The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has been called into investigate the operation of illicit radio stations, after a series of detections in various parts of the country, head of the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) Anusha Palpita told the Sunday Times yesterday.
He said that six illicit radio stations have been detected and there are reports that several more of them are operating in various parts of the country including in the Eastern Province. “We have released a frequency, to be used for broadcasts in schools and at functions, with a radius of one kilometre. This is the frequency which is being illegally used”, Mr Palpita said.
He said that the broadcasts were being used for various purposes including commercial purposes, and religious and political propaganda. “They sometimes operate for a few hours or sometimes late at night to avoid detection”, he added.
The latest detection of an illicit radio station was made in Matale late last month. The station operating from a Kovil in Matale, had a transmitter to broadcast to a radius of one kilometre. Sub Inspector Sunil Yatawatra who led the raid, told the Sunday Times that investigations have revealed that an engineer of the state radio [SLBC] had sold the transmitter to the person who operated the station.
“We are now investigating as to how this engineer had obtained the equipment”, he said. The station was operating from a room within the shrine room of the Kataragama Devale on a hill. The radio station operator, Alaguraj Rajendran, 43, owns a communication centre and has a diploma in transmitters. He was arrested and subsequently released on bail.
Investigations revealed that the station which operated under the name “Om-Shakthi’, was mainly broadcasting commercials relevant to the area. Earlier, the TRC and the Police raided illicit radio stations in Beruwala and Puttalam.
(Source: sundaytimes.lk/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Operation Odessey Dawn on MilcomMP
You can see the latest info, pics and video on the military operations over Libya - Operation Odessey Dawn on our sister blog the Milcom Monitoring Post (http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com) and on twitter at @MilcomMP for late breaking quick feed info.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Radio Australia reinforces broadcast to Japan
ABC has reinforced Radio Australia’s capacity to assist the Australian Government in the carriage of urgent information to Australian citizens in Japan. Broadcasts normally directed to Papua New Guinea have been extended to cover Japan. In addition two broadcasts normally directed to south-east Asia have been re-directed to JapanRadio Australia’s English service from Shepparton, Victoria will broadcast to Japan as follows until further notice (all times UTC):
English
2300-0700 on 13690 kHz
2330-00700 on 17750 kHz
0000-0500 on 21725 kHz
0700-1300 on 11945 kHz
0700-0900 on 9710 kHz
1100-1400 on 9560 kHz
1400-1800 on 5995/6080 kHz
Source: Nigel Holmes, Transmission Manager Radio Australia, via Mike Bird)
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Radio Netherlands Program Guide , March 18-24
The State We're In
Jonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.
This week: FYI (For Your Information)
Sometimes getting information out there becomes a life’s work. An Indonesian man explains how helping out tsunami survivors seven years ago turned him into a national figure. A Pakistani doctor recounts the funny and sometimes poignant tale behind getting a sex education book published in Pakistan.
A Pashtun-Pakistani journalist in exile explains how he was threatened for telling the truth about the targeted killings of the Pashtun minority in Karachi. And an ex-spy for the US forces describes how he gets information from prisoners, without resorting to torture.
First airing: Saturday 02:00 UTC
Earth Beat
Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet.
This week: Going intergalactic
Space. Is it the final frontier? Or should we boldly go where none have gone before? From space debris and who owns the moon to finding Mars on Earth, we examine life beyond our atmosphere.
First airing: Friday 02:00 UTC
Bridges With Africa
We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa.
This week:
Ghaddafi regains the upper hand in Libya. What would his victory mean for Africa?
Nigerian prostitutes seek love and money in Rome, but find only misery.
Islam and Senegal – could the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia happen in West Africa? A special report on Senegal’s own brand of Islam.
The South African jailbird singing his way to freedom. We speak to Larry Joe.
First airing: Friday 00:00 UTC
Africa in Progress
Inspiring round-table discussions with guest speakers and in-depth interviews give listeners food for thought.
This week: To tell or not to tell - sex and HIV
Young people make up about 17 percent of all of those who are infected with the HIV virus in the world. One of their biggest challenges is how to manage their sexuality in a responsible way. When and how should they reveal their status? In an openhearted round table discussion, three youths who are living with aids share their dilemmas about sexuality and relationships with us.
First airing: Monday 18:00 UTC
South Asia Wired
Programme in which South Asians get to talk to each other, hosted by Dheera Sujan.
This week: Cricket World Cup Cricket fever
Cricket World Cup fever is spreading in the South Asian region, where the world’s top cricket teams are competing in this year's Cricket World Cup. But apart from the usual favourites, there are also a few lesser-known countries present, for instance Kenya, Ireland, Canada and the Netherlands.
However, the orange-clad Dutch team hasn't been very succesful so far, losing all of its five games. In this week's edition of South Asia Wired, you can hear a special report from India about the adventures of 15 amateurs who are trying to conquer the world on their quest to make this game a little more popular in their home country.
(There'll be a new edition of the programme on Thursday 24 March)
First airing: Thursday 15:14 UTC
Commonwealth Story
A selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.
This week: The Beast that Came from the Sea - by Lani Young from Samoa. A natural disaster and a mother's tragic loss.
First airing: Tuesday 00:55 UTC
Hear the World
Listen to the world’s musical heartbeat on RNW. A brand new world music series hosted by Dheera Sujan.
This week:
Djivan Gasparyan from Armenia is the grand master of the duduk, the Armenian oboe made from apricot wood. At the Music Meeting in Nijmegen, he played tranquil and melancholic folk melodies with his duduk quartet. The Stevens Church in the city of Nijmegen provided an ideal acoustic space to catch the Armenian soul in the enchanting delecate sounds of the duduk.
The Black Sea Orchestra consists of musicians representing musical traditions from eight countries on the Black Sea: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Romania and Georgia. Every member of the group contributes a composition from his or her own tradition to the Music Meeting while the other members respond with spontaneous improvisation.
First airing: Monday 03:00 UTC
RNW Classical
Classical concerts from the Royal Concertgebouw as well as studio recordings of Dutch performers, presented by Hans Haffmans.
A relay of part of the music programming of our sister web station RNWclassical.com.
First airing: Monday 01:00 UTC
Radio Netherlands English service (to 26 March 2011)
1000-1057 9720as 12065as (Asia)
1400-1500 12080as 15595va (Asia/various areas)
1500-1557 15595as
1800-1857 6020af 11655af (Africa)
1900-1957 7425af 9895af 11615af 11655af
2000-2057 5935af 7425af 11655af
(R Netherlands/Leo van der Wounde)
Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins
Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2011 Mar 15 1909 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 07 - 13 March 2011
Solar activity ranged from low to high levels during the period. Early on 07 March, activity levels increased rapidly from low to high levels. Regions 1164 (N24, L=164, class/area Ekc/760 on 07 March), 1165 (S20, L=184, class/area Fko/420 on 07 March) and 1166 (N09, L=092, class/area Ekc/750 on 10 March) produced a total of seven M-class events on the 07 March, the largest was an M3.7 X-ray event from Region 1164 observed at 07/2012Z. Associated with this event was a Type II Sweep (1133 km/s), a large 10cm Burst (23,000 sfu) and a full-halo CME with an estimated plane-of-sky velocity of 2180 km/s. Earlier on 07 March, Region 1166 produced an M1.9/Sf with associated Type II (1320 km/s) and Type IV Sweep signatures and a partial-halo CME with an estimated plane-of-sky velocity of 634 km/s. Activity levels remained high on 08 March due to an M5.3/1f flare observed from Region 1165 at 08/1044Z. High levels persisted on 09 March when Region 1166 produced a X1.5/2b flare at 09/2323Z. Activity decayed to moderate levels on 10 March due to a single M1.1 at 10/2241Z, most likely from Region 1166. By 11 March, levels decayed further to low levels as C-class activity was observed, all from Region 1166. Moderate levels returned on 12 March due to an M1.3/1n observed from Region 1166 at 12/0443Z with an associated Type II Sweep (454 km/s). Later on the 12th, Region 1166 produced a C9.6/1f flare with another Type II Sweep (954 km/s). On 13 March,
levels decreased again to low levels with Region 1166 and Region 1169 (N20, L=060, class/area Cro/290 on 13 March) producing C-class events.
