Radio Australia: Offshore Relays Part 2

Last week, here in Wavescan, we presented the first part in our two part sequence on the story of Radio Australia and its off-shore relays, and that was during the earlier eras. In our program today, we present the story of the off-shore relay facilities in use by Radio Australia in more recent time, and these relay facilities are specific attempts by Radio Australia to increase its reliable coverage into the many countries of Asia, and beyond.
We go back to the summer season of 1982/1983 and that was the time of a series of disastrous and lengthy bushfires in the states of eastern Australia and the state of South Australia. These wide spread fires resulted in a combined loss of $7 billion.
In fact, during this same fire season, a mobile reporter for the mediumwave station 5DN in Adelaide was on duty, reporting live from one of the fire fronts. It so happened that this journalist, Murray Nicoll, was in the locality of his own home in the nearby Mt Lofty Ranges, and he gave a live description over the air of the fires destroying his own home.
He declared: At the moment, I am watching my house burn down. I am sitting out on the roadway in front of my own house, where I have lived for the past 13 or 14 years, and it is going down in front of me. The flames are in the roof and everything around the house is black. There are fires burning all around me. The front section of the roof has fallen in, my water tanks are useless, and there is nothing I can do about it.
For a few days around early October 1982, Radio Australia took out a series of 30 minute relays via BBC shortwave facilities located in England and beyond in order to inform the world of the seriousness of these disastrous and destructive fires in several areas of Australia. These offshore, temporary relay transmissions were broadcast in England on high powered mediumwave, and also on half a dozen shortwave channels. At least one of these shortwave relays in England came from a 250 kW transmitter located at Woofferton and this was heard on 21590 kHz.
In addition, BBC shortwave transmitters located on the islands of Cyprus, Masirah & Ascension also carried this same programming relay regarding the bushfires in Australia. Radio Australia verified the relay of their programming from all of these different locations with their own QSL cards.
Beginning in the year 2001, Radio Australia added several new shortwave relay locations for their regular programming in order to present an improved signal into several countries of Asia. These relay stations were BBC Singapore, VOA Tinian, IBB Saipan & RTI Taiwan. Interestingly, according to contemporary reports, the relay broadcasts from the shortwave station located on Saipan Island were on the air for only one day, January 29, 2001. Next day, this shortwave programming was transferred to other relay sites. The relay service via Tinian was soon afterwards transferred to Al Dhabbaya in the United Arab Emirates, due to maintenance work at the station on Tinian.
During the same era, half a dozen mediumwave and shortwave transmitter locations on the island of Taiwan also carried program relays on behalf of Radio Australia. These relays via Taiwan are still on the air to this day, and the locations are listed as Tainan, Tanshui & Paochung.
The program feed for the transfer of this radio programming beginning in the year 2001 was provided by WRN, the World Radio Network in England, and at that stage, the Miami shortwave station WRMI was also re-broadcasting the WRN satellite radio programming, including the relay from Radio Australia. A QSL card in our Indianapolis collection dated April 23, 2001, verifies the relay of Radio Australia via WRMI.
Just last year, another offshore relay station was added to the overseas network in use by Radio Australia. This new facility is shortwave station T8WH, located on the island of Palau, way out east of the Philippines. Half a dozen shortwave channels are in use throughout the broadcast day, and the programming is beamed to China, Burma & Indonesia.
It will be remembered that station T8WH was established on Palau by High Adventure Ministries under the callsign KHBN. When Palau became fully independent, the callsign was changed to T8BZ, and after the station was sold to World Harvest Radio of South Bend in Indiana, the callsign was changed to T8WH.
It should also be remembered that Radio Australia fosters the development of FM relay stations throughout the Pacific Islands. They are operating two digital shortwave transmitters in the DRM mode at Brandon, south of Townsville in Queensland, at about 8 kW. The purpose of these two transmitters is to relay their programming to several different islands throughout the Pacific where the signal is received and re-broadcast on local FM.
It is known that a dozen or more of these local FM relay stations have been established on islands throughout the Pacific and each is receiving the programming via the DRM transmitters located on the north east coast of Australia.
Back in 2005, Radio Australia programming was also heard via the DRM digital mode with 35 kW on a shortwave channel at Rampisham in England.
As our final item regarding the offshore relay of Radio Australia programming, we report an interesting item from Jose Jacob VU2JOS at Hyderabad in India. He reported hearing Radio Australia on relay via a 100 kW shortwave transmitter located at Novosibirsk in Siberia. The frequency was 7460 kHz and the date was December 4, 2003. As he states, this was obviously a switching mistake somewhere along the line.
(AWR Wavescan/ NWS # 100 via Adrian Peterson)

Democratic Voice of Burma cuts programming

A reduction in funding for 2011 has forced the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), to cut some of its TV and radio programmes and lay off employees. Aye Chan Naing, the executive director of the DVB, told The Irrawaddy that the exile news agency’s TV entertainment programme and its daily morning radio programme will be cancelled in late February. It will also have to lay out some employees, he added.

DVB was founded in 1992 and has been funded by several international donors, particularly the Norwegian government. Aye Chan Naing said the DVB had lost 15 percent of its annual budget—down from 23 million Norwegian Krone (US $4 million) to about 20 million Krone. The DVB, however, will keep running its evening radio broadcast in Burmese. its 24-hour TV broadcast and its website, said Aye Chan Naing.
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2011 Jan 25 1925 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
17 - 23 January 2011

Solar activity was at very low levels from 17 - 20 January. Region 1147 (N24, L=342, class/area Cso/170 on 20 January) was responsible for the majority of the activity during this period producing numerous B-class events. Region 1149 (N18, L=344, class/area Dsi/170 on 22 January) emerged late on 20 January and immediately started producing B-class events. Activity increased to low levels during 20 - 22 January as Region 1149 grew into a beta-gamma magnetic classification. Eight C-class flares were observed during this period with a majority coming from Region 1149. Region 1149 also produced the largest flare of the period which was a C3/Sf at 0416 UTC on 21 January. Activity decreased to very low levels on 23 January as both regions became quiet and stable.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from predominantly quiet levels at lower latitudes to a few periods at minor storm levels at high atitudes. Mostly quiet periods predominate from 17 - 18 January. On 19 January, a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) moved into a geoeffective position. Observations from the ACE spacecraft indicated an increase in solar wind velocities from around 400km/s - 530km/s with the Bz component of the interplanetary
magnetic field generally varying between +/- 6 nT. Two periods at minor storm levels were observed at high latitudes on 19/0900-1500 UTC in response to the CH HSS. Predominantly quiet levels were observed for the rest of the summary period as the effects of the CH
HSS waned.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
26 January - 21 February 2011

Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels during 26 - 30 January. Very low levels are expected for the remainder of the period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels during 26 January - 04 February. Moderate to high levels are expected from 04 - 09 February. A return to normal to moderate levels is expected for the remainder of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at predominantly quiet levels from 26 January - 02 February. Field activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 02 - 05 February due to a recurrent CH HSS. Predominantly quiet levels is expected to prevail for the remainder of the period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2011 Jan 25 1925 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2011-01-25
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2011 Jan 26 82 5 2
2011 Jan 27 82 5 2
2011 Jan 28 80 5 2
2011 Jan 29 78 5 2
2011 Jan 30 78 5 2
2011 Jan 31 78 5 2
2011 Feb 01 78 5 2
2011 Feb 02 78 7 2
2011 Feb 03 78 10 3
2011 Feb 04 80 10 3
2011 Feb 05 80 7 2
2011 Feb 06 82 5 2
2011 Feb 07 82 5 2
2011 Feb 08 82 5 2
2011 Feb 09 82 7 2
2011 Feb 10 82 7 2
2011 Feb 11 82 5 2
2011 Feb 12 82 5 2
2011 Feb 13 82 5 2
2011 Feb 14 82 5 2
2011 Feb 15 82 5 2
2011 Feb 16 82 5 2
2011 Feb 17 82 5 2
2011 Feb 18 82 5 2
2011 Feb 19 82 5 2
2011 Feb 20 82 5 2
2011 Feb 21 82 5 2
(NOAA)

Czech Radio will broadcast Czech music for Sundays last broadcast

Radio Prague, which makes its final shortwave transmissions on 31 January, will continue to produce its 30-minute programmes in six languages. However the Head of Radio Prague, Miroslav Krupicka, has told the station’s English programme Mailbox that “We wanted to make the programme cheap and we’ll play music – Czech music on Sundays.”

A listener from the US enquired about the possibility of utilizing the longwave transmitter at Topolna [on 270 kHz] covering a large part of Europe for Radio Prague’s foreign language programmes for part of the day. However, Mr Krupicka said that was not an option: “It’s quite tough because currently, the longwave is allocated to domestic broadcasts. But overall, longwave is being considered for closure as well, for budgetary reasons, for financial reasons, because to maintain longwave and well as shortwave is quite expensive and Czech Radio cannot afford that. So probably the days of longwave broadcasting are numbered within Czech Radio as well. So there is no long term prospect for Radio Prague being on longwave.”

The complete transcript and audio of the programme is available on Radio Prague’s website.

(Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Zambia to restore Radio 1 and 2 following lightening strikes

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation-ZNBC has assured Kapiri Mposhi residents, in the Central Province that work is on going to restore Radio 1 and 2 services.
Radio 1 and 2 channels have been off air since January 2 following lightening that struck off and destroyed Zamtel Equipment that carries the ZNBC Radio Signal.

Public Relations Officer Masuzyo Ndhlovu says following the impact of damage, there is a disruption of ZNBC 1 and 2 FM (Frequency Modulation) services in Kampiri Mposhi and Surrounding areas.

Public Relations Officer Masuzyo Ndhlovu however says frantic efforts are being made by the technical team to ensure service is restored to normal within shortest possible time.

In a statement to ZNBC News in Lusaka on Saturday, Mr Ndhlovu has advised listeners to search for signals by tuning into the ZNBC Short Wave frequencies for Radio 1 on 5915 Kilo hertz and Radio 2 on 6165 Kilo Hertz.(http://www.znbc.co.zm/media/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1295100450)
(Arnaldo Slaen/HCDX)

Radio Netherlands Program Preview Jan 21-27

Radio Netherlands streaming audio is available at www.radionetherlands.nl/


The State We're In
Jonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

This week: Us and Them

Anthony Shaffer was an American spy whose last mission was in Afghanistan. The military didn’t want him to go public with his story of institutional bloat and incompetence, but he did, in a heavily censored book.

Abdul Zaeef was one of the founders of the Taliban. He was imprisoned in Guantanamo for four years, yet still believes in its cause.

Journalist Hermione Gee visits the “kinder”, “gentler” Guantanamo Bay detentions facility.

First airing: Saturday 02:00 UTC

Earth Beat
Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet.

This week: Man versus nature

From growing grapes in Siberia to living with cliff erosion and turning trees into streetlights, who emerges the victor?

First airing: Friday 02:00 UTC

Bridges With Africa
We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa.

This week:

Economic realities give South Sudan a party hangover
Half way into his presidency, we ask: What has Obama done for Africa?
Rwandan artist Stromae takes a Dutch music festival by storm.

First airing: Friday 00:00 UTC

Africa in Progress
Inspiring round-table discussions with guest speakers and in -depth interviews give listeners food for thought.

This week: Did Africa benefit from the 2010 World Cup?

The 2010 World Cup, hosted by an African country for the first time, is widely seen as a major achievement by South Africa. But what did it bring to the country and to the rest of the continent? And who profited the most?

A few months after the event, it’s time for a cautious preliminary assessment, with three football watchers.

First airing: Monday 18:00 UTC

South Asia Wired
Program in which South Asians get to talk to each other, hosted by Dheera Sujan.

This week:

A new report says minorities in Sri Lanka are not treated equally. Tamils and Muslims face harsh living conditions, economic marginalisation and language discrimination.

(There'll be a new edition of the programme on Thursday 27 January)
First airing: Thursday 15:14 UTC

Commonwealth Story
A selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

This week: Vantage Point - by Sandrina Abeywardene from Sri Lanka. Kindness and violence on the streets of Colombo.

First airing: Tuesday 00:55 UTC

Hear the Word
Listen to the world’s musical heartbeat on RNW. A brand new world music series hosted by Dheera Sujan.

The multicultural society of many a Western country is reflected in music by Turkish-Dutch performer Tarhana and Tunisian-Belgian Ghalia Benali. Other musicians this week include Natasha Mirkovic from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Matthias Loibner from Austria and Dutch-Cape Verdian Dina Medina. The programme is presented by Dheera Sujan.

First airing: Monday 03:00 UTC

Live at the Concertbouw
A classical concert series featuring the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and others.

Monday Edition

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Markus Stenz performs works by Bruckner, Mahler, Glanert, Janacek and Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock. Your host is Hans Haffmans.

Tuesday Edition

Today's music ranges from the 19th century to the very present. From Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto to Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, and up to the 2009 world première of Van Onna's Antarctica. The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Jakov Kreizberg, and the concert is hosted by Hans Haffmans.

First airing: Monday 01:00 UTC
(Radio Netherlands)

English service

All times UTC / af (Africa) as (Asia) va (various target areas)

1000-1057 9720as 12065as
1400-1500 12080as 15595va
1500-1557 15595as
1800-1857 6020af 11655af
1900-1957 7425af 9895af 11615af 11655af
2000-2057 5935af 7425af 11655af
(R Netherlands/Leo van der Wounde)

Radio Australia: Offshore Relays, Part 1

A couple of months ago, Radio Australia announced that they have been granted a shortwave license by the authorities in Singapore, and their programming to some countries in Asia is now on the air from a shortwave station at this new location. The silent shortwave facility operated previously by Radio Singapore International at Kranji has apparently been re-activated for this purpose.

This event spawned a spate of research on our part in an endeavor to find out what other overseas radio stations have carried the programming from Radio Australia, and the information is really quite amazing. In fact, literally hundreds of radio stations all around the world have re-broadcast the programming from Radio Australia to their own audiences at some time or another.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Radio Australia copied a lot of their programming, in both English as well as in other languages, onto large transcription discs, and these discs were sent to a multitude of stations on all continents except South America. In fact, in some years, more than 6,000 of these transcription discs were sent to radio stations in overseas countries for local and international re-broadcast.
As an example, here are a few of the many stations that re-broadcast the programming from Radio Australia in this way:-
Asia India AIR Programs of Australian interest
Philippines DZFM Royal Visit to Australia
Pacific Fiji FBS Australian Magazine
Samoa 2AP Pacific Interest
North America Canada CBC French language programming
USA MW Networks Australian Magazine
Africa Sierra Leone SLBS Programs of African interest
Nigeria NBC Programs of African interest
Europe Germany RBI Programs of German interest

In addition to the transcription discs, Radio Australia has been relayed live off air shortwave by just as many stations in just as many countries, beginning way back at the time of their inauguration on December 20 in the year 1939. In fact, the opening broadcasts of Radio Australia, or Australia Calling as it was known at the time, were relayed live by the BBC London on local radio as well as in their Overseas Service on shortwave.
Other stations that also carried this live off-air relay were, for example:-
NZBS in New Zealand
ZJV & VPD2 on mediumwave & shortwave in Fiji
Several mediumwave stations in the United States
It should also be remembered that every mediumwave radio station in Australia relayed the Radio Australia opening speech by the Prime Minister, Mr Robert Menzies.
The first mediumwave station in the United States that was granted approval to carry a regular off air relay from the programming of Radio Australia was KFRO, located at Longview in Texas. At the time, this was just a small station running 250 watts on 1370 kHz. However, soon afterwards, and quite quickly, many other mediumwave stations and networks throughout the United States were granted similar approval to rebroadcast the off air programming from Radio Australia.
On subsequent occasions, numerous stations around the world have carried a live off air relay from Radio Australia, and a few examples would be:-
Asia China XGOY China Day Programs
Hong Kong RTHK Regular news bulletins
Pacific Cook Islands ZK1 News bulletins & commentaries
Pacific Islands AFRS Stations Programming in English & Japanese
Africa & ME Palestine ZJM Jerusalem News bulletins
South Africa SABC Cricket & tennis commentaries
Americas West Indies WIBS Cricket & tennis commentaries USA Major networks News bulletins & commentaries It should also be mentioned that Australian stations established in other countries have also relayed many programs from Radio Australia on a regular basis, and we could list some of these stations as:-
Christmas Island VLU2
Cocos Island VKW
Japan Australian stations on mediumwave & shortwave
Malaysia Radio Butterworth
Vietnam Australian local stations
Pacific Islands Many Australian mobile stations with callsigns in the 9A series
Palestine Australian ABC station in the Gaza Strip, ABC Kilo 89
That’s as far as we can go on this occasion, but next week here in Wavescan, we will present additional information regarding the numerous off-shore relay stations that have carried a relay of shortwave programming from Radio Australia.
(AWR Wavescan/NWS # 99 via Adrian Peterson)

Detsche Welle ordered to tighten it's broadcast focus

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet yesterday ordered Deutsche Welle to tighten its focus and to cut back its programming for Germans living abroad. Deutsche Welle, which is funded by the German taxpayer and broadcasts in some 30 languages, is to pare back its shortwave and mediumwave radio transmissions - once the backbone of the service - and concentrate on FM broadcasts in selected countries.

Deutsche Welle, which receives 273 million euros ($368.4 million) in annual funding, also has television broadcasts and webcasts. The new instructions were based on a 400-page report by Deutsche Welle on how it plans to change.

