Monitoring México on shortwave

All times UTC

4800, XERTA, Radio Transcontinental de América, México D. F., 0506-0604, Jul 01, 06 and 12. Religious talks and hymns in Spanish "El amor de Dios", SINPO 25322. (Méndez). Also fading out 1230, Jul 02 with music; 0930, Jul 08 carrier only. (Wilkner)

6010, Radio Mil, México D. F., 0453-0710, Jul 12, Latin American songs, Spanish ID: "Radio Mil". From *0500 interference from Radio Nederland en 6015 and from *0600 interference from Radio Habana Cuba en 6010. At 0702 Radio Mil back, SINPO 12321. (Méndez)

6104.74, XEQM, RASA, Mérida, 0230-0257, Jul 14. Music, Spanish shouting announcement, weak-moderate signal but hard to understand. Subsequent monitoring this frequency around the same time, but only on Jul 15 I heard a weak signal with ID “Candela.” Other days the station was not audible. By the way, in 1977 I visited the station which still is located at the same address in Mérida. Now after 32 years, I was able to hear the station in the Netherlands ! (Van Arnhem). Just a weak carrier noted on 6104.75 at 0215-0245, Jul 21, with no audio. (Petersen). Also heard at 0514-0559, Jul 06, 07, 08, 09 and 12, phone-in and songs in Spanish, "Llámenos para conocernos", "Envía la palabra…", telephone number, "A través de la FM", song "Y quién es él" by José Luis Perales, locutor, "OK, OK, número de teléfono...", "Hola, buenas noches, llamen al ...53...., "Candela", "Hola, son ustedes tan buenos, tan gentiles", "Ahorita", signal best in LSB, 14321 variando a SINPO 44322. At *0559 started BBC with French on 6105. (Méndez). Also heard in Florida at 0935-1105, Jul 08 and 10, music and talk in Spanish over barnyard sounds, a series of canned advertisements, the signal fades in and out from good to poor. (Bolland and Wilkner)

6185, Radio Educación, México, D. F., 0600-0640, Jul 03 and 12. Classical music, program preview, ID: "Los programas de Radio Educación especialmente dedicados a fortalezer la cultura", SINPO 34433. (Méndez)
(DX Window # 381/DSWCI)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jul 21 2301 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 Highland & Forecast Activity 13 - 19 July 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 to moderate levels during the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels early on 13 July. From midday on 13 July through mid-afternoon on 14 July, activity increased to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active periods. Solar wind data at ACE indicated the increase in activity was associated with a coronal hole high-speed stream. Solar wind speed increased from 330 km/s at 13/1109 UTC to 569 km/s at 14/0213 UTC. Intermittent periods of southward IMF Bz were observed between 13/1017 - 14/0115 UTC, with a minimum of -10 nT at 13/2347 UTC. Wind speeds gradually decreased to 276 km/s, beginning at 14/2050 UTC and lasting through the end of the period. Geomagnetic activity decreased to predominantly quiet levels on 15 July. The remainder of
the period was quiet.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
22 July - 17 August 2009

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during 22 July - 04 August. Quiet levels, with isolated unsettled periods, are expected on 05-06 August due to a recurrent coronal hole. Activity is expected to decrease to predominantly quiet levels during the rest of the period, with possible isolated unsettled periods on 05-06 August and 09-10 August due to recurrent coronal holes.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt:Issued: 2009 Jul 21 2301 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 Jul 21
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jul 22 68 5 2
2009 Jul 23 68 5 2
2009 Jul 24 68 5 2
2009 Jul 25 69 5 2
2009 Jul 26 70 5 2
2009 Jul 27 70 5 2
2009 Jul 28 70 5 2
2009 Jul 29 70 5 2
2009 Jul 30 70 5 2
2009 Jul 31 70 5 2
2009 Aug 01 70 5 2
2009 Aug 02 70 5 2
2009 Aug 03 70 5 2
2009 Aug 04 70 5 2
2009 Aug 05 70 8 3
2009 Aug 06 70 7 2
2009 Aug 07 69 5 2
2009 Aug 08 68 5 2
2009 Aug 09 68 8 3
2009 Aug 10 68 6 2
2009 Aug 11 68 5 2
2009 Aug 12 68 5 2
2009 Aug 13 68 5 2
2009 Aug 14 68 5 2
2009 Aug 15 68 5 2
2009 Aug 16 68 5 2
2009 Aug 17 68 5 2
(NOAA)

Argentina adds extra German broadcast to line-up

15345, RAE, Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior, in addition to the usual German program broadcast at 2100-2200 UTC, ALSO broadcast from May 2009 at 1700-1800 on 15345. All, from Monday - Friday. All reports received in the DX editor email, will be confirmed asap with an e-QSL. E-mail address of the DX program: barrera@arg.sicoar.com . (Barrera/DX Window # 381/DSWCI)

Radio Jordan - revised A09 schedule

Broadcast daily unless otherwise indicated
All times UTC



Arabic
0400-0715v 11810 (targeted to Asia, Middle East, Oceania)
0500-0715v 11960 (targeted to Central Europe)
1030-1130v 15290 (targeted to Europe, North Africa)
1030-1130v 11810 (targeted to Asia, Middle East, Oceania)
1745-2000v 9830 (targeted to Europe, North Africa)
v - Variable/ * Armed Forces Service
(Mike Ford, UK/World News by Noel R. Green/DSWCI)

Radio Algerienne - revised A09 schedule

Broadcast daily unless otherwise indicated
transmitters via Issoudun, France

Radio Algerienne, Algeria
All times UTC

Arabic
0400-0600 7295* targeted to Africa & Spain
0500-0700 9535* targeted to Africa & Spain
1800-1900 11775** targeted to Africa & Spain
1900-2000 9375** targeted to Africa & Spain
1900-2000 11775* targeted to Africa & Spain
2000-2100 9375* targeted to Africa & Spain
2000-2100 7495** targeted to Africa & Spain
2100-2300 5875** targeted to Africa & Spain
* May 09-09 Sept; ** 29 Mar 09-25 Oct 09. All transmitters via Issoudun, France.
Schedule confirmed from on-air monitoring, and is a revision from previous listings via WRTH 09 and the station’s A09 release.
(Mike Ford, UK/World News by Noel R. Green/DSWCI)

Total Solar Eclipse in India July 22

A Total Solar Eclipse will be visible in India on July 22, 2009 from early morning 05:28 hrs to 07:40 hrs IST (0000-0210 UTC). It will last for nearly four minutes - from 6.26 am to 6.30 am in India when the sun will not be visible at all. After almost 10 years we have an opportunity of witnessing a total solar eclipse from India, the upcoming solar eclipse will be longest total solar eclipse till 2114. According to NASA, the solar eclipse on July 22, 2009 is a 'Total Solar Eclipse' and the Moon's umbral shadow on Sun begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and ends in the Pacific Ocean.