A greater than 10 MeV proton event, at geosynchronous orbit, was observed from 8-10 March due to the M3.7 event from 07/2012Z from Region 1164. The event began at 08/0105Z, reached a maximum flux of 50 pfu on 08/0800Z, and ended at 10/1210Z.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels from 07-09 March. Mostly moderate levels were observed until March 13, when a return to high levels was observed.
Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to minor storm levels with isolated major to severe storm periods observed at high latitudes. From 07 March through early on 10 March, the geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels with isolated high latitude active periods. At about 10/0600Z, the ACE spacecraft observed a shock which was most likely the result of the arrival of the 07 March CME activity. Wind speeds increased from about 300 km/s to near 375 km/s while the Bz component of the IMF turned south to about -9 nT. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled to active conditions, with major to severe storm levels observed at
high latitudes. These conditions persisted through the remainder of the summary period. At about 11/1400Z, density, temperature, and wind speed began to rise while the Bz component indicated fluctuations between +/- 10 nT. These signatures were consistent with a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) in advance of a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Solar wind velocities continued a gradual rise through the remainder of 11 March into 12 March and peaked near 600 km/s at 12/0858Z. On 13 March, a gradual decrease in solar wind velocity was observed with velocities holding steady near 550 km/s
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 March - 11 April 2011
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a chance for C-class events from 16-24 March. An increase to low to moderate levels is expected for the remainder of the period with the return of old Regions 1165 and 1164 on 25 March and old Region 1169 on 31 March.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate levels from 16 - 19 March. Normal background levels are expected to prevail during 20 - 28 March. High levels are expected to return from 29 March - 05 April and then a decrease to normal background levels is expected for the remainder of the period.
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at mostly quiet levels from 16 - 27 March. An increase to active to minor storm levels is expected from 28 -31 March in response to a recurrent CH HSS. A return to mostly quiet levels is expected from 01 - 06 April. Quiet
to unsettled conditions with a chance for an isolated active period from 07 - 10 April is expected in response to another recurrent CH HSS. A return to quiet levels is expected for the remainder of the period.
Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2011 Mar 15 2010 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 2011-03-15
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2011 Mar 16 100 5 2
2011 Mar 17 100 10 3
2011 Mar 18 100 8 3
2011 Mar 19 95 5 2
2011 Mar 20 90 5 2
2011 Mar 21 85 5 2
2011 Mar 22 80 5 2
2011 Mar 23 80 5 2
2011 Mar 24 85 5 2
2011 Mar 25 90 5 2
2011 Mar 26 90 5 2
2011 Mar 27 95 5 2
2011 Mar 28 95 18 4
2011 Mar 29 100 15 3
2011 Mar 30 100 10 3
2011 Mar 31 110 8 3
2011 Apr 01 110 5 2
2011 Apr 02 110 5 2
2011 Apr 03 110 5 2
2011 Apr 04 110 5 2
2011 Apr 05 110 5 2
2011 Apr 06 110 5 2
2011 Apr 07 105 7 2
2011 Apr 08 105 7 2
2011 Apr 09 100 7 2
2011 Apr 10 100 5 2
2011 Apr 11 95 5 2
(NOAA)
Propagation observations
As at March 17 2011, the 10.7 cm solar flux had dropped to 95, and the daily SSN to 41. These are very low levels, even though solar cycle 24 is progressing slowly!
So not much action above 12 MHz for multi-hop long-haul transmissions over darkness paths.
I did some research in the 11 MHz band yesterday in the Warrandyte State Park, 30 mins from here, 20 km east of central Melbourne. This was at the eastern end of the Pound Bend Picnic area, next to the Yarra. The Eton E5 and a 3 m random antenna yielded many signals in the mid afternoon window, 0430 to 0500, with longpath dominating from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and shortpath from Asia and the Americas.
This summary of key occupancies of March 17 may be of interest
11640 IRAN VOIRI Turkish *0500
11645 GREECE VOG Greek *0500
11740 EGYPT R. Cairo, Setswana
11805 UZBEKISTAN CVC-Tashkent Hindi
11815 BRAZIL R. Brazil Central
11860 CYPRUS BBC English
11870 USA WEWN Spanish
11895 ROMANIA English
11925 IRAN VOIRI Hebrew
11935 IRAN VOIRI Dari
11980 TAJIKISTAN RFA-Dushanbe Chinese
12010 CUBA RHC Spanish
12015 SRI LANKA R. Farda, Iranawela, Farsi
12025 IRAN VOIRI Russian *0500
12030 RUSSIA VOA-Petropavlovsk English
12035 CYPRUS BBC English
12040 CUBA RHC Spanish
12070 RUSSIA VOR-Moscow Russian
(Bob Padula, Australia/Cumbre DX)
:Issued: 2011 Mar 15 1909 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 07 - 13 March 2011
Solar activity ranged from low to high levels during the period. Early on 07 March, activity levels increased rapidly from low to high levels. Regions 1164 (N24, L=164, class/area Ekc/760 on 07 March), 1165 (S20, L=184, class/area Fko/420 on 07 March) and 1166 (N09, L=092, class/area Ekc/750 on 10 March) produced a total of seven M-class events on the 07 March, the largest was an M3.7 X-ray event from Region 1164 observed at 07/2012Z. Associated with this event was a Type II Sweep (1133 km/s), a large 10cm Burst (23,000 sfu) and a full-halo CME with an estimated plane-of-sky velocity of 2180 km/s. Earlier on 07 March, Region 1166 produced an M1.9/Sf with associated Type II (1320 km/s) and Type IV Sweep signatures and a partial-halo CME with an estimated plane-of-sky velocity of 634 km/s. Activity levels remained high on 08 March due to an M5.3/1f flare observed from Region 1165 at 08/1044Z. High levels persisted on 09 March when Region 1166 produced a X1.5/2b flare at 09/2323Z. Activity decayed to moderate levels on 10 March due to a single M1.1 at 10/2241Z, most likely from Region 1166. By 11 March, levels decayed further to low levels as C-class activity was observed, all from Region 1166. Moderate levels returned on 12 March due to an M1.3/1n observed from Region 1166 at 12/0443Z with an associated Type II Sweep (454 km/s). Later on the 12th, Region 1166 produced a C9.6/1f flare with another Type II Sweep (954 km/s). On 13 March,
levels decreased again to low levels with Region 1166 and Region 1169 (N20, L=060, class/area Cro/290 on 13 March) producing C-class events.
A greater than 10 MeV proton event, at geosynchronous orbit, was observed from 8-10 March due to the M3.7 event from 07/2012Z from Region 1164. The event began at 08/0105Z, reached a maximum flux of 50 pfu on 08/0800Z, and ended at 10/1210Z.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels from 07-09 March. Mostly moderate levels were observed until March 13, when a return to high levels was observed.
Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to minor storm levels with isolated major to severe storm periods observed at high latitudes. From 07 March through early on 10 March, the geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels with isolated high latitude active periods. At about 10/0600Z, the ACE spacecraft observed a shock which was most likely the result of the arrival of the 07 March CME activity. Wind speeds increased from about 300 km/s to near 375 km/s while the Bz component of the IMF turned south to about -9 nT. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled to active conditions, with major to severe storm levels observed at
high latitudes. These conditions persisted through the remainder of the summary period. At about 11/1400Z, density, temperature, and wind speed began to rise while the Bz component indicated fluctuations between +/- 10 nT. These signatures were consistent with a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) in advance of a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Solar wind velocities continued a gradual rise through the remainder of 11 March into 12 March and peaked near 600 km/s at 12/0858Z. On 13 March, a gradual decrease in solar wind velocity was observed with velocities holding steady near 550 km/s
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 March - 11 April 2011
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a chance for C-class events from 16-24 March. An increase to low to moderate levels is expected for the remainder of the period with the return of old Regions 1165 and 1164 on 25 March and old Region 1169 on 31 March.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate levels from 16 - 19 March. Normal background levels are expected to prevail during 20 - 28 March. High levels are expected to return from 29 March - 05 April and then a decrease to normal background levels is expected for the remainder of the period.