The internet, which allows Germans all over the world to catch up with news from German websites, has reduced the need for Deutsche Welle to address German expatriates. Regular German TV channels are also accessible by satellite far from home. In future Deutsche Welle, which has a workforce of 1,500, is to focus on its audience of non-Germans and pay greater attention to German foreign policy interests, according to the cabinet resolution. Up to 2013, it will also gradually focus on key audiences in Asia, Africa, Arab nations and Latin America. Shortwave radio transmissions will be mostly dropped, and will only continue to a few regions, an announcement said.
(Source: DPA via monstersandcritics.com/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Silence in the Air Part 2 - The Sound of Silence

this week, Wavescan continues their Silence in the Air series

Last week here in Wavescan, we presented a feature item about silence on the radio, and we gave several examples regarding radio stations that were silenced for varying periods of time and for various reasons. We continue with this category of information, and we begin with the story about the silent juke box.
The juke box was a colorful electronic machine that could play multiple recordings of popular music and these were installed in restaurants and cafeterias throughout the United States. To operate the juke box, it was necessary to insert a coin in the slot, and then press a button according to the desired piece of music. The name juke box is derived from a slang term in one of the original African-American languages and they were most popular from the 1940s to the mid-1960s.
Some people who like to eat out in the popular restaurants preferred silence rather than what they considered to be raucous and rowdy music and their preference was also available in some of the juke box selections. If you wanted a few minutes of silence instead of music, you could insert a coin into the machine and press the button marked silence.
Back during the 1930s, and on subsequent occasions also, some radio broadcasting stations have experimented with the idea of silence within a commercial advertisement. This style of silence was in occasional use in both the United States and Australia, but it was never very successful.
In more recent time, for example, this idea of silence within a commercial was tried in Canada. Back in the year 2000, radio stations in both Toronto & Vancouver broadcast 17 seconds of silence in the middle of an advertisement to illustrate the performance of a super quiet dishwashing machine. However, disgruntled listeners who apparently were not listening to the programming very intently, telephoned these stations stating that they thought the station had left the air.
These days, with so many radio broadcasting stations proliferating around the world, sooner or later you will observe a radio station going silent with no audible programming, even if the station is still on the air. Some technical problem has occurred, and instead of broadcasting music or speech, there is just complete silence. Maybe a computer somewhere has not responded properly, or in earlier days, maybe a record player or a tape recorder has malfunctioned.
However, back in 1997, a whole network of AM & FM stations in the United States went silent during what was supposed to be a test of the emergency broadcast system. It is a requirement in the United States that all radio broadcasting stations should periodically broadcast an emergency alert test signal. Normally, this is simply a test of the system, as the announcer states, and not a real emergency at all.
It happened to be that several hundred AM & FM stations in three states, Ohio, Florida & Louisiana, were all hooked up to the same emergency alert system that was installed at the mediumwave station WLS in Chicago. However, there was an equipment malfunction at station WLS, and as a result, all of these connected stations went silent for around about one minute. The stations were still on the air, but no programming was audible.
As would be expected, sometimes what might be described as natural disasters will put stations off the air. For example, earlier last year, several local stations were off the air during the devastating floods in Nashville Tennessee, including the shortwave station WWCR. In the case of WWCR, the flood waters covered almost the entire area of land upon which the antenna system was standing, thus making it impossible for the signal to be radiated from the antenna system, and so the transmitters were closed down.
On onother occasion half a century ago, there was massive flooding in Australia, along the coastal border area of New South Wales and Queensland. The mediumwave station 2MW, located at Murwillumbah in the middle of the flooded areas, was taken off the air. However, by special arrangement, both the main out-of-town transmitter and the emergency in-town transmitter were activated and they were noted going on the air and off the air, alternately talking to each other.
Back in 2005, Hurricane Katrina disabled most of the AM & FM stations in New Orleans, Louisiana. In fact, so many stations were off the air, and so great was the disaster in those coastal areas, that a large number of the radio stations combined their available personnel and equipment and they produced common emergency programming that was on the air under the title, The United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans.
Much of this programming was co-ordinated by the well known mediumwave station WWL, and it was on the air from the transmitters of other stations that could still be activated. In addition, shortwave station WHRI 800 miles distant, on the edge of Indianapolis, also carried this same programming in order to give wide area coverage of the tragic events and the many relief endeavors within the New Orleans area.
We could also mention that the island of Guam is sometimes hit by massive cyclones and there have been occasions when both shortwave stations, Trans World Radio KTWR & Adventist World Radio KSDA have been temporarily disabled, and off the air. The same thing occurred during the massive Cyclone Tracy that struck Darwin in Australia during the Christmas season in 1974. In fact, as a result of the damage that the transmitter facility sustained from the cyclone, the station was off the air for several years.
Earthquakes are another event that will disable radio stations and put them off the air. This has occurred in California on several occasions over the years, and it has also taken place on the island of Guam, and both shortwave stations KTWR & KSDA have been off the air for varying periods of time.
We could also mention about disastrous fires, that have temporarily silenced stations in California for example; and then too, sometimes animal invasions have caused problems in a radio station. Take for example, the story of the alligator in Colombia South America that waddled into the transmitter building of shortwave station HJ1ABB in 1936 and with one mighty sweep of its tail, damaged the transmitter and put it off the air.
We can think also of the mouse that quietly crawled into the transmitter of the ABC mediumwave station 2CO in Australia; there was a brilliant flash, and the station went silent for half an hour. Back in the year 1988, the on-duty announcer at Radio Uganda was reading the final news bulletin at the end of the broadcast day. Four minutes before sign off, a large snake slithered into the studio. The announcer abruptly ended his news bulletin, shut the station down a few minutes early, and promptly left the building.

Another reason why sometimes radio stations have gone silent is at the time of security emergencies. For example, during World War 2, mediumwave stations in New York City, and also over in California, and in Sydney Australia, were ordered off the air when it was thought that their signals could be used as a homing beacon by invading aircraft. In fact, station 4PM in Port Moresby New Guinea was closed down forever in 1941 for that very reason.
And finally, there are occasions when stations have gone silent, deliberately, so that listeners could hear a distant station on the same channel. Some 10 years ago, it was announced that the CBC station CBL in Toronto Ontario Canada was closing its mediumwave station and moving into the FM band. Station WJIB in Cambridge Massachusetts agreed to go silent for a short while so that listeners in North America could hear the final broadcast from CBL on 740 kHz.
Jerry Berg in his book, Listening on the Short Waves, tells of the occasion when the mediumwave powerhouse station WLW in Cincinnati Ohio agreed to go silent for just one minute so that listeners in North America could hear station HCJB in Ecuador on the same channel 700 kHz. Then again, under the initiative of Jerry Berg, the American shortwave station WWCR agreed to go silent for half an hour some years ago so that listeners could tune in to the temporary low powered transmitter on Madagascar off the coast of of Africa that was carrying local programming on behalf of Adventist World Radio.
(AWR Wavescan 99 via Adrian Peterson)

Deutsche Welle to continue Greek broadcast

The German government has assured that Deutsche Welle’s Greek radio broadcasts will continue and will not be silenced within the framework of restructuring for the period 2010-2013. Government spokesman Stephen Zeibert confirmed in Berlin that the “Deutsche Welle’s Greek radio broadcast will not be stopped”, stating that this information was given by the competent Deputy Minister of Culture, Bernd Neuman.

Today the Deutsche Welle radio council is finalizing the station’s program for the 2010-2013 period. The initial proposal, which was overturned by the government spokesman’s statements, foresaw, among other things, the termination of the Greek radio broadcasts.

Currently, Deutsche Welle broadcasts a daily half hour programme in Greek, which is also re–broadcast by around 40 radio stations in Greece and Cyprus.
(Source: greekreporter.com/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2011 Jan 18 1825 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

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
10 - 16 January 2011

Solar activity was at very low levels from 10-13 January. Rgn 1140 (N34, L=189, class/area Hsx/210 on 04 January) was responsible for the majority of the activity during this period, producing numerous B-class events. Activity increased to low levels during 14 - 15 January. Three C1 flares were observed from behind the NE limb during this 2-day period, all associated with returning Region 1138 (N13, L=324). Also associated with this recent activity were 4 CMEs, all of which were directed well away from Earth. Late in the period, old Region 1138 finally rotated onto the disk and was numbered 1147 (N24, L=339, class/area Cso/150 on 16 January).