Here's the link for NASA webpage on Total Solar Eclipse on 22nd July 2009
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009.html

Total solar eclipses occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, completely obscuring the solar disk for a few minutes. The eclipse follows a West-to-East track that lasts several hours until the alignment ends.

Here's the path of Total Solar Eclipse in India:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009iau/TSE2009-fig02.GIF

The total solar eclipse in India will be visible from many cities of India like Surat, Vadodara, Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna and Siliguri. Majority of the regions in India will not have a view of the Total solar eclipse. As per NASA data, it will be a partial eclipse in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

Solar eclipses have been always been of special interest to Dxers and can provide propagation enhancement on lower frequency bands, also of interest will be to monitor MW band. It will be interesting to check the lower bands as the eclipse progresses due to dip in the D layer ionization bringing typical nighttime propagation conditions. It will be also of curiosity of dxers to make observations of propagation conditions just before, during and after the eclipse. There has been some excellent and unusual reception during past eclipses.

Here's a collection of articles on "dxing during solar eclipse" published in the newsletter of "Indian DX Club Intl" during Feb-May 1980, courtes veteran dxer Sudipto Ghose of Kolkata: http://alokeshgupta.googlepages.com/solar_eclipse.pdf

A press release from Indian Meteorological Dept which contains the timings
of total solar eclipse at different Indian cities:http://www.imd.gov.in/doc/solar.pdf
(Alokesh Gupta-IND via DXindia July 13 )

Philippines Broadcasting Service reactivates on 6170 kHz

Philippines
6170.4 kHz - Quezon City-Marulas-Philippines. Marulas, Valenzuela 6170v / 9580v kHz

Reactivated Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) on 6170.4 kHz. Several DXers in Japan had monitored on 6170.4 kHz relay to PBS Radyo Magasin - DZRM on 1278 kHz.

I can receive at +1130-1300 UTC, knocked out by Radio New Zealand Internatinal on 6170 kHz and severe interference from China National Radio-1 on 6175 kHz. Audio file: July 15 at 1200 UTC
www.ndxc.org/imgbbs/img-box/img20090715222234.mp3

PBS - Philippine Broadcasting Service on 6170 kHz relay of 1278 kHz AM MW DWRM Radyo Magazin from Marulas, Valenzuela, Metro Manila audible from:

domestic broadcast in English and Filipino

0000-0100 6170

0100-0200 6170

0200-0300 6170

0300-0400 6170

0400-0500 6170

0500-0600 6170

0700-0800 6170

0800-0900 6170

0900-0930 6170

(programming heard as:)
"Hello everyone and welcome to the march 8th edition of Pilipinas DX. This is report number 25 and I'm Henry Umadhay in Antique, in Central Philippines. Glad to be back and thank you for tuning by.

Our limited second year anniversary QSL card is still available and to those who would like to collect please just kindly send your reception reports to: pilipinadx@yahoo.com

This card featuring the map of our province Antique. I would like to thank our DXer friends for their reports
1. Mr. Tomohide Fujii of Takamatsu,Nerima, Tokyo,Japan
2. Mr. Kazuyuki Kuriki of Aichi,Japan
3. Mr. Li Ming of Maanshan City,China for 2 reception reports
4. Mr Zhang ShiFeng of Penglai City, Shan Dong Province, China
5. Mr. Mukesh Kumar of Bihar, India.
Thank you very much for your reports.
(Philippine DX News No. 26 and 27, April 12, 2009/WWDXC-Top News-BC DX #921)

New radio station planned for Somalia

The African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia is to start a radio station in Mogadishu.

The Defence/Army Spokesperson, Maj Felix Kulayigye said that the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) has already procured the radio equipment.

"The machines are already in East Africa. We are training those who will be handling radio programmes," he said

According to a military source, the radio will be a mouthpiece of the Transitional government led by Sheikh Sharif to bolster its campaign against the Islamist hardliners who have been calling for general upraising in the country against the AU force. However Maj. Kulayigye denied that the setting up of the radio is intended to counter war propaganda by the Islamist fundamentalists in Somalia.

He said the radio will broadcast educational programmes and the need to have a peaceful Somalia. (The Monitor, in ScreenAfrica.com, July 10;
Gabriel Ivan Barrera-ARG, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 15)
(WWDXC/Top News-BC DX #921)

Previous blog post May, 2009 - New shortwave station in Somalia
http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/search?q=somalia

Republic of Congo heard on shortwave again

Republic of Congo
6115 Radio Congo - It looks like shortwave from Congo Brazzaville has been reactivated. I've heard them yesterday 15 July on 6115 kHz in French from 1745-1815 UTC with local music until 1802 UTC station identification, and into a string of post-electoral speeches. Fair signal but the modulation was a bit rough. Gone when re-checked at 1915 UTC. (Vashek Korinek-AFS, DXplorer July 16)

Radio Congo has been audible here very irregularly on 6115 kHz since January 2009. Mostly very weak and/or distorted modulation.

(Jari Savolainen-FIN, DXplorer July 16/WWDXC/Top News-BC-DX #921)

Serbia signs new broadcasting contract

The Serbian Ministry of Culture and Radio Yugoslavia/International Radio Serbia have concluded the contract on the basis of which the station will continue to broadcast programs via satellite and the Internet and in 11 foreign languages in addition to Serbian.
The contract on the co-financing that will be valid by the end of this year was signed by representatives of the Ministry and the radio station. Representatives of International Radio Serbia said that during the next week talks will be held on the social programme for a certain number of radio employees.
(Source: International Radio Serbia)

Andy Sennitt comments: The only distribution platforms mentioned are satellite and the Internet, so it would appear that the station intends to drop shortwave distribution for at least some of the languages, which explains the planned discussions on the ’social programme’, another term for redundancy.

(R. Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Netherlands Program Guide - July 18-24

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

SATURDAY 18 July
*** The State We're In ***

A former Somali pirate tells how piracy was a big risk, but changed his life for the better. And the director of a Dutch security company which helps ships get through the Gulf of Aden tells about one encounter he had with would-be pirates, and how to deal with them on the high seas.

Research shows that beautiful people are treated better in every walk of life, so it stands to reason that parents want their kids to be beautiful - but where do we draw the line?

