Taiwan adds two frequencies to North American shortwave schedule

Radio Taiwan International, has added two new frequencies to their shortwave schedule, effective today, June 15, 2009

Their current broadcast can be heard on 5950 kHz from 0200-0300 UTC to the East Coast, and from 0300-0400 UTC to the West Coast of North America.

Beginning today, you can also tune into RTI's English programming from 0200-0300 UTC on 9680 kHz to the Midwest and from 0500-0600 UTC on 5950 kHz to the West Coast

(Gayle Van Horn/Monitoring Times Frequency Manager/RTI)

Radio Netherlands Program Guide - June 15-19

MONDAY 15 June

*** Curious Orange (primary program) ***
We've all heard of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt. But what about his friend and contemporary Jan Lievens? We'll tell you why history has forgotten him.

And, Dutch women don't seem to want to be "on top", at least not in the police force. Political Editor John Tyler will explain why the glass ceiling in the police force is twice as thick as in other professions.

And finally, Robbert Tilli from the Music Center of the Netherlands will tell us all about this week's Dutch feature artist, Salah Edin.

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

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
1500 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

*** Radio Books (repeat from Sunday) ***

'A Man of Bronze' - by Diane Broeckhoven

Belgian author Diane Broeckhoven has written more than 20 books for young readers. Her novels for adults have been best-sellers in Germany as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In her Radio Books story, a woman waits in Père Lachaise cemetery by the grave of a famous French journalist. But how will this rendezvous with a former lover she has not seen in 17 years end?

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

The votes have been counted in the EU elections - we look at the winners and the losers and analyse how the parliament will change. Also on the programme: Can European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso keep his job? Literature lovers set themselves a summer challenge - but can they stay on the same page? And we meet a bike chain gang doing a penal Tour de France.

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

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

Broadcast time on SW (UTC):
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

TUESDAY 16 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

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

ALMOST MURDERED IN MOGADISHU: Ahmed Tajir is a journalist with Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu, Somalia. On 7 June 2009, he and his boss were attacked by gunmen in a market. He tells Jonathan about his ordeal, and his hope to flee Somalia before he is killed for his work.

BREAKING THE RULES IN LITHUANIA: Audrius Braukyla
is head of news for Lithuania Radio. He tells Jonathan about what it was like to work under Soviet rule, and about the press freedom that came to Lithuania two years before the fall of the USSR.

THIS WEEK'S THEME: "The Right to Be Fat"

PROUD TO BE FAT: The leader of the fat pride movement in the United States Marilyn Wann, who weighs 285 pounds (or 129 kilos), was spurred into action when her health insurance was denied. She says we live in a "fat-hating society" and calls for an end to the institutionalised discrimination and social ostracism inflicted on large people. Marilyn claims she has a right to be fat and argues strongly that fat people can be just as healthy as anyone else.

VIEWS ON FAT PEOPLE: Ginger Gorman went into a busy Amsterdam bar and asked people what they thought when they saw an obese person on the street. The answers ranged from pity and moral outrage to assumptions that a fat person's life must be really hard and that they must be unhealthy.

ANTI-FAT HEALTH EXPERT: Experts describe obesity as a "pandemic" which threatens to overwhelm health systems around the globe. Given this, does anyone have the right to be fat? Dr John Tickell is an Australian health and longevity expert with strong views on obesity. When asked whether people have a right to be fat, his answer was unequivocal: "That right is yours, the question is: Are you disadvantaging the rest of society?"


Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Earthbeat (repeat from Thursday) ***

Belgium is traditionally known for its hearty, and some might say heart attack inducing, cuisine. But for one day a week, the citizens of one town are being encouraged to ignore the steak and look kindly on lentils, as Ghent introduces Vegetarian Thursday. I take a trip to this European veggie hotspot, to see how the idea is catching on.

Also on the show, nearly ten years ago, a disease swept the Samoan Islands, virtually obliterating its core crop, taro. What lesson have been learnt? And we ask what place religion has in saving the environment and why we disagree about climate change at all.

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

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

WEDNESDAY 17 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (repeat from Friday) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (primary programme) ***

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

THURSDAY 18 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Earthbeat (primary programme) ***

In this week's programme: sex miles. Is your long distance relationship bad for the planet? When the chemistry says yes, but the geography says no. Visiting a partner can involve regular flights and a lot of extra carbon dioxide. Earthbeat meets the man with a girlfriend in a foreign country who's decided not to fly.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Curious Orange (repeat program) ***

We've all heard of the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt. But what about his friend and contemporary Jan Lievens? We'll tell you why history has forgotten him.

And, Dutch women don't seem to want to be "on top", at least not in the police force. Political Editor John Tyler will explain why the glass ceiling in the police force is twice as thick as in other professions.

And finally, Robbert Tilli from the Music Center of the Netherlands will tell us all about this week's Dutch feature artist, Salah Edin.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

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

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

FRIDAY 19 June

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

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

Zimbabwe's prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai tours the West, but he isn't asking for money -he says.

It's taken 13 years but Royal Dutch Petroleum has settled the Ken Saro-Wiwa law suit at 15.5 million US dollars. What can Africa learn from the case?

In this week's video on the radio we feature 'pastorpreneurs' from Benin, who sell the word of Christ - and themselves - on TV.

And we have a studio get-together with Bantu Continua Uhuru Counsciousness. A group of talented young musicians from Soweto, South Africa.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (repeat programme) ***

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

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

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

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

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

Weekly radiowave propagation forecast available online

Thanks to Thomas Giella, NZ40, for the email reminding me and our blog readers of his weekly radiowave propagation forecast. It covers LF, MF and HF for shortwave listeners and 160-6 meters for amateur radio operators.

Published on Friday mornings around 1700 UTC, it covers a seven day period from Saturday through Friday. You can see it at NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm .


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

LF/MF/HF/VHF/UHF Frequency Radiowave Propagation Email Reflector: http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/spaceweather
NZ4O Daily Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm
NZ4O Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm
NZ4O 160 Meter Radio Propagation Theory Notes: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm
NZ4O Solar Cycle 24 Forecast Discussion & Archive: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf72.htm

thanks Thomas for the reminder - GVH

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

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

African ARSK Monitoring Report for May, 2009
Six broadcast stations in eastern Africa have been identified on the 40meter band between 7100 and 7200 kHz.

Ethiopia has two, for internal and external services, Uganda one,Hargeisha (Rep. of Somaliland) one, Eritrea (VOBM) has one and has moved from 7100 to 7175 kHz, and Sudan (Khartoum) has one. I am very grateful to the BBC Monitoring Service for their assistance, language being a problem. Another station in a Chinese language on 7130 kHz remains to be identified but is not easily monitored. Whether Mandarin, Cantonese or another is not known, but very few listeners in this part of the world will understand it.

Two weeks monitoring at the coast were not very productive, but a few Somalia stations were heard in generally poor propagation conditions. Otherwise the usual southern Sudan intruders, including NGOs were heard, and some Ethiopians on 40 meters. What is apparently a military net on 6999 kHz remains in operation, as well as an Ethiopian on the same frequency.
E.H.M. Alleyne, 5Z4NU, Kenya
ARSK National IARUMS Co-ordinator
(IARUMS Bandwatch News June 10/BC-DX #916)

Aussie monitoring
5025 VL8K, Katherine NT, 2142-2156, 04 Jun, English, songs, phone-ins about home politics. SINPO 35432. VL8A 4835 & VL8T 4910 airing different ogram. Radio Australia, Shepparton. VIC, 2131-2203, 05 Jun, English to Asia, "AM" program with reports on Iran and the US. Indonesian at 2200, starting with "warta berita", new. SINPO 35433.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwxc BC-DX TopNews June 8/BC-DX #916 wb, Germany)

Clanny update
Two clandestine stations heard on 3920.0-3934.0 kHz. One is the old Voice of Kurdistan (ID "Eira radio Dengi Kurdistana" in Kurdish) and another radio is with new name Voice of Turkman Iran (probably) because I heard the second part of the ID: "Turkmenistani Iran". It is heard on new 4770-4795v kHz. Sign-on 3929 kHz was around 0145 UT and sign-on 4770v was around 0201 UT and both jammed by Iran, May 14-15. (Rumen Pankov/June BDXC-UK)

Latvian broadcast sites
Broadcast sites in Riga Comments to Bernd Trutenau from Andrejs Kuznecovs regarding some pictures available on the Net.

