Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2010 Jan 19 2221 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
11 - 17 January 2010

Solar activity was at very low to low levels during the period. Region 1040 (N29, L=238, class/area Eki on 13 January) produced occasional B-class flares and isolated C-class flares, the largest event was a C2 flare 17/2223 UTC. Region 1040 also produced two long duration flares, a B8 flare at 14/2139 UTC and a C1 flare at 15/0841 UTC. Region 1040 maintained a Beta magnetic configuration during its transit.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity was at predominantly quiet levels during the entire period. There was an isolated unsettled and active period observed at high latitudes on 11 January due to the arrival of a coronal hole high-speed stream. Observations from the ACE spacecraft showed solar wind speed varied between a low of 281 km/s at 11/0233 UTC to a high of 549 km/s at 11/1501 UTC. The density peaked at 10 p/cc at 11/0630 UTC. The southward component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) ranged between +9 nT and -8 nT. A second coronal hole high-speed stream arrived on 13 January with little effect to the geomagnetic field.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
20 January - 15 February 2010

Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels for the forecast period. Isolated moderate activity is possible from 20 January - 01 February with the return of old Region 1039 (S29, L052).

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

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

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at predominantly quiet levels for the forecast period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2010 Jan 19 2221 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2010 Jan 19
#

# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2010 Jan 20 82 10 3
2010 Jan 21 83 5 2
2010 Jan 22 84 5 2
2010 Jan 23 84 5 2
2010 Jan 24 86 5 2
2010 Jan 25 86 5 2
2010 Jan 26 84 5 2
2010 Jan 27 83 5 2
2010 Jan 28 82 5 2
2010 Jan 29 80 5 2
2010 Jan 30 80 5 2
2010 Jan 31 80 5 2
2010 Feb 01 82 5 2
2010 Feb 02 84 5 2
2010 Feb 03 86 5 2
2010 Feb 04 87 5 2
2010 Feb 05 87 5 2
2010 Feb 06 88 5 2
2010 Feb 07 89 5 2
2010 Feb 08 89 5 2
2010 Feb 09 89 5 2
2010 Feb 10 88 5 2
2010 Feb 11 87 5 2
2010 Feb 12 86 5 2
2010 Feb 13 85 5 2
2010 Feb 14 84 5 2
2010 Feb 15 83 5 2
(NOAA)

U.S. Military Delivers Self-powered Radios to Earthquake Survivors

AM Broadcast DXers should look for EC-130 transmissions on 1030 kHz AM. See our related story on the Commando Solo aircraft at
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2010/01/193rd-special-operations-wing-to.html

HOMESTEAD ARB, Fla. - A U.S. Air Force C-130 is delivering 50,000 hand-held radios for distribution to Haitian earthquake survivors by the recent devastating earthquake.

The radios will be distributed by JTF-Haiti and are expected to arrive later this week.

The small emergency radios are both solar-powered and hand-cranked and do not require batteries.

Radios are being distributed in order for affected citizens to receive news and important information concerning international relief efforts.

In close coordination with the government of Haiti, JTF-Haiti is currently broadcasting news, public health, safety and information regarding relief efforts via a military aircraft equipped with FM and AM broadcasting capability.

Public safety messages are broadcasting in the following frequencies: 92.4 FM, 104.1 FM, 1030 AM.

The role of U.S. military forces during this humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort is to rapidly respond with critically needed supplies and medical services in those areas the Haitian government deems necessary.

U.S. Department of Defense forces are part of a larger, unified United States federal response to the Government of Haiti's request for humanitarian aid. U.S. Southern Command is working with the Department of State, USAID, the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and others to aggressively provide life-sustaining services to the people of Haiti.

