Blog Logs - pirate radio

This edition of Blog Logs, shifts gears a bit to follow what pirate radio fans are following from the weird and bizarre world of pirate radio broadcasting.

Logs are a sample selection from the Free Radio Weekly newsletter. Thanks to the gang from FRW!
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC *sign-on sign-off*

Barnyard Radio
6930USB, 0153-0240. SIO 444/SINPO 45444. Wishbone Ash's Queen of Torture, Rainbow-Kill the King, Motorhead-City Kids, version of Gigantor, Steve Miller Band. Station ID at 02:07 UTC by 0240 changing conditions reduced the signal to almost nothing (Balint, OH) (FRW 702)



Brando Radio
6925USB, 0107-0131, SIO 333. Song, Let the Good Times Roll to station ID as, "this
is Brando Radio the wild one" (Smith, Ohio) (FRW 702)

Dead Cat Radio
6925USB, 0120-0141, SINPO 45343. Memphis TN, I've Got Balls of Steel, Lady Godiva and I Go to Pieces. "Dead Cat Radio" at sign off. (Ragnar) (FRW 702)

KUSA Radio
6924.9USB, 2322, SIO 434/SINPO 45434. Song parodies; Got Road Range Again, something to the tune of Little Deuce Coup, Man With a Gun(?), I'm Prone to Sin Drunkenly, Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water. Station IDs at 2324 and 2334. Station sign-off at 2336. Email: kusanorthamerica@gmail.com (Balint, OH) (FRW 702)

North Sea Radio
6925USB, 0150-0231, SIO 433. Lots of pirate music. Loon bird call and ID as "North Sea Radio" (Smith ) (FRW 704)

Northwoods Radio
6925USB, 0030-0050. Fair signal. Show of music unknown to me, did catch the Northwoods ID in CW SSTV at the end (Majewski CT) 6925USB, 0133-0148* Fair signal. Song, Take Me As I Am. Northwoods identification by female. Announced station was moving to 6935USB at sign off. (Majewski CT) (FRW 703)

Outhouse Radio
6925USB, 2230-2315. SINPO 25433. Started with an old radio play about space, then into hard driving rock. Outhouse shout outs to me and Old DXer, says the movie clip was from Heavy Metal too. QSL received. (Ragnar) (FRW 703)

6925.6USB, 0230-0305.+. Old radio sci-fi progam, The Last Man on Earth. Station ID and 0256 into The Laurel & Hardy Show but lost feed,so went into hard rock tune. Back to L&H Show at 0301-the boys deliver a chicken. SIO2+33 with woodpecker blasts and audio interference at 0244. (Frodge-MI) (MARE 541)

Pirates Week Relay
6925USB, 2335-0001* SIO242. Relay of a Pirates Week program produced by Ragnar Daneskjold. Breaking the Law rock riff at open and close. DX program content difficult to copy well,given the weak level. At sign-off, announcer mentioned Outhouse Radio, so that might have have been the source of the relay. (Zeller-OH)

Pirates Week (relay) 6925USB, 2345-2359, SINPO 45344. Relay of my podcast on 6925 (not me.. really) thanks to whoever relays the show. Outhouse Radio ID after the show (Ragnar) (FRW 704)

Radio Free Euphoria
6925AM, 0140-0153.+ Fair signal, Captain Ganja with many orginal songs like, What Are You Going to Do When the Rent Comes Due. Funny show.(Majewski CT) (FRW 702)

Radio Gong
6925USB, 0044-0100, SIO 433. Station ID "This is Radio Gong calling." (Please QSL, Smith, Ohio) (hsmith61@earthlink.net) FRW 702)

Radio Mushroom
6925UBS, 0125-0138, SINPO 35433. Music from Boston, Grand Funk "nuclear powered short wave radio". signing off saying he is over heating the reactor and fears a mushroom cloud (Ragnar) (FRW 702)

Radio Spaceman
6310AM, 2353, SINPO 15321. Picking out music in the static, ID from FRN. (Ragnar) (FRW 704)

Radio XXP
6925USB, 0222-0248.* Good signal with the Ship Wreck in Paradise Show. Gave the electronic mail address of radiostationxxp@gmail.com . Music heard was Led Zeppellin, Jim Hendrix and others. (Majewski CT)(FRW 704)

Voice of Kaos
6925USB, 016-0157.* Good to Excellent signal with a nice show of music. The songs were a cover of the Rolling Stones Wild Horses, Led Zeppelin, Dirty Laundry and others. Signed off with the Maxwell Smart theme. (Majewski CT) (FRW 704)

Spoofs Number Station
6925USB, 0343-0345*. Lady announcer with continuous string of numbers. Male announcer at 0344 with bleating goat and “I guess I should be going.” Good. (Wood, TN). (FRW 703)

Voice of the Robots
6925USB, *0113-0143, SIO 242/242. Mix of rock music and instrumental music from the Robots who have taken over our planet. Some discussion of Dr. Smith from Lost in Space. Gave voiceoftherobots@gmail.com for repts. Well copied until 0119, but weaker thereafter. (Zeller-OH)(FRW 705)

Wolverine Radio
6930USB, 0305, SIO 333. Station ID at 0305, sounds like some jazzy/big band tunes, either gone or faded away at 03:09. (Fansome, PA) (FRW 703)

Radio propagation newsletter

Another quiet week on the cun. Last week on earth we neglected to mention the Perseids meteor shower, which peaked this week on August 12-13. A nice statistical display from the International Meteor Organization is at www.imo.net/live/perseids2009/ .

A look at www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/forecasts/45DF.html on August 13 showed possible heightened geomagnetic activity returning around August 18-19, with a planetary A index of 20 and 12, respectively.

Geophysical Institute Prague expects quiet conditions August 14, unsettled August 15, quiet August 16-17, unsettled August 18, quiet to unsettled for August 19 and quiet on August 20 The predicted planetary A index from the Space Weather Prediction Center for those same dates is 5, 5, 5, 5, 20, 12 and 8. Check the link in the previous paragraph to see if the forecast changes and is updated.

The autumnal equinox is less than 40 days from now, to occur on September 22 at 2118z. Even if there are no sunspots, we should see a shift and seasonal improvement compared to summer. Comparing the first day of fall to mid-July, 20 meter conditions from New England to the Czech Republic shows an end to openings during the evening on the USA end, and daytime openings shifting to earlier hours. The July 20 meter opening from 1930-0200z shifts to 1330-2200z in September. 17 meters shows very little chance of propagation over the same path in summer, but in fall opens 1330z to 1900z.

A similar shift occurs on the West Coast. From California to Japan, in summer the 20 meter opening is in local nighttime at the W6 end, strongest 0630-1030z. In the fall it happens earlier, 2200-0330z. On 17 meters over the same path, signals are much stronger in the fall, with openings around 2200-0230z.

Jim Spears, N1NK of Tiverton, Rhode Island, wrote to comment on the current sporadic-E season, which he noted should be winding down. Jim says he hasn't seen much sporadic-e activity, and checked six meters most days, but June was very good for him into Europe. Jim wrote, ''With a 5 element Yagi at 40 feet and THP 1.5Kfx amp I improved my distance record to the east by working 4X4DK, DK1MAX, and OE5D as new ones. A number of other new ones in EU (mostly southern) and Caribbean along with 8R1TO and PV8ADI in South America were also worked leaving me with a current total of 73 worked and 67 confirmed, all via Es. I also failed to work any west coast US stations, something that has been a regular occurrence the past few years''.

Jim noted that July was extremely wet and stormy in New England, and doesn't know if this is coincidental, but he saw little six meter propagation to anywhere. ''It seemed that the propagation was completely skipping over or bypassing us. There were very few moments when I would hear any signal on the band at all''.

In an email Jim received from Mick, W1JJ, also in Rhode Island, but with a better antenna system, the 6 meter E season was about average for Mick, who has been active on 6 meters for 50 years. He worked 3 new countries, bringing his 6 meter total to 186. Mick says openings were slow in May, much better in June, but he had only a couple of good openings to Europe. In July he worked 4X4, SV, SV9, SV5, OD, TZ and TA. To the west, he had a couple of good openings to W6 and one to KH6. He sent along an audio file of JA7QVI on six meters, who was quite loud, and the only JA he worked in the past couple of years. Mick worked him at 2258z on July 8. In the Six Meters Marathon he totaled 94 countries from the first week in May through August 3.

Pat Dyer, WA5IYX of San Antonio, Texas wrote about digital television vs. the old analog system and its usefulness as an indicator of VHF propagation. ''Some have had much more luck than myself at decoding DTV via Es, but here are two samples of my best,.
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/wbra-dt-3.1z.jpg (1187 mi) and
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/images/whbf-dt-4.1z.jpg (950 mi)''.

''A vivid example of what was available on low-VHF TV for Es from here vs. now on DTV is shown on these maps http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/lovesavd.htm. A prime problem in getting
DTV Es decoded stems from the system's intolerance for co-channel signals (unless one is dominant by 15 db). Many a time the 54.310 MHz DTV pilots can be heard on my FT-847 as a mixture of signals with a 4-Hz beat rate (note how many US DTV Ch 2 stations are to my NW-N, and can come in simultaneously). Ch 5, with the most US DTV stations of any low- VHF channel, has been occupied by ''local'' KCWX-DT-5 (23kw ERP at c. 50 mi) since Jul 1. Rapid QSB and multipath (ghosting common on Es) also contribute to complicating any decodes. Also, unlike with NTSC, the entire 6-MHz wide channel of data needs to be in well for ATSC to work - if the Es MUF is ''sharp'' you're doomed, where with NTSC video without audio was not
uncommon''.