It's a photos of the antenna masts for Latvijas radiofons (name of Latvijas Radio before WWII). Between World Wars Latvian radio was situated in the General Post Office house and same building was used as a site for transmitter. Masts was build near the GPO on Radio iela street (same name saved till now) in 20's. Transmissions from the Radio iela (street) continues during 20's, 30's, first Russian occupation and the German occupation period.

Wermacht blow up one mast, transmitter and the GPO house after the running out from Riga in October 1944. Due the this problem, Soviets open Latvijas radio in new site in the downtown of Riga and used mobile transmitter in railway wagon in Zemitani station for the first time. After the some years new transmitter site in Ulbroka (in the territory of former relax house-resort for Wermacht) was built and trophy masts from the Eastern Prussia was used for it.

Old GPO house was reconstructed in 40's and now used as a dept. of the Latvian University (faculty of economics and some others depts.) One (blewed) mast goes to metal, but other, what stay till 90's on the Radio iela was used for the milicia (Soviet time police) communications with the flag of Soviet Latvia on the top on holidays.

This mast was taked to pieces for old metal in 90's, when police beginusing of the new communication equipment in the Zakusala TV tower. So shortly... I think, what you easy find all my mentioned sites in the Google map. Concrete bases for the last mast on Radio iela now stay and may be seen. (Andrejs Kuznecovs-LVA, via Bernd Trutenau-LTU; ARC MV-Eko June 6/BC-DX #916)

Madagascar on 6134.91
RTVM (presumed), 1406-1427, June 12. Thanks to a tip from Dan Sheedy (Calif.), I heard them in French. Sounded like the news followed by African hilife music. Signal started out fair but faded down to very poor. Was unable to heard the \\ 7105 that Dan has been hearing. For me PBS Nei Menggu on 7105 is just too strong to catch anything under them. Dan noted a sign-off at 1446 UT on June 7. (Ron Howard, CA)

Mexico logs
6104.43 Merida XEQM 1058. Transmitter on, drift to .65 then .52 music and lady announcer, 1110 transmitter off. 1120 sudden on with music, strong signal 9 June. Thanks John Herkimer. Being received well all over Florida.(Robert Wilkner, FL/DXplorer June 10)

6104.704 XEQM, Merida at 0211-0350 UT 7 June. Thanks Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL for the tip. Presume the one with soccer, a few commercial breaks, including one for a fast food restaurant in Spanish (which was also heard by Gerry Bishop, while we were corresponding online). Very good ignal (using LSB to escape the 6105 kHz mess). Checked the next morning at 1310 UT, and I can confirm that XEQM was not active at this time. Also confirmed not heard by my DXer and Gulla-speaking friend Luscious Jackson in Frogmore, SC on the mobile.(Terry L Krueger, FL/DXplorer June 7/BC-DX #916)

Pirate monitoring
Godzilla Radio, 6925USB, 1312-1325. Two characters talking to each other a male voice and what sounds like a small girl. Godzilla sound effects,"earth defense forces", a peaceful settlement is much more desirable",1324 small girl. ID "? Radio this is a first time event" could not make it out. She also mentioned Godzilla several times. 1325 off, Actually, the little girl sounded a lot like Lisa Simpson. Fair (Rohde/FRW #696)

Grasscutter/ Sunshine Radio
1902-1957, 6925USB; Weak Sio 343. Songs Whiter shade of Pale at 1906 Dream Weaver at 1919. Many IDs and hellos to all the pirates out there. Said to send reports to Grasscutterradio@yahoo.com . My report to them was returned no account at Yahoo.Com. (Silvi/FRW #696)

WEAK Radio
weakradio@gmail.com
0048-0134, 6925USB, SIO 353. Detailed log posted at FRN. (SILVI/FRW #696)

Radio Northsea International on the internet

The great sounds of RNI from the 1970s

RNI is on via the internet: http://radionorthsea.hopto.org:9068/listen.pls

RNI website is: http://www.garrystevens.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rni/

Give it a listen
Tom Taylor

BBC says satellite broadcast being disrupted from Iran

The BBC said today that the satellites it uses to broadcast in Persian were being jammed from Iran, disrupting its reports on the hotly-disputed presidential election. The corporation said television and radio services had been affected from 1245 UTC Friday onwards by “heavy electronic jamming” which had become “progressively worse”. Satellite technicians had traced the interference to Iran, it said.
The satellites its uses in the Middle East to broadcast BBC Persian television to Iran were being affected, meaning that audiences in Iran, the Middle East and Europe would likely experience disruption. BBC Arabic television and other language services had also experienced transmission problems, the corporation said.
“Any attempt to block BBC Persian television is wrong and against international treaties on satellite communication. Whoever is attempting the blocking should stop it now,” said BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks. “It seems to be part of a pattern of behaviour by the Iranian authorities to limit the reporting of the aftermath of the disputed election.
“In Tehran, (BBC world affairs editor) John Simpson and his cameraman were briefly arrested after they had filmed material for a piece,” he added. Iranian authorities today shut down the office of Arab news channel Al-Arabiya in Tehran for a week in the wake of the disputed election win by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the channel said.
(Source: AFP)
Reporters Without Borders adds: The blocking of access to foreign news media has been stepped up. In addition to the blocking of the BBC’s website, the Farsi-language satellite broadcasts of the VOA and BBC – which are very popular in Iran – have been partially jammed. The Internet is now very slow, like the mobile phone network. YouTube and Facebook are hard to access and pro-reform sites such as Khordadeno, AftabNews and Ghalamesabz are completely inaccessible.
Andy Sennitt says: Two of the three sites mentioned above gave the message “bandwidth limit exceeded” when I checked at 1550 UTC, suggesting that DOS attacks may have been carried out.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Kim Jong-Un profiled in VOA interview

A rare opportunity provides in-depth information


Washington, D.C., June 10, 2009 – Kim Jong Un, the likely successor to North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, looks like his father, plays computers and basketball and rates a Whitney Houston song as a favorite, the family’s former sushi chef said in an interview with VOA's Korean Service.

Kenji Fujimoto, who now lives in Japan, worked for Kim Jong-Il from 1988-2001. Fujimoto served sushi to, sneaked cigarettes to and played basketball with Jong Un from the time he was seven until he was 18. In 2001, Fujimoto manufactured an excuse to visit Japan and didn't return.

"He looked and acted like his father and everybody thought he would be his father's successor," Fujimoto told VOA recently.

Fujimoto also said Jong Un hated to be called "little general" because he doesn't want to be treated as the younger and smaller brother; started smoking and drinking when he became a teenager; liked to give orders and was regarded as having a "take charge" personality. He also enjoyed listening to Houston's “I Will Always Love You,” the theme song from The Bodyguard.

"This interview was a rare opportunity, and we were able to get in-depth information about the family of Kim Jong-Il," said Dong Hyuk Lee, Chief of the VOA Korean Service. Fujimoto has rarely given interviews since Kim Jong-Un was tapped two weeks ago to replace his father.

VOA Korean broadcasts five hours of radio programming daily (8:00-11:00 a.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m. in Korea). The full interview in Korean, the Service's regular broadcasts, and VOA's English language coverage relating to North Korea are available at www.VOANews.com/Korean and http://www.voanews.com/ .
(photo/Eric Lafforgue,flickr)

Amateur radio propagation forecast

Sunspot numbers from May 31 through June 5 ranged from 13 to 23, then the Sun was blank for two days, followed by sunspot numbers of 12 for both June 8 and 9. This fleeting sunspot was number 1020, and like last week's spot, 1020 had the magnetic signature of a new Cycle 24 spot. Alas, it was another of the frequent sunspots we've seen lately which appear briefly, then vanish.
The last Cycle 23 spot was number 1016, which appeared April 29-30.

