FCC makes way for public radio

Journal Staff

ITHACA — Changes are coming for the bottom of Ithaca's radio dial.

After a seven-year freeze, the Federal Communications Commission will soon accept applications for new non-commercial FM radio stations nationwide.

“We've been waiting for this window to open for years,” said Lyn Gerry, co-founder of Ithaca Community Radio.

In addition, WEOS public radio out of Geneva, currently broadcast through Ithaca Community Radio's transmitter on 88.1 FM, has been approved by the FCC to have its own station in Ithaca, at 90.1 FM.
“It's going to continue providing the same news, information and public radio that they currently get now. It'll provide it on a much better signal,” said Aaron Read, general manager of WEOS. “We're talking about a 4,000-watt station as opposed to a 250-watt station.”
Read more at The Ithaca Journal at:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS01/709260313/1002

XM new home of the Grand Ole Opry

XM will be the new satellite radio home of the Grand Ole Opry beginning in October beginning with the Opry's 82nd Birthday Bash broadcast featuring Carrie Underwood, Travis Tritt, Ronnie Milsap, and more on Saturday, October 20, XM will feature the live Friday and Saturday night performances as well as the Tuesday Night Opry. Additionally, XM will offer classic broadcasts of the renowned country music show, archival performances, and "The Eddie Stubbs Show," which is hosted by regular Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs
(Photo: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN)

Legend Radio Personality 'Cousin Brucie' renews exclusively with SIRUS

NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio announced today that famed broadcaster and legendary radio personality Bruce Morrow, known to his legion of fans as 'Cousin Brucie,' has renewed an exclusive multi-year deal with the satellite broadcaster. The deal demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to playing Oldies music from the 50s and 60s, and makes SIRIUS the only radio outlet where listeners can hear 'Cousin Brucie.'

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991118/NYTH125 )

Brucie will continue to host Cousin Brucie's Saturday Night Party, a show that he launched in 1958 on New York radio. The show airs Saturdays from 8 pm to 12 midnight ET on SIRIUS' 60s Vibrations channel 6. He will also host Rockin' with the Cuz, Wednesdays from 5 pm to 9 pm ET, also on 60s Vibrations. Both shows will feature Brucie's playlist from three decades of music with listener dedications, phone calls and e-mails.
Read more at CNN Money:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYW060A26092007-1.htm
(Photo via SIRUS)

Senior Afghan broadcasting official resigns

Radio Netherlands Worldwide has learned that Abdul Rahman Panjshiri, Director of Planning & Foreign Relations at the National Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA), has resigned afer 29 years with the organisation. Mr Panjshiri has told international colleagues of the reasons for his decision:
“Following the appointment of Mr Khorram at the Ministry of Information and Culture (MIC), I continuously tried to encourage him to move toward and promote Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) in Afghanistan. With deep regret I failed to succeed in my endeavours in this regard.
“Mr Khorram aims to curb the promotion of PSB in Afghanistan, although the Afghanistan Government has made commitments to the international community to move toward PSB.
“During my last meeting with Mr Khorram he ignored all values of PSB and instructed me to direct all RTA’s Planning and Foreign Relations works through concerned department of MIC. He was critical why RTA establishes independent contacts with national and international organizations. He cited that RTA has no right to establish such contacts in the future and all contacts should go through the Foreign Relations Department of the MIC.
“During my 29 years of services with RTA I have not seen such an attempt to suppress freedom and interference in RTA works. I would like to say that unless the international community takes serious action now all initiatives by both national and International organizations to foster PSB in Afghanistan will go in vain under the leadership of Mr Khorram.
“I have decided to resign from my position with RTA due to the above facts.”
(Source: Abdul Rahman Panjshiri direct/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

U.S. soldiers set up radio station at Kogalniceanu base

Text of report in English by Romanian news agency Rompres
[”US Soldiers in Mihail Kogalniceanu Base Establish Radio Post” - Rompres headline]
Bucharest, Sept 26 (Rompres) - The US soldiers training in Mihail Kogalniceanu base inaugurated on Tuesday 25 September the radio post ‘Good morning Romania’, to broadcast in English.
Spokesman of Joint Task Force of Eastern Europe Troy Darr said that the radio post broadcasts on 107 FM on an 8 km area around the military base. The station is a mobile system for radio and television and its purpose is for internal broadcast, offering military information, news and amusement for the soldiers located here until the drill ‘Proof of Principles’ ends, the official informed.
After the drill is over, the radio post will take over through satellite the broadcasting for US soldiers in Europe. The radio team is made up of six members and wants to broadcast a live show though Intranet [sic] in the future.
(Source: Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 0558 gmt 26 Sep 07 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Democratic Voice of Burma producing extra satellite programs

The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) has increased its production as a result of the crisis in the country. ”We normally broadcast two hours every day on shortwaves but at the moment, in addition to that, we also broadcast seven hours daily by satellite,” the station’s deputy director Khin Maung Win told AFP in an interview.
Including the weekend television programmes that it started running two years ago, the station claims to have a total audience of 20 million people. The country’s total population is 47 million.
According to Khin Maung Win, Norway and Denmark have just agreed to donate up to one million kroner (US$180,000) of “emergency aid” to DVB, in addition to the 15.5-million-kroner (US$2.8-million) annual budget funded by the Scandinavian countries, Netherlands, Ireland and the United States.
(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

New three language Turkmen radio to broadcast via satellite

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on creating a new Ovaz (Melody) radio channel of the General Directorate of the Turkmen TV. According to the document, the radio channel will start broadcasting in Turkmen, Russian and English. The decree approves the staff list of the new radio channel. The Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan will broadcast the programmes through satellite and ground-based transponders [sic].
As the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports, referring to the press-service of the Turkmen leader, the decision was taken with a view “to inform the world community of the music and song art of the Turkmen people, news in the sphere of economy, science, education, culture and art and further development of the efficiency of the information system”.
(Source: Turkmenistan.ru/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

MBC takes aim at BBC

Arab network accuses Brits of poaching staff
By ALI JAAFAR

MBC Group, the Arab world's leading satellite network, has launched an uncharacteristically stinging attack against the BBC for what it claims has been a concerted campaign to lure its staff to the BBC Arabic TV service, set to launch by the end of the year.
A dozen staffers at Al-Arabiya, MBC's top-rated newscaster, have jumped ship to join the service, including editors, producers and reporters.

The BBC venture, funded by the U.K. government to the tune of some $34 million annually, is headed by Egyptian journo Salah Negm, previously head of newsgathering at Al-Arabiya.

"It is no secret that in the content industry, there is a natural ebb and flow of talent," said Mazen Hayek, MBC Group's director of marketing, PR and commercial. "But it is the systematic, targeted, deliberate and ongoing nature of this poaching that is distressing. We would have expected far more responsible and sensible behavior from the BBC."
Read more at Variety:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972710.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

Ontario politicians to host their own radio talk shows

CFRB e-newsletter:
September 26, 2007
Hello from CFRB,Newstalk 1010 CFRB is pleased to announce that all four Ontario political party leaders have agreed to host their own one hour talk show on CFRB and simulcast on CKTB in St. Catharines and CJBK in London.

Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, PC Leader John Tory, NDP Leader Howard Hampton and Green Party Leader Frank de Jong will each host a talk show from noon to 1pm and take calls from listeners in Toronto, across Niagara and London on the following days:Thursday, September 27 Green Party Leader Frank de JongWednesday, October 3 NDP Leader Howard amptonThanksgiving, Monday October 8th PC Leader John ToryTuesday, October 9 Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty

This is a first for Standard Radio stations in Ontario to have the four main political leaders host their own show rather than appear with a host to be interviewed and take calls from listeners.We believe this is an excellent opportunity for you to hear directly from the leaders of the four main political parties on CFRB, CKTB and CJBK.

We picked the noon hour because we hope you will take the time during your lunch break to hear what each of the provincial party leaders have to say.The broadcasts on all three Standard Radio talk stations can also be heard online at http://www.cfrb.com/, http://www.610cktb.com/, http://www.cjbk.com/ and on Rogers Digital Channel 960.Steve KowchOperations ManagerNewstalk 1010 CFRB.
(Source: F. Waterer via ODXA)

Two's not company for radio rivals

BBC Radio 2, which began 40 years ago this week, has the highest audience of any station in the UK.
But are its dominance and power to attract top talent bad news for its commercial rivals?
It was May 2001 when Radio 2 overtook traditional market leader Radio 1 to become the UK's most listened-to station.
Jonathan Ross and ex-Radio 1 DJ Steve Wright had been recruited to make the network sound younger.
But millions of people were still tuning in to stalwarts such as Terry Wogan, eight years into his second stint at breakfast, and light entertainment show Friday Night is Music Night.

