560 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg
1500-1630 on 15475 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg
1600-1700 on 7580 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg
1630-1730 on 15475 LAM 100 kW / 104 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22/DX Mix news # 578 via wb, Germany)

BBC adds additional Farsi transmissions to schedule

The BBC has added additional transmissions to their Farsi service. Sites as indicated

Via: Cyprus/ Singapore/ Thailand/ UAE and United Kingdom


All times UTC

0600-1000 on 11860 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 15725 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg
1200-1400 on 15650 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 17530 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg
1400-1500 on 15215 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 17530 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg
1500-1600 on 13840 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg, 15550 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg
1700-1800 on 9810 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg, 13845 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg
1800-1900 on 6125 DHA 250 kW / 345 deg, 13845 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg
1900-2100 on 5975 NAK 250 kW / 305 deg, 7270 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg
2100-2200 on 5875 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg
2200-2300 on 6185 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg
2300-2400 on 5875 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22/DX Mix News # 578 via wb, Germany)

Hackers attack Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting website

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website : http://worldservice.irib.ir/

Wikinews reported on Friday that it had learned that the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website had been hacked and was suffering from an alleged denial-of-service attack (DDoS). Wikinews says it discovered that an individual or group has claimed responsibility for attacking the website on an Iranian Internet forum. As part of the attack, at least one section of the IRIB website, an apparent user space, was replaced with what appears to be videos and images of protests within Iran. The page also contained the statement “hacked by the Iranian people.”

Wikinews says it has also discovered that citizens have set up Internet channels on IRC in an attempt to create proxy servers and addresses to bypass the the blocking of the Internet by the Iranian government. Proxy servers can also be used to attack websites.
(Source: Wikinews)

Andy Sennitt comments: I managed to get the site to load yesterday, but it was very slow. This morning the site would not load at all, so it appears that the situation is ongoing. Observations welcome. The English website of Press TV is operating normally.
Update 1315 UTC: The IRIB English page is available at: http://english.irib.ir/
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Recent logging on SW
IRAN 7235 kHz, Voice of Justice, tuned in at 0131 UTC (0130 sign-on) in English, with religious meditation, then into news. SINPO 33232. About 60% readable with close attention. Mention of "Death to America, Down with Israel." Turkmenistan congratulates Ahmadineabad on winning the election. Much on the health care debate in the US. Overall poor, not as good as two days ago. This day, the newscasters were alternately male (not well heard) and female (better understood) instead of one female as two days ago.
(Roger Chambers/ODXA)

Radio Canada Internaitonal - A09 multilingual schedule updates

RCI - A09 revised edition

Effective to 25 October 2009
All times UTC
Multi language services

Arabic
0200-0300 on 5840 5950
0300-0400 on 7230 9520
1105-1205 on 7325
1900-2000 on 15180 15235
1905-2005 on 9515

Chinese
0000-0100 on 9690 11895
0105-0205 on 6100
1305-1405 on 7325
1500-1600 on 6110 11805
2105-2205 on 9515
2200-2300 on 9525 9870

French
1700-1800 on 5850 Fri
1705-1905 on 9800 DRM
1900-2000 on 11765 13730 15320 17735
2005-2105 on 9515
2100-2200 on 9490 13650 15330 15235 17735
2300-2330 on 9525

Portuguese
2100-2130 on 17860 Fri-Sun
2130-2200 on 15455 17860 Fri-Sun
2200-2300 on 17860 Fri-Sun
2300-2330 on 13710 Fri-Sun
2305-0005 on 6100 Sat/Sun

Russian
1405-1505 on 9515
1500-1530 on 11935 15325
1600-1630 on 11935 15325

Spanish
0000-0100 on 11990 13725
0200-0300 on 9755 13710
0205-0305 on 6100
1205-1305 on 7325
2200-2400 on 11990 15455
2205-2305 on 6100
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22/DX Mix News # 578 via wb, Germany)

Radio Canada International - A09 English schedule update

RCI - A09 revised edition

Effective to 25 October 2009

All times UTC
English
0000-0100 on 11700
0005-0105 on 6100
0100-0200 on 9620
1500-1600 on 11675 17720
1505-1705 on 9800 DRM
1505-1905 on 9515
1700-1800 on 5850 Sat/Sun
1800-1900 on 9530 11765 17735 17810
2000-2100 on 15235 17735
2100-2200 on 9800 DRM
2305-0005 on 6100 Mon-Fri
(DX Mix News # 578 via wb, Germany)

WHRA English schedule update

After doing some additional monitoring, I've discovered my earlier blog post which included a schedule for World Harvest Radio - WHRA, on June 17, as well as being in an upcoming issue in Monitoring Times - English SW Guide has some errors. The following schedule has been revised to reflect the corrected version. Sorry for any confusion.
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC

target areas: af (Africa) am (Americas) eu (Europe) pa (Pacific)va (various areas)

0000-0100 7385eu
0100-0200 7385eu
0200-0300 7385eu
0300-0400 7385eu
0400-0500 7385eu

0500-0600 7390af
0600-0700 7390af

0700-0800 11565pa
0800-0900 11565pa
0900-1000 11565pa
1000-1100 11565pa

1100-1200 7315am (Mon-Fri listing removed)
1200-1300 7315am (Mon-Fri listing removed)

1300-1400 Sat/Sun 15195va (af/eu)
1400-1500 Sat/Sun 15195va (af/eu)
1500-1600 Sat/Sun 15195va (af/eu)

1600-1700 17520af
1700-1800 17520af
1800-1900 17520af

1900-2000 twhfas 9840af (program Demitshe Tewahedo in Amharic is on Monday)
2000-2100 15665af
2100-2200 15665af
2200-2300 11885af
2300-0000 9615eu
(DX Mix News # 575/revisions by GVH)

Nicaragua opposition party denounces cancellation of radio frequency

The coordinator of the Sandinista Renewal Movement, or MRS, Edmundo Jarquin, yesterday denounced the cancelation of the frequency [102.1 FM] of Radio La Ley, a station in the interior owned by an opposition commentator, a measure he calls “an outrage.”

Nicaragua’s telecommunications and postal institute TELCOR, according to an article in the daily La Prensa, on Friday cancelled the frequency of the radio station belonging to Santiago Aburto and whose inauguration was planned for this Saturday in Sebaco in the northern province of Matagalpa. According to the source, the telecommunication sector’s regulatory body canceled the frequency for Aburto due to alleged infractions of the law that awards licences to companies, individuals and legal entities that operate radio, television and cable TV.

Aburto said that about 30 armed civilians came on Friday to remove him from his house where he has the radio station’s studios, equipment, transmitters and other accessories valued at close to $10,000. The radio station’s owner attributes the cancelation of the frequency to a reprisal by the government for the critical commentaries he makes on a programme broadcast on Radio Corporacion in the nation’s capital.

Jarquin told Efe he supports Aburto in this and believes that the cancelation of the frequency is not only directed against the radio commentator but against freedom of speech in Nicaragua. “This is a measure against all Nicaraguans that once again shows the authoritarian, dictatorial nature of the Daniel Ortega government,” said Jarquin, whose organization is made up of dissident Sandinistas.
(Source: Latin American Herald Tribune/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Sandinista Renewal Movement (Movimiento de Renovación Sandinista or MRS, in Spanish) is a Nicaraguan political party founded by dissidents of the Sandinista National Liberation Front on May 18, 1995, on Augusto César Sandino's 100th anniversary. Sandino's legacy was claimed by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), which overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in 1979 and the MRS took Sandino's hat as a symbol in their new flag.

One of the founding leaders of MRS was Sergio Ramirez, Nicaragua's vice-president from 1985 to 1990 under the Sandinistas government. Ramirez ran as the MRS presidential candidate in the 1996 elections. The MRS got 1.33% of the votes and got 1 seat (out of 91) in the Nicaraguan Parliament.

HOT SPOT DXING - Iran on shortwave repost

As requested by blog readers, here is a repost of the current shortwave schedule for Iran. Next English broadcast will be at 0130 UTC (9:30 PM EDT) scheduled as;

All times UTC

English
0130-0200 on 7235 9495 "Voice of Justice"

1030-1127 on 15600 17660

1530-1627 on 7305 9600 9635

1930-2028 NF 5940 SIT (via Lithuania relay) 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in English
(DX Mix News #577)

Multilingual schedules

Effective to 25 October 2009

Albanian
0630-0727 on 13810 15235
1830-1927 on 9545 9570
2030-2127 on 9535 11830

Arabic
0230-0327 on 6025 11665(x 11655)
0230-0527 on 7350 "Al-Quds TV"
0330-0427 on 9610 11875 "Voice of Palestine"
0330-0527 on 6025 6175 11665(x 11655)
0530-0827 on 13790 13800 15150
0830-1027 on 9885 13800 15150
1030-1427 on 13790 13800 15150
1430-1627 on 15150
1630-2027 on 7350 "Al-Quds TV"
1630-0227 on 6025

Armenian
0300-0327 on 7255 12025
0930-0957 on 9695 15260
1630-1727 on 7230 9780

Azeri
0330-0527 on 13710
1430-1657 on 6000 6035

Bengali
0030-0127 on 5950 7325
0830-0927 on 11705
1430-1527 on 6130 9520 12085

Bosnian
0530-0627 on 13750 15235
1730-1827 on 7295 9860
2130-2227 on 7305 9810

Chinese
1200-1257 on 13735 15190 17635 17670
2330-0027 on 11740 11970 13715

Dari
0300-0627 on 11910 13740
0830-1157 on 9940 11975 13720
1200-1427 on 9940 13720

German
0730-0827 on 15085 15430
1730-1827 on *6180 9940 15085

French
0630-0727 on 13750 15430
1830-1927 on *5945 9940 13755 15085

Hausa
0600-0657 on 17810 17870
1830-1927 on 7370 9925

Hebrew
0430-0457 on 9610 11875
1200-1227 on 13685 15240

Hindi
0230-0257 on 15165 17635
1430-1527 on 11955 13700

Indonesian
1230-1327 on 15200 17560
2230-2327 on 5945 7310

Italian
0630-0727 on *9770 13620 15085
1930-1957 on 5910 7380

Japanese
1330-1427 on 13755 15555
2100-2157 on 9670 11765

Kazakh
0130-0227 on 7360 9790
1300-1357 on 11665 13765

Kurdish
0330-0427 on 7255 9905 Sorrani dialect
1330-1627 on 5990 Kirmanji dialect

Pashto
0230-0327 on 7360 9605
0730-0827 on 11990 15440
1230-1327 on 6175 9790 11730
1430-1527 on 5890
1630-1727 on 6010 7200

Russian
0300-0327 on 9650 11925
0500-0527 on 9855 13750 17595 17655
1430-1527 on *6145 7360 9580 9900
1700-1757 on 3985 7210
1800-1857 on 6205 7235
1930-2027 on 3985 7370

Spanish
0030-0227 on 9655 9905
0230-0327 on 9905
0530-0627 on 15530 17785
2030-2127 on *6055 7300 9800

Swahili
0400-0457 on 15265 15340
0830-0927 on 15240 17660
1730-1827 on 7360 9655

Tajik
0100-0227 on 6175 7285
1600-1727 on 5945 5955 6180

Turkish
0430-0557 on 11685 13640
1600-1727 on 7370 9870

Urdu
0130-0227 on 7325 9480 9845
1300-1427 on 6000 9665 11695
1530-1727 on 5890

Uzbek
0230-0257 on 9740 11945
1500-1557 on 5945 9680
*via Sitkunai, Lithuania

(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 6)
(DX Mix News # 571 via wb, Germany/Alokesh Gupta, India/Rachel Baughn/MT)

EMR relay this Sunday

Date 21st of June 2009

Time 09.00 to 09.30 UTC

Channel 6140 kHz

Program Mike Taylor ( Mail Box program)

EMR Internet service

The EMR Internet steaming service will be back on this Saturday the 20th of June and will continue until 2100 UTC on Monday.

EMR Internet program repeat times:

0900 - 1200 - 1500 - 1800 and 2000 UTC
(Tom Taylor)

Radio Netherlands Program Guide - June 21-26

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.
SATURDAY 20 June
*** The State We're In ***

PROTESTERS AND POLICE: Ivan Marovic helped organise protests against the Milosovic regime in 2000, after yet another fraudulent election - protests which helped topple the government. He tells Jonathan how crucial it was to neutralise the police: not through physical confrontations, but by engaging them in their cause. He advises protestors in Iran to do the same.

This week's theme: How fair is fair trade?

FAIR TRADE FOR WHOM? Kenyan woodcarver Dankan describes how fair trade has doubled his income and answered the prayers he and family had. But filmmaker Steve Daley tells Jonathan how a trip to a fair trade cocoa plantation in Ghana convinced him that fair trade doesn't better the lives of producers significantly, and that all it really does is soothe the collective conscience of western consumers.

FIGTING FOR FAIR WAGES IN INDIA: Jonathan speaks with a domestic worker in Bangalore, India, who, after joining a new union, found the courage to fight for better wages, a day off and, in one case, the right to even use the toilet.

FAIR WAGE TRIUMPH: When Argentinean Jose Luis Bethancourt came to the United States he got a good paying job. When a new boss illegally cut his and his co-workers wages they sued ... and won. He tells Jonathan what other workers being paid unfairly can do to help themselves.

FOOD AND FAIRNESS IN WAR: Amela Marin Simic lived through the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. She tells Jonathan what she did to put food on the table for her family - like bartering with TV crews who wanted interviews - and how her conception of what constitutes fair costs for food changed forever after the war.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

The votes have been counted in the EU elections - we look at the winners and the losers and analyse how the parliament will change. Also on the programme: Can European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso keep his job? Literature lovers set themselves a summer challenge - but can they stay on the same page? And we meet a bike chain gang doing a penal Tour de France.

Broadcast time on SW (UTC):
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Note that we run Network Europe Week every hour on Monday until 1600

SUNDAY 21 June
*** Network Europe Extra ***

Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership of international broadcasters.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Radio Books (primary programme) ***

'Love' - by Erik Jan Harmens

Erik Jan Harmens became the first Dutch National Poetry Slam champion in 2002. Since then he has published several collections of poems. Last year his first novel was said to create a new genre dubbed "corporate horror fiction".

His story for Radio Books can be said to have elements of psychological horror. A man is buried beneath the rubble of an apparent terrorist attack. Alone in the dark with his thoughts, he expresses his hopes - of rescue - and his regrets - if not found in time.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

MONDAY 22 June
*** Curious Orange (primary program) ***
Holland remembers Anne Frank on what would have been her 80th birthday. We'll hear what it means to have her second and third diaries returned to the Netherlands.

And, Political Editor John Tyler will be in with Headlines from The Hague. tThis week it's "Geert Wilders, The Sequel" (to the sequel to the sequel to the sequel to the... well, you get the picture).
And, finally, we'll have music from girl guitar hero Elle Bandita. Robbert Tilli from the Music Center of the Netherlands will tell us more about this hardcore Dutch feature artist.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Radio Books (repeat from Sunday) ***

'Love' - by Erik Jan Harmens

Erik Jan Harmens became the first Dutch National Poetry Slam champion in 2002. Since then he has published several collections of poems. Last year his first novel was said to create a new genre dubbed "corporate horror fiction".

His story for Radio Books can be said to have elements of psychological horror. A man is buried beneath the rubble of an apparent terrorist attack. Alone in the dark with his thoughts, he expresses his hopes - of rescue - and his regrets - if not found in time.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

The votes have been counted in the EU elections - we look at the winners and the losers and analyse how the parliament will change. Also on the programme: Can European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso keep his job? Literature lovers set themselves a summer challenge - but can they stay on the same page? And we meet a bike chain gang doing a penal Tour de France.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast time on SW (UTC):
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

TUESDAY 23 June
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

PROTESTERS AND POLICE: Ivan Marovic helped organise protests against the Milosovic regime in 2000, after yet another fraudulent election - protests which helped topple the government. He tells Jonathan how crucial it was to neutralise the police: not through physical confrontations, but by engaging them in their cause. He advises protestors in Iran to do the same.

This week's theme: How fair is fair trade?

FAIR TRADE FOR WHOM? Kenyan woodcarver Dankan describes how fair trade has doubled his income and answered the prayers he and family had. But filmmaker Steve Daley tells Jonathan how a trip to a fair trade cocoa plantation in Ghana convinced him that fair trade doesn't better the lives of producers significantly, and that all it really does is soothe the collective conscience of western consumers.

FIGTING FOR FAIR WAGES IN INDIA: Jonathan speaks with a domestic worker in Bangalore, India, who, after joining a new union, found the courage to fight for better wages, a day off and, in one case, the right to even use the toilet.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Earthbeat (repeat from Thursday) ***

In this week's programme: sex miles. Is your long distance relationship bad for the planet? When the chemistry says yes, but the geography says no. Visiting a partner can involve regular flights and a lot of extra carbon dioxide. Earthbeat meets the man with a girlfriend in a foreign country who's decided not to fly.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

WEDNESDAY 24 June
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (repeat from Friday) ***

Zimbabwe's prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai tours the West, but he isn't asking for money -he says.

It's taken 13 years but Royal Dutch Petroleum has settled the Ken Saro-Wiwa law suit at 15.5 million US dollars. What can Africa learn from the case?

In this week's video on the radio we feature 'pastorpreneurs' from Benin, who sell the word of Christ - and themselves - on TV.

And we have a studio get-together with Bantu Continua Uhuru Counsciousness. A group of talented young musicians from Soweto, South Africa.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (primary programme) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

THURSDAY 25 June
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Earthbeat (primary programme) ***

A classical music festival goes green and commissions leading composers to write scores with an environmental conscience. We'll get a taste of these eco-sounds. And their composer talks to us from his home on a remote Scottish island, about why the environment inspires and concerns him.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Curious Orange (repeat program) ***

Holland remembers Anne Frank on what would have been her 80th birthday. We'll hear what it means to have her second and third diaries returned to the Netherlands.

And, Political Editor John Tyler will be in with Headlines from The Hague. This week it's "Geert Wilders, The Sequel" (to the sequel to the sequel to the sequel to the... well, you get the picture).
And, finally, we'll have music from girl guitar hero Elle Bandita. Robbert Tilli from the Music Center of the Netherlands will tell us more about this hardcore Dutch feature artist.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

FRIDAY 26 June
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (primary programme) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (repeat programme) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

Blog Logs

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Argentina
RAE, 15345 Radio al Exterior; 2316-2323+. Tango to fanfare at 2318+ into two male announcers in Spanish with Argentina news. RAE ID at 2322+ then back into music. SIO 353, no detectable // noted on 6090 // 11710. (Harold Frodge, MI/MARE # 533)

Bulgaria
7400 Radio Bulgaria, 2048-2102*. Program in French before 210. Interval signal to 2100 into English schedule. SIO 3+22.+ Signal strong with hiss interference. (Harold Frodge, MI/MARE # 533)

Canada
Voice of Vietnam relay, 6175, 0107-0122. "Vietnam Music and Artists". Poor to average signal with much fading. Not a very strong signal from Canada. (Kincaid-MI/MARE # 533)

Ecuador
6080, HCJB, (presumed), 0912-0930. Music until 0915 when a male comments in (Spanish?). At 0918 it seems that canned ADs or promos are presented. This is followed by music which contains a lot of flute, used. I am leaning towards this being Bolivia, but Ecuador's HCJB is also listed on this frequency. At 0924 a canned ID is heard as "Radio H C . ...." then more canned information. So my preference is tipped back to HCJB because of th partial ID. The language being used seems to be a venacular at this point. Signal was poor with static crashes. (Chuck Bolland,FL)

Indonesia
4750, RRI Makassar, 0940-1100. At tune in, noted a female in Indonesian comments prior to a few bars of music. She returns in comments after. Comments and music continue during the period. Nearer the hour, the music is more Islamic type. Signal was poor the entire period. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

9680, RRI Jakarta, 0842-0905. At tune in, noted a male chanting or reciting an (Islamic?) type hymn. At 0852, he finishes and a female continues to comment in Indonesian language. She is later joined by a male. More chanting is heard at 0856 by a group of individuals. This entire period of programming could have been especially intended for an indigenous group of people from some locality in Indonesia judging from the chanting and tone of the programming. Regardless, this format continued into the new hour. Signal was fair. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Madagascar
7395 Radio Sweden relay, 2048-2059.* English News and Views segment to feature on Greenland, mentioned that now the glacier has receded, oil and gas exploration is possible. (Harold Frodge, MI/MARE # 533)

Malaysia
11884.68v, 1230-1237*. Heard another RTM oddity! The distorted audio of Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia), in Chinese, ended at 1230. After that clearly heard the non-distorted audio feeds of both Asyik FM (// 6049.60v) and Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional (// 5964.90v). Both equal strength. To date I have not heard a new ID for Asyik FM (Ron Howard,CA/Cumbre DX)

Mexico
6104.66, XEQM/Radio Candela, 0757-0820+.Noted a very good signal here with plenty of ID's as "Candela". At 0758 noted promos and canned commercials until the hour. On the hour, seems a couple of minutes of live comments, possibly news. Then typcial Mexicana type music with canned ID during and between tunes. Could not catch entire ID phrase but "Candela" was very clear by a female. Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL/Cumbre DX)

Peru
4940, Peru, R.San Antonio, Villa Atalaya. Spanish 2154-2206 monitored this time with religious music and some OM and YL talks; returned monitoring from 2238 with same content but a strange ID as “R. Lozano” or something around it, don’t heard it well (but with that known “vozes del Peru”). From 2300 turned audio silent until 2305 returning with latin music, at 2307 OM announcements about a sports program “el mundo desportivo; nuevo tenico desportivo municipal, Copa Peru 2009”. 2319 hoped ID “R. San Antonio a servicio de la comunidad”, ads. Heard until 2322, at peak. (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/playdx2003)

Pirate radio
Red Rhino Radio
6925.0.1USB, 0038-0102.+ Alternating rock tunes and SSTV. Red Rhino Radio ID at 0058 and redrhinoradio@gmail.com . SIO 322. Most music distorted, but much cleaner after the 0050 SSTV and seemed to drop from 6925.1 to 6925.0. Hear occasional talk of SSTV. Tough copy. Per e-mail from RRR, the SSTV was not them, so probably the main source of the apparent distortion. (Frodge-M, MI/MARE # 533)

Russia
7320, Radio Rossii, (presumed) 1015-1030. Two males in Russian language conversation. A slow speed RTTY signal is on the freq causing interference while Radio Rossii is at a poor level.(Chuck Bolland, FL)

Solomon Islands
SIBC, 9541.50, 0651-0755/ Signal weak/fair, but steady. BBC news at 0700, played REO
Speedwagon “In Your Letter” & Fleetwood Mac “Don’t Stop.” Most of the programming was some sort of news show with reports from reporters in the field, telephone interviews, etc. I could pick out a word or so here and there, but the weak signal and UK (I think UK, not Aussie, so maybe more BBC programming?) accents were just a bit too much for me to overcome (Andrew Yoder,PA/Cumbre DX)

9541.13, SIBC, 0820-0845. Not a very good signal yet. Consequently, copying any details was a struggle. Noted a male as host interviewing a couple of females in English. The signal was being covered by the "Pacific noise" that usually accompanies signals at this time of day and from that area. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Taiwan
6150, Radio Taiwan Int'l (presumed) 1030-1045. Could not find a parallel of this to help with it's ID. Noted signal with great circle fading - figure of speech. Program consisted of male and female in Chinese language talk. Except for the echo effect caused by the two signals arriving out of phase, this station had a strong signal. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

New Radio Malaysia ID's observed on shortwave

5964.90v, “Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional” via RTM, 1313-1346, June 15. Noted a series of their new IDs: “Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional”. Formerly was just “Klasik Nasional”. Their singing jingle is still the usual “Klasik Nasional”, but maybe that will also eventually be updated. In vernacular; DJ with pop songs; fair. Dan Sheedy (So. Calif.) first heard these new IDs on June 11 and 12, being used on just "Radio Malaysia-Traxx FM” (7295) and “Radio Malaysia-Wai FM” (7270) and he noted they were not yet used on Asyik FM nor Klasik Nasional, so seems they are implementing the new IDs in stages. Certainly worth more monitoring (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

New Radio New Zealand Int'l Radio Heritage Documentary

Join us from June 15 2009 when the Radio Heritage Foundation airs a,new radio heritage documentary on the Radio New Zealand International [RNZI] Mailbox program.