Leonard Halversen, WA2AMW of Princeton, New Jersey asked how Cycle 24 spots are differentiated from Cycle 23 spots, and we last mentioned this in Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP044 from 2008, so now is a good time to go over it again.

The sunspots have a magnetic signature. As you watch them move from left to right, they lead with a dark patch in front and a white tail in the rear. That is how Cycle 24 spots appear above the equator, and it is just the opposite south of the Sun's equator. Also, new cycle spots tend to appear at higher northern or southern latitudes away from the equator, while old cycle spots appear nearer the equator.

Go to http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/ to look for images. Click on the "Search and Download Images" link, and select MDI Magnetogram from the image types. Try entering start/end dates of April 28 and April 30 of this year, and click Search. Select one of the links from the middle of the list, and note that the sunspot on the right side is near the equator, indicating a spot from the old cycle, and that it leads with black on the right. Because it is
slightly below the equator, this indicates a Cycle 23 spot. If it were above the equator, a Cycle 23 spot would lead with white on the right side.

Now go back and search dates June 1 through June 3. Note that you can up the resolution to 1024 from 512. Select one of these images, and note the large sunspot above the equator has a Cycle 24 signature.

Still more comments arrived this week about how dead bands may be an illusion. Guy Cossette, VA2WT of Saint Roch de Mekinac in Quebec wrote to tell us about his 80 and 40 meter operation. Using 100 watts CW and a 40 meter dipole, he worked Crete, Cyprus and Tunisia
at 2200z and he also worked Cyprus on 80 meters at 2300z.

Ken Sturgill, WS4V in Marion, Virginia says he likes to use the intelligent features at http://www.ve7cc.net/ . If you wish, you can set it for the countries you are looking for, and you can also set it to only accept spots from tipsters in your country, so you get the spots you can work. He recommends hitting the "Tell Cluster" button often, so the info isn't lost. He also recommends reading the manual.

Jim Sullivan, N7TCF of Phoenix, Arizona likes to use "DX Sherlock," at http://www.vhfdx.net/spots/map.php. He uses it to check out band conditions, mainly on 6 meters. One feature I like is the Es MUF tab, where you can see the MUF in various places. I believe this data comes from ionospheric sounders (ionosondes), which fire a sweeped RF signal straight up and then measure the strength and frequency of the signals bouncing back.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG of Hillsborough, North Carolina sent a link to a nice map mash-up of 6 meter beacon stations at, http://www.k9mu.com/map/.

Mark wrote:
"I have also been experimenting with WSJT weak signal software from Joe Taylor, K1JT. It's pretty neat to tinker with meteor scatter on 6 meters, and very challenging with my modest station. But I have really gotten addicted to JT65A mode on 20 meters. There always
seems to be somebody on the air in the vicinity of the calling frequency of 14076 kHz, and I have worked some terrific DX that I normally would struggle with from here with 20 watts. I have also heard DU on JT65A for the first time ever on any band or mode! All of my QSOs have been with 40 watts or less, mostly with 20 watts. In just two months of part-time operation, I have worked 25 countries on JT65A including VK, JA, CX, lots of Europeans. Also, I worked ZS6 on 80 meter WSJT last weekend! There were horrendous thunderstorms all up and down the east coast, but the software decoded just fine. I could barely see the DX on the WSJT spectrum
waterfall, and decoded his CQ almost by accident while doing something else in the shack."

For this week, geomagnetic conditions should remain very quiet. Solar flux is estimated to be about 68, rising above 70 June 24 through July 1.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net .

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .

Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/ .

Instructions for starting or ending email distribution of this bulletin are at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#email .

Sunspot numbers for June 4 through 10 were 17, 13, 0, 0, 12, 12, and 0 with a mean of 7.7. 10.7 cm flux was 71, 70.1, 69, 68.9, 69, 69.1, and 69.2 with a mean of 69.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 5, 2, 3, 2, 2 and 2 with a mean of 3.
NNNN
/EX
(Dave Raycroft/ODXA)

Winter DX conditions from down-under

While radio hobbyists in the northern hemisphere are in the midst of summer DX conditions, and contending with high noise levels and such, our friend Bob Padula in Melbourne, Australia is enjoying winter DX conditions. The following is a sampling of what he is monitoring down-under. Geez Bob, we'll have to wait a few months to enjoy the "prime" DX season.
Have fun ... and report often!
Gayle Van Horn

Melbourne is now in the depths of winter, with good snow falls in the Victorian Alpine areas.

The maximum elevation of the sun on June 12 is only 28.8 degrees – sunrise is at 7.30 am (2130 UTC), sunset is at 5.07 pm (0707 UTC) and we are only given 9hrs 34mins of daylight!

Hours of sunlight are now minimal, with good distance signals noted on 6, 7, and 9 MHz throughout our morning, across noon and into the afternoon. These winter propagation eventswill continue until well into July, opening up many opportunities for propagation research and spectrum studies on these bands.

Of particular interest is occupancy in the 6 MHz band from mid-morning until mid-afternoon. This is in the 10 am to 1 pm window, 0000 to 0300 UTC, represented by short path signals from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and longpath from the Americas until around 0100. After 0100, the longpath mode for Europe/ME/Africa dominates, and signals from the Americas come to us via shortpath.

This is the observed spectrum occupancy on 6 and 7 MHz, in the general period 0000 to 0300, on Jun 11 – many interesting signals for the taking!

All tumes UTC

49 metres
---------
5930 CZECH REP R. Prague 0100-0200 var langs
5960 ENGLAND NHK-Skelton, 0000-0020* English
5965 CUBA RHC 0030-0100 Spanish
6010 CANADA R. Sweden via Sackville, 0100-0130 Swedish
6030 USA R. Marti 0100-0300
6055 SPAIN REE 0100-0300 Spanish
6070 CHILE CVC-Santiago 0000-0200 (shortpath throughout across Antarctica)
6100 CANADA RCI-Sackville 0100-0300* var langs
6115 ENGLAND DW-Rampisham 0100-0200 Russian
6145 CANADA NHK-Sackville 0000-0020* English
6150 HUNGARY Hungarian Radio *0100-0200* Hungarian
6165 N. ANTILLES RN-Bonaire 0000-0200 Spanish
6175 CANADA VOV-Sackville 0000-0300

41 metres
---------
7205 RUSSIA BBC-Krasnodar *0100-0200* Hindi
7210 ENGLAND BBC-Rampisham *0300-0330* Swahili
7225 MOLDOVA VOR-Kishinov 0000-0300* Russian
7235 IRAN VOIRI *0130-0230* English
7260 RUSSIA VOR-Serpukov 0000-0300* Russian
7270 ARMENIA VOR-Yerevan 0000-0300* Russian
7270 GERMANY AWR-Wertachtal *0300-0330*African langs
7280 GERMANY R. Farda, Wertachtal *0030-0300 Farsi
7290 GERMANY IBB-Lampertheim *0300-0400* Caucasian
7300 RUSSIA VOR-Serpukhov 0000-0300 Spanish
7305 VATICAN VR-SMG *0030-0300 various langs
7310 ENGLAND DW-Rampisham *0200-0400* German
7315 USA WHRI 0100-0200
7320 ENGLAND BBC-Skelton *0230-0330* Farsi
7325 PORTUGAL RN-Sines *0000-0200* Spanish
7335 VATICAN VR-SMG *0040-0300 var langs
7345 CZECH REP. R. Prague 0000-0300 var langs
7350 CHINA CRI-Kashi 0000-0100* English
7360 VATICAN VR-SMG *0230-0330* French English
7365 USA R. Marti, Greenville 0000-0300 Spanish
7365 ROMANIA RRI *0100-0200* French
7385 USA WHRI 0000-0100
7390 RUSSIA VOR-St. Petersburg 0100-0300* Russian
7400 BULGARIA R. Sofia 0000-0300 var langs
7425 ALBANIA R. Tirana *0230-0300* English
7430 SRI LANKA IBB-Iranawela 0000-0030* Burmese
7440 UKRAINE RUI 0000-0300 var langs
7460 MOLDOVA R. Bahei, Kishinov *0230-0330* Farsi
7465 USA WWCR 0000-0100
7475 GREECE VOG 0000-0300 Greek

These propagation modes will continue until the end of July.