Ken Miller, K6CTW of Rancho Cucamonga, California also wrote this week. ''Although this is now over 2 weeks old, I did want to let you know that I was able to work the VK9NI DXpedition on 40 CW while commuting to work here in Southern California. Since I'm only running about 60 watts I found it amazing that I was able to ''make the trip''. They must have had some super ops and a great antenna on 40 but never the less, conditions do seem to be holding in the early morning here to the Western pacific. I hear all sorts of DX on when I'm driving in, and it really makes the commute bearable''.

So nice to hear of good results from a modest setup. Since a standard mobile antenna would only be about one-sixteenth wavelength on 40 meters, running 100 watts into a much more efficient half-wave dipole from home should surely net a contact with Norfolk Island.

Ken along with Chip Margelli, K7JA, were the heroes who demonstrated morse code speed and efficiency by beating a champion text messager (or is that messenger?) in a contest on the Tonight Show in 2005. Many have seen it, but you can watch it again at
http://www.kkn.net/~n6tv/Text_vs_Morse_Leno_2005_05_13.wmv . In light of financial travails of the past couple of years, pay special attention to the comments by the wife that Jay Leno interviews at the start of the segment.

July 31 Propagation Bulletin ARLP031 mentioned Kai Siwiak, KE4PT and his Secret Ham Message, linked from the page at http://www.qrz.com/ke4pt/ . Kai wasn't expecting the puzzle's mention in the bulletin, and reported an overwhelming response from readers who solved the problem.

Now that two weeks have passed, we can mention a clue to folks who didn't quite get it, like the author of this bulletin. Yes, you can use standard techniques for solving simple ciphers, such as counting the occurrence of each character, ranking them, then solving by examining the frequency of occurrence for each letter of the English language. This assumes it is in English, which it is, but there is an easier way for CW operators to solve this. Contemplate the page visually, then think of Morse. Don't quite see it? Look again.

CW operators' ears perk up when morse code appears in motion picture soundtracks, and various online forums and websites over the years have listed films containing telegraphy. One is http://www.qsl.net/e20tcm/morse.html, a Thai website from Jeerasak Pitiwatsakul, E20TCM, which reproduces data from the now defunct Morse Goes to the Movies site.

Early Thursday morning I ran across another film with morse, but this time only in the soundtrack, seemingly unrelated to the action on the screen. I checked out a DVD from the public library, the mid-eighties movie Runaway Train http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089941/ and I might have missed the Morse, except I was wearing headphones.

Forty minutes into the movie, there is a scene in a railway control room that was supposed to look hi-tech at the time. Perhaps it was an attempt to lend a sort of authenticity for the audience, but the audio contains various bleeps and blurps under the dialog, as the characters stare into old monochrome CRT monitors in horror. I nearly fell off the couch between minute 40:10 and 40:15 when I heard, ''DE K7VVV''. K7VVV happens to be my callsign before K7RA, and now held by a ham in California. However, at the time the movie was produced my call was KT7H, so I claim no connection. Perhaps others will hear DE KZVVV instead, but as my mind attempts to construct patterns from many sensory inputs, it tends to fall back on familiar patterns.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at k7ra@arrl.net.
(ARLP33 via Dave Raycroft/ODXA)

Radio St. Helena slated for annual November broadcast

Radio St. Helena Day 2009 will be on Saturday, 14. November 2009 on 11092.5 USB. The annual Party On-The-Air, will have the following schedule.

All times UTC

2000–2100 targeted to India and Southeast Asia
2100–2200 targeted to Japan and Asia
2200–2330 targeted to Europe
2330–0100 targeted to North America, Central America and the Caribbean

Radio St. Helena is very pleased to announce that the newly designed RSD 2009 QSL cards will be sponsored by the Japan Short Wave Club. This news has been reported by Mr. T. Ohtake of the JSWC. It can truly be said, that without the very generous help of the JSWC, there would not have been a RSD Revival in 2006.

To get a QSL from Radio St. Helena, you must send a written and verifiable reception report by airmail and include sufficient return postage. Email-reports will be not be verified. Recordings will not be returned. In European countries, please send a 5-Euro banknote. Otherwise, please send three or more US dollar banknotes to cover the required return postage.

Radio St. Helena
P. O. Box 93
Jamestown, St. Helena
STHL 1ZZ
South Atlantic Ocean

via airmail
via United Kingdom & Ascension

The last two lines of the above address are very important and should be written as shown. Be sure to use sufficient postage on your letter to Radio St. helena. Ask at your local post office for the correct airmail postage for your letter to go to St. Helena.

Emails and telephone calls from DXers everywhere are very welcome during the broadcasts. A special email address for RSD 2009 will, probably, be announced in October.

Gary Walters and his Team at RSH wish everyone excellent listening conditions, hope that you enjoy the programming, and hope that the sunspots will be kinder to us this year.
(Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India)

Final two hours of Radio Veronica to broadcast August 31

On 31 August 2009 between 1400 and 1600 UTC the sound of Radio Veronica will be back on 538 meters, 558 kHz. By courtesy of multi-ethnic station Spectrum Radio in London and Radio Seagull in the Netherlands, the final two hours of former Dutch offshore station Radio Veronica on 31 August 1974 are going to be re-broadcast on the same mediumwave frequency as 35 years ago.
If you can’t hear Spectrum Radio on AM, you can listen online via the Spectrum Radio website at http://www.spectrumradio.net/ The program will also be available for listening later.
(Source: Spectrum Radio via Mike Barraclough/R Netherland Media Network Weblog)

China Radio International now available on your cell phone

China Radio International (CRI) English service is now available on mobile telephone sets all over the world. The mobile phone users only need to type http://m.cri.cn/ to gain access to English news, business, showbiz, travel services, a Chinese language learning studio, as well as video and audio English programs produced by China Radio International. The advent of CRImobile was a response to the increasing popularity of surfing the internet via mobile phones.

During Beijing Olympics in August 2008, CRImobile, a mobile version of CRIENGLISH.com was put into trial operation, providing Olympic news, exclusive reports, as well as practical travel information on Beijing. This included tips and advises about transportation, scenic sports, cultural information and accommodation.

CRImobile plans to build a mobile infotainment platform for the real-time sharing of information-based multimedia content that includes entertainment, travel and human interest stories.

It will also do its best to make sure that its web format is compatible with various types of mobile phones in an effort to enhance user experience and provide reliable service for both the tech-savvy social elite and everyone wishing to know more about China.
(Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 12 Aug 09 via BBC Monitoring)
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Station Gives Voice to Remote Afghan Region

By Army Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller, Special to American Forces Press Service

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - NATO's International Security Assistance Force is giving voice to residents of this remote area through a radio station run by one of their own.

When Shaib Dad Hamdard was growing up here near the Pakistan border, he dreamed of being a voice to his people. Now, with the turn of a dial and the flick of the switch, he's on air at Kalagush Radio, reaching out across the remote mountain province.

And he doesn't shy away from controversy. Today's topic: the need for women's equality.

"With this," the 24-year-old station manager said, motioning to the microphone, "I can educate my people. I can provide a voice to them."


Broadcasting into areas so isolated -- many residents may only travel as far as the neighboring village in their lifetimes -- Kalagush Radio is "a live existence of the [outside] world," Hamdard said.

For 12 hours a day, the Nuristani radio station offers news and entertainment programs that cater to the local people.

Although the news stories are not always positive, they are honest. They offer a balanced look at issues affecting residents under the station's "don't take any sides" philosophy.

But news is only part of the station's programming. DJs offer a variety of music, history, education, religious and social commentary shows, as well. One of Kalagush Radio's most popular shows is a daily music program that allows listeners to phone in with requests, Hamdard said. The show has received a huge response, he said.

"We think of the needs of the local people, and what they want," said Hamdard, remarking on the station's success.

Although ISAF funds the station, Kalagush Radio employees insist they decide what is put on the air.

"Of course it is funded by the coalition forces, but I have total control over the programs," Hamdard said. "The programs are not limited to any specific groups."

ISAF forces are working with Kalagush Radio to expand its broadcast schedule to 24 hours a day. They're also planning to hire several new journalists for the station, including an Afghan woman, offering a voice for what the station's crew calls a silent majority.

Related Story Links:

Kalagush Radio Broadcasts Freedom
http://northshorejournal.org/kalagush-radio-broadcasts-freedom

Tuning into Kala Gush Radio
http://www.1stid.org/about/pressreleases/3bct0808.pdf


Kalagush Radio DJ prepares the Nuristan province, Afghanistan, radio station for broadcast, Aug. 3. The International Security Assistance Forces funded station offers the people of the remote mountain area a variety of news and entertainment programs. Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller

And this from Kim Elliott's website (http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/

New NATO funded radio station in Afghanistan is "not limited to any specific groups." "NATO’s International Security Assistance Force is giving voice to residents of this remote area through a radio station run by one of their own. When Shaib Dad Hamdard was growing up here near the Pakistan border, he dreamed of being a voice to his people. Now, with the turn of a dial and the flick of the switch, he’s on air at Kalagush Radio, reaching out across the remote mountain province. ... Although ISAF funds the station, Kalagush Radio employees insist they decide what is put on the air. 'Of course it is funded by the coalition forces, but I have total control over the programs,' Hamdard said. 'The programs are not limited to any specific groups.' ISAF forces are working with Kalagush Radio to expand its broadcast schedule to 24 hours a day. They’re also planning to hire several new journalists for the station, including an Afghan woman, offering a voice for what the station’s crew calls a silent majority." American Forces Press Service, 10 August 2009. On FM? Or on medium wave or even shortwave, more capable of "reaching out across the remote mountain province"?