You can listen via shortwave or audio on demand [for the following month] with full details of frequencies and times and audio download at www.rnzi.com.

The program celebrates 55 years since the original Fiji BroadcastingCommission signed on the air for the first time on July 1 1954.

>From VPD on shortwave and ZJV on mediumwave since 1936, Fiji has enjoyed one of the most sophisticated radio broadcasting markets in the Pacific. In World War II an American Armed Forces Radio station [WVUT] also broadcast from Nadi, home of the main airport in the islands.

The [then] New Zealand Broadcasting Service was heavily involved with the establishment of the Fiji Broadcasting Commission. It supplied almost the entire expatriate staff on secondment from New Zealand commercial and non-commercial stations, carried out the technical work across the islands, built the broadcasting house, and provided good guidance for the new independent public broadcaster.

In fact, on the opening night on July 1 1954, the new FBC chairman spoke what have turned out to be highly prophetic words:

"This broadcasting service will certainly provide entertainment, but it will not be the government's idea of what should divert us. It will offer programs of information and enlightenment, but these programs will not be the government's conception of what we should hear."

In the light of recent events in Fiji where the media no longer enjoys such freedoms, it's interesting to note that such a warning was being sounded those 55 years ago.

At the time, Fiji was a British Crown Colony, and this was a new experiment for the colonial authorities.

The rest of the opening celebrations for the FBC included Fijian choirs, Indian music clubs, the Fiji Infantry Regiment Band, pianists, violinists and even the Suva Group Theater.

For a timely look back at the birth of free public broadcasting in Fiji those 55 years ago, as well as some fabulous Fijian music, visit www.rnzi.com today and download the audio from the June 15 edition of Mailbox.

Join David Ricquish of the Radio Heritage Foundation on this journey back to Suva on the night of July 1 1954, and also hear more excerpts from the opening speeches, and the song that ended that very first FBC broadcast.

This new radio heritage documentary on RNZI complements existing stories about early radio ZJV in Fiji online today at www.radioheritage.net . A new article on 55 Years of the Fij Broadcasting Commission will be online shortly.
(Radio Heritage Foundation/HCDX)

The Radio Museum - A Museum Made With The Heart and Soul

Should you visit the bookfairs organized by the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation or if you happen to be in the foyer of the “Mihail Jora” Concert Hall of the Radio House you can see sepia colour photos depicting Bucharest between the two World Wars. On view is also a collection of radio receivers dating from the same period, and others from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Continued story from Radio Romania at:
http://www.rri.ro/art.shtml?lang=1&sec=7&art=630

I.C.P.O. Bulletin for Operations in amateur radio

I.C.P.O. Bulletin (June 18 - 26, 2009)
"Islands, Castles & Portable Operations"
Listing is by calendar date (day/month/year)
============================================

18/06/2009: Dennis, K7BV (SMIRK #6680) will return to the island of San Andres (NA-033, ARLHS SAP-002, WLOTA 2990, WW Loc. EK92DM) from June 18 (1700z) to June 29th (1600z) as 5J0BV concentrating on 6 meter Sporadic Es. HF bands will be activated as well. Equipment will consist of: Yaesu FT-950, Yaesu FT-450AT, ACOM - HF/6 KW, HF - Wire and Vertical, 6M - 8 element 42.5' boom. He will have a 6M Breakable Beacon 50.106.2 MHz - "CQ de 5J0BV K". WSJT MS Random CQs 1st-50.260 MHz. WSJT EME 1st 50.198.5 MHz. QSL direct to K7BV via QRZ.com address. Include self-addressed envelope with return postage stamp/fee. Further information can be found at www.qth.com/k7bv/caribe2009/ [N8OFS]

18/06/2009: Alik, RX9WN will be active from the Irkutsk area as RX9WN/0/m between June 19th and 21st. His plans are to activate the island of Kharantsy (RR-21-12 New One!), in Lake Baikal, and Pribaikalsky National Park (RFF-136, RDA IR-35). There is also the possibility that Alik will also activate other islands RR-21-01 and districts RDA during his travels. QSL via home call. [RX9WN]

18/06/2009: Look for Jorgen, SM3CXS to be active June 18-21st from Grimskar island (EU-176, Grid JP81) as SG3U. Spare time operation on 40-6m CW/SSB. QSL via SM3CXS, direct or Bureau. [rsgbiota.org]

18/06/2009: Dago, DJ5KZ will be activating SOTA references SV/AG-007 to AG-013 on the island of Lesvos (EU-049, GIOTA NAS-014, MIA MG-064, WLOTA 0165) between June 18th and 30th. QRV on 7.032, 10.118, 14.058 and 18.072 MHz between 0900-1200 UTC daily. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [DJ5KZ]

20/06/2009: Weather, sea and tide permitting, on June 20th, look for François/F5JNE and Max/F5IRH to be active from the Île aux Chevaux (EU-048, DIFM AT-109, DIM O-24), Department Morbihan/56 and Province Brittany (DPF 06). QSL via F5JNE, direct or via Bureau. [F5NQL]

20/06/2009: Jean-Pierre F6ITD will be active from Belle Ile (EU-048, DIFM AT-015, WLOTA 0872) as homecall/p from June 20-28th. He will be on HF bands (no WARC) using SSB only. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [F6AJA]

20/06/2009: The Radio Club of Velay, F6KQJ will be active June 20th as homecall/p from the Castle d'Arlempdes (DFCF 43-012), located in the commune of Arlempdes (CP 43490), Department Haute-Loire/43 and Province Auvergne (DPF 03). QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [radioamateur.org]

20/06/2009: Tina/DL5YL and Fred/DL5YM will be active as HB0/homecall from Liechtenstein from June 20th to July 2nd. They will operate holiday style on the HF bands mainly CW, possibly with some RTTY. QSL via home calls. [425 DX News]

20/06/2009: Members of the Amateurs Radio Republic of San Marino (A.R.R.S.M.) will activate their club station T70A on 6 meters (Grid JN63) June 20-21st, primarily looking to give those who need it for a new country on the band during the IARU 6 meter Contest. Operators Filippo/IK4ZHH, Giorgio/IZ4AKS, Max/IZ4DPV, Michele/IZ4GWE, Stefano/IW2MJQ and Vittorio/I4YSS will compose the team that operates from the club station. They will use 3 antennas beamed in different directions. QSL via A.R.R.S.M. Radio Club, P.O. Box 77, 47890 San Marino, Republic of San Marino. [OPDX Bulletin]

20/06/2009: A team of French operators will operate TM5DUM from the Île Dumet (EU-064, DIFM AT-018, WLOTA 1512) June 20th and 21st. QRV on all the HF bands and on VHF, using SSB and CW. QSL via F5SRH, direct or Bureau. [UBA HF News]

20/06/2009: Warren, WR1TX (FISTS #12064) plans to work portable from Lake Whitney (in Hill County), Texas from June 20-21st. Most operating should be CW, but a little SSB possibly thrown into the mix. So if there are those who need Hill County or his FISTS number for anything he should likely be on the air to hand out his number. QSL via home call. [WR1TX]

20/06/2009: The Radio Club Venezolano will be active June 20-24th as YW9A from the rare Amazonas State. QSL via YV5AJ, direct or Bureau. Information on the Diploma Estados Venezolanos (Venezuelan States Award) can be found at: radioclubvenezolano.org/concurso.html [425 DX News]

21/06/2009: Gilles/F4FGJ, Claude/F5MCC and XYL Yveline/F13049 to be active June 21st as F4FGJ/p from the Mill of Seignelay (DMF 89-041), in the city of Seignelay (CP 89250), Department Yonne/89 and Province Burgundy (DPF 05). QSL via F4FGJ, direct or Bureau. [F5NQL]

21/06/2009: Juan, F5IRC/p will be active June 21st from the Mill of Saint Denis le Thiboult (DMF 76-021, CP 76116, WW Loc. JN09QK) and the Castle of Belmesnil (DFCF DFCF 76-072), located 200m from the mill. Both references are in Department Seine-Maritime/76 and Province Haute-Normandie (DPF 11). QRV on 80, 40, 20 and 10 meters from 0600 to 1600 UTC. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [F5IRC]

21/06/2009: François, F5JNE will be active for National Mills Day as homecall/p, from the Mill of Parlevan (DMF 56-002), on Belle Île en Mer (EU-048, DIFM AT-015, WLOTA 0078), Department Morbihan/56 and Province Brittany (DPF 06). QRV 80, 40 and 20m, CW/SSB. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [F5NQL]

21/06/2009: From June 21st to 25th, look for Jean-laude F6HDH and Francis F6HKS to be active as homecall/p from French Brittany (Côtes d'Armor area). They plan to be active from some lighthouses at sea, sea and tide permitting, starting on June 22nd. F6HDH will operate on 7 and 14 MHz SSB; F6HKS will be also be on 7/14 but using CW. He could appear on 10MHz by request. QSL via home calls, direct or Bureau. More information forthcoming in time. [F5NQL]

21/06/2009: The Forêt d'Orient ARC, F6KJG will be active for National Mills Day as F6KJG/p from the Mill of the city of Dosches (DMF 10-003, CP 10220, WW Loc. JN28CH), Department Aube/10 and Province Champagne Ardennes (DPF 08). QRV all HF bands, CW and SSB. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [F5NQL]

23/06/2009: Giorgio, IV3EPO will be active holiday style as 9H3EP from Malta (EU-023, MIA MM-001, WLOTA 1113) from June 23-29th. He plans to operate almost exclusively CW on 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 meters. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [425 DX News]

24/06/2009: Operators Alan/G0RCI, Pete/M0USY, Harry/G7DEH, Alan/G4VUA and Brian/M0JNC will be active as GB0YG from Holy island (Ynys Gybi, EU-124), Wales, from June 24-29th. QRV on HF bands, CW and SSB. QSL direct only to G0RCI. [rsgbiota.org]

24/06/2009: Jimmy, W6JKV will be operating as V29JKV from the island of Antigua (NA-100, WLOTA 1118) between June 24th to July 3rd. QRV HF, but focus will be on 6 meters (Grid FK97CC). He has a very good location (and will have a M2 11 Element JHV Model and power (3X3CX800 amplifier). QSL will be via his home QTH in Austin, Texas. [MMMonVHF/N8OFS]

24/06/2009: Bill/WD2E, Dave/KI4KQU and Paul/AA2C will be active from the Dry Tortugas islands (NA-079, WLOTA 0274) as WD2E/4 from June 24th to July 1st. Expect activity on all bands/modes. QSL via WD2E. [rsgbiota.org]

25/06/2009: Jernej, S59KM will be active from Ugljan island (EU-170, ACIA IC-339, CIA-53, IOCA CI-134, MIA MC-441) as 9A/S59KM from June 25th to July 2nd. Look for him to be QRV using CW and SSB on 7MHz, 14MHz, 21MHz, 28MHz, 50MHz and 144/5MHz. QSL via home call, direct or Bureau. [rsgbiota.org]

25/06/2009: Alan/G0RCI, Pete/M0USY, Harry/G7DEH and Alan/G4VUA will be active from Holy island, Wales, as GW0GRC from 1100 UTC June 25th to 1200 UTC June 29th. QRV all HF bands, around the usual island and IOTA frequencies. QSL via G0RCI, direct or Bureau. [rsgbiota.org]

25/06/2009: 7N4AGB/6, JK1EBA/6, JJ1JGI/6, JA1XEQ/6 and JA1KJW/6 plan to be active from Kita-Daito island (AS-047, JIIA AS-047-001 WLOTA 0928), JA6 Okinawa Prefecture, between June 25th and July 5th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters, but mainly on the lower bands using CW and SSB. QSL via their home calls, direct or Bureau. [JI6KVR]

25/06/2009: Special event station VY1RST will be active June 25th to July 4th on 20, 40 and 80 meters from Kluane Lake in the Yukon. Emphasis will be for Field Day from Jacquot island (new one for CIsA, WW Loc. CP01OH). Primary frequencies 14.260 and 7.260 MHz (+/- QRM); also 3.960 MHz. This will be a joint venture of clubs KL7RST, VY1RST and VE8RST to promote Amateur Radio in the north. QSL KL7JR direct w/SASE for full-color QSL. [CIsA]

26/06/2009: JJ2JQF/0 and JH9UYZ/0 plan to be active from Awa island (AS-117, JIIA AS-117-062, WLOTA 0477), JA0 Niigata prefecture, from June 26-30th. They will be on 1.9 to 430MHz using CW, SSB, FM, AM (RTTY) and also Satellite on 1200MHz. QSL via home calls, direct or by the Bureau. [JI6KVR]

26/06/2009: Members of the Fajardo Amateur DX Club, KP4DXC will be active between 1500z June 26th to 2300z June 28th from Culebra island (NA-099, USi PR002, WLOTA 0549). Basic radio equipment will be used during the DXexpedition. ICOM Radio and basic antennas like dipoles and homebrewed Buddistick antennas for 40-6 meters, also a vertical for 80m. QSL via KP4VP, direct or Bureau. Further information and operating frequencies can be found at: kp4dxc.tripod.com/ [USi]

26/06/2009: Ed/W0SD, Arliss/W7XU and possibly others will be active as TZ6EI from Hotel Mande, Bamako, Mali (Grid locator IK62) from June 26th to July 5th. Their primary focus will be 6 meter CW and SSB on 50.103 MHz, with some HF operation planned for late night non-Sporadic E hours. Equipment: K3 with pre-amp, ACOM 1000, 28 foot boom yagi, LMR 400"Please just send us your RST/RS signal report", they say, "we do not need your grid square". Due to the lack of an internet connection no on-line logs are planned. QSL via W7XU direct (QRZ.com). [425 DX News]
(ICPO Bulletin via Dave Raycroft/ODXA)

Frequency Radio Propagation Forecast #2009-20 published

The NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast #2009-20
has been published on Friday 06/19/2009 at 1500 UTC, valid 0000 UTC Saturday
06/20/2009 through 2359 UTC Friday 06/26/2009 at
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm .

73 & GUD DX,
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o@arrl.net

NZ4O Daily Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive:
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm
NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast & Archive:
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm
NZ4O 160 Meter Radio Propagation Theory Notes:
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm
NZ4O Solar Cycle 24 Forecast Discussion & Archive:
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm
NZ4O LF/MF/HF/VHF Frequency Radiowave Propagation Email Reflector:
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/spaceweather
NZ4O Harmful Man Induced Climate Change (Global Warming) Refuted:
http://www.kn4lf.com/globalwarminglie.htm

Mystery of the Missing Sunspots, Solved ?

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

The sun is in the pits of a century-class solar minimum, and sunspots have been puzzlingly scarce for more than two years. Now, for the first time, solar physicists might understand why.

At an American Astronomical Society press conference today in Boulder, Colorado, researchers announced that a jet stream deep inside the sun is migrating slower than usual through the star's interior, giving rise to the current lack of sunspots.

Rachel Howe and Frank Hill of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson, Arizona, used a technique called helioseismology to detect and track the jet stream down to depths of 7,000 km below the surface of the sun. The sun generates new jet streams near its poles every 11 years, they explained to a room full of reporters and fellow scientists. The streams migrate slowly from the poles to the equator and when a jet stream reaches the critical latitude of 22 degrees, new-cycle sunspots begin to appear.


Above: A helioseismic map of the solar interior. Tilted red-yellow bands trace solar jet streams. Black contours denote sunspot activity. When the jet streams reach a critical latitude around 22 degrees, sunspot activity intensifies. Howe and Hill found that the stream associated with the next solar cycle has moved sluggishly, taking three years to cover a 10 degree range in latitude compared to only two years for the previous solar cycle.

The jet stream is now, finally, reaching the critical latitude, heralding a return of solar activity in the months and years ahead.

"It is exciting to see", says Hill, "that just as this sluggish stream reaches the usual active latitude of 22 degrees, a year late, we finally begin to see new groups of sunspots emerging."

The current solar minimum has been so long and deep, it prompted some scientists to speculate that the sun might enter a long period with no sunspot activity at all, akin to the Maunder Minimum of the 17th century. This new result dispells those concerns. The sun's internal magnetic dynamo is still operating, and the
sunspot cycle is not "broken."

Because it flows beneath the surface of the sun, the jet stream is not directly visible. Hill and Howe tracked its hidden motions via helioseismology. Shifting masses inside the sun send pressure waves rippling through the stellar interior. So-called "p modes" (p for pressure) bounce around the interior and cause the sun to ring like an enormous bell. By studying the vibrations of the sun's surface, it is possible to figure out what is happening inside. Similar techniques are used by geologists to map the interior of our planet.

In this case, researchers combined data from GONG and SOHO. GONG, short for "Global Oscillation Network Group," is an NSO-led network of telescopes that measures solar vibrations from various locations around Earth. SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, makes similar measurements from space.

"This is an important discovery," says Dean Pesnell of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "It shows how flows inside the sun are tied to the creation of sunspots and how jet streams can affect the timing of the solar cycle."

There is, however, much more to learn.

"We still don't understand exactly how jet streams trigger sunspot production," says Pesnell. "Nor do we fully understand how the jet streams themselves are generated."

To solve these mysteries, and others, NASA plans to launch the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) later this year. SDO is equipped with sophisticated helioseismology sensors that will allow it to probe the solar interior better
than ever before.

The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on SDO will improve our understanding of these jet streams and other internal flows by providing full disk images at ever-increasing depths in the sun," says Pesnell.

Continued tracking and study of solar jet streams could help researchers do something unprecedented--accurately predict the unfolding of future solar cycles. Stay tuned for that!
(NASA/Btown Monitoring Post)

Saudi Arabia summer A09 multilingual schedule

Saudi Arabia

All times UTC

First General Programm in Arabic
0600-0855 on 17730 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
0600-0855 on 17740 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
0900-1155 on 17805 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
0900-1155 on 21705 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
1200-1455 on 21505 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1200-1455 on 21640 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
1700-1755 on 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1700-1755 on 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
1800-2255 on 9555 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1800-2255 on 9870 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu

Call of Islam in Arabic
1500-1700 on 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1500-1700 on 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu

Holy Qura'n in Arabic
0300-0555 on 15170 RIY 500 kW / 355 deg to WeAs
0300-0755 on 17895 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs
0600-0855 on 15380 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME
0900-1155 on 11935 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME
0900-1155 on 17615 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs
0900-1155 on 21495 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SEAs
1200-1355 on 15380 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME
1200-1455 on 17895 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1200-1355 on 21600 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs
1300-1555 on 21460 RIY 500 kW / 190 deg to CSAf
1500-1755 on 13710 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1600-1755 on 15205 RIY 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu
1600-1755 on 17560 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf
1800-2255 on 11820 RIY 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu
1800-2255 on 11915 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1800-2255 on 11930 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf

Second Programm in Arabic
0300-0555 on 9580 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME
0300-0855 on 9675 RIY 500 kW / non-dir to N/ME
0600-1655 on 11855 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME
1700-2155 on 9580 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME


External Service
0400-0655 on 15285 RIY 500 kW / 190 deg to CSAf in Swahili
0800-0955 on 17785 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf in French
0900-1155 on 21670 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs in Indonesian

1000-1100 -15250 RIY 500 kW/250 deg to WCAf in English
1100-1200 - 15250 RIY 500 kW/250 deg to WCAf in English

1200-1225 - 15250 RIY 500 kW/250 deg to WCAf in English

1200-1455 on 13775 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1200-1555 on 15120 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SoAs in Bengali
1400-1755 on 17660 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf in French
1500-1755 on 7240 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to WeAs in Farsi
1500-1755 on 9640 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs in Turkmen/Uzbek/Tajik

(DX Mix News #577 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Correspondence may be directed to;
Broadcasting Service of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (BSKSA)
Director of Frequency Management
P.O. Box 61718
Riyadh 11575
Saudi Arabia

Return mint postage recommended or via registered mail.
Website: (with streaming audio) http://www.saudiradio.net/ (or) http://www.info.gov.sa/portals/radio
(World QSL Book)

Blog Logs - DXing the Subcontinent

All India Radio

All times UTC

4820 and MW, AIR Kolkata. After the Cyclone Aila hit, AIR Kolkata on 1008MW was noted back May 27 with sign on at 0730. This channel was the last to recover. Vividh Bharati was on from morning and Kolkata A 657 MW appeared at 0200. This evening I could log SW 4820 under strong Chinese co-channel at 1655. AIR External Service MWtransmitter at Mogra appears to be seriously hit and 594 or 1134 have not been noted whole of today.