Regards from Melbourne!

Bob Padula
(photo of Bob Padula in his shack)

Blog Logs - pirate radio

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

Barnyard Radio
6930USB, 0235. SINPO 34443. White noises, BYR ID in mid song, 0300 operator naming all the songs played. some QRM from Liquid Radio on 6925 AM (Ragnar/FRW #694)

Blue Ridge Radio
6925USB *0003-0058* 5/30/09 SIO 242+. Program of bluegrass banjo music, said to be transmitted from high atop the Blue Ridge Mountains. Gave address of blueridgeradio@gmail.com and asked for repts. (Zeller/FRW #695)

BOZO FAX
6932.6USB, 0110-0121. HF FAX mode, "BOZO FAX" text. Pictures of a certain caller to Allan Weiner Worldwide, accompanied with strange graphics. Multiple "faxes" received. S3/5. 0145, 6932.5USB. Strange voices. "Okay, weirdos" with musical accompaniment. A7. More fax at 0155 followed by weird audio and crazy sound bytes. Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" at 0202, off at 0206. Overall S5 with 6930 utility whine throughout. (Will/FRW #695)

Dead Cat Radio
6925USB, 0101, SINPO 34433. Luca, 99.9f degrees, DCR ID at 1013. Barber Shop Quartet with ukulele Hawaiian music (Ragnar/FRW #693)

Gray Rhino Radio
6925USB, 0105-0124. Fair/poor/static. heavy metal music tune: In Your Head (?), said "Gray Rhino Radio playing music by the Cranberries, mentioned gmailto:grayrhinoradio@gmail.com . I havent tried that address yet.I just tried to email Gray Rhino Radio and it bounced immediately. Gave greyrhinoradio@gmail.com Mail to: greyrhinoradio%40gmail.com for reports. (Zeller/FRW #693)(Hassig/FRW #693)

KPR
6927.4-28.0USB, 0207-0239+. Rock tunes (sounded like lotsa Doors tunes) and announcer chit-chat.Station ID at 0238+. SIO 342. Woodpecker blasts and frequency dropped steadily. My 600th "different" pirate heard, maybe at least 10 different transmitters! (Frodge/FRW #693)

Long Range Radio
6925USB, 0107. Pirate radio song. Jimmy Buffets pirate song, Long Range Radio ID at 0121, more Buffet. slow boat to China. mentioned Bodie? CA at sign off (Ragnar) 6925USB, 0110-0135* Good to excellent signal. The show started off with Jimmy Buffet in concert. Repeated several times the song "I'm a pirate" by Jimmy. At sign off, Male announcer said, "Hi from Bolde, California, Long Range Radio." (Majewski/FRW #693)

MAC Shortwave
6925AM, 2330. SINPO 34444. Ultraman announcing they will be moving to 6850 "very soon." Program playing a bunch of instrumental music pieces. (Ragnar/FRW #693)

North Sea Radio
6925USB, 0135-0150. Pirate and sea shanty type songs. SINPO 34344. (John Poet/FRW #693)

Outhouse Radio
6925USB, 0104-0124, SIO 353, Radio First Termer program, E-QSL received for full details posted at FRN, (Silvi/FRW #695)

Radio GaGa
6925 kHz, 0226. Heard SSTV, then music with ELO, speech with mention of Senator McCarthy, then SSTV (which I managed to decode as Radio GaGa) at 0239.(Pimblett/FRW #693)

Radio Carp International
6926USB, 0153. Tune in to weak talk by man. Station IDs, followed by at 0157 one minute of bugle (sounded like it was by voice, not instrument) and IDs, still on after 0200. Fair to poor with noise. please QSL ! (Foltz/FRW #693)

Radio Station XXP
6925.0USB, 0054-0102. "I drink your rum boys", 0055 Radio Station XXP ID, This is radio station, pirate radio station XXP." This is the first broadcast from this operator, 0102 off Fair. (Rohde/FRW #693)

Voice of Honor
6925USB, 0219. SINPO 44434. Station ID at sign on. (sounding a lot like KAOS) program for the troops, followed by Stars and Stripes. Playing the various military branch songs for Army, Navy, Marines. Email to: voiceofhonor@gmail.com (Ragnar/FRW #693)

Voice of Kaos
6925USB, 0218-0223. Signal fair, mentioned "We represent the dark side." Music tune Wild Thing by the Troggs, off with Get Smart TV theme.(Hassig/FRW #693)

WBNY
Radio Free Speech repeats, 6850AM, 2255-0004* A good signal The show start with a people repeating the word Monkey over and over followed by WBNY ID. Comedy song about cows and a cows' revolution for freedom. Another one about bunnies multiplying and some one trying to give them away. At 2308, Bill O' Rights came on with a Radio Free Speech show. Old show that mentions Bill Clinton. At 2338, WBNY show "I am a good monkey" was played. Interesting combination of shows. (Majewski/FRW #693)

WPON
6950USB, 2305. SIO 232. "Black Friday", just barely over the noise, much stronger at 2326. Tune, "Let's Work Together." SIO 333, still pretty noisy (Fansome/FRW #693)

Wind Up Radio
6926.31, 0035-0103. SIO 353-2. Music, many IDs,many shout outs. (Silvi/FRW #693)

A couple operators are no longer QSLing via snail mail...
Per postings on the Free Radio Network:

Kracker of Radio Jamba International: "I have asked the drop operator to return any reports to sender. I have not given the Belfast drop as a contact point in over 2 years. With the advent of technology they can find me via E-mail @ krackerradio@pmlol.com. If I am in the mood to do a QSL I will but not before. I just find it redundant to get a snail mail report for a show that happened 6 months ago and them expecting more than I already gave with my show. Especially when no qsl was offered. -Kracker "

The Poet of The Crystal Ship: " Since I finally figured out how to do a basic e-QSL, we are going to switch to those for any Emailed reports-- particularly since I can't really afford all the printing and postage right now, and they'll get done quicker. Please EMAIL any QSL reports to our GMAIL address, tcsshortwave at gmail.com -John Poet (FRW #695)

FREE RADIO WEEKLY is an e-mail only newsletter devoted to the hobby of listening to radio pirates and distributed free to those who contribute. Please QSL and think good thoughts about our contributors, without who, there is no newsletter: Our Contributors...a bunch that knows how to make good use of free time.For more information consult: http://www.frn.net/

AWR & TWR schedules update

All times UTC

USA(non) Frequency change of AWR KSDA Agat Guam in Chin/Karen:
1400-1500 NF 11965 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs, ex 9560

USA(non) Frequency changes of KTWR Agana Guam:
1230-1300 NF 9605 TWR 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs, ex 9635 11-1130 Vietnamese
1230-1300 NF 9910 TWR 100 kW / 293 deg to SoAs, x 11870 Kokboborok Mon-Fri
1330-1400 NF 9340 TWR 100 kW / 285 deg to SoAs, x 12075 Assamese Mon-Fri
(DX Mix News #576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