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels from 10 - 13 and 16 January and at moderate levels during 14 - 15 January.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels during the period. Quiet to active conditions prevailed during 10 - 11 January due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Activity decreased to mostly quiet levels from 12 - 13 January. From 14 - 15 January, a second CH HSS became geoeffective and increased activity to quiet to active levels. During the summary period, solar wind velocities ranged from a low of about 450 km/s late on 13 January to a high of near 600 km/s late on 09 January. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field generally varied between +/- 5 nT through the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
19 January - 14 February 2011

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a chance for low levels during the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be below threshold at the beginning of the forecast period. High levels are expected on 04-09 February. Flux is then expected to decrease below threshold through 14 February.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during 19-20 January due to a recurrent CH HSS. Recurrent coronal hole high speed streams are also expected on 02-04 February and on 09-10 February, bringing predominantly unsettled conditions during these time frames. Mostly quiet levels are expected otherwise.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2011 Jan 18 1825 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html

# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2011-01-18

# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2011 Jan 19 82 5 2
2011 Jan 20 84 5 2
2011 Jan 21 84 5 2
2011 Jan 22 84 5 2
2011 Jan 23 82 5 2
2011 Jan 24 82 5 2
2011 Jan 25 82 5 2
2011 Jan 26 82 5 2
2011 Jan 27 88 5 2
2011 Jan 28 88 5 2
2011 Jan 29 88 5 2
2011 Jan 30 88 5 2
2011 Jan 31 87 5 2
2011 Feb 01 85 5 2
2011 Feb 02 85 7 2
2011 Feb 03 84 7 2
2011 Feb 04 84 7 2
2011 Feb 05 83 5 2
2011 Feb 06 83 5 2
2011 Feb 07 82 5 2
2011 Feb 08 80 5 2
2011 Feb 09 80 5 2
2011 Feb 10 80 8 3
2011 Feb 11 80 5 2
2011 Feb 12 80 5 2
2011 Feb 13 80 5 2
2011 Feb 14 80 5 2
(NOAA)

DXers Unlimited mid-week ediiton, Jan 18-19

A new edition of DXers Unlimited which includes Arnie's opinion on the present state of the DRM (Digital Radio Mondial) system for shortwave broadcasting. Thanks to Arnie for sharing this with our blog readers.
Gayle Van Horn

Radio Havana Cuba
Dxers Unlimited
Dxers Unlimited's mid week edition for 18-19 January 2011
By Arnie Coro
radio amateur CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados all around the world ! Welcome to the mid week edition of Dxers Unlimited... I am your host, Arnie Coro, radio amateur CO2KK and here is item one of today 's show...A quiet Sun … solar flux hovering just above 80 units, as solar cycle 24 continues to lay dormant despite the fact that it is now officially a two years old cycle !!!

Item two; More about what can now be described properly as the ill-fated digital short wave broadcasting mode... DRM, Digital Radio Mondiale, a fiasco by all standards, because there are no receivers available to pick up those digital broadcasts. DRM has not won the public 's acceptance although it has technical advantages over the classic amplitude modulated, double side band plus full carrier transmissions.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to exchange points of view with several persons involved in the development of the Digital Radio Mondiale or DRM for short wave broadcasting, and unfortunately they did not listened to people like yours truly, that warned them of the fact that DRM for international broadcasting was not winning the prospective audience for a long list of reasons, among them the most basic one of them all: It was four years ago impossible to buy a receiver to pick up DRM broadcasts at a reasonable price, and today a radio that will allow reception of DRM on the HF bands is still not available. Let me clarify that I am talking about a receiver that may be sold at the same price, or even a slightly higher price than what is normally asked for those medium priced radios that are the ones that sell best among short wave listeners.

In my opinion the stations that are still broadcasting their short wave transmissions using the DRM modulation technology are simply wasting their money, they are dilapidating their budget and add to that the fact that they are also polluting planet Earth, because there is absolutely no reason to run a high power transmitter with DRM when practically no one is listening !!!

Add to that the annoying, the most annoying problem with the present DRM technology, that consists of total audio cuts when the signal levels have to deal with a deep fade. In contrast with the classic AM that gently fades in and out, DRM signals just vannish, producing that very annoying total silence, that later is replaced with clear audio … So far the software used does not incorporate the possibility of a high degree of redundancy that could certainly deal with the more or less frequent periods of total silence when the signals fade .

DRM for both the medium wave broadcast band and the FM bands is another story, because ground wave propagation in the case of AM is a much more rugged propagation mode, but FM has the multipath problem with all its negative effects.

As the number of international broadcast stations continues into a downward trend, and the budgets assigned to many of them, except perhaps those involved in religious propaganda transmissions, is reduced, it is quite clear that DRM , Digital Radio Mondiale for short wave broadcasting has totally failed, and the probability of recovery are , if any, very slim.

Stay tuned for more radio hobby related information coming from Havana.
I am your host Arnie Coro, radio amateur CO2KK back in a few seconds after a really short break for station ID purposes....
…....................

You are listening to Radio Havana Cuba, this is the mid week edition of Dxers Unlimited, our twice weekly radio hobby program … Now here is item three of today 's show. I have received a large number of requests about the 40 meters direct conversion receivers circuit diagrams offered to those interested in building a simple, yet very effective radio receiver that tunes from 7000 to 7300 kiloHertz, but that can have its tuning range extended up to 7500 if you have a special interest in monitoring the 41 meters international short wave broadcast band that is now starting at 7200 kiloHertz, because the International Telecommunications Union decided at a Conference to grant amateur radio users the frequency segment between 7000 to 7200 kiloHertz on a worldwide basis.

Once again this has proven to be a very well thought decision by spectrum policy makers, because amateurs have used the new segment granted to them in Regions I and III as a very effective area to handle much needed emergency communications. Previous to that decision that became effective in 2009, the Regions I and III amateur radio operators could only use the narrow 100 kiloHertz band between 7000 to 7100 kiloHertz, where all communications modes had to make their way through high levels of interference, especially between 7030 and 7100 kiloHertz. After the implementation of the new 40 meters band , spanning from 7000 to 7200 kiloHertz worldwide, communications have become a lot easier because single side band operators are making a very effective use of the newly available to them 7100 to 7200 segment of the band.

Now going back to the simple direct conversion, Polyakov harmonic detector receiver circuit diagrams, let me add that the original version was designed for headphones use, in order to make it a very effective emergency communications receiver that could operate for long periods on battery power. But, you can certainly add a single integrated circuit audio amplifier module, to boost the volume to loudspeaker level, although at the price of having to add a line operated power supply or use much larger batteries.

There are many tips available regarding this receiver ' s family, including the use of a much more elaborate variable frequency oscillator and of audio filters for optimizing CW Morse Code radiotelegraphy and single side band and AM mode voice modulated signals.

The barebones version of the receiver can be put together in a single working session, if you wind the coils before starting to solder the parts. I have used the isolated circuit boards glued to a printed circuit board backplane to assemble several of these radios, but now, thanks to a local radio amateur friend who is an excellent draftsman, we have a printed circuit board layout that when totally assembled gives the radio the looks of a professional job !!!

You can learn more about simple Polyakov harmonic detector receivers by sending an e'mail to inforhc at enet dot cu... Again , inforhc at enet dot cu !
…..............................

Feedback from listeners reached me every day, via e'mail and also on the amateur bands, whenever I have the time available to go on the air and work a few stations. One of my favorite spots is on the 20 meters band, on 14 060 kilohertz that has become a nice meeting place for QRP or low power ham operators from all around the world. When propagation conditions are above average, it is quite normal to be able to work stations running 5 watts and even lower power transmitters that are operating from Europe and Africa. But reaching Asia requires exceptional propagation, that is only available when the solar flux figures run above the 100 mark for several days. The courtesy and respect that prevails on the 14 060 kiloHertz QRP frequency is really outstanding and to be commended amigos. There you can find operators that send slow CW to really help beginners or old timers that are coming back to the world of the Morse code enthusiasts.

On 14060 you won't find high speed machine sent CW , and it you hear someone sending slowly and making mistakes, be patient, ask for repeats when necessary, and also send slowly when answering. CW, Morse Code hand sent and received by ear radiotelegraphy requires that you concentrate on what you are doing, and after enjoying it for some time, you will find that your operating skills develop spontaneously. But of course that you can also do your homework and practice with the aid of a computer.

There are several excellent freeware programs that can be downloaded from websites that offer them free of charge, as a contribution to the development of amateur radio. There are two such programs that I really like and recommend, one comes from the United Kingdom, it is known as the Koch, or Kilo, Oscar Charlie Echo, the Koch method of learning and them improving your CW Morse code skills, it was written by G4FON … the other program that I also like a lot is interactive... G4FON Koch Trainer is a relatively small download , it is easy to set up and really works very well... The other CW training program that I like a lot is called Morse Machine, and it is also freely available for downloading... Morse Machine is totally interactive, and it really helps to boost the speed of your reception one you have mastered all the 41 characters used by the International Morse Code...
(Arnie Coro/Radio Havana Cuba)

World Harvest Radio winter schedule update

Broadcasting from transmitters in USA and Palau

Effective to: 27 March 2011

English

WHRI Angel 1 and WHRI Angel 5 in parallel
0000-0200 5920 DXWC 0130-0200 Sat
0200-0500 7385 DXWC 0330-0400 Sun; 0430-0500 Sun
0500-1100 11565 DXWC 0730-0800 Sun
1100-1500 17540 Sat/Sun
1500-1600 21630 Sat
1500-1600 15680 Sun
1600-1900 21630
1900-2000 17520 DXWC 1930-2000 Sun
2000-2200 15665
2200-2300 9615
2300-2400 5920 Sun-Fri
2300-2400 7335 Sat

WHRI Angel 2
0000-0300 5875 DXWC 0200-0230 Sun
0300-0400 7590
0400-0500 7465 Sun-Fri
0400-0500 9640 Sat
0500-0600 7465
0600-0800 9615
0800-0900 11565
0900-1000 9840
1000-1100 9865 Deutsche Welle in German
1100-1200 9840
1200-1300 9410 BBC in Spanish Mon-Fri
1300-1600 9840 Sat/Sun
1600-1700 9840
1700-1800 9840 Sun-Fri
1700-1800 21630 Sat
1800-2000 9840
2000-2100 7570
2100-2200 7555
2200-2400 15640 Deutsche Welle in German