We are the lucky few in Kolkata with electricity and water. Cyclone Aila snapped my single stranded copper wire antenna. That is nothing when you consider that 1200 trees and 638 electricity poles have been uprooted in the city. The whole of tram service is suspended and will take some time to recover because the overhead traction has been ripped off in many places. One person lost his life from crashing tree just 25 m from where I live. (Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata, via Gupta/DX Window 378/DSWCI)

4820/7210 and MW, AIR Kolkata. Tropical Cyclone Aila which passed by Kolkata at 100 kmph speed winds on May 25 at around 0930 silenced all the services of AIR Kolkata except its FM service. On May 26, Vividh Bharati on 1323 MW was the first to start. Kolkata A 657MW which signs on morning at 0025 came on air only at 0200. Kolkata B 1008 MW and External Service with Nepali 0130-0230 on 594 MW (Mogra 1000MW) were silent. Kolkata on 4820 could not be logged in the morning transmission 0025-0220. AIR did not make any ann on air about its disruption in services. There was only a cursory mention in the local news bulletin. No signal either on 7210 which is due to sign on at 0230. (Dr.Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata via Gupta)

9425, AIR Bengaluru - National Channel, 1435-1500, May 18, English interview with surgeon from New Delhi hospital; PSA about eating disorders. These programs in English on Mo, We and Fr are primarily public service oriented with talks about health issues, education, 1500 into Hindi. *1318-1420, May 22. Thanks to Alokesh Gupta’s timely tip heard announcer in Hindi and English with coverage of the administering of the oath of office to the various members of the new government; national anthem. (Howard/DX Window 377/DSWCI)

9425, AIR Bengaluru - National Channel, 1435-1500,June 15. In English with program "Vividha"(sp?) (observed on Mon.,Wed. and Fri.); fashion reporter talking about the fashion and textilebusiness in India; lists benefits of exercising; good reception (Ron Howard, CA)

594MW, AIR Mogra, Chinsurah (1000 kW), located some 50 km away from Kolkata, came back after tropical storm Aila at 0130, May 29 with the Nepali service. There was, however, a transmitter noise and it is not clear, if it is running full power. Tropical storm Aila killed some 100 persons in the state of West Bengal, India. (Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata, May 29, via Gupta/DX Window 378/DSWCI)

4950, Radio Kashmir, Srinagar is now noted signing on at *0000. They used to sign on at 0025 in Summer and at 0120 in Winter. (Jacob/DX Window 378/DSWCI)

News from All India Radio Headquarters:
Mr.V.P.Singh, Director, Frequency Assignments, All India Radio has retired. Mr.V.P.Singh was responsible for coordination of frequencies with other broadcasting and telecommunication organisations, assigning frequencies to AIR stations and liaison with international agencies on broadcasting. (Mr. V. P. Singh has signed many of our recent QSL-cards! Ed) Mr. M.S.Ansari, Deputy Director Engg, R and D Dept, All India Radio has been appointed new Director of Frequency Assignments, All India Radio. He is the person responsible for the testing and development of DRM services for All India Radio. (Gupta, Jun 01/DX Window 378/DSWCI)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

The NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave
Propagation Forecast #2009-19 has been published on Friday 06/12/2009 at 1400 UTC, valid 0000 UTC Saturday 06/13/2009 through 2359 UTC Friday 06/19/2009 at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm .
73 & GUD DX,
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O


Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jun 16 2051 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
08 - 14 June 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were detected. New-cycle polarity Region 1020 (N24, L=223, class/area Bxo/020 on 09 June) was numbered on 09 June. Region 1020 was inactive and decayed to plage on 13 June.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at predominantly quiet levels at all latitudes during the period. ACE solar wind measurements indicated minor changes during the period. Solar wind velocities ranged from 255 to 387 km/sec.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
17 June - 13 July 2009

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during most of the period. However, there will be a chance for unsettled conditions during 30 June - 01 July.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jun 16 2051 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jun 16
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jun 17 68 5 2
2009 Jun 18 68 5 2
2009 Jun 19 68 5 2
2009 Jun 20 68 5 2
2009 Jun 21 68 5 2
2009 Jun 22 68 5 2
2009 Jun 23 68 5 2
2009 Jun 24 68 5 2
2009 Jun 25 68 5 2
2009 Jun 26 70 5 2
2009 Jun 27 70 5 2
2009 Jun 28 70 5 2
2009 Jun 29 70 5 2
2009 Jun 30 70 8 3
2009 Jul 01 70 8 3
2009 Jul 02 70 5 2
2009 Jul 03 70 5 2
2009 Jul 04 70 5 2
2009 Jul 05 70 5 2
2009 Jul 06 70 5 2
2009 Jul 07 70 5 2
2009 Jul 08 70 5 2
2009 Jul 09 70 5 2
2009 Jul 10 68 5 2
2009 Jul 11 68 5 2
2009 Jul 12 68 5 2
2009 Jul 13 68 5 2
(NOAA)

Tentative frequency change for Radio Sweden

Sweden
Tentative frequency change of Radio Sweden Inter. in Russian:
1630-1700 UTC - new freq 11600 HBY 500 kW / 070 deg, ex 9690 to avoid Radio Romania International in Romanian.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 17/DX Mix News 577/wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Additional transmissions of WYFR

Family Radio Worldwide

via Media Broadcast, Germany

France/ Germany transmitters

All times UTC

1400-1500 on 13660 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to South Asia in Sinhala
1800-1900 on 5910 ISS 250 kW / 065 deg to Western Europe in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 17)

Via VT Communications, United Kingdom
1800-1900 on 9505 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg to Western Asia in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 17) (DX Mix News #577 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

World Harvest Radio International A09 schedule repost

The following World Harvest Radio International A09 summer schedule, is a revised version from my earlier post on June 2, 2009.

USA, WHRI Cypress Creek, SC - schedule effective from June 1, 2009

English

All times UTC target areas: va (various areas) na (North America)

0000-0100 5875na 7315va 7385na
0100-0200 5875na 7385na
0100-0200 mtwhf 5850na
0100-0200 Sat/Sun 7315na

0200-0300 5875na 7315va 7385na

0300-0400 5875na 7315va 7385na

0400-0500 5875na 7315va 7385na
0400-0500 smtwhf 5850na
0400-0500 Sat 9825na

0500-0600 5875na 7390va 11565na
0500-0600 mtwhfa 7390va
0500-0600 Sun 7365na

0600-0700 5875va 7365na 7390va 11565na

0700-0800 7385va 7390na 11565na

0800-0900 7385va 11565na

0900-1000 7385va 11565na
0900-1000 smtwhf 9425na
0900-1000 Sat 7465na

1000-1100 7385va 11565na

1100-1200 7315va 7385va

1200-1300 7315va 7385va

1300-1400 7315va
1300-1400 Sat/Sun 9840va 15195na

1400-1500 15195na
1400-1500 Sat/Sun 9840va

1500-1600 15195na
1500-1600 Sat/Sun 9840va 11785va

1600-1700 9840va 11785va 17520na

1700-1800 11785va
1700-1800 smtwhf 9840va 17520na
1700-1800 Sat 9495va 17520na

1800-1900 9840va 11785va 17520na

1900-2000 11785va

2000-2100 mtwhf 7520va
2000-2100 Sat 15665na
2000-2100 Sun 9495va
2000-2100 11785va 15665na

2100-2200 11785va 11885na
2100-2200 mtwhfa 15665na
2100-2200 Sun 9690na

2200-2300 11785va 11885na

2300-0000 7315va 5875na 9615na 11785va
2300-0000 Sat/Sun 9615na
(Gayle Van Horn/MT Frequency Manager)

Iran frequency schedule update

Thanks to contributor Alokesh Gupta, for sending in the following schedule adjustments for Iran. The changes are for the Lithuanian relay for VOIRI.

Thanks also to those blog readers that responded to my post yesterday on Hotspot DXing Iran. Doesn't appear things have resided much in Tehran, and would recommend listeners and blog readers follow the latest from this Middle East powder keg.

IRAN(non) Frequency changes of VOIROI/IRIB:

All times UTC - NF = new frequency

1430-1528 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to RUSS, ex 6145 in Russian
1730-1828 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 6180 in German
1830-1928 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in French
1930-2028 NF 5940 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu, ex 5945 in English

(DX Mix News #577)

HOT SPOT DXING - Iran on shortwave radio

BREAKING NEWS - IRAN BLOODSHED

At least one reported dead, several wounded as gunmen believed to be Iranian militia open fire on massive opposition protest in Tehran.
Follow story from Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/

Iran's Leader emerges with a stronger hand
By Bill Keller & Michael Slackman
TEHRAN - The jokes among Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s detractors are legion. In one, he looks in the mirror and says, “Male lice to the right, female lice to the left.” In the West, one American tabloid rarely misses a chance to refer to him as “Evil Madman” and in the days before his re-election here he was taunted as a “monkey” and as a “midget.”
More from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31363740/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

Ahmadinejad opponents shout protest from rooftops
Tehran, Iran (AP) Protesters battled police and shouted their opposition from the rooftops Sunday, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the unrest as little more than "passions after a soccer match" and brought huge crowds to a rally to defend his landslide re-election.
Just after sundown, cries of "death to the dictator" echoed through Tehran as thousands of backers for Ahmadinejad's rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi, heeded a call to bellow from the roofs and balconies. The deeply symbolic act recalled the shouts of "Allahu Akbar," or God is Great, to show opposition to the Western-backed monarchy before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Additional story at: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98QLSNG0&show_article=1

Iran A-09 schedule - VOIROI / IRIB

All times UTC

Effective to 25 October 2009

Albanian
0630-0727 on 13810 15235
1830-1927 on 9545 9570
2030-2127 on 9535 11830

Arabic
0230-0327 on 6025 11665(x 11655)
0230-0527 on 7350 "Al-Quds TV"
0330-0427 on 9610 11875 "Voice of Palestine"
0330-0527 on 6025 6175 11665(x 11655)
0530-0827 on 13790 13800 15150
0830-1027 on 9885 13800 15150
1030-1427 on 13790 13800 15150
1430-1627 on 15150
1630-2027 on 7350 "Al-Quds TV"
1630-0227 on 6025

Armenian
0300-0327 on 7255 12025
0930-0957 on 9695 15260
1630-1727 on 7230 9780

Azeri
0330-0527 on 13710
1430-1657 on 6000 6035

Bengali
0030-0127 on 5950 7325
0830-0927 on 11705
1430-1527 on 6130 9520 12085

Bosnian
0530-0627 on 13750 15235
1730-1827 on 7295 9860
2130-2227 on 7305 9810

Chinese
1200-1257 on 13735 15190 17635 17670
2330-0027 on 11740 11970 13715

Dari
0300-0627 on 11910 13740
0830-1157 on 9940 11975 13720
1200-1427 on 9940 13720

English
0130-0200 on 7235 9495 "Voice of Justice"

1030-1127 on 15600 17660

1530-1627 on 7305 9600 9635

1930-2027 on *5945 6205 7205 9800 9925

German
0730-0827 on 15085 15430
1730-1827 on *6180 9940 15085

French
0630-0727 on 13750 15430
1830-1927 on *5945 9940 13755 15085

Hausa
0600-0657 on 17810 17870
1830-1927 on 7370 9925

Hebrew
0430-0457 on 9610 11875
1200-1227 on 13685 15240

Hindi
0230-0257 on 15165 17635
1430-1527 on 11955 13700

Indonesian
1230-1327 on 15200 17560
2230-2327 on 5945 7310

Italian
0630-0727 on *9770 13620 15085
1930-1957 on 5910 7380

Japanese
1330-1427 on 13755 15555
2100-2157 on 9670 11765

Kazakh
0130-0227 on 7360 9790
1300-1357 on 11665 13765

Kurdish
0330-0427 on 7255 9905 Sorrani dialect
1330-1627 on 5990 Kirmanji dialect

Pashto
0230-0327 on 7360 9605
0730-0827 on 11990 15440
1230-1327 on 6175 9790 11730
1430-1527 on 5890
1630-1727 on 6010 7200

Russian
0300-0327 on 9650 11925
0500-0527 on 9855 13750 17595 17655
1430-1527 on *6145 7360 9580 9900
1700-1757 on 3985 7210
1800-1857 on 6205 7235
1930-2027 on 3985 7370

Spanish
0030-0227 on 9655 9905
0230-0327 on 9905
0530-0627 on 15530 17785
2030-2127 on *6055 7300 9800

Swahili
0400-0457 on 15265 15340
0830-0927 on 15240 17660
1730-1827 on 7360 9655

Tajik
0100-0227 on 6175 7285
1600-1727 on 5945 5955 6180

Turkish
0430-0557 on 11685 13640
1600-1727 on 7370 9870

Urdu
0130-0227 on 7325 9480 9845
1300-1427 on 6000 9665 11695
1530-1727 on 5890

Uzbek
0230-0257 on 9740 11945
1500-1557 on 5945 9680
*via Sitkunai, Lithuania
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 6)
(DX Mix News # 571 via wb, Germany/Alokesh Gupta, India/Rachel Baughn/MT)

Taiwan adds two frequencies to North American shortwave schedule

Radio Taiwan International, has added two new frequencies to their shortwave schedule, effective today, June 15, 2009

Their current broadcast can be heard on 5950 kHz from 0200-0300 UTC to the East Coast, and from 0300-0400 UTC to the West Coast of North America.

Beginning today, you can also tune into RTI's English programming from 0200-0300 UTC on 9680 kHz to the Midwest and from 0500-0600 UTC on 5950 kHz to the West Coast

(Gayle Van Horn/Monitoring Times Frequency Manager/RTI)

Radio Netherlands Program Guide - June 15-19

MONDAY 15 June

*** Curious Orange (primary program) ***
We've all heard of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt. But what about his friend and contemporary Jan Lievens? We'll tell you why history has forgotten him.

And, Dutch women don't seem to want to be "on top", at least not in the police force. Political Editor John Tyler will explain why the glass ceiling in the police force is twice as thick as in other professions.

And finally, Robbert Tilli from the Music Center of the Netherlands will tell us all about this week's Dutch feature artist, Salah Edin.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1505 South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Radio Books (repeat from Sunday) ***

'A Man of Bronze' - by Diane Broeckhoven

Belgian author Diane Broeckhoven has written more than 20 books for young readers. Her novels for adults have been best-sellers in Germany as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In her Radio Books story, a woman waits in Père Lachaise cemetery by the grave of a famous French journalist. But how will this rendezvous with a former lover she has not seen in 17 years end?

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

The votes have been counted in the EU elections - we look at the winners and the losers and analyse how the parliament will change. Also on the programme: Can European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso keep his job? Literature lovers set themselves a summer challenge - but can they stay on the same page? And we meet a bike chain gang doing a penal Tour de France.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast time on SW (UTC):
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

TUESDAY 16 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

ALMOST MURDERED IN MOGADISHU: Ahmed Tajir is a journalist with Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu, Somalia. On 7 June 2009, he and his boss were attacked by gunmen in a market. He tells Jonathan about his ordeal, and his hope to flee Somalia before he is killed for his work.

BREAKING THE RULES IN LITHUANIA: Audrius Braukyla
is head of news for Lithuania Radio. He tells Jonathan about what it was like to work under Soviet rule, and about the press freedom that came to Lithuania two years before the fall of the USSR.

THIS WEEK'S THEME: "The Right to Be Fat"

PROUD TO BE FAT: The leader of the fat pride movement in the United States Marilyn Wann, who weighs 285 pounds (or 129 kilos), was spurred into action when her health insurance was denied. She says we live in a "fat-hating society" and calls for an end to the institutionalised discrimination and social ostracism inflicted on large people. Marilyn claims she has a right to be fat and argues strongly that fat people can be just as healthy as anyone else.

VIEWS ON FAT PEOPLE: Ginger Gorman went into a busy Amsterdam bar and asked people what they thought when they saw an obese person on the street. The answers ranged from pity and moral outrage to assumptions that a fat person's life must be really hard and that they must be unhealthy.

ANTI-FAT HEALTH EXPERT: Experts describe obesity as a "pandemic" which threatens to overwhelm health systems around the globe. Given this, does anyone have the right to be fat? Dr John Tickell is an Australian health and longevity expert with strong views on obesity. When asked whether people have a right to be fat, his answer was unequivocal: "That right is yours, the question is: Are you disadvantaging the rest of society?"


Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Earthbeat (repeat from Thursday) ***

Belgium is traditionally known for its hearty, and some might say heart attack inducing, cuisine. But for one day a week, the citizens of one town are being encouraged to ignore the steak and look kindly on lentils, as Ghent introduces Vegetarian Thursday. I take a trip to this European veggie hotspot, to see how the idea is catching on.

Also on the show, nearly ten years ago, a disease swept the Samoan Islands, virtually obliterating its core crop, taro. What lesson have been learnt? And we ask what place religion has in saving the environment and why we disagree about climate change at all.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

WEDNESDAY 17 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (repeat from Friday) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (primary programme) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

THURSDAY 18 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Earthbeat (primary programme) ***

In this week's programme: sex miles. Is your long distance relationship bad for the planet? When the chemistry says yes, but the geography says no. Visiting a partner can involve regular flights and a lot of extra carbon dioxide. Earthbeat meets the man with a girlfriend in a foreign country who's decided not to fly.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Curious Orange (repeat program) ***

We've all heard of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt. But what about his friend and contemporary Jan Lievens? We'll tell you why history has forgotten him.

And, Dutch women don't seem to want to be "on top", at least not in the police force. Political Editor John Tyler will explain why the glass ceiling in the police force is twice as thick as in other professions.

And finally, Robbert Tilli from the Music Center of the Netherlands will tell us all about this week's Dutch feature artist, Salah Edin.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

FRIDAY 19 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (primary programme) ***

Zimbabwe's prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai tours the West, but he isn't asking for money -he says.

It's taken 13 years but Royal Dutch Petroleum has settled the Ken Saro-Wiwa law suit at 15.5 million US dollars. What can Africa learn from the case?

In this week's video on the radio we feature 'pastorpreneurs' from Benin, who sell the word of Christ - and themselves - on TV.

And we have a studio get-together with Bantu Continua Uhuru Counsciousness. A group of talented young musicians from Soweto, South Africa.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (repeat programme) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe
(R Netherlands)

Weekly radiowave propagation forecast available online

Thanks to Thomas Giella, NZ40, for the email reminding me and our blog readers of his weekly radiowave propagation forecast. It covers LF, MF and HF for shortwave listeners and 160-6 meters for amateur radio operators.

Published on Friday mornings around 1700 UTC, it covers a seven day period from Saturday through Friday. You can see it at NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm .


Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o@arrl.net

LF/MF/HF/VHF/UHF Frequency Radiowave Propagation Email Reflector: http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/spaceweather
NZ4O Daily Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm
NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm
NZ4O 160 Meter Radio Propagation Theory Notes: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm
NZ4O Solar Cycle 24 Forecast Discussion & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm

thanks Thomas for the reminder - GVH

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC // parallel freq *sign-on sign-off*

African ARSK Monitoring Report for May, 2009
Six broadcast stations in eastern Africa have been identified on the 40meter band between 7100 and 7200 kHz.

Ethiopia has two, for internal and external services, Uganda one,Hargeisha (Rep. of Somaliland) one, Eritrea (VOBM) has one and has moved from 7100 to 7175 kHz, and Sudan (Khartoum) has one. I am very grateful to the BBC Monitoring Service for their assistance, language being a problem. Another station in a Chinese language on 7130 kHz remains to be identified but is not easily monitored. Whether Mandarin, Cantonese or another is not known, but very few listeners in this part of the world will understand it.

Two weeks monitoring at the coast were not very productive, but a few Somalia stations were heard in generally poor propagation conditions. Otherwise the usual southern Sudan intruders, including NGOs were heard, and some Ethiopians on 40 meters. What is apparently a military net on 6999 kHz remains in operation, as well as an Ethiopian on the same frequency.
E.H.M. Alleyne, 5Z4NU, Kenya
ARSK National IARUMS Co-ordinator
(IARUMS Bandwatch News June 10/BC-DX #916)

Aussie monitoring
5025 VL8K, Katherine NT, 2142-2156, 04 Jun, English, songs, phone-ins about home politics. SINPO 35432. VL8A 4835 & VL8T 4910 airing different ogram. Radio Australia, Shepparton. VIC, 2131-2203, 05 Jun, English to Asia, "AM" program with reports on Iran and the US. Indonesian at 2200, starting with "warta berita", new. SINPO 35433.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwxc BC-DX TopNews June 8/BC-DX #916 wb, Germany)

Clanny update
Two clandestine stations heard on 3920.0-3934.0 kHz. One is the old Voice of Kurdistan (ID "Eira radio Dengi Kurdistana" in Kurdish) and another radio is with new name Voice of Turkman Iran (probably) because I heard the second part of the ID: "Turkmenistani Iran". It is heard on new 4770-4795v kHz. Sign-on 3929 kHz was around 0145 UT and sign-on 4770v was around 0201 UT and both jammed by Iran, May 14-15. (Rumen Pankov/June BDXC-UK)

Latvian broadcast sites
Broadcast sites in Riga Comments to Bernd Trutenau from Andrejs Kuznecovs regarding some pictures available on the Net.

It's a photos of the antenna masts for Latvijas radiofons (name of Latvijas Radio before WWII). Between World Wars Latvian radio was situated in the General Post Office house and same building was used as a site for transmitter. Masts was build near the GPO on Radio iela street (same name saved till now) in 20's. Transmissions from the Radio iela (street) continues during 20's, 30's, first Russian occupation and the German occupation period.

Wermacht blow up one mast, transmitter and the GPO house after the running out from Riga in October 1944. Due the this problem, Soviets open Latvijas radio in new site in the downtown of Riga and used mobile transmitter in railway wagon in Zemitani station for the first time. After the some years new transmitter site in Ulbroka (in the territory of former relax house-resort for Wermacht) was built and trophy masts from the Eastern Prussia was used for it.

Old GPO house was reconstructed in 40's and now used as a dept. of the Latvian University (faculty of economics and some others depts.) One (blewed) mast goes to metal, but other, what stay till 90's on the Radio iela was used for the milicia (Soviet time police) communications with the flag of Soviet Latvia on the top on holidays.

This mast was taked to pieces for old metal in 90's, when police beginusing of the new communication equipment in the Zakusala TV tower. So shortly... I think, what you easy find all my mentioned sites in the Google map. Concrete bases for the last mast on Radio iela now stay and may be seen. (Andrejs Kuznecovs-LVA, via Bernd Trutenau-LTU; ARC MV-Eko June 6/BC-DX #916)

Madagascar on 6134.91
RTVM (presumed), 1406-1427, June 12. Thanks to a tip from Dan Sheedy (Calif.), I heard them in French. Sounded like the news followed by African hilife music. Signal started out fair but faded down to very poor. Was unable to heard the \\ 7105 that Dan has been hearing. For me PBS Nei Menggu on 7105 is just too strong to catch anything under them. Dan noted a sign-off at 1446 UT on June 7. (Ron Howard, CA)

Mexico logs
6104.43 Merida XEQM 1058. Transmitter on, drift to .65 then .52 music and lady announcer, 1110 transmitter off. 1120 sudden on with music, strong signal 9 June. Thanks John Herkimer. Being received well all over Florida.(Robert Wilkner, FL/DXplorer June 10)

6104.704 XEQM, Merida at 0211-0350 UT 7 June. Thanks Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL for the tip. Presume the one with soccer, a few commercial breaks, including one for a fast food restaurant in Spanish (which was also heard by Gerry Bishop, while we were corresponding online). Very good ignal (using LSB to escape the 6105 kHz mess). Checked the next morning at 1310 UT, and I can confirm that XEQM was not active at this time. Also confirmed not heard by my DXer and Gulla-speaking friend Luscious Jackson in Frogmore, SC on the mobile.(Terry L Krueger, FL/DXplorer June 7/BC-DX #916)

Pirate monitoring
Godzilla Radio, 6925USB, 1312-1325. Two characters talking to each other a male voice and what sounds like a small girl. Godzilla sound effects,"earth defense forces", a peaceful settlement is much more desirable",1324 small girl. ID "? Radio this is a first time event" could not make it out. She also mentioned Godzilla several times. 1325 off, Actually, the little girl sounded a lot like Lisa Simpson. Fair (Rohde/FRW #696)

Grasscutter/ Sunshine Radio
1902-1957, 6925USB; Weak Sio 343. Songs Whiter shade of Pale at 1906 Dream Weaver at 1919. Many IDs and hellos to all the pirates out there. Said to send reports to Grasscutterradio@yahoo.com . My report to them was returned no account at Yahoo.Com. (Silvi/FRW #696)

WEAK Radio
weakradio@gmail.com
0048-0134, 6925USB, SIO 353. Detailed log posted at FRN. (SILVI/FRW #696)

Radio Northsea International on the internet

The great sounds of RNI from the 1970s

RNI is on via the internet: http://radionorthsea.hopto.org:9068/listen.pls

RNI website is: http://www.garrystevens.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rni/

Give it a listen
Tom Taylor

BBC says satellite broadcast being disrupted from Iran

The BBC said today that the satellites it uses to broadcast in Persian were being jammed from Iran, disrupting its reports on the hotly-disputed presidential election. The corporation said television and radio services had been affected from 1245 UTC Friday onwards by “heavy electronic jamming” which had become “progressively worse”. Satellite technicians had traced the interference to Iran, it said.
The satellites its uses in the Middle East to broadcast BBC Persian television to Iran were being affected, meaning that audiences in Iran, the Middle East and Europe would likely experience disruption. BBC Arabic television and other language services had also experienced transmission problems, the corporation said.
“Any attempt to block BBC Persian television is wrong and against international treaties on satellite communication. Whoever is attempting the blocking should stop it now,” said BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks. “It seems to be part of a pattern of behaviour by the Iranian authorities to limit the reporting of the aftermath of the disputed election.
“In Tehran, (BBC world affairs editor) John Simpson and his cameraman were briefly arrested after they had filmed material for a piece,” he added. Iranian authorities today shut down the office of Arab news channel Al-Arabiya in Tehran for a week in the wake of the disputed election win by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the channel said.
(Source: AFP)
Reporters Without Borders adds: The blocking of access to foreign news media has been stepped up. In addition to the blocking of the BBC’s website, the Farsi-language satellite broadcasts of the VOA and BBC – which are very popular in Iran – have been partially jammed. The Internet is now very slow, like the mobile phone network. YouTube and Facebook are hard to access and pro-reform sites such as Khordadeno, AftabNews and Ghalamesabz are completely inaccessible.
Andy Sennitt says: Two of the three sites mentioned above gave the message “bandwidth limit exceeded” when I checked at 1550 UTC, suggesting that DOS attacks may have been carried out.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Kim Jong-Un profiled in VOA interview

A rare opportunity provides in-depth information


Washington, D.C., June 10, 2009 – Kim Jong Un, the likely successor to North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, looks like his father, plays computers and basketball and rates a Whitney Houston song as a favorite, the family’s former sushi chef said in an interview with VOA's Korean Service.