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at mostly quiet levels from 16 - 27 March. An increase to active to minor storm levels is expected from 28 -31 March in response to a recurrent CH HSS. A return to mostly quiet levels is expected from 01 - 06 April. Quiet
to unsettled conditions with a chance for an isolated active period from 07 - 10 April is expected in response to another recurrent CH HSS. A return to quiet levels is expected for the remainder of the period.
Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt:Issued: 2011 Mar 15 2010 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 2011-03-15
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2011 Mar 16 100 5 2
2011 Mar 17 100 10 3
2011 Mar 18 100 8 3
2011 Mar 19 95 5 2
2011 Mar 20 90 5 2
2011 Mar 21 85 5 2
2011 Mar 22 80 5 2
2011 Mar 23 80 5 2
2011 Mar 24 85 5 2
2011 Mar 25 90 5 2
2011 Mar 26 90 5 2
2011 Mar 27 95 5 2
2011 Mar 28 95 18 4
2011 Mar 29 100 15 3
2011 Mar 30 100 10 3
2011 Mar 31 110 8 3
2011 Apr 01 110 5 2
2011 Apr 02 110 5 2
2011 Apr 03 110 5 2
2011 Apr 04 110 5 2
2011 Apr 05 110 5 2
2011 Apr 06 110 5 2
2011 Apr 07 105 7 2
2011 Apr 08 105 7 2
2011 Apr 09 100 7 2
2011 Apr 10 100 5 2
2011 Apr 11 95 5 2
(NOAA)
Propagation observations
As at March 17 2011, the 10.7 cm solar flux had dropped to 95, and the daily SSN to 41. These are very low levels, even though solar cycle 24 is progressing slowly!
So not much action above 12 MHz for multi-hop long-haul transmissions over darkness paths.
I did some research in the 11 MHz band yesterday in the Warrandyte State Park, 30 mins from here, 20 km east of central Melbourne. This was at the eastern end of the Pound Bend Picnic area, next to the Yarra. The Eton E5 and a 3 m random antenna yielded many signals in the mid afternoon window, 0430 to 0500, with longpath dominating from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and shortpath from Asia and the Americas.
This summary of key occupancies of March 17 may be of interest
11640 IRAN VOIRI Turkish *0500
11645 GREECE VOG Greek *0500
11740 EGYPT R. Cairo, Setswana
11805 UZBEKISTAN CVC-Tashkent Hindi
11815 BRAZIL R. Brazil Central
11860 CYPRUS BBC English
11870 USA WEWN Spanish
11895 ROMANIA English
11925 IRAN VOIRI Hebrew
11935 IRAN VOIRI Dari
11980 TAJIKISTAN RFA-Dushanbe Chinese
12010 CUBA RHC Spanish
12015 SRI LANKA R. Farda, Iranawela, Farsi
12025 IRAN VOIRI Russian *0500
12030 RUSSIA VOA-Petropavlovsk English
12035 CYPRUS BBC English
12040 CUBA RHC Spanish
12070 RUSSIA VOR-Moscow Russian
(Bob Padula, Australia/Cumbre DX)
North Korea's Digital Underground
To smuggle facts into or out of North Korea is to risk imprisonment and even execution. Yet today, aided by a half-dozen stealthy media organizations outside the country, citizen-journalists are using technologies new and old to break the regime’s iron grip on information. Will the truth set a nation free?
he Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the very archetype of a “closed society.” It ranks dead last—196th out of 196 countries—in Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press index. Unlike the citizens of, say, Tunisia or Egypt, to name two countries whose populations recently tapped the power of social media to help upend the existing political order, few North Koreans have access to Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube. In fact, except for a tiny elite, the DPRK’s 25 million inhabitants are not connected to the Internet. Televisions are set to receive only government stations. International radio signals are routinely jammed, and electricity is unreliable. Freestanding radios are illegal. But every North Korean household and business is outfitted with a government-controlled radio hardwired to a central station. The speaker comes with a volume control, but no off switch. In a new media age awash in universally shared information—an age of planet-wide instant messaging and texted manifestos—the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains a stubborn holdout, a regime almost totally in control of its national narrative.
Continued story at The Atlantic website:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/04/north-korea-8217-s-digital-underground/8414/
he Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the very archetype of a “closed society.” It ranks dead last—196th out of 196 countries—in Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press index. Unlike the citizens of, say, Tunisia or Egypt, to name two countries whose populations recently tapped the power of social media to help upend the existing political order, few North Koreans have access to Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube. In fact, except for a tiny elite, the DPRK’s 25 million inhabitants are not connected to the Internet. Televisions are set to receive only government stations. International radio signals are routinely jammed, and electricity is unreliable. Freestanding radios are illegal. But every North Korean household and business is outfitted with a government-controlled radio hardwired to a central station. The speaker comes with a volume control, but no off switch. In a new media age awash in universally shared information—an age of planet-wide instant messaging and texted manifestos—the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains a stubborn holdout, a regime almost totally in control of its national narrative.
Continued story at The Atlantic website:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/04/north-korea-8217-s-digital-underground/8414/
WYTH DX Test on March 19
For the medium wave DXers in the crowd. Good luck !
Craig Baker was so pleased with the results from last weekend’s WKVQ DX Test, he’s offered to run another early test for European DXers in hopes that they will hear WYTH too. Here are the details:
WYTH, 1250 kHz, 1 KW, Madison, GA will test on March 19, 2011 from 1:00-1:30 AM Eastern Daylight Saving Time (0500-0530 UTC). Test may include Morse code IDs, voice IDs, special music, and sweep tones.
WYTH, 1250 Khz, 1 KW, Madison, GA will test on March 19, 2011 from 2:00-2:30 AM Eastern Daylight Saving Time (0600-0630 UTC). Test may include Morse code IDs, voice IDs, special music, and sweep tones.
Reception reports may be sent to starstation[at]bellsouth[dot]net which will be acknowledged with an eQSL or snail mail reports which will be acknowledged with a traditional QSL card. Please be sure to include return postage if sending a postal reception report.
During the test, phone calls will also be accepted at 706-485-8792. Special thanks to Chief Engineer Craig Baker, for making this test possible.
WYTH Radio,
Attn: DX Test
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024-3965
During the test, phone calls will also be accepted at 706-485-8792. Special thanks to Chief Engineer Craig Baker, for making this test possible.
Jim Pogue, KH2AR
Craig Baker was so pleased with the results from last weekend’s WKVQ DX Test, he’s offered to run another early test for European DXers in hopes that they will hear WYTH too. Here are the details:
WYTH, 1250 kHz, 1 KW, Madison, GA will test on March 19, 2011 from 1:00-1:30 AM Eastern Daylight Saving Time (0500-0530 UTC). Test may include Morse code IDs, voice IDs, special music, and sweep tones.
WYTH, 1250 Khz, 1 KW, Madison, GA will test on March 19, 2011 from 2:00-2:30 AM Eastern Daylight Saving Time (0600-0630 UTC). Test may include Morse code IDs, voice IDs, special music, and sweep tones.
Reception reports may be sent to starstation[at]bellsouth[dot]net which will be acknowledged with an eQSL or snail mail reports which will be acknowledged with a traditional QSL card. Please be sure to include return postage if sending a postal reception report.
During the test, phone calls will also be accepted at 706-485-8792. Special thanks to Chief Engineer Craig Baker, for making this test possible.
WYTH Radio,
Attn: DX Test
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024-3965
During the test, phone calls will also be accepted at 706-485-8792. Special thanks to Chief Engineer Craig Baker, for making this test possible.
Jim Pogue, KH2AR
Dream Software Radio news
Dream software radio - binary downloads now available!
17-Mar-11
Since 2003, the software has been downloaded over 160,000 times by people in over 130 countries. The average of around 2000 per month has been reasonably constant since 2009.