In the favellas of Rio de Janeiro, people may not be able to afford refrigerators, education for their kids or pay their phone bills, but they're determined to find the money for breast augmentation.

In Italy, the country which more than any other glorifies the cult of beauty, a rebellion is underway. The Ugly Club has a champion.

The Kaffirs are a little-known minority within Sri Lanka who are on the verge of extinction. Yet their music and culture are suddenly popular in the country's mainstream. What does their popularity mean for their cultural survival?

After we aired a piece on how amicable "collaborative divorce" can be, we heard from a listener, who identifies herself as "Liz". She's going through a collaborative divorce and it's milked her dry financially and emotionally and is anything but collaborative.

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

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

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

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

*** Network Europe Extra ***

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

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

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

SUNDAY 19 July
*** Radio Books (primary programme) ***

'Summer in Zantiadi' - by Sana Valiulina

After her university studies in Moscow, Estonian-born writer Sana Valiulina emigrated to the Netherlands in 1989. In her story 'Summer in Zantiadi' a young woman vacationing in a seaside resort falls under the spell of an attractive but mysterious boy.

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

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

MONDAY 20 July
*** Curious Orange (primary programme) ***

'A Propitious Misadventure' - the first part in our series about the 17th-century Dutch colony of New Netherland.

400 years ago, in 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson set off on a Dutch ship called the Half Moon. This 'propitious misadventure' would result in a Dutch colony called New Netherland in the uncharted wilds of North America.

We'll take you aboard the Half Moon and introduce you to Hudson himself.

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

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

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

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

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

*** Euro Hit 40 ***

Europe's No.1 chart Show.

*** Classic Dox ***

Classic Dox presents the best of Radio Netherlands Worldwide documentaries from our archives on subjects ranging from human rights and development to arts, culture and history - as well as insightful or moving personal stories - many of which have won awards at international festivals.

'An Angel-headed Hipster's Howl' (originally broadcast 26-05-2007)

Allen Ginsberg first visited the Netherlands in 1957 and returned twice as a guest of Poetry International. 50 year's after the publication of his iconic poem 'Howl' and its subsequent obscenity trial, poets and friends look back at the work's origins, impact and relevance today.

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

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

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

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

In European Jazz Stage, host Daniel Frankl presents the young jazz lions of Europe. The Joris Roelofs Quartet kicks off in Amsterdam. Originally enticed by the alto sax at the unripe age of six, Joris Roelofs turned to the clarinet, and has played woodwinds ever since.

The quartet is followed by the 17-piece European Youth Jazz Orchestra, recorded in Glasgow, Scotland. And yes, even bagpipes can play jazz.

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

Phenomenal performances by Dutch top orchestras.

Live! at the Concertgebouw 2007

Iván Fischer is conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in works with a nocturnal atmosphere by Dvorák, Bartok, Tarréga and Rimsky-Korsakov. This week's soloist is the violinist Leonidas Kavakos.
The concert is hosted by Hans Haffmans and Cynthia Wilson.

Live! at the Concertgebouw 2008

Juxtaposing Richard Wagner's Parsifal Overture and Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5, with Johannes Brahms between them, Live! at the Concertgebouw explores the musical opposites of the 19th century. In the second half of the concert, programme hosts Hans Haffmans and Bart Visman take a peek into the 20th century, with Arnold Schoenberg's Pelleas and Melisande.

TUESDAY 21 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

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

A former Somali pirate tells how piracy was a big risk, but changed his life for the better. And the director of a Dutch security company which helps ships get through the Gulf of Aden tells about one encounter he had with would-be pirates, and how to deal with them on the high seas.

Research shows that beautiful people are treated better in every walk of life, so it stands to reason that parents want their kids to be beautiful - but where do we draw the line?

In the favellas of Rio de Janeiro, people may not be able to afford refrigerators, education for their kids or pay their phone bills, but they're determined to find the money for breast augmentation.

In Italy, the country which more than any other glorifies the cult of beauty, a rebellion is underway. The Ugly Club has a champion.

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

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

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

WEDNESDAY 22 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

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

*** Reloaded (primary programme) ***

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

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

*** Newsline ***

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

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

THURSDAY 23 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

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

*** Earthbeat (primary program) ***

We hear how intruders have made themselves a little too comfortable in one South African city. Residents in Cape Town have to put up with regular break-ins by dark and hairy thieves. They're not out to steal jewelry and electronics, but bread and fruit because they're baboons and some inhabitants have had enough. Tune in to hear how this conflict of interest is being handled.

And as cases of swine flu are on the rise we hear about a new device that can detect the virus.

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

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

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

FRIDAY 24 July
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

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

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

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

On this week's programme we will have a report on how mobile phones are used in schools. And there will be Ethiopian music - with a London twist.

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

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

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

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

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

EMR relay and internet stream returns

Date: July 19, 2009
Time: 09.00 to 09.30 UTC
Channel 6140 kHz
Program: Tom Taylor (Music program)

The EMR Internet radio service returns this Saturday July 18 on 24/ 7

(Tom Taylor)

propagation forecast posted online

The NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast #2009-24
has been published on Friday 07/17/2009 at 1400 UTC, valid 0000 UTC Saturday
07/18/2009 through 2359 UTC Friday 07/24/2009 at
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm .

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

Voice of People discontinues 1700-1800 broadcast

The 1700-1800 UTC broadcast of Voice of the People via Madagascar on 7395 kHz has been discontinued as of yesterday. The broadcast at 0400-0500 UTC on 9895 kHz is unaffected.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Future of Passport in Limbo

From PWBR headquarters

Passport to World Band Radio® in Limbo

As with any good recipe, a range of ingredients has to come together if a reference book is to succeed. Solid content is, of course, essential. But in recent months other considerations have had an increased bearing on the future of Passport to World Band Radio®. So it is that the 26th Edition of Passport to World Band Radio® is being held in limbo.

Despite this, for now we are continuing to maintain the WorldScan® database and uphold all proprietary material. Among other things, this should help allow for an orderly return
to production, under IBS' aegis or otherwise, should conditions allow.

For Passport® readers and our small team, alike, this is a seminal moment. After all, Passport to World Band Radio® goes back a quarter century and has had something like a
million readers worldwide. But the future has its own rhythm that confounds prognostication.
There may yet be more chapters to this story. Stay tuned.