Kenji Fujimoto, who now lives in Japan, worked for Kim Jong-Il from 1988-2001. Fujimoto served sushi to, sneaked cigarettes to and played basketball with Jong Un from the time he was seven until he was 18. In 2001, Fujimoto manufactured an excuse to visit Japan and didn't return.

"He looked and acted like his father and everybody thought he would be his father's successor," Fujimoto told VOA recently.

Fujimoto also said Jong Un hated to be called "little general" because he doesn't want to be treated as the younger and smaller brother; started smoking and drinking when he became a teenager; liked to give orders and was regarded as having a "take charge" personality. He also enjoyed listening to Houston's “I Will Always Love You,” the theme song from The Bodyguard.

"This interview was a rare opportunity, and we were able to get in-depth information about the family of Kim Jong-Il," said Dong Hyuk Lee, Chief of the VOA Korean Service. Fujimoto has rarely given interviews since Kim Jong-Un was tapped two weeks ago to replace his father.

VOA Korean broadcasts five hours of radio programming daily (8:00-11:00 a.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m. in Korea). The full interview in Korean, the Service's regular broadcasts, and VOA's English language coverage relating to North Korea are available at www.VOANews.com/Korean and http://www.voanews.com/ .
(photo/Eric Lafforgue,flickr)

Amateur radio propagation forecast

Sunspot numbers from May 31 through June 5 ranged from 13 to 23, then the Sun was blank for two days, followed by sunspot numbers of 12 for both June 8 and 9. This fleeting sunspot was number 1020, and like last week's spot, 1020 had the magnetic signature of a new Cycle 24 spot. Alas, it was another of the frequent sunspots we've seen lately which appear briefly, then vanish.
The last Cycle 23 spot was number 1016, which appeared April 29-30.

Leonard Halversen, WA2AMW of Princeton, New Jersey asked how Cycle 24 spots are differentiated from Cycle 23 spots, and we last mentioned this in Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP044 from 2008, so now is a good time to go over it again.

The sunspots have a magnetic signature. As you watch them move from left to right, they lead with a dark patch in front and a white tail in the rear. That is how Cycle 24 spots appear above the equator, and it is just the opposite south of the Sun's equator. Also, new cycle spots tend to appear at higher northern or southern latitudes away from the equator, while old cycle spots appear nearer the equator.

Go to http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/ to look for images. Click on the "Search and Download Images" link, and select MDI Magnetogram from the image types. Try entering start/end dates of April 28 and April 30 of this year, and click Search. Select one of the links from the middle of the list, and note that the sunspot on the right side is near the equator, indicating a spot from the old cycle, and that it leads with black on the right. Because it is
slightly below the equator, this indicates a Cycle 23 spot. If it were above the equator, a Cycle 23 spot would lead with white on the right side.

Now go back and search dates June 1 through June 3. Note that you can up the resolution to 1024 from 512. Select one of these images, and note the large sunspot above the equator has a Cycle 24 signature.

Still more comments arrived this week about how dead bands may be an illusion. Guy Cossette, VA2WT of Saint Roch de Mekinac in Quebec wrote to tell us about his 80 and 40 meter operation. Using 100 watts CW and a 40 meter dipole, he worked Crete, Cyprus and Tunisia
at 2200z and he also worked Cyprus on 80 meters at 2300z.

Ken Sturgill, WS4V in Marion, Virginia says he likes to use the intelligent features at http://www.ve7cc.net/ . If you wish, you can set it for the countries you are looking for, and you can also set it to only accept spots from tipsters in your country, so you get the spots you can work. He recommends hitting the "Tell Cluster" button often, so the info isn't lost. He also recommends reading the manual.

Jim Sullivan, N7TCF of Phoenix, Arizona likes to use "DX Sherlock," at http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php. He uses it to check out band conditions, mainly on 6 meters. One feature I like is the Es MUF tab, where you can see the MUF in various places. I believe this data comes from ionospheric sounders (ionosondes), which fire a sweeped RF signal straight up and then measure the strength and frequency of the signals bouncing back.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG of Hillsborough, North Carolina sent a link to a nice map mash-up of 6 meter beacon stations at, http://www.k9mu.com/map/.

Mark wrote:
"I have also been experimenting with WSJT weak signal software from Joe Taylor, K1JT. It's pretty neat to tinker with meteor scatter on 6 meters, and very challenging with my modest station. But I have really gotten addicted to JT65A mode on 20 meters. There always
seems to be somebody on the air in the vicinity of the calling frequency of 14076 kHz, and I have worked some terrific DX that I normally would struggle with from here with 20 watts. I have also heard DU on JT65A for the first time ever on any band or mode! All of my QSOs have been with 40 watts or less, mostly with 20 watts. In just two months of part-time operation, I have worked 25 countries on JT65A including VK, JA, CX, lots of Europeans. Also, I worked ZS6 on 80 meter WSJT last weekend! There were horrendous thunderstorms all up and down the east coast, but the software decoded just fine. I could barely see the DX on the WSJT spectrum
waterfall, and decoded his CQ almost by accident while doing something else in the shack."

For this week, geomagnetic conditions should remain very quiet. Solar flux is estimated to be about 68, rising above 70 June 24 through July 1.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net .

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/ .

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email .

Sunspot numbers for June 4 through 10 were 17, 13, 0, 0, 12, 12, and 0 with a mean of 7.7. 10.7 cm flux was 71, 70.1, 69, 68.9, 69, 69.1, and 69.2 with a mean of 69.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 5, 2, 3, 2, 2 and 2 with a mean of 3.
NNNN
/EX
(Dave Raycroft/ODXA)

Winter DX conditions from down-under

While radio hobbyists in the northern hemisphere are in the midst of summer DX conditions, and contending with high noise levels and such, our friend Bob Padula in Melbourne, Australia is enjoying winter DX conditions. The following is a sampling of what he is monitoring down-under. Geez Bob, we'll have to wait a few months to enjoy the "prime" DX season.
Have fun ... and report often!
Gayle Van Horn

Melbourne is now in the depths of winter, with good snow falls in the Victorian Alpine areas.

The maximum elevation of the sun on June 12 is only 28.8 degrees – sunrise is at 7.30 am (2130 UTC), sunset is at 5.07 pm (0707 UTC) and we are only given 9hrs 34mins of daylight!

Hours of sunlight are now minimal, with good distance signals noted on 6, 7, and 9 MHz throughout our morning, across noon and into the afternoon. These winter propagation eventswill continue until well into July, opening up many opportunities for propagation research and spectrum studies on these bands.

Of particular interest is occupancy in the 6 MHz band from mid-morning until mid-afternoon. This is in the 10 am to 1 pm window, 0000 to 0300 UTC, represented by short path signals from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and longpath from the Americas until around 0100. After 0100, the longpath mode for Europe/ME/Africa dominates, and signals from the Americas come to us via shortpath.

This is the observed spectrum occupancy on 6 and 7 MHz, in the general period 0000 to 0300, on Jun 11 – many interesting signals for the taking!

All tumes UTC

49 metres
---------
5930 CZECH REP R. Prague 0100-0200 var langs
5960 ENGLAND NHK-Skelton, 0000-0020* English
5965 CUBA RHC 0030-0100 Spanish
6010 CANADA R. Sweden via Sackville, 0100-0130 Swedish
6030 USA R. Marti 0100-0300
6055 SPAIN REE 0100-0300 Spanish
6070 CHILE CVC-Santiago 0000-0200 (shortpath throughout across Antarctica)
6100 CANADA RCI-Sackville 0100-0300* var langs
6115 ENGLAND DW-Rampisham 0100-0200 Russian
6145 CANADA NHK-Sackville 0000-0020* English
6150 HUNGARY Hungarian Radio *0100-0200* Hungarian
6165 N. ANTILLES RN-Bonaire 0000-0200 Spanish
6175 CANADA VOV-Sackville 0000-0300

41 metres
---------
7205 RUSSIA BBC-Krasnodar *0100-0200* Hindi
7210 ENGLAND BBC-Rampisham *0300-0330* Swahili
7225 MOLDOVA VOR-Kishinov 0000-0300* Russian
7235 IRAN VOIRI *0130-0230* English
7260 RUSSIA VOR-Serpukov 0000-0300* Russian
7270 ARMENIA VOR-Yerevan 0000-0300* Russian
7270 GERMANY AWR-Wertachtal *0300-0330*African langs
7280 GERMANY R. Farda, Wertachtal *0030-0300 Farsi
7290 GERMANY IBB-Lampertheim *0300-0400* Caucasian
7300 RUSSIA VOR-Serpukhov 0000-0300 Spanish
7305 VATICAN VR-SMG *0030-0300 various langs
7310 ENGLAND DW-Rampisham *0200-0400* German
7315 USA WHRI 0100-0200
7320 ENGLAND BBC-Skelton *0230-0330* Farsi
7325 PORTUGAL RN-Sines *0000-0200* Spanish
7335 VATICAN VR-SMG *0040-0300 var langs
7345 CZECH REP. R. Prague 0000-0300 var langs
7350 CHINA CRI-Kashi 0000-0100* English
7360 VATICAN VR-SMG *0230-0330* French English
7365 USA R. Marti, Greenville 0000-0300 Spanish
7365 ROMANIA RRI *0100-0200* French
7385 USA WHRI 0000-0100
7390 RUSSIA VOR-St. Petersburg 0100-0300* Russian
7400 BULGARIA R. Sofia 0000-0300 var langs
7425 ALBANIA R. Tirana *0230-0300* English
7430 SRI LANKA IBB-Iranawela 0000-0030* Burmese
7440 UKRAINE RUI 0000-0300 var langs
7460 MOLDOVA R. Bahei, Kishinov *0230-0330* Farsi
7465 USA WWCR 0000-0100
7475 GREECE VOG 0000-0300 Greek

These propagation modes will continue until the end of July.

Regards from Melbourne!

Bob Padula
(photo of Bob Padula in his shack)

Blog Logs - pirate radio

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Barnyard Radio
6930USB, 0235. SINPO 34443. White noises, BYR ID in mid song, 0300 operator naming all the songs played. some QRM from Liquid Radio on 6925 AM (Ragnar/FRW #694)

Blue Ridge Radio
6925USB *0003-0058* 5/30/09 SIO 242+. Program of bluegrass banjo music, said to be transmitted from high atop the Blue Ridge Mountains. Gave address of blueridgeradio@gmail.com and asked for repts. (Zeller/FRW #695)

BOZO FAX
6932.6USB, 0110-0121. HF FAX mode, "BOZO FAX" text. Pictures of a certain caller to Allan Weiner Worldwide, accompanied with strange graphics. Multiple "faxes" received. S3/5. 0145, 6932.5USB. Strange voices. "Okay, weirdos" with musical accompaniment. A7. More fax at 0155 followed by weird audio and crazy sound bytes. Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" at 0202, off at 0206. Overall S5 with 6930 utility whine throughout. (Will/FRW #695)

Dead Cat Radio
6925USB, 0101, SINPO 34433. Luca, 99.9f degrees, DCR ID at 1013. Barber Shop Quartet with ukulele Hawaiian music (Ragnar/FRW #693)

Gray Rhino Radio
6925USB, 0105-0124. Fair/poor/static. heavy metal music tune: In Your Head (?), said "Gray Rhino Radio playing music by the Cranberries, mentioned gmailto:grayrhinoradio@gmail.com . I havent tried that address yet.I just tried to email Gray Rhino Radio and it bounced immediately. Gave greyrhinoradio@gmail.com Mail to: greyrhinoradio%40gmail.com for reports. (Zeller/FRW #693)(Hassig/FRW #693)

KPR
6927.4-28.0USB, 0207-0239+. Rock tunes (sounded like lotsa Doors tunes) and announcer chit-chat.Station ID at 0238+. SIO 342. Woodpecker blasts and frequency dropped steadily. My 600th "different" pirate heard, maybe at least 10 different transmitters! (Frodge/FRW #693)

Long Range Radio
6925USB, 0107. Pirate radio song. Jimmy Buffets pirate song, Long Range Radio ID at 0121, more Buffet. slow boat to China. mentioned Bodie? CA at sign off (Ragnar) 6925USB, 0110-0135* Good to excellent signal. The show started off with Jimmy Buffet in concert. Repeated several times the song "I'm a pirate" by Jimmy. At sign off, Male announcer said, "Hi from Bolde, California, Long Range Radio." (Majewski/FRW #693)

MAC Shortwave
6925AM, 2330. SINPO 34444. Ultraman announcing they will be moving to 6850 "very soon." Program playing a bunch of instrumental music pieces. (Ragnar/FRW #693)

North Sea Radio
6925USB, 0135-0150. Pirate and sea shanty type songs. SINPO 34344. (John Poet/FRW #693)

Outhouse Radio
6925USB, 0104-0124, SIO 353, Radio First Termer program, E-QSL received for full details posted at FRN, (Silvi/FRW #695)

Radio GaGa
6925 kHz, 0226. Heard SSTV, then music with ELO, speech with mention of Senator McCarthy, then SSTV (which I managed to decode as Radio GaGa) at 0239.(Pimblett/FRW #693)

Radio Carp International
6926USB, 0153. Tune in to weak talk by man. Station IDs, followed by at 0157 one minute of bugle (sounded like it was by voice, not instrument) and IDs, still on after 0200. Fair to poor with noise. please QSL ! (Foltz/FRW #693)

Radio Station XXP
6925.0USB, 0054-0102. "I drink your rum boys", 0055 Radio Station XXP ID, This is radio station, pirate radio station XXP." This is the first broadcast from this operator, 0102 off Fair. (Rohde/FRW #693)

Voice of Honor
6925USB, 0219. SINPO 44434. Station ID at sign on. (sounding a lot like KAOS) program for the troops, followed by Stars and Stripes. Playing the various military branch songs for Army, Navy, Marines. Email to: voiceofhonor@gmail.com (Ragnar/FRW #693)

Voice of Kaos
6925USB, 0218-0223. Signal fair, mentioned "We represent the dark side." Music tune Wild Thing by the Troggs, off with Get Smart TV theme.(Hassig/FRW #693)

WBNY
Radio Free Speech repeats, 6850AM, 2255-0004* A good signal The show start with a people repeating the word Monkey over and over followed by WBNY ID. Comedy song about cows and a cows' revolution for freedom. Another one about bunnies multiplying and some one trying to give them away. At 2308, Bill O' Rights came on with a Radio Free Speech show. Old show that mentions Bill Clinton. At 2338, WBNY show "I am a good monkey" was played. Interesting combination of shows. (Majewski/FRW #693)

WPON
6950USB, 2305. SIO 232. "Black Friday", just barely over the noise, much stronger at 2326. Tune, "Let's Work Together." SIO 333, still pretty noisy (Fansome/FRW #693)

Wind Up Radio
6926.31, 0035-0103. SIO 353-2. Music, many IDs,many shout outs. (Silvi/FRW #693)

A couple operators are no longer QSLing via snail mail...
Per postings on the Free Radio Network:

Kracker of Radio Jamba International: "I have asked the drop operator to return any reports to sender. I have not given the Belfast drop as a contact point in over 2 years. With the advent of technology they can find me via E-mail @ krackerradio@pmlol.com. If I am in the mood to do a QSL I will but not before. I just find it redundant to get a snail mail report for a show that happened 6 months ago and them expecting more than I already gave with my show. Especially when no qsl was offered. -Kracker "

The Poet of The Crystal Ship: " Since I finally figured out how to do a basic e-QSL, we are going to switch to those for any Emailed reports-- particularly since I can't really afford all the printing and postage right now, and they'll get done quicker. Please EMAIL any QSL reports to our GMAIL address, tcsshortwave at gmail.com -John Poet (FRW #695)

FREE RADIO WEEKLY is an e-mail only newsletter devoted to the hobby of listening to radio pirates and distributed free to those who contribute. Please QSL and think good thoughts about our contributors, without who, there is no newsletter: Our Contributors...a bunch that knows how to make good use of free time.For more information consult: http://www.frn.net/

AWR & TWR schedules update

All times UTC

USA(non) Frequency change of AWR KSDA Agat Guam in Chin/Karen:
1400-1500 NF 11965 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs, ex 9560

USA(non) Frequency changes of KTWR Agana Guam:
1230-1300 NF 9605 TWR 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs, ex 9635 11-1130 Vietnamese
1230-1300 NF 9910 TWR 100 kW / 293 deg to SoAs, x 11870 Kokboborok Mon-Fri
1330-1400 NF 9340 TWR 100 kW / 285 deg to SoAs, x 12075 Assamese Mon-Fri
(DX Mix News #576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

VOA & Radio Liberty schedule updates

All times UTC NF= new frequency

USA(non) Frequency changes of IBB:
0300-0400 NF 9435 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg, ex 11530 RL in No.Caucasus langs*
0330-0400 NF 5945 SAO 100 kW / 088 deg,new txion VOA in Somali
0330-0400 NF 12110 LAM 100 kW / 132 deg,new txion VOA in Somali
0330-0400 NF 15430 BOT 100 kW / 010 deg,new txion VOA in Somali
0500-0530 NF 5945 BIB 100 kW / 126 deg, ex 9460 VOA in Albanian
1400-1500 NF 12075 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 9685 RL in Turkmen
1500-1530 NF 12110 UDO 250 kW / 316 deg, ex 7280 VOA in Uzbek
1700-1800 NF 15455 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 9530 VOA in Georgian
1730-1800 NF 5830 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg, ex 5820 VOA in Azeri
1800-1830 NF 12080 GB 250 kW / 094 deg, ex 9815 VOA in Portuguese Mon-Fri
1800-1830 NF 11960 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg, ex 6170 VOA in Portuguese Mon-Fri
1800-1830 NF 15730 MDC 250 kW / 275 deg, ex 7310 VOA in Portuguese Mon-Fri
1900-2000 NF 6120 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg, ex 5990 VOA in English
*Avari/Chechen/Chercassi
(DX News # 576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB)
330 Independence Avenue SW
Room 3360
Washington, DC 20237
USA

Non technical correspondence should be sent to the Voice of America address in Washington, DC.
Reception reports: letters@VOA.gov
Website: (Streaming/on-demand audio) http://www.voanews.com
Email: voanews@voanews.com
(Addresses via World QSL Book)

WYFR Family Radio A09 schedule updates

All times UTC

RUSSIA(non) Summer A-09 of WYFR Family Radio via TRW:
1400-1700 on 5845 DB 100 kW / 137 deg to SoAs in Hindi
1200-1300 on 5970 K/A 250 kW / 313 deg to EaAs in Korean
1400-1500 on 7215 IRK 250 kW / 224 deg to SoAs in Nepali
1000-1100 on 7245 K/A 100 kW / 178 deg to EaAs in Japanese
1800-1900 on 7320 ARM 300 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in German
1900-2000 on 7320 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu in German
2100-2200 on 7430 KCH 250 kW / 309 deg to WeEu in English
1400-1500 on 9365 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SEAs in English
1400-1500 on 9405 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi
1800-1900 on 9405 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in English-June 4
1000-1100 on 9450 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in English
1100-1200 on 9450 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in Korean
1100-1200 on 9460 P.K 250 kw / 247 deg to EaAs in Cantonese
1200-1300 on 9465 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to SEAs in Cebuano
1900-2000 on 9490 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg to WeEu in Italian
1500-1600 on 9500 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1200-1400 on 9615 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Indonesian
1400-1500 on 9615 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in English
1800-1900 on 9615 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu in Polish
1600-1700 on 9735 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi
1100-1400 on 9865 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs in Chinese
1400-1500 on 9865 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs in English
1100-1200 on 9900 VLD 250 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Illocano
1500-1600 on 11505 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi
1600-1700 on 11505 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1300-1400 on 11520 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SoAs in Burmese
1600-1700 on 11630 ARM 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1500-1600 on 11655 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Marathi
1100-1400 on 11725 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in Chinese
1400-1500 on 11725 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in English
1200-1300 on 11855 DB 100 kW / 024 deg to CeAs in Russian
1200-1400 on 11895 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Vietnamese
1900-2100 on 12060 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in French
1400-1600 on 12065 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1300-1500 on 13810 A-A 500 kW / 121 deg to SEAs in English
1100-1200 on 13850 VLD 200 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Indonesian
1200-1300 on 13850 VLD 200 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Tagalog
1200-1300 on 15490 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg to SEAs in Thai

USA Frequency changes of WYFR Family Radio from June 1:
2100-0100 NF 6915 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 15215 in Spanish
2200-0100 NF 7520 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 in Portuguese
0100-0345 NF 11550 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 in Portuguese
0200-0400 NF 9385 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg, ex 11855 in English/Spanish
2300-0245 NF 11530 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 17845 in Sp/Sp/Port/Sp
2300-0245 NF 11580 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 17750 in English/Port/Spanish
(DX Mix News #576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Cuban Spy Update

Thanks to Brooke Clark and the Spooks newsgroup for the heads up.

This blog (Shortwave Central) "first" broke the story of the Cuban spies on June 5 http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2009/06/ex-us-state-official-wife-face-cuba-spy.html, long before anyone else in the radio hobby had the story.

Now we have an exclusive update to this story.

New information about the Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers Cuban spy case have come to light, thanks to the public court documents that have been released. If you ever had any doubt what the numbers atation broadcast were all about, you won't now.

Back in 1994 in the pages of Monitoring Times, I broke the story (Drugs, Spies and Numbers) about what some of the U.S. spy number broadcasts were used for. Now we have direct proof (again) of what the Cuban numbers are used for.

From the U.S. Government criminal compliant filed against Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers on
pages 11-12, paragraphs 34-38

Clandestine communications from CuIS to its agents via shortwave radio

34. Based on my knowledge and familiarity with communications methodologies of CuIS, I am aware that, during the timeframe described herein, CuIS often communicated with its clandestine agents operating in the United States by broadcasting encrypted radio messages from Cuba on high frequencies - that is, shortwave radio frequencies. under this method, CuIS would broadcast a series of numbers on a particular shortwave frequency. The clandestine agent in the United States, monitoring the frequency on a shortwave radio, could decode the seemingly random series of numbers using a decryption program provided by CuIS. The series of numbers would than be decoded into a cognizable text used by the agent. Once decoded, the text of the message would provide the agent with tasking for intelligence gathering, instructions about operational activities, including communications plans and meets with CuIS handlers. Similiarly, CuIS would broadcast similiar messages to its handlers.

35. This shortwave radio communications method was employed by some of the defendants convicted of espionage on behalf of Cuba in the previously mentioned Hernandez case in the Southern District of Florida., as well as by Ana Belen Montes, and Carlos and Elsa Alvarez.