This year so far over 6,000 people have downloaded dream from http://sourceforge.net/projects/drm/files/drm
The top countries this year are Germany (1,301), Italy (756), United States (739), Morocco (483), Russia (347)
Source: http://sourceforge.net/projects/drm/files/stats/map?dates=2011-01-01+to+2011-03-17 (DRM Newsletter 3/2011 via Alokesh Gupta, India)
17-Mar-11
Since 2003, the software has been downloaded over 160,000 times by people in over 130 countries. The average of around 2000 per month has been reasonably constant since 2009.
This year so far over 6,000 people have downloaded dream from http://sourceforge.net/projects/drm/files/drm
The top countries this year are Germany (1,301), Italy (756), United States (739), Morocco (483), Russia (347)
Source: http://sourceforge.net/projects/drm/files/stats/map?dates=2011-01-01+to+2011-03-17 (DRM Newsletter 3/2011 via Alokesh Gupta, India)
Time to Rethink the Broadcasting Board of Governors
Recent strategic decisions by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) on Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts to China suggest that the time has come for Congress to take a serious look at the way the U.S. government manages its international broadcasting services. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in her testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 1, expressed strong concern over the state of U.S. international broadcasting.[1] Of course, Clinton herself has a seat (usually deputized to Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale) on the BBG, so she has the opportunity and responsibility to act on her concerns.The fact is that, as currently constituted, the mostly unpaid, part-time BBG, which meets once a month and has no real CEO, is no way to run a complex media organization with over $750 million worth of broadcasting entities paid for by U.S. taxpayers. This is no reflection on the board members (four Democrats and four Republicans, in addition to the Secretary of State) who volunteer their time, work hard to serve their country, and do so for idealistic reasons. Yet, with other responsibilities and day jobs, board members are not able to devote the time or resources to U.S. international broadcasting that it deserves. Congress should look at changing this situation.
(Alokesh Gupta, India)
Additional story at The Heritage Foundation
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/03/Time-to-Rethink-the-Broadcasting-Board-of-Governors
Another Middle East Trouble Spot - Yemen, Part 1
The Story of Radio Broadcasting in the Land of the Queen of Sheba
The Middle Eastern country of Yemen is another one of the countries that has shared in the recent unrest that has moved through the Middle East and North Africa almost like a turbulent epidemic. The news on television has shown the mass events that took place in Tunisia, and more recently of course, the similar and greatly enlarged events in nearby Egypt, particularly in their capital city Cairo, as well as in Libya.
According to various news sources, thousands of Yemeni citizens took to the streets in January in the wake of these similar events in the two North African countries, Tunisia & Egypt. However, the news media state that in Yemen, the mass public demonstrations have been mostly peaceful and orderly, though the demands are the same; changes in national leadership where corruption and mismanagement are evident, and attention to the needs of citizenry regarding employment, income and local freedoms.
Yemen is described in the encyclopedia as one of the oldest countries in the world, and at the same time, one of the poorest. Yemen is made up these days of two states, each with its own capital city, Sana & Aden, and there was a time when they were separate countries. The combined country is about 750 miles long and nearly 300 miles wide, with a population of a little over 20 million.
Going way back in history, it is stated that Hamitic and then Semitic peoples moved into the area around 4,000 years ago, and the locality became an important trading route between Africa, the Middle East, Europe & Asia. Great Britain seized Aden in 1839 after the local people robbed a wrecked British ship, and they gradually expanded their influence and took over the whole area.
Independence from England was gained in 1967, and during subsequent fighting in the areas, there were two Yemens, Aden & Sana, in some form of separation. On May 22, 1990, the two Yemens were united into one country.
The encyclopedia states that the Biblical Queen of Sheba ruled the Yemeni peoples during the 900s BC, and that she visited King Solomon in Palestine around the year 950 BC. Local history tells us that the Queen of Sheba was a new queen at the time, in her mid teens, and that her name was Bilqis. Her capital city was Marib, in which important archeological excavations have been conducted in recent years.
In our radio story, we go first to Southern Yemen, or Aden as it was known for so long, and here we discover that way back, there was a very early cable station located in this small British colony. This underwater cable system connected Europe with the Middle East, Asia and the South Pacific.
This submarine cable was laid by the Eastern Telegraph Company and it was opened for communication service in 1879. In 1936, the communication company known as Cable & Wireless, C&W, took over the control of the cable station in Aden.
In the meantime, the Marconi company in England established a spark wireless station in Aden during the year 1915. This station formed part of the Marconi international network known as the Imperial Wireless Scheme and it was established for onward communication between England and Asia and the South Pacific.
In 1940, a small radio broadcasting station was established in Ra’s Bradley, a suburban area of Aden and it was on the air as required spasmodically, with short broadcasts containing war news, important local announcements and emergency information. This station was closed in 1945.
Another very small station was installed in Aden by AFRS, the American Armed Forces Radio Service. This station was located inside an American army base, it emitted just 5 watts as a carrier current operation, it radiated on 1040 kHz, and it was on the air under the callsign WADN. The initial letter W indicated its American ownership; and the three subsequent letters, ADN, almost spelled out its location, as Aden. Station WADN was closed in August 1945.
Next on the scene was an informal amateur broadcasting station established with improvised equipment by volunteers at the Royal Air Force RAF base at nearby Khormaksar. This station was inaugurated in 1954 with 250 watts on 1236 kHz.
However, two years later, another Royal Air Force radio station was established at almost the same location and it was operated officially as a unit of BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service. Interestingly, both stations on the air force base, were on the air simultaneously, some times in competition, and occasionally in co-operation.
The new BFBS station began with just 300 watts on 1025 kHz, though a little more than half a dozen years later, a tangible new facility was constructed at Steamer Point, a new 10 kW transmitter was installed, and the frequency was changed to 1241 kHz. When this substantial station was closed in 1967, much of the equipment and some of the personnel were transferred to the smaller and still rather unofficial radio station at the same air force base.
During two different time periods, the shortwave station in Aden operated by Cable & Wireless, C&W, was in use spasmodically for the broadcast of radio programming. In January 1941, station ZNR was heard in both Australia & New Zealand with the broadcast of radio programming on 12115 kHz. The actual callsign in use was ZNR2, and the power output was just 250 watts. QSL letters were issued in confirmation of this shortwave programming that was noted for a few months around early 1941.
Then again, ten years later in the early 1950s, similar occasional broadcasts were noted from station ZNR, on the same channel 12115 kHz, but now with an increased power output of 2 kW. During this era, these broadcasts were noted on air for around a year or two
More on Yemen here in Wavescan, next week!
(AWR/Wavescan NWS # 107 via Adrian Peterson)
According to various news sources, thousands of Yemeni citizens took to the streets in January in the wake of these similar events in the two North African countries, Tunisia & Egypt. However, the news media state that in Yemen, the mass public demonstrations have been mostly peaceful and orderly, though the demands are the same; changes in national leadership where corruption and mismanagement are evident, and attention to the needs of citizenry regarding employment, income and local freedoms.
Yemen is described in the encyclopedia as one of the oldest countries in the world, and at the same time, one of the poorest. Yemen is made up these days of two states, each with its own capital city, Sana & Aden, and there was a time when they were separate countries. The combined country is about 750 miles long and nearly 300 miles wide, with a population of a little over 20 million.
Going way back in history, it is stated that Hamitic and then Semitic peoples moved into the area around 4,000 years ago, and the locality became an important trading route between Africa, the Middle East, Europe & Asia. Great Britain seized Aden in 1839 after the local people robbed a wrecked British ship, and they gradually expanded their influence and took over the whole area.
Independence from England was gained in 1967, and during subsequent fighting in the areas, there were two Yemens, Aden & Sana, in some form of separation. On May 22, 1990, the two Yemens were united into one country.
The encyclopedia states that the Biblical Queen of Sheba ruled the Yemeni peoples during the 900s BC, and that she visited King Solomon in Palestine around the year 950 BC. Local history tells us that the Queen of Sheba was a new queen at the time, in her mid teens, and that her name was Bilqis. Her capital city was Marib, in which important archeological excavations have been conducted in recent years.