Read more at BBC News link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6922280.stm

Dxers Unlimited midweek edition for 25-26 Sept 2007

By Arnie Coro, CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados ! This is the midweek edition of your favorite listener oriented and technically minded radio hobby program, our menu, as always will be full of items of interest to people like you and me that enjoy this wonderful passtime, so follow me amigos, as the show goes on with item one:Cuban radio amateurs will be participating in the upcoming world wide CQ Radio Amateur Single Side Band Contest in October… several special prefix ham stations will be on the air using the special prefix T4, a much sought callsign among world amateurs…among the probable ones T49C, Tango Four Nine Charlie will be operating from Havana, T48K, Tango Four Eight Kilo, will be operating from Las Tunas province in Eastern Cuba,and individual Cuban radio amateurs will , as always, be particpating in the contest from their home QTH stations, and I do hope that some of them will achieve excellent results, something that started several years ago … with excellent results achieved by among others the winner of the number one 10 meter single band entry Walfrido, CO8WAL from Guantanamo province.

I will also be operating CO2KK my own ham station during the contest with a new pair of antennas connected to a fast acting switch to observe how the two compare , so be listening for CO2KK whenever 10 meter opens and if you do hear me, send a signal report and I’ll be happy to AIR MAIL back to you a special QSL card !!! Send mail to arnie@rhc.cu … again, arnie@rhc.cu

Item two: Moon eclipse and radio…. Any connections ?… Apparently not, as the Moon’s distance to the Earth doesn’t change, so , as astronomers explain, all Moon eclipses are just a visual phenomena… by the way this item one answers questions sent by no less than eleven Dxers Unlimited’s fans around the world amigos !!!They all wanted to know it a Moon eclipse has any impact on radio wave propagation on the HF bands…

Item three: We must wait patiently for an upsurge in solar activity so that the 10 meters ham band will come back to life…once this happen the band will be active for a few days after the increase in solar activity, something quite normal according to solar scientists.

Item four: Possible upcoming frequency changes for North America…expect a possible comeback of 9820 kiloHertz during the BO7 broadcast season, but we first must study very well how the frequency of optimum traffic curve moves up or down before taking the decision to move up to 9820 kiloHertz.

We are now operating from 0500 to 0700 our English language service to the Pacific Coast of North America on 6000 kiloHertz, using the four by four array of dipoles, a beautiful curtain array capable of up to 19 dB gain over a single half wave dipole. As usual during any frequency changes, our engineering deparment will appreciate very much signal reports about our new to the Pacific Coast of North America frequency, 6000 kiloHertz from 0500 to 0700 UTC,and our 6060 kiloHertz frequency to Eastern North America from 0500 to 0700 hours UTC, we are also using now 6180 Kilohertz to Central North America from 01 to 07 hours UTC.please send your reports to arnie@rhc.cu and I will relay them immediately to our Engineering staff…
More radio hobby related information follows in a few seconds, when Dxers Unlimited’s weekend edition for September 25 and 26 of 2007 continues. I am Arnie Coro in Havana, stay tuned !!!
……
Si amigos, your receiver is right on one of Radio Havana Cuba’s frequencies… and here is item three in detail !!! RHC has many good faithful listeners around the world…

And talking about good friends, Bruce Atchinson , a faithful Canadian listener wrote a very interesting e-mail that I ‘am going to share with you all. He is making reference to the Grundig FR200 portable radio that is equipped with a hand crank generator and battery charger…

Hello Arnie;
I have that radio and I enjoyed your review. I have two problems which youdidn't mention. Even using the whip antenna, I still have image problems.The switch for the light is also flimsy and the light flickers when I useit. Apart from those problems, and the tuning problem, I like that radio. It's great for casual listening,and it is sensitive. As for the lack of a solar panel, it's not much use here in Canada during the winter. Here in Radway, we only get 7 hours and 25 minutes of sunlight at the winter solstice. Summer is a good time for solar energy this far north since we get 17 hours of sunlight on June 21. Also there's no time to charge up batteries during an emergency since trouble usually happens suddenly or people ealise the danger too late. I ordered the FreePlay Lifeline radio so that some children in Rwanda could have the same radio given to them. When it comes, and if I remember, I'll write and let you know about it.
Yours,
Bruce Atchison.

Muchas gracias amigo Bruce, thanks for the nice e-mail letter, and sure, I agree with you about the FR200 image proble, that is due to the fact that it is a simple single conversion superheterodyne receiver, with a low intermediate frequency, so every 910 kiloHertz there is an image, something that is especially noticeable while tuning bands adjacent to were high power stations are operating. Every receiver using a 455 kiloHertz intermediate frequency will show images
…
You are listening to Dxers Unlimited’s weekend edition coming to you from Havana amigos ! Now, here is our technical topics section of the show… A warning from an expert homebrewer of ham radio equipment. Watch out for some banana jacks! They are lousy RF insulators and fail at any appreciable voltages. I'm not sure, but suspect they are nylon dyed red and black. Nylon absorbs moisture from the surrounding air and so its losses at radio frequencies will change widely with the relative humidity.

Then the expert provides us with a real life story about the standard 4 millimeters banana jacks. Some years ago I was using an MFJ ATU and had just hooked up a new half wave end-fed wire that presented a very high impedance at the ATU. I was running only about 15 watts output from a homebrew amp on my HW-8. Everything tuned up FB and I was pounding brass when I smelled something hot and suddenly the SWR jumped off the scale.

Investigating, I found that the banana jack for the "single wire" feed from the ATU had melted! Mind you, this was at a high impedance but at only 15 watts of RF! Banana jacks are handy connectors but since that experience I do not depend upon the jack material to be a decent RF insulator. When I use a banana jack and plug to handle significant RF voltages, I mount the jacks in a good insulator (e.g. acrylic sheet) with at least 1/2 inch of space around it before the nearest metal or grounded object.

And this nice piece of technical know how came from Ron, radio amateur AC7AC, Alpha Charlie seven Alpha Charlie, who kindly posted it on the GLOWBUGS e-mail distribution list.

Thanks amigo Ron for this nice and useful advice about the everpresent among homebrewers banana plugs and jacks!

Another technical tip… also useful for homebrewers, a small low cost component, worth only a few cents will add a lot of reliability to your homebrew equipment, and it can also be retrofitted to existing equipment providing extra protection against dreadful power line transients. They look like large sized ceramic disk capacitors, and you will find them installed in every computer power supply. Sold under many different names, like TRANSZORBS, PEAK SUPPRESSORS and others, the power line transient suppresors are very easy to install, requiring just two solder points that place the component in pararell with the power line input to the equipment.Run an Internet search for the words power line transient suppressors and you will learn a lot more about this very useful devices that are becoming more and more important for today’s electronics !!!

And now,here is ASK ARNIE, with a really tough question amigos !!!Listeners from the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia have asked me about the possible amount of money required to put on the air a start up amateur radio station.

Well amigos, let’s start by saying that the world’s most popular amateur radio band is still two meters, and the most popular communications mode is FM, that is frequency modulation. Two meter band hand held radios, also known as handie talkies are, according to a recent research study, the most ubiquos amateur radio equipment. The worldwide expansion of VHF communications has helped to reduce the cost of high quality , highly reliable hand held FM two meter band equipment, and the second hand market is also a source of good rigs that can be bought at very low prices. Many countries around the world now have entry level amateur radio licences that don’t require beginners to pass the hard to learn Morse Code tests… Those licenses usually provide operating privileges for the two meter band, and that;s one of the reasons that the frequency range from 144 to 148 megaHertz in the Americas and from 144 to 146 megaHertz in the rest of the world, is the most popular amateur band since the early days of amateur radio.

Don’t think that two meters FM operation will limit you to ground wave 50 miles around your home communications… Well installed antennas with enough gain allow the two meter band FM rigs to reach quite far, and several amateur radio satellites have a 2 meter FM input that extends the coverage of a little handled to thousands of mile via a space repeater.

Two meters FM will also let you connect to computerized systems that will add lots of interesting hours to your ham radio career. But two meters FM is not the only way to start enjoying ham radio… Entry level HF transceivers connected to simple antennas will let you talk to the world from your home anytime that propagation conditions on the short wave bands are good enough. Be aware that low power HF rigs are to be avoided by beginners and that’s a more or less generalized opinion, as QRP or low power operation requires operating skills that take time to develop. My own personal opinion is that a beginners HF bands rig should provide no less than 20 Watts output into the antenna, and a 50 to 70 Watts power output will be still better, as it will let you work stations even when band conditions are not all that good !

Si amigos, yes my friends… you don’t need to spend a lot of money to start enjoying amateur radio.

And just before going QRT here, our exclusive and not copyrighted HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast First the update: This past week has been nothing but absolutely terrible for HF propagation, with a totally blank Sun , with ZERO sunspot count day in and day out,but fortunately no geomagnetic disturbances of any significance. For this weekend, expect very poor conditions for the HF bands, but rather good for Long Wave and AM broadcast band Dxing.