VOA & Radio Liberty schedule updates

All times UTC NF= new frequency

USA(non) Frequency changes of IBB:
0300-0400 NF 9435 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg, ex 11530 RL in No.Caucasus langs*
0330-0400 NF 5945 SAO 100 kW / 088 deg,new txion VOA in Somali
0330-0400 NF 12110 LAM 100 kW / 132 deg,new txion VOA in Somali
0330-0400 NF 15430 BOT 100 kW / 010 deg,new txion VOA in Somali
0500-0530 NF 5945 BIB 100 kW / 126 deg, ex 9460 VOA in Albanian
1400-1500 NF 12075 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 9685 RL in Turkmen
1500-1530 NF 12110 UDO 250 kW / 316 deg, ex 7280 VOA in Uzbek
1700-1800 NF 15455 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, ex 9530 VOA in Georgian
1730-1800 NF 5830 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg, ex 5820 VOA in Azeri
1800-1830 NF 12080 GB 250 kW / 094 deg, ex 9815 VOA in Portuguese Mon-Fri
1800-1830 NF 11960 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg, ex 6170 VOA in Portuguese Mon-Fri
1800-1830 NF 15730 MDC 250 kW / 275 deg, ex 7310 VOA in Portuguese Mon-Fri
1900-2000 NF 6120 MEY 250 kW / 335 deg, ex 5990 VOA in English
*Avari/Chechen/Chercassi
(DX News # 576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB)
330 Independence Avenue SW
Room 3360
Washington, DC 20237
USA

Non technical correspondence should be sent to the Voice of America address in Washington, DC.
Reception reports: letters@VOA.gov
Website: (Streaming/on-demand audio) http://www.voanews.com
Email: voanews@voanews.com
(Addresses via World QSL Book)

WYFR Family Radio A09 schedule updates

All times UTC

RUSSIA(non) Summer A-09 of WYFR Family Radio via TRW:
1400-1700 on 5845 DB 100 kW / 137 deg to SoAs in Hindi
1200-1300 on 5970 K/A 250 kW / 313 deg to EaAs in Korean
1400-1500 on 7215 IRK 250 kW / 224 deg to SoAs in Nepali
1000-1100 on 7245 K/A 100 kW / 178 deg to EaAs in Japanese
1800-1900 on 7320 ARM 300 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in German
1900-2000 on 7320 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu in German
2100-2200 on 7430 KCH 250 kW / 309 deg to WeEu in English
1400-1500 on 9365 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SEAs in English
1400-1500 on 9405 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi
1800-1900 on 9405 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in English-June 4
1000-1100 on 9450 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in English
1100-1200 on 9450 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs in Korean
1100-1200 on 9460 P.K 250 kw / 247 deg to EaAs in Cantonese
1200-1300 on 9465 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to SEAs in Cebuano
1900-2000 on 9490 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg to WeEu in Italian
1500-1600 on 9500 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1200-1400 on 9615 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Indonesian
1400-1500 on 9615 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in English
1800-1900 on 9615 SAM 250 kW / 284 deg to WeEu in Polish
1600-1700 on 9735 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi
1100-1400 on 9865 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs in Chinese
1400-1500 on 9865 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs in English
1100-1200 on 9900 VLD 250 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Illocano
1500-1600 on 11505 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Punjabi
1600-1700 on 11505 ERV 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1300-1400 on 11520 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SoAs in Burmese
1600-1700 on 11630 ARM 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1500-1600 on 11655 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Marathi
1100-1400 on 11725 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in Chinese
1400-1500 on 11725 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs in English
1200-1300 on 11855 DB 100 kW / 024 deg to CeAs in Russian
1200-1400 on 11895 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs in Vietnamese
1900-2100 on 12060 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu in French
1400-1600 on 12065 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs in Urdu
1300-1500 on 13810 A-A 500 kW / 121 deg to SEAs in English
1100-1200 on 13850 VLD 200 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Indonesian
1200-1300 on 13850 VLD 200 kW / 220 deg to SEAs in Tagalog
1200-1300 on 15490 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg to SEAs in Thai

USA Frequency changes of WYFR Family Radio from June 1:
2100-0100 NF 6915 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 15215 in Spanish
2200-0100 NF 7520 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 in Portuguese
0100-0345 NF 11550 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 in Portuguese
0200-0400 NF 9385 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg, ex 11855 in English/Spanish
2300-0245 NF 11530 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 17845 in Sp/Sp/Port/Sp
2300-0245 NF 11580 YFR 100 kW / 160 deg, ex 17750 in English/Port/Spanish
(DX Mix News #576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Cuban Spy Update

Thanks to Brooke Clark and the Spooks newsgroup for the heads up.

This blog (Shortwave Central) "first" broke the story of the Cuban spies on June 5 http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2009/06/ex-us-state-official-wife-face-cuba-spy.html, long before anyone else in the radio hobby had the story.

Now we have an exclusive update to this story.

New information about the Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers Cuban spy case have come to light, thanks to the public court documents that have been released. If you ever had any doubt what the numbers atation broadcast were all about, you won't now.

Back in 1994 in the pages of Monitoring Times, I broke the story (Drugs, Spies and Numbers) about what some of the U.S. spy number broadcasts were used for. Now we have direct proof (again) of what the Cuban numbers are used for.

From the U.S. Government criminal compliant filed against Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers on
pages 11-12, paragraphs 34-38

Clandestine communications from CuIS to its agents via shortwave radio

34. Based on my knowledge and familiarity with communications methodologies of CuIS, I am aware that, during the timeframe described herein, CuIS often communicated with its clandestine agents operating in the United States by broadcasting encrypted radio messages from Cuba on high frequencies - that is, shortwave radio frequencies. under this method, CuIS would broadcast a series of numbers on a particular shortwave frequency. The clandestine agent in the United States, monitoring the frequency on a shortwave radio, could decode the seemingly random series of numbers using a decryption program provided by CuIS. The series of numbers would than be decoded into a cognizable text used by the agent. Once decoded, the text of the message would provide the agent with tasking for intelligence gathering, instructions about operational activities, including communications plans and meets with CuIS handlers. Similiarly, CuIS would broadcast similiar messages to its handlers.

35. This shortwave radio communications method was employed by some of the defendants convicted of espionage on behalf of Cuba in the previously mentioned Hernandez case in the Southern District of Florida., as well as by Ana Belen Montes, and Carlos and Elsa Alvarez.

36. I further learned that CuIS broadcasts such encrypted shortwave radio messages in Morse code (Enigma M08: Cut Numbers, Ends AR AR AR SK SK SK-LVH) or by voice (Enigma V2: 150/150/150 type, three messages, all 150 count-LVH) reading a series of numbers.

37. I have learned through this investigation that Kendall Myers and Gwendolyn Myers maintain in their possession in their apartment an operable shortwave radio of the same make used by CuIS agent Ana Belen Montes. The radio was manufactured between approximately 1983 and 1986.

38. I have learned through this investigation that Kendall Myers knows Morse code.

Later in the document on page 16.

Gwendolyn Myers acknowledged that a code name used for her in messages was "123"
Kendall Myers acknowledged that a code name used for him was "202"

Additional information on specific shortwave broadcast to the Myers and their handlers are covered in paragraphs 44-51 on pages 23-25.

On of the interesting paragraphs stated, "The FBI collects high frequency messages from CuIS in Cuba to Cuban officers and their agents abroad, to include illegal agents operating in the United States."

As indicated above the contents of the HF numbers messages were known to the FBI. And also as indicated above they also knew the message headers for Myers, his wife and their handler.

Gwendolyn Myers was "123" and handler agent IDed as E-634
Kendall Myers was "202"

Messages to handler E-634 occurred on:
1 Apr 1997
26 Mar 1997
22 Mar 1997 (P50)
26 Feb 1997
15 Feb 1997 (P46)
29 Jan 1997
18 Dec 1996
26 Nov 1996

If you want to monitor the Cuban V2 number station broadcasts, check out this link at the Chris Smolinski's Spynumbers.com website (http://www.spynumbers.com/V2sked.html)

If you'd like to keep up to date with what others have been hearing, you'll want to subscribe to the Spooks Spy Numbers Station Mailing List. Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks

We will have more on this story as we get it.