In our radio story, we go first to Southern Yemen, or Aden as it was known for so long, and here we discover that way back, there was a very early cable station located in this small British colony. This underwater cable system connected Europe with the Middle East, Asia and the South Pacific.
This submarine cable was laid by the Eastern Telegraph Company and it was opened for communication service in 1879. In 1936, the communication company known as Cable & Wireless, C&W, took over the control of the cable station in Aden.
In the meantime, the Marconi company in England established a spark wireless station in Aden during the year 1915. This station formed part of the Marconi international network known as the Imperial Wireless Scheme and it was established for onward communication between England and Asia and the South Pacific.
In 1940, a small radio broadcasting station was established in Ra’s Bradley, a suburban area of Aden and it was on the air as required spasmodically, with short broadcasts containing war news, important local announcements and emergency information. This station was closed in 1945.
Another very small station was installed in Aden by AFRS, the American Armed Forces Radio Service. This station was located inside an American army base, it emitted just 5 watts as a carrier current operation, it radiated on 1040 kHz, and it was on the air under the callsign WADN. The initial letter W indicated its American ownership; and the three subsequent letters, ADN, almost spelled out its location, as Aden. Station WADN was closed in August 1945.
Next on the scene was an informal amateur broadcasting station established with improvised equipment by volunteers at the Royal Air Force RAF base at nearby Khormaksar. This station was inaugurated in 1954 with 250 watts on 1236 kHz.
However, two years later, another Royal Air Force radio station was established at almost the same location and it was operated officially as a unit of BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service. Interestingly, both stations on the air force base, were on the air simultaneously, some times in competition, and occasionally in co-operation.
The new BFBS station began with just 300 watts on 1025 kHz, though a little more than half a dozen years later, a tangible new facility was constructed at Steamer Point, a new 10 kW transmitter was installed, and the frequency was changed to 1241 kHz. When this substantial station was closed in 1967, much of the equipment and some of the personnel were transferred to the smaller and still rather unofficial radio station at the same air force base.
During two different time periods, the shortwave station in Aden operated by Cable & Wireless, C&W, was in use spasmodically for the broadcast of radio programming. In January 1941, station ZNR was heard in both Australia & New Zealand with the broadcast of radio programming on 12115 kHz. The actual callsign in use was ZNR2, and the power output was just 250 watts. QSL letters were issued in confirmation of this shortwave programming that was noted for a few months around early 1941.
Then again, ten years later in the early 1950s, similar occasional broadcasts were noted from station ZNR, on the same channel 12115 kHz, but now with an increased power output of 2 kW. During this era, these broadcasts were noted on air for around a year or two
More on Yemen here in Wavescan, next week!
(AWR/Wavescan NWS # 107 via Adrian Peterson)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Radio Nikkei simulcasting local radio from Fukushima
Due to the nuclear emergency in Fukushima, Japan, Radio Nikkei - the country’s only private shortwave broadcaster - has begun to simulcast some programming from a local radio station in Fukushima - Radio Hukuzima - which is broadcasting a 24-hour emergency service. The simulcasts are carried on Radio Nikkei’s 1st Programme, which operates on 3925/6055/9595 kHz. Simulcasts over the next few days are tentatively scheduled as follows:17 March: 0930-1055 UTC
18 March: 0605-0700 & 1045-1130 UTC
19 March: 0930-1030 UTC
20 March: 1035-1130 UTC
21 March: Extended broadcast planned
Radio Nikkei points out that the scheduled transmissions may be modified depending on events in Fukushima.
(Source: Radio Nikkei website via Google Translate/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Countdown to summer schedule updates
As many of you are aware, most shortwave broadcasters will update their broadcast frequency schedules, commencing 27 March 2011.
In the coming days, I will post selected summer schedules, as I am currently processing and updating the Monitoring Times database.
Complete by-hour broadcast schedule of all worldwide schedules, are available as a free download to all MT ExPress subscribers. The new online Shortwave Broadcast Guide has more than 11,000 station entries that include all languages being broadcast via shortwave radio worldwide, sorted by time and updated monthly.
For additional subscription information, please refer to www.monitoringtimes.com
Gayle Van Horn/Frequency Manager, Monitoring Times
In the coming days, I will post selected summer schedules, as I am currently processing and updating the Monitoring Times database.
Complete by-hour broadcast schedule of all worldwide schedules, are available as a free download to all MT ExPress subscribers. The new online Shortwave Broadcast Guide has more than 11,000 station entries that include all languages being broadcast via shortwave radio worldwide, sorted by time and updated monthly.
For additional subscription information, please refer to www.monitoringtimes.com
Gayle Van Horn/Frequency Manager, Monitoring Times
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Voice of Russia to assist with messages to Japan
Text of report in English by Japan’s largest news agency Kyodo
Moscow, March 13 Kyodo - Voice of Russia, the Russian government-run international radio station, said Saturday it will air a special programme to convey messages from overseas residents facing difficulty contacting their families and friends in Japan in the aftermath of a massive earthquake.
The station will accept such messages in Japanese, English and Russian on a 24-hour telephone hotline and will deliver them in its Japanese-language programme aired daily between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Japan Time, as well as on its website pages featuring some other Asian and European languages.
The phone number for the services is 7-495-9506484. The broadcaster also accepts messages via e-mail at letters@ruvr.ru .
(Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0142 gmt 13 Mar 11 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Radio Japan English service
All times UTC / target areas: af (Africa) as (Asia) eu (Europe) na (North America) pa (Pacific)
0500-0530 5975eu 6110na 9770af 15205as 17810as
1000-1030 9605as 9625pa 9840pa 11780as
1200-1230 6120na 9625pa 9790eu
1200-1300 9695as
1300-1330 9875as
1400-1430 5955as 9875as 21560af
(Alexey Zinevich, Bulgaria/BCDX 986/Top News)
Moscow, March 13 Kyodo - Voice of Russia, the Russian government-run international radio station, said Saturday it will air a special programme to convey messages from overseas residents facing difficulty contacting their families and friends in Japan in the aftermath of a massive earthquake.
The station will accept such messages in Japanese, English and Russian on a 24-hour telephone hotline and will deliver them in its Japanese-language programme aired daily between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Japan Time, as well as on its website pages featuring some other Asian and European languages.
The phone number for the services is 7-495-9506484. The broadcaster also accepts messages via e-mail at letters@ruvr.ru .
(Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0142 gmt 13 Mar 11 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Radio Japan English service
All times UTC / target areas: af (Africa) as (Asia) eu (Europe) na (North America) pa (Pacific)
0500-0530 5975eu 6110na 9770af 15205as 17810as
1000-1030 9605as 9625pa 9840pa 11780as
1200-1230 6120na 9625pa 9790eu
1200-1300 9695as
1300-1330 9875as
1400-1430 5955as 9875as 21560af
(Alexey Zinevich, Bulgaria/BCDX 986/Top News)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Media Broadcast schedule updates, Part 3-4
Transmitters via French Guiana and Germany
Updates for Winter B-10 schedule of Media Broadcast (MBR)
Part 3 of 4:
All times UTC
Radio Dardasha 7 (Clandestine)
0300-0330 7325 WER 125 kW 120 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
0500-0530 6100 NAU 125 kW 190 deg to WeAF in Arabic
1700-1730 9440 WER 125 kW 120 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
1900-1930 9430 WER 125 kW 180 deg to WeAF in Arabic
Radio Farda
0400-0500 9430 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
0500-0600 12015 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
0600-0700 17840 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1230-1600 13680 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1800-1900 9850 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
Radio Liberty
0400-0500 6105 WER 250 kW 060 deg to EaEUR in Belorussian
0400-0600 6120 WER 250 kW 060 deg to EaEUR in Belorussian
1600-1800 7220 WER 250 kW 055 deg to EaEUR in Belorussian
1600-1700 11980 WER 250 kW 075 deg to EaEUR in Russian
1400-1500 9595 WER 250 kW 060 deg to CeAS in Uzbek
1400-1500 12015 WER 250 kW 075 deg to CeAS in Uzbek
1500-1530 11790 WER 250 kW 075 deg to CeAS in Kyrgyz
1600-1700 9485 NAU 250 kW 103 deg to CeAS in Azeri
Radio Mashaal
0500-0900 15715 WER 250 kW 090 deg to WeAS in Pashto
Deewa Radio
1400-1500 9565 WER 250 kW 090 deg to WeAS in Pashto
Radio Ashna
1530-1730 9770 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Dari/Pashto
Voice of America (VOA):
2030-2100 9780 WER 250 kW 180deg to CeAF Hausa Mo-Fr,ex11705 NAU
1630-1700 15620 WER 250 kW 135 deg to EaAF in Somali
1630-1700 9785 WER 250 kW 150 deg to EaAF En"Focus"to Sudan Mo-Fr
1630-1700 11905 WER 250 kW 150 deg to EaAF En"Focus"to Sudan Mo-Fr
1630-1700 13635 NAU 250 kW 150 deg to EaAF En"Focus"to Sudan Mo-Fr
1800-1830 9805 WER 250 kW 150 deg to EaAF in Arabic "Hello Darfur"
1900-1930 9815 WER 250 kW 150 deg to EaAF in Arabic "Hello Darfur"
1730-1800 9485 NAU 250 kW 140 deg to EaAF in Afan Oromo Mon-Fri
1730-1800 11905 WER 250 kW 150 deg to EaAF in Afan Oromo Mon-Fri
1800-1900 9485 NAU 250 kW 140 deg to EaAF in Amharic
1800-1900 11675 WER 250 kW 135 deg to EaAF in Amharic
1900-1930 9485 NAU 250 kW 140 deg to EaAF in Tigrigna Mon-Fri
0230-0330 7205 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
0230-0330 9495 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1630-1730 9540 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1730-1830 9825 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1730-1930 9680 NAU 125 kW 100 deg to WeAS in Persian
1830-1930 9825 WER 125 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
0500-0600 9430 NAU 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Kurdish
1400-1500 13735 WER 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Kurdish
1500-1530 5930 WER 250 kW 075 deg to CeAS in Uzbek
1600-1700 7390 WER 250 kW 090 deg to CeAS in Georgian
1700-1800 11840 WER 250 kW 090 deg to CeAS in Georgian
1830-1900 9495 WER 250 kW 090 deg to CeAS in Azeri
Brother Stair/The Overcomer Ministries
1400-1600 9460 WER 100 kW 300 deg to WeEUR English
1400-1600 13810 NAU 100 kW 129 deg to NE/ME English
1400-1600 17580 WER 100 kW 170 deg to CeAF English
Radio Dabanga (Clandestine)
1530-1630 13740 WER 500 kW 150 deg to EaAF in Sudanese Arabic
1630-1730 11615 WER 500 kW 150 deg to EaAF in Sudanese Arabic
FEBA Radio
1900-1930 7235 WER 250 kW 105 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
Voice of Russia
2300-0100 11605 GUF 250 kW 181 deg to SoAM in Portuguese
0100-0300 9875 GUF 250 kW 195 deg to SoAM in Spanish
0300-0600 7335 GUF 250 kW 318 deg to NoAM in Spanish
Democratic Voice of Burma (Clandestine)
2330-0030 5905 WER 125 kW 075 deg to SoEaAS in Burmese
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Mar 8)
(DX Mix News 667, Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany & Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria)
Transmitters via France, French Guiana and Germany
Part 4 0f 4
Updates for Winter B-10 schedule of Media Broadcast (MBR).
Voice of Croatia
0000-0400 7375 WER 100 kW 300 deg to NoEaAm in Croatian/English/Spanish
0200-0600 7375 WER 125 kW 325 deg to NoWeAF in Croatian/English/Spanish
2300-0400 7375 WER 100 kW 240 deg to SoAM in Croatian/English/Spanish
Gospel For Asia
0030-0130 7215 WER 250 kW 090 deg to SoEaAS in South East Asian langs
1230-1500 15285 WER 250 kW 090 deg to SoEaAS in South East Asian langs
1330-1530 12005 WER 250 kW 090 deg to SoEaAS in South East Asian langs
1530-1630 11645 WER 250 kW 090 deg to SoEaAS in South East Asian langs
2330-0030 7240 WER 250 kW 075 deg to SoEaAS in South East Asian langs
Radio Japan NHK World
1200-1230 9790 WER 250 kW 300 deg to WeEUR in English
0330-0400 6130 WER 250 kW 045 deg to EaEUR in Russian
0530-0600 9850 WER 500 kW 195 deg to WeCeAF in French
1430-1500 12045 WER 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
2200-2300 9620 WER 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Japanese
Lutheran World Federation Voice of Gospel
1830-1900 9800 WER 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in Fulani
WYFR Family Radio
1800-1900 3975 WER 250 kW non-dir to CeEUR in Hungarian
1800-1900 6120 NAU 250 kW 230 deg to SoEUR in Spanish
1700-1900 6140 WER 250 kW 060 deg to EaEUR in Russian
1800-1900 6050 WER 100 kW 090 deg to SoEaEUR in Romanian
1900-2000 3975 WER 250 kW non-dir to SoEaEUR in Serbian
1700-1800 11690 WER 100 kW 180 deg to NoAF in Arabic
1800-1900 9845 ISS 250 kW 134 deg to NoAF in Arabic
1900-2000 9500 WER 250 kW 150 deg to NoAF in Arabic
1900-2000 9695 WER 500 kW 210 deg to WeAF in French
2000-2100 9515 NAU 250 kW 210 deg to WeAF in Arabic
2000-2100 9830 NAU 250 kW 202 deg to WeAF in Bambara, new exEnglish
2100-2200 6010 WER 250 kW 210 deg to WeAF in Arabic
2200-2300 5960 WER 250 kW 210 deg to WeAF in Arabic
1800-1900 9535 WER 500 kW 183 deg to WeCeAF in Hausa
1800-1900 11665 WER 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in English
1900-2200 9925 WER 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in English
2000-2100 9595 NAU 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in French
2100-2200 7305 NAU 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in French
1600-1700 13660 NAU 500 kW 125 deg to EaAF in Oromo
1600-1700 11975 ISS 500 kW 131 deg to EaAF in Amharic
1700-1800 11975 ISS 500 kW 131 deg to EaAF in Swahili
1800-1900 12015 ISS 500 kW 155 deg to SoAF in En(Sesotho*)
1800-1900 13660 WER 500 kW 165 deg to SoAF in En(Setswana*)
1800-1900 12140 WER 500 kW 165 deg to SoAF in En(Xhosa-Zulu*)
1900-2000 11955 NAU 500 kW 177 deg to SoAF in Kikongo
1900-2000 12140 WER 500 kW 150 deg SoAF Kinyarwanda-Kirundi
1600-1700 11995 WER 250 kW 120 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
1700-1800 9850 WER 250 kW 120 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
1600-1700 11885 NAU 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1700-1800 6105 NAU 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1700-1800 9630 WER 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Kurdish
1400-1500 13605 WER 250 kW 075 deg to CeAS in Uzbek Mo-Sa
1400-1500 13605 ISS 250 kW 070 deg to CeAS in Uzbek Sun
1300-1500 13820 NAU 500 kW 085 deg to SoAS in Bengali
1400-1500 15325 WER 500 kW 090 deg to SoAS in Oriya
1400-1500 15315 WER 500 kW 105 deg to SoAS in Malayalam
1400-1500 13655 WER 500 kW 090 deg to SoAS in Sindhi
1500-1600 13655 WER 500 kW 090 deg to SoAS in Kannada
1400-1600 13700 NAU 500 kW 095 deg to SoAS in Hindi
1500-1600 9800 NAU 500 kW 084 deg to SoAS in Gujarati
1500-1600 11935 NAU 500 kW 094 deg to SoAS in Tamil
1600-1700 9405 NAU 500 kW 094 deg to SoAS in Hindi
0100-0200 11730 GUF 250 kW 306 deg to CeAM in Creole
2200-2400 9465 GUF 500 kW 215 deg to SoAM in Spanish
2200-2400 7360 GUF 500 kW 170 deg to SoAM in Portuguese
0000-0100 7360 GUF 500 kW 170 deg to SoAM in English
0000-0100 7395 GUF 500 kW 215 deg to SoAM in Spanish
0200-0300 5930 GUF 500 kW 215 deg to SoAM in English
* future plan
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Mar 9)
(DX Mix News 668, Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany & Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Hot Spot DXing - NHK Japan in English
Japan, NHK World/Radio Japan - B10 English schedule
Effective: 31 October 2010 - 27 March 2011
All times UTC
broadcast daily unless otherwise indicated
English
0500-0530 5975eu 6110na 9770af 15205as 17810as
1000-1030 9605as 9625pa 9840pa 11780as
1200-1230 6120na 9625pa 9790eu
1200-1300 9695as
1300-1330 9875as
1400-1430 5955as 9875as 21560af
(Alexey Zinevich, Bulgaria/BCDX 986/Top News)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
E10 Mossad HF Numbers Stations - SK!