Best regards,
Lawrence Magne, Publisher
Passport to World Band Radio
International Broadcasting Services, Ltd.
mktg@passband.com
http://www.passband.com/

Blog Logs

Today's shortwave BLOG LOGS, represent a portion of additional logs recently cut from my SWBC Logs column in Monitoring Times magazine at http://www.monitoringtimes.com/ due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to my above email address. Thanks very much to the contributors and blog readers for your kind words and support.
Gayle VH

All times UTC, frequencies in kHz, English unless otherwise indicated // parallel frequencies.
* sign-on - sign-off *

Armenia
Russian International Radio Yerevan 7270, 0218-0232. Russian. Easy-listening pops into ID at 0220. Announcer’s talk and sound bites to dance music at 0224. Station ID at 0230 for good signal quality (Barbour).


Australia
HCJB Global (Kununurra) 15525, 2159-2215. Music and station ID followed at 2200 by another identification and opening announcements for English language service, talk to 2215 tune-out. Very poor signal, frequently fading into the noise. (Evans). 15400, 1203-1224. English service with talk on global warming. Spotlight program to ID and contact info. “HCJB Australia” ID and phone number at 1218 (Barbour).

Radio Australia (Brandon) 5995, 0946-1001. Tok Pisin. Lengthy interview regarding Fiji and human rights. Station URL and program schedule at 0958 with mentions of Pacific Service. Station ID at 1000 into news. Signal fair-good (Barbour).

Radio Australia (Darwin) 11840, 2235-2240. Announcers to field reporters with business news and weather at 2240. Poor signal, much better on parallel signal from Shepparton on 15560 (Evans).

Bhutan
BBS (presumed) 6035, 1402-1418. English service with usual BBS musical bridge, but lost to PBS Yunnan when they started playing traditional Chinese music (Howard).

Brazil
Rádio Bandeirantes 9645.34, 0715-0730. Portuguese religious sermon with very low-keyed delivery. No music observed throughout service (Barker).

Rádio Difusora do Amazonas 4805, 0905-0915. Portuguese programming of music, talk and canned commercials and station promos. Signal noted as poor (Barker).

Rádio Imaculada Conceicão (presumed) 4754.90, 0217-0235. Portuguese with religious songs including Handel’s Hallalujah and other songs. Rare that I heard this station above threshold level (Howard).

Rádio Nacional do Amazonia (Brasilia), 11780, 2246-2300. Male/female announcers Portuguese talk and brief musical bridges. Multiple station identifications at 2300. Good signal with slightly annoying fading on frequency. Noted on // 6185 with poor signal. (Evans).

Clandestine
Shinokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata 5910, *1400-1405. In English with special personal data about abductees. This is the second consecutive Wednesday in English (Howard).

Guam
AFN/AFRTS 13362USB, 0414-0422. Usual AFN programming with news, job hunting tips, a few good words about the Navy Seals and Health Care Matters from NIH. Station ID at 0422. Rather poor signal, but steady and readable, // noted from Hawaii on 10320 and from Key West on 5446.5 - very good 12133.5. (Evans).

Indonesia
Voice of Indonesia 11784.92, 1351-1435. Under a strong VOA in Chinese until 1400. Noted then under a strong BBC in Hindi after 1400. Clear “Voice of Indonesia” ID at 1435 (Howard).

India
All India Radio-Thiruvananthapuram 5010, 0038-0102. English/vernacular services. End of news with talks on Sri Lanka. Announcer at 0040 into Hindi vocal music. Poor signal at tune-in, weak by tune-out (Barbour).

Japan
NHK/Radio Japan 15195, 0357-0403. Japanese programming, interval signal and station ID at 0359. Time pips at 0400 followed by talk for a good signal. Also noted on // 5960 (Sackville) and 15325 (Evans).

Laos
Lao National Radio 6130, 1419. Noted station was running a little late. Announcers’ “hello I am Elizabeth Moore, welcome to Functioning in Business segment. Signal poor with Tibet interference // 6200 (Howard).

Malaysia
Suara Islam program 6049.60, 1529-1545. Vernacular service with ID as “Radio Suara islam, Kuala Lumpur.” Monday educational segment begins and ends with singing “Malaysia” jingle. Announcer gives info about a university professor to easy-listening music (Howard).

Mali
RTV du Mali 5995, 0635-0700. Knock your socks off signal with great selection of tribal tunes from DJ in French. Plenty of drums and wind instruments in the music, most of which sounded rustic. All music in vernacular language. Frequent station identifications, at 0700 as, “ici Radio Mali...Banako” plus the frequency (Barker).

Mauritania
Radio Mauritanie 4845, 0650-0725. Arabic at tune-in to musical bridge. Frequent mentions of “Salam” and “Mohammed.” Station ID at 0658, recheck at 0720. Music from stringed instruments. Fair signal, but the audio and carrier dropped off at 0725 and no further sign of the transmission could be deetcted after several rechecks (Barker).

Nigeria
Voice of Nigeria 9690, 0815-0845. Hausa programming and possible national news. Frequent station ID and English ID as, “ you’re listening to the Voice of Nigeria.” Tribal music at 0835 accompanied by drums. Tuned station out at 0845 during a fair signal quality (Barker).

Northern Marianas
Radio Netherlands (Saipan relay, presumed) 15280, 2220-2230. Announcers talk amid very poor signal, just above the noise level (Evans).
Peru
Radio Vision 4790, 0625-0635. Religious preaching in Spanish to occasional religious music. Signal was poor, just above the noise level. Station ID noted as, “la voz se Salvation ... Radio Vision.” (Barker).

Russia
Voice of Russia (Vladivostok) 13755, 0425-0430. Russian opera featuring male singer. Brief talk by lady at 0430. The Vladivostok transmitter has been consistently strong this year, unlike last year when it was mediocre at best (Evans).

TWR India (Novosibirsk) 12085, 0038-0045. Listed as Bhojjpuri service. Announcer until 0042 when TWR contact info given with Lucknow postal address, plus phone number and website URL. Brief wind instrument and announcer. Off during musical bits at 0045 for signal that was fair at best (Barbour).

Rwanda
Deutsche Welle Kigali relay 9735, 1935-2000.* German. Another newscast regarding the swine flu and news on Chrysler. Various reports including coverage of a live event. Signal fair-good (Barbour).

Slovakia
Radio Slovakia International 5930, 0109-0127. Several features regarding the prons and cons on the five year anniversary of Slovakia’s entry into the EU. Station contact info, interval signal at 0127. Signal fair-good (Barbour).

Tibet
CNR-11 (Tibetan service) 7350, 1430-1500. Holy Tibet program to “China National Radio.” Items on agriculture, animal husbandry, Tibetan farmers to segment on Tourism in Tibet and Eyes on Tibet. Plenty of Tibetan music // 6010, both poor-fair (Howard).