The Best of the Best shortwave DX radio programs

Today, Shortwave Central is once again featuring the Best of the Best in shortwave DX programs. These programs offer frequency news, the latest on propagation, satellite services, amateur radio, internet news, pirate radio, and the latest from the shortwave broadcasting scene.

Get a jump start on your weekend, beginning with Friday's DX programs.

You've heard the rest ... now listen to the best !

All times UTC

Friday August 14
0030 International Radio Report/ WBCQ 5110.0
1245 DX Partyline HCJB/ 15400.0
1515 DX Partyline WRMI 9955.0
1530 Wavescan/WRMI 9955.0
2035 Mailbox/ Radio New Zealand International 11725.0 (bi-weekly)
2140 DX Program/ Radio Bulgaria 5900.0 7400.0
2335 DX Program/ Radio Bulgaria 9700.0 11700.0

Saturday August 15
0000 Allan Weiner Worldwide/ WBCQ 5110.0 7415.0
0130 Wavescan/ WRMI 9955.0
0235 DX Program/ Radio Bulgaria 9700.o, 11700.0
0245 DXers Special Supplement/ RAE Argentina 11710.0
0730 Wavescan/ WRMI 9955.0
0800 DX Partyline/ HCJB 11750.0
0830 DX Partyline/ IRRS 9510.0
1000 DX Partyline/ WRMI 9955.0
1200 Marie Lamb's DXing With Cumbre/ WHRI 9410.0
1210 World Wide Friendship/ KBS World Radio 9650.0
1250 DX Corner/ Voice of Turkey 15450.0 (bi-weekly)
1445 DX Partyline/ HCJB 15425.0
1500 DX Partyline/ WRMI 9955.0
1830 Marie Lamb's DXing With Cumbre/ WHRI 11785.0
1945 DX Partyline/ IRRS 7290.0
2220 DX Corner/ Voice of Turkey 9830.0 (bi-weekly)
2330 Arnie Coro's DXers Unlimited/ Radio Habana Cuba 13790.0

Sunday August 16
0020 Radio Waves/ Radio Exterior de España 6055.0
0130 Marie Lamb's DXing With Cumbre/ WHRI 7315.0, 7385.0
0135 Arnie Coro's DXers Unlimited/ Radio Habana Cuba 6000.0 6140.0
0145 Ask WWCR/ WWCR 5070.0
0200 Bob Padula's Australian DX Report/ WWCR 5070.0
0215 DX Partyline/ WWCR 5070.0
0320 DX Corner/ Voice of Turkey 5975.0 7325.0 (bi-weekly)
0335 Arnie Coro's DXers Unlimited/ Radio Habana Cuba 5980.0 6000.0 6140.0
0400 DX Partyline/ WRMI 9955.0
0500 QSO/ WRMI 9955.0
0530 Arnie Coro's DXers Unlimited/ Radio Havana Cuba 5980.0 6000.0 6060.0 6140.0 11760.0
0830 Wavescan/ WRMI 9955.0
0945 Ask WWCR/ WWCR 5070.0
1000 Marie Lamb's DXing With Cumbre/ WHRI 7385.0
1030 DX Partyline/ WRMI 9955.0
1200 Marie Lamb's DXing With Cumbre/ WHRI 9410.0
1430 Marie Lamb's DXing With Cumbre /WHRI 11785.0
2000 This Week in Amateur Radio/ WBCQ 7415.0
2130 Wavescan/ WRMI 9955.0
2200 Ragnar Daneskjold's Pirates Week/ WBCQ 5110.0
(podcast: www.piratesweek.info/ )

European Music Radio set for Sunday broadcast

European Music Radio

August 16, 2009
Time: 0900 - 0930 UTC
Frequency: 6140 kHz

Program: Mike Taylor (Mail Box program)

EMR Internet radio service
Program repeats are at the following times:
0900 - 1200 - 1500 - 1800 and 2000 UTC

Please visit www.emr.org.uk/ and click on the “EMR internet radio” button which you will find throughout the website (see the menu on the left).

Please send all reception reports to: studio@emr.org.uk
(Tom Taylor)

Fast tract to amateur radio

Amateur radio operators call it the fast track news, while others simply declare it fantastic. Call it what you will, but Richard Moseson W2VU, Editorial Director for CQ Communications has a hit on his hands. World Radio Online is the first wide-distribution general amateur radio interest magazine to be published exclusively online. Topics covered include Contest Calendar, Hamfest and Specials Events, amateur news and more. Issues are available in a downloadable PDF file and may be accessed without charge at the CQ magazine home page www.cq-amateur-radio.com/ . Go to the WorldRadio Online link.

Is Antarctica at the top of your amateur radio Hit-List ? Operator Bob Paton VK0BP, is currently working at Antarctica Davis Base Station, until November 1, 2009. Activity is limited due to work commitments, but check around 1500-1800 UTC on 20 meters (14.0-14.350 MHZ) on SSB and PSK31. Bob may also activate other field huts in the area and will sign-on as VK0BP/P. QSL route via Allan Meredith V2KCA, P.O. Box 890, Mudgee NSW 2850, Australia. For additional details from Bob consult his web page www.vk0bp.org/

Just logged a rare catch in the thrust of a major operators pile-up ? Here's a great source for operators QSLing via QSL Managers. The QRZ.com database contains manager references to over 68, 000 DX Call Signs. The search page accepts partial callsigns incase you didn't quite catch the complete ID. To learn more on QSL Managers, consult http://www.qrz.com/ at the QSL Managers link. In addition to the database are QSL Bureaus and Services, Tips for QSL'ers and QSL Card Designers and Printers. Operator calls may also be searched by using the callsign search mode. for addresses, QSL information and operator details.

The ARRL Logbook of the World (LoTW) system is a repository of log records submitted by operators around the world. When both contacts participate in a one-on-contact (QSO) and submit their records to LoTW, the results is a cardless verification, used for ARRL credit. The League's QSL-cardless awards and contact credit system has grown to over 75 million, far exceeded the original predictions in 2003.

LoTW is open to all amateur radio operators, and applying for a digital certificate is the first step in taking advantage of the system. The digital certificate authenticates the user's identity. For information about Log Book of the World refer to: www.arrl.org/lotw/

VA3HJ Softwave (Speciality Softwave for the Radio Amateur) is offering QSlDesignAndPrint software version 1.0.0. The program designs and prints your QSL card, or can design a QSL card for a professional printer. Cards may contain one or more images, text fields for callsign, location and a greeting. Up to 5 QSOs may be printed on a card. For program information, including sample images of cards created using QslDesignsAndPrint go to: www.va3hj.ca/

The Northern California DX Foundation, NCDXF is now on Twitter. Twitter users can follow NCDXF by going to http://twitter.comNCDXF and click on the Follow link. The foundation plans to keep DXers informed on activities, QSLing and related news. To find out more about Twitter consult http://twitter.com/. You'll find amateur radio operators and a bevy of radio-related hobbyist keeping you up to date on their radio pursuits.

DX stations, especially the rare portable DXpeditions, receive thousands of QSL cards. To ensure your out going QSL card package reaches it's ultimate destination, here are a few tips to increase your return rate.

Although U.S. operators are usually not considered "rare" DX, you must include a self-addressed-stamped envelope to help ensure a return QSL. Packaging your out going QSL (direct or to a QSL Manager) must include the following:

* Correct date and time on the QSL. One of the most common reasons why dates and times are incorrect is a failure to use UTC time and date.

* QSL Card Design. Callsigns should be on the same side of the QSL card as the contact information. This will assist the QSL Manager from having to constantly flip the card from back to front, thus eliminating the chance to get your callsign wrong.

* Pull & Seal Security Envelopes. By using the "press-and-seal" envelopes, your QSL Manager will thank you.

* Wax-Paper Nesting. Include a piece of wax paper inside the nested envelope to prevent the envelope from "self-adhering" during transit to the DX station or Manager. Especially helpful when sending to tropical climate areas.

* Return Address on SASE. The QSL Managers address should be placed on the top left corner of the envelope. No one wants a QSL in a "dead-letter" office.

* Pre-stamped SASE. Your card will likely be sent out as soon as it is processed if you pre stamp the envelope, but be sure to affix the proper postage. If you do not pre-stamp, include enough compensation to cover the postal expense.

* Direction of the SASE fold. In many cases you have to fold the SASE to fit within the outgoing envelope. When inserting the folded SASE, do so with the "fold" downwards. if the fold is at the top, the SASE may be sliced in half as it is opened.

* Callsigns on Envelope. Unfortunately in some countries less than honest postal workers have discovered that envelopes labeled "ham radio contest" with call signs are prime targets for green stamps (US currency) within the envelope. If your mail will travel through potential trouble spots, avoid putting your callsign in the return corner. Instead, place your call on the inside, under the flap.

