[HCDX]: DX Listening Digest 00-13 Jan 23
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[HCDX]: DX Listening Digest 00-13 Jan 23
DX LISTENING DIGEST 00-13, January 23, 2000
EDITED BY GLENN HAUSER
{Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only providing
full credit be maintained at all stages}
WORLD OF RADIO ON WWCR: Replacing the Tue 1330 time on 15685 is
Tuesday at 1200 (and VOA CW is Wed at 1200 instead of Thu 1330),
according to Adam Lock on the new Ask WWCR; he also mentioned our new
Fri 1030 on 7435, but not Sat 0400 on 3215.
** BENIN. 7200, Radiodiffusion du Benin 2305-2329 West African music
interspersed with messages and greetings from DJ in French, 2320
"emettant du Cotonou", also heard "Radiodiffusion Nationale" and "RT
du Benin" as he wound the transmission down. 2328 National Anthem and
off. Found an internet site with information on every country in the
world and recordings of their National Anthems at
http://www.emulateme.com and the National Anthem matched. Fair signal
on clear channel. Ex 7210 and also noted in the mornings here from
0525 tune in to past 0610. First spotted as an unidentified by Hans
Johnson in late December. (Mike Barraclough, United Kingdom, January
22, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Good work. Yes, there was a lot of speculation about the identity of
this, which I forwent publishing here (gh)
** BERMUDA [non]. I just read the Donald Reeve r.r.s article via John
Norfolk article about the 12359 USB weather reports for yachties via
"Herb" in DXLD 0008. I have been listening to Herb for several years
and have been amazed at the man's dedication to this hobby endeavor
of his. On top of this the utter dependence the yachting community in
the Atlantic and Caribbean sea and beyond has on his experienced
reporting and navigational assistance.
One correction I should point out, however. When I was on vacation in
Bermuda in 1996 we took a cruise on a local sailboat. I happened to
mention "Herb" in a conversation about marine communications and the
captain`s eyes lit up. From that point on there was a steady stream
of stories and praise for Herb as a legend to him and his circle of
friends. He told me that a few years earlier Bermuda refused to
continue his visa and he was forced to leave Bermuda. The last
reported location for him being somewhere in coastal Canada where I
believe he still resides and continues his voluntary service to the
seas of the Atlantic, Caribbean and beyond. (Pete Costello, Jan 23,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. Topics on CBC`s Ideas, 9:05 pm local time, through March:
http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/ideas/calendar/2000/winter00.html (via
Chet Copeland, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. As per tip at the bottom of DXLD 11, I checked the DRM
digital test via Sackville UT Sun Jan 23 on 17875. Tune in at 2048,
found noise but not overpowering, could have been mistaken for local
computer or TV hash, which to the ear sounded like it was on 17870
and 17880, i.e. a slightly lower pitch than on 17875, but strength
meter indicated center of signal on 17875. Had a superimposed pulse
rate which I timed at about 208 per minute, i.e. 3 and a half per
second. At 2058 suddenly switched to open carrier AM signal; 2103
standard RCI ID and IS in French and English, and 2104 back into
digital to 2128*. More tests are scheduled from other sites this week
in the 0700-0930 period as well (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS. TX0, CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS (the next new DXCC
entity!). Just before going to print, OPDX received a press release
from Tim Totten, N4GN, on the upcoming DXpedition to the
Chesterfields Island (IOTA OC-176, 158 deg 19 min East, 19 deg 52 min
South). The complete press release will be sent to all OPDX InterNet
Subscribers as an additional bulletin [see below]. Here are excerpts
from that release.