USA
WRNO New Orleans, LA 7505, 0109-0139. Contemporary religious music throughout to 0130 for fair-good signal quality (Barbour).

Contributors:
Scott Barber, NH
Bruce Barker, PA
Jim Evans, TN
Ron Howard, CA

Amateur radio DX News

5V - Franco, I1FQH will be active as 5V7PRF from Togo on 22-31 July. He plans to operate mostly CW with some SSB on 80-10 metres, running 100 watts to a Spiderbeam for 15, 17 and 20 metres, verticals and wires for the other bands. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. He will upload his log to LoTW and eQSL.cc; updates will be posted to http://twitter.com/i1fqh [TNX I1FQH]

5Z - Bob, K4UEE will be in Kenya on 10-17 July doing short term mission work (http://www.410bridge.org/ ) in the village of Kwambekenya, located about 3-4 hours north of Nairobi. He is involved in several different projects including a video project and demonstrating amateur radio in the local high school. Bob hopes to be QRV for some DXing in the lat evenings and early mornings local time. [TNX K4UEE]

7P - Pista/HA5AO (7P8AO), Frosty/K5LBU (7P8CF), Laurent/W0MM (7P8MM), John/9M6XRO (7P8OK) and Ben/DJ0YI (7P8YI) will be active from Lesotho from 29 July to 13 August. They will have two stations QRV all the time, and a third station might be on for PSK and RTTY. Activity will be on all bands, with a serious effort on 160 and 80 metres. QSL 7P8OK via M0URX, others via home calls. The web page for the expedition can be found on the Texas DX Society's site (http://www.tdxs.net/ ) [TNX K5LBU]

8Q - Davide, IK2AHG is active as 8Q7DI from Maayafushi, Maldives (AS-013) until 13 July. He operates holiday style mainly CW on 40-10 metres. QSL via I8ACB. [TNX IK2AHG]

9A - Look for 9A6NL (Laci, HA6NL), 9A/HA6PS (Zsolt), 9A/HA7JJS (Al) and 9A/HA7PL (Laci) to be active from Pasman Island (EU-170) on 20-29 July, IOTA Contest included. Before and after the contest they will operate CW, SSB nad digital modes on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX HA0HW]

9Y - The Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society (TTARS) will be QRV during the IARU HF World Championship as 9Y4HQ [425DXN 948]. Activity on 10-80 metres CW and 40 metres SSB will come from the QTH of 9Y4W on Tobago (SA-009), while the rest of SSB operations will takle place from the QTH of 9Y4D on Trinidad (SA-011). [TNX The Daily DX]

CE0Z - The November-December XR0ZN expedition to Juan Fernandez [425DXN 937] has been postponed and it is now expected to take place in March-April 2010. Updates at www.la6fja.eu/dx/XR0ZN/

CT7 - The Algarve Star DX Team will operate SSB, CW and RTTY on 80-6 metres as CS28MCF on 13-19 July for the 28th International Motorcycle Rally in Faro. QSL via CT1EHX. [TNX CT1END]

CT8 - Hermann, CT3FN (HB9CRV) and several other operators will be active as CR2F from Ribeirinha lighthouse on Faial Island (EU-175), Azores between 18 July and 1 August. They will operate CW, SSB and RTTY on 80-6 metres, and will participate in the IOTA Contest as CR2W. QSL for both callsigns via CT1GFK, direct or bureau. The webiste for the operation is at http://www.to-mk.com/neu/ [TNX VA3RJ]

DL - Andy, DL7AT will be active as DL7AT/m from Norderney Island (EU-047) on 17-24 July. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

EA - Luis, EA1NT will participate in the IOTA Contest as AO1I from Lobeira Grande (EU-077). He will operate SSB only with an amplifier and a vertical antenna. QSL via EA1NT, direct or bureau. [TNX EA1NT]

ES - Juri, ES5GP will be active as ES5GP/8 from Kihnu Island (EU-178) from 29 July to 9 August. He will operate SSB and PSK on all bands. QSL via home call. [TNX ES1QD]

F - The Radio Club du Vaucluse will activate special event callsign TM1MV on 11-25 July for the arrival of this year's Tour de France http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html ) at Mount Ventoux. The cyclists will climb the mountain during the 20th stage, on 25 July. Q SL via F5KPO.[TNX F8REF]

FH - Willi, DJ7RJ has received the call TO7RJ to be used from Mayotte (AF-027) from 22 September trhough 21 October. He will be leaving the island on 25 October, so he will be active as FH/DJ7RJ during the last days. Expect Will to operate CW and SSB on 160-10 metres, and perhaps 6 metres. QSL via home call. [TNX AA1M]

FP - Tim, M0TDG, and Martin, G3ZAY plan to be active from Miquelon (NA-032) as FP/homecall on 24-27 September. They will operate CW and SSB; low band operation will depend on equipment availability (and airline baggage limits). QSL via home calls. Martin will also try to activate McNutt's Island (VE1, NA-126) on 29 September. [TNX G3ZAY]

G - Once again the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) will be represented by GB7HQ in the IARU HF World Championship. Expect a large group of operators to be active from two separate DXCC entities (England and Scotland) on all the HF contest bands on both CW and SSB. To assist in making contacts, when you contact one operator he can give you the frequency of the next GB7HQ station to work. QSL via G3TXF (direct, bureau and LOTW). Further information, including the awards program for contacting GB7HQ on various bands/modes, can be found at http://www.gb7hq.com/ [TNX G4IRN]

G - John, M0XIG and Tony, 2E0SBS will operate special event station GB1TT on 16-18 July from the site of the optical telegraph at Toothill, Hampshire (England). The Toothill Shutter Telegraph was one of a number that operated as a communication link for the British Admiralty between London and Plymouth. QSL via M0XIG, direct or bureau.