T8WH [Palau] Angel 3
0700-1100 9930 DXWC 0900-0930 Sun
1100-1200 9945 IBRA Radio in Chinese
1200-1300 9930
1300-1400 13745 Mon-Fri
1300-1400 9930 Sat/Sun
1400-1500 9930
1500-1800 9905 Radio Free Asia in Chinese
1800-1900 9955
1900-2200 9875 Radio Free Asia in Chinese
2200-2300 9930 Fri/Sat

T8WH Angel 4
0000-0030 17840 Radio Australia in Indonesian
0030-0400 15680
0400-0430 17840 Radio Australia in Indonesian
0430-0500 15680
0500-0530 17845 Radio Australia in Indonesian
0530-1000 15680
1000-1100 15420 Radio Free Sarawak in Bahasa Malay
1100-1300 9965
1300-1430 9965 Radio Australia in Chinese
1430-1500 9950 Furusato no Kaze in Japanese
1500-1530 9975 Nippon no Kaze in Korean
1530-1600 9965 Nippon no Kaze in Korean
1600-1630 9965 Radio Australia in Burmese
1630-2200 9930 DXWC 1930-2000 Sat/Sun
2200-2400 13590 Radio Australia in English

WHRI Angel 6
0600-1300 7385 DXWC 1000-1030 Sun; 1230-1300 Sun
1300-1400 9540 Sat/Sun
1400-1600 15180 Sat/Sun
1600-2300 15180 DXWC 1830-1900 Sat
2300-0600 7315
DXWC=DXing With Cumbre
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix News # 660, wb, Germany)

Blog Logs

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

Bolivia
4700, tentative Radio San Miguel, 1044. Man and woman in Spanish, canned announcements at 1100 but didn’t catch an ID. Re-check at 1126 and barely audible. Poor. (Harold Sellers-BC)

4717, Radio Yura presumed the one at 1046 Jan 14. With Andean music. Very poor. (Harold Sellers-BC)

Chad
6165, Radio National Tchadienne (N'djamena), 0427-0430. French. Interval signal heard after Radio Nederland (Bonaire) signed off. A few bars of African pop music at 0430 followed by ID and announcements by man. Pop music resumed. Poor to moderate signal with fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

China
4905, Xizang PBS-Lhasa, 1530-1600. For a long time the “Holy Tibet” program in English always started with a unique laughing chant. Now it’s gone. The new introduction has added a native speaker of English and changed the wording. Clearly they want to improve the intelligibility of their English presentation. Today’s broadcast was their “Sunday Focus on Music” show, yes, it’s common practice recently for them to carry this only on Saturday and not on Sunday; explaining about categories of Tibetan music and playing examples of it. Fair signal. Is always a pleasure for me to hear this show! Audio at www.mediafire.com/?zq4uxm8ka8it5f6 . (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Clandestine
17745, Sudan Radio Service via Portugal, 1636-1657.* Excellent coverage, all in English, regarding the start of tomorrows elections; many different people interviewed for their opinion about the referendum to determine the independence for southern Sudan. Comments from various officials. Promo/dramatization wanting people to vote during the seven days of the elections, 1650 started music segment with patriotic songs in English (“War Child” and “Freedom”). Suddenly off in mid-song, many “S-R-S” IDs, as well as the full “Sudan Radio Service.” Would imagine Sunday will also see a continuation of this outstanding coverage in English. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Cuba
6060, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, 1138. Man speaking in Spanish, woman translating or summarizing in English. Discussing Cuban assistance in Venezuela. Good. (Harold Sellers-BC)

Djibouti
4780, RTV Djibouti (Djibouti), 0410-0416. Arabic. Lively Horn of Africa music with short announcements by man. Poor but readable signal with fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

Eritrea
7205, Voice of Broad Masses of Eritrea (Asmera), 0418-0425. Verncular. VOBM 1 program with Horn of Africa music. Short announcement by a man, some animal sounds, and talk by a group of men with an occasional few bars of music. Moderate signal on a very good night for Eritrean and Ethiopian stations. Also heard VOBM 2 on 7165 and 7175 with talk by a woman in the 0415-0430 timeframe. (Jim Evans, TN)

Ethiopia
9560, Voice of Peace and Democracy (Gedja Jewe), 0425-0431.* Tigrinya. Horn of Africa music. Theme music at 0429 followed by announcements by man. Open carrier at 0430:40. Gone at 0431. Good signal with fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

9704, Radio Ethiopia (Gedja Dera), 0431-0434. Amharic. Horn of Africa music. Talk by woman in presumed Amharic at 0432. Joined by man with echoing audio at 0433. Poor signal with fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

Guatemala
4052, Radio Verdad (Chiquimula), 0555-0606.* English. ID and talk by woman in English. Announcements by man and woman on the hour in what may have been Spanish. national anthem at 0602. Transmission ended at 0606. Poor signal with fading, improving during anthem. (Jim Evans, TN)

Honduras
3250, Radio Luz y Vida (San Luis) (presumed), 0246-0250. Spanish. Slow, religious sounding music. Poor signal with fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

India
6280, All India Radio (Bangaluru), 2211-2230.* English. News by woman. Indian pop music at 2215. Closing announcements by woman at 2229. Transmission ended at 2230. Unusually strong signal with little fading. Parallels noted on 7550 (same quality signal) and 9445 (weaker). (Jim Evans, TN)

Malaysia
5030.034, RTM Sarawak FM, (tentative) 1145-1200. Very weak audio for this as it is being displayed with a good presentation. Can hear a male in unknown comments under the noise. Signal was threshold. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Peru
4746.978, Radio Huanta Dos Mil, 1103-1115. Fair signal, noted a female in Spanish with comments during period. At about 1111, a male talks. This continues during the period. Signal was fair but muffled. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

4774.958, Radio Tarma, 1113-1120. Barely audible, male in Spanish with comments. Signal was threshold or barely audible as noted. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

49824.475, La Voz de la Selva, 1118-1130. Sounds like a news program as I tune into this station. Noted a male and female on either a telephone liother remote capability calling in news items to a female back at the station. Signal was fair at this time. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

6019.250, Radio Victoria, 1158-1205.l Recheck just to see if still readable and noted our friend David M. doing his thing with religious talk. Signal was at a fair level with not immediate sign of fading away. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

4790, Radio Vision (Chiclayo), 0455-0500. Spanish. Religious talk by man with religious music in the background. Music only at 0457. Preacher with echo or large auditorium effect at 0500. Good signal with fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

4746.9, (tentative) Radio Huanta 2000, 1051. Spanish songs during several checks. Fair signal. (Harold Sellers-BC)

4824.5, (tentative) La Voz de la Selva, 1128. Spanish, fast-paced announcements, woman on the telephone. Fair, CODAR interference. (Harold Sellers-BC)

4955, (tentative) Radio Cultural Amauta, 1057. Musical medley, including a bit of the “El Condor Pasa” music. Woman with Spanish announcements over Andean music, time check, top-of-the-hour greetings, 1110 man in a talk ending at 1115; hrd mention of “Biblico”. Poor signal. (Harold Sellers-BC)

Sudan
7200, Radio Omdurman (Omdurman), 0239-0256. Arabic. Long Koran recitation by man. Low audio announcement at 0256, then more from Koran. Poor to moderate signal with occasional ARO interference. (Jim Evans, TN)

Swaziland
9500, Trans World Radio (Manzini), 0503-0510. English. Religious music. Religious talk by man in heavily accented English at 0505. Poor signal, improving by 0510. (Jim Evans, TN)

Deutsche Welle English freq update

Transmitters in Portugal and Sri Lanka

Frequency change of Deutsche Welle in English:

All times UTC

1600-1700 new freq 15275 SIN 250 kW 080 deg to SoAS from Jan 20
1600-1700 on 9560 TRM 250 kW 345 deg to SoAS till Jan 31
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix News # 660, wb, Germany)

Radio Liberty and VOA schedule updates

Transmitters from Botswana, Germany, Kuwait, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand

Frequency changes from IBB:

All times UTC / NF =new frequency

Radio Liberty
0230-0330 NF 15680 KWT 250 kW 070 deg, ex 12140 KWT Pashto-Radio Free AFG
0330-0400 NF 11635 BIB 100 kW 088 deg, addit. freq. Persian-Radio Farda
1400-1500 NF 15530 LAM 100 kW 077 deg, ex 12055 LAM Tajik, re-ex 11895
1500-1600 NF 15555 WER 250 kW 075 deg, ex 7260 WER Turkmen
1600-1700 NF 15555 WER 250 kW 075 deg, ex 11975 LAM Turkmen
1600-1700 NF 11975 LAM 100 kW 075 deg, ex 6060 WER Uzbek
1700-1800 NF 5990 BIB 100 kW 083 deg, ex 7260 LAM Russian
1700-1800 NF 15490 BIB 100 kW 085 deg, ex 5905 BIB Russian-Caucasus Echo
1800-1830 NF 9760 LAM 100 kW 104 deg, addit. freq. Persian-Radio Farda

