[HCDX]: DX Listening Digest 00-26 Feb 18

[Glenn Hauser <wghauser@xxxxxxxxx>]

	DX LISTENING DIGEST 00-26, February 18, 2000
		edited by Glenn Hauser

THIS WEEK ON WORLD OF RADIO 1024: See topic summary at
http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/wor1024.html

** AFGHANISTAN. 7002, Kabul National Radio [ex Voice of Shar'iah?]
Heard at 1405 with religious song, then talk by man probably in Dari,
then a song after every long religious talk, 1430 News; 1435 continued
with talk and songs until 1502 (all the songs without any instrumental
music) then program in English with a song "Taliban Taliban...." after
that ID as "This is Kabul National Radio, English program" and
immediately followed with news by man in good English, then religious
program. 1523 program in Urdu for 20 minutes and followed with other
languages until went off at 1632; fair reception but distorted audio.
(Mahendra Vaghjee, 17 Feb, Mauritius, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** AFGHANISTAN. Kabul radio resumes shortwave transmission: The Afghan 
Taleban radio station Voice of Shari'ah announced at 1500 gmt on 15th 
February that it had resumed broadcasting on the shortwave 41-metre 
band frequency of 7000 kHz. Radio Voice of Shari'ah was confirmed by 
BBC monitoring on 7002.2 kHz (variable) when checked from 1345-1630 
gmt on 17th February. The shortwave frequency was observed in 
parallel with 657 kHz mediumwave. Following domestic programming in 
Pashto and Dari, the radio carried a news bulletin in English at 
1500-1520 gmt followed by news in Urdu at 1520 gmt. Source: 
Monitoring research 15-17 Feb 00 ((c) BBC Monitoring via DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** ANGUILLA. DGS upon Feb 17 1305 check was OK on 11775 and the rest 
of the band clear of the previous spikes. I then heard that a new 
audio processor had been installed and OK when again checked around 
2000, and Feb 18 1145. Thanks! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CANADA. ROOTS & WINGS: This week on Roots and Wings, host Philly 
Markowitz will announce the winners in the Virginia Rodrigues contest 
from February 6. Also, a special feature on the music of Japan, 
including folk and pop from the southern-most region of Okinawa, 
native music from the northern-most island of Hokkaido, and lots in 
between. That's on Roots and Wings, Sunday evening at 5:05 (5:35 NT) 
on CBC Radio Two. (CBC Hotsheet) That`s UT Monday Feb 21 0005 on 5960 
and 9755 via RCI (DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CHINA. Extremely distorted Chinese programming on 11785 until 1130 
Feb 18; jamming of VOA Chinese via Udorn, however scheduled 1100-1400 
(Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** CHINA [non]. As Bob Thomas noted, the CRI relays via Cuba, only 
recently acknowledged, on 9570 at 0100-0300 have disappeared. 
Checking Feb 17, I find 9570 also missing in the 1200-1400 period. 
(CRI English at 1300, all with FE flutter, found on 11675, 11980, but 
best on 11900.) 

BBC Monitoring just issued a CRI schedule dated Feb 16; unfortunately 
BBCM seems to have quit specifiying transmitter sites for each 
frequency. But of the previously known Cuban relay frequencies, the 
only one still shown is 5990 in Spanish at 0000 (not English at 
2300). But if I remember to check at 0000 I bet this is missing too.

Possibly the frequencies have changed, but replacements have not been 
noticed yet. Presumably the absence is temporary. Could be that the 
transmitter(s) needed for more important work, increased jamming. No 
matter what positive impact a station like RHC may have, it is 
negated by the fact that the very same transmitters may be used to 
jam other stations! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** COSTA RICA. RFPI was still on 6975 and 15049 Feb 17 at 1315 in 
Radio Nation. James Latham was due back yesterday from several weeks 
away, so perhaps schedule changes will follow as he is again 
available to look after transmitters closely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX 
LISTENING DIGEST)

** CROATIA. A revised DTK schedule shows relays of Zagreb from Feb
14 to NAm 0200-0600 are back on 9925, after a few weeks within the
40m ham band; the complete list:

 9925 0000 0159 11-16           02  230  3  1234567  311099 260300 HIC
 9925 0200 0359 6-10           112  300  3  1234567  140200 260300 HIC   
 9925 0400 0559 2-10           105  325  3  1234567  140200 260300 HIC   
11880 0600 0759 55,59,60       202  230  3  1234567  311099 260300 HIC
13820 0800 0959 58,59,60       208  270  3  1234567  311099 260300 HIC
 9405 2100 2159 38,39,52,53,57 211  155  3  1234567  080100 260300 HIC 
(DTK via Bethge WWDXC via Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5089, Radio Barahona has reactivated and is 
now here. Nominal which I last heard about a year ago, is 4930. Heard 
during the 1000 and 1100 hours with a news program. Very distorted, 
just a blob in SSB and only partially readable in AM. Nearby WGTG on 
5085 makes checking in the evenings a bit harder, but I don't think 
that they are on then. (Hans Johnson, FL, Feb 16-17, Cumbre DX via DX 
LISTENING DIGEST) 

** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA. Survey of opposition radios
A recent survey of opposition radios broadcasting on shortwave to
Eritrea and Ethiopia has shown the following:

Eritrea

Voice of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea continues to be heard. It
broadcasts via the transmitters of Voice of the Tigray Revolution,
based in Mekele, the capital of Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia.