G - "Sky Sheppey 2009" celebrates 100 years of British Aviation and the part played by the pioneers of early flying and the armed services over those years on the Isle of Sheppey (EU-005). Special event station GB100SS will be active from Eastchurch on 25-27 July, IOTA Contest included. QSL via operator's instructions. [TNX F5NQL]

GD - MD/DC5SAN, MD/DG1SBU, MD/DG3SHD, MD/DG5SBK, MD/DG7SF, MD/DH1SBB, MD/DK1SG, MD/DL1SPH, MD/DL6SBN and MD/DL8SAD are active from the Isle of Man (EU-116) until 13 July. QSL via home calls. They will use special callsign MD9Y during the IARU HF World Championship (QSL direct to GD3YUM). [TNX DXNL]

HS - A large group of operators from the HS DX Association will participate in the IOTA Contest as HS0AC/p from Si Chang Island (AS-107). QSL via HS0ZFZ. [TNX NG3K]

I - Paolo, IK2MLS will be active as IA5/IK2MLS from Elba Island (EU-028, IIA LI-002) on 3-8 August. He will operate holiday style on 40-10 metres as well as on the VHF bands. [TNX IK2MLS]

IS0 - Joe, IS0MKX and other 14 operators (I1BUP, I1ZB, I5OYY, IK5EKB, IK5RUN, IS0BMU, IS0EUJ, IS0IGV, IS0JMA, IS0KEB, IS0UMP, IS0ZOD, IW5ELA and IZ1DNJ) will be active as IM0M from Asinara Island (EU-165, IIA SS-061) on 22-26 July, including an entry in the IOTA Contest. They will have five stations active on the HF, VHF and UHF bands, SSB, CW and FM. QSL via IS0MKX, direct or bureau. The web istes for the operation are at http://www.mdxc.org/im0m and
http://digilander.libero.it/assoradiomarinai/asinara/home.htm [TNX I1BUP]

IS0 - A group of operators from the Sardinia QRP Club will be active as IQ0QP from Quirra Island (EU-165, IIA CA-009) on 23 August, from about 7 UTC to 16 UTC. They will operate SSB and CW on +/- 7021, 7031, 7091, 10105.5, 10115.5, 14031, 14061 and 14321 kHz. QSL direct (see qrz.com ). [TNX IS0VSU]

J6 - Howard, WB4WXE will be active as J6/WB4WXE from St. Lucia (NA-108) on 10-20 July. He will concentrate on 6 metres, with some activity on 17 metres and possibly some other HF bands. QSL via home call. [TNX ARRL DX Bulletin]

JA - Look for JA6VDB/6 and JE6AQP/6 to be active from the islands of Nozaki and Ojika, in the Goto Islands group (AS-040), Nagasaki prefecture on 8-12 August. They plan to operate CW and SSB on 40-15 metres. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX JI6KVR]

LA - Chris, OE9ICI will be active as LA/OE9ICI from Hitra Island (EU-036) from 19 July to 1 August, including an entry in the IOTA Contest. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX www.rsgbiota.org]

OH - Ian, G4FSU will be active again as OH/G4FSU from Emsalo Island (EU-097) from 21 July to 16 August, including an entry in the RSGB IOTA Contest. QSL via home call. [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

ON - Celebrating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Rijkevorsel by the British 49th Infantry Division (the so-called "Polar Bears"), club station ON4NOK will operate special callsign ON65POL on 18-27 September. QSL via ON7YX, direct or bureau. [TNX ON6UQ]

OZ - Look for OZ/DL2JRM/p (CW) and OZ/DO6XX/p (SSB) to be active on 80-10 metres from Vendsyssel-Thy (EU-171) from 18 July to 1 August. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

PA - The Netherlands' national society (VERON) will be represented by PA6HQ in the IARU HF World Championship. There will be twelve stations on the air during the entire contest, CW and SSB on each band. The 2009 PA6HQ signals will come from the stations of PI4CC, PI4ZI, PI4DX, PA3GCV, PI4D and PI4COM. QSL via PA3CAL. A special award is available for working PA6HQ on six bands; details che be found at
http://pa6hq.veron.nl/ [TNX PA1AW]

PY - PY5BH, PY5DC, PY5DJ, PY5FO and PY5IN will participate in the IOTA Contest as PR5D from Ilha do Mel (SA-047). QSL via PY5DC. [TNX www.rsgbiota.org]

PY - Alex, PY2WAS reports he will be active as PX8W from the rarest Brazilian State of Amapa on 1-2 August. He will operate CW and SSB on 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 and 80 metres. QSL via PY2WAS, direct or bureau.

SM - Kjell, SM4DDS will once again be active as 7S5A from Boko Island/Stora Alo (EU-177) on 12-16 July. He plans to operate CW and SSB on 10-80 metres. QSL via SM4DDS, direct or bureau. [TNX SM4DDS]

SM - Anders, SM5EFX will be active as SM5EFX/2 from Ledskar Island (EU-135) on 19-31 July. He will participate in the IOTA Contest as SF2X. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX http://www.rsgbiota.org/ ]

SM - Eric, SM1TDE will participate in the IOTA Contest as SA1A from his home QTH on Gotland Island (EU-020). Expect him to operate CW only on all bands. QSL via SM1TDE, bureau preferred. [TNX SM1TDE]

SP - Mek, SP7VC and Adam, DJ0IF will participate in the IOTA Contest as SP7VC/1 and SP8RX/1 from Wolin Island (EU-132). QSl via home calls. [TNX DJ0IF]

SV - Steffen, DM3CW will be active holiday style as J48AL from Aigina Island (EU-075) from 21July to 3 August. He will operate CW only using 100 watts into wire antennas. QSL via DM3CW, bureau preferred. [TNX DM3CW]

SV5 - Ermanno, IK2WZD will be active again on SSB and digital modes as SV0XAN/5 from the islands of Lipsi, Agathonisi and Arkoi (Dodecanese, EU-001) from now until 10 October. QSL via IK2WZD. [TNX IZ2ABN]

TK - Lee, F5MUX will be active as TK5UX from Petreto Bicchisano, Corsica (EU-014) on 12-26 July. For the time being he will operate barefoot on 40-10 metres with a vertical antenna. He prefers CW, but he also operates RTTY. QSL via F5MUX. [TNX F5MUX]

UA - In preparation of next year's World Radiosport Team Championship, four Russian teams (R31WRTC, R32WRTC, R38WRTC and R39WRTC) will participate in the IARU HF World Championship. They will operate field-day from WRTC-2010 locations and with WRTC-2010 set-ups. QSL via bureau. [TNX NG3K]

UA - RU3YA, RV3YR, UA3YA, UA3YCX and UA3YY will operate SSB, CW and digital modes as homecall/p from Kotelny Island in river Desna (not IOTA, RII-32-02) on 24-26 July. QSL via home calls. Information on the Russian Internal Islands Award can be found at http://robinsons.ru/index/ 0-6 [TNX RV3YR]

VE - Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the landing of men on the moon (20 July 1969), special event callsign VE3MOON will be in use on 14-27 July. QSL via VE3OIJ, direct or bureau. [TNX VA3RJ]

VK9N - Tommy, VK2IR will be active as VK9IR from Norfolk Island (OC-005) on 19-22 July. He is the team leader of VK9NI [425DXN 947], and will operate while setting up before the team arrives. QSL VK9IR via VK2IR, direct only. [TNX NG3K]