Voice of America
0130-0230 NF 11565 KWT 250 kW 070 deg, ex 12140 KWT Dari-Radio Ashna
1400-1500 on 15530 BIB 100 kW 085 deg, cancelled >> English, see below
1400-1500 on 17740 BOT 100 kW 010 deg, cancelled >> English, see below
1400-1500 on 15200 BIB 100 kW 075 deg, cancelled >> Tibetan - Tu/Th/Sa/Su
1400-1500 on 15425 BIB 100 kW 075 deg, cancelled >> Tibetan - Mon/Wed/Fri
1500-1530 NF 9415 PHL 250 kW 315 deg, ex 9670# UDO Uzbek, # to avoid VOR
1630-1700 on 9675 NAU 250 kW 150 deg, Mon-Fri, new Eng "Sudan in Focus"
1630-1700 on 12015*WER 250 kW 150 deg, Mon-Fri, new Eng "Sudan in Focus"
1630-1700 on 13825 WER 250 kW 150 deg, Mon-Fri, new Eng "Sudan in Focus"
1730-1830 NF 11565 IRA 250 kW 340 deg, ex 7595 IRA Dari-Radio Ashna
1830-1930 NF 9335 UDO 250 kW 304 deg, ex 7595 UDO Pashto-Radio Ashna
1930-2030 NF 9335 UDO 250 kW 304 deg, ex 7595 UDO Dari-Radio Ashna
2000-2100 on 5970 LAM 100 kW 108 deg, Mon-Fri, new English, ex 1400-1500
2000-2100 on 9480 UDO 250 kW 300 deg, Mon-Fri, new English, ex 1400-1500
* QRM Voice of Korea in German on 12014.6v kHz.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Oct 13)
(DX Mix News # 660, wb, Germany)

Voice of Turkey frequency changes

Effective from Jan 14: / NF = new frequency

All times UTC

1200-1257 NF 11805#EMR 500 kW 072 deg to EaAS, ex17715 Chinese
1330-1427 NF 13685^EMR 500 kW 072 deg to EaAS, ex11620 Uyghur,x1500-1557
1600-1657 NF 5930*EMR 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS, ex 9530 Persian
2300-2357 NF 7335+EMR 500 kW 310 deg to NoAM, ex 5960 English

# co-ch Radio Liberty in Kyrgyz 1200-1230 UT.
^ co-ch China Radio International in French / English
* co-ch Radio Prague in German 1600-1630 UT.
+ co-ch WHRI Angel 1/5 in English on Sat
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix News # 660, wb, Germany)

WEWN updates winter schedule

Winter B-10 of WEWN Global Catholic Radio

All times UTC

English
0000-0300 11520 EWN 250 kW 040 deg to NE/ME
0300-0600 11520 EWN 250 kW 040 deg to WeEUR
0600-0900 11520 EWN 250 kW 085 deg to WeAF
0900-1200 9390 EWN 250 kW 335 deg to SEAS
1200-1500 15610 EWN 250 kW 040 deg to NE/ME
1500-1900 15610 EWN 250 kW 040 deg to WeEUR
1900-2400 15610 EWN 250 kW 085 deg to WeAF

Spanish
0000-1000 11870 EWN 250 kW 155 deg to SoAM
1000-1700 12050 EWN 250 kW 155 deg to SoAM
1700-2400 13830 EWN 250 kW 155 deg to SoAM

Spanish
0000-0500 5810 EWN 250 kW 220 deg to CeAM
0500-1300 7555 EWN 250 kW 220 deg to CeAM
1300-1800 11550 EWN 250 kW 220 deg to CeAM
1800-2400 12050 EWN 250 kW 220 deg to CeAM
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 18)
(DX Mix News # 660 via wb, Germany)

Radio Prague closes the Litomysl site facility

From Radio Prague’s Mailbox programme broadcast yesterday:

Armin Gerstberger from the United States asked this question among others: “I was wondering what will happen to your shortwave transmission facility in Litomysl after 1/31/2011. Will it be maintained for future use by Cesky rozhlas, rented out or sold off?”

Radio Prague answered: The Litomysl transmitter has been closed down and the staff laid off. As for now, it is unclear whether the facility will be dismantled or whether it will be preserved for potential future operation.
(Source: Radio Prague/Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Pakistan announces major projects

Radio Pakistan is going to digitize 2.5 million minutes of radio recordings which include the last speech of Liaquat Ali Khan, Congress leader Subhash Chandra Bose, Adolf Hitler besides many historical personalities and events.

“The Rs.130 million project would convert the recordings available on analogue to the computers and hence cyberspace from where the audio data could be streamed for listening or bought as well,” Director General, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Murtaza Solangi informed at a press conference at Radio Pakistan Hyderabad.

Mr Solangi asserted that every attempt was being made to make Radio Pakistan a truly national organization through which the listeners were not only provided quality entertainment and news but also a platform which airs their complaints and grievances as well. He underlined that moving ahead from the past exercises of obtaining comments and recommendations of the listeners through postcards and letters, a live calls culture was introduced where a caller was not hindered from airing his views even if they were found critical of the government.

At press conference Mr Solangi announced the installation of 100 kW transmitters [presumably mediumwave] at radio stations in Hyderabad, Multan and Larkana after which the transmission would be heard at over 300 miles range in the daytime, while at night 600 miles area in proximity of the respective stations would be covered.

“After the installation, transmissions from Radio Pakistan Hyderabad would be heard by even the people of Gujarat state of India, and from the Larkana station the signal would reach the Indian border state of Rajhastan,” he added. He said that a 500 kW transmitter would be installed in Islamabad with the financial assistance of USAID and Japan.

The DG said the number of radio stations in the country had increased to 34 from the earlier 14 while every attempt was being made to introduce modern equipment.
(Source: thenews.com.pk/Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

New religious shortwave station set for the end of 2011

On their Facebook page, the Stinson Family write: “We are praising the Lord! We just saw God provide the money to start a shortwave radio station at our home base! This radio station will have a worldwide reach. We will be broadcasting in multiple languages to reach the unreached with the Gospel! Please help us pray as Spring City Baptist Church and Independent Baptist Media endeavour to get the station on the air by the end of 2011!” According to their website, The Stinson Family are based in Lebanon, VA.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Streaming News and Information from Global Net Blog

Are you following the very latest developements in Internet radio ?

The GlobalNet Blog run by MT Internet columnist Loyd Van Horn, is devoted to Internet streaming audio technology (broadcast, public safety, amateur radio, and more), equipment (Internet Radios, etc), and other consumer technologies.

Check out the latest at http://www.globalnetmt.com/

Loyd also produces a regular GlobalNet Internet weekly podcast you can subscribe to, plus Twitter updates and now a Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/GlobalNet/171840602849214

Do you have an audio stream you'd like to share for the GlobalNet Stream of the Week ? Send your links to loyd@globalnetmt.com

Loads of info from the Monitoring Times GlobalNet monthly column, blog, Twitter and now Facebook. What are you waiting for ?

Pirate radio logs

Nice variety of selected pirate radio loggings from Free Radio Weekly, including a few one ones.


All time UTC *sign-on / sign-off*

American Freedom Radio
6925, 2130. SINPO 34533. Urban rap music. Persistent adjacent hetrodyne. Station ID from FRN, hetrodyne from Liquid Radio. (Ragnar)

Captain Morgan Shortwave
6925 AM 0103-0122 SINPO 25222. Jazz and blues music, 0122 station off, sounded like he had a cable short (Ragnar). Email: captainmorganshortwave@gmail.com

College Bowl Shortwave
6925 USB, 1940-1952. SINPO 44344. School fight songs. Faint AM hum from weak station. Email: collegebowlshortwave@yahoo.com (Ragnar) (new station)

Lunar Eclipse Radio
6925 Am, 2318-2319* Tuned in to hear an assortment of weird noises and sounds. At 2319 a man announcer gave the station ID and e-mail address, "this is Lunar Eclipse Radio - lunareclipseradio@gmail.com ." (Rich D’Angelo-PA) (new station)

Northwoods Radio
6925 USB, 2254-2320.+ Good signal for classic music of Humble Pie (#0 Days in the Hole) and Ozzie Osborne. (Ragnar).Email to northwoodsradio@gmail.com

Radio Ga Ga
6925 USB, 1330-1340. SINPO 45333. Music from Traveling Wilburys. Sign-off with SSTV. (Ragnar).

Radio Garbanzo
6925 USB, 2133-2203. Probably a WHOF relay with a good signal. Parody ad of Big Bad Bill at Bagel Burgers, followed by a "Radio Garbanzo" ID. Nice show (Majewski).