The Association des Radio Amateurs de Nouvelle Caledonie (ARANC), the
amateur radio society of New Caledonia, is pleased to report that the
Chesterfield Islands DXpedition remains on target for the window of
March 15th through April 1st. A more detailed schedule will be
announced in future press releases. The New Caledonian
telecommunication authorities have issued the distinctive callsign
TX0DX for this multi-national expedition. The TX0DX team will operate
from two sites far enough apart to allow simultaneous CW and SSB
operation on the same band. Four HF stations each equipped with Yaesu
FT1000MP transceivers will provide for plenty of activity on all
bands, as well as RTTY operation. A separate station equipped with a
Yaesu FT655 will be dedicated to six meters. Because the Coral Sea
typhoon season is still very active during March, weather is likely
to play a major role in this expedition. Several special arrangements
have been made in this regard. TX0DX will have two QSL Managers:
Jarmo Jaakola, OH2BN - for HF QSOs ONLY
Kan Mizoguchi, JA1BK - for six-meter QSOs ONLY
The TX0DX Web site can be found at: http://www.n4gn.com/tx0dx/
Additional information regarding the TX0DX DXpedition will be added
during the coming days and weeks. (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 January 24, 2000
via John Norfolk, Okla City OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS. Here's the latest on our DXpedition to the
Chesterfields--the next new DXCC entity! 73, Tim Totten,
n4gn@xxxxxxxx http://www.n4gn.com
TX0DX DXPEDITION 2000. NEW CALEDONIA'S CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS
The DXpedition vessel M/V Night Crossing, an Australian registered
75-foot cruiser, will depart from Koumac, the northern port city of
New Caledonia. The Night Crossing made its maiden voyage in July,
1999. It cruises at a speed of 10 knots, comfortably handles up to 16
passengers in addition to the crew, and is fully equipped with all
the latest in navigation, communication, roll stabilization and
safety gear.
The Chesterfield landing permission requires that the ship be cleared
through customs at Port Koumac; requested direct entry to the
Chesterfields from Australia was denied. This caused the DXpedition
team to make several logistical changes, all of which are now
succesfully completed.
TX0DX will have a total of 16 kW of AC power available, thanks to
JA2JPA at Suzuki. OH2BN has been added to the list of pilots who will
maintain communications with the Chesterfield DXpedition team. The
pilot team now consists of F6AJA, FK8CR, JH1KRC, K6GNX, OH2BN and
VK3EW. (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 January 24, 2000 via John Norfolk, Okla
City OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ECUADOR. For some time, I have noted a program in an indigenous
language from HCJB at 10:30 UTC on 6050. This is definitely not
Quichua. Could you please tell me what this is, and a little about
the people who produce it. There is no announcement in Spanish,
either at the beginning, or at the end, to tell a listener what this
program is. (Tim Hendel, cc of inquiry to HCJB, Jan 23, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** ITALY [non]. Regarding how to pronounce his own name, Bob Padula
replies:
Glenn...hey!!! what's this all about? The pronunciation of my surname
on HCJB was QUITE CORRECT, in its original Italian form, and your
view is misleading. The Anglicised form is different, to which you
evidently refer, which I use for most things (pronounced PAD-u-lah -
accent on the first syllable - like the word "pad" - short "a"). My
family also uses another version, pronounced Pad-YOU-lah (accent on
the second syllable, like the word "new"). It is irrelevant whether
people use the Italian or any other interpretation. One of my middle
names is Vincenzo - let's see how YOU would pronounce that? I will
refer my complaint to my Sicilian friends. If you look at the New
York telephone directory you will see many of us there - in fact many
pages - check with them and see how may variations you get! (Bob
Padula, Electronic DX Press Jan 23)
Based on our previous discussion, I thought he preferred the
Anglicized PAD-yew-la. Everyone is the ultimate authority on how to
pronounce his own name and I am merely endeavouring to say it
``right`` - trouble is, as this shows, Bob`s preference is that he
has no preference! so we shall have to start saying it three or more
different ways and accept any version anywhere. How about ``PAY-dew-
LAY``? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MADAGASCAR. 3268//3287 and 5010 was on the air until 00.00 with a
live program in Malagasy and French for its 1st Anniversary of ORTM
[l'Office de Radio Television Malgache] IDed many times in French as
ORTM. (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, 22 Jan, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MYANMAR. The XZ0A team continues to be active from Thahtay Kyun
Island until February 6th. The latest press release states, "The XZ0A
team is now more than a week into operating with approximately 36,000
QSOs, evenly divided between SSB and CW. As JA, EU and VK/ZL are
relatively easy paths to/from Southeast Asia, our operators have done
their best to concentrate their efforts on the terminator openings
for South America and North America. (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 January 24,
2000 via John Norfolk, Okla City OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MYANMAR. XZ0A Press Release (Ongoing Press Releases, direct from
the XZ0A Team, will be available throughout the DXpedition at
http://www.getnet.com/~k7wx/flash.htm )
21 JAN 00. Thahtay Kyun Island, UNION OF MYANMAR. The XZ0A team is
now more than a week into operating with approximately 36,000 QSOs,
evenly divided between SSB and CW. As JA, EU and VK/ZL are relatively
easy paths to/from Southeast Asia, our operators have done their best
to concentrate their efforts on the terminator openings for South
America and North America.