VP2M - Bill, W5SJ will be active as VP2MSJ from Montserrat (NA-103) on 14-21 July. His primary band will be 6m, and he will participate in the CQ WW VHF Contest (18-19 July), but he also plans to operate on the other bands, especially 30 and 60 metres. QSL via W5JAY. [TNX W5SJ]

W - The North Carolina Contesters Club (NR3X) will be active again as N4A from the South Core Banks (NA-067) on 22-27 July, IOTA Contest included. This year's operators will be Barry/K4CZ, Dan/N3ND, Nate/N4YDU, Jack/W0UCE and Keith/W4KAZ. QSL direct to N4YDU. The webpage for the operation is at http://w4kaz.com/n4a/ [TNX VA3RJ]

YB - Hotang, YC0IEM will operate as YC0IEM/9 from Bali Island (OC-022) on 9-27 July. QSL via IZ8CCW, direct or bureau. [TNX IZ8CCW]

YO - YR0HQ will represent the Federatia Romana de Radioamatorism (FRR) during the IARU HF World Championship. A certificate will be issued free of charge for station 12, 9, 6 or 3 QSOs with the HQ station. Please visit http://www.hamradio.ro/ or e-mail yo3apj@yahoo.com for the details. [TNX YO3APJ]

ZP - Special event station ZP15MWC will be active on 12-19 July from Asuncion, Paraguay to celebrate the 15th Mennonite World Conference Assembly. QSL direct to PA0HEL. [TNX VA3RJ]

(Dave Raycroft/DX News #949 via ODXA)

Antenna boost for BBG

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has awarded Thomson for the supply of a rotatable shortwave antenna system for their Kuwait station. The new system will enhance the coverage and flexibility and provide for reduction in maintenance and operating costs.

Scope of supply includes design, delivery and installation of the rotatable shortwave antenna type HP-RCA 2/2 (High Performance Rotatable Curtain Array), including high band and low band antenna, rigid dipole, balun, foundation design and service works.

The design of the new rotatable shortwave antenna is based on the Thomson rotatable curtain array 4/4. The 2/2 system is optimized for near distant coverage up to 4000 km in analog AM or digital DRM modes and features highest flexibility (rotatable system), high antenna gain, cost-efficient operation and low life cycle costs due to easy maintainability.

BBG is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for all non-military, international broadcasting sponsored by the U.S. government. BBG has a good customer relationship with Thomson, based on a long history of past performance in strategic broadcast projects.

(Radio News via Rachel Baughn)

DXers Unlimited weekend edition, July 11

Hi amigos amigos radioaficionados around the world and orbiting Planet Earth !

Welcome to the weekend edition of your favorite radio hobby program, coming to you from sunny Havana, where summer weather is providing us with beautiful days for going to the beach !!!

Listeners questions continue to come in via e-mail, postcards, letters and fax messages, and I have quite a backlog of them here waiting to be answered. a recent one from Chile, really surprised me, as normally the show is not heard so far South of Havana. But the use of 11760 kiloHertz with our omnidirectional 6 dB gain antenna explains why English speaking listeners from Chile are picking up Dxers Unlimited..

More about low cost , easy to build ham radio equipment, and at the end of the show, our exclusive and not copyrighted HF plus low band VHF from 30 to 120 megaHertz or a little higher propagation update and forecast.

Stay tuned for more radio hobby related information, coming to you from Havana.
.............

Si amigos, yes my friends, you are listening to Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited, and YES, we do QSL here one hundred percent, we do verify reception reports and we do it absolutely free of charge, as all short wave radio stations should do. Send your signal reports and comments about the program to inforhc@enet.cu, or VIA AIR MAIL to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba,

And NOW amigos , here is ASK ARNIE, LA NUMERO UNO !!!... THE most popular section of Dxers Unlimited, according to your e-mails, postcards and letters amigos .

Question One for today: From listener Dwight in Maryland,USA, he wants to know why old radio magazines often mentioned the use of an accesory by the name of a “converter” that was connected ahead of short wave receivers to pick up the higher frequency bands.

Well amigo Dwight, a converter is nothing but a complete front end of a radio receiver, it usually includes a radiofrequency amplifier stage, a mixer and a local oscillator. The RF stage in the case of the VHF bands used the best available vacuum tubes that at that time provided good gain and low noise, and the really good converters used a crystal controlled local injection oscillator.

Even today, adding a homebrew converter ahead of a low cost receiver can provide outstanding results, especially with radios that lack front end selectivity. Not too long amog amigo Dwighty, I removed a lot of dust from a three vacuum tube six meter band converter that was in storage for many years. it required 6.3 volts filament voltage and 150 volts DC to operate.

Powering it up from one of my workbench power supplies , I connected the more than 40 years old converter to a modern digital receiver, and was pleasently surprised when I could pick up several of the local VHF communications systems operating here around 49 megaHertz, using just a test lead from the multimeter as an antenna.

Converters are no longer required for all practical purposes, as modern HF receivers are including extended tuning range up to the two meters amateur band. Anyway, for those of you like amigo Dwight that are interested in VHF converters, I may add that they are not too difficult to homebrew, especially if you use solid state devices.

A typical more modern converter will use a high gain low noise MOSFET RF amplifier stage, a double balanced passive mixer and a bipolar transistor oscillator. It will be powered from 12 volts DC and when connected to even a low cost modern digital receiver, will turn the resultant combination into a rather nice VHF receiver , useful for monitoring 6 meters during the summer sporadic E season.

Remember to tune set the receiver to scan from 50.0 to 50.3 megaHertz where most of the activity on 6 meters is concentrated around the world.

Question Two. This one came from Bridgetown , Barbados, listener Alistair , who listens to our 11760 kiloHertz Caribbean edition, tells me in his e-mail that he wants to know more about the magnetic loops and why are they so useful when used at noisy locations.

Well amigo Alistair , magnetic loops are first of all compact antennas, they are easy to turn around the compass to cancel noise sources, and above all, receive only magnetic loops can be built very easily and at low cost by anyone .

My ultra simple HULA HOOP MAGNETIC LOOP is a perfect example of what I am talking about. It is built using a toy HULA HOOP as a “coil form “, a length of TV type coaxial cable, and a
receiving type variable capacitor. It takes less than a couple of hours to complete, and most of your construction time will be used building the base where the HULA HOOP is fixed, so that it may be rotated.

My HULA HOOP MAGNETIC LOOP provides excellent reception from 10 to 30 megaHertz, but it also works quite well with powerful station from 5 to 10 megaHertz.