Radio Jamba International
6925, 0045. SINPO 25233. Sounds like a subgenious (hour of Slack) program being aired, 0108 with "RJI" identificaiton (Ragnar)

The Crooked Man
6935 AM, 2215. SINPO 25433 "This is the Crooked Man Calling." Stones to ranting man punctuated by music. Signal faded considerably by 2230 (Ragnar)

Undercover Radio
6930 USB, 1040-1054. Caught the last of it, a weird sound collage, into the IDs and sign off. Lots of echo, but a big signal. Sign off at 1054. Radio Gong Calling came up with what sounded like the same transmitter 1056-1115. SINPO 45434. (Ragnar)

Voice of Laryngitis
6932 AM, 2305. SINPO 35322 Probably WHOF relay. Voice of Larry mentioned ten years of broadcasting (Ragnar)

WEAK Radio
6948 USB, 2205-2345. Odd collection of music and a new ID "WEAK- The station with the happy difference" relay from a broadcast station KDSU of a couple of guys discussing music. Slowly faded out around 2345 SINPO 45433. (Ragnar)

WHYP
6925 USB, 0422-0451.* SIO 45434. Station with JB playing DeVo. Noise came up and obliterated the signal. Noise subsided somewhat by 2145. Pirate Juliet came on air with hellos to all her listeners. (Ragnar)

WRRI / Radio Radium International
6955 AM, 2012-2030. Station identification to rock music. Frequency seemed to vary a bit, requiring regular re tuning. Pop tunes including, Addicted to Love, Another Bites the Dust, and Anyway You Want It. Lousy propagation. (Hunsicker, PA) (new station)
(FRW # 777, 778, 779)

Euro pirates

Atlantic Radio 6960, 1335. SINPO 34433.
Baken 16, 3885, 1650. SINPO 44433.
Full Pull 6220, 1455. SINPO 34433.
Radio Altrex 6255, 1415. UTC 344343.
Radio Bonofox 6300, 0845. SINPO 44433.
Radio Pink Panther 6325, 0850. SINPO 24333.
Radio Rainbow 6308, 1505. SINPO 34433,
Radio Saturns 5820, 1020. SINPO 24333.
Radio Skywire 6306, 1400. SINPO 34455.
Radio Barones 1659, 1810. SINPO
Radio Victoria 5800, 1020. SINPO 24333.
Time Radio 6285, 0940. SINPO 24333.
Zender Quintus 6265, 1325. SINPO 54444
(Source: Facebook/Achim Brueckner/Achims Free Radio Disaster)

Silence in the Air - 1: The Sound of Silence

A new nostalgic feature from Wavescan

Quite recently, the nationwide networks of All India Radio and Doordarshan TV were paralyzed in a two day strike by disgruntled employees who were upset over what they described as management inefficiencies and delayed payment of regular salaries. The strike began at 9:00 am local time, corresponding to 0330 UTC on Tuesday November 23.
In view of the fact that the two major points of disagreement were not met to the employees satisfaction, another strike, perhaps a continuing strike, was threatened by the 38,000 members of the employees union of Prasar Bharati and this was scheduled to begin on Monday December 13. However, in view of the fact that this 2nd strike did not take place, it would be apparent that discussions between management and employees must be making progress.
As a result of the strike late November, the programming of all government radio and television stations throughout India was affected and a large number of stations were off the air during this time period. This gave a remarkable opportunity for international radio monitors in India and neighboring countries to check the mediumwave and shortwave bands for previously unheard distant stations on the temporarily empty channels in India.
The employee strike in India is by far the largest strike against any news media anywhere in the world. However, other strikes against other radio stations in other countries have occurred, and there have been other occasions when mediumwave and shortwave stations have been silenced, due to various reasons. That is our topic in this feature item: Silence in the Air, or if you like, according to the title of a popular song, the Sound of Silence.
On occasions there have been short term and limited strikes against both the BBC in London and Radio Australia in Melbourne and these events have affected the programming of both international shortwave stations.
Back in the year 1981, there was a strike by some of the personnel employed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and this affected the output from the large shortwave station operated by Radio Canada International at Sackville New Brunswick. The BBC London was on relay from RCI Sackville for 11 hours a day during that era, and because of the strike, this program relay was reduced to a little less than 3 hours a day.
Under the title, the Sound of Silence, let’s go way back to the beginning. On August 22, 1922, the entire telephone system throughout the United States and Canada went silent for exactly one minute, beginning at 6:25 pm. The occasion was the death of the illustrious founder of modern telephone technology, Alexander Graham Bell. At the conclusion of the funeral service, every telephone in North America was silenced for one honoring minute.
A similar event occurred as a memorium to Guglielmo Marconi when he died. Marconi is credited as the founder of wireless and radio, and during his lifetime, wireless grew from a crude simple piece of noisy electrical apparatus that could send Morse Code a few miles, to radio that could instantaneously communicate worldwide and entertain all dwellers upon planet Earth. Marconi died of a heart attack on July 20, 1937, at the age of 63, and in his honor, radio stations all around the world observed two minutes of silence.
Over in India on January 30, 2005, all radio stations went silent for a period of two minutes. On this occasion, it was not a strike by disgruntled workers, but rather a memorium in honor of freedom fighters who lost their lives in India’s earlier struggle for independence from Great Britain. At 10:59 that morning, sirens sounded throughout India. Traffic on the roadways came to a standstill, pedestrians came to a stance, trains, planes, buses and ships delayed their 11:00 departures by two minutes, and all radio programming went silent.
A similar circumstance took place in the Philippines on the one year anniversary of the mass murder of 58 people, including 34 radio & TV personnel, the largest mass murder of media personnel anywhere in the world. On November 29, just 6 weeks back, all radio & TV stations throughout the Philippines went silent for 58 seconds, one second for each death.
For a different purpose, all radio broadcasting stations in the United States, all 10,000 of them, went silent for half a minute on May 26, 1989. The purpose of this event was to publicize to the nation the importance of radio in daily life for every person. This project was organized by NAB, the National Association of Broadcasters.
Six years later, a similar event took place in Spain. At exactly 8:30 am on Wednesday October 4, 1995, all radio stations in Spain went quiet for exactly one minute. The purpose for this exercise was to draw attention to the importance of radio in the life of Spain’s 20 million radio listeners.
There are times when radio stations have gone silent for other reasons, including economy. Back in the 1940s during an era of electricity rationing because of strikes in coal mines in Australia, all radio stations throughout the continent were required to reduce their hours of transmission, closing in mid evening. This gave the avid DXer a wonderful opportunity to tune in to mediumwave foreign radio stations on his battery operated radio receiver, radio stations not normally heard down under.
Then, for example, the American mediumwave station WPHC in Waverly Tennessee was noted in December 1995 with just one hour of programming every day. Due to financial constraints and yet to keep the station active, it signed on daily at 1:00 pm local time on 1060 kHz, and after one hour it went silent until the same time on the next day.
We asked Jose Jacob VU2JOS over there in Hyderabad, just what stations were heard on the empty channels during the November strike in India. From his information, and the information of others, we learned that no startling new DX stations were heard, just a few stations in China and other nearby countries in Asia. Those stations in the AIR network that remained on the air during the strike were usually just playing continuous unannounced Indian music, though some gave out test tones, and a very few seemed to be on the air with regular programming.
Next week here in Wavescan - the Sound of Silence Part 2.
(AWR Wavescan/NWS98 via Adrian Peterson)

GünAz Radio on 7510 kHz

Clandestine

7510, GünAz Radio, new clandestine for Southern Azerbaijan, via Simferopol, Ukraine (250 kW, 130 degrees), 1430- 1930 UTC in Azeri, since Dec 29. Broker TDP. Co-channel FEBA in Silte 1730-1800 UTC. (Ferguson via Dxplorer, Ivanov, via BC-DX, Jan 03). Re Simferopol - ITU short call. Transmitter location is really 252 kilometers westwards at Mykolaiev Luch, veiled at ITU transmitter site list, some 40 years ago by USSR communist government at 46°47'46.91"N
32°13'17.84"E. (Bueschel in Dxplorer). Heard at 1735, Jan 06, talks in Azeri (close to Turkish) with co-channel FEBA in an African language. (Liangas)

Update on shortwave in Uruguay

5831.14v, Emisora Chaná, Tacuarembó, 2330. Reported last days of Dec with local advertisements. Good reception. (Slaen via Dxplorer)

6678, New unofficial station on the air in AM mode operated by Jose Pedro Varela, Lavalleja Dept., using inverted "V" dipole 25 watt (effective 10 watt). Schedule: 1900-2400v (UTC). Station webpage is: http://infoideasweb10.blogspot.com/ . Relays a Web Radio streaming from: http://www.raddios.com/foro1.php?radio=infoideasweb . QSL e-mail is ideasfm@gmail.com . So far has been reported in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Rosario, including down to the southern Patagonian Neuquen Province), Chile and Uruguay. (Bloise, Nigro in Dxplorer)
(DSWCI/DX Window # 419 Anker Petersen)

Radio Mexico International plans to add English and French to line-up

Radio Mexico International, which was re-launched on 1 January 2011, is currently in Spanish only, but has already announced the launch of programmes in English and French, as well as in some dialects of South American Indians.