* Avoid registered or certified mail. Either method is inconvient to the QSL Manager, requiring a trip to the post office. This also delays your return wait on the verification. Use of either should be when it is the only way of guaranteeing it is handled properly through a country's postal system.

* Enclosures in the envelope. Shortwave hobbyist and amateur radio operators know the significance of enclosing "goodies" within an envelope. Used postage stamps, souvenir postcards, newspaper clippings of interest, photos, business cards, stickers and decals will likely increase your return rate from the QSL Manager.
(Gayle Van Horn-QSL Report/Monitoring Times)

Burundi: state radio goes live online

Dave Kernick writes: Government-controlled Radio Burundi is observed streaming live audio online from its (English-language) website at www.rtnb.bi. This is the organization’s second network, which is on the air at 0300-2100 UTC broadcasting mainly in French, with news bulletins noted at 0800, 1000, 1100, 1400 UTC. Newscasts in English were heard at 1130 and 1600 UTC, and in Swahili at 1145 UTC.

Although the website refers to the service as “RTNB Radio”, on air it identifies variously as “Radio Nationale”, “Radiodiffusion Nationale de Burundi”, or simply as “Radio Burundi”. Radio Burundi’s first network broadcasts entirely in the Kirundi language, and is believed to be only available on FM.

Burundi was part of the former Belgian colony of Ruanda-Urundi, until it split from what became Rwanda and achieved independence as the Kingdom of Burundi in 1962. Radio Burundi around that time was only on air for six or seven hours a day, broadcasting on the single frequency of 6195 kHz shortwave.

Andy Sennitt adds: When I checked the website, what was presumably embedded audio in an unidentified language (certainly not French) started playing automatically after a few seconds. It appeared to be a live stream, grossly overmodulated. Be careful not to have the audio turned up too loud when you first access this site!
(R netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Islands, Castles and Portable Operations newsletter

I.C.P.O. Bulletin (August 06 - 14, 2009)
"Islands, Castles & Portable Operations"
Listing is by calendar date (day/month/year)
============================================
06/08/2009: Boris, N3SY will be active as KL7/N3SY from the Denali National Park, Alaska, from August 6-15th. QRV 40-10 meters, Yaesu FT-100D, dipoles and MFJ-1622-Vertical 1.5m long. QSL via his home call (QRZ.com). [NG3K]

06/08/2009: Bronius/LY1CM, Gintautas/LY2GV and Tomas/LY3X plan to be active August 6-19th from several Lithuanian lighthouses as homecall/p. Information on the Lithuanian Lighthouses Award can be found at: www.qrz.lt/ly1cm/index_eng.htm [425 DX News]

07/08/2009: Al, CT1GPQ will active as 4W6AL from Dili, Timor Lorosae (OC-148, WLOTA 0019), between August 7th and October 3rd. QRV on 40, 30, 20 and 17 meter SSB, RTTY and preferably CW. Station setup: ICOM IC-706 MK2g, dipole for 40 and 30 meters and square loops for 20 and 17 meters. Pilot station and QSL Manager will be Toze, CT1GFK. NOTE: This is NOT DX'pedition! CT1GPQ will be in Timor Lorosae with a Medical Team and radio operation will take place only during his spare time. Activity logs will be online (they will try daily) at algarvedx.com/ [Algarve STAR DX Team]

07/08/2009: A special event activation of Centenarian Kadalur Point lighthouse (ILLW IN0002, ARLHS IND-013), located on the West coast of India, will take place from August 7-16th, using the callsign AT8LHC. Look for activity on all bands and modes, propagation permitting. QSL via VU2JHM, direct or by the bureau. [VU2UR]

08/08/2009: Operators Guang/BA8AG, Paul/BD7JSQ, Tang/BG4ENK, Pan/BD4QH,Jack/BA4ALC and Zheng/BA4EG will be active as BA7IO/4 from the island of Heng Sha (AS-136, WW Loc. PM01WI), Shanghai province, China, from August 8-17th. QSL via BA7IO, direct only. [rsgbiota.org ]

08/08/2009: Michel/HB9DLO, Pierre-Yves/HB9OMI, and Pierre/HB9SMU will be active August 8-16th as DL/HB9LH from Lotseninsel Island [pilot Island, in English] (German Island Award: O-020, Not IOTA, WW Loc. JO54AQ), at the entrance to the Schlei Fjord. They will also activate the Schleimünde Mole Head lighthouse (DLTD #45, ILLW DE0073, ARLHS FED-217). QRV 80-6 meters, using CW and SSB. QSL via HB9DLO, direct or bureau. [HB9DLO]

08/08/2009: Steve, W7VOA will be active as T6AD from Kabul, Afghanistan, between August 8-22nd for the national election news reporting and QRV, when time permits, on 15, 20 and 40m CW (and maybe PSK) using 100w and a G5RV antenna. QSL via K2AU. Log will be uploaded to LOTW. [NG3K]

09/08/2009: Operators Makoto/JI5RPT (JD1BLY) and Yoshihi/JO1LVZ (JD1BNF) will be active from Chichijima Island (IOTA AS-031, JIIA AS-031-003) between August 9-14th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using the satellites, CW, SSB, Digi modes and 2m WSJT EME. QSL via their home callsigns. Log searches will be available on the following Web sites: JD1BLY: www.ji5rpt.com/jd1/ and JD1BNF: www.hattsan.com/ [OPDX
Bulletin]

10/08/2009: Rachid, 3B8FQ will activate St. Brandon island (AF-015) as 3B7FQ again from Ausust 12th through the end of the month and possibly a few extra days in early September. Look for him on all bands, 30 through 10 meters, although Rachid expects 40 and 20 meters to be most productive. He will use both CW and SSB, as conditions allow. Operating time will be shared with his primary mission of performing maintenance on the island's meteorological equipment. He expects to use the island's G5RV and a vertical with a 100 watt transceiver powered by a 12 volt battery that will be charged daily. Rachid likes to use "the 8s" whenever possible on CW. Here are his anticipated frequencies: CW - 7.008, 10.108, 14.008, 18.078, 21.008, 24.898 and 28.008 MHz; SSB - 7.050, 14.191, 18.141, 21.241, 24.941, 28.491 MHz. If future plans come together, Rachid may operate from 3B9 sometime after his return, and
hopes to operate from 3B6 again in November. QSL via K5XK, direct preferred. [K1XN]

10/08/2009: Henk/PA3FMC and Ruud/PE1BTV and Hans/PH0V will be active August 10-18th as LA/homecall from Utvaer island (EU-055, WLOTA L-2373, WW Loc. JP21GA). LA/PE1BTV and LA/PH0V QRV on VHF-MS from JP21GA and LA/PA3FMC on HF. RIG: 500W, 9el. 144.380 MHz - same location as 2 years ago. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [DL8EBW]

10/08/2009: Plamen, LZ3FM plans to activate the Biosphere Reserve Kamchia (LZFF-011) during his holiday between August 10-20th. Callsign to be used will be either LZ01WFF/2 or LZ3FM/2. Equipment will be IC-746 plus a 4-band GP and dipole antennas. Activity will be on HF + 6m, mainly CW with some SSB. QSL via LZ1PJ, direct or by the Bureau. E-mail requests for Bureau cards are accepted (via lz1pj@bfra.org ). Write QSO details and callsign worked, since Ivan, LZ1PJ, manages other callsigns too. PLEASE NOTE: LZ01WFF is used for activation for other WFF references by other operators. Ivan, LZ1PJ, will manage this activation only. For other activations listen to operator's instructions. [LZ1PJ]

10/08/2009: Peter, ON3WAB will be active as M6ONL/p August 10-15th from the Lake District in northern England. He will activate different SOTA (www.sotawatch.org/) summits and WAB (www.worked-all-britain.co.uk/) squares. Frequencies will be 7032, 10118 kHz CW and 3666, 7118, 14265 kHz SSB (+/- QRM) and band conditions. If weather allows he will try PSK31 as well. Equipment: Icom 703 and Rybackov Vertical 10m long. QSL is ok via bureau or direct to ON3WAB. [UBA HF News]

10/08/2009: Janusz OY/SP6IXF and Mek OY/SP7VC will be operating from the Faroe Islands (EU-018) from August 10-16th. They will be located in IP61 grid square. They plan to operate on 160-2 meters. The 2 meter operation includes meteor scatter (random) FSK441 in Preseides. The HF antenna system will be Spiderbeam, R7 vertical, Inverted L (160 and 80m) and RX beverages. The 6m antenna will be 6 el Yagi and finally 2M5WL Yagi on 2 meters. Power amplifiers will be used on all bands. Mek SP7VC is also going to operate as SP7VC/MM durign their way on a ferry from Denmark via Shetlands to Faroe Islands. Mek will be using IC-706, 4 el. Yagi 2m and vertical on 6m and is going to activate marine squares JO 37,27,17,18,19,09 and IP 80,81,71. QSL cards via their home calls, direct or by the Bureau. [SP5UAF]

11/08/2009: Gerard/F2VX and Yanick/F6FYD, will sign 4J/HC from Azerbaijan, August 11-29th. QRV mainly HF SSB. QSL via HC, direct (sae + postage) or via the French Ref-Bureau. [F5NQL]