Amigo Alistair, I am sending direct to you via e-mail the complete , step by step building instructions for my HULA HOOP MAGNETIC LOOP, so that you can start building yours and then tell me also via e-mail how it performs at your
location.

The HULA HOOP MAGNETIC LOOP is possibly one of the lowest cost high performance indoor antennas that exists, but it can also be used outdoors too, in which case you will have to install a remote tuning system to move the air spaced variable capacitor setting according to the operating frequency that you want to use. Let me add that the HULA HOOP MAGNETIC LOOP tunes quite sharply and it does require constant retuning of the air spaced variable capacitor with even a very slight change in frequency.

BUT, peaking the antenna tuning for maximum signal is quite easy to do, and at the same time it provides ultra-sharp selectivity right at the antenna, that helps a lot to reduce unwanted noise and cross modulation problems caused by high powered stations that affect low priced receivers so badly.

As a matter of fact, using my HULA HOOP MAGNETIC LOOP with a low cost digital receiver proved to be a very interesting experience, as the radio's performance was enhanced signficantly due to the extra selectivity at the front end provided by the magnetic loop antenna system.

Question Three; Yes, one extra today to reduce the backlog a bit, well question three, sent by listener Al in Vancouver , Canada, he asks me to describe in full, the design parameters for a low cost two element antenna for the 2 meters amateur band. Well amigo Al, using standard TV antenna elements aluminum rods, the small YAGI uses a split driven element of 980 millimeters, fed at the center with 50 ohm coaxial cable. The boom is made from 22 millimeters PVC pipe of the type used for water distribution , and the reflector element is 1002 millimeters long and located at exactly 51 centimeters from the driven element.

This antenna has around 4 dB gain, a broad radiation pattern, is rugged and easy to build and will help you to access distant repeaters that can't be reached using the typical handie-talkie helically loaded antenna, popularly known as rubber ducky because they look like the tail of a duck wagging !!!

Again, here are the dimensions for the 2 element low cost, easy to build YAGI for the two meters amateur band, the driven element is 980 millimeters long and split at the center, you may want to
make it a little shorter if you plan to use the antenna for the segment of two meters between 146 and 148 megaHertz.

The boom of the antenna is made from 22 millimeters PVC pipe of the type used for high pressure water distribution, and is one meter long, so that you can hold the antenna to any support from the rear of the reflector element.

The separation between the driven and the reflector element is 51 centimeters, and the length of the reflector element is 102 centimeters, that you can make a little shorter for the upper two megahertz of the two meter band.

I feed this antenna with 50 ohm coaxial cable, and right after the feedpoint, I wind 6 turns of the coaxial cable to the boom of the antenna to make an RF choke.. the cable is then fed trough a hole in the boom to the rear of the antenna where it exits .
I have made many of these antennas, and found out that they provide excellent performance, and when built using the above mentioned dimensions they are usually below 1.5 to 1 standing wave ratio even before any adjustments are made.

They can be adjusted for almost perfect standing wave ratio by sliding the reflector element back and forth across the boom, and then leaving it permanently at the spot that provides the lowest SWR.

Remember to use TV antenna rods or tubing, as the dimensions for my low cost two meter YAGI just described are based upon the diameter of the typical TV antenna elements.

Try to tune the antenna for minimum SWR using a VHF standing wave ratio meter, but again, you can use the antenna directly without any adjustments without fear of high SWR, by just carefully
measuring the elements .
........
And now amigos, as always, at the end of the program, here is Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited's HF propagation update and forecast.

Solar flux is hovering around 70 and even lower, as no sunspots activity is presently recorded, and the A index was, as expected at a rather low level. No new active sunspot regions are detected at this moment.

The present season of Sporadic E openings will continue to provide us with plentiful, surprising, interesting and challenging band openings some of them even reaching as high as the two meters or 144 megaHertz amateur band, so monitor the low band TV channels, both analog an digital to detect the Sporadic E openings as soon as possible for them.

If you have a 10 meters or 6 meters band amateur radio rig, keep it on during the time that you are at home, keep them scanning from 28 to 28.5 megaHertz and from 50 to 50.3 megaHertz for signs of openings, that in many cases will be detected when automatic beacons start to come in as the opening starts .

See you all at the mid week edition of the program and don' t forget to send me your radio hobby related questions, signal reports and comments .. send mail to inforhc@enet.cu or via air mail to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba
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Dxers Unlimited
Dxers Unlimited is Arnie Coro's CO2KK Blog devoted to the promotion and development of the radio hobby. It focuses on the technical aspects of radio , and includes a twice weekly update on short wave and low band VHF propagation.

International Radio of Serbia may drop six languages

The International Radio of Serbia (aka Radio Yugoslavia ) has received a draft contract from the Ministry of Culture, according to which the French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Greek and Arab services should be disbanded, while the remaining programmes would be broadcast in English, Chinese, Russian, Albanian, Spanish and Serbian.

The contract is not acceptable, said Station Director Milena Jokic, who resigned a month ago because of the official attitude towards the station. She said that the proposed contract has a number of legal shortcomings, and that closing down of those programmes does not save anything, because it would only close down ten jobs, and leave the entire infrastructure unchanged.

Ms Dokic also said that the programme in Arabic has a strong foothold in the Arab countries, so that it would practically mean the end of one important channel of communication. She confirmed that nobody from the International Radio of Serbia was consulted when the contract was drafted. She expressed the hope that, instead of closing down the programmes, the Ministry of Culture will offer a provisional contract on the financing of the station by the end of the year, after which another solution for savings will be found.

The editor-in-chief of Radio Belgrade, Dusan Radulovic, supports Ms Dokic, and said in an interview with the station that “the shortwave broadcasts should not be cancelled, and if the country wishes to make some savings, it should decrease the number of various advisors, for example.”

Mr Radulovic agrees that the savings achieved by disbanding these services would be insignificant, since the transmitter is already working around the clock, and the satellite channel has been rented for a long-term. “I believe that the cancellation of these services should be discussed again. The Government needs to think about the function of a station such as Radio Yugoslavia. Many countries in the region have tackled the same issue, and their world services are functioning normally”, added Mr Radulovic.

With regard to the request from the Ministry of Culture to provide information about the number of listeners of Radio Yugoslavia, he described it as meaningless. “I could have the greatest number of listeners, if I would try to follow the line of least resistance and adapt to the public taste. We have a social interest to preserve stations like this”, Dusan Radulovic concluded. (R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Full story at: http://glassrbije.org/E/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7900&Itemid=32