Over such long distances, both the short path and the long path
become important considerations, even for the higher frequencies.
Please visit http://www.getnet.com/~k7wx/flash.htm for some
recommendations based on information collected from our logs.
Location GMT Band Propagation
East Coast NA 2130-0100 160, 80, 40 Long Path
2130-0100 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 Short Path
1200-1300 15, 12, 10 Long Path
West Coast NA 1330-1600 160, 80, 40, 30, 20 Short Path
2345-0100 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 Long Path
1500-1600 15, 12, 10 Long Path
South America 2030-0030 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17 Short Path
0600-1500 15, 12 Short Path
Sunset at our location in the Andaman Sea is 11:26 GMT and sunrise is
23:51 GMT. The long path just after our sunrise will frequently be
very useful for South America and North America. For those who wish
to run their own propagation predictions, our location on Thahtay
Kyun Island is at 09 57.3N 98 32.7E. Of course, it is not possible
for us to be on all of these bands at the same time, but the above
recommendations should give a general idea when to look for us.
All observations (positive and negative) are welcome and may be
forwarded to us through our pilot stations via e-mail. Information
regarding regional propagation has been the most helpful. All members
of the XZ0A DXpedition look forward to working you from "The Golden
Land."............. 73 de Warren, K7WX (KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 January 24,
2000 via John Norfolk, Okla City OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SLOVAKIA/TURKEY. Hello There - It is getting ever more difficult
for me to receive your English broadcast to North America at 0100 ut.
The reception on 9440 kHz was never very good and seems to have
diminished as the winter has progressed. I reported the problem of
7300 kHz being completely drowned out (by perhaps Voice of Turkey in
Turkish, I'm told). For the last two evenings (Jan 21 and 22) WWCR
out of Nashville (USA) on 5935 kHz is significantly interfering with
your broadcast on 5930 kHz. I really enjoy your broadcasts, I just
want to be able to listen to them. Sincerely, (Dean Bonanno, Durham,
Connecticut, Jan 23, cc of letter to R. Slovakia International
English service, via DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SRI LANKA. Radio Free Asia will, as of Monday, use shortwave from
the new U.S. relay facility at Iranawila, Sri Lanka. Via Iranawila,
RFA Lao is at 0000-0100 UT on 11830 and 1100-1200 on 15555. RFA Khmer
is at 2230-2330 on 7185 and 1200-1300 on 13725. VOA News Now vacates
21550 at 1200-1300 to make room for that new RFA Khmer transmission.
(Kim Elliott, VOA Communications World January 22 via John Norfolk,
OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** UGANDA. K index was 4 at 2100 UTC, 3 at 0000 UTC, and back to 4 at
0300, so yes, things are somewhat disturbed tonight. It can make for
some interesting listening, though. I spent a half hour listening to
Radio Uganda on 4976 from 0400 with public service announcements,
condom commercials, and death notices. The station was pounding in
louder than I've had them in months, and I was spellbound by the
programming, which, no doubt, most Ugandans probably found bored them
to tears. :-) Ralph ? (Ralph Brandi, NJ, swprograms Jan 23 via DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K O G B A N I. Tho both BBC On Air and the BBC Press Office
listed this month`s Millennium Concert, Taikoz as 120 minutes,
causing the contradiction we pointed out here earlier, it was
actually only one hour at 1600 UT Jan 23 on 17840. Just as well, as
while enjoyable the drumming tended to get a bit repetitititive
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K O G B A N I [non]. Mark Byford, Executive Director of BBC
World Service, and other World Service officials visited China last
week at the invitation of China Radio International. While in China,
they noted that BBC Mandarin language broadcasts continue to be
jammed on all frequencies, and the BBC web site is still blocked by
Chinese authorities. Nevertheless, the World Service delegation
described the visit as successful, building goodwill for future
cooperation with Chinese broadcasting entities. (Kim Elliott, VOA
Communications World January 22 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** U S A. Snow was flying in Washington this week, and so were
rumors, at least here at VOA. A column in the Washington Times on
Tuesday suggested that there may staff reductions in some of VOA's
European language services. Via BBC Monitoring, the Baltic news
agency BNS reported that VOA's Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian
services are expected to be dropped. The press items said the
decisions were to have been made at a meeting Wednesday of the U.S.