11/08/2009: Andre, F5TBL will be active on August 11th (1200-1600 UTC), as F8KFE/P, from the Cap Levi lighthouse (ARLHS FRA-080, DPLF PB-085 for the Franch Onshore Lighthouses award), located in the city of Fermanville (CP 50840), Department Manche/50 and Provinc Basse-Normandie (DPF 04). QSL via operator information. [F5NQL]

12/08/2009: Dana/VE1VOX and Don/VE1AOE will be active from Welsh Island (NA-154, new CIsA) August 12-16th with the call VC1W. Operation will be from two stations and more ops may be joining the expedition as the date approaches. This is a remote island and weather may affect the actua dates. QSL manager is VE3EXY, direct or bureau. [VE1VOX]

14/08/2009: Terry, G4MKP will be active from Tsada village (near Pafos) on the island of Cyprus (AS-004, MIA MCI-002, WLOTA L-0051) from August 14-25th using the callsign 5B/G4MKP. QRV 80-10 meters, mainly CW. QSL via M0URX, direct or bureau.[NG3K]

14/08/2009: Members of the 'Sodertorns Radioamatorer' (SK0QO) will once again be active as 7S0SFJ from the Museum Lightship No. 25 Finngrundet (ILLW SE-0013, ARLHS SWE-043), in Stockholm, Sweden, during the ILLW activity August 15-16th. The club will put their double dipoles up for 80/40m and 30/17m as well as their dipole for 20m up Friday evening, August 14th, and will be active until Sunday, early afternoon. Rigs: FT-2000, TS-680, IC-706. Activity will be on 80-17m SSB and CW (Hans, SM0BYD, mainly on 30/17m). QSL via SM0BYD or SK0QO, bureau preferred. [OPDX Bulletin]

14/08/2009: Members of the Radio Club Uruguayo will be using the special callsign CW1R from the Punta del Este Lighthouse (ILLW UY0005, ARLHS URU-008, WW Loc. GF25MA) during the upcoming International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend between August 14-16th. Activity will be on 80-15 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. They will have at least two stations on the air. This will be the first activation of Punta del Este Lighthouse. QSLs for this activity are only DIRECT to: Radio Club Uruguayo, P.O.Box 37, 11000, Montevideo, URUGUAY, SOUTH AMERICA (w/SAE and 1 new IRC or 2 green stamps). [OPDX Bulletin]

14/08/2009: Steve, G0UIH will be active from Piel Island (EU-005, CU-005 for English Islands) as homecall/p from August 14-16th. This Island is the "Jewel in the Crown" of the Islands of Furness. The Island has a history going back to the 11th Century. Expect activity on all HF bands. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [rsgbiota.org]

14/08/2009: The Caribbean Amateur Radio Group (WP4CRG) will be active as W4L from the Arecibo Lighthouse (ARLHS PUR-001, TWLHD WLH KP4-001), Puerto Rico (NA-099, USi PR-006S, WLOTA L-2802) from 1200z August 14th to 2359z August 23rd, including the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (August 15-16th). They will operate voice and a station using SSTV on 20 meters. Frequencies: 7.150, 14.225, 18.122 and 28.350 MHz. QSL direct to: CARG, PO Box 140031, Arecibo, PR 00614-0031. [N8OFS]

14/08/2009: Jose/PY6HD, Beto/PY6RT and Nilzo/PY6AWU will be active August 14-16th as ZZ6Z from Itaparica Island (SA-023, DIB BA-02). QRV 80, 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10 meter, SSB only. QSL via PY6HD, direct, LoTW or bureau. [PY6HD]
(ICPO Bulletin/Dave raycroft/ODXA)

Radio Australia to resume broadcast to Burma

In solidarity: Radio Australia to resume broadcast to Burma

Stephanie Peatling
August 12, 2009 .
Radio Australia will again begin broadcasting to Burma in what the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, called a ''gesture of solidarity'' with the pro democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in the wake of her conviction yesterday.

Mr Rudd also hinted at stronger sanctions.

''It is time for change in Burma, time for the military regime to deliver to the people of Burma the basic right of freedom of political association,'' Mr Rudd said.

''The Australian Government is deeply concerned by the Burmese regime's disregard for the democratic aspirations of its people and its disrespect for their human rights. We will continue our strong efforts with other members of the international community, including the United Nations, to deliver the change which the Burmese so much deserve.''

Conbtinue with this story at Sydney Morning Herald at:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/in-solidarity-radio-australia-to-resume-broadcasts-to-burma-20090811-eh2o.html

(Sydney Morning Herald)

Tune-in to India's Independence Day via shortwave radio

India

Hello Friends,

In connection with the Indian Independence Day on August 15, The President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will be broadcasting to the nation at 1330 UTC (7,00 PM IST) on
14 August 2009. All stations of AIR will relay it on MW SW & FM. The AIR regional SW stations will be on 4 MHz band then.

For detailed All India Radio shortwave schedule, visit: www.qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm

Look out for the rare AIR station in Kohima on 4850 on 14 & 15 August, 2009 as follows:

14 Aug 2009 1000-1600 UT approx
15 Aug 2009 0000-0415 UT approx

All India Radio-Kohima is heard now only on special occasions like Independence Day August 15 & Republic Day January 26 and has been heard even by listeners in United States.

To view QSL received from their New Delhi office please click:
http://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/qsls/Kohima.jpg
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via Ron Howard)

and from Ron Howard,
The 63rd Independence Day celebrations will shortly be taking place in India on August 15. It is one of the major holidays of the year and affords us the great opportunity to hear some special programming via SW.

Of particular interest to me is the president's address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day (August 14). President Shrimati Pratibha Devishingh Patil’s speech will be delivered via SW radio at 1330 UT (7:00 PM IST), just as it was last year. I had the good fortune then to
hear it on 4850 (AIR Kohima, which is a very special event for this rarely used frequency), 4895 (AIR Kurseong), 4940 (AIR Guwahati) 4970 (AIR Shillong), 5010 (AIR Thiru.), 5040 (AIR Jeypore) and 9425 (AIR Bengaluru). I probably missed hearing some of the regional stations, but certainly they all carried the speech that was given first in Hindi and repeated again in English. I look forward to listening in again this year to this unique coverage!

Last year’s reception of AIR Kohima on 4850 was as follows: 1308, Aug 14, 2008 in Hindi; subcontinent music and singing; series of ads with singing jingles; 1328 marching music/anthem, open carrier from 1330 to 1331; started president’s speech on the eve of Independence
Day, in Hindi; followed by the same speech in English; abruptly off at 1404.

Special thanks to Jose Jacob of Hyderabad, India for confirmation that this year’s speech will indeed be broadcast at 1330 UT, August 14, 2009. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

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

Antarctica heard on 15476
The other day, while picking raspberries and blueberries in the woods surrounding our house,
my wife and I were tuned to LRA36 on a portable Lextronix E5 receiver. "Música and cultura" was on the menu. Edmundo Rivero and Susana Rinaldi with tangos, followed by a few zambas and a Yma Sumac-ish rendering of "El cóndor pasa". I was using the telescopic antenna only. Time of reception: 1805-1910+ Reception was very poor at the outset but slowly improving, and approaching fair level around 1900. Temperature at the Esperanza base was given as 15 degrees below zero, which equals 5 degrees F. (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden/HCDX)

Aussie's DX Report # 163 available for download
Audio news magazine includes a propagation research analysis of current spectrum occupancy in the 9 MHz band during the 0000 to 0100 time window, as monitored in Melbourne. There are also features, news and information about shortwave broadcasting, propagation, solar activity, monitoring notes, new schedules, extracts from schedules, and schedule updates. It's 15 minute duration, and may be accessed or downloaded from http://airm.edxp.org/ (Bob Padula,Melbourne, Australia)

Bolivian logs
3310, Mosoj Chaski, 1010-1020. Music to announcer's Spanish. Brief music at 1014, plus more
comments. Signal is nearly nonexistent as it struggles with the natural frequency noise.
(Chuck Bolland, FL)

6134.77, Radio Santa Cruz, 1035-1045. Signal is almost gone, but noted male in Spanish with
comments. Other than that, it was too weak to copy any details. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Dxers Unlimited available for download
The August 8-9 edition if Radio Havana Cuba’s Arnie Coro C02KK, is available at:
http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com/2009/08/dxers-unlimiteds-weekend-edition-8-9.html
(Alokesh Gupta, India)

Indonesian monitoring observations
Voice of Indonesia, 9526 kHz in English at 1331-1400. The signal was strong but with high
static level. However, no het was evident. Lady announcer with language lessons. The rest of the program was devoted to songs in the vernacular language to brief news break. Broadcast ended with station’s signature tune. I must have chosen a good time to listen because VOI's sig started at 9520 kHz and went on through 9533 kHz, it being strongest at 9525-26 kHz. What followed at 1400 was even better. The signal was excellent and gone was the loud static noise. However, this was replaced with a low bass hum. The listening was still very good.
(Richard Bianchino, NV/Cumbre DX)

Israel’s Galai Zahal
Station is noted as still off the air on 15785 kHz since August 11, 2009.
(wb, Germany)

Early morning logs
3340 Honduras, HRMI (Tegucigalpa). 1038-1048. 11 Aug 09. Spanish. Inspirational music in Spanish and English. Signal was poor.