36. I further learned that CuIS broadcasts such encrypted shortwave radio messages in Morse code (Enigma M08: Cut Numbers, Ends AR AR AR SK SK SK-LVH) or by voice (Enigma V2: 150/150/150 type, three messages, all 150 count-LVH) reading a series of numbers.

37. I have learned through this investigation that Kendall Myers and Gwendolyn Myers maintain in their possession in their apartment an operable shortwave radio of the same make used by CuIS agent Ana Belen Montes. The radio was manufactured between approximately 1983 and 1986.

38. I have learned through this investigation that Kendall Myers knows Morse code.

Later in the document on page 16.

Gwendolyn Myers acknowledged that a code name used for her in messages was "123"
Kendall Myers acknowledged that a code name used for him was "202"

Additional information on specific shortwave broadcast to the Myers and their handlers are covered in paragraphs 44-51 on pages 23-25.

On of the interesting paragraphs stated, "The FBI collects high frequency messages from CuIS in Cuba to Cuban officers and their agents abroad, to include illegal agents operating in the United States."

As indicated above the contents of the HF numbers messages were known to the FBI. And also as indicated above they also knew the message headers for Myers, his wife and their handler.

Gwendolyn Myers was "123" and handler agent IDed as E-634
Kendall Myers was "202"

Messages to handler E-634 occurred on:
1 Apr 1997
26 Mar 1997
22 Mar 1997 (P50)
26 Feb 1997
15 Feb 1997 (P46)
29 Jan 1997
18 Dec 1996
26 Nov 1996

If you want to monitor the Cuban V2 number station broadcasts, check out this link at the Chris Smolinski's Spynumbers.com website (http://www.spynumbers.com/V2sked.html)

If you'd like to keep up to date with what others have been hearing, you'll want to subscribe to the Spooks Spy Numbers Station Mailing List. Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks

We will have more on this story as we get it.

Chile's La Voz changes frequency

Effective from 03 June 2009

Frequency change of Voz Crista/La Voz via SGO=Santiago

Spanish to Northern South America

2300-0200 UTC new freq 11665 SGO 100 kW / non-dir, ex 17680
1200-2300 UTC on 17680 SGO 100 kW / non-dir, ex 12-02
(DX Mix News #576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jun 09 2251 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
01 - 07 June 2009

Solar activity was very low. Isolated low-level B-class flares were observed during the period. The likely source for the flares was Region 1019 (N28, L=297, class/area Cro/080 on 01 June). Region 1019 began to gradually decay on 03 June and was downgraded to a spotless
plage region on 06 June.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at predominantly quiet levels at all latitudes during the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
10 June - 06 July 2009

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet conditions, with isolated unsettled levels possible on 10 June. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected during 11 - 29 June. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on 30 June - 1 July. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected on 02 - 06 July.


Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jun 09 2251 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jun 09
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jun 10 68 7 3
2009 Jun 11 68 5 2
2009 Jun 12 68 5 2
2009 Jun 13 68 5 2
2009 Jun 14 68 5 2
2009 Jun 15 68 5 2
2009 Jun 16 68 5 2
2009 Jun 17 68 5 2
2009 Jun 18 68 5 2
2009 Jun 19 68 5 2
2009 Jun 20 68 5 2
2009 Jun 21 68 5 2
2009 Jun 22 68 5 2
2009 Jun 23 68 5 2
2009 Jun 24 70 5 2
2009 Jun 25 72 5 2
2009 Jun 26 72 5 2
2009 Jun 27 72 5 2
2009 Jun 28 72 5 2
2009 Jun 29 72 5 2
2009 Jun 30 72 8 3
2009 Jul 01 72 8 3
2009 Jul 02 70 5 2
2009 Jul 03 69 5 2
2009 Jul 04 69 5 2
2009 Jul 05 69 5 2
2009 Jul 06 69 5 2
(NOAA)

Colombian pirate heard on 5587.1

COLOMBIA
5587.1, Radio Juventud, 0030-0230* approximately, Jun 07, caught this pirate Colombian with musical ballads from years 70's and 80's. Mentioned transmission on FM 104.7 and on SW 5590, e-mail: radiojuventud2009@hotmail.com.
Recording on: http://www.goear.com/listen/c4edb68/Radio-Juventud-5587.1-Khz-Rafael-Rodriguez . (Rodriguez). Not heard in Denmark at 0055, Jun 08. (Petersen/DX Window 378)

Cheetah Radio QSLs

Hi, Friends,

On the Swedish National Day, June 6th, I heard Cheetah Radio on 11885 kHz at 16.00-16.30 with a program about Project Risks. The host, Michelle LaBrosse, confirmed my reception in one hour via e-mail and promised a QSL-card later on. Mail address: radio@cheetahlearning.com or michelle@cheetahpower.net
73 from the island of Gotland and Björn Fransson/(HCDX)


Cheetah Radio is a new station via Media Broadcast in English:
1600-1700 UTC on Saturday, 11885 kHz via Wertachtal, Germany / 125kW targeted to South Asia. (DX Mix News 573)

Logging
11885, Cheetah Radio, via Wertachtal, Germany 1600UTC sign-on to 1640 fade out (scheduled till 1659 to India on Sa only), Sa May 23. Two women talking all the time in American English about a happy life, SINPO 32332, drowned by Xinjiang PBS in Uighur 11885, Radio Okapi 11890 and others. (Petersen). Heard very good in Bulgaria. Broker: WRMI via Media Broadcast. (Ivanov via BC-DX and Gupta/DX Window 377)

Blog Logs

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Bolivia
Radio Santa Cruz, 6134.83, 0924-0945. Initially noted a male in Spanish language comments which sounded like news. At 0928 UTC, music presented. This continued during the period. The signal was poor. (Bolland)

Radio Fides, La Paz, 6155.27, 0105-0159*. Spanish talk. ID. Bolivian music. Closing ID announcements at 0158 over lite music. Fair. (Alexander)

Brazil
Radio Difusora, Cáceres, 5055, 0958-1003 Happy lady announcer in Portuguese as, “vocês estão sintonizados na Radio Difusora de Cáceres, esta emissora maravilhosa está sob a direção de...”, 1001 Sertanejo music. SINPO 24222 (Bobrowiec)

Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia 11780, 1750-1805. Weak Brazilian vocal pops at tune-in. Announcer's promo to ID "da Amazonia", plus canned station promo and kilohertz quote. Promo for upcoming news as "Nacional Informa," followed by world newscast in Portuguese. (Van Horn)

Chile
CVC La Voz 17.680, 1815. Caught station ID during band scan. Station frequency and promo, followed by upcoming program-lineup. (Van Horn)

Equatorial Guinea
Radio Nacional, Bata, 5005, *0504-0600, Sign on with local tribal music. Afro-pop music. Spanish talk. Not // 6250. Weak in noisy conditions (Alexander)

Radio Nacional, Malabo, 6250, 0550-0605. Spanish talk. Afro-pop music. Radio Malabo IDs. Fair signal(Alexander).

Gabon
Afrique Numero Un via Moyabi 9580, 2120. Station 250 kW. French sports commentary at
tune-in to 2128. French Afro pops (SIO 423) and musical jingles at 2132. African highlife music to station ID. Same format continuing up to 2259. French announcements to a presumed vocal national anthem. Sign-off at 2300 (Van Horn).

Guam
Trans World Radio via Agana, 9910, 1212-1221. Mongolian (per schedule. Woman talking followed by contemporary religious music ay 1213. More talk at 1214 with woman joined by man. Poor signal. (Evans)

Indonesia
RRI Makassar,4750, 1042-1100. Note the usual type of music heard with a woman singing. On the hour a few comments from a female in Indonesian followed by comments from a male which I believe was news. Signal was poor. (Bolland)

Lithuania
Radio Free Aisa via Sitkunai, 9490, 0100-0135. Uyghur. Heard an Asian language here occasionally, but not Mandarin so probably not a CNR jam and believed it might be RFA. But whenever it was audible, Bible Voice via Wertachtal stayed on the frequency until several seconds after 0100, and none of the parallel frequencies was audible. Then, a couple of times BV ended a few seconds earlier and I heard the last bit of RFA theme music. And finally, on June 4, BV went off even earlier and I heard the complete ID despite a weak signal. After brief Asian instrumental music, a woman and men spoke. (Craighead/Cumbre DX)

Madagascar
Radio Madagasikara, 5009.94, 0310-0340. Local Afro-pop music. Local folk music. Malagasy talk. “Radio Madagasikara” ID at 0331. Poor in noisy conditions. Full AM mode.(Alexander)

Peru
Radio Cusco, 6195.84, 0025-0100. Spanish religious programming with talk and Spanish religious music. Several IDs at 0057.Peruvian music at 0058. Poor. Weak in noisy conditions. Wiped out by Radio Prague 6200 at their 0100 sign on. Also had some QRM from BBC on 6195(Alexander).

Saudi Arabia
BSKSA 9870 to Europe, 2134 (444) // 9555 (444). Arabic intros to program feature segments and mentions of Saudi Arabic. Easy-listening instrumental music. Qur'an recitations on 11915 (43+4) // 11820 (43+4) and 2143. Qur'an to 2159 to Arabic announcements. Station ID to time tips at 2200. Station ID and announcer's intro to Arabic world news. Signal quality very good throughout all broadcast monitored (Van Horn).

Thailand
BBC relay via Nakhon Sawan, 11750, 1238-1245. Two men/two women in English with rather harsh political commentary regarding Gordon Brown. Good signal with some fading.(Evans)

USA
KVOH Rancho Simi, CA., 17.775, 1808-1815. Pastors closing items of Spanish religious service before congregation, followed by altar call. Hyms from the congregation. Recheck at 1940 noting pastor's talk and relgious text.

Contributors:
Brian Alexander, PA
Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil
Chuck Bolland, FL
Wendel Craighead, KS
Jim Evans, TN
Gayle Van Horn, NC

Amateur radio special event schedules

5H, TANZANIA. Frans, PE1ABQ, is expected to be active as 5H1FF fromtone Town city on the Island of Zanzibar (AF-032). His equipment is a FT-950 w/100w into 3.5m vertical at 20m A.S.L. No QSNs have been reported yet. QSL via the address on QRZ.com.

5J0, SAN ANDRES ISLANDS (Update). Dennis, K7BV, will once again return to San Andres (NA-033) and be active as 5J0BV (not 5J0M as first announced) between June 18-29th (not June 19th-July 5th). He will again be concentrating on 6 meter Sporadic Es. HF bands will be activated as well. QSL direct to K7BV (not W1JJ as first announced) via the QRZ.com address. For more details and updates, visit the following Web page at:
http://www.qth.com/k7bv/caribe2009

8R, GUYANA (Update). The 6 Meter Beacon Project, Inc., (HF-50 MHz DXpedition between June 16th and July 6th) has announced the callsigns for their operation to Guyana. According to their Web page the callsigns are:
8R1DB - Team One: Chris/W3CMP and Dave/N3DB; between June 16-26th
8R1TO - Team Two: Terry/K4RX and Ken/AC4TO; between June 27th-July 6th
QSO information is just "Signal report please, no grid squares!!!!!!"
QSL via N3DB: David Craig, 4931 Mariners Drive, Shady Side, MD 20864
(2.00 USDs & SAE [or equivalent U.S. postage] for outside US; SASE for U.S. Stations). Bureau QSLs are "OK", but slow. For updates, visit the Web page online at: http://6meterbeaconproject.org/8R2009.html Operating frequencies will to be posted soon.

A35, TONGA. Paul, A35RK, continues to be active as A35RK/p from Vava'u Island (OC-064). He informs OPDX that there is "no definite departure date." He has also mentioned that he submitted the April/May A35RK/p log (OC-064) to Bob, W7TSQ. This log includes activity in the CQ WPX CW Contest this past weekend. As far as LoTW submissions, Bob, W7TSQ,
informed OPDX that since LoTW does not show/give credit for IOTA, Paul is combining his /P log with the regular A35RK log as he is still Tonga. He also mentioned that there is a possibility that some QSOs between May 20-24th, have an error in the time. Most are probably CW contacts. Paul also informed us of the problem and states, "There appears to be a problem with the 'QSO time' element in the computer logbook entry. Some contacts appear to be exactly 'one hour off' the actual time of QSO." So, anyone with a LoTW problem or needing an IOTA card, showing OC-064, can contact Bill at: W7TSQ@AOL.COM He can supply cards that will show the IOTA information if needed. As usual an SASE/SAE with postage (green stamps) will be answered direct. Bill states, "Bureau cards will be awhile as I probably will not send again before fall. LoTW is preferred as it is less work for me!"

ANTARCTICA WEB PAGE (Sites and Sounds). The French Polar Team's Web site continues to add a great collection of information and pictures (added with music) of the many polar stations and sub-Antarctic regions.

Check out the following URLs (recently added FT5YJ--VP8DLM--CE9XX):
* Station Machu Picchu - Ile du Roi George:
http://french-polar-team.fr/OA_Machu_Picchu_Station_King_George_Island.php
* Station B - Ile Deception:
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Station_B_Deception_Island.php
* Station O - Ile Danco:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Danco_Station_O_Danco_Island.php
* Station Gabriel Gonzales Videla - Cote Danco:
http://french-polar-team.fr/CE9_Videla_Station_Antarctica.php
* Station Almirante Brown - Cote Danco:
http://french-polar-team.fr/LU_Almirante_Brown_Station_Antarctica.php
* Station F Wordie Hut - Ile Winter:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Wordie_Hut_Station_F_Winter_Island.php
* Port-Charcot - Ile Booth (Wandel):
http://french-polar-team.fr/FT5Y-P_Port_Charcot_Booth_Island.php
* Station A Port Lockroy - Ile Goudier:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Port_Lockroy_Station_A_Goudier_Island.php
* Bahia Dorian Refuge - Ile Wiencke:
http://french-polar-team.fr/LU_Bahia_Dorian_Refuge_Wiencke_Island.php
* Station L Damoy Point Hut - Ile Wiencke:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Damoy_Point_Hut_Station_L_Wiencke_Island.php
* Le voilier l'Ile d'Elle:
http://french-polar-team.fr/Polar_Ship_L_Ile%20d_Elle.php

* Davis station: http://www.french-polar-team.fr/VK0_Davis_Station_Antarctica

CT, PORTUGAL (Field Day). The ARVM group will be operating their "Field Day" for 24 hours beginning at 1200z on Saturday, June 13th. Operations will be from Montemor Park near the city of Loures. Activity will be on CW, SSB, RTTY and TVA. For more info, go to:
http://www.arvm.org/index_fd2009.html

CT, PORTUGAL. Members of the Algarve STAR DX Team will be active as CT7/CU8AT during "Green Days", June 13-14th. Operations will be from "Parque Natural SW Alentejano e Costa Vicentina" which is valid for:
DPRN FF-12 and WFF CTFF-12. Operators mentioned are: Toze/CT1GFK, Al/CT1GPQ and Mike/CT1IUA. One of the operators (to be decided later), will be active during the "Portugal Day Contest" on June 13th, from the same QTH. Look for more details on: http://algarvedx.com/

FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA. Phil, F5PHW, informs OPDX that he will be in Tahiti for two years starting August 2009. Activity will be on CW/RTTY and SSB (sometimes) on 80-10 meters. For the moment, his callsign will be FO/F5PHW. Phil is trying and hoping to get a FO5 callsign, but he has to negotiate it with local authorities when he is in Tahiti. Phil will be in a small house very close to the airport. He will operate with 100 watts into a HF6 and dipole, but hopes, if possible put up a 3 elements beam in the garden. QSL will be OK via LoTW. QSL are also "OK" via F8BPN, by the bureau or direct. More information is available on: http://f5phw.chez.com/

FP, ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON. Operators Eric/KV1J and Tom/W8TOM will be active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon (NA-032) during the CQWW DX SSB Contest (October 24-25th) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via KV1J, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW. Operators will be there between October 20-27th. Activity outside of the contest will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31, generally on the highest frequency band that is open (no permission
for 60M). Visit Eric's Web page at: http://www.kv1j.com/fp/october09.html

H4, SOLOMON ISLANDS (Rare IOTA). Operators Mike/KM9D (H44MY) and Jan/KF4TUG
(H44TO) are now active as H44MY from Stirling Island (OC-162) for about a week. Mike was heard this past weekend on 40/20 meters CW. Jan was heard on 20/17 meters SSB. QSL via OM2SA.
(Dave Raycroft/Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin 911/ODXA)

DXers Unlimited weekend edition, June 6-7

Radio Havana Cuba
By Arnie Coro, CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados ! You are listening to the weekend edition of your favorite listener oriented and technically minded radio hobby program.

Here is now our first item: Solar activity continues at very low level, although the only active sunspot region continues to keep the daily optical sunspot count above ZERO During this week we saw one day with a sunspot count of 23, the highest recorded in a long long time !!!

Another sunspot region seems to be developing right at the edge of the solar disc...Astronomers , both professional and amateurs alike, equipped with high tech solar telescopes should keep an eye focused at the edge of the solar disc's northern hemisphere... where the new action region may emerge at anytime now. The only may actually fade out before it moves out of sight from the Earth in the next few days....

Item two: Today ASK ARNIE, la numero uno, the most popular section of the program will be devoted to answering a question sent by listeners in Botswana, Africa, New Zealand, Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Canada, the USA and a first time listener also from the Caribbean..who lives in Antigua, where he used to have a lot of very difficulty listening to short wave stations because of the presence of the now not operational BBC and Deutsch Welle super power relay facility.

Our amigo Derril from Antigua is also telling me that ha has been enjoying some nice FM DX from South America.

Those amigos who sent today's question are very interested about the so called Trans-equatorial ionospheric forward scatter propagation, that provides so interesting DX signals on frequencies as high as the two meters amateur band, TEP is much more frequent on the 10 meters and 6 meters bands. Although there are well verified reports of regular TEP propagation from the Caribbean to Brazil on the 2 meters amateur band.

All I can say amigos is that Trans-equatorial upper HF and VHF propagation was discovered by radio amateurs operating from Africa and the Mediterranean region, and so far scientists have not really reached an agreement about what causes this unique form of signal propagation that shows practically no relation to the solar cycle.

Examples of Trans-equatorial propagation include the reception of Brazilian FM stations operating from 88 to 108 megaHertz in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico. Amateur two meters band signals from as far as northern Argentina reaching Puerto Rico, and the history making path between Zimbabwe and Cyprus, one of the first ones that was fully documented by radio amateurs during the early nineteen fifties.

There are some reports indicating that Trans-equatorial propagation has even sent the maximum useable frequency curve to well above 300 megaHertz, something that indicates an extremely high level of free electrons concentrations at F2 layer altitude.

I hope that this short explanation gives you an idea amigos of what Trans-equatorial forward scatter propagation is, and how it is still very much a mystery that science is trying to discover using sophisticated research tools like satellites equipped with ionospheric sounders that work in reverse, that is they send signals from space to the ionosphere at the same time that standard ionospheric sounders probe the ionosphere from below.

The fact that Trans-equatorial propagation happens at certain times of the year is the main clue that scientists are using to find a correlation that will fit and finally tell them why this extraordinary VHF and up to UHF bands propagation events happen.

More radio hobby related information follows in just a few seconds, asDxers Unlimited's weekend edition continues after a short station ID.
.......

This is Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited, and it's on the air twice weekly for the enjoyment of our worldwide audience of radio hobby people.

Now here is item three: The Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico tropical hurricane season started the first day of June and already we have seen a very early instance of a low pressure area moving near Cape Hatteras, it had a a rather disorganized activity and never became the first storm of the season pouring.

Actually, this tropical event occurred before the season started. We have had lots of rain over Cuba's eastern provinces also related to the Atlantic , Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico tropical storms and hurricanes season...radio once again will be playing an important role to help to make better forecasts of the path of cyclones and hurricanes, by scientists now having access to use the data provided by a larger number of automatic ocean buoys of two types,. ones that are heavily anchored at some specific locations and others that will be launched from specially equipped aircraft and will be then keep track of the drift buoys as they move under the force of the storm's winds.

The weather buoys will be using HF, VHF and UHF frequencies for passing along the data that they are picking up with their sensors. The HF signals can reach long distances but are not very reliable, the VHF data stream is pointing upwards to the airplane that will pick up the data, and the UHF transmitter will send its signals to a special antenna that will be beaming up to a satellite with a very broad beam so that the rough seas will not stop the signal from reaching the satellite, and that requires the use of a special broad beam antenna and a rather high power. The use of forward error correction digital transmission modes is essential in order to assure that the data picked up by the buoys will reach its destination at the weather forecasters offices.

A new form of Dxing... maybe !!! May monitoring the ocean anchored and drift weather buoys becoming number 90 of our list of ways of enjoying this wonderful hobby ?... Who knows ?

As many of you know, there are radio hobby people that devoted all their time to picking up low power beacons or low power transmitters used at airports to provide information to the arriving public, so it's not difficult to imagine that as soon as these buoys start to operate, some Dxers will try at once to pick up their weather data streams.

By the way, I have picked up a great number of drift nets beacons and similar transmitters used by sea going fishing trawlers that operate them near or inside the 160 meters amateur band.
.......

Homebrew your radios, si amigos, GO AHEAD !!! Don't think it over twice,you can start by assembling a simple easy to build crystal set using high impedance headphones to provide excellent listening volume without the need of battery power. I have in my workshop a demonstration crystal radio that picks up seven of the City of Havana's most powerful local stations.

I show my visitors how this radio that uses a large size tuning coil wound on a length of two inch or 50 millimeters diameter PVC pipe, when connected to my 40 meters band half wave dipole antenna provides excellent easy listening audio volume on the two thousand ohms impedance headphones.

The crystal set has also a simple interface so that if can feed a two transistor audio amplifier fed from a nine volts battery that produces room filling volume using a bass reflex cabinet with an eight inch speaker.

Radio Progreso's 640 kiloHertz 50 kiloWatts AM transmitter here in Havana,sounds great on this amplified crystal set , of which I always keep several computer printouts to give away to visitors to my workshop, because this is a nice way to bring them into our wonderful hobby !

Phase two of this project will be to prepare some parts kits from recycled and fully tested electronic components and , and to include a length of PVC pipe and the enamele insulated wire to wind the coil...

The crystal set is assembled using a piece of plywood, and I am keeping several ready cut ones , also to give away to visitors who wish to attempt to build their first radio. The nice thing is that for those that can't find the high impedance headphones required for the amplifier-less radio, assembling the simple two stage transistor audio amplifier is very easy , following my written and graphic instructions, and then they can use any low impedance headphones of the type used by MP3 , cassette or other audio players !

By the way , this simple radio is an excellent receiver for emergency situations , as the 9 volts battery will last for a very long time , because the two transistors draw very little current when in operation.

The parts count is minimal, and it is very difficult to do something wrong if you follow the written text and the pictorials provided in my instructions booklet !

With the millions of electronic gadgets, from old TVs , computers, fax machines, waiting to be recycled the amount of parts available after just a couple of hours of disassembling broken down or retired equipment for recycling its parts will provide more than enough components to make many of these simple receivers...
......

And now amigos just before going QRT, here is our exclusive and not copyrighted HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast: solar flux around 70 to 71 units, down from the 75 units it reached earlier in the week.

The daily sunspot count has moved from 15 to 23 then down to 19 and later two times to 17 , following the path of solar active region 1019 that is now desintegrating and fading away...

The already high probability of Sporadic E openings will be increasing from day to day, especially during this first three weeks of June. Keep checking the FM broadcast band for signs of DX stations, that usually show up on locally unused channels, or atop of weak semi-locals.