BBC lifeline programming to Haiti

Via French Guiana and USA

BBC broadcasts special lifeline programming for Haiti in English, French and Spanish:

1200-1300 UTC 9410 HRI 250 kW 152 deg
11860 GUF UTC 250 kW 305 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix News # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

Radio Canada International special transmissions

Special transmissions of RCI in various languages from Jan.16:
1200-2000 UTC on 15260 SAC 250 kW / 189 deg, maybe to Haiti
2000-2400 UTC on 9510 SAC 250 kW / 189 deg, maybe to Haiti
(DX Mix news # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

Radio Cairo updates B09 shortwave schedule

Egypt - Updated winter B-09 of Radio Cairo
Effective to: 28 March 2010

All times UTC

0700-1100 on 15800 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg Arabic GS WeAf
1015-1215 on 13860 ABZ 250 kW / 090 deg Arabic N/ME
1215-1330 on 17835 ABZ 250 kW / 090 deg English SoAs
1230-1400 on 15710 ABS 250 kW / 106 deg Indonesian SEAs
1300-1600 on 15080 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Arabic WeAf
1330-1530 on 11510 ABZ 100 kW / 070 deg Farsi WeAs
1300-1600 on 9285 ABZ 250 kW / 070 deg Pashto AFG
1500-1600 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg Albanian ALB
1500-1600 on 9250 ABZ 250 kW / 050 deg Uzbek UZB
1530-1730 on 17810 ABZ 100 kW / 170 deg Swahili CEAf
1600-1700 on 15285 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Afar ECAf
1600-1800 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 090 deg Urdu SoAs
1600-1800 on 12170 ABZ 150 kW / 195 deg English SoAf
1700-1900 on 6860 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg Turkish TUR
1700-2300 on 9250 ABZ 250 kW / 180 deg Waadi e Nile EaAf
1700-1730 on 15285 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Somali ECAf
1730-1900 on 15285 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Amharic ECAf
1800-1900 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg Italian WeEu
1800-2100 on 9990 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Hausa WeAf
1900-2000 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg German WeEu
1900-2000 on 6860 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg Russian RUS
1900-2030 on 11510 ABZ 100 kW / 250 deg English WeAf
1900-2400 on 6290 ABS 250 kW / 315 deg Arabic GS WeEu
1900-0030 on 11925 ABZ 100 kW / 160 deg Voice of Arabs CEAf
2000-2115 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg French WeEu
2000-2200 on 6860 ABZ 250 kW / 110 deg Arabic AUS
2030-2230 on 9280 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg French WeAf
2115-2245 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg English WeEu
2215-2330 on 9360 ABZ 250 kW / 245 deg Portuguese SoAm
2300-0030 on 7580 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg English NEAm
2330-0045 on 9360 ABZ 250 kW / 245 deg Arabic SoAm
2330-0045 on 9250 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg Arabic SoAm
0000-0700 on 6290 ABS 250 kW / 315 deg Arabic GS NoAm
0030-0430 on 7580 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg Arabic NEAm
0045-0200 on 9915 ABS 250 kW / 252 deg Spanish SoAm
0045-0200 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 315 deg Spanish NoAm
0045-0200 on 9360 ABZ 250 kW / 245 deg Spanish SoAm
0200-0330 on 6270 ABZ 250 kW / 315 deg English NoAm
(DX Mix News # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

Vatican Radio changes Italian frequency

// parallel frequency

Italian
1300-1330 UTC - new freq 5965 SMG 100 kW 310 deg,x11740 // 7250 9645 15595 21680
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix news # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

Clandestine, Radio Okapi update

Via Meyerton, South Africa transmitter

Radio Okapi in French and Lingala to Congo via VT-Group Communication

0400-0500 UTC 11690 MEY 250 kW 340 deg, x0400-0600 same frequency
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix news # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

Arabic programming updates

// parallel frequency

Iran
Additional frequency of Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran in Arabic
1430-1727 UTC 9830 KAM 500 kW 178 deg to N/ME, co-ch CNR-1 in Chinese.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)

São Tomé
Frequency change for Voice of America - Hello Darfur in Arabic to Sudan:
0300-0330 new freq 7275 SAO 100 kW 052 deg, x9585 // 9845,11855
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix news # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

Uzbekistan frequency changes

Via Uzbekistan relays

All times UTC

Frequency changes of Radio Japan NHK World:
1300-1345 new freq 7400 TAC 100 kW 131 deg,x15215 in Bengali >> from Jan.11
1345-1430 new freq 7400#TAC 100 kW 163 deg,x9585 &in Hindi >> future change
1430-1515 new freq 6200*TAC 100 kW 170 deg,x9795 @in Urdu >>>>> from Jan.18
# China Radio International in Japanese from 1400 same
* strong co-ch Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran in Azeri
& to avoid QRM BBC in Burmese 1345-1430 9580
@ to avoid China Radio International in English till 1457 UT.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)