Average solar flux for this week was about 67, and you can expect continuing solar flux between 65 and 70 through the weekend.

Micro-DXpedition Report

All times UTC - freqs kHa // parallel frequency

BOLIVIA

4762.5 R. Chicha (pres.) 2326 weak tlk by M. Mx at 2329, deep-voiced M in SP at 2331. M again at 2343 but impossible to copy. W anncr joined in at 2349. Sounded like some rustic mx at 2356. Nothing hrd after 2357. This is always too weak. Will need either a super opening and/or a DXpedition. (Valko 22 Sept.) 23 SEPTEMBER 2007: The PNGs were coming in at 1020 UTC and I figured they'd only improve towards sunrise, so I decided to take a quick run up to one of my micro-DXpeditioning QTHs for an hour or so. The Geomagnetic Field was a bit disturbed and it didn't pan out like I hoped. RX: JRC NRD-535D
ANT: 394' Beverage at 315°
QTH: Reclaimed stripmine
Duration: 1050-1215 UTC
Solar Indices: S.F. = 67 A Index = 12 K Index = 4 No storms.
WX: Clear, 47° F. (8° C.).

AUSTRALIA

2485 VL8K 1049 playing C&W like mx, // to all other 120mb outlets. This one was best/strongest. (Valko 23 Sept.)

INDONESIA

3995.03 RRI Kendari (pres.) Nothing but easy Lagu mx during checks at 1055, 1109, 1119, 1125, and 1132. Getting stronger at 1135 while the Sun was rising. About 30 seconds of deadair between songs at 1136. Definite SCI at 1159. Sounded like it may have been //3987.04 w/Jak. nx afterwards, but it was too weak to be certain. Nonstop Hams right on the freq too. (Valko 23 Sept.)

SOLOMON ISLANDS

5018.97 SIBC 1053 Tlk by M and W anncrs. Came back at 1058 and caught C&W mx. Difficult when Rebelde was playing mx as it causes more splatter. 1100 W w/quick anmnt including SIBC ID, then world nx in EG w/actualities. One definite ment. of Solomon Islands at 1103, 'international', and 'United Nations'. 1105 ment of "...human ?? programs for the South Pacific...". 1106 nice fairly clear ID "This news is coming to you from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, 'Radio Happy Isles", in Honiara". Ad at 1142 on check. Still on past 1205. An e-mail sent to the address on their Web site was bounced back. (Valko 23 Sept.)

INDONESIA

3987.04 RRI Manokwari 1112 choral island mx. Finally W anncr in IN at 1131 briefly and then C&W mx. Peaking nicely at 1140. W briefly again at 1146 but no ID noted. W at 1159, then SCI and M w/Jak. nx relay which was //4869.93, but not 4749.97. (Valko 23 Sept.)

MALAYSIA

5964.93 Klasik Nasional (pres.) Was there at 1122 but not strong enough. 1129 definite mx and anmnt by W but 7270 had tlk by M. Again, mx on 5964.93 but M and W tlking on 7270 at 1146. (Valko 23 Sept.)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

3325 R. Bougainville (pres.) 2 stns here this morning. M in Pidgin was overtop slightly at 1126. 1138 island mx much clearer, then M anncr w/ment of 'tonight', but mic lvl just too weak. Fading by 1145. So apparently both Bougainville and Palangkaraya are here together. (Valko 23 Sept.)

LAOS??

4677.74 Just a weak carrier here at 1148. Too weak to get audio. (Valko 23 Sept.)

SOUTH KOREA

6600 V.O. People (pres.) Getting a bit of mx at 1152 which I presume is this one. Couldn't tell if //3912 as both were too weak at 1153. (Valko 23 Sept.)

(Source: Dave Valko, PA via Cumbre DX)

Azerbaijan Television & Radio Council Discusses Russia's Offer of Mutual Broadcasting

http://news.trendaz.com/cgi-
bin/readnews2.pl?newsId=1020425&lang=EN

Azerbaijan, Baku
Russia's technical contract on mutual broadcasting of TV channels has been submitted to the Azerbaijan National Television & Radio Council(NTRC), a member of the working group on mutual broadcasting of Azerbaijani and Russian TV channels, Gafar Jabiyev, reported on 24 September.

"After we become familiar with the contract from Russia we will respond," Jabiyev said.

During the meeting of the Council held at the beginning of January it was decided to terminate the translation of the Russian ORT and RTR-Planeta channels, as well as the Turkish STV channel, in Azerbaijan. Broadcasting of ORT was stopped on 10 July, and broadcasting of RTR-Planeta was extended, after Russia applied to Azerbaijan but on the condition that an Azerbaijani TV channel would be broadcast in Russia. The working groups dealing with the case of mutual broadcasting have held two meetings and the initial project on mutual broadcasting has been coordinated. Technical contracts were developed to achieve mutual agreements. Azerbaijan presented its options 2 months ago. The chairman of NTRC repeatedly stated that in case a common agreement was not achieved, broadcasting of Russian RTR-Planeta channel via Azerbaijani national frequency would be suspended.

Azerbaijan considers the coverage area of Azerbaijani AzTV in Russia should be on par with the coverage area of RTR-Planeta in Azerbaijan.

Jabiyev did not release the details of the technical contract. He noted the contract indicates terms of broadcasting and payment. According to him, the contract is being considered at the Azerbaijan Communications and IT Ministry, Azerbaijan Justice Ministry, and AzTV channel. The responses on the contract will be submitted to the First Deputy Prime Minister, Yagub Eyyubov. The next meeting of the working groups will be set afterwards.
(Source: Zacharias Liangas, Greece via Cumbre DX)

Blog Logs - Argentine DX Camp

Last weekend I was at DX Camp in Chascomus with the following DXers: Arnaldo L. Slaen, Enrique Wembagher and my son Nicolas Eramo (Jr). Following are a sampling of logs from the DX Camp.

BOLIVIA
4699.3 Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, 2334 - 2337, Sep 15, Spanish, Musical Program "La Factoria del Ritmo", ID "Exitos de Radio San Miguel estan contigo", SINPO 24332, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

BRAZIL
4845.1 Radio Cultura Ondas Tropicaes (p), Manaus, 2325 - 2331, Sep 15, Portuguese, Comments and Musical Program, SINPO 24332, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

BURKINA FASO
5030 Rdiff. du Burkina, Ouagadougou, 2304 - 2307, Sep 15, Comments by man announcer and Musical Program, SINPO 34433, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

DJIBOUTI
4780 Radio Djibouti, Doraleh, 2017 - 2022, Sep 15, Vernacular, dialogue between two man announcer's, Djibouti mentioned several times, SINPO 34343, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

ECUADOR
3279.9 La Voz del Napon, Tena, Napo, 1001 - 1003, Sep 16, Quechoa, Music and comments by man announcer, SINPO 24332, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

INDONESIA
3976 RRI Pontianak, 1019 - 1021, Sep 16, Vernacular, comments by female announcer, SINPO 24442, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

4605 RRI Serui, 0936 - 0945, Sep 16, Indonesian, comments by female announcer and then local music, SINPO 24222, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

ISRAEL
6970 Galei Tzahal (p), Lod, Tel Aviv, 2048 - 2054, Sep 15, Hebrew, man and female announcer, Comments, Music interpreted by Luciano Pavarotti, SINPO 22222, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

NORTH KOREA
2850 KCBS (p), Pyongyang, 0926 - 0930, Sep 16, Korean, Musical Program, SINPO 34333, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)


PAPUA NEW GUINEA
3235 Radio West New Britain, Kimbe, 1013 - 1015, Sep 16, Vernacular, Music and comments by female announcer, SINPO 24442, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

3905 Radio New Ireland, Kavieng, 1005 - 1008, Sep 16, Vernacular and English, Comments or News by man announcer, ID in vernacular, SINPO 34333, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

ZIMBABWE
3396 ZBC, Gweru, 2054 - 2059, Sep 15, Vernacular, Comments by man announcer and Music, SINPO 34333, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)
(Source: Nicolas Eranmo via Cumbre DX)

Blog Logs - Medium Wave DXing

Thanks to Patrick Martin for his contributions from a recent medium wave DXing session.
Gayle VH

A decent morning here, even considering the A & K index are still elevated. Several Filipinos in, including 1017 Davao City, now using the DXRR calls instead of the old DXAM.