3810 Ecuador, HD2IOA (Guayaquil). 1050. 11 Aug 09. Spanish programming. Time signal pips and recorded announcements by male announcer. Signal was fair.
(Joe Wood, TN)

Free e-magazine Ham Mag news
There is a free e-magazine called Ham Mag that is published every month. For members of my radio wave propagation eGroup there is a regular propagation column by ON4SKY.
http://ham.france.free.fr/crbst_17.html (Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O, Lakeland, FL nz4o@arrl.ent

Russian monitoring
Kazakhstan, 9950 Voice of Orthodoxy, *1430-1440. SINPO 33433. Russian programming, 1430 sign on with station interval signal to ID. Choral music and opening announcements and talk.
(Kouji Hashimoto-JPN, JPNpremium July 25)

Sudan’s Radio Peace on 4740
Aug 11, 2009, 0320-0355. Moderate carrier with snippets of audio until about 0335, when really started peaking due to transmitter dawn enhancement. Religious talk alternating between African-accented English, and what sounded like Arabic. Strongest at around 0345 with religious organ music, then steadily fading thereafter. (J..D. Stephens, AL/Cumbre DX)
Broadcast schedule:
0230-0300 Arabic/English/Vernaculars 4740 targeted to Africa
0300-0400 Arabic/English/Vernaculars 4740 targeted to Africa
1600-1700 Arabic/English/Vernaculars 4740 targeted to Africa
1700-1745 Arabic/English/Vernaculars 4740 targeted to Africa
(Gayle Van Horn/Monitoring Times Frequency Manager)

Voice of Nigeria upgrades equipment
15120 Nigeria put a new final stage tube in service. Now noted with superb modulation, not this shredded splatter audio. French service, 0700-0800 UTC, Aug 11.
(wb, Germany)

Voice of Greece observations
ERT ERA5 VoGreece foreign languages FILIA relay on single 11645 kHz is still absent since ?July 27?. At present on all frequencies 9420 11645 15630 kHz same Greek program 05-10UT, except Tuesdays. Aug 11. (wb, Germany/HCDX)

Prop forecast published online
The NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast #2009-27
has been published on Friday 08/07/2009 at 1500 UTC, valid 0000 UTC Saturday
08/08/2009 through 2359 UTC Friday 08/14/2009 at www.wcflunatall.com/kn4lf6.htm .
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o@arrl.net

Update on Ecuador's HCJB closure of Pifo transmitters

HCJB Global Voice Moves Up End Date of International Broadcasts from Ecuador

Greetings from Quito. Following is the official press release regarding the imminent shut down of the Pifo transmitter site.
Allen.

*HCJB Global Voice Moves Up End Date of International Broadcasts from Ecuador

*Source: HCJB Global

The end date for international broadcasts from Radio Station HCJB in Ecuador has been moved up as the missionary radio ministry defines new strategies for future outreach.

Anticipating the opening of the new Quito airport near the station’s international transmitter site in Pifo, staff members have already dismantled all but 14 antennas and towers. Present shortwave broadcasts in Portuguese, Spanish, German and indigenous languages, including Quichua, had earlier been announced to end no later than April 1, 2010. These international broadcasts will cease between September and November 2009.

Announcing the earlier closure date of Pifo, Graham Bulmer, HCJB Global’s director for the Latin America Region, said, “These times stretch us, causing us both to doubt and to grow in faith and hopefully drive us to confess our dependence on God. We believe He is guiding us. We hold all things with open hands and pursue understanding of what God expects of us as stewards of the resources of His kingdom.”

The Pifo closure will impact Radio Station HCJB’s Quichua Language Service with some programming moving from the shortwave frequencies to the local AM channel. Investigations are also being made regarding the possibility of transferring HCJB-2, the ministry’s 37-year-old FM station in Guayaquil (Ecuador’s largest city), into the hands of local partners.

The mission’s newer strategy, begun in the 1990s, has been to reduce its emphasis on shortwave in Latin America while focusing on “radio planting” or assisting local ministries realize their dream of beginning a Christian radio ministry. More than 300 local stations have been helped in these endeavors worldwide, including about 60 in Latin America. HCJB Global also continues to expand its training ministries across the region.

“The way people consume media has changed,” said HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson. “So we have the opportunity to change to delivery systems such as satellite, FM Internet and podcasting. The closing of shortwave in Latin America is strategic because of the planting of local FM radio stations across the region and around the world. These stations are staffed and programmed by local believers who can speak to the culture in their own communities.”

Pederson recently told the staff that a high priority for the mission is its initiative for Latin America called Corrientes that launches in October. The coalition of more than 10 Christian organizations involves training Latin Americans for bi-vocational mission work around the world. (Alokesh Gupta, India/Cumbre DX)

Blog post from August 11, 2009
The appended message was received from Allen Graham, HCJB, Ecuador on August 12.

Hello Bob,
This past weekend on the DX Partyline I shared the following news:

HCJB Ecuador will end its shortwave transmissions from Pifo on September 30, 2009 except for one frequency in Portuguese which will continue until mid-November. We are awaiting the official Press Release which will have more details. The administrative decision was made due to a number of factors. I feel obliged to not say anything further until the official announcement is released.

The future of the DX Partyline is still uncertain at this moment. When I know more, I will let you know.
Thanks for all of your support over the years. We really need it now more than ever.
Allen
(Bob Padula/Cumbre DX)

EPC Russia DX Contest set for amateur radio operators

Amateurs all over the world !
Welcome to participate in the EPC RUSSIA DX Contest-2009 !

1st EPC RUSSIA DX CONTEST - 22 aug 03:00 UTC ~ 23 aug 03:00 UTC - modes BPSK63 and QPSK63.
RULES: http://eu.srars.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=96

FILES for MixW: http://www.digitalrus.ru/Files/StatsEPCRU.zip
Unzip the contents of StatsEPCRU.zip to your MixW / Plugins directory.

ADJUSTING MIXW FOR EPC RUSSIA DX CONTEST:
http://www.epc-ru.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=199&Itemid=113
We hope to see you at EPCRUDXC-2009!
Best wishes! 73!!!
(RK3DSW)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Aug 11 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
03 - 09 August 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed. The visible disk was spotless.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal background levels.

The geomagnetic field was initially unsettled early on 3 August but decreased to quiet levels by mid-day. Conditions remained quiet until 0600-1500 UTC on 5 August when there was an increase to unsettled levels. Conditions returned to quiet levels for the remainder of 5 August, but then increased to unsettled to active levels between 0000-0900 UTC on 6 August, followed by quiet to unsettled levels from 0900-1800 UTC. Predominately quiet levels followed until 2100-2359 UTC on 7 August when there was an increase to unsettled levels. Quiet levels followed until 0600-1500 UTC on 9 August when there was another increase to generally unsettled levels with active to minor storm periods at high latitudes.

Observations from the ACE spacecraft showed that the increase early on 3 August was due to an extended negative Bz interval (minimum value of -6.5 nT at 02/2115 UTC) which was associated with a solar sector boundary crossing. The activity increases on 5 and 6 August appeared to be associated with the onset of a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) which was followed by a high speed stream from a negative polarity coronal hole. During the initial part of the CIR there was an extended negative Bz interval (minimum value of -4.9 nT at 05/0744 UTC), followed by a northward turning of Bz and strengthening of Bt (peak value 13.0 nT at 05/2130 UTC), followed by another southward Bz interval (minimum value of about -13.5 nT
06/0514 UTC).

The solar wind velocity observed during the high speed stream reached maximum values around 535 km/s at 06/1123 UTC. After a gradual decline in solar wind velocity there was another density and magnetic field enhancement late on 7 August (Bz minimum of about -4.2 nT at 07/1936 UTC) followed by a second increase in solar wind speed (peak of 533 km/s 08/0615 UTC) which caused the geomagnetic activity increase that occurred at that time. A similar structure was seen again early on 9 August with an extended interval from 0200-1040 UTC of negative Bz values (minimum of -4.4 nT at 09/0300 (UTC) and solar wind velocity reaching 481 km/s at 09/1120 UTC.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
12 August - 07 September 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 high levels during 21 - 22 August. Normal to moderate flux levels are expected during the rest of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet from 12 - 17 August. Activity is expected to increase to active levels on 18 August with a chance for minor storm levels due to a recurrent CH HSS. Activity is expected to decrease to unsettled levels on 19-21 August as the CH HSS subsides. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for 22 August - 07 September with the exception of 30 August and 02-03 September when recurrent effects are expected to increase activity to unsettled levels.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Aug 11 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 Aug 11
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Aug 12 67 5 2
2009 Aug 13 67 5 2
2009 Aug 14 67 5 2
2009 Aug 15 67 5 2
2009 Aug 16 67 5 2
2009 Aug 17 67 5 2
2009 Aug 18 67 20 4
2009 Aug 19 68 12 3
2009 Aug 20 68 8 3
2009 Aug 21 68 8 3
2009 Aug 22 68 5 2
2009 Aug 23 68 5 2
2009 Aug 24 68 5 2
2009 Aug 25 68 5 2
2009 Aug 26 68 5 2
2009 Aug 27 68 5 2
2009 Aug 28 68 5 2
2009 Aug 29 68 5 2
2009 Aug 30 68 8 3
2009 Aug 31 68 5 2
2009 Sep 01 68 5 2
2009 Sep 02 68 8 3
2009 Sep 03 68 8 3
2009 Sep 04 68 5 2
2009 Sep 05 68 5 2
2009 Sep 06 68 5 2
2009 Sep 07 68 5 2
(NOAA)