Frequency change of FEBA Radio in Bengali from Jan 17:
1500-1530 new freq 7485 TAC 100 kW 131 deg, x7365 to avoid CNR-1 in Chinese
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix News # 608 via Alokesh Gupta, India & wb, Germany)

USS Carl Vinson arrives in Haiti

By Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Thompson, Special to American Forces Press Service

ABOARD USS CARL VINSON IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived off the coast of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, today to begin humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

"Our initial focus is to concentrate on saving lives while providing first-responder support to the people of Haiti," said Navy Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch, commander of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and of the sea-based portion of the Navy's humanitarian-support mission in the earthquake-stricken nation. "Our assistance here reflects our nation's compassion and commitment to those impacted by this tragedy."

The carrier arrived with a robust airlift capability, picking up extra helicopters while in transit that will prove essential during the mission.

"When tasked to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Haiti, we immediately headed to Mayport, Fla., at more than 30 knots and loaded 19 helicopters, personnel and support equipment from five different East Coast Navy squadrons in less than eight hours," said Navy Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey, Carl Vinson commanding officer. "There is no other platform that can do all of that so quickly."
(Milcom Monitoring Post)

Bonaire to continue VOA Creole this week

Our colleagues at the Voice of America have asked us to continue relaying the VOA Creole broadcast via Bonaire on 6135 kHz at 1230-1330 UTC on Mon-Fri only. This relay will continue until further notice.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Haitian broadcasters getting back on the air

Internews’ Country Director Philippe Allouard reports that at least 12 radio stations broadcasting to the Port-au-Prince area and one national radio broadcaster are back on the air in Haiti. In addition, Internews is bringing in a 300-watt transmitter that is expected to be able to broadcast up to 30 miles around Port-au-Prince. Internews is currently working with the French government and relief organizations to send the transmitter from Paris to Port-au-Prince through the humanitarian aid corridor.

Internews is also attempting to contact the 41-member network of community radio stations, RAMAK, with whom it has worked in the past in order to assess not only their safety, but also the state of their station’s infrastructure and broadcasting capabilities. One station has responded that the “situation is unimaginable and worse than anyone can predict.” Internews will continue to provide updates on the operational status of Haiti’s media as it becomes available.
(Source: Internews/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Pakistan declares 2010 as the Year of Radio

Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Kaira has declared 2010 as the Year of Radio due to its extensive outreach and it being the cheapest source to disseminate information to the masses.

“The medium of radio has become the most popular means of mass communication around the world, but in Pakistan radio is not given the attention it deserves,” the minister said in a statement yesterday. “The present democratic government is committed to freedom of media and its promotion and would adopt measures to make the medium flourish in the country in view of its widepread coverage,” he added.

Mr Kaira said electronic and print media has progressed tremendously but more attention would now be paid to develop the medium of radio. He said, improved broadcasting quality, more innovative and entertaining content, and new technological developments in areas have made radio a resurgent medium, extremely popular in many fields including education, advertising and entertainment.

Declaring 2010 as Year of Radio, he assured all government support to promote the medium so as to highlight the policies of the government besides challenges facing the country.

Director-General of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Murtaza Solangi, appreciated the announcement of 2010 as The Year of Radio by the minister, saying the state-run Radio Pakistan is actively contributing towards the cherished goal of peace and national harmony.
(Source: Internews/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