531 JOQG JAPAN, Morioka good at 1330 tune in 9/25 with woman w/JJ talk with presumed 4KZ behind. (PM-OR)

540 JO.. JAPAN, Synchros // to 531 with JJ talk at 1331 9/25 (PM-OR)

549 JOAP JAPAN, Okinawa, fair in 550 KMVI/KOAC splatter //540, 531 with gal in JJ talk 1331 9/25 (PM-OR)

558 JOCR JAPAN, Kobe, very strong with M&F in JJ at 1332 9/25 (PM-OR)
t558 DZXL PHILIPPINES, Pasig, presumed the Tagalog talk topping JOCR at 1415 9/25 (PM-OR)

567 JOIK JAPAN, Sapporo good //531 at 1333 9/25 (PM-OR)

576 2RN AUSTRALIA, Sydney, fair with woman in Aussie EE at 1335 9/25 (PM-OR)

585 JOPG JAPAN, Kushiro, good on top of jumble with JJ talk 1338 9/25 (PM-OR)

594 JOAK JAPAN, Tokyo very good as usual with JJ talk // 585 at 1337 9/25 (PM-OR)

603 UNID Asian pop music station trying to top the channel at 1340 9/25. (PM-OR)

612 DYHP PHILIPPINES, Cebu nice signal with man in Tagalog at 1410, mention DYHP, in conversation with woman 9/25 (PM-OR)

621 UNID Station with Classical/Semi Classical music trying to surface at 1339 9/25 (PM-OR)

630 4QN AUSTRALIA, Townsville, good signal 1340 9/25 with man in Aussie EE, pretty much owning the channel. (PM-OR)

639 UNID PHILIPPINES, Tagalog talk in the jumble at 1405 9/25. (PM-OR)

648 JOIG JAPAN, Toyana, fair with JJ talk at 1447 9/25 (PM-OR)

More usual stuff up the dial. Noted Rel talk in American EE on 801, presume KTWG Guam.

1017 DXRR PHILIPPINES, Davao City, These calls are being used here now rather than the DXAM, with end of program at 1410 and man announcer "D-X Double .......10,000 watts......" Quite good and dominant on channel 9/25 (PM-OR)
(Source: Patrick Martin, Seaside OR)

Adventist World Radio A07 schedule update

USA(non) Updated A-07 of Adventist World Radio (AWR)

All times UTC - freq - kHz

0000-0200 Mandarin NE-China 12025 SDA
0000-0200 Mandarin C/N-China 15300 SDA
0000-0030 Burmese Myanmar 15510 SDA
0030-0100 Karen Myanmar, Thailand 15510 SDA
0100-0200 Mandarin S-China 15520 SDA
0100-0200 Vietnamese Vietnam 15445 TAI Sat
0200-0230 Urdu Pakistan 7320 MOS
0230-0330 Malagasy Madagascar 3215 MDC
0230-0300 Pushto Pakistan 7115 MOS Sun-Thu
0230-0300 Panjabi Pakistan 7115 MOS Fri/Sat
0300-0330 Tigrinya Eritrea 9815 WER
0300-0330 Russian E-Russia 17645 SDA
0300-0330 Oromo S-Ethiopia 9545 WER
0330-0400 Farsi Iran 9895 MOS
0330-0400 Amharic Ethiopia 9815 WER
0400-0430 Arabic Iraq, Arab Peninsula 9695 MOS
0430-0500 French Morocco, Algeria 9770 MOS
0500-0600 Bulgarian Bulgaria 5965 WER
0700-0800 Arabic Morocco, Algeria 11980 JUL
0800-0830 French Morocco, Algeria 15260 JUL
0800-0830 Tachelhit Morocco, Algeria 11980 JUL
0830-0900 Tachelhit Morocco, Algeria 15260 JUL
0900-1000 Italian Italy 9790 JUL Sun
1000-1100 Mandarin C/N-China 15615 SDA
1000-1100 Mandarin S-China 15510 SDA
1030-1100 Ilonggo Philippines 11930 SDA Wed/Thu
1030-1100 Cebuano Philippines 11930 SDA Fri/Sat
1030-1100 Ilocano Philippines 11930 SDA Sun
1030-1100 Mongolian N-China,Mongolia 11780 SDA
1030-1100 Tagalog Philippines 11930 SDA Mon/Tue
1100-1130 Indonesian W-Indonesia 15435 SDA
1100-1200 Mandarin NE-China 11775 SDA
1100-1200 Mandarin C/N-China 12105 SDA
1100-1200 Mandarin S-China 11975 SDA
1130-1200 English Indonesia,Malaysia 15435 SDA
1200-1300 Mandarin NE-China 9670 SDA
1200-1300 Mandarin S-China 9720 SDA
1200-1230 English NE-India,Bangladesh 15435 WER
1200-1300 Korean Korea 9880 SDA
1200-1300 Mandarin C/N-China 12105 SDA
1230-1300 Bangla NE-India,Bangladesh 15435 WER
1300-1330 Japanese Japan 11975 SDA
1300-1400 Vietnamese Vietnam 17670 MDC
1300-1330 Mandarin W-China 15320 WER Mon-Fri
1300-1330 Uighur W-China 15320 WER Sat/Sun
1300-1330 Bangla Bangladesh 15275 SDA
1300-1400 Mandarin C/N-China 12105 SDA
1300-1330 Japanese W-Japan 9805 SDA
1330-1400 Khmer Cambodia,Vietnam,Laos 11880 SDA Sun/Wed
1330-1400 English Bangladesh 15275 SDA Mon/Tue/Thu-Sat
1330-1400 Assamese NE-India 15275 SDA Sun/Wed
1330-1500 Mandarin W-China 15320 WER
1330-1400 Russian E-Russia 11845 SDA
1400-1500 Mandarin C/N-China 12105 SDA
1400-1430 Chin Myanmar 9385 SDA
1400-1500 Mandarin S-China 9695 SDA
1400-1430 Sinhalese Sri Lanka 12130 SDA
1400-1430 Urdu Pakistan 15400 MOS
1430-1500 Karen Myanmar, Thailand 9725 SDA
1430-1500 Burmese Myanmar 11885 SDA
1430-1500 Afar NE-Ethiopia, Somalia 17610 MOS
1500-1530 Tamil S-India 9600 SDA
1500-1530 Telugu S-India 6035 SDA
1500-1530 English S-India 11640 SDA
1500-1530 Mizo NE-India 11895 SDA
1500-1530 Nepali Nepal 15225 WER
1500-1530 Panjabi N-India 15160 WER
1500-1530 Turkish Turkey 15595 MOS
1530-1628 Malagasy Madagascar 3215 MDC
1530-1600 Hindi N-India 15160 WER
1530-1600 Marathi C-India 11895 SDA
1530-1600 Malayalam S-India 9600 SDA
1530-1600 Hindi C-India 9525 SDA
1530-1600 English Nepal, Tibet 15225 WER
1530-1600 Kannada S-India 11640 SDA
1600-1630 Urdu N-India 6155 SDA
1600-1630 English C-India 11805 SDA
1600-1630 English S-India 11640 SDA
1600-1630 Urdu Pakistan 15195 MOS
1630-1700 English N-India 6155 SDA
1630-1700 Somali Somalia 17575 WER
1630-1700 Farsi Iran 15360 MOS
1700-1730 Kiswahili Tanzania, Uganda 9600 MEY
1700-1730 Tagalog ME 9980 SDA Mon/Tue
1700-1730 Cebuano ME 9980 SDA Fri/Sat
1700-1730 Ilocano ME 9980 SDA Sun
1700-1730 Ilonggo ME 9980 SDA Wed/Thu
1700-1730 Arabic Iraq, Arab Peninsula 15265 MOS
1700-1730 Hindi ME 11640 SDA
1730-1800 Tamil ME 11640 SDA
1730-1800 Kabyle Morocco, Algeria 11780 JUL
1730-1800 English ME 9980 SDA
1730-1800 Oromo S-Ethiopia 17575 WER
1730-1800 Masai Tanzania, Kenya 9600 MEY
1800-1830 Bari S-Sudan 15315 MOS Mon
1800-1830 Dinka S-Sudan 15315 MOS Thu
1800-1830 Juba Arabic S-Sudan 15315 MOS Tue/Sat
1800-1830 Moru S-Sudan 15315 MOS Sun
1800-1830 Col English S-Sudan 15315 MOS Wed
1800-1830 Zande S-Sudan 15315 MOS Fri
1800-1830 English E-Africa 9610 MEY
1800-1830 English Botswana, Zimbabwe 3345 MEY
1800-1830 English SW-Africa 3215 MEY
1830-1900 Arabic Libya 11955 MOS
1900-1930 Fulfulde Cameroon, Ghana 15205 JUL
1900-2000 Arabic Morocco, Algeria 15260 JUL
1900-1930 Arabic Morocco, Algeria 11730 JUL
1900-1930 Hausa Nigeria 11955 MOS
1930-2000 Ibo E-Nigeria 11955 MOS
1930-2000 Tachelhit Morocco, Algeria 11730 JUL
2000-2030 Farsi Iran 9770 WER
2000-2030 Dyula Burkina Faso, Mali 11955 MOS
2000-2030 French C-Africa 15260 JUL
2000-2030 French Morocco, Algeria 11730 JUL
2000-2030 English C-Africa 15235 JUL
2000-2030 French Cameroon, Niger 11755 JUL
2030-2100 Yoruba Nigeria 11885 JUL
2030-2100 Yoruba Nigeria 11755 JUL
2030-2100 Mandarin Morocco, Algeria 9565 JUL
2030-2100 French W-Africa 11955 MOS
2100-2200 Mandarin C/N-China 11750 JUL
2100-2130 Japanese Japan 11980 SDA
2100-2200 Korean Korea 11790 SDA
2100-2130 Japanese W-Japan 11850 SDA
2100-2130 English W-Africa 11955 MOS
2130-2200 English W-Japan, S-China 11850 SDA
2200-2300 Mandarin C/N-China 15215 SDA
2200-2230 Indonesian W-Indonesia 15320 SDA
2200-2230 Indonesian W-Indonesia 11850 SDA
2200-2300 Mandarin NE-China 12120 SDA
2230-2300 English W-Indonesia 15320 SDA
2300-2400 Mandarin NE-China 12120 SDA
2300-2400 Mandarin C/N-China 15370 SDA
2300-2400 Vietnamese S-Vietnam 15320 SDA
(Source: DX Mix News via Alokesh Gupta, India, WB, Germany, Rachel Baughn, MT)