Hope to have you all listening to our mid week edition of Dxers Unlimited , next Tuesday and Wednesday UTC days… send your signal reports, comments about the program and radio hobby questions to arnie@rhc.cu, again arnie@rhc.cu and VIA AIR MAIL to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba.
Cortesia de Manolo de la Rosa
(Arnie Coro)

MV Baltic Radio & Atlantic 2000 International set for Sunday broadcasts

MV Baltic Radio is on this Sunday the 7th of June at 09.00 to 10.00 UTC on our normal channel of 6140 KHz.

MV Baltic Information:

MV Baltic Radio relay service Schedule for summer 2009

1st Sunday – MV Baltic Radio
3rd Sunday – European Music Radio
4th Sunday – Radio Gloria International
We wish you good listening and good reception!
(Tom Taylor)

Atlantic 2000 International will be on the air this Sunday June 7, on 6220 kHz from 08:00 to 09:00 UTC (10:00 to 11:00 CEST). Music from the 60's to nowadays, and of course, radio news.

Each correct reception report will be confirmed by a special QSL-card. Indeed, the 6th of June 1982, Atlantic 2000 International was broadcasting for the first time on shortwave.

Don't forget to listen !

Atlantic 2000

visit our website : http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr/
(sw-pirates/QSL via UK Dxer)

Scandinivian Weekend Radio show

Scandinavian Weekend Radio has started todays broadcast 2100 UTC Friday evening. We are still on until 2100 UTC this Saturday evening.

Stay tuned....

Web: http://www.swradio.net/index2.htm

Forum: http://www.swradio.net/forum/

and program/frequency schedule: http://www.swradio.net/schedule.htm

Greetings,
Alpo Heinonen
Scandinavian Weekend Radio

Annual Arietid meteor shower to peak June 7

From our friends at http://spaceweather.com/

DAYTIME METEORS: The annual Arietid meteor shower peaks on Sunday, June 7th. The Arietids are unusual because they are daytime meteors; they stream out of a point in the sky not far from the sun. The best time to look is just before dawn on Sunday morning when it may be possible to spot a small number of Arietids skimming the top of Earth's atmosphere. Such "Earthgrazing" meteors tend to be long, colorful, and very pretty. After daybreak, when the meteors are no longer visible to the human eye, you can listen to radar echoes from the Arietids by tuning in to our online meteor radar: http://spaceweatherradio.com/ .

"The Arietids are the strongest daylight shower of the year," notes Bob Lunsford of the American Meteor Society. "If you could see them through the sun's glare, you would count as many as 60 per hour. Also, don't forget that the daytime Zeta Perseids peak only two days later and are considered the second strongest daylight shower. In all my years of viewing I have never seen a Zeta Perseid, but I have seen a few Arietids. They have all been Earthgrazers and very impressive meteors."

FM and TV DXers should be on the lookout for meteor trail enhanced DX.
Mark Coady/ODXA)

Ex- U.S. State official, wife face Cuba spy charges

By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former U.S. State Department official and his wife have been arrested for spying for the Cuban government for nearly 30 years, the Justice Department said on Friday.

Walter Kendall Myers, 72, aided by his wife Gwendolyn Myers, 71, used his Top Secret security clearance to pass on classified information to the Cuban government and at one point met with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, according to court documents


Gwendolyn Myers worked at a bank. The two received messages from the Cuban government via shortwave radio and hand-passed messages, and typically passed their responses to handlers by hand.

Complete story from Reuters at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5546CA20090605

KSM special event D-Day anniversary

Paul Dobosz passes along the following bit of tid from the Maritime Radio Historical Society

The KSM schedule will be slightly modified for 6 June, the 64th anniversary of D-Day.
Transmitter Supervisor Steve Hawes will be aboard SS RED OAK VICTORY/KYVM while QSL Mistress Denice Stoops will be aboard SS JEREMIAH O'BRIEN/KXCH. Both ships will be active on MF, communicating with each other and with KSM. The calling frequency will be 500kc. The KXCH and KYVM working frequency will be 425kc.

KSM will be on 500kc and 426kc. RTTY service will be unavailable since Steve provides this from the Bolinas transmitter site. Steve usually provides the recently initiated CW press service too. But since this has proven popular with many listeners I will key the CW press
service from the receive site beginning at 1000pdt/1700UTC along with the normal KSM Pacific high seas weather broadcast on 1430pdt/2130gmt. All broadcasts will be keyed on 426kc and
all HF channels except 22Mc with interruptions for traffic to or from ships. In that case all transmitters will be keyed with the traffic no matter what frequency is used for contacting
the ship so that listeners on any frequency will be able to hear the KSM side of the exchange. The ship's QSS will be announced so that listeners may attempt to hear the ship as well.
Amateur station K6KPH will be available as usual, guarding 3550kc, 7040kc, 14050kc and 21050kc. K6KPH may best be contacted using commercial calling procedure: call K6KPH repeatedly until the operator responds with DE, then send your call.
VY 73,
RD
=================================
Richard Dillman, W6AWO
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org/

(MARE Tip Sheet 531)

Ye Ethiopia Adera Dimtse Radio QSLs

Ethiopian Current Affairs Discussion Forum Multimedia (Ye Ethiopia Adera Dimtse Radio)

QSL

FRANCE: YE ETHIOPIA ADERA DIMTSE RADIO via Issoudun, 13790. Full-data Media Broadcast antenna scenes e-QSL card from Michael Puetz at QSL-Shortwave@media-broadcast.com in 6 months. In response to my request for the name of the program, the QSL includes the name of the producing organization, Ethiopian Current Affairs Discussion Forum Multimedia, although Adera Dimtse Radio is not mentioned.

The e-mail says ADM is the internal name for the German translation of the name of the organization. No response yet from recent reports sent directly to the program at ecadf@ecadforum.com and info@ecadforum.com . I was wrong when I reported this program as Abu Dhabi Media a few weeks ago after receiving a QSL from Issoudun. Several websites gave this as the broadcaster, but after I reported my QSL some said it was probably Adera Dimtse Radio. (Wendal Craighead-Kansas, USA)

Apsua Radio schedule

Georgia
Sukhumi, Abkhaz Republic

Station identification in Abkhazian as;
"Apsua Radio"
Russian as; "Gavarit Sukhumi"

All times UTC // parallel frequency

0330-0345 MS RR
0345-0400 MS AB
0400-0430 MS AB, Sun to 0425 Russian
(same news are repeated on Sunday at 1100 and at 1400)
0430-0500 MS AB
0700-0800 MF AB
0800-0810 MF RR
1100-1120 MF AB, Sat & Sun in RR, Sun till 1125
1400-1420 Sat, till 1425 in RR
1400-1455 MF AB and irregularly 1425-1455 on Sat in AB

All times vary and the usage of languages also vary. In times like 0500-0700 MF (Sat till 0600) and after 1455 is relaying Radio Rossii, mostly Stream No. 4, sometimes No. 3 (as on 4055 kHz KGZ). All above is for the frequency of 9495 kHz, irr. \\ also 9535. The \\ MW frequency of 1350 is with increased broadcast times than on SW.
(Rumen Pankov-BUL, ARDXC/ADXN)

VOA Expands Broadcasting To War-Torn Pakistan Border Region

Washington, D.C., June 3, 2009 – Deewa Radio, the Voice of America’s (VOA) popular Pashto service broadcast to the war-torn Pakistan- Afghanistan border region, is expanding to nine hours daily starting Saturday, June 6, 2009.

“The time is right to add three more hours to Deewa’s original programming,” said Steve Redisch, VOA’s executive editor. “Deewa is often the only source of accurate news and information for the millions of people living in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and elsewhere. They rely on us daily for basic information.”

Created in October 2006, Deewa is aimed at an estimated 40 million Pashto-speaking people in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, including the NWFP where some 2.5 million people have been displaced as Pakistani military battle Taliban fighters. Deewa also reaches Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan.

Along with news, Deewa provides information about health, shelter, food, social issues, education, science and culture. The program reaches people in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and elsewhere. Up to 300 people routinely call in to Deewa during shows.

“Deewa is full of information,” said Syed Inam Rahman of the Centre for Media and Communications, International Islamic University of Islamabad, Pakistan. Rahman estimated the majority of people in Charsadda and Peshawar districts listened to Deewa regularly.

The newest block of programs will focus on news and current affairs, including regional and international news, reports from a network of more than 20 local free-lance journalists, segments on Muslims in America and on youth, a world press round-up and interviews with significant personalities.

The second hour will be a topical call-in show featuring a wide variety of issues affecting those in the targeted region. The final hour will be a repeat of the previous day’s morning call-in show, until July 4, when it will become a live news and current affairs program.

Deewa Radio is distributed on shortwave, FM, and by the Internet at www.VOANews.com/Deewa .

The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S.Government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 134 million people. Programs are produced in 45 languages.

For more information, please call VOA Public Relations at (202) 203-4959, or e-mail askvoa@voanews.com
(VOA)

Australian DX Report # 154 available for download

Here in wintry Melbourne, our sunset is now at its earliest, 0707 UTC, which is 5.07 pm local time. Sunrise is now 2111 UTC, which is 7.11 am local, and transit time of the sun is 0218 UTC, 12.18 pm.
This has resulted in good propagation from all continents during the various windows, one of which is our sunrise Brazilian mode in the 60 and 49 mbs.

This specialized mode appears each winter, and on June 4, Brazilian transmitters were audible on

4985 2055 to 2120
4915 2103 to 2135
5990 *2000-2100* (a one hr transmission)
6183 2200 to 2300 (off-channel!)

Propagation is via the transmission path crossing the Antarctic regions.

I have included a comprehensive summary of recent propagation events in episode 154 of the Australian DX Report audio news mgazine, which also features news and information about shortwave broadcasting, propagation, further monitoring notes, new schedules, extracts from schedules, and schedule updates.

It's 15 mins duration, and may be downloaded from the Website of the Australian Internet Radio Service, at http://airm.edxp.org/

It is also available as a Podcast, sent to your browser-enabled Mobile Telephone using Windows Mobile.

The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.

Your comments and feedback are welcomed!

The Australian Internet Radio Service is administered by the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association.

You can also hear the episodes on-air, via WWCR Nashville, every Sunday at 0200-0215 on 5070 and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825. The WWCR release is also available as streaming-audio, live, from http://wwcr.com/

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 154!

Bob Padula,
Melbourne

Thanks Bob for the info - easy to forget as being in the midst of summer, you're enjoying

" winter - DX !" Good luck in your winter DX season !!

Gayle Van Horn

Amateur radio propagation report

QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 23 ARLP023
From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA June 5, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP023
ARLP023 Propagation de K7RA

It is so great to see some real Cycle 24 sunspot activity this week. Instead of a phantom that pops into view one day and is gone the next, we have sunspot 1019, which has persisted for five days, so far. Emerging on Sunday, May 31, the resulting daily sunspot numbers through June 4 are 15, 23, 19, 17 and 17. This is a Cycle 24 spot, and at high latitude too, which is an indication of a new cycle spot.

Meanwhile, the low solar wind and quiet geomagnetic conditions continue. Currently spot 1019 is about to fade, although it is still a few days away from crossing the eastern limb to the far side. NOAA and the US Air Force expect geomagnetic conditions to continue to be quiet, and a planetary A index around five is predicted until June 29. Predicted solar flux values are 72 for June 5-6, then 74 on June 7-13.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions June 5-8, quiet to unsettled June 9-10, and quiet again June 11. Time now to look at our 3-month average daily sunspot numbers to spot trends. It looks like the numbers are up, slightly.

The three-month average of daily sunspot numbers for January through April was 2.4, 2.3, 1.5 and 2. The last number, centered on April, is the sum of all daily sunspot numbers for March through May, divided by the number of days.

Since 2007, the 3 month moving average has been:

Jan 07 22.7
Feb 07 18.5
Mar 07 11.2
Apr 07 12.2
May 07 15.8
Jun 07 18.7
Jul 07 15.4
Aug 07 10.2
Sep 07 5.4
Oct 07 3.0
Nov 07 6.9
Dec 07 8.1
Jan 08 8.5
Feb 08 8.4
Mar 08 8.4
Apr 08 8.9
May 08 5.0
Jun 08 3.7
Jul 08 2.0
Aug 08 1.1
Sep 08 2.5
Oct 08 4.5
Nov 08 4.4
Dec 08 3.7
Jan 09 2.3
Feb 09 2.1
Mar 09 1.5
Apr 09 2.0

The average daily sunspot number for just the month of May was 4, which indicates a nice trend following the March and April 3-month averages.

David Witkowski, W6DTW of San Jose, California was happy to see the reports of night time 20 meter propagation from N6CAS, and notes that on May 20 he worked LY1000A (Lithuania) at 0405z, ES1QD in Estonia at 0612z on May 22, and OH5LF (Finland) at 0635z on May 23. He worked them all using 100 watts and a vertical antenna. He wrote, "I told some friends here in San Jose that I'd worked Europe barefoot at 11:00pm local time and a few of them gave me the 'Oh yeah, sure you did' look. Thanks for vindicating me."

David continued, "Regarding the question of "dead" versus "unoccupied" bands; I wrote a blog article recently on this topic. (See http://sparqi.blogspot.com/ .) During Summer Es I used to listen to 28.4 and/or tune from 28.3-28.5 to check for openings. Recently I made the discovery that listening on CB channel 38-LSB (27.385) is a much better way to do a quick check for openings; I have monitored stations from all over the western US burning up "38 lower" well into late evening, while 10 meters sits idle. Many times there is propagation; we're just not using it."

Howard Estes, WB4GUD of Franklin, North Carolina also likes to check Citizens Band activity for a 10-meter propagation indicator. He wrote, "I agree with W1ZI, the bands aren't dead, we're just lazy. How often do you scan a band, don't hear anything, and go somewhere else? I've started checking the CB channels for activity. If I can hear the Big Frog Gigger in LA (that's lower Alabama), probably 10M is open to somewhere."

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG of Hillsborough, North Carolina wrote about a June 1 E-skip opening on 6 meters that still continued at 0400z on June 2. "I worked 12 stations on CW and SSB across the Midwest on 6. Also, had some multi-hop on 10 meters using WSJT JT65A and heard Oregon. Second night in a row that I was hearing Es late at night on 10 meters using WSJT weak-signal propagation."

Mark said he likes to use DX Sherlock, at http://tinyurl.com/5qwvu2 .

Bill Turner, W4WNT of Matthews, North Carolina has good luck lately with PSK on 20 meters, even when there are no sunspots. He is running 25 watts into a G5RV at 25 feet, and on May 21 at 0345z he worked Peter, ZL1PWD who reported working 12 stations that day.

Erik Jacobsen, KB9BNY of McHenry, Illinois sent a message titled, "20-meter PSK31 has been on fire this week." He wrote, "Tuesday, with the sunspot number at 19 and the solar flux at 72, 20 meters nicely opened up for world wide communication. I participate in the PSK reporter network (http://psk.gladstonefamily.net/pskmap.html ). Basically, when a reporting station receives the de callsign callsign pattern, the location of the transmitting station is then plotted on a map. When I checked the map on Tuesday morning, I saw a Pakistani station, two New Zealand stations and a Japanese station plotted. It just goes to show you how well 20 meters can perform with a small amount of power (usually under 30 watts), a narrow-band signal, and relatively modest solar conditions."

He continues, "I preserved the map for historical purposes at http://tinyurl.com/June2-map . Tuesday's total monitoring take for a 24 hour period was 30 countries. I occasionally blog my PSK reporter observations at http://20meters.blogspot.com/ . My current PSK reporter map can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/kb9bny-map ."

Thanks, Erik! Great stuff.

Again this week we have a book recommendation. Bill Scholz, KB1SGY of Greenwich, Connecticut advises checking out "The Sun Kings; The Unexpected Tragedy of Richard Carrington and the Tale of How Modern Astronomy Began."

Bill writes that this is "an engaging book by Stuart Clark that describes, in great detail, how the great astronomers of the 19th century linked sun spots, solar flares, auroras and magnetic storms. An excerpt from the flyleaf: 'In September of 1859, a cloud of seething gas engulfed the Earth and a blood-red aurora erupted across the planet. Around the world, telegraph machines burst into flames, while compasses reeled as if struck by a massive magnetic fist. No one knew what could have released such strange forces upon the Earth - no one, that is, except the amateur English astronomer Richard Carrington.'"

He continues, "It's a great read and I recommend it highly if you're interested in the connection between these phenomena."

Last week's bulletin mentioned a consumer communications product out of Japan that would require text messengers to learn Morse code. We asked if anyone could decode the Japanese in a graphic on a web page talking about the product, and Brett Graham, VS6BG says it is just a banner ad for a television show. He thought the product might be for real, but checked with JA3USA, who thought it was an April 1 joke. But Brett says, "The idea does have something going for it."

In last week's bulletin we presented some confusing text regarding scientific notation and numbers representing the area covered by sunspots, at least it confused me. I was worried about it, so I checked with K9LA, who got me on the right track. But K1SFA at ARRL HQ was concerned when she got it from me, so she passed it on to a ham who is an astronomer for a fact check. Somehow it got changed back to the way I had it in the first place, before getting input from K9LA. So at this point I can't correct it, although I believe K9LA had it right. More later.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net .

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html . For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html . An archive of past propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/ .

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email .

Sunspot numbers for May 28 through June 3 were 0, 0, 0, 15, 23, 19, and 17 with a mean of 10.6. 10.7 cm flux was 67.7, 68.2, 68.5, 68.5, 72.5, 71.9, and 72.5 with a mean of 70. Estimated planetary A indices were 7, 5, 3, 3, 3, 2 and 4 with a mean of 3.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2 and 4 with a mean of 3.1.
NNNN
/EX
(Dave Raycroft/ODXA)

Blog Logs - South America

Today's BLOG LOGS, are shortwave radio stations from South America. The following logs represent a portion of additional logs recently cut from my SWBC Logs column in Monitoring Times magazine at http://www.monitoringtimes.com/ due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to my above email address. Thanks very much to the contributors and blog readers for your kind words and support.
Gayle Van Horn

Argentina
RAE 11710.75, 0005-0112. Portuguese service. Piano into instrumental music and announcements. Brief talk segments to time pips at 0030. Interval signal and multi-lingual “RAE Argentina” ID. Piano music and possible anthem added to ID sequence after 0105, followed by Spanish ID. Japanese program at 0112. Good signal with fading, down a bit by 0110. (Evans).

RAE, 11710.64v, 0159-0226. Station interval signal to time pips, another I.S. and station ID. Played some music selections of tango music, into news. Signal poor-fair. (Howard).

Bolivia
Radio Fides 6155.23, 0120-0130. Spanish comments to mentions of station and “Bolivia.” Signal poor, on past 0130. Station noted 6155.25, 0058-0110. Music until the hour. On the hour a male in Spanish comments, possibly news. Signal was poor. (Bolland)

Radio Libez (presumed) 4796.28, 1053-1105. Previously this was Mallku, but noted station has changed their name. Signal was threshold with only a suggestion of audio making it, while the carrier was at a poor level. (Bolland).

Radio Yura, Yura, 4716.65, 2334-0202. Typical Bolivian instrumental music, announcer hosting in studio five children with some difficult to start and run talks, one at once "tiene sugerencia musical?" and questions like "what’s your name?, where you come from?..". Ten minutes earlier as I tune passed this frequency, I noted only a carrier. It seems in the interim the signal faded in somewhat to a poor level. Seems like the music continued until 0202 when a person commented briefly and dead air followed for a minuted then more music. Thought they had ceased transmission, but I was mistaken. Signal was poor (Bernardini, Bolland and Otávio/DX Window # 377)

Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza, 4835, 2351-0004. Religious music, flute music, Spanish ID: "Radio Virgen de Remedios. Radio Virgen de Remedios FM 89.5..", 0001-0004 seems relaying audio of TV religious channel, SINPO 33233. (Otávio/DX Window #377)

Radio Pio XII, Siglo XX, 2207-2310, 5952.50. Spanish talk: "Nuestros Departamentos". Quechua discussion, SINPO 23332 QRM 5950, SINPO 23332. (Méndez and Petersen/Vejers/DX Window #377)

Brazil
Radio Bandeirantes (Sao Paulo) (presumed) 9645, 0658-0715. Strained to hopefully hear a Portuguese ID, but no luck. Noise was just too high (Barker).

Radio Clube do Para 4885, 0640-0655. Lively Brazilian tunes between Portuguese announcements, including an ID. Signal poor and faded out by 0650. (Barker).

Radio Cultural Ondas Tropicais, Manaus, AM, 4845.2, 0007-0054.Man preaching in Portuguese repeated by a woman. Religious vocals noted between long talk segments. End of program at 0050 with man talking over choir vocals and studio ID, fair. (Rich D'Angelo/DX Window #377)

Radio Difusora (presumed), Cáceres, MT, 5055, 0935-0955. Portuguese talks, music sounding like religious, 0940 choral music and talks. 0945 very poor signal. From 0950, 5050 Brazilian harmonic splatter QRM, 14322. (Otávio/DX Window #377)

Colombia
La Voz de tu Conciencia (Puerto Lleras) 6010, 0701-0735. Lady pastor in English, translated to Spanish. Sermon was directed towards Colombians and continued to 0710. Spanish station ID into religious music to 0733 ID and “this is the Voice of your conscience” (Barker).

Marfil Estereo 5910, 0700-0715. Missed the station ID at 0700 but announcer’s Spanish announcements were followed by a station ID at 0710 then Spanish music. Poor signal (Barker). 5910, 0452-0510. ID at 0456. Nice Latin American music with tight harmony, a good bass line featuring the accordian. Signal very good (Wood).

Peru
Radio Vision 4790, 0710-0730. Spanish text amid poor signal, further hindered by deep fades and a faint hetrodyne. Full station ID at 0722 and 0730. Non-stop talk during this period, though nothing religious observed (Barker).

Radio La Hora, 4857.39, 2330-2355. Just tuning around the 4 Meg band and found this starting to fade in. Noted a male in Spanish comments describing what seemed to be a soccer game. Signal was still at a poor level, so couldn't make out much of what was being said except for a few words here and there. (Bolland)

La Voz de la Selva, 4824.42, 2356-0001. Not exactly faded in yet, but can hear some Spanish comments by a male. Signal was threshold however. (Bolland)

Radio Huanta Dos Mil, 4746.83, 0042-0055, Not much to hold on to here with a very, very weak signal. Noted a person in Spanish comments. However, the carrier was better, aiding with the tune in. At 0050 noted music. (Bolland)

Contributors:
Bruce Barker, PA
Chuck Bolland, FL
Rich D’Angelo, PA/DX Window #377
Jim Evans, TN
Ron Howard, CA
José Mendez/DX Window # 377
Joe Wood, TN

IBB Remote Monitoring System Video

Former World DX Club North American secretary Bill Whitacre, has posted a video to YouTube explaining how to listen to sounds recorded by the International Broadcast Bureau Remote Monitoring System.

IBB operates a network of over 70 remote monitoring systems (RMSs) in order to determine and demonstrate the audibility of its own and others’ broadcast. Eash RMS consists of an antenna, a radio and a computer attached to the internet. A simple text file script is used by the computer to collect and encode sound samples and bandscan information from the radio. The video is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=G19IPVTCGUE The IBB memote monitoring web page is available at http://monitor.ibb.gov/rms/
(DX World Club/Contact Vol.46)

Battle of Midway Commemoration to be Broadcast Live

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy Memorial will host a commemoration of the Battle of Midway June 4 in Washington, D.C. The ceremony will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. EDT on Navy.mil, the Pentagon Channel and the Direct-to-Sailor Network.