WYFR Family Radio, B09 via TRW schedule update

Winter B09 schedule of WYFR Family Radio via TRW = TV Radio Waves

All times UTC

Effective to: 28 March 2010

1400-1500 on 5825 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg to SoAs Nepali
1500-1600 on 5825 ERV 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs Marathi
1100-1200 on 5900 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to SEAs Illocano
1200-1300 on 5910 VLD 250 kW / 220 deg to SEAs Cebuano
1100-1500 on 5995 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs Chinese
1900-2000 on 6000 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg to SoEu Italian
1200-1300 on 6005 K/A 250 kW / 213 deg to EaAs Korean
1600-1700 on 6070 ARM 250 kW / 110 deg to SoAs Punjabi
1100-1500 on 6115 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg to EaAs Chinese
1400-1600 on 6150 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs Urdu
1400-1500 on 6225 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SEAs English
2000-2100 on 6240 KCH 300 kW / 285 deg to WeEu French
2100-2200 on 6240 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu English
1000-1100 on 7265 NVS 250 kW / 085 deg to EaAs Japanese
1600-1700 on 7295 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg to SoAs Urdu
1200-1400 on 7340 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs Vietnamese
1100-1500 on 7415 P.K 200 kW / 275 deg to EaAs Chinese
1800-2000 on 7490 ERV 300 kW / 305 deg to WeEu German
1300-1400 on 7560 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs Burmese
1400-1600 on 7565 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to SoAs Urdu
1800-1900 on 7590 ERV 100 kW / 330 deg to WeEu Polish
1200-1400 on 9310 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs Tagalog/English
1200-1300 on 9320 DB 100 kW / 024 deg to CeAs Russian
1200-1300 on 9450 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg to SEAs Thai
1000-1200 on 9460 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs English/Korean
1200-1400 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs Indonesian
1400-1500 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs English
1200-1300 on 9720 NVS 250 kW / 125 deg to EaAs Cantonese
(DX Mix News # 607 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Russian and English frequency adjustments

All times UTC

Voice of Orthodoxy in Russian:

1530-1600 new freq 7430 A-A 200 kW / 312 ded to RUS Tue/Fri, ex 7435*
* to avoid China Radio International in Pashto

New additional transmission of WYFR in English via VT Communications:

1600-1800 on 6225 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg to SoAf

USA(non) New frequency change for Voice of America in Tibetan from Jan.8:

1400-1500 new freq 9315 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg, x 11695 LAM, re-ex 15530/17520 BIB
(DX Mix News #607 via wb, germany)

Early Shortwave QSL Cards

It was back in the mid 1920s that shortwave radio broadcasting stations located in several different countries began to appear on the radio dial. Back in that era, these stations were quite experimental, and in many cases the programming was taken on relay from the parent mediumwave station. In other cases, special programming was produced for the benefit of listeners in distant countries.
Way back then, when the extent of the coverage area was largely unknown, the operators of these shortwave stations encouraged listeners to send in reception reports, for which a QSL card would be issued. You can imagine just how pleased the staff at a shortwave station was to receive a flow of mail from distant listeners, and you can imagine even more so, how pleased the listener was to receive a QSL card in acknowledgement of his reception report.
The earliest shortwave QSL cards in the Indianapolis Collection date back to the year 1928 and they are from shortwave broadcasting stations in Australia, not the United States.
Our very oldest shortwave QSL card verifies a reception report dated December 15, in that year, 1928. This card was issued by the New South Wales Broadcasting Company Limited who owned and operated mediumwave stations 2FC & 2BL at the time, even before the formation of the ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
This 81 year old shortwave QSL card states quite clearly in the pre-printed text that 2FC can be heard on shortwave at intervals, on 28.5 metres, which corresponds to 10525 kHz. It was issued to a listener living in Auckland, New Zealand, and the postage stamp is missing. Apparently it was removed and placed into a Stamp Album.
Another card from Australia, dated in the following year 1929, verifies the reception of the Melbourne shortwave station 3LO. This card shows the very large shortwave transmitter which was located at Braybrook and installed behind a wire cage for safety.
Our earliest QSL card from the well known Australian shortwave station in that era, VK2ME, is dated in 1930. This card is not the more familiar card showing the map of Australia in yellow with the Kookaburra superimposed. Instead, this card is printed in red and black and it shows a map of the Pacific Rim.
A careful examination of the VK2ME QSL cards showing the yellow map and Kookaburra, reveals that there were at least seven different printings of this particular design.
Our earliest QSL card from an American shortwave station is dated in 1930, and it was issued by W9XAA in Chicago, at the time when the transmitter was located on the Navy Pier on the edge of Lake Michigan. This 79 year old card does show its age; the ink has faded and the card is torn.
Other early American cards verify the reception of, for example:-
1930 W9XQ, also in Chicago
1934 The famous KDKA shortwave outlet W8XK in Pittsburgh
1934 W1XAZ in Boston
1934 W3XAU in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
1935 And the Schenectady twins, W2XAD & W2XAF.
Our earliest QSL card from a shortwave broadcasting station in New Zealand is dated in 1931. This card was from station ZL3CW, in the city of Greymouth, which was on the air with a program relay from the mediumwave station 3ZR. During this era, there were half a dozen shortwave relay stations in New Zealand, all on the air with very low power.
Interestingly, back in the year 1931, the BBC in England was issuing QSL cards verifying their broadcasts from the shortwave station G5SW. At the time, experimental shortwave transmitter G5SW was owned and operated by the Marconi Company in Chelmsford England and it was on loan to the BBC for a relay from the famous London station 2LO.
Our earliest Canadian shortwave card is also dated in 1931 and it was issued by station VE9GW which was located at Bowmanville in Ontario. This was in the era when the station was owned by the commercial company Gooderham & Worts, before it was taken over by the Canadian Radio Commission, the fore-runner to CBC Canada.
Other very early QSL cards during this long-ago era, are from:-
1935 HJ4ABE Colombia
1935 PMA & PLK Island of Java
1935 EAQ Spain
1935 HAS & HAT Hungary
1936 VPD Fiji
1936 TFJ Iceland
(NWS46 via Adrian Peterson/AWR)