Our good friend Ary Boender is reporting on the UDXF newsgroup that after about 45 years, the well known Israeli Mossad numbers (Enigma E10) transmissions have disappeared from the HF spectrum. The stations have been silent since March 1st. Callsigns include YHF, CIO, VLB, etc.
According to the March 2011 E2K newsletter the night of Feb 28-Mar 1 was the last time a E10 transmission was logged. Despite intensive monitoring of all the current and previous known frequencies since, nothing has been heard.
So where has this activity moved to? Satellite? Landlines? Has the E10 transmissions gone digital? Is the E2K editorial staff theory that the extra traffic that has been observed over in Europe on the HEW ALE network related? There just is no way to know at this time.
But I can say that this is truly an end of an era. I still remember all the legwork that Havana Moon and others did many years ago to confirm the locations of these transmissions and the originating agency - the Israel Mossad.
E10 transmissions SK!
According to the March 2011 E2K newsletter the night of Feb 28-Mar 1 was the last time a E10 transmission was logged. Despite intensive monitoring of all the current and previous known frequencies since, nothing has been heard.
So where has this activity moved to? Satellite? Landlines? Has the E10 transmissions gone digital? Is the E2K editorial staff theory that the extra traffic that has been observed over in Europe on the HEW ALE network related? There just is no way to know at this time.
But I can say that this is truly an end of an era. I still remember all the legwork that Havana Moon and others did many years ago to confirm the locations of these transmissions and the originating agency - the Israel Mossad.
E10 transmissions SK!
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins
The daily sunspot number (SSN) has reached 137 and the daily solar flux index (SFI) 166.7, both new record high's for solar cycle 24.
The UTC day ended with five M class solar flares, the largest being an M5.3. All five solar flares resulted in radio black outs on the sun facing side of the earth.
A >(10+0) energetic proton flux storm is still underway and continues to create increased D Layer RF signal absorption on 160 and 80 meters on paths at high latitudes (polar cap absorption) on the day light side of the earth.. You can see it at ttp://www.swpc.noaa.gov/drap/index.html .
73 & GUD DX,
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o@tampabay.rr.com
Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2011 Mar 09 0004 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
28 February - 06 March 2011
Solar activity ranged from very low to moderate levels during the period. Activity was at moderate levels on 28 February. Region 1164 (N24, L=165, class/area Fkc/770 on 05 March) produced an M1.1 flare at 28/1252UTC. Region 1164 also produced a C2.4/Sf flare with an
associated Type II sweep, with an estimated shock velocity of 1038 km/s. Activity decreased to low levels for the rest of the period. Several C-class flares occurred; the most significant of these was a C5.4/1N at 03/1419 UTC from Region 1164.
No protons were observed at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels during 28 February - 01 March. High levels occurred during 02- 06 March.
Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to severe storm levels during the period. Activity was at quiet levels on 28 February. Activity increased to quiet to active levels, with isolated minor to severe levels on 01 March. Activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active to major storm levels on 05 March. Activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active levels to major storm levels at high latitudes on 04 March. The elevated activity was due to a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) and a following coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS). The Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bt reached 17 nT at 01/0645 UTC, while the southward IMF Bz reached a maximum deflection of -15 nT at
01/0645 UTC, and wind velocities reached 703 km/s at 02/0314 UTC. Activity decreased to predominantly quiet levels during 05 - 06 March.
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
09 March - 04 April 2011
Solar activity is expected to be at high levels on 09 March as Regions 1164 and 1165 (S20, L=184, class/area Fko/420 on 09 March) rotate around the west limb. Very low to low levels are expected, with a chance for M-class events during 10 - 22 March. Activity is expected to increase to low to moderate levels during 22 March - 04 April, as old Region 1165 returns.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 09 - 10 March. Normal to moderate levels are expected are during 11 - 18 March. High levels are expected to return on 19 - 21 March. Normal to moderate levels are expected from 22 March to 28 March. Normal to moderate levels are expected for the rest of the period.
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels, with isolated minor storm levels at high latitudes from 09 March to early on 11 March. The increase in activity is expected due to an Earth-directed CME observed on 07 March. Predominantly quiet levels are expected from late on 11 March through 27 March. Quiet to active levels, with isolated minor to major storm levels are expected on 29 March. Quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated minor
storm levels at high latitudes are expected during 30 - 31 March. The increase in activity is expected due to a recurrent CH HSS. Predominantly quiet levels are expected during 01 - 04 April.
Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2011 Mar 09 0004 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 2011-03-08
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2011 Mar 09 150 25 5
2011 Mar 10 150 22 5
2011 Mar 11 145 12 3
2011 Mar 12 140 5 2
2011 Mar 13 135 5 2
2011 Mar 14 135 5 2
2011 Mar 15 130 5 2
2011 Mar 16 120 5 2
2011 Mar 17 110 5 2
2011 Mar 18 110 5 2
2011 Mar 19 105 5 2
2011 Mar 20 100 5 2
2011 Mar 21 110 5 2
2011 Mar 22 120 5 2
2011 Mar 23 120 5 2
2011 Mar 24 130 5 2
2011 Mar 25 135 5 2
2011 Mar 26 140 5 2
2011 Mar 27 145 5 2
2011 Mar 28 150 7 2
2011 Mar 29 150 19 4
2011 Mar 30 145 7 2
2011 Mar 31 140 5 2
2011 Apr 01 135 5 2
2011 Apr 02 130 5 2
2011 Apr 03 120 5 2
2011 Apr 04 110 5 2
(NOAA)
The UTC day ended with five M class solar flares, the largest being an M5.3. All five solar flares resulted in radio black outs on the sun facing side of the earth.
A >(10+0) energetic proton flux storm is still underway and continues to create increased D Layer RF signal absorption on 160 and 80 meters on paths at high latitudes (polar cap absorption) on the day light side of the earth.. You can see it at ttp://www.swpc.noaa.gov/drap/index.html .
73 & GUD DX,
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o@tampabay.rr.com
Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2011 Mar 09 0004 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
28 February - 06 March 2011
Solar activity ranged from very low to moderate levels during the period. Activity was at moderate levels on 28 February. Region 1164 (N24, L=165, class/area Fkc/770 on 05 March) produced an M1.1 flare at 28/1252UTC. Region 1164 also produced a C2.4/Sf flare with an
associated Type II sweep, with an estimated shock velocity of 1038 km/s. Activity decreased to low levels for the rest of the period. Several C-class flares occurred; the most significant of these was a C5.4/1N at 03/1419 UTC from Region 1164.
No protons were observed at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels during 28 February - 01 March. High levels occurred during 02- 06 March.
Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to severe storm levels during the period. Activity was at quiet levels on 28 February. Activity increased to quiet to active levels, with isolated minor to severe levels on 01 March. Activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active to major storm levels on 05 March. Activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active levels to major storm levels at high latitudes on 04 March. The elevated activity was due to a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) and a following coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS). The Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bt reached 17 nT at 01/0645 UTC, while the southward IMF Bz reached a maximum deflection of -15 nT at
01/0645 UTC, and wind velocities reached 703 km/s at 02/0314 UTC. Activity decreased to predominantly quiet levels during 05 - 06 March.