Broadcasting Board of Governors, or BBG, which oversees VOA, Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia. The BBG is required
to conduct an annual review of the language services of U.S.
international broadcasting. The inquiry is based on factors such as
audience size, U.S. foreign policy priorities, and media freedom in
the target country. It could result in the elimination of some VOA,
RFE/RL, or RFA services. The BBG meeting on Wednesday did begin this
process of decision making, but no announcements are expected before
mid-February.
Other news about U.S. international broadcasting is more definite.
Harris Corporation announced that it has signed a five-year agreement
to manufacturer FM transmitters for the International Broadcasting
Bureau, VOA's parent entity. The transmitters will have powers
ranging from 220 watts to 10 kilowatts. (Kim Elliott, VOA
Communications World January 22 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. While the BBG may be contemplating the elimination of
VOA's Baltic language services, U.S.-based religious international
broadcaster Trans World Radio TWR has resumed its broadcasts in
Latvian and Estonian. TWR has also added Igbo to Nigeria and Kok
Borok, Varli, and Kuknos to India. It took TWR 41 years to acquire
100 language services, but only the past five years to add fifty
more. Many of these services are transmitted less than daily. (Kim
Elliott, VOA Communications World January 22 via John Norfolk, OKCOK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. The big U.S. media story this week is the Federal
Communications Commission's approval Thursday of a plan for low-
power FM radio broadcasting. The new types of stations will be
authorized, one with powers of 50 to 100 watts and a service radius
of about 10 kilometers, and the other with powers of 1 to 10 watts
and a radius of about 2 and a half to 5 kilometers. The FCC will
impose present requirements to maintain minimum distance between
existing FM stations and the new LPFM stations which are on the same
channel. or on the first or second adjacent channels. However, the
separation requirements for the third adjacent channel will not be
imposed because engineering data show that 100 watt stations will not
cause interference to stations three channels away.
In the United States, FM channels are separated by 200 kilohertz, and
are placed at 88.1, 88.3, 88.5, and so on up to 107.9 megahertz. The
new LPFM licenses will be awarded to nonprofit or educational
organizations located near the transmitter site. For the first two
years, no entity will be permitted to operate more than one LPFM
station nationwide. After the second year, eligible entities will be
able to own up to five stations nationwide, and after three years, up
to ten nationwide. LPFM stations will be required to broadcast a
minimum of 36 hours per week, the same requirement imposed on full
power noncommercial educational licensees. The LPFM stations are
established to encourage diversity of radio station ownership and
programming at a time when many commercial radio stations have been
purchased by large multi-station groups. Existing radio broadcasters
expressed concern that the new LPFM stations will cause interference.
[Details at http://www.fcc.gov.] (Kim Elliott, VOA Communications
World January 22 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Amateur station K4OKA, John "Big Al" Abernethy, of Hickory,
North Carolina, returned to the HF airways at 0500 UT January 23 on
his regular frequency of 3894.5 LSB after a six month suspension by
the FCC for alleged malicious interference on 3965 in July 1999.
Abernethy, who IDs as "The Caring Station," has long been the
recipient of complaints from numerous hams accusing him of
interference. The most notorious example was his playing a tape of
"The Porkbutt Song," a reference to the former WB2OTK, Rich Whiten of
Easly, South Carolina, who was also suspended around the same time
for malicious interference, although he chose to turn in his license
instead. (Whiten later recanted, saying at first the message
requesting cancellation was sent by hackers, then saying he sent it
by mistake. The case is still pending.) Abernethy voluntarily
destroyed the tape in the presence of FCC inspectors during an FCC
inspection. He said that he waited until "two seconds past midnight"
to get back on so that the FCC would not get back on his case. (John
Norfolk, Oklahoma City OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. This week`s American Viewpoint on WBCQ, 7415, Sunday Jan 23
from 2300, started with Hightower, and then unlike the lineup last
week, Voices of Our World, another program also on RFPI. Then from
2328 another Hightower and 2330 another episode of VOOW (Glenn
Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Following my advice of last Sunday, I tuned again to AFN
for ABC Perspective at 1205 Jan 23. 12689.5 did not fade up until
about 1230, so had to put up with the QRM on 4278.5 and 6458.5. But
it ended early at 1250, the rest of the hour filled by various mini-
features, PSAs and finally music. Something must have been cut, but
since I was not comparing it with KOA before then, I do not know what
- they both ended with the same item. Military censorship or mixup?
(Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Speaking of DRM, here WETA 90.9 is testing IBOC FM. I can
hear a definite buzz on 90.7 and 91.1. 73 (Kim Elliott, VA, Jan 23,
DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
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