CBS Radio in Philadelphia on Shortwave

a nostalgic look at a bygone radio era......

During the radio era before World War 2, there was quite a movement in the United States, and in other countries throughout the world also, to establish shortwave relay stations in an endeavor to give wider coverage to the programming from a local mediumwave station. At the time, television was an experimental concept and not a reality, and FM radio was still a distant dream. The standard mediumwave band was not overcrowded at the time, though the mediumwave signal generally gave only local coverage, particularly during the daylight hours. However, it was understood that shortwave transmissions could give wide area coverage within the country, and even internationally on a much larger scale.

Many mediumwave stations in the United States established shortwave relay transmitters during the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s to carry their programming to distant listeners. In fact, printed documents from this era indicate that there were several hundred of these shortwave relay stations on the air in the United States during the past eighty years. Some of these shortwave stations were quite large, while many were quite small and temporary.
One of these shortwave relay stations that held a high reputation back during those early years was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This station was launched on behalf of the co-located mediumwave station WCAU, under the experimental shortwave callsign W3XAU. And again, even though a casual glance at the callsign might seem to indicate that it was an amateur radio station, this was not the case. Station W3XAU was indeed a professional station, relaying the programming from the mediumwave WCAU.

The X in a pre-war shortwave callsign indicated an experimental station, either amateur or professional, and in this case, indeed quite professional.
The mediumwave station WCAU was launched in 1922 as a very small operation located in the back room of a small radio shop in Philadelphia. Ten years later, following a couple of intermediate migrations, WCAU was established in a professionally built studio complex, the first building in the United States that was constructed specifically as a radio station. This facility was located at 1622 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.

Now, at the same time, a new 50 kW mediumwave transmitter was under construction also, and this was installed in a new transmitter building out at Newtown Square. The initial broadcast from this grand new, and we might add, quite powerful, WCAU was on September 19, 1932.
Before we leave the mediumwave scene and take a look at the shortwave events in Philadelphia, just a touch of humor from a re-run of the TV series, “Gilligan’s Island”. On July 5, 1992,

Gilligan and his six fellow castaways on a lonely and unidentified tropical island somewhere out in the Pacific Ocean tuned in their radio receiver and they heard a broadcast from a radio station that gave the identification announcement as “WCAU”. At the time, the real WCAU in Philadelphia had undergone a callsign change to WOGL, and so there was no real radio station on the air with the callsign WCAU at this stage.

And now back to the story. Not only was there a new suite of studios and offices, and a new transmitter facility back in 1932, but the relatively new medium of shortwave broadcasting was also under development. Early in the year 1930, a small locally made 1 kW shortwave transmitter with the callsign W3XAU was co-installed with the regular mediumwave unit in Philadelphia. It is claimed that this was the first license issued by the FCC for an international shortwave broadcast station as a commercial operation.