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
09 March - 04 April 2011
Solar activity is expected to be at high levels on 09 March as Regions 1164 and 1165 (S20, L=184, class/area Fko/420 on 09 March) rotate around the west limb. Very low to low levels are expected, with a chance for M-class events during 10 - 22 March. Activity is expected to increase to low to moderate levels during 22 March - 04 April, as old Region 1165 returns.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 09 - 10 March. Normal to moderate levels are expected are during 11 - 18 March. High levels are expected to return on 19 - 21 March. Normal to moderate levels are expected from 22 March to 28 March. Normal to moderate levels are expected for the rest of the period.
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels, with isolated minor storm levels at high latitudes from 09 March to early on 11 March. The increase in activity is expected due to an Earth-directed CME observed on 07 March. Predominantly quiet levels are expected from late on 11 March through 27 March. Quiet to active levels, with isolated minor to major storm levels are expected on 29 March. Quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated minor
storm levels at high latitudes are expected during 30 - 31 March. The increase in activity is expected due to a recurrent CH HSS. Predominantly quiet levels are expected during 01 - 04 April.
Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2011 Mar 09 0004 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 2011-03-08
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2011 Mar 09 150 25 5
2011 Mar 10 150 22 5
2011 Mar 11 145 12 3
2011 Mar 12 140 5 2
2011 Mar 13 135 5 2
2011 Mar 14 135 5 2
2011 Mar 15 130 5 2
2011 Mar 16 120 5 2
2011 Mar 17 110 5 2
2011 Mar 18 110 5 2
2011 Mar 19 105 5 2
2011 Mar 20 100 5 2
2011 Mar 21 110 5 2
2011 Mar 22 120 5 2
2011 Mar 23 120 5 2
2011 Mar 24 130 5 2
2011 Mar 25 135 5 2
2011 Mar 26 140 5 2
2011 Mar 27 145 5 2
2011 Mar 28 150 7 2
2011 Mar 29 150 19 4
2011 Mar 30 145 7 2
2011 Mar 31 140 5 2
2011 Apr 01 135 5 2
2011 Apr 02 130 5 2
2011 Apr 03 120 5 2
2011 Apr 04 110 5 2
(NOAA)
Monitoring Liberia on shortwave
In recent weeks, DXers are hearing what is believed to be a reactivation of Liberia's Radio Veritas as noted from this week's DX Window. Any additional monitoring observations are always appreciated.
Gayle VH
Gayle VH
5470.00, Radio Veritas, Monrovia (presumed), 1940-2201*, Feb 24, 25, 26, 28 and Mar 06. Still testing in French. Interview, 2000 news about Libya, Nigeria and Europe. Hymns, no ID heard and audio varying quickly from fair to nil, when best: SINPO 33333, modulation good to poor, at times utility interference present. (Milan ARI DX night and Petersen)
6070, ELWA, Monrovia. Just came across this of ELWA Liberia shortwave. The video shows SW transmitter (ELCOR 2 kW is it?). Shot taken summer 2010. Possibly still running on 6070, if the transmitter works.
http://www.elwamausa.org/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&tag=Bill%20and%20Betty%20Thompson&limit=20
(Savolainen in Dxplorer)
(DX Window 423 via Anker Petersen)
WRTH 2011, reportes ELWA was inactive at press time on 4760, 6070 kHz. When active operates in English and local languages 0600-1000, 1730-2300 UTC and Sat/Sun to 2230UTC.
6070, ELWA, Monrovia. Just came across this of ELWA Liberia shortwave. The video shows SW transmitter (ELCOR 2 kW is it?). Shot taken summer 2010. Possibly still running on 6070, if the transmitter works.
http://www.elwamausa.org/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&tag=Bill%20and%20Betty%20Thompson&limit=20
(Savolainen in Dxplorer)
(DX Window 423 via Anker Petersen)
WRTH 2011, reportes ELWA was inactive at press time on 4760, 6070 kHz. When active operates in English and local languages 0600-1000, 1730-2300 UTC and Sat/Sun to 2230UTC.
Asia in Focus at DRM General Assembly 2011
Asia was in the focus during the 23rd General Assembly of Digital Radio Mondiale held for the first time in Malaysia with the support of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union. At this annual meeting of the Consortium, members from around the world discussed reports on all the DRM activities undertaken during the past year and agreed on strategy and plans for the year 2011-12.India remains the main focus of DRM activity in the region. Several other markets were discussed including Russia and Korea. Russia is on the brink of launching a massive digitisation program using DRM technology. A report from Voice of Russia shed light on their plans of converting a vast transmitter network to digital. New DRM member KETI (Korea Electronics Technology Institute) released its positive findings from the recent DRM+ assessment in that country.
Members also heard reports from the Asia Sub Group which had success with the Sri Lanka DRM+ trial and is focusing on facilitating the DRM process in India. The extensive work done by the DRM Receiver Group in bringing information and DRM equipment manufacturing companies together was also presented to the members.
The annual General Assembly also welcomed new members Frontier Silicon, Silicon Laboratories Inc. and KETI. The General Assembly was an opportunity for members to learn more about DRM trials in Brazil and the progress made in the DRM+ trials currently on-going in Scotland. A special event to be held in Edinburgh on 29 March will give a full view of the measurements and positive findings of the most comprehensive DRM+ trial to-date.
The General Assembly rounds off a month of successful events in Asia, including Broadcast Engineering Society annual conference and Radio Asia in India, where DRM was showcased and important DRM issues were addressed.
(Source: DRM Consortium/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
BBC to create online archives for axed foreign-language service
An archive of broadcasts from BBC World Service radio stations due to be axed is being made available online. Services involved in the archive plans include BBC Para Africa, the Portuguese service for Africa, which has made audio and photos from its 72-year-history available on its website.
A number of language services are being cut as part of last year’s comprehensive spending review, which saw the BBC agree to take over the funding of the World Service from the Foreign Office. BBC Para Africa ceased broadcasting on February 25 along with BBC Mundo, the Spanish service for Latin America, which has retained a news website. The Macedonian service ceased last week, the Serbian and Albanian services the week before, and the English for the Caribbean service is due to shut later this month.
Radio programming in seven languages - Azeri (the official language of Azerbaijan), Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish for Cuba, Turkish, Vietnamese and Ukrainian - will be closed as part of the plans.
The World Service will also cease shortwave transmission of five more services in March:, Indonesian, Kyrgyz, Nepali, Swahili and the Great Lakes service (for Rwanda and Burundi).
The broadcaster’s Hindi service was due to be among those five services, but it was announced yesterday that it will retain an evening news radio broadcast “for an interim period” while commercial funding opportunities are explored.
The World Service cuts are expected to cost the broadcaster around 650 jobs and 30 million listeners. The Foreign Affairs Committee will begin an inquiry tomorrow into the impact of service closures and other cuts on the BBC World Service.
(Source: journalism.co.uk)
A number of language services are being cut as part of last year’s comprehensive spending review, which saw the BBC agree to take over the funding of the World Service from the Foreign Office. BBC Para Africa ceased broadcasting on February 25 along with BBC Mundo, the Spanish service for Latin America, which has retained a news website. The Macedonian service ceased last week, the Serbian and Albanian services the week before, and the English for the Caribbean service is due to shut later this month.
Radio programming in seven languages - Azeri (the official language of Azerbaijan), Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish for Cuba, Turkish, Vietnamese and Ukrainian - will be closed as part of the plans.
The World Service will also cease shortwave transmission of five more services in March:, Indonesian, Kyrgyz, Nepali, Swahili and the Great Lakes service (for Rwanda and Burundi).
The broadcaster’s Hindi service was due to be among those five services, but it was announced yesterday that it will retain an evening news radio broadcast “for an interim period” while commercial funding opportunities are explored.
The World Service cuts are expected to cost the broadcaster around 650 jobs and 30 million listeners. The Foreign Affairs Committee will begin an inquiry tomorrow into the impact of service closures and other cuts on the BBC World Service.
(Source: journalism.co.uk)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)