Chile's La Voz changes frequency

Effective from 03 June 2009

Frequency change of Voz Crista/La Voz via SGO=Santiago

Spanish to Northern South America

2300-0200 UTC new freq 11665 SGO 100 kW / non-dir, ex 17680
1200-2300 UTC on 17680 SGO 100 kW / non-dir, ex 12-02
(DX Mix News #576 via wb, Germany & Alokesh Gupta, India)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jun 09 2251 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
01 - 07 June 2009

Solar activity was very low. Isolated low-level B-class flares were observed during the period. The likely source for the flares was Region 1019 (N28, L=297, class/area Cro/080 on 01 June). Region 1019 began to gradually decay on 03 June and was downgraded to a spotless
plage region on 06 June.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity was at predominantly quiet levels at all latitudes during the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
10 June - 06 July 2009

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet conditions, with isolated unsettled levels possible on 10 June. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected during 11 - 29 June. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on 30 June - 1 July. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected on 02 - 06 July.


Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jun 09 2251 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jun 09
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jun 10 68 7 3
2009 Jun 11 68 5 2
2009 Jun 12 68 5 2
2009 Jun 13 68 5 2
2009 Jun 14 68 5 2
2009 Jun 15 68 5 2
2009 Jun 16 68 5 2
2009 Jun 17 68 5 2
2009 Jun 18 68 5 2
2009 Jun 19 68 5 2
2009 Jun 20 68 5 2
2009 Jun 21 68 5 2
2009 Jun 22 68 5 2
2009 Jun 23 68 5 2
2009 Jun 24 70 5 2
2009 Jun 25 72 5 2
2009 Jun 26 72 5 2
2009 Jun 27 72 5 2
2009 Jun 28 72 5 2
2009 Jun 29 72 5 2
2009 Jun 30 72 8 3
2009 Jul 01 72 8 3
2009 Jul 02 70 5 2
2009 Jul 03 69 5 2
2009 Jul 04 69 5 2
2009 Jul 05 69 5 2
2009 Jul 06 69 5 2
(NOAA)

Colombian pirate heard on 5587.1

COLOMBIA
5587.1, Radio Juventud, 0030-0230* approximately, Jun 07, caught this pirate Colombian with musical ballads from years 70's and 80's. Mentioned transmission on FM 104.7 and on SW 5590, e-mail: radiojuventud2009@hotmail.com.
Recording on: http://www.goear.com/listen/c4edb68/Radio-Juventud-5587.1-Khz-Rafael-Rodriguez . (Rodriguez). Not heard in Denmark at 0055, Jun 08. (Petersen/DX Window 378)

Cheetah Radio QSLs

Hi, Friends,

On the Swedish National Day, June 6th, I heard Cheetah Radio on 11885 kHz at 16.00-16.30 with a program about Project Risks. The host, Michelle LaBrosse, confirmed my reception in one hour via e-mail and promised a QSL-card later on. Mail address: radio@cheetahlearning.com or michelle@cheetahpower.net
73 from the island of Gotland and Björn Fransson/(HCDX)


Cheetah Radio is a new station via Media Broadcast in English:
1600-1700 UTC on Saturday, 11885 kHz via Wertachtal, Germany / 125kW targeted to South Asia. (DX Mix News 573)

Logging
11885, Cheetah Radio, via Wertachtal, Germany 1600UTC sign-on to 1640 fade out (scheduled till 1659 to India on Sa only), Sa May 23. Two women talking all the time in American English about a happy life, SINPO 32332, drowned by Xinjiang PBS in Uighur 11885, Radio Okapi 11890 and others. (Petersen). Heard very good in Bulgaria. Broker: WRMI via Media Broadcast. (Ivanov via BC-DX and Gupta/DX Window 377)

Blog Logs

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

Bolivia
Radio Santa Cruz, 6134.83, 0924-0945. Initially noted a male in Spanish language comments which sounded like news. At 0928 UTC, music presented. This continued during the period. The signal was poor. (Bolland)

Radio Fides, La Paz, 6155.27, 0105-0159*. Spanish talk. ID. Bolivian music. Closing ID announcements at 0158 over lite music. Fair. (Alexander)

Brazil
Radio Difusora, Cáceres, 5055, 0958-1003 Happy lady announcer in Portuguese as, “vocês estão sintonizados na Radio Difusora de Cáceres, esta emissora maravilhosa está sob a direção de...”, 1001 Sertanejo music. SINPO 24222 (Bobrowiec)

Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia 11780, 1750-1805. Weak Brazilian vocal pops at tune-in. Announcer's promo to ID "da Amazonia", plus canned station promo and kilohertz quote. Promo for upcoming news as "Nacional Informa," followed by world newscast in Portuguese. (Van Horn)

Chile
CVC La Voz 17.680, 1815. Caught station ID during band scan. Station frequency and promo, followed by upcoming program-lineup. (Van Horn)

Equatorial Guinea
Radio Nacional, Bata, 5005, *0504-0600, Sign on with local tribal music. Afro-pop music. Spanish talk. Not // 6250. Weak in noisy conditions (Alexander)

Radio Nacional, Malabo, 6250, 0550-0605. Spanish talk. Afro-pop music. Radio Malabo IDs. Fair signal(Alexander).

Gabon
Afrique Numero Un via Moyabi 9580, 2120. Station 250 kW. French sports commentary at
tune-in to 2128. French Afro pops (SIO 423) and musical jingles at 2132. African highlife music to station ID. Same format continuing up to 2259. French announcements to a presumed vocal national anthem. Sign-off at 2300 (Van Horn).

Guam
Trans World Radio via Agana, 9910, 1212-1221. Mongolian (per schedule. Woman talking followed by contemporary religious music ay 1213. More talk at 1214 with woman joined by man. Poor signal. (Evans)

Indonesia
RRI Makassar,4750, 1042-1100. Note the usual type of music heard with a woman singing. On the hour a few comments from a female in Indonesian followed by comments from a male which I believe was news. Signal was poor. (Bolland)

Lithuania
Radio Free Aisa via Sitkunai, 9490, 0100-0135. Uyghur. Heard an Asian language here occasionally, but not Mandarin so probably not a CNR jam and believed it might be RFA. But whenever it was audible, Bible Voice via Wertachtal stayed on the frequency until several seconds after 0100, and none of the parallel frequencies was audible. Then, a couple of times BV ended a few seconds earlier and I heard the last bit of RFA theme music. And finally, on June 4, BV went off even earlier and I heard the complete ID despite a weak signal. After brief Asian instrumental music, a woman and men spoke. (Craighead/Cumbre DX)

Madagascar
Radio Madagasikara, 5009.94, 0310-0340. Local Afro-pop music. Local folk music. Malagasy talk. “Radio Madagasikara” ID at 0331. Poor in noisy conditions. Full AM mode.(Alexander)

Peru
Radio Cusco, 6195.84, 0025-0100. Spanish religious programming with talk and Spanish religious music. Several IDs at 0057.Peruvian music at 0058. Poor. Weak in noisy conditions. Wiped out by Radio Prague 6200 at their 0100 sign on. Also had some QRM from BBC on 6195(Alexander).

Saudi Arabia
BSKSA 9870 to Europe, 2134 (444) // 9555 (444). Arabic intros to program feature segments and mentions of Saudi Arabic. Easy-listening instrumental music. Qur'an recitations on 11915 (43+4) // 11820 (43+4) and 2143. Qur'an to 2159 to Arabic announcements. Station ID to time tips at 2200. Station ID and announcer's intro to Arabic world news. Signal quality very good throughout all broadcast monitored (Van Horn).

Thailand
BBC relay via Nakhon Sawan, 11750, 1238-1245. Two men/two women in English with rather harsh political commentary regarding Gordon Brown. Good signal with some fading.(Evans)

USA
KVOH Rancho Simi, CA., 17.775, 1808-1815. Pastors closing items of Spanish religious service before congregation, followed by altar call. Hyms from the congregation. Recheck at 1940 noting pastor's talk and relgious text.