However, two years after the Newtown Square facility was inaugurated, a re-built version of the same 1 kW shortwave transmitter was installed alongside the huge 50 kW mediumwave unit. All of these developments took place during the era when the innovative William Paley of later CBS fame was at the helm.

Four years later, this same transmitter was re-built to a 10 kW capacity and two V type antennas were erected to provide coverage into Europe and South America. Station WCAU became even more ambitious for a truly international outreach with the erection of two large curtain type antennas for coverage into the same two areas, Europe and South America. At the same time, they made a request to the federal licensing authorities for 50 kW operation on shortwave. In fact, on several occasions in the late 1930s and early 1940s, CBS lodged similar applications, but on each occasion the request was denied.

With war clouds looming over Europe in 1939, the FCC took a hard look at the international shortwave scene in the United States and they issued a set of three new rules. This edict, issued on May 23, 1939, required that:-
1. All shortwave callsigns should be regularized
2. The power output of each shortwave transmitter should be increased to a minimum of 50 kW
3. Directional antenna systems should be installed

As far as the callsigns were concerned, this edict gave time for consideration and negotiation regarding desired call letters. Initially, the first new callsign chosen to replace the experimental call W3XAU was WCAI. This new callsign for the shortwave outlet, WCAI, proved to be only temporary. With information derived from a contemporary issue of Time Magazine, FCC news releases, and several other sources, it is learned that this temporary new callsign was in use for a little less than two weeks, beginning in mid August, 1939.

The FCC subsequently ruled that all callsign changes for the shortwave stations should become effective on September 1, 1939. However, some stations introduced the new callsign prematurely, and at least a couple were a little tardy in implementing the change. As far as W3XAU was concerned, the change from the initial WCAI to the subsequent WCAB was implemented on August 26, one week before the official date. It is probable that the call WCAI stood for “WCAU International” but there is no known logic for the subsequent call, WCAB.
As for the directional antennas, they were already in place. And the power increase to 50 kW? CBS Philadelphia had already applied on several occasions and had been denied. However, there was another factor involved; a new shortwave station for CBS was already under construction at Brentwood on Long Island.

Initially, the concept was for WCAB Philadelphia to supplement the new Brentwood facility. However, in view of the power restriction imposed by the FCC upon the Philadelphia transmitter, CBS finally considered it best to close this Pennsylvania station in favor of the new high powered facility under development on Long Island, New York.

Programming from the Philadelphia shortwave station was initially a tandem relay from mediumwave WCAU, though separate identification announcements were given over the air. However, when the station became a genuine international broadcaster, much of the scheduling was specifically prepared for the target areas, Europe & Latin America.

Programming in foreign languages was taken on relay from the CBS sister shortwave station W2XE in Wayne, New Jersey, and programming in English was often taken live from the CBS national network. This shortwave station was heard quite frequently throughout the Americas, over in Europe, and also in the South Pacific.

The first new transmitter at the new CBS shortwave station at Brentwood was officially inaugurated on January 1, 1941, and just one year later, the 10 kW unit in Pennsylvania was finally switched off. This nostalgic event took place at midnight on December 31, 1941.
However, that is not the end of the story. You will hear the sequel to this story here in Wavescan next week; and it is just as thrilling as any spy story you can read in any spy story book.
(NWS46 via Adrian Peterson/AWR)

Radio Free Asia - updated B09 schedule

Effective to: 28 March 2010



RFA does not broadcast in English

All broadcast targeted to Asia

Burmese
0030-0130 on 12115 13710 15700
1230-1400 on 7595 11795 12105
1400-1430 on 11795 12105
1630-1730 on 7570



Cantonese
1400-1500 on 5810 7280
2200-2300 on 9570 11740 11775

Khmer
1230-1330 on 13725 15160
2230-2330 on 9355 11850

Korean
1500-1700 on 1350 5860 7210 9385
1700-1900 on 1350 5860 9385
2100-2200 on 1350 7460 9385 12075