Amateur radio special event schedules

CT7 - CT1GZB, CT1CSY and CT2JXT ill be active as CR6LH from the lighthouse at Cabo Espichel (ARLHS POR-009) on 15-16 August. They plan to operate SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and some slow CW on as many bands as possible. QSL via CT1GZB, direct or bureau. [TNX CT1GZB]

CT7 - CT1GZB, CT1CSY and CT2JXT ill be active as CR6LH from the lighthouse at Cabo Espichel (ARLHS POR-009) on 15-16 August. They plan to operate SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and some slow CW on as many bands as possible. QSL via CT1GZB, direct or bureau. [TNX CT1GZB]

CX - The Radio Club Uruguayo will be active as CW1R from the lighthouse at Punta del Este (ARLHS URU-008) on 14-16 August. They plan to have at least two stations up and running on 80-15 metres CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL direct to Radio Club Uruguayo, P.O. Box 37, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay. [TNX CX3AL]

DL - Michel/HB9DLO, Pierre-Yves/HB9OMI and Pierre/HB9SMU will be active as DL/HB9LH from Schleimunde lighthouse (ARLHS FED-217) on Lotsen Island (not IOTA, O-020 for the German Islands Award) on 8-16 August. They plan to operate SSB and CW on 80-6 metres. QSL via HB9DLO, direct or bureau. [TNX I2JJR]

EA8 - EA8ANE, EA8AZM, EA8CAC and EA8DP will be active as AO8FLH from La Entallada Lighthouse on Fuerteventura Island on 15-16 August. They plan to operate CW, SSB and RTTY on 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 and 80 metres. QSL via EA8AKN, direct or bureau. [TNX EA8CAC]

G - The Border Reivers Amateur Radio Society (MX0BRS) will be active as GB4SML from St Mary's Lighthouse on St Mary's Island (EU-011) on 15-16 August. QSL via M1DZT.

Rachid, 3B8FQ [425DXN 948] will leave Mauritius by boat on 11 August and will be active as 3B7FQ from St. Brandon Island (AF-015) starting on the 12-13 through the end of the month (and possibly for a few extra days in early September). He will operate CW and SSB in his spare time. Look for him on 30-10 metres, although Rachid expects 40 and 20 metres to be most productive. He will use the island's G5RV and a vertical with a 100 watt transceiver powered by a 12 volt battery that will be charged daily. Rachid's anticipated frequencies are 7008, 10108, 14008, 18078, 21008, 24898, 28008 kHz (CW) and 7050, 14191, 18141,21241, 24941, 28491 kHz (SSB). QSL via K5XK, direct preferred. [TNX K5XK]

3D2_cr - Uwe, DJ9HX has joined the 1-10 October DXpedition to Conway Reef [425DXN 948], which means that they will be able to run up to four stations simultaneously. The callsign will be 3D20CR (3D Twenty CR), to mark the 20th anniversary of the first operation (3D2CR) from the newly born DXCC Entity. QSL via DJ8NK. The website for the expedition is at
http://www.conwayreef2009.de/ [TNX DJ8NK]

4J - Gerard, F2VX and Yannick, F6FYD will be active as 4J/homecall from Azerbaijan on 11-29 August. They will operate SSB on the HF bands. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX F5NQL]

5B - Terry, G4MKP will be active as 5B/G4MKP from Cyprus (AS-004) on 14-25 August. He will operate mainly CW on 80-10 metres. QSL via M0URX. [TNX NG3K]

9M - Mirek, VK6DXI will be active in his spare time as 9M8DX/2 from Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysia until 13 August. Then he will go and operate holiday style as 9M8DX from Kuching, Sarawak (OC-088), East Malaysia until the 18th. He will operate mainly CW from both locations. QSL via SP5UAF. [TNX VK6DXI]

BY - A group of six operators will be active as BA7IO/4 from Heng Sha Island (AS-136) on 8-17 August. QSL direct to BA7IO. [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/]

C2 - Dani, EA4ATI (9M2TI) expects to be active as C21TI from Nauru (OC-031) on 17-23 August. Plans are to operate SSB and CW on 160-6 metres. QSL via EA4ATI. Further information can be found at http://c21ti.madrono.net/index.html

CE0Y - XR0YA is the callsign issued to the expedition to Easter Island (SA-001) which will take place between 31 October and 15 November [425DXN 945]. The six team members (namely Marco/CE6TBN, Leszek/NI1L, Art/PA3C, Zbig/SP7HOV, Stan/SQ8X and Victoria/SV2KBS) have been granted permission to operate on all bands, and they plan to focus on 160, 80,40 and above all 30 metres (CW only, as digital modes on 30m are not allowed). Working Europe on 30 metres will be their priority during the first week on the island. XR0YA will have three stations with two amplifiers and several antennas. Although SSB will not be neglected, CW will be the main operating mode, with some RTTY being planned as well. QSL route TBA. Further information can be found on the expedtion's web site (http://rapanui2009.org/ ). [TNX MM0NDX]

CT8 - Frank, DK5FT will be active holiday style as CT8/DK5FT from Sao Miguel (EU-003), Azores on 10-22 September. [TNX DK5FT]

F - Martin, F4UKP will be active as F4UKP/p from Ile de Re (EU-032) on 15-22 August. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. He plans to operate SSB and CW, with some PSK31 and RTTY. [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

FO - FO8RZ is the callsign issued to Phil, F5PHW (http://f5phw.chez.com/) for him to use during his two-year stay on Tahiti, French Polynesia [425DXN 945]. The vertical antenna has been set up, he says, the others will follow in due course. QSL via F8BPN, direct or bureau. Phil's log will be uploaded to LoTW. [TNX F5NQL]

G - Viv, G4PLY will be active as GB111HP for the rest of August. The special callsigns is a tribute to Harry Patch, who passed away on 25 July, a few weeks after his 111th birthday. He was the oldest surviving World War I veteran living in the UK. QSL via G4PLY, direct or bureau. [TNX OPDX Bulletin]

G - Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first British amateur radio station (H. Woodhead, G2NX) to use SSB, the Marches Amateur Radio Society will be active as GB1SSB on 8-9 and 22-23 August. QSL via the RSGB bureau. [TNX VA3RJ]

I - Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in physiscs awarded to Guglielmo Marconi, Frank, IZ7AUH is active as IY7GM through the end of the year. On 9 August he will operate on 6 metres during the Alessio Ortona 50MHz Memorial (7-15 UTC). QSL via home call (see qrz.com under IY7GM for QSLling instructions). [TNX IZ7AUH]

I - Giorgio, IZ4AKS will be active as IE9X from Ustica Island (EU-051, IIA PA-001) on 16-21 August. He will operate mainly SSB, with some RTTY and CW, on 40-10 metres. All of the QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau. [TNX IZ4AKS]

JD_oga - Tack, JE1RXJ is active as JD1BNE from Chichijima (AS-031), Ogasawara until 9 August. He operates CW, SSB and digital modes on 80-6 metres. QSl via home call. [TNX JE1RXJ]

JW - This year's SYLRA (http://www.sylra.is/) meeting will be held in Kolbotn, Norway on 3-6 September (special callsign LA1SYL). After that, on 7-11 September, Ingrid/LA8FOA, Unni/LA6RHA and several other YL operators will be active as JW1SYL from Longyearbyen (EU-026), Svalbard. QSL via LA8FOA, direct or bureau.

KL - Boris, N3SY will be active on 40-10 metres as KL7/N3SY from the Denali National Park on 6-15 August. QSl via home call. [TNX NG3K]

KP - The Caribbean Amateur Radio Group (WP4CRG) will be active as W4L from the Arecibo Lighthouse (ARLHS PUR-001), Puerto Rico (NA-099) between 14 and 23 August. QSL direct to CARG, P.O. Box 140031, Arecibo, PR 00614-0031, USA. [TNX VA3RJ]

LA - Henk/PA3FMC, Ruud/PE1BTV and Hans/PH0V will be active from Utvaer Island (EU-055) on 11-17 August. Expect LA/PE1BTV and LA/PH0V to be QRV on 2 and 6 metres respectively, while LA/PA3FMC will operate SSB, CW and PSK on the HF bands. Further information can be found at http://la2009.dxpedition.nl/ [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

LA - Mario will be active as LA2NK and/or LA/DL5ME from Mageroya (EU-044) on 13-16 August. He plans to operate CW and SSB on 40, 30 and 20 metres. QSL direct to DL5ME. On 19 August he will operate for some eight hours as OH9AA/p from Syvaletto (EU-126). QSL direct to DH5MM.