Archival VOA Arabic recordings released

The American Embassy in Cairo, in cooperation with the Voice of America (VOA), has produced a compilation of recordings from the archives of the VOA Arabic service. The three CD collection is entitled Bainee wa Bainak or “Between You and Me”. US Ambassador Francis J Ricciardone introduced the collection saying, “We chose the name Bainee wa Bainak because ultimately relations between Egypt and America are between people. Our cultures bring us together.”

Bainee wa Bainak features interviews in classical Arabic with Egyptian icons from literature, music, and theater and film. The CDs will be made available to Egyptian libraries, universities and cultural institutions for research and instruction. It represents a sample from the more than 1600 hours of recordings broadcast and archived by the VOA’s Arabic Service. The American Embassy in Cairo and VOA are exploring ways to share the entire VOA Arabic treasury with the public.

VOA Director Dan Austin stated: “We are thrilled to be able to share these gems from VOA’s 55 years of Arabic-language broadcasting into Egypt and the entire region. These interviews shine light on the rich cultural history of Egypt, and now this treasure will be available for scholars from throughout the Middle East and indeed the world.”

Audio files and transcripts of the Bainee wa Bainak collection are available at the US Embassy Cairo website.
(Source: Voice of America/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

XM Canada adds new channels to service

XM Canada adds new channels to offer EVEN MORE choice on satellite radio New channels include ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio, Radio Disney and more TORONTO, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - XM Canada (TSX: XSR), the country's premier provider of satellite radio, today announced it will increase its channel offering to provide listeners with the most choice and the greatest variety in
Canada.
"We are thrilled to offer our subscribers even more of the best programming in satellite radio," said Stewart Lyons, executive vice president of XM Canada. "It is through our strong commitment to entertain our listeners that we lead the Canadian market with the most channels and the most selection including 70 commercial-free music channels - simply put, we offer the most selection hands down."
In addition to the ATN-Asian Radio channel announced on September 18, XM Canada subscribers will receive more of the best in commercial-free music, compelling talk, comedy, entertainment and exciting sports. Starting today, new channel additions will include up-to-the-minute information by the leading sports provider, ESPNEWS and ESPN Radio, and Radio Disney, a magical music channel tailor made for kids and tweens. XM Canada's college sports
programming will also be strengthened as football and basketball games from the PAC 10 and BIG 12 conferences are added to the current coverage of the ACC and SEC conferences.
Read more at CNW Group:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2007/24/c3797.html

Don't shoot the DJ - they still define what we listen to

Paul Robinson
Monday September 24, 2007

The Guardian
Last weekend on Radio 4's Saturday Live guest contributor Tony Blackburn revealed that the greatest radio revolution to hit his household was the newly-acquired WiFi radio which enables him to listen to a plethora of radio stations across the globe. The revelation was surprisingly apposite from the man whose voice was the first to be heard on Radio 1 by 19 million listeners and for whom the greatest audience competition, at the time, came from Radio 4's 8am news bulletin.
Radio 1 (and Radios 2, 3 and 4) are 40 years old on Sunday and in that time they have seen competition explode. When Radio 1 launched on 247 metres medium wave, a frequency now ironically used by national commercial station Virgin Radio, it had virtually no competition. The pirate radio stations which gave birth to the BBC pop station had virtually disappeared as a result of the Marine Offences Act and there was Radio Luxembourg in the evening with its fading signal on 208m. Blackburn was himself an ex-pirate as were other Radio 1 DJs, because legal commercial radio didn't start in the UK until October 1973 with LBC and Capital in London. The other source of talent was either the Light programme, which was renamed Radio 2 - Terry Wogan went from there to Radio 1- or Radio Luxembourg with future Radio 1 DJs from Jimmy Savile to Steve Wright doing a stint in its fortress-like building.
Read more from Media Guardian at:
http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,2175373,00.html

New Radio Heritage Documentaries

The Radio Heritage Foundation www.radioheritage.net has released two new radio heritage documentaries through Radio NZ International.

The first of these is currently available as a podcast at www.rnzi.com (Other Audio/Mailbox) and is a rare recording of the 1963 Top 20 radio show from 2ZC Hawkes Bay in New Zealand.

The documentary comes complete with music, station IDs for 2ZC, local adverts and typical sound effects of the period.

The documentary is linked with the article 'From Hawkes Bay to Replay' at the Radio Heritage Foundation website www.radioheritage.net which contains photos of the DJ and the panel operator and a personal story behind the scenes of the 2ZC Top 20
show.

On Monday, October 1 2007, RNZI broadcasts a second documentary featuring the history of Pacific radio during the 1941-1950 period.

This covers the broadcasting scene around the region during WWII, the occupation of Japan, and the reconstruction period for SE Asia, the Philippines and other locations.

The documentary includes classic Pacific music melodies of the period, and also covers new stations in Samoa, Fiji and other colonies of the time, as well as reviewing broadcasting from Australia and NZ during wartime censorship.

After broadcast during the Mailbox program on RNZI, this documentary is also available via podcast at www.rnzi.com .

The Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust. Hundreds of pages of articles about Pacific radio and searchable Pacific radio databases are available for free at http://www.radioheritage.net/ .

Coming soon at http://www.radioheritage.net/ - Shanghai Radio in 1941.

(Source: Radio Heritage via HCDX)

France 24 now broadcasting across Africa via satellite

SES New Skies announced today that France 24 is now broadcasting across Africa on the NSS-7 satellite located at the orbital position of 338° East. NSS-7 is the primary satellite for video distribution in Africa, and 338° East has a significant legacy as a strong, diverse and thriving African programme neighbourhood comprising French, English, Arabic and Portuguese language content and is a key gateway to reaching pan-African audiences.

France 24’s English and French channels are broadcast on the GlobeCast platform on NSS-7’s East hemi C-band beam, which offers coverage of Europe, the Middle East and all of Africa. The exact transmission parameters are: Transponder EHL7/ERL7, 4055 MHz, right hand circular polarization.
(Source: SES New Skies/R Netherlands Media Network)

New classic rock station to launch in Dublin

A new radio station will commence broadcasting to the Dublin area this weekend under a temporary licence from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, and will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 2 December. The Rock, based in Dun Laoghaire, will broadcast classic rock music aimed at the over-30s on 94.9 MHz FM and 1278 kHz AM.
(Source: Radiowaves.fm http://www.radiowaves.fm/
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Pennsylvania Air National Guard retires Commando Solo II aircraft

The Pennsylvania Air National Guard 193rd Special Operations Wing has retired commando Solo II, its 1963 aircraft which operated a flying radio and television station over Haiti, Grenada, Afghanistan, Iraq, Panama, Bosnia, Kosovo and other world hotspots. The plane was put to rest yesterday in a ceremony at Fort Indiantown Gap and is now on permanent display at the gap for public viewing.


The EC-130E aircraft, the military’s only airborne broadcasting system, was used for psychological operations. It logged nearly 12,000 flying hours with the wing, including nearly 2,700 combat flying hours. Last year, the aircraft was replaced by Commando Solo III, an upgraded broadcast system based on the EC-130J.
(Source: PennLive/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

TWR in Benin plans December sign-on

Trans World Radio’s engineering team is making progress in readying the new transmitting facility in Benin, West Africa. rogramming is scheduled to begin airing in December. The transmitter and an air conditioning unit are on-site. Two additional containers with power generators and essential antenna parts are in transit and due to arrive in Africa in the coming weeks.

According to TWR, the team signed the licence agreement last year, and TWR-Africa has persevered through several subsequent challenges regarding the transmitter project, including delays in ordering and receiving equipment and seeking out program producers.