Amateur radio special event schedules

Saturday - June 6
MUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND. Sponsored by the Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station (NJ2BB), this year's Museum Ships Weekend will be held from 00.00 UTC on 6 June until 23.59 UTC on the 7th. Information on the event, including the relevant certificate and the listing of participating ships, can be found at http://www.nj2bb.org/

F - Commemorating the 65th anniversary of the World War II "D-Day" landings in Normandy (6 June 1944), the following activities are expected to take place from France. The South Flanders DX Activity Group will operate as F/ON6JUN/P from Ranville on 3-8 June (QSL via ON5SD, direct or bureau. Henk/PA0HFT and Hans/PA0WYS will be active as F/PA65DDAY from Juno Beach, near Courseulles-sur-Mer on 5-8 June (QSL via PA0HFT, direct or bureau). Michel/F6IPS will operate as TM6SME from Emondeville, close to Sainte-Mere-Eglise on 5-14 June (QSL via F6IPS,direct or bureau). [TNX F5NQL]

7X - Special event station 7U2ISM will be active from Djelfa, Algeria between 16 June and 6 July for the International Amateur Radio Meeting that will take place on 15-21 June. The event will be hosted by the Amateurs Radio Algeriens (the Algerian IARU society) and the Radio Club of Djelfa (7X2VFK). A multi-national group of operators will be active on 160-10 metres CW and SSB, with some activity on RTTY, SSTV and BPSK. QSL direct to 7X2DD. [TNX DB1JAW]

8Q - Nobby, G0VJG will be active as 8Q7CQ from the Maldives (AS-013) on 1-15 June. He will spend his honeymoon on Kuredu Island and he plans to operate holiday style on the HF bands SSB. He will also give 6m a try. QSL via G4DFI. [TNX NG3K]

C6 - Mark/NA6M, Renee/N5RNA, Craig/W5TSN, Judy/KC5VVN and Scott/K2CK will be active as C6AMS from Nassau (NA-001) Bahamas on 1-14 June. They plan to operate SSB, CW and digital modes on 160-10 metres with two or three stations. QSL via NA6M. Further information and log search at http://www.c6ams.com/ [TNX The Daily DX]

E5_sc - Nigel, G4KIU has moved to Rarotonga (OC-013), South Cook Islands, where he holds the call E51SC. He plans to be active on 80-10 metres SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and some CW. QSL direct to Nigel Peacock, P.O. Box 880, Rarotonga, Cook Islands via New Zealand, or via G4KIU through the RSGB bureau. He will upload his logs to LoTW on a weekly basis. [TNX The Daily DX]

EA - George, EC2ADN and Christian, EA3NT will be active as EG3FI from the Formigues (Hormigas) Islands (EU-078) on 6-7 June. QSL via EA3NT, direct or bureau.

F - In June-July 1944 the BBC war correspondents used the tower of the castle at Creully as a radio studio, from where the first reports of the Battle of Normandy were broadcast. Look for special callsign TM5BBC to be aired again from Creully on 4-12 June. QSL via F2UW. [TNX F5NQL]

F - Pierre, F5AAR and Alain, F5OZC will be active as homecall/p from Yeu Island (EU-064) on 3-5 June. They will operate SSB and CW on 10-80 metres. [TNX F6AJA and Les Nouvelles DX]

F - Robert, F5HTR and Roger, F5LKW will be active as homecall/p from Riou Island (EU-095) on 8 June. They will operate QRP on +/- 7032 kHz. [TNX F6AJA and Les Nouvelles DX]

(photo/USS New Jersey (BB-62)/bluejacket.com)

Radio Havana, DXers Unlimited June 2-3 edition

By Arnie Coro, CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados worldwide ! Welcome to the mid week edition of your favorite listener oriented radio hobby program, always trying to bring to you the latest HF plus low band VHF propagation information, plus as many technical aspects of our hobby as possible.

I am Arnaldo, Arnie, Coro, radio amateur CO2KK, your host at this twice weekly radio hobby program, and here is now item one:

solar activity picking up, an active sunspot region ,number 1019 is clearly visible, and this one is definetely a cycle 24 spot.

Also, photos of the solar limb show what may well be another active sunspot region about to rotate into view... Now, let me tell you about the direct consequences of even a single sunspot active region on the Earth's ionosphere.

When the free electrons concentration is at such a low level as it happens when solar flux is below 70 units for many days at a time, even a small increase in the flux, as we are seen right now, makes a marked improvement on the propagation conditions , especially on frequencies between 10 and 20 megaHertz.

For example, here in Havana, a Tuesday morning local time bands scan showed that the fifteen megaHertz signal from WWV in Boulder , Colorado, was at the highest signal to noise ratio in many days.

Another finding was that the signals from a short wave broadcast station located in Chile could be heard with a good signal to noise ratio on the 16 meters or 17.5 to 18.0 megaHertz band.

I could also pick up several amateur radio stations on the CW segment of the 20 meters band, during another observation period that spanned from 12 to 13 hours UTC...

So be on the lookout for making good use of this slight, but as explained earlier, significant increase in solar activity ...

Item two: From Radio Havana Cuba's engineering department comes the news that our 11770 kiloHertz 25 meters band frequency is been heard well in southern Europe , as well as all along the East Coast of North America.

Item three: A quick reply to a question sent by listener Stefan from Canada about the ongoing search operation launched to try to find where the Air France A330 aircraft went down. Monitoring the aircraft HF bands brought some very interesting exchanges between ground stations and the Brazilian aircraft that finally found floating debris that almost for sure belong to the aircraft.

Yes amigo Stefan, whenever a search and rescue operation is in progress you will be able to pick up a lot of traffic on certain frequencies used routinely for aircraft HF single sideband communications, and on some other frequencies you may pick up also SSB voice exchanges between ships arriving at the scene of the accident.

In this particular case, knowing Portuguese did help to understand what the search planes were describing when they finally spoted the location where seats and other debris from Air France flight AF 447 were found.

Item four: An add on to item three: Long Distance Operations Centers use Single Sideband Voice communications on the HF aircraft bands, in order to keep contact with planes flying out of range of the VHF band frequencies.

The distance that a plane can be still heard at the VHF frequencies depends on two main elements: first the altitude of the aircraft, and second on the particular VHF propagation conditions at a given moment.

HF aircraft communications are much less reliable than the VHF signals,and often require that the crew change frequencies several times until they can find one that provides an effective link to remote Long Distance Operations Center or LDOC, that have to keep track of the flights as they proceed along the flight plan, checking their position at certain locations that are given a name that is tied to specific geographical coordinates.

By the way , listening to HF SSB voice mode aircraft communications is one of the more than 85 ways that you can enjoy our wonderful hobby, yours and mine: RADIO !!!

Stay tuned for more radio hobby related information coming up in a few seconds after a short break for station ID, I am Arnie Coro, CO2KK in Havana...

.......................

You are listening to Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited and this is our mid week edition on the air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays UTC days... Hire is now item five:

The Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Tropical Hurricane Season Season began on Monday , the first day of June and will last until the 30^th of November...

Radio amateurs all along the areas that may be hit by storms have by now completed the preparations in order to be able to provide emergency communications whenever required.

Equipment capable of operating using batteries , portable antennas that can be quickly set up , and the organization of emergency nets are very important elements of any effort aiming at providing alternate links when the normal communications systems fail or are used to the top of their possibilities.

Here in the Caribbean, tropical storms and hurricanes are carefully followed by the weather services,and as soon as they start to develop, radio amateurs are ready to deploy their stations well ahead of the path of the storm.

Among the important services provided by the amateurs are passing along precise weather data to the main meteorological services, so that they can keep accurate track of the storms. Other ham stations are installed at shelters, hospitals and clinics, as well as near dams and water reservoirs.

Here in Cuba, during the very active 2008 hurricane season,more than one thousand radio amateurs participated in providing alternate emergency communications to the Civil Defense Disasters Command Posts , something that was recognized by the Government and also brought some very nice reports from the mass media that have generated a lot of interest in the people in our hobby.

..........................

Si amigos, sure, radio is a technical hobby, and many of us enjoy homebrewing our radios, antennas, and accessories.

Improving your listening post of amateur radio station is always rewarding.

Take for example a local friend that could not operate on the 40 meters band, because he didn't had enough space to install a full size 40 meters band half wave dipole.

When I heard him on 2 meters complaining about not having enough space to install a 40 meters band antenna, I told him that a very effective short antenna could be easily made, and that the difference in signal strength between this half size antenna and the full size one was in the order of between one third and one half of an S unit, something very difficult to detect .

So I proceeded to provide him with the step by step building and assembling instructions for the half size 40 meters band antenna.

About a week later, he came back to me, again on the local 2 meters band repeater, telling me that he had built the half size dipole with excellent results.

Amigo Eduardo also added that he was able to trim the antenna to resonance on 7050 kiloHertz achieving a low standing wave ratio from the low end of the band to about 7125 kiloHertz, something that according to him was very rewarding as he could operate on CW, the digital modes and single side band voice .

The antenna uses two easily made loading coils ,located at about 2.5 meters from each side of the center insulator, and the overall length is about 10 meters, or roughly one half of the length of the standard half wave dipole for the 40 meters band.

Eduardo told me that he started by adding about 3 meters of wire to the end of each loading coil, and the proceeded to trim the length until he achived the lowest possible standing wave ratio on 7050 kiloHertz.

His antenna was strung between a mast that he installed at the flat roof of his home, and a nearby pine tree, and so far has proven to be very effective not only for short distance near vertical incidence skywave communications while the Sun is out, but also as a rather good antenna for working DX during the local evening hours,especially when using the PSK31 digital communications mode.

..................

And now amigos, as always at the end of the program here is Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited's HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast.

Participants on the CW WPX Contest during the past weekend that heard our forecast were able to work many 10 meter band stations via the Sporadic E propagation mode that provided mainly single hop skip signals, but that also eventually brought some double hop propagation too. As explained during our weekend edition, at peak times the 21 megaHertz or 15 meters band also was open, but in this case for both
sporadic E and F2 layer propagation.

Now as you hear this, active sunspot region 1019 is developing, and there are even chances for a class C solar flare to erupt from that area of the Sun. Solar flux should increase to around 75 units, so HF propagation should take a turn for the better during the next three days.

Sporadic E events should be happening at a very high rate during the next three weeks...So check the low band TV channel frequencies and the FM broadcast band !!!

Join me Saturday and Sunday for the weekend edition of Dxers Unlimited and don't forget to send your signal reports, comments and radio hobby related questions to inforhc and enet dot cu or via air mail to Arnie Coro , Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba

Blog Logs

Today's shortwave BLOG LOGS, represent a portion of additional logs recently cut from my SWBC Logs column in Monitoring Times magazine at http://www.monitoringtimes.com/ due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to my above email address. Thanks very much to the contributors and blog readers for your kind words and support.
Gayle VH

All times UTC, frequencies in kHz, English unless otherwise indicated // parallel frequencies.
* sign-on - sign-off *

Australia
Radio Australia (Brandon) 11660, 2156-2158. Pop music, talk by man at 2157, followed by Walting Matilda tune and ID. Signal gone by 2158, poor signal, Also noted at very poor level from Shepparton on 11650 with same program details, but not 100% in sync with 11660 Evans).
ABC Northern Territory Service (Tennant Creek) 4910, 0817-0838. While tuning an almost dead 60 meter band found Aussie accented English on band. Initial talk from announcer, then pop music at 0822, more talk and listener’s call-ins. News at 0830 past scheduled close, gone by 0838. (Evans).

Clandestine
Fususato No Kaze (presumed) 9780, *1600-1630.* Opening routine, including music from Sakura, followed by Japanese talks. Closedown routine at 1625 including the same website mentioned above. Never did catch an ID, though Shiokaze also reported here (Wilkins).

Eritrea
Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea (Asmera) 7175, 0353-0405. Interval signal and recorded announcements in Amharic. Jammer cranked up at 0359, tonight with about ten seconds of loud music. VOBME switched to 7165 and in the clear two minutes with opening by lady announcer. (Evans).

Ethiopia
Radio Ethiopia 7110, 0412-0425. Horn of Africa music with brief announcements, returning to musical segments. Good signal with some fading observed. No parallel frequewncies noted (Evans).

India
All India Radio-Bangalore 11620, 2151-2205. Indian pop music to station ID on the hour and world news. Good signal with less than normal fading. Noted // on 9945 with almost identical signal. No other parallels noted. (Evans).

Iran
VOIRI (Kamalabad) 15085, 1734-1740. End of Qu’ran segment followed by announcers’ talk portion. Station ID, schedules and addresses at 1737. Instrumental music at 1738 with announcers’ talk-over. Good signal with some fading observed, no // noted. (Evans).

Madagascar
Radio Madagasikara (Antanarivo) 5009.95, 0310-0335. Possible French service including pop music noted with occasional low audio talk from announcers and background piano music. Talk segment ended at 0324 followe dby upbeat yet smooth easy vocals with a hint of African instruments. Poor signal observed with fading. (Evans).

Mali
RTV de Mali 9635, *0800-0815. Station’s sign-on with interval signal melody of of drums/flute. Opening identification during extremely good signal quality. 5995, 0610-0630. Spectacular tribal music full of drums with both instrumentals and vocals up to 0630. French announcements and conversations to full station ID in French,followed by Arabic. Recheck at 0758 where audio was all but gone Gangbusters signal on 9635, *0800-0845. 5995, 0535-0545 with splendid listening including “Radio Mali” ID’s throughout (Barker).

Mauritania
Radio Mauritanie 4845, 0800-0810. Station ID at 0800, followed by Arabic news briefs to 0805. Signal strong for Mauritania, despite local weather problems. (Barker).

Morocco
Radio Mediterranee International/Medi 1, 9575, 0635-0650. Male/female in French discussion. Station promos and musical bridges between topics (Barker).

New Zealand
Radio NZ International 6070, 0805-0830. Continuous music, mostly geat indigenous tunes up to 0822. English station ID and postal/.web addresses. More music to intros for BBC World News relay (Barker).

Nigeria
Voice of Nigeria 9690, 0810-0830. Announcer obviously with laryngitis this morning! Hideous modulation wrecked any opportunity to pick out anything intelligible during Hausa service. Tune-out at 0830 because signal was too annoying to continue trying to copy. Subsequent check the next day for 9690, *0800-0835 (Barker).

South Africa
Radio Sondergrense (Meyerton) 3320, 0431-0450. Tuned in to hear their usual excellent pop music and found classical Strauss waltz music with occasional Afrikaans talk from host. Good signal. (Evans).

Sudan
SRTC 7200, *0237-0245. Call to Prayer segment in Arabic and mentions of “Huna Omdurman” at 0241. Amateur radio interference on frequency (Evans).

USA
Voice of Boafra International via WHRI, Cypress Creek, SC. Station ID to instrumnetal anthem, followed by same identification and vocal anthem in English by woman. Prayer at 2107, news at 2112. Local vocal music at 2135. Good signal (Evans).

Zambia
Voice Africa 4965, 0430-0440. Modern praise and worship music, Announcer’s talk on the Gospel of Matthew. Station ID as “Radio Christian Voice” at 0435. Signal good-very good (Wood).

Contributors:
Brian Alexander, PA
Chuck Bolland, FL
Bruce Barker, PA
Jim Evans, TN
John Wilkins, CO
Joe Wood, TN

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jun 02 2021 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#

# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
25 - 31 May 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed. New cycle polarity Region 1019 (N28, L=297, class/area Cro/080 on 02 June) was numbered on 31 May. It was simply structured and produced no flares during the summary period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels at all latitudes during most of the period. However, activity increased to unsettled levels on 28 May with a brief period of active levels at high latitudes. The increase followed a sudden impulse at 28/0520 UTC (33 nT, as observed by the Boulder USGS magnetometer). ACE solar wind measurements indicated an interplanetary shock passage at approximately 28/0418 UTC. There was no obvious source for the shock. Solar wind changes associated with the shock passage included a jump in velocity (284 - 338 km/sec at 28/0418 UTC), increased interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bt (peak 12 nT at 28/0722 UTC), and intermittent periods of southward IMF Bz (minimum -8 nT at 28/0857 UTC).

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
03 - 29 June 2009
Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal flux levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during 03 - 04 June. Mostly quiet conditions are expected during 05 - 28 June, with unsettled periods possible on 10 June. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled levels on 29 June.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jun 02 2021 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#


# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jun 02
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jun 03 72 8 3
2009 Jun 04 72 8 3
2009 Jun 05 72 5 2
2009 Jun 06 72 5 2
2009 Jun 07 72 5 2
2009 Jun 08 74 5 2
2009 Jun 09 74 5 2
2009 Jun 10 74 8 3
2009 Jun 11 74 5 2
2009 Jun 12 74 5 2
2009 Jun 13 74 5 2
2009 Jun 14 72 5 2
2009 Jun 15 72 5 2
2009 Jun 16 72 5 2
2009 Jun 17 72 5 2
2009 Jun 18 72 5 2
2009 Jun 19 70 5 2
2009 Jun 20 70 5 2
2009 Jun 21 70 5 2
2009 Jun 22 70 5 2
2009 Jun 23 70 5 2
2009 Jun 24 70 5 2
2009 Jun 25 70 5 2
2009 Jun 26 72 5 2
2009 Jun 27 72 5 2
2009 Jun 28 72 5 2
2009 Jun 29 72 10 3
(NOAA)

June specials from DX Stamp & Supplies

Dear Customer,

Below are June DX stamp and supply specials.

Stamps on BACK ORDER: Turkey, Bosnia, Bahrain, Brunei and Thailand.

Stamps IN STOCK AGAIN: Peru

JUNE 2009 DX STAMP SPECIALS

2 Belgium-$3.00 2 Slovak Rep.-$3.00 3 Germany-$8.25

3 Japan-$3.60 2 Spain (Canary, Balearic, Ceuta & Melilla)-$3.00


JUNE 2009 DX SUPPLY SPECIALS

200/200 European Air Mailers & Returns $35

2 Standard QSL Albums $40

300/300 Stateside Mailers & Returns $23

Shipping charges extra on supply specials

PRIORITY MAIL Shipping Rates for Supplies

Orders under $16.00 add $6.50, Orders from $16.00 to $40.00 add $9.00, Orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $13.00, Orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $18.00, orders over $150.00 add 12%. When ordering supplies AND stamps, use supply total to figure shipping costs. Stamps “ride free” when you order supplies. Shipments to Canada ship at a greater cost. (04/2008)

Non-DX Item:

I'm collecting Forever Stamp Booklets, both ATM booklets of 18 stamps and the Flat booklets of 20 stamps.

I can use ANY that are dated "2007". The year date can be found in the upper left corner of EACH STAMP near the yoke of the bell. On some versions, the year is VERY SMALL and difficult to see.

I can also use any booklets dated "2008" with plate number S11111 on them.

If you have any complete booklets you'd like to exchange, let me know. I can post you complete booklets of 20 stamps in exchange for the booklets you have plus an SASE so you're not out the postage.

If you'd like to exchange, drop me an email. TNX!
73 and good dx,
Bill Plum

Mint postage stamps of foreign countries can be purchased from Bill Plum's Airmail Postage and DX Supplies, 12 Glenn Road, Flemington, NJ 08822 USA.

Include a self-addressed-envelope for his current price list or request a price list via email at plumdx@msn.com . The prices represent Airmail rate to North America. Prices are subject to change without notice. No mimimum order via check, money order or credit card, but credit card orders under $ 15.00 will incur a $ 2.00 extra charge. Visa, MC, AMEX are accepted. Please include billing and shipping address for AMEX.

Don't forget the DX supplies include European Airmail envelopes (European Air Return and European Air Mailer). These envelopes are perfectly acceptable for mailing to ALL parts of the world, not just to Europe. Their size insures you that a 4"x6" DX QLSs will not come back to you folded which could happen if you used small U.S. sized airmail envelopes. Bill's European Air Return fits into a European Air Mailer without folding. These two envelopes and up to 5 QSL cards weigh less than one ounce. The European Air Return and 2 QSLs weigh less than 10 grams. All envelopes are sealed in plastic for protection. Envelopes are packed 100 per size per package. The 5-/50 Combo comes in one package.

I have used Bill's service for years and find his prices affordable and dependable. All stamps are enclosed within a glassine envelope, so no worries of stamps sticking to the letter, and you can enclose the stamps as is in the letter to the station.

Now you're set! Recheck this blog regularly for Bill's monthly specials!
Gayle Van Horn

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC // parallel frequency

AWR annual DX Contest
And remember, the month of June is our DX contest month, and this year, we are focusing on "Silent Shortwave Stations". We invite you to list your five best QSLs
from silent shortwave stations, together with a photocopy of each, and a paragraph about
each. Then, send us also three reception reports on AWR transmissions, and where possible,three radio cards. Full details again in Wavescan next week. (American DX Report/Nws 14 via Adrian Peterson)

China's new registrations of former CHN stations
Former CHN mainland bc stations in 7100-7200 kHz range.
6040 2150-1700 43NE,44NW HUH 50 263 141 Mongolian x7210
7205 1227-1800 42N URU 50 230 145 Uighur x7195
7205 2330-0257 42N URU 50 230 145 Uighur x7195
7255 1000-1805 43SW LHA 100 85 141 Tibetan x7125
7255 2050-0200 43SW LHA 100 85 141 Tibetan x7125
7260 0257-1205 42N URU 100 0 145 Chinese x7155
7295 0330-0530 42N URU 50 247 145 Kirghiz x7120
7295 1030-1230 42N URU 50 247 145 Kirghiz x7120
7420 2150-1700 43N HUH 50 263 141 Chinese x7165
7450 0900-1800 43SW LHA 100 85 141 Chinese x7170
7450 2000-0300 43SW LHA 100 85 141 Chinese x7170
(May 19/BC-DX 914, wb, Germany)

Congo ends relays programming from RFI
According to BBC Monitoring, the radio stations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are no longer permitted to relay the programming from Radio France International. This prohibition also includes Radio Candip, which operates with 1 kW on 5066 kHz and it is one of the few shortwave stations on the air in the Congo.
(American DX Report/NWS 14 via Adrian Peterson)

Canada's CSIC long awaited QSL
Brandon Jordan in Memphis Tennessee has received a QSL card after a long, long wait.
In June 1993, Brandon sent a reception report to station CSIC in Canada regarding transmissions on 7425 and 7413 kHz, and he received the QSLs as form letters just recently, a wait of fifteen years and five months.
(American DX Report/Nws 14 via Adrian Peterson)

Ecuador's HCJB decides to downsize ministry
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 three 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/WDXC-UK Contact)

Germany/ Switzerland - Radio Reveils Paroles de Vie
via Nauen was heard April 30 on 15675 at 1840 in French with talk and pop music.
Station identification and off at 1845.
(Jorge Freitas, Brasil/via WDXC-UK Contact)

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-UK, WDXC-UK Contact May 27/BC-DX #914, wb, Germany)

Monaco maritime station 3AC on the air
According to a report from Jari Savolainan in Finland, the maritime communication station 3AC in Monte Carlo is on the air with a bulletin of news from a local FM station twice daily. These news bulletins, three minutes in duration, can be heard at 0700 and 1100 UTC in the upper side band mode on four shortwave channels, 4368 8728 13146 and 17260 kHz.In times past, Monaco Radio 3AC has issued a QSL card as verification of reception reports
(American DX Report/NWS 14 via Adrian Peterson)

Myanmar keeps in touch with Christian radio
Radio Veritas Asia keeps the people of Asia in touch with the rest of the world. The Catholic radio service, based in the Philippines, also serves Kayin Christians in Burma, most of whom are Evangelicals and other Protestants.