Radio México Internacional was a shortwave broadcaster until 2004, when it was closed due to deterioration of the transmitters and the advent of new technologies. But the closure was not due to shortage of funds. Dolores Bestegi, the CEO of IMER (Instituto Méxicano de la Radio) at the time, said “Radio México Internacional was a shortwave project, working with six transmitters, five of which were worn out. To repair them would cost 60 million pesos. We could find 60 million pesos, but it was unclear who now listens to broadcasts on shortwave. Therefore, we closed the project. ”

In 2009, IMER launched a special radio station to mark the 200th anniversary of the independence of México, which received great success in the world. Now the technical base of this channel has become the basis for the resumption of the new Radio México Internacional.
(Source: ephekto.com/R Netherlands Media Network)

Radio Ukraine International updates winter schedule

Radio Ukraine International

From January 1, 2011

All times UTC

0800-1100 9410 SMF*250 kW 312 deg to WeEUR in En/Uk/Uk, cancelled
1000-1100 11655 LV 300 kW 276 deg to WeEUR in German, Voice of Russia
1500-1800 7435 KHR 100 kW 055 deg to RUSS in Uk
1800-2100 6030 KHR 100 kW 290 deg to WeEUR in Ge/Uk/En
2100-2200 6140 KHR 100 kW 290 deg to WeEUR in Ge
2300-0300 7440 LV 500 kW 303 deg to NoAM in En/Uk/En/Uk, cancelled
0300-0400 7440 LV 500 kW 303 deg to NoAM in English, Voice of Russia
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 8)
(DX Mix News 659 via Ivo Ivanov & wb, Germany)

More schedule updates from WYFR

B10 Winter - effective to: 27 March 2011

Broadcast for transmitters in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

All times UTC / target areas and languages as indicated

1800-1900 7590 ERV 100 kW 330 deg to WeEUR in Polish
1800-2000 7490 ERV 300 kW 305 deg to WeEUR in German
1900-2000 6000 MSK 250 kW 240 deg to WeEUR in Italian
2000-2100 7510 A-A 500 kW 301 deg to WeEUR in English
2000-2200 7590 A-A 300 kW 301 deg to WeEUR in French/English
1900-2100 7240 MSK 250 kW 285 deg to NoWeEUR in Swedish/English
1800-1900 7600 ERV 300 kW 280 deg to SoEaEUR in Bulgarian
1500-1600 7550 ERV 500 kW 100 deg to WeAS in Pashto
1200-1300 9320 DB 100 kW 024 deg to CeAS in Russian
1400-1500 5825 TAC 100 kW 131 deg to SoAS in Nepali
1400-1500 9440 ARM 300 kW 110 deg to SoAS in Assamese
1400-1600 6150 ARM 300 kW 110 deg to SoAS in Punjabi
1400-1600 7565 KCH 300 kW 116 deg to SoAS in Urdu
1500-1600 5825 ERV 100 kW 125 deg to SoAS in Marathi
1600-1700 6070 ARM 250 kW 110 deg to SoAS in Punjabi
1600-1700 7590 ERV 300 kW 110 deg to SoAS in Urdu
1000-1100 7265 NVS 250 kW 085 deg to EaAS in Japanese
1000-1200 9460 IRK 250 kW 110 deg to EaAS in English/Korean
1100-1200 7300 IRK 250 kW 125 deg to EaAS in English
1100-1200 9720 NVS 250 kW 125 deg to EaAS in Cantonese
1100-1500 5995 P.K 250 kW 244 deg to EaAS in Chinese
1100-1500 6115 IRK 100 kW 110 deg to EaAS in Chinese
1200-1300 6005 K/A 250 kW 213 deg to EaAS in Korean
1100-1200 5900 IRK 250 kW 152 deg to SoEaAS in Illocano
1200-1300 6075 VLD 250 kW 220 deg to SoEaAS in Cebuano
1200-1300 9450 NVS 250 kW 155 deg to SoEaAS in Thai
1200-1400 7340 IRK 250 kW 180 deg to SoEaAS in Vietnamese
1200-1400 9310 A-A 200 kW 132 deg to SoEaAS in Tagalog/English
1200-1500 9485 IRK 500 kW 180 deg to SoEaAS in Indones/Indones/English
1300-1400 6075 TCH 250 kW 194 deg to SoEaAS in English
1300-1500 5835 A-A 500 kW 121 deg to SoEaAS in English
1300-1400 7560 A-A 200 kW 132 deg to SoEaAS in Burmese
1400-1500 6070 TCH 250 kW 194 deg to SoEaAS in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 8)

Broadcast for transmitters in France, French Guiana and Germany

1800-1900 6120 NAU 250 kW 230 deg to SoEUR in Spanish
1800-1900 6050 WER 100 kW 090 deg to SoEaEUR in Romanian
1800-2000 3975 WER 250 kW non-dir to SoEaEUR in Hungarian/Serbian
1700-1900 6140 WER 250 kW 060 deg to EaEUR in Russian
1700-1800 11690 WER 100 kW 180 deg to NoAF in Arabic
1800-1900 9845 ISS 250 kW 134 deg to NoAF in Arabic
1900-2000 9500 WER 250 kW 150 deg to NoAF in Arabic
1900-2000 9695 WER 500 kW 210 deg to WeAF in French
2000-2100 9515 NAU 250 kW 210 deg to WeAF in Arabic
2100-2200 6010 WER 250 kW 210 deg to WeAF in Arabic
2200-2300 5960 WER 250 kW 210 deg to WeAF in Arabic
1800-1900 9535 WER 500 kW 183 deg to WeCeAF in Hausa
1800-1900 11665 WER 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in English
1900-2200 9925 WER 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in English
2000-2100 9595 NAU 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in French
2100-2200 7305 NAU 500 kW 180 deg to WeCeAF in French
1600-1700 13660 NAU 500 kW 125 deg to EaAF in Oromo
1600-1800 11975 ISS 500 kW 131 deg to EaAF in Amharic/Swahili
1800-1900 12015 ISS 500 kW 155 deg to SoAF in Sesotho
1800-1900 12140 WER 500 kW 165 deg to SoAF in Solano
1800-1900 13660 WER 500 kW 165 deg to SoAF in Setswana
1900-2000 12140 WER 500 kW 150 deg to SoAF in Zulu
1900-2000 11955 NAU 500 kW 177 deg to SoAF in Kikongo
1600-1700 11995 WER 250 kW 120 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
1700-1800 9850 WER 250 kW 120 deg to NE/ME in Arabic
1600-1700 11885 NAU 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1700-1800 6105 NAU 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Persian
1700-1800 9630 WER 500 kW 105 deg to WeAS in Kurdish
1400-1500 13605 WER 250 kW 075 deg to CeAS in Uzbek
1300-1500 13820 NAU 500 kW 085 deg to SoAS in Bengali
1400-1500 15325 WER 500 kW 090 deg to SoAS in Oriya
1400-1500 15315 WER 500 kW 105 deg to SoAS in Malayalam
1400-1600 13655 WER 500 kW 090 deg to SoAS in Sindhi/Kannada
1400-1600 13700 NAU 500 kW 095 deg to SoAS in Hindi
1500-1600 9800 NAU 500 kW 084 deg to SoAS in Gujarati
1500-1600 11935 NAU 500 kW 094 deg to SoAS in Tamil
1600-1700 9405 NAU 500 kW 094 deg to SoAS in Hindi
0100-0200 11730 GUF 250 kW 306 deg to CeAM in Creole
2200-2400 7360 GUF 500 kW 170 deg to SoAM in Portuguese
2200-2400 9465 GUF 500 kW 215 deg to SoAM in Spanish
0000-0100 7360 GUF 500 kW 170 deg to SoAM in English
0000-0100 7395 GUF 500 kW 215 deg to SoAM in Spanish
0200-0300 5930 GUF 500 kW 215 deg to SoAM in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 8)

For broadcast using the Radio Netherland's Madagascar relay station

1800-2000 7395 MDC 250 kW 320 deg to EaAF in English
1600-1700 9590 MDC 250 kW 320 deg to EaAF in Swahili
1900-2100 6020 MDC 050 kW 255 deg to CeSoAF in English
1700-1800 7385 MDC 050 kW 310 deg to SoAF in English
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 8)
(DX Mix News # 659 via Ivo Ivanov and wb, Germany)

BBG continues strategic review

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the Agency that oversees US government-financed international broadcasting, continues its strategic review with the first in a series of regional assessments. This month’s regional review will focus on Africa and will engage internal and external experts in discussions to be held in Washington, DC on 11-13 January.

“First, we need to get our own strategy right by understanding what we need to know, what we must learn, and where gaps in our knowledge exist,” said BBG Governor S Enders Wimbush, who co-chairs the Board’s Strategy and Budget Committee. “Second, we need to decide how the BBG can allocate resources most effectively to empower our customers by putting the right programming on the right targets with the right technologies.”

The Board will also participate in the launch of the Agency’s model government ethics program.

At its December meeting, the Board continued its exploration of social media initiatives and heard a number of reports, including from the Strategy and Budget Committee about further details on the BBG strategic review, from Governor Ashe about his recent trip to the Middle East, and a detailed analysis from the Chairman of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Coordinating Committee of the current distribution platforms for BBG programming.
(Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors/Radio Netherlands Media Network)