Construction of the high power mediumwave station in Benin is making steady progress. Missionaries, including the Cox and Kennedy families, have been working hard to get the station operational. Paul Cox, a broadcast engineer, is overseeing the installation of the transmitter and other technical aspects.
(Source: Mission Network News/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Blog Logs - DXpedition DXing

The last weekend I was at DX Camp in Chascomus with the following DXers: Arnaldo L. Slaen, Enrique Wembagher and my son Nicolas Eramo (Jr).

Bolivia
4699.3 Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, 2334 - 2337, Sep 15, Spanish, Musical Program "La Factoria del Ritmo", ID "Exitos de Radio San Miguel estan contigo", SINPO 24332, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Brazil
4845.1 Radio Cultura Ondas Tropicaes (p), Manaus, 2325 - 2331, Sep 15, Portuguese. Comments and musical program, SINPO 24332, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Burkina Faso
5030 Rdiff. du Burkina, Ouagadougou, 2304 - 2307, Sep 15, Comments by man announcer and Musical Program, SINPO 34433, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Djibouti
4780 Radio Djibouti, Doraleh, 2017 - 2022, Sep 15, Vernacular, dialogue between two man announcer's, Djibouti mentioned several times, SINPO 34343, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Ecuador
3279.9 La Voz del Napon, Tena, Napo, 1001 - 1003, Sep 16, Quecha, music and comments by man announcer, SINPO 24332, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Indonesia
3976 RRI Pontianak, 1019 - 1021, Sep 16, Vernacular, comments by female announcer, SINPO 24442, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

4605 RRI Serui, 0936 - 0945, Sep 16, Indonesian, comments by female announcer and then local music, SINPO 24222, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Israel
6970 Galei Tzahal (p), Lod, Tel Aviv, 2048 - 2054, Sep 15, Hebrew, man and female announcer, Comments, Music interpreted by Luciano Pavarotti, SINPO 22222, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

North Korea
2850 KCBS (p), Pyongyang, 0926 - 0930, Sep 16, Korean, Musical Program, SINPO 34333, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Papua New Guinea
3235 Radio West New Britain, Kimbe, 1013 - 1015, Sep 16, Vernacular, music and comments by female announcer, SINPO 24442, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

3905 Radio New Ireland, Kavieng, 1005 - 1008, Sep 16, Vernacular and English, Comments or news by man announcer, ID in vernacular, SINPO 34333, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Unid
4995.9 UNID, 1042 - 1050, Sep 16, Chinese, comments by man and female announcer, SINPO 24442, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Zimbabwe
3396 ZBC, Gweru, 2054 - 2059, Sep 15, Vernacular, Comments by man announcer and music, SINPO 34333, (Eramo, Chascomus, Argentina)

Receiver: SONY ICF 2010
Antenna: Longwire 30 mts
(Source: Nicolas Eramo, Argentina via Cumbre DX)

RAI shortwave services set to end September 30

David de Jong writes: Italian media news service Newslinet reports that the broadcasting center of Rome Prato Smeraldo has received orders to shut down as of 30 September. Currently the radio broadcasts of Rai International are available in 26 languages on shortwave, satellite and Internet. 60 editorial staff are involved on the production side, of whom half are on temporary contracts. Their future is uncertain, as is that of Rai International.

The decision to shut down the shortwave broadcasts is a consequence of the new contract made between the Italian government and public broadcaster Rai and its international department Rai International. It is still unclear whether some broadcasts might continue on satellite and Internet. Most probably Italian programmes will be continued as they are used for mediumwave broadcasts during the night (Notturno Italiano) and are also relayed throughout several FM outlets, especially in the US, Canada and Australia.

Italy has been active with shortwave broadcasts since I July 1930, and since 1934 in foreign languages under the Mussolini fascist regime. Italy - which became a democratic republic directly after World War II - has been active with its international service since 3 September 1946, when English, Spanish, French and Portuguese broadcasts restarted in a totally new setting, and were expanded to the 26 languages in which it broadcasts today.

Since 1995 the broadcasts have been the responsibility of the 100 % Rai-owned company Rai International, which took over from the ‘Direzione Esteri’ of Rai. Rai International is currentlyfocusing more on its television activities. The workers’ union Libersind has sent a petition to the Italian government in order to keep the foreign broadcasts.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

KWWN Update and KCKN proposed DX Test

KWWN 1100 kHz Las Vegas, NV

Bill Croghan, WBØKSW, Chief Engineer for Lotus Broadcasting of Las Vegas tells us the new KWWN has been on the air now for about three days as of Sept. 21, running unmodulated carrier (except for ID's) often at less than 1 KW for tuning and testing.

"It has been many short tests mostly at the lower power levels, but we have run the day pattern at the full 20 KW," he relates. "As you might imagine, a 20 KW two tower day pattern wasn't to difficult, but the 2 KW night pattern with four towers, on the next property over from two diplexed 1 KW stations located near in frequency, has been a challenge. We expect to start running longer tests, still primarily unmodulated, next week and the week after and hopefully will ask the FCC for Program test authority in the next two weeks. After receiving that, we will probably start sending the Deportes, Hispanic ESPN programming with ID's at the top of the hour for
KWWN. It's a long drawn out process that must proceed at the FCC required rate and through the hoops they mandate. I'll let you know when we start doing more."

Once they are through the testing phase, Bill has promised a full fledged DX Test over KWWN. If you hear them testing before then, you can send your reception reports to: Lotus Broadcasting, c/o Bill Croghan, 8755 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89147.

KCKN 1020 kHz Roswell, NM
Jerry Kiefer has promised us a DX Test (maybe two) from his station. Right now it looks like early November.
"I'll have an exact date shortly, sometime the first week or two of November on a Sunday night to get some good winter skywave," Jerry said in a recent e-mail. Our thanks go to retired BTC Coordinator Les Rayburn for getting the wheels turning on these two tests. We'll provide more information when the details are nailed down.
(Source: Jim Pogue - KH2AR@comcast.net via HCDX)
www.dxtests.info

KNLS Alaska B07 schedule

ALASKA KNLS. B-07 sked effective from 28 October 2007

All times UTC

English
0800-0900 7355
1000-1100 6150
1200-1300 6150 6915
1400-1500 6150

Mandarin
0800-0900 9615
0800-1200 7355
1300-1400 6890
1300-1600 7355
1600-1800 6915

Russian
0900-1000 6150
1100-1200 6150
1500-1800 6150
(KNLS web site via Alan Roe-UK WDXC-UK, updated by wb Sept 21)
(Source; WWDXC-Top News BC DX 826)

HD Radios to Be Sold on QVC

9.21.2007


Three HD Radio receivers will be shown on QVC next Wednesday.
The HD Digital Radio Alliance said the receivers would be featured at 10 p.m. on Sept. 26, which is during the NAB Radio Show.

The models to be sold are the Polk Audio I-Sonic Audio Entertainment System, which includes a DVD/CD player as well as HD Radio reception capability. The Visteon HD Pulse, an HD-R tabletop clock radio will be available, as will the Radiosophy HD 100.

The alliance said it will promote the show on QVC with a national radio advertising campaign in 100 markets.

QVC Senior Vice President of Merchandising Mary Campbell said the broadcast will be an opportunity for consumers to learn about the technology and purchase products.

Alliance President/CEO Peter Ferrara called QVC “a unique home retail environment that is ideal” for helping consumers discover new content on HD Radio.
(Source: RW)

Radio's Top 20 Market Listing

9.21.2007

Quick can you name radio’s top 20 markets (see above)? Here they are, with their 12+ populations:

1. NEW YORK 15,344,600

2. LOS ANGELES 10,902,400

3. CHICAGO 7,784,400

4. SAN FRANCISCO 5,969,400

5. DALLAS-FT. WORTH 4,973,000

6. HOUSTON-GALVESTON 4,639,000

7. PHILADELPHIA 4,350,000

8. ATLANTA 4,267,500

9. WASHINGTON, DC 4,210,000

10. BOSTON 3,874,600

11. DETROIT 3,866,500

12. MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD 3,538,400

13. PUERTO RICO 3,328,500

14. SEATTLE-TACOMA 3,328,100

15. PHOENIX 3,173,200

16. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL 2,683,000

17. SAN DIEGO 2,515,100

18. NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND) 2,359,300

19. TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER 2,350,000

20. ST. LOUIS 2,308,400
(Source: RW)

Amateur Radio ARLD DX Newsletter

ZCZC AE39
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 39 ARLD039
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT September 20, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD039
ARLD039 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

MADAGASCAR, 5R. Willi, DJ7RJ will be QRV as 5R8RJ from Nosy, IOTA AF-057, from September 26 to October 26. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL direct to home call.

NEPAL, 9N. Yuki, JH1NBN is QRV as 9N7BN from Kathmandu while on business here. He is normally QRV on 20 and 17 meters SSB around 1830z, but on a limited time schedule. QSL to home call.