Contributors:
Brian Alexander, PA
Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil
Chuck Bolland, FL
Wendel Craighead, KS
Jim Evans, TN
Gayle Van Horn, NC

Amateur radio special event schedules

5H, TANZANIA. Frans, PE1ABQ, is expected to be active as 5H1FF fromtone Town city on the Island of Zanzibar (AF-032). His equipment is a FT-950 w/100w into 3.5m vertical at 20m A.S.L. No QSNs have been reported yet. QSL via the address on QRZ.com.

5J0, SAN ANDRES ISLANDS (Update). Dennis, K7BV, will once again return to San Andres (NA-033) and be active as 5J0BV (not 5J0M as first announced) between June 18-29th (not June 19th-July 5th). He will again be concentrating on 6 meter Sporadic Es. HF bands will be activated as well. QSL direct to K7BV (not W1JJ as first announced) via the QRZ.com address. For more details and updates, visit the following Web page at:
http://www.qth.com/k7bv/caribe2009

8R, GUYANA (Update). The 6 Meter Beacon Project, Inc., (HF-50 MHz DXpedition between June 16th and July 6th) has announced the callsigns for their operation to Guyana. According to their Web page the callsigns are:
8R1DB - Team One: Chris/W3CMP and Dave/N3DB; between June 16-26th
8R1TO - Team Two: Terry/K4RX and Ken/AC4TO; between June 27th-July 6th
QSO information is just "Signal report please, no grid squares!!!!!!"
QSL via N3DB: David Craig, 4931 Mariners Drive, Shady Side, MD 20864
(2.00 USDs & SAE [or equivalent U.S. postage] for outside US; SASE for U.S. Stations). Bureau QSLs are "OK", but slow. For updates, visit the Web page online at: http://6meterbeaconproject.org/8R2009.html Operating frequencies will to be posted soon.

A35, TONGA. Paul, A35RK, continues to be active as A35RK/p from Vava'u Island (OC-064). He informs OPDX that there is "no definite departure date." He has also mentioned that he submitted the April/May A35RK/p log (OC-064) to Bob, W7TSQ. This log includes activity in the CQ WPX CW Contest this past weekend. As far as LoTW submissions, Bob, W7TSQ,
informed OPDX that since LoTW does not show/give credit for IOTA, Paul is combining his /P log with the regular A35RK log as he is still Tonga. He also mentioned that there is a possibility that some QSOs between May 20-24th, have an error in the time. Most are probably CW contacts. Paul also informed us of the problem and states, "There appears to be a problem with the 'QSO time' element in the computer logbook entry. Some contacts appear to be exactly 'one hour off' the actual time of QSO." So, anyone with a LoTW problem or needing an IOTA card, showing OC-064, can contact Bill at: W7TSQ@AOL.COM He can supply cards that will show the IOTA information if needed. As usual an SASE/SAE with postage (green stamps) will be answered direct. Bill states, "Bureau cards will be awhile as I probably will not send again before fall. LoTW is preferred as it is less work for me!"

ANTARCTICA WEB PAGE (Sites and Sounds). The French Polar Team's Web site continues to add a great collection of information and pictures (added with music) of the many polar stations and sub-Antarctic regions.

Check out the following URLs (recently added FT5YJ--VP8DLM--CE9XX):
* Station Machu Picchu - Ile du Roi George:
http://french-polar-team.fr/OA_Machu_Picchu_Station_King_George_Island.php
* Station B - Ile Deception:
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Station_B_Deception_Island.php
* Station O - Ile Danco:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Danco_Station_O_Danco_Island.php
* Station Gabriel Gonzales Videla - Cote Danco:
http://french-polar-team.fr/CE9_Videla_Station_Antarctica.php
* Station Almirante Brown - Cote Danco:
http://french-polar-team.fr/LU_Almirante_Brown_Station_Antarctica.php
* Station F Wordie Hut - Ile Winter:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Wordie_Hut_Station_F_Winter_Island.php
* Port-Charcot - Ile Booth (Wandel):
http://french-polar-team.fr/FT5Y-P_Port_Charcot_Booth_Island.php
* Station A Port Lockroy - Ile Goudier:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Port_Lockroy_Station_A_Goudier_Island.php
* Bahia Dorian Refuge - Ile Wiencke:
http://french-polar-team.fr/LU_Bahia_Dorian_Refuge_Wiencke_Island.php
* Station L Damoy Point Hut - Ile Wiencke:
http://french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Damoy_Point_Hut_Station_L_Wiencke_Island.php
* Le voilier l'Ile d'Elle:
http://french-polar-team.fr/Polar_Ship_L_Ile%20d_Elle.php

* Davis station: http://www.french-polar-team.fr/VK0_Davis_Station_Antarctica

CT, PORTUGAL (Field Day). The ARVM group will be operating their "Field Day" for 24 hours beginning at 1200z on Saturday, June 13th. Operations will be from Montemor Park near the city of Loures. Activity will be on CW, SSB, RTTY and TVA. For more info, go to:
http://www.arvm.org/index_fd2009.html

CT, PORTUGAL. Members of the Algarve STAR DX Team will be active as CT7/CU8AT during "Green Days", June 13-14th. Operations will be from "Parque Natural SW Alentejano e Costa Vicentina" which is valid for:
DPRN FF-12 and WFF CTFF-12. Operators mentioned are: Toze/CT1GFK, Al/CT1GPQ and Mike/CT1IUA. One of the operators (to be decided later), will be active during the "Portugal Day Contest" on June 13th, from the same QTH. Look for more details on: http://algarvedx.com/

FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA. Phil, F5PHW, informs OPDX that he will be in Tahiti for two years starting August 2009. Activity will be on CW/RTTY and SSB (sometimes) on 80-10 meters. For the moment, his callsign will be FO/F5PHW. Phil is trying and hoping to get a FO5 callsign, but he has to negotiate it with local authorities when he is in Tahiti. Phil will be in a small house very close to the airport. He will operate with 100 watts into a HF6 and dipole, but hopes, if possible put up a 3 elements beam in the garden. QSL will be OK via LoTW. QSL are also "OK" via F8BPN, by the bureau or direct. More information is available on: http://f5phw.chez.com/

FP, ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON. Operators Eric/KV1J and Tom/W8TOM will be active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon (NA-032) during the CQWW DX SSB Contest (October 24-25th) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via KV1J, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW. Operators will be there between October 20-27th. Activity outside of the contest will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31, generally on the highest frequency band that is open (no permission
for 60M). Visit Eric's Web page at: http://www.kv1j.com/fp/october09.html

H4, SOLOMON ISLANDS (Rare IOTA). Operators Mike/KM9D (H44MY) and Jan/KF4TUG
(H44TO) are now active as H44MY from Stirling Island (OC-162) for about a week. Mike was heard this past weekend on 40/20 meters CW. Jan was heard on 20/17 meters SSB. QSL via OM2SA.
(Dave Raycroft/Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin 911/ODXA)

DXers Unlimited weekend edition, June 6-7

Radio Havana Cuba
By Arnie Coro, CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados ! You are listening to the weekend edition of your favorite listener oriented and technically minded radio hobby program.

Here is now our first item: Solar activity continues at very low level, although the only active sunspot region continues to keep the daily optical sunspot count above ZERO During this week we saw one day with a sunspot count of 23, the highest recorded in a long long time !!!

Another sunspot region seems to be developing right at the edge of the solar disc...Astronomers , both professional and amateurs alike, equipped with high tech solar telescopes should keep an eye focused at the edge of the solar disc's northern hemisphere... where the new action region may emerge at anytime now. The only may actually fade out before it moves out of sight from the Earth in the next few days....

Item two: Today ASK ARNIE, la numero uno, the most popular section of the program will be devoted to answering a question sent by listeners in Botswana, Africa, New Zealand, Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Canada, the USA and a first time listener also from the Caribbean..who lives in Antigua, where he used to have a lot of very difficulty listening to short wave stations because of the presence of the now not operational BBC and Deutsch Welle super power relay facility.