LU - The Radio Club Argentino will be active as LR5D from Martin García Island (SA-055) and lighthouse on 14-17 August. They plan to operate CW, SSB and FM on 160-6 metres, plus 2m and 70cm. QSL via LU4AA, direct or bureau. Further information can be found at http://www.lu4aa.org/mgi2009.htm [TNX LU1BCE]

LZ - Plamen, LZ3FM will be active as LZ02WFF from Biosphere Reserve Kamchia between 11 and 18 August. He will operate mainly CW with some SSB on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL for this activation via LZ1PJ, direct or bureau. [TNX F5NQL]

OJ0 - OJ0B and OJ0J have been active from Market Reef (EU-053) since 6 August. During the weekend, Pertti/OH2PM will participate in the Worked All Europe CW Contest as OJ0B, while Pekka/OH2TA and Henry/OH3JR will operate OJ0J mainly on 30, 17 and 12 metres CW, SSB and RTTY. On 10 August OJ0B will go QRT, but OJ0J will continue until the 12th with a
new team including Masaru/JA5AQC, Taka/JA5AUC, Katsu/JA4JBZ and Jaakko/OH1TX. QSL OJ0B via OH2BH, QSL OJ0J via OH0RJ. [TNX The Daily DX]

ON - ON4CB, ON4LO, ON5GQ and ON6HP will be active as OR9W from the lightship "Westhinder 1" on 15-16 August. They plan to operate SSB on various bands. QSL via ON4CB, bureau preferred. [TNX ON4LO]

PA - Special event station PD55EA (http://www.pd7bz.nl/pd55ea ) will be active until 28 August to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the open.air museum "Ellert and Brammert" in Schoonoord, The Netherlands. Expect activity on 10, 20 and 40 metres SSB and digital modes. All of the QSO will be confirmed automatically via the bureau. Direct cards should be
sent to PD7BZ. [TNX PD7BZ]

PA - Members of the PI4VPO group will operate CW, SSB and PSK on the HF and VHF bands from Stenen Baak old lighthouse (ARLHS NET-071) on 15-16 August. QSL via PA2CNR. [TNX PA0AKN]

PY - Jose/PY6HD, Beto/PY6RT and Nilzo/PY6AWU will be active once again as ZZ6Z from Itaparica Island (SA-023) on 14-16 August. They will operate SSB only on 80, 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via PY6HD, direct or bureau. The log will be uploaded to LoTW. [TNX PT7WA]

PY - Mor, PT7ZT will be active as PT7ZT/p from Pecem Lighthouse (ARLH BRA-285) on 15-16 August. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX PT7ZT]

SP - Wilhelm, SP8AJC and Henryk, SP9JPA will be active as 3Z8WFF from Krempna, Magurski National Park on 20-23 August. QSL via SP8AJC, direct or bureau. [TNX SP9JPA]

SP - Special event station SN120OSP will be active from 21 August to 31 October from Gorowo Ilaweckie, Poland to celebrate the 120 anniversary of the creation of the volunteer fire brigades. QSL via SP4CUF. [TNX SP4CUF]

SV - Look for J48LH to be in use from the lighthouse at Cape Dukato on Levkas Island (not IOTA) on 6-9 August. Plans are to have three stations active on CW and SSB. QSL via SV3DCX. [TNX http://www.southgatearc.org/ ]

SV - Kostas, SV2MAC will be active as SV2MAC/8/p from Samothraki Island (EU-174) on 16-30 August. He plans to operate SSb on all the HF bands. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX SV2MAC]

TA - On 17 August 1999 a major earthquake struck northwestern Turkey and killed some 17,000 people. In remembrance of those who lost their lives, the Turkish Special Wireless Activity Team (http://www.tcswat.org/) will operate as TC99Y (from Bozburun Lighthouse
at Yalova) and TC99K (from Yelkenkaya Lighthouse at Kocaeli) on 15-16 August. QSL via TA1HZ. [TNX TA1HZ]

TK - Heinz, DF6ZY will be active as TK/DF6ZY from Corsica (EU-014) from 16 September to 3 October. He plans to operate on 10-80 metres mostly RTTY, with some SSB and SSTV on request. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX DF6ZY]

UR - The Ternopil Amateur Radio Club will use special callsign EM360B on 14-18 August to commemorate the 360th anniversary of the historical battle of Zboriv. QSL via UY5BC. [TNX UR5BCP]

VE - Neil, VE3SST will be active Salisbury Island (not IOTA, CIsA ON-284) on 15-20 August. QSL via home call. [TNX VE3SST]

VE - Cezar, VE3LYC reports that his VY0O IOTA trip to the Ottawa Islands (NA-230) [425DXN 950] has been rescheduled for 5-8 September. The islands are quite far from the mainland, and weather conditions can influence his schedule. [TNX MM0NDX]

VK - Wally, VK6YS (http://www.westozdx.net/index.html ) is in the process of organizing an IOTA expedition to Robertson Island, Houtman Abrolhos (OC-211) to take place between 29 December and 4 January 2010. QSL via VK4AAR. Permissions, lodging and transport have been For the time being the team includes Wally and Nigel/VK6NI, but they are looking for another two operators to share the costs. Please contact Wally (vk6ys@iinet.net.au) if interested. The Abrolhos were activated for the first and only time by VK9XZ/6 back in January 1996. [TNX
http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

VU - Special event station AT8LHC will be active on 20 and 40 metre CW, SSB and digital modes from Kadalur Point Lighthouse (ARLHS IND-013) on 7-16 August. QSL via VU2JHM, direct or bureau. [TNX F5NQL] (DX News #953 via Dave Raycroft/ODXA)

Blog Logs - Asia

A sample of loggings from the latest DX Window

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

China
4820, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, 1720. Chinese talks and music, SINPO 44444, much stronger than India's AIR Kolkata (presumed) which only showed traces of its presence. (Mezin)

4920, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, 1711. Traditional song, SINPO 43433, with India's AIR Chennai underneath. //4905 where no significant interference noted, SINPO 44433. By the way, 4905 remained still on later at 1805, while 4920 was already silent. (Mezin)

5030.00, CNR-1/Voice of China, Beijing, 1030-1045. Chinese comments. Signal was threshold during the period, but checked 6175 and noted parallel program, so this helped pull out the signal on 5030. China was fair by 1045. (Bolland)

6150, CNR-1/Voice of China, 1047-1055. CNR-1 was the dominate station on this frequency // 6175, but a second station underneath is heard, which probably is Taiwan? CNR1 is definitely doing its' job. if they are here to block Taiwan. (Bolland)

6175, CNR-1/Voice of China, Beijing, 1040-1050. Chinese comments sounds like news with break aways to other individuals who comment. Signal here was fair and mixing with a Portuguese language station which turned out to be WYFR which went off the air at 1045. Much better, since China is in the clear now with a good signal. (Bolland)

7245, CNR-2/China Business Radio, Beijing, 1430-1500. “This is a new Saturday edition of ‘English Evening’. From this Saturday on, each week we will introduce you to a new movie.” New format and time (ex: Sa 1300-1400),sound bites from the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic”, along with plot summary, followed by “Studio Classroom Worldwide.” Signal fair-good. (Howard)

7350, CNR-11 (Tibetan Service), 1430-1500. Holy Tibet program to distinctive canned commerciaals, that I have not heard for many months, for the medical massage clinics in Lhasa, gives phone numbers, says Lhasa clinic located in white building, door number 33, licensed students trained by doctors from Beijing medical massage clinic, foreign experts visit Lhasa to also train the students, giving cost for one massage for foreigners “and for local people about 55 Renminbi and it takes one hour." They speak English, Tibetan and Chinese at the clinics. Tourism of Tibet (American tourist talking about the “great weather in Lhasa." Program
segment Eyes on Tibet to Tibetan music. Parallel on 6010. Enjoyable program! (Howard)

India
4810, All India Radio-Bhopal, 1724.Traditional Indian music. SINPO 33433. (Mezin)

4880, All India Radio-Lucknow, 1716. Talks and music, moderate strength, but badly interfered by clandestine SW Radio Africa (via Meyerton relay) that had nearly the same signal level. (Mezin)

4920, All India Radio-Chennai, 0035-0050, Jul 22. nglish news from Delhi, fascinating live report from current Total Solar Eclipse // 4800 and 5010, 0040 Indian songs, same SINPO noted at 0056, 45344.(Petersen)

Indonesia
9524.89, Voice of Indonesia, Cimanggis, Jakarta, 1010-1100. Local melody and comments in what sounds like English briefly, poor. (Bolland). Also at 1645, Jul 25,talks in Bahasa Indonesia, 33433. (Liangas).

*1800-1815, Spanish, ID: "La Voz de Indonesia, el programa internacional de la Radio República Indonesia", "La Voz de Indonesia, desde Yakarta", talks, 32322. (Méndez)

Malaysia
7130.52, Sarawak FM, Kuching (presumed), 1144-1230. Pop music program, continuing to 1205, then Qur'an recitations.Program back to music at 1215 with pop/rap, ect. Check after 1230; no break at 1300, ID not heard. (Wilkins in Dxplorer)

Singapore
3915, BBC World Service relay, Kranji, 2102-2105. Talk in English, SINPOn 24332. (Mille)
(DSWCI/DX Window # 382 via Anker Petersen)

Uruguay's Radio Sport hit with broadcast delays on shortwave

The inauguration of the shortwave operation by 6045U, CXA61 Radio Sport 890, Montevideo, reported some time ago is delayed since there is current work with the MW transmitters at the site and they want to avoid RFI problems among the equipments, as said by Gustavo Cirino, Techn. Manager. In fact the transmitter is ready to go to air and its operation has already been authorized.

Power will be 2.5 KW USB. His E-mail is cx7at(at)adinet.com.uy or cx7at@hotmail.com

So, we can expect two more weeks for resuming broadcast on a 24 hour schedule.
(Gustavo Cirino, R Sport 890, Montevideo, Uruguay via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Aug 7)

In fact, the Sarandi 690 and Sport 890 MW transmitters are off, today local afternoon, surely undergoing maintenance.
(Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay/HCDX)