BURUNDI, 9U. A group of operators will be QRV as 9U0A from September 26 to October 9. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using all modes, with an emphasis on the low bands and digital modes. QSL via DL7DF.

MOZAMBIQUE, C9. Fernando, C91R is QRV until August 2008. Activity is on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters using all modes, but concentrating his activity on RTTY. QSL via CT1BXT.

ANGOLA, D2. Koji, JM1CAX is QRV as D2NX from Luanda. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL via JH7FQK.

SPAIN, EA. A group of operators will be QRV as AM3MM from the Montserrat Monastery from September 22 to 24. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via EA3MM.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Operators NP3D, K4FO and AK2P will be QRV as KP2/NP3D, NP2/K4FO and WP2/AK2P, respectively, from St. Croix Island from September 23 to 30. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. They also plan to be active in the upcoming CQ WW RTTY contest as KP2/NP3D as a Multi-Op entry. QSL contest call and KP2/NP3D via W3HNK. QSL all others to home calls.

BELGIUM, ON. The Belgian Air Force Amateur Radio Association will be QRV as ON47FOUGA from September 24 to 30 to mark the last flight of the Fouga Magister and its 47 years in service. QSL via ON6KN.

DENMARK, OZ. Lutz, DL3ARK and Peter, DL4AMK will be QRV as OZ/homecalls from Langeland Island, IOTA EU-172, and Hov Lighthouse, ARLHS DEN-035, from September 22 to 29. This includes an entry in the SAC SSB contest. They will be active around the usual IOTA and Lighthouse frequencies. QSL to home calls.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Operators SM6CVX, G3KHZ, G4EDG and CT1AGF will be QRV as P29VCX from Nukumanu Island, IOTA OC-284, from September 24 to 29. They will visit other islands as well. Activity will be on all HF bands, with an emphasis on 160 and 80 meters. QSL P29VCX via SM6CVX.

EGYPT, SU. Gab, HA3JB is QRV as SU8BHI until November 30. Activity is on all HF bands using CW, RTTY, SSTV and PSK, with some SSB. He will also participate in the upcoming CQ WW RTTY and CW contests. QSL direct to home call.

DODECANESE, SV5. Drew, GM3YOR is QRV as SV5/GM3YOR from Symi, IOTA EU-001, until September 30. He is active in his spare time. QSL to home call.

WEST KIRIBATI, T30. Toshi, JA8BMK will be QRV as T30XX from Tarawa beginning September 25 for about a week. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW and SSB with some RTTY and PSK31. QSL direct via JA8UWT.

ICELAND, TF. Roger, G3SXW and John, G4IRN are QRV as TF/home calls from Reykjavik until September 23. Activity is on 40 to 12 meters using only CW. QSL to home calls.

WILLIS ISLAND, VK9W. George, AA7JV and Tomi, HA7RY will be QRV as VK9WWI from September 25 to October 5. Activity will be on the low bands. QSL via HA7RY.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Scandinavian Activity SSB Contest, NCCC CW Sprint, CIS DX Contest, AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, SKCC Weekend CW Sprint and the 222 MHz Fall Sprint are all scheduled for this weekend. Please see September QST, page 91, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
NNNN /EX
(Source: ARLD DX News via Dave Raycroft)

Somalia's Radio Shabelle shuts down

Mogadishu’s independent Shabelle radio station announced on Wednesday it was shutting down after security forces surrounded its offices and opened fire, destroying equipment over the past two days. ”We are sadly announcing that our media network has ceased all its media activity after forces from the transitional government of Somalia randomly fired at our premises,” Shabelle said in a statement posted on its website.

“The damage caused by heavy gunfire directed at our premises is immense so we can’t continue operating our radio station. All the equipment, including our main studio, are destroyed,” the statement added. Shabelle chairman Abdimaalik Yusuf Mohamud said: “We are also ceasing our operations because of the increasing threat to our staff and our building.”

“This is totally inhuman and a savage attack on Somalia’s struggle to freedom of speech,” he added in a statement released after the station shut. The security forces, who last weekend stormed the station and detained 17 staff, have accused one of Shabelle’s journalists of hurling a grenade at a police patrol.

Global media watchdogs have assailed the government, saying its crackdown on the independent press has made Somalia the world’s second dangerous place for journalists after Iraq. At least seven journalists have been killed in Somalia this year and media watchdogs have urged all sides to ensure better protection for reporters, several of whom have also been wounded or robbed.
(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Netherlands Program Preview Sept. 22 - 28

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



SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
*** The State We're In ***
We ask why systemic rape is one of the primary weapons of war in the Congo and we meet the victims as well as the people who treat them.

We also look at the right to a roof over your head and hear the story of the Zimbabwean woman whose government made her, and hundreds of thousands of others, demolish their own houses.

We hear from a victim of the US sub-prime mortgage controversy.
And do you still have the right to a roof over your head even when that roof is a highway overpass? We meet the Jakarta slum dwellers who think so.

We ask what makes a hero? Is the man who made the only serious attempt to assassinate Hitler, and now the subject of a major Hollywood film, a hero? His son is still unsure.

And we meet real life hero Dr Dave, who is spending his golden years tending to patients in a primitive clinic on the Thai Burma border.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1500 (South Asia), 1800 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)
Note that on Saturday we also run repeats of:
Network Europe on SW: 1400 (South Asia)

The Research File: 1430 (South Asia)
Amsterdam Forum and Echoes: 1900 and 1944 respectively (Central, East and South Africa)

SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
*** Amsterdam Forum ***
Does giving aid to the poor end poverty? Not according to the American economist William Easterly.

In his book The White Man's Burden, Professor Easterly argues that western charity actually makes the problems of the world's poorest people worse.

He explains his viewpoint at a round-table discussion on the failings
of foreign aid.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1500 (South Asia), 1800 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)

Repeated: Sat 1900 (Central, East and South Africa)

*** Echoes ***
Our new listener feedback programme. Mindy Ran responds to your comments, queries and complaints about our programmes. And featuring every week A Critical Eye - commentary from Perro de Jong.
Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1045 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1145 (Eastern N America), 1545 (South Asia), 1845 & 2045 (Central, East and South Africa), 0045 (Eastern N America), 0145 (Central N America), 0445 (Western N America)

Repeated: Sat 1945 (Central, East and South Africa)

Note that on Sunday we also run repeats of:
Flatlanders or EuroHit 40: 1400 (South Asia)
Arts and Culture: 1430 (South Asia)
The State We're in: 1900 (Central, East and South Africa)

MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)

*** Flatlanders ***
"The Challenges of Integration"
In the first of a five-part series, Radio Netherlands Worldwide and four other international broadcasters look at the issue of immigration. The United Nations estimates that there are nearly 200 million migrants. That's three percent of the world's population.
In the first programme, we look at the history of immigration in the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Australia and Japan.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1030 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1130 (Eastern N America), 1430 (South Asia), 1830 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0030 (Eastern N America), 0130 (Central N America), 0430 (Western N America)
Repeated: Sun 1400 (South Asia), Wednesday 1500 (South Asia) 1900 (Central, East and South Africa)

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.
Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)

*** The State We're In, Midweek Report ***
We ask why systemic rape is one of the primary weapons of war in the Congo and we meet the victims as well as the people who treat them.
We also look at the right to a roof over your head and hear the story of the Zimbabwean woman whose government made her, and hundreds of thousands of others, demolish their own houses.
We hear from a victim of the US sub-prime mortgage controversy.

And do you still have the right to a roof over your head even when that roof is a highway overpass? We meet the Jakarta slum dwellers who think so.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1030 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1130 (Eastern N America), 1430 (South Asia), 1830 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0030 (Eastern N America), 0130 (Central N America), 0430 (Western N America)
Repeated: Thu 1430, 1500 (South Asia), 1900 (Central, East and South Africa) Sun 1900 (Central, East and South Africa)


WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.
Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)

*** Arts and Culture ***
"Short Circuit"
Literally synaesthesia means "a crossing of the senses". In practice synaesthetes may see colours when they hear music, or experience taste when they are touched. Letters and numbers have individual colours and words can appear as paintings.
For a long time is was thought that synaesthetes were fabricating their experiences, but recent neurological studies show that they do in fact perceive things like music or words with several senses. In "Short Circuit", people with synaesthesia talk about the difficulties of explaining what they see, hear and taste. We also hear from two artists who use their work to translate the complex landscape of their minds.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1030 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1130 (Eastern N America), 1430 (South Asia), 1830 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0030 (Eastern N America), 0130 (Central N America), 0430 (Western N America)
Repeated: Fri 1500 (South Asia), 1900 (Central, East and South Africa), Sun 14:30 (South Asia)

THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.
Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)

*** The Research File ***
New approaches in healthcare and medicine
We hear that drug testing on bio-engineered human skin greatly reduces the need for animal testing; family-style communal meals in nursing homes improve people's well-being a very large research programme has started to see if dementia can be prevented.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1030 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1130 (Eastern N America), 1430 (South Asia), 1830 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0030 (Eastern N America), 0130 (Central N America), 0430 (Western N America)
Repeated: Mon 1500 (South Asia), 1900 (Central, East and South Africa), Sat 1430 (South Asia)


FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.
Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1000 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1100 (Eastern N America), 1400 & 1530 (South Asia), 1800, 1930 & 2030 (Central, East and South Africa), 0000 (Eastern N America), 0100 (Central N America), 0400 (Western N America)

*** Network Europe ***
A Pan European team links up across the continent each week to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.
The programme is a unique example of European co-operation, produced by the continent's leading international broadcasters, it reflects the diversity of European society and voices. Each week we drop in on specialists around Europe and catch up with our extensive network of correspondents for their unique take on the events shaping the week.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC): 1030 (Asia/Far East/Pacific), 1130 (Eastern N America), 1430 (South Asia), 1830 & 2000 (Central, East and South Africa), 0030 (Eastern N America), 0130 (Central N America), 0430 (Western N America)
Repeated: Tues 1500 (South Asia), 1900 (Central, East and South Africa), Sat 1400 (South Asia)
(R Netherlands)

New radio station to launch in October

CHWC, 104.9 the Beach a new FM radio station serving Ontario's West coast began its mandatory Industry Canada testing last week. The test period will last four weeks and once successfully completed, Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation, owner of the station, will
begin broadcasting local FM radio service to Goderich, Bayfield, Grand Bend and the rest of Ontario's West Coast.

"This is a radio station's sea trial so to speak" said Rob Brignell, General Manager of 104.9 the Beach. "Everyone on the Beach team is very gratified as they begin to hear the results of their months of preparatory work come together. " Work continues at 104.9 the Beach office and studio's located at 300 Suncoast Drive, just south of the Suncoast Drive and Highway eight intersection and in the studios of 98 the Beach, sister station to the one in Goderich.
While the construction crews continue to put the finishing touches to the building, Beach staff are programming all of the computers and consoles that are the electronic heart and sole of the radio station.


"We have been working hard to find the best on air people to staff the station" said Don Vail, Beach Program Director. "We have almost every vacancy filled and are just waiting for a couple of confirmations and we will be ready to go. We will let everyone know in the very near future who your local radio personalities will be.

The target date for launching the station is October 15. Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation, located in Owen Sound, owns and operates 6 radio stations on the Shores of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. 560 CFOS is a heritage AM station serving Grey and Bruce counties for over 65 years. Mix 106 and Country 93, in Owen Sound, are regional FM stations serving Grey, Bruce
and Simcoe Counties. 98 the Beach in Port Elgin, 97.7 the Beach in Wasaga Beach and 104.9 the Beach in Goderich.
Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India
Source: http://www.lakeshoreadvance.com/Local%20News/339132.html

All India Radio frequency changes and Radio World update

All India Radio frequency changes wef 26th September,2007(0945 UTC)

AIR has changed frequency for its Vividh Bharati Service from 10330 kHz to
9870 kHz and txer site to SPT,Bangalore 500 kW from HPT,Khampur(Delhi),
250 kW.Consequently,following changes have been made in the A07 Schedule:

Vividh Bharati Service 0025-0435 UTC 9870 B'lore(ex 10330 Delhi)
Vividh Bharati Service 0900-1200 UTC 9870 B'lore(ex 10330 Delhi)
Vividh Bharati Service 1245-1740 UTC 9870 B'lore(ex 10330 Delhi)
Russian 1615-1715 UTC 10330 Delhi (ex 9875 Delhi)
Chinese 1145-1315 UTC 11840 Delhi (ex 11840 B'lore)
Swahili/Hindi 1515-1730 UTC 9950 D15 Delhi(ex 9950 D16 Delhi)
Hindi 1615-1730 UTC 15075 Delhi (ex 15075 B'lore)
GOS-I 2245-0045 UTC 11645 Delhi (ex 11645 B'lore)
(Source: Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi,India)

All India Radio Chennai's 89th week of Vaanoli Ulagam (Radio World) Tamil DX program will broadcast on 23rd September (Sunday). The Content of the program is like this.

In the first segment listener's letters from around the world.

In the second segment, 'Radio History' contains Radio History in Namibia with their Signature Tunes.

In the third segment, 'Radio Today' contains, lot of recent news in detail

In the fourth segment, part with the DX Logging in English.

The fifth segment we give the most common words used in DXing. [DX Terminology]

In the six segment, Net for Dxing we give the detail review of useful nets

In the seventh segment, we reveiw the DX Books and CD's

Those who are want to get the special 75th week limited edition World Smallest QSL card No:5 (6x3.5CM), Book mark and New 50th week Pennant, send your Reception Report with 1 New IRC to the following address.

Indian listener must send Rs.10/- mint stamps for return QSL. Do not send the US $

N.C. Gnanaprakasam,
Program Executive,
Vaanoli Ulagam,
Thiraikadal Adivarum Thamizh Naatham,
All India Radio,
Kamarajar Salai,
Chennai 600004,
Tamilnadu, India.

The schedule of the Tamil DX Program 'Vaanoli Ulagam' (Radio World) is broadcast Sundays between 1115-1215 UTC (for about 15 minutes) on the following frequencies
To Sri Lanka:
1053 kHz Tuticorin (200 kw)
15050 Khampur, Delhi (250 kw)
17860 New Delhi (100 kw)
7270 Chennai (Avadi) (100 Kw)
To SE Asia:
13695 Bangalore (500 kw)
15770 Aligarh (250 kw)
17810 Panaji (250 kw)
(Source: Jaisakthivel, Producer and Presenter, Chennai)

Narrower Bandwidth Recommendations, Too

by Leslie Stimson, 9.20.2007
Leslie Stimson is the News Editor and Washington Bureau Chief for Radio World.

Speaking of bandwidth:
A separate document, so far called “NRSC-G100,” illustrates “the relationship of transmitted analog AM bandwidth with interference considerations as related to receiver test results,” Salek said.

Remember that awhile back, we reported that NPR Labs was characterizing 30 or so receivers, on the bench and in the field; that research was for the NRSC. The tests were to determine how much of the bandwidth they recover from an AM transmitted signal.

“Mainstream receivers never did go out as wide as the 10 kHz NRSC standard,” said Salek. The idea is, why not better match up the transmitted signal with what the radio can receive?

Discussion in the document describes how to narrow the transmitted analog or digital bandwidth. The general recommendation is 7 kHz, he said.

When Clear Channel narrowed the transmitted bandwidth on its AMs to some 5 kHz about two years ago (a story that RW broke), the concept was controversial. That’s why this discussion is not part of the standard but placed in a separate document.

Clear Channel Radio’s Jeff Littlejohn, who led the Clear Channel narrowing move, co-chairs the subcommittee, which will exist until at least CES. After that, the roughly 15-member group may go on hiatus until needed again.
(RW Online)

NRCS Will Vote On Revised AM Standards

by Leslie Stimson, 9.20.2007
Leslie Stimson is the News Editor and Washington Bureau Chief for Radio World.

AM is sexy at the NRSC.
Here’s an exclusive to this report: There’s big doings upcoming when the standards body meets next Wednesday in Charlotte — five votes expected in one day. There haven’t been that many votes in a day since the big action on the IBOC standard, I’m told.

What’s happening? AM standards are getting a makeover.

The AM Subcommittee has spent the last three years working on revising those standards. Now the work is done, says committee co-chair Stan Salek of Hammett & Edison.

The group has revised NRSC-1 (AM preemphasis/deemphasis and broadcast audio bandwidth specifications) and NRSC-2 (emission limitation for AM broadcast transmission).

It’s also proposing to delete NRSC-3 (audio bandwidth and distortion recommendations for AM broadcast receivers) and move the receiver response curves, the most relevant portion of the standard, into NRSC-1, according to Salek.

The standards, now in draft form, also have been updated to incorporate IBOC information.

A lot of what the group has done here is streamline and update the voluntary standards. Much of that text was last written to accommodate AMAX, the promotional program to get receiver manufacturers to produce radios that had increased bandwidth. Remember that? The idea was to improve the AM part of the receiver. (In fact, Stan and I both worked at NAB during that time, and AMAX was a big deal then.)

You can read the current standards on the NRSC site. The new ones will be posted sometime after the show, NAB tells me.
(RW Online)

BBC Radio Five Live makes announcer replacement

BBC Radio Five Live drivetime co-presenter Jane Garvey is to replace Martha Kearney as presenter on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. The BBC announced last week that Garvey would be leaving Five Live because of "family commitments" when it announced details of the station's revamp.

Garvey is swapping her daily drivetime co-hosting job with Peter Allen for a less intensive schedule on Woman's Hour, where presenting duties are shared between several presenters. Read more at: Media Guardian
http://media.guardian.co.uk/radio/story/0,,2171859,00.html