Hong Kong youths log onto the Internet, children in Tokyo use their mobile phones and many Delhi kids have scores of cable TV channels to entertain them. But for the Kayin, or Karen, ethnic people in Myanmar, a cheap US$10 radio is their "hi-tech" link to communications and entertainment. Here you'll find many Kayin with "Made in China" radios tuned to Radio Veritas Asia's (RVA) Kayin service.

The RVA, based in Quezon City north of Manila and sponsored by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, has provided a Kayin-language service for over 25 years. Its Catholic programs have become a source of spiritual strength and information to thousands of Kayin Christians, most of whom are Protestant.

The programs include reflections on the Bible, meditations, family and youth issues, question and answer sessions on spirituality, sessions on the lives of the saints, local news and Kayin culture. Anthony Htun Mya, 45, from Hkaungpu-Bawsi in Hpa-pun Township, Kayin State, who was on a visit to Yangon, is one such listener. He is a regular follower of Radio Veritas' shortwave early morning and evening services.

In his village, the programs are virtually the only window to the outside world, he said. There, all the Catholic and Baptist villagers regularly tune in to the service. (from SperoForum)
(Arnaldo Slaen, Buenos Aires, Argentina)

NASB meeting focuses on DRM
The annual meeting of DRM USA, Digital Radio Mondiale and NASB, the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters USA took place in Nashville Tennessee on May 7 and 8. In a report regarding the recent DRM digital tests from the FEBC station on Saipan, KFBS, John Stanley stated that two Continental transmitters at 100 kW were modified for the occasion with an exciter from HCJB in Indiana. Two channels were in use, 11650 kHz and 11580 kHz. It was stated that reception in Japan was flawless, and some listeners in Europe and Russia also heard the programming.

In a call to the manufacturers of radio receivers, Adil Mina from Continental Electronics in Texas stated that the greatest need at the present time is for a mass produced low cost digital receiver for use in countries like India for example, where plans are underway for the conversion of the home service shortwave stations to the digital mode.
(American DX Report/NWS 14 via Adrian Peterson)

Papua New Guinea band scan
band scan of PNG stations conducted during two week period:
3260 Papua New Guinea Radio Madang, Madang 0910; 1030
3290 Papua New Guinea Radio Central, Boroko 0910; 1025
3315 Papua New Guinea Radio Manus, Lorengau 0910; 1030
3325 Papua New Guinea Radio Buka, Kuba 0910; 1035
3335 Papua New Guinea Radio East Sepik, Wewak 0910; 1030; 0915
3385 Papua New Guinea Radio East New Britain Rabaul 1000, 1050
(Bob Wilkner,FL/DXplorer/BC-DX #914, wb, Germany)

Russian shortwave monitoring
7270 (Armenia) International Russian Radio, Yerevan Gavar, 01:50-01:55, escuchada el 25 de mayo en ruso a locutor con comentarios sobre Ucrania, segmento musical, SINPO 45544. (Jose Miguel Moreno, Spain/RUS-DX #190/BC-DX #914, wb, Germany)

7285 Moldova) Voice of Rusia, Kishinev-Grigoriopol, 01:58-02:02, escuchada el 25 de mayo en ruso a locutor en espacio DX, escucho fragmento de Radio Biafra, comentarios de la emisora, titulares de noticias, SINPO 44444
(Jose Miguel Moreno, Spain/RUS-DX #190/BC-DX #914, wb, Germany)

Schedule changes from VT Communications
South Africa/ UAE/ Uzbekistan
Effective: 01 June 2009
Somali Interactive Radio Instruction Program(x Mustaqbal) to East Africa in Somali
0545-0615 on 15200 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg, cancelled
0620-0650 on 15200 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg, cancelled

Voice of Free Radio to North Korea in Korean:
1600-1700 on 7520 TAC 100 kW / 060 deg, x1600-1630

RTE Radio One to South Africa in English:
1930-2030 new freq 6225 MEY 100 kW / non-dir, x6220
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 2/DX Mix News #575)

Radio Broadcasting in New Guinea

The Port Moresby Story - VIG & VHSU
In recent time, we have begun a series of progressive topics here in Wavescan on the story of radio broadcasting on the island of New Guinea. Thus far, we have shared with you the early origins back in the era of the old spark wireless stations; and on this occasion, we take a look at the New Guinea story, in Port Moresby itself.
You will remember from the previous program on this topic that the first wireless station located at Port Moresby in the Papua section of New Guinea was a temporary facility erected on Paga Hill in March 1911. A permanent spark wireless station was erected on the edge of Port Moresby two years later. This permanent 5 kW electrical transmitter was constructed from equipment provided by Father Shaw and his wireless factory on the edge of Sydney in Australia.
Wireless station VIG in Port Moresby was installed for the purpose of Morse Code communication with shipping in the waters nearby to Port Moresby, for contact with Sydney with commercial traffic and government messages, and for inland communications throughout the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. The long distance communications with Australia were often handled via intermediate stations that relayed the Morse Code messages on to the next nearest wireless station. These intermediate relay stations were located at Cooktown and Townsville, on the Pacific coast in the northern areas of the state of Queensland.
In October 1915, all wireless stations throughout the Commonwealth of Australia and all neighboring islands were placed under the control of the Australian navy, which formed part of the British navy at the time. It might be added that Port Moresby was a quite small town during this era, and it was described as having the character of a small outback town in Queensland.
Station VIG in Port Moresby was taken over by the Australian government soon after the end of World War 1, though it was transferred back to the original owners, AWA in 1922.
It was around the year 1925 that the spark wireless stations in coastal areas of Australia and nearby islands were modernized with the installation of electronic transmitters utilizing the recently introduced valves, or tubes, made in England and the United States. The Port Moresby station, along with all of the others in the maritime service throughout the South Pacific, was upgrade with the latest available electronic equipment.
In March 1931, AWA installed a high speed telegraph centre in Main Street, Port Moresby which keyed a new out-of-town facility that contained a 5 kW transmitter and a three mast antenna system beamed on Sydney.
With the progress of the Pacific Conflict, the civilian population in the city of Port Moresby was evacuated to Australia in December 1941, and the main operating facility for the radio station was transferred into Wonga Cottage, at a place called Five Mile, which was of course, 5 miles out of town. Wonga Cottage was in earlier times a quite famous vacation home for a wealthy family living in New Guinea.
That was the story of the AWA communication station VIG, from its earliest installation up to the early 1940s.
However, it so happened that AWA established another radio communication station in the province of Papua during this same era. It was an air radio facility for communication with aircraft and it was operated by AWA on behalf of the government Post & Telegraph Department.
Initially this station was on the air under the callsign VHPM, with the letters VH indicating an Australian aircraft facility and the letters PM obviously indicating Port Moresby. Following the initial series of test transmissions, the callsign was changed to VHSU.
Communication station VHPM/VHSU was heard in Australia, New Zealand and the United States when it was on the air with aircraft communications and also when it was in contact with a similar airways station located at the regional air strip near Salamaua in New Guinea. It was noted in Australia with traffic for various communication stations in New Guinea and Australia, and the messages were read very slowly, and sometimes specific words were spelled out.
Airways station VHPM/VHSU was active from September 1938 to around June 1940. There are no known QSLs from this station.
During this era around the middle of last century, the main AWA shortwave station at Port Moresby, station VIG, was often heard in the same three countries, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. On some occasions, it was noted with communication traffic, and on other occasions it was heard with program broadcasting.
Somewhat independent from the AWA shortwave facility was a new mediumwave station which was on the air under the Australian callsign 4PM, and shortwave station VIG sometimes carried a relay from this mediumwave counterpart for the benefit of distant listeners. Every now-and-again, an old QSL card from the AWA station VIG turns up, though these days they are quite rare.
OK, then on the next occasion in this series of special features on radio broadcasting in New Guinea, we will tell the story of the mediumwave station 4PM and its shortwave relay counterpart VIG.
NWS 14 via Adrian Peterson)

World Harvest Radio summer A09 schedule update

Palau/ USA - Effective 01 June 2009

All times UTC

WHRI Angel 1
0100-0200 on 5850 Mon-Fri
0100-0200 on 7315 Sat/Sun
0200-0500 on 7315
0500-1100 on 11565
1100-1400 on 7315
1400-1600 on 15195
1600-1700 on 17520
1700-1800 on 17520 Sun-Fri
1700-1800 on 9495 Sat
1800-1900 on 17520
1900-2000 on 15665 Mon-Thu Demitse Tewahedo in Amharic 1900-2000 Mon
1900-2000 on 17520 Fri-Sun Voice of Biafra International in Igbo Fri
2000-2100 on 7520 Mon-Fri
2000-2100 on 15665 Sat
2000-2100 on 9495 Sun
2100-2300 on 11885
2300-0100 on 7315

WHRI Angel 2
0000-0400 on 7385
0400-0500 on 5850 Sun-Fri
0400-0500 on 9825 Sat
0500-0600 on 7390 Mon-Sat
0500-0600 on 7365 Sun
0600-0700 on 7365
0700-0800 on 7390
0800-0900 on 11565
0900-1000 on 9425 Sun-Fri
0900-1000 on 7465 Sat
1000-1200 on 9425 Deutsche Welle in German
1200-1300 on 9410 BBC in Spanish Mon-Fri
1300-1600 on 9840 Sat/Sun
1600-1700 on 9840
1700-1800 on 9840 Sun-Fri
1700-1800 on 17520 Sat
1800-2000 on 9840
2000-2100 on 15665
2100-2200 on 15665 Mon-Sat
2100-2200 on 9690 Sun
2200-2300 on 11885 Sat/Sun
2200-2400 on 17820 Deutsche Welle in German Mon-Fri
2300-2400 on 9615 Sat/Sun

T8WH Angel 3
0700-1500 on 9930 Sound of Hope R.in Chinese 1200-1500 Mon-Fri
1500-1800 on 9905 Radio Free Asia in Chinese
1800-2200 on 9905 Radio Free Asia in Chinese 1900-2200

T8WH Angel 4
0100-0300 on 15710
0300-1200 on 15700
1200-1300 on 12130 Hoa-Mai Radio in Vietnamese 1200-1230 Tue/Thu/Sat
1300-1400 on 11685 Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese
1400-2300 on 9965 Nippon no Kaze in Japanese 1530-1600
2300-0100 on 15550 Suaab Xaa Moo Zoo in Hmong 2330-2400

WHRA Angel 5
0000-0500 on 7385
0500-0700 on 7390
0700-1100 on 11565
1100-1300 on 7315
1300-1600 on 15195 Sat/Sun
1600-1900 on 17520
1900-2000 on 9840 Demitse Tewahedo in Amharic 1900-2000 Mon
2000-2100 on 15665
2100-2300 on 11885
2300-2400 on 9615

WHRI Angel 6
0700-1300 on 7385
1300-1400 on 11785 Sat/Sun, Hmong Lao Radio in Lao Sat/Sun
1400-1500 on 11785 Sat/Sun, Hmong World Christian Radio in Lao 1400-1430 Sat
1500-1600 on 11785 Sat/Sun
1600-2300 on 11785
2300-0700 on 5875

DXing With Cumbre program

WHRI Angel 1
0130-0200 on 7315 Sat/Sun
0330-0400 on 7315 Sun/Mon
0430-0500 on 7315 Mon-Fri?

WHRI Angel 2
0200-0230 on 7385 Sun/Mon

KWHR Angel 4
1400-1430 on 9965 Sat/Sun
1930-2000 on 9965 Mon-Sun?

WHRA Angel 5
0130-0200 on 7385 Sun
0330-0400 on 7385 Sun/Mon
0430-0500 on 7385 Mon-Fri?

WHRI Angel 6
1000-1030 on 7385 Sun
1430-1500 on 11785 Sun
1530-1600 on 11785 Sat/Sun
1830-1900 on 11785 Sat
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 2/DX Mix News # 575)

WEWN summer A09 schedule update

USA, WEWN Global Catholic Radio

All times UTC

English
0000-0900 on 11520 EWN 250 kW / 085 deg to WeAf
0900-1200 on 11640 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg to SEAs
1200-1500 on 11530 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg to SEAs
1500-1700 on 15610 EWN 250 kW / 040 deg to WeEu
1700-2000 on 15610 EWN 250 kW / 040 deg to NoAm
2000-2400 on 15610 EWN 250 kW / 040 deg to N/ME

Spanish
0100-1100 on 11870 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1100-1500 on 12050 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1500-1700 on 11520 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1700-0100 on 17510 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm

Spanish
0500-1300 on 7555 EWN 250 kW / 220 deg to CeAm
1300-2200 on 11550 EWN 250 kW / 220 deg to CeAm
2200-0500 on 5810 EWN 250 kW / 220 deg to CeAm
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 2/DX Mix News # 575)

Radio Havana Cuba, DXers Unlimited

Radio Havana Cuba, DXers Unlimited weekend edition May 30-31, 2009

By Arnie Coro CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados around the world, and the six space travelers now orbiting in space !

I am Arnie Coro radio amateur CO2KK welcoming you to my twice weekly radio hobby program that really tries to cover the more than 85 ways you and I enjoy our wonderful hobby, from participating in an exhausting whole weekend worldwide amateur radio contest like the one taking place right now, to relaxing at a the sandy beach of a tropical tourist resort listening to a far away AM broadcast band station that is heard on your little portable radio with a nice and clear signal thanks to that interesting propagation effect known among experts as sea gain...

Sure, this hobby is always challenging, and when you think that already you have gone through all the possible aspects of it, then someone comes out with a radically new antenna, a new digital communications mode using computers or suddenly finds out that there is still a lot of room for experimenting at the millimeter wavelengths...

Si amigos, yes my friends, oui mes amis in Canada and the French speaking Caribbean that listen to this program, radio is simply fascinating...

Take for example this weekend's CQ Radio Amateur magazine WPX CW contest, when thousands of amateur radio stations around the world are on the air to try to work as many new prefixes as possible...According to my own on the air on 40 meters, so far the WPX contest this weekend was quite a challenge to the participants due to the extremely low solar activity that has prevailed for the past week.

From the very beginning on Satuday at 00 UTC when the contest started, that was Friday evening for us here in the Americas, it was clear that the bands above 14 megaHertz or 20 meters would offer participants very few chances of working many stations, and as a matter of fact, fifteen and ten meters should remain totally closed for F2 mode propagation for most of the time.

So far those really rare goodies picked up on the ham bands, the really hard to work prefixes have shown up on 40 meters, because working on 160 and 80 meters has had to deal with the extremely high QRN that is atmospheric noise levels .

Other maybe not so rare, but nevertheless interesting stations heard during the weekend WPX ham radio CW contest showed up during a short lived opening on 15 meters Saturday morning my local time, when I was giving the finishing touches to the script of this program.

I also heard several South American stations on 10 meters too , proving once again the well known " ham radio contest effect ", that brings in DX stations on an otherwise dead band...

And new prefixes continue to be assigned to amateur stations in countries with a deep rooted tradition in promoting our hobby; that is the case of the prefix 5P7 , that I had never heard before... it took some time to find out that it was a station from Denmark...

And before going over to the next item, once again the world heritage site of the Ecuadorean GALAPAGOS ISLANDS was on the air during an amateur radio contest.

The HC8 prefix would be easy to work for radio amateurs in North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean during the Sunday morning local time slot.

More radio hobby related information follows as Dxers Unlimited's mid
week edition continues...

.........

This is Radio Havana Cuba , the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited, and here is our next item in today's weekend edition of the program... More about compact antennas for HF and some interesting antenna modeling done, not using computers but in real life, in actual practice, but by building scale models of some antennas... Yes you heard it right a one fifth or one tenth scale model of HF antennas provides a lot of practical information and those scale models have the advantage that they are easy to reproduce and modify.

For example , a working model for the 6 meters or 50 megaHertz meters amateur band of the electromagnetic ground plane antenna system, proved that using a proper ground system, the efficiency of the EMGP vertical antenna will match the radiation efficiency achieved by a full size quarter wave vertical to within a very small percentage.

As a matter of fact, very carefully done field intensity comparative measurements between a full size quarter wave 6 meters band vertical placed at the center of a metal plate that has a diameter of three meters, and an EMGP antenna cut for the same 50.3 megaHertz center frequency proved to be almost exactly the same...

A very interesting finding if you take into consideration that the EMGP antenna's height above the ground plane is just 1/12 of a wavelength, that for the 50 megaHertz or for the 6 meters band it's 24 centimeters or just about nine and a half inches...

Now please compare this antenna height with the 55 inches or about one point fourmeters required by the full size quarter wave or 90 electrical degrees high antenna system for operating at the low end of the six meters ham band.

For six meters band operation of local links , this extremely EMGP low profile antenna will be an excellent choice to be used when extremely strong winds are expected, like when a hurricane is approaching.

An EMGP or electromagnetic ground plane antenna for the 40 metersamateur band, will be only about three and a half meters high above the ground plane, but I must clarify to my listeners that it would not be a very good emergency antenna because it will not have enough high vertical angle radiation , something that is essential for short range Near Vertical Incidence Skywave propagation, as required for short range communications within an affected area.

Nevertheless, modeling the EMGP as a "real life" antenna on 6 meters proved to be a very interesting and rewarding experience, and something that was done in just a few hours of my weekend spare time...

If you don't have enough space where to install a short wave antenna system, don't overlook the possibility of homebrewing an EMGP antenna, that when properly made, will provide reasonable results on the band for which it is cut on transmit, and good receiving on the next lower and higher adjacent bands.

If you want to know more about the EMGP , the Electro Magnetic Ground Plane antenna, send me an e-mail to inforhc@enet.cu , and I will reply with the EMGP Antenna Design Package, with detailed instructions on how to homebrew these antennas for the amateur bands between 80 and 10 meters meters...

......

Si amigos, yes... ASK ARNIE continues to be at the top of your preferences, according to the e-mail messages, letters and actual on the air two way amateur radio contacts... here is ASK ARNIE today... answering a question sent by listeners Rosie in Alberta, Canada,a listener from the USA, Pedro in California and Ian , who tells me that he listens to our 11760 kiloHertz transmitter quite often at his Southern England QTH.

I also received a report and the same question from New Zealand where our 11760 kiloHertz 100 kiloWatts to a 6 dB gain omnidirectioanal antenna deliver a nice signal too, with amazing good quality as amigo Brian tells me in his e-mail.

Well Rosie, Pedro,Ian and Brian want to know more about the recently advertised and much prometed Spiral end loaded antennas that I mentioned here at Dxers Unlimited, and in the case of Ian, who happens to be a very enthusiastic radio amateur operator, he wants me to telll him the difference between the Petlowany and Tak antennas, if there is any difference at all...

Well amigos, the spiral end loaded antennas are really nothing new at all... I remember reading about spiral loaded antennas for the very low frequencies a long time ago, in an article that presented an extensive review of several types of top loaded antennas for operation on very low and extremely low frequencies, using huge top hats made by spiraling a lot of wire .

Then many years ago , some time after reading that article, I went to Cardenas , a city of Matanzas province near Varadero beach. Cardenas has a very nice seaport , where a coastal radio station using the callsign CLC, operated on the now no longer used 600 meters or 500 kiloHertz marine band was installed.

To my surprise the vertical antenna located an an excellent salt marsh swampy area on one side of the bay, had a rather large sized top hat to provide additional loading to the about 70 meters high tower, that was physically too short to resonate efficiently on the 460 to 512 kiloHertz band where it had to operate.

This was just a capacity hat made of spokes and wires, and not a spiral top loading of the tower.

Several months later I had the nice opportunity of talking to the designer of that low frequency band antenna system, and he told me that due to the complexity of the spiral loading configuration, he had opted for the much simpler capacity hat, but he added that a spiral loading system proved to be much more efficient when he was doing "the numbers", that meaning when he was calculating the new antenna for the marine communications site.

I asked him about the size of the projected spiral loading device and he said that even when made with the same diameter as the capacity hat, the spiral was much more efficient and provide much better loading of the structure, something that is essential on those very short antennas for the long waves.

Then, he told me about an experiment that ran under his supervision, when two engineering students that were writing their thesis , made a 10 megaHertz scale model of the 500 kiloHertz antenna system... in other words a one twentieth scale ratio.

The students, the designer said, had much more time to play with the antenna's top loading, and they found out that winding a one quarter wave of wire into a spiral of enough diameter , the antenna's resonant frequency went down dramatically while retaining a rather high radiation efficiency.

But again, he added, the main problem was not of an electrical nature, but one related to the mechanical complexity of keeping the spiral wound loading device in place at the top of a tower when heavy winds are blowing.

In the case of both the Petlowany and the Tak spiral loaded antennas, because they are both dipoles used in a horizontal configuration , keeping the end loading spirals in good shape is not as complicated as with the high towers...So, amigos, now you know a bit more about spiral loading of antennas, and why the Petlowany and the Tak antennas are almost identical !!!

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Now ready to copy, as the program is coming to an end, and Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited's HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast will now go on the air... Solar activity was at extremely low levels, with ZERO sunspot count and the solar flux at 69 units and even lower below...

So, the daytime maximum useable frequency continues to be only barely above 20 megaHertz for short periods, and staying even below 15 megaHertz on some circuits ...

The chances for Sporadic E propagation in our hemisphere is now approaching a maximum for the year, as we enter the month of June...

By the way. there is great expectation for the upcoming ARRL June VHF QSO Party Contest, because if the very low solar activity continues , we may see some really big sporadic E events happening.

Hope to have you all listening to the midweek edition of the program that will be on the air Tuesday and Wednesday UTC days amigos, and don't forget to take a little of your valuable time to send your signal reports, QSL card requests and radio hobby related questions directly to inforhc at enet dot.cu, again, inforhc at enet dot cu or VIA AIR MAIL to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

Australian DX Report expands media coverage

I thought you'd like to know that the popular weekly Australian DX Report Internet audio news magazine about shortwave broadcasting is also available to your mobile telephone, delivered as a Windows Mobile Podcast, and compatible with your SmartPhone or Pocket Personal Computer!

The service is offered, free, by various providers, one of which is the Hubdog Canadian-based Podcast delivery company, which means that you are no longer limited to accessing the episodes from a fixed PC. Play the episodes on the road at your leisure!

To set up your Windows Mobile Podcast, go to the Icon "Windows Mobile Podcast" on the Australian Internet Radio Magazine website, at http://airm.edxp.org and locate the Icon "Windows Mobile Podcast."

Click, and you will be taken to a Hubdog screen which links directly to the Australian DX Report Podcast and you can then register (free) with Hubdog, where you will be asked to submit some personal details and obtain a password for using the service with your mobile phone device.

You will need Windows Mobile Media Player installed on your mobile device (Windows Mobile Version 5.0), and access to the internet via Active Sync, Wi-Fi, or a Cellular Data line (GSM, CDMA, etc)

Several people are already linking to the Australian DX Report Podcasts via Humdog and they think it is a very useful way to receive the episodes!

Keep in mind that the episodes are around 15 mins, and consume about 3 MB of
bandwidth, which you would need to consider if using a mobile telephone on a tarrif limited plan.

Regards from Melbourne!

Bob Padula

RTÉ on the brink of going bankrupt

The Irish Independent reports that Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ is losing €1m a week and will not be able to pay staff by October unless a programme of salary cuts and redundancies is implemented in the coming weeks. The newspaper says the crisis comes amid growing anger among staff at the level of pay and bonuses paid to the director-general and senior management over the past number of years.
The bankruptcy warning has come from management at the broadcaster, and the director-general Cathal Goan has cautioned that up to 300 jobs are now under threat.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Full story at:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rte-on-the-brink-of-going-bankrupt-1756637.html