Lao
0000-0100 on 11830 15535
1100-1200 on 9355 15120

Mandarin
0300-0600 on 11980 13710 15150 15665 17615 17880 21540
0600-0700 on 11980 13710 15150 15665 17615 17880
1500-1600 on 5810 7445 9440 9905 11945 13725 15495
1600-1700 on 5810 7415 7445 9455 9905 11945 13725
1700-1800 on 5810 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11945 13670
13625
1800-1900 on 5810 7385 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11790
11945 13670
1900-2000 on 1098 5810 5990 6095 7385 9355 9455 9875
9905 11790 11945 15510
2000-2100 on 1098 5810 5990 6095 7355 7495 9355 9455
9875 11900 11945
2100-2200 on 1098 5810 6095 7355 7495 9355 9455 9875
11945 13745
2300-2400 on 7540 11775 11975 15265 15430 15550

Tibetan
0100-0300 on 7470 9670 11695 15220 17730
0600-0700 on 17515 17715 21500 21695
1000-1100 on 9690 15140 17750
1100-1200 on 7470 11540 11590 15375
1200-1400 on 7470 11540 11590 13625 15375
1500-1530 on 7530 9410 11500 15145
1530-1600 on 7470 7530 11500 15145
2200-2300 on 5820 7470 9835
2300-2400 on 6010 7470 7550 9875

Uyghur
0100-0200 on 7480 9480 9645 9690 13605
1600-1700 on 7470 7510 11720 11730

Vietnamese
1400-1430 on 1503 5855 7515 9990 11605 12130 13865 15195
1430-1500 on 5855 7515 9990 11605 12130 13865 15195
2330-0030 on 5855 11605 11965 15135 15565
(Ivo Ivanov/DX Mix news # 607 via wb, Germany)

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.


RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://www.techweb.rfa.org/ (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience.

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org, and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:

Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America.

Upon request, RFA will also send a copy of the current broadcast schedule and a station sticker.
(RFA/A.J. Janitschek)

Radio Netherlands Program Preview, Jan 19-22

TUESDAY 19 JANUARY
*** 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):
19.04 East Africa 12045, West Africa 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
05.00 North America
17.00 Europe

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

'Drugs trade'

Dealing in drugs: After 35 years dealing narcotics on the streets of Columbia, Missouri. Glenn Cobbins gives a frank account of what dealing drugs from the top is really like.

A drug mule's journey: When Maxine was offered 100,000 pounds to take pornographic films to the UK, she thought that it would solve all her problems, little did she know it was only the beginning.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.30 East Asia 12065, 6040, East China 9720
14.15 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.15 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.15 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
04.00 Africa and Asia
10.30 Africa and Asia
14.15 Europe

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with soloist Nelson Freire (piano) interpret Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15 and Dvorak's 9tn symphony "From the new world". Your hosts are Hans Haffmans and Bart Visman.

*** Commonwealth Story ***

A selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2009 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

Neer (Water) - by Praveena Shivram from India. A tragic tale of cruelty in a poor rural village.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.50 East Asia 12065, 6040, East China 9720

Broadcast times on WRN
00.50 Europe
04.25 Africa and Asia
10.50 Africa and Asia
22.50 Asia
23.50 North America and CBC

*** Classic Dox ***

'The House' (Originally broadcast December 2001)

An unusual story of a Czech émigré who unexpectedly hears that the old family home in the Bohemian mountains still exists. What he finds under the floorboards when he visits the house bring the painful family past back to life. Produced by Michele Ernsting.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
14.30 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
14.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
15.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.04 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.04 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
14.04 Europe
22.00 Asia
23.00 North America and CBC

WEDNESDAY 20 JANUARY
*** 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):
19.04 East Africa 12045, West Africa 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
05.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** Reloaded (primary program) ***

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
18.15 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.15 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
14.15 Europe
22.10 Asia

*** Classic Dox ***

'The House of Orange: A Union of Nation and Family' (Originally broadcast December 2002)

A portrait of the House of Orange and the role it has played in the life of the Dutch nation. Historians and archive material tell the story of the Netherlands' Royal Family from 16th-century Stadhouder William the Silent to the three queens of the 20th century. Produced by Marijke van der Meer.