Our amigo Derril from Antigua is also telling me that ha has been enjoying some nice FM DX from South America.

Those amigos who sent today's question are very interested about the so called Trans-equatorial ionospheric forward scatter propagation, that provides so interesting DX signals on frequencies as high as the two meters amateur band, TEP is much more frequent on the 10 meters and 6 meters bands. Although there are well verified reports of regular TEP propagation from the Caribbean to Brazil on the 2 meters amateur band.

All I can say amigos is that Trans-equatorial upper HF and VHF propagation was discovered by radio amateurs operating from Africa and the Mediterranean region, and so far scientists have not really reached an agreement about what causes this unique form of signal propagation that shows practically no relation to the solar cycle.

Examples of Trans-equatorial propagation include the reception of Brazilian FM stations operating from 88 to 108 megaHertz in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico. Amateur two meters band signals from as far as northern Argentina reaching Puerto Rico, and the history making path between Zimbabwe and Cyprus, one of the first ones that was fully documented by radio amateurs during the early nineteen fifties.

There are some reports indicating that Trans-equatorial propagation has even sent the maximum useable frequency curve to well above 300 megaHertz, something that indicates an extremely high level of free electrons concentrations at F2 layer altitude.

I hope that this short explanation gives you an idea amigos of what Trans-equatorial forward scatter propagation is, and how it is still very much a mystery that science is trying to discover using sophisticated research tools like satellites equipped with ionospheric sounders that work in reverse, that is they send signals from space to the ionosphere at the same time that standard ionospheric sounders probe the ionosphere from below.

The fact that Trans-equatorial propagation happens at certain times of the year is the main clue that scientists are using to find a correlation that will fit and finally tell them why this extraordinary VHF and up to UHF bands propagation events happen.

More radio hobby related information follows in just a few seconds, asDxers Unlimited's weekend edition continues after a short station ID.
.......

This is Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited, and it's on the air twice weekly for the enjoyment of our worldwide audience of radio hobby people.

Now here is item three: The Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico tropical hurricane season started the first day of June and already we have seen a very early instance of a low pressure area moving near Cape Hatteras, it had a a rather disorganized activity and never became the first storm of the season pouring.

Actually, this tropical event occurred before the season started. We have had lots of rain over Cuba's eastern provinces also related to the Atlantic , Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico tropical storms and hurricanes season...radio once again will be playing an important role to help to make better forecasts of the path of cyclones and hurricanes, by scientists now having access to use the data provided by a larger number of automatic ocean buoys of two types,. ones that are heavily anchored at some specific locations and others that will be launched from specially equipped aircraft and will be then keep track of the drift buoys as they move under the force of the storm's winds.

The weather buoys will be using HF, VHF and UHF frequencies for passing along the data that they are picking up with their sensors. The HF signals can reach long distances but are not very reliable, the VHF data stream is pointing upwards to the airplane that will pick up the data, and the UHF transmitter will send its signals to a special antenna that will be beaming up to a satellite with a very broad beam so that the rough seas will not stop the signal from reaching the satellite, and that requires the use of a special broad beam antenna and a rather high power. The use of forward error correction digital transmission modes is essential in order to assure that the data picked up by the buoys will reach its destination at the weather forecasters offices.

A new form of Dxing... maybe !!! May monitoring the ocean anchored and drift weather buoys becoming number 90 of our list of ways of enjoying this wonderful hobby ?... Who knows ?

As many of you know, there are radio hobby people that devoted all their time to picking up low power beacons or low power transmitters used at airports to provide information to the arriving public, so it's not difficult to imagine that as soon as these buoys start to operate, some Dxers will try at once to pick up their weather data streams.

By the way, I have picked up a great number of drift nets beacons and similar transmitters used by sea going fishing trawlers that operate them near or inside the 160 meters amateur band.
.......

Homebrew your radios, si amigos, GO AHEAD !!! Don't think it over twice,you can start by assembling a simple easy to build crystal set using high impedance headphones to provide excellent listening volume without the need of battery power. I have in my workshop a demonstration crystal radio that picks up seven of the City of Havana's most powerful local stations.

I show my visitors how this radio that uses a large size tuning coil wound on a length of two inch or 50 millimeters diameter PVC pipe, when connected to my 40 meters band half wave dipole antenna provides excellent easy listening audio volume on the two thousand ohms impedance headphones.

The crystal set has also a simple interface so that if can feed a two transistor audio amplifier fed from a nine volts battery that produces room filling volume using a bass reflex cabinet with an eight inch speaker.

Radio Progreso's 640 kiloHertz 50 kiloWatts AM transmitter here in Havana,sounds great on this amplified crystal set , of which I always keep several computer printouts to give away to visitors to my workshop, because this is a nice way to bring them into our wonderful hobby !

Phase two of this project will be to prepare some parts kits from recycled and fully tested electronic components and , and to include a length of PVC pipe and the enamele insulated wire to wind the coil...

The crystal set is assembled using a piece of plywood, and I am keeping several ready cut ones , also to give away to visitors who wish to attempt to build their first radio. The nice thing is that for those that can't find the high impedance headphones required for the amplifier-less radio, assembling the simple two stage transistor audio amplifier is very easy , following my written and graphic instructions, and then they can use any low impedance headphones of the type used by MP3 , cassette or other audio players !

By the way , this simple radio is an excellent receiver for emergency situations , as the 9 volts battery will last for a very long time , because the two transistors draw very little current when in operation.

The parts count is minimal, and it is very difficult to do something wrong if you follow the written text and the pictorials provided in my instructions booklet !

With the millions of electronic gadgets, from old TVs , computers, fax machines, waiting to be recycled the amount of parts available after just a couple of hours of disassembling broken down or retired equipment for recycling its parts will provide more than enough components to make many of these simple receivers...
......

And now amigos just before going QRT, here is our exclusive and not copyrighted HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast: solar flux around 70 to 71 units, down from the 75 units it reached earlier in the week.

The daily sunspot count has moved from 15 to 23 then down to 19 and later two times to 17 , following the path of solar active region 1019 that is now desintegrating and fading away...

The already high probability of Sporadic E openings will be increasing from day to day, especially during this first three weeks of June. Keep checking the FM broadcast band for signs of DX stations, that usually show up on locally unused channels, or atop of weak semi-locals.

Hope to have you all listening to our mid week edition of Dxers Unlimited , next Tuesday and Wednesday UTC days… send your signal reports, comments about the program and radio hobby questions to arnie@rhc.cu, again arnie@rhc.cu and VIA AIR MAIL to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba.
Cortesia de Manolo de la Rosa
(Arnie Coro)

MV Baltic Radio & Atlantic 2000 International set for Sunday broadcasts

MV Baltic Radio is on this Sunday the 7th of June at 09.00 to 10.00 UTC on our normal channel of 6140 KHz.

MV Baltic Information:

MV Baltic Radio relay service Schedule for summer 2009

1st Sunday – MV Baltic Radio
3rd Sunday – European Music Radio
4th Sunday – Radio Gloria International
We wish you good listening and good reception!
(Tom Taylor)

Atlantic 2000 International will be on the air this Sunday June 7, on 6220 kHz from 08:00 to 09:00 UTC (10:00 to 11:00 CEST). Music from the 60's to nowadays, and of course, radio news.

Each correct reception report will be confirmed by a special QSL-card. Indeed, the 6th of June 1982, Atlantic 2000 International was broadcasting for the first time on shortwave.

Don't forget to listen !

Atlantic 2000

visit our website : http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr/
(sw-pirates/QSL via UK Dxer)

Scandinivian Weekend Radio show

Scandinavian Weekend Radio has started todays broadcast 2100 UTC Friday evening. We are still on until 2100 UTC this Saturday evening.

Stay tuned....

Web: http://www.swradio.net/index2.htm

Forum: http://www.swradio.net/forum/

and program/frequency schedule: http://www.swradio.net/schedule.htm

Greetings,
Alpo Heinonen
Scandinavian Weekend Radio