*** Newsline ***

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
14.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
15.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.04 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.04 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
14.04 Europe
22.00 Asia
23.00 North America and CBC

THURSDAY 21 JANUARY
*** 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):
19.04 East Africa 12045, West Africa 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
05.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** Earth Beat (primary program) ***

We speak to author Jonathan Safran Foer about his new book, Eating Animals, which has been converting readers stateside in droves. Have ethical and environmental concerns about the true cost of cheap protein finally soured our taste for meat? Also on the programme, an environmental revolution in your spin cycle and why gyms are bad for the planet. Yup, it's that excuse you always needed to stay on the sofa and veg.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East Asia 12065, 6040, East China 9720
14.30 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.35 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.15 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
04.00 Africa and Asia
05.10 North America
10.00 Africa and Asia
13.00 North America
14.00 Europe
17.30 Europe
22.10 Asia
23.10 North America and CBC

*** Classic Dox ***

'Imagining Farm Machinery' (Orig. broadcast Dec. 2003)

An upstate New York dairy farm in the late 1950s provides a landscape where memory and family history intersect with fiction and farm machinery. Where do the roots of our imagination lie buried? How much is passed on from father to son? By retelling family stories is it possible to recover "what we lost"? Produced by David Swatling.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
15.15 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
14.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
15.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.04 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.04 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
14.04 Europe
22.00 Asia
23.00 North America and CBC

FRIDAY 22 JANUARY
*** 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):
19.04 East Africa 12045, West Africa 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
05.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** 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):
10.00 East Asia 12065, 6040, East China 9720
14.30 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.15 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.15 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
05.10 North America
10.00 Africa and Asia
13.00 North America
17.30 Europe
22.10 Asia
23.10 North America and CBC

*** Classic Dox ***

'Worlds Apart: Story of the Collard Family' (Orig. broadcast Nov. 2001)

One family and two cultures. For decades Aboriginal children were taken away and fostered out or brought up in an orphanage - a parent's worst nightmare. The story of the Collard family puts a human face on Australia's stolen generation. Produced by Dheera Sujan.

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
14.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
15.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 15595
18.04 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 6020
20.04 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
14.04 Europe
22.00 Asia
23.00 North America and CBC
(R Netherlands)

RFE/RL to begin new Radio Mashaal broadcast

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (FE/RL) will begin broadcasting in the local Pashto dialects to Pakistan and the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The new station - called Radio Mashaal ("Torch" in Pashto) - will offer an alternative to the growing number of Islamic extremist radio stations in the region.
"There is an urgent need for accurate, objective news and information in Pakistan's tribal areas," says U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke. "Radio Mashaal's commitment to professional journalism in the local language will be an important contribution toward peace, reconciliation and democracy in the region."

Veteran Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid says he hopes Radio Mashaal "will provide people the kind of information they need to make the right decisions about their lives."

One surprise in store for listeners will be the reappearance of Haroon Bacha, a popular Pashtun singer who fled the region last year amid death threats from the Taliban. The 36-year-old recording artist - whose dozens of albums, music videos and television appearances made him one of the most famous entertainers in the region - will be hosting a cultural affairs show for Radio Mashaal. [see The New York Times: "U.S. Refuge for Singer Fleeing the Taliban," 10/12/08]

There is an urgent need for accurate, objective news and information in Pakistan's tribal areas
The first broadcast will air live on January 15 at 4pm local time. Radio Mashaal's correspondents will be covering local and international news with in-depth reports on terrorism, politics, women's issues, and health care (with an emphasis on preventive medicine). The station will feature roundtable discussions and interviews with tribal leaders and local policymakers in addition to regular call-in programs aimed at giving listeners the opportunity to be heard.
Radio Mashaal will operate out of a new bureau in Pakistan and broadcast from RFE/RL's Prague headquarters. The station will share a frequency with VOA's Radio Deewa and transmit via FM and shortwave. Online, Radio Mashaal's website will provide a live stream of its broadcasts. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty web site)
(Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

Scheduled to broadcast as: 1100-1300 UTC 9395.0 via Thailand, 11605.0, 13700.0 via Sri Lanka.