Three other Eritrean opposition radios - Voice of Democratic Eritrea,
Voice of Truth and Voice of Free Eritrea - which previously broadcast
from Sudan, have not been heard recently and appear to have gone off
the air following the improvement in relations between Eritrea and
Sudan.

However, Sudanese opposition radio Voice of Sudan, Voice of the
National Democratic Alliance, which is assumed to broadcast from
Eritrea, is still heard.

Ethiopia

Voice of Oromo Liberation, which supports the Oromo Liberation Front,
is currently broadcasting on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 1700-
1800 gmt on 15105 kHz. It is believed to broadcast from a hired
transmitter in Germany.

Voice of the Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity, which was first heard
in December 1999, continues to broadcast on Sundays at 0800-0900 gmt
on 21550 kHz and on Wednesdays at 1600-1700 gmt on 15105 kHz. It is
believed to broadcast from a hired transmitter in Germany.

Ethiopian opposition station Keste Damena (Radio Rainbow) is no longer
heard. Source: Monitoring research Jan-Feb 00 ((c) BBC Monitoring Feb
17 via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** GREECE [non]. VOG has made schedule changes without notice. The 
VOA relay at 1800-2200 (still Delano 17705 leading Greenville 17565 
contrary to logic), Wed Feb 16 no longer had English at 1800, Spanish 
at 1815, but all Greek at least until 2000. Seemed to be spirited 
political discussion, but at 1830 audible timesignal and into relay 
of BBC news in Greek! Perhaps this has been there all along and not 
noticed previously. Frequent BBC IDs within the newscast; not sure 
how long before almost inaudible VOG timesignal at 1900 the relay 
ended. Same thing at 1800 next day Feb 17.

The thing is, BBC does not broadcast in Greek, according to ``all the 
times and frequencies for the more than 40 languages that BBC WS 
broadcasts in addition to English`` on page 38 of Feb BBC On Air! In 
fact, the only languages For Europe are Albanian, Bulgarian, 
Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian. Surely there are still 
others? I only count 35 in the list. I suspect that as before the 
page is anything but complete, omitting those not on SW, such as 
Greek. But thanks to VOG and VOA, BBC Greek is on SW now whether BBC 
likes it or not.

I also wonder if the ``wrong`` ERT program feed is going into the VOA 
relays, accounting for this (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** IRAN. Iran/UK/USA: IRIB denies jamming BBC, VOA Persian services
Text of report from Iranian newspaper 'Asr-e Azadegan' web site on
17th February

The Voice and Vision Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran
[IRIB] has denied reports of jamming the Persian services of the BBC
and the Voice of America [VOA].

Following the enquirers [sic] made by some of our readers, who
contacted the newspapers' office, and in the wake of reports by
various foreign agencies (including AFP) to the effect that on the eve
of the sixth Majlis elections the Persian services of the BBC and the
Voice of America are being jammed to stop the people listening to
them, our correspondent spoke to the managing director of IRIB's
communication department [Mr Ne'mati], who denied the reports.

Ne'mati said: "Those who make such allegations on the eve of the
elections intend to create tension and discord. IRIB denies the
report." Source: 'Asr-e Azadegan' web site, Tehran, in Persian 17 Feb
00 (BBC Monitoring via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yeah, sure

** ISRAEL. Israel Radio in English at 0500 is heard on new 17715; may 
have been off with transmitter problem (Chris Hambly, Victoria, Feb 
17, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** LIBERIA. Checked 4760 Feb 17 and something promptly came on at 
*0600, presumably the resurrected ELWA, but buried in my local high 
noise level. I`m not losing any sleep since it is doubtful there is 
any worthwhile programming, as ELWA is dedicated to selling the poor 
Liberians pie in the sky (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** LIBERIA. DX Information from the British DX Club. I heard Radio 
Liberia International last night (Thurs 17 Feb) from 2115 UTC tune-in 
to close with anthem at 0000 UTC on 5000.0 kHz. (not sure if this is 
a new frequency replacing the previously used 5100 kHz?) Signal weak 
at 2115 and obviously difficult to copy with the time signal stations 
& other utes on 5000 kHz, but slightly stronger later. Talkative DJ 
in EE with rap, soul, speed soukous etc music, ID as "Radio Liberia 
International", EE news at 2300. Interesting to see if they continue 
on this frequency. 73s (Alan Pennington, UKOGBANI, AOR7030+ & 
longwire, BDXC E-Mail News Feb 18 via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 

** NORWAY. [tent.]  DIGITAL Mondiale Tests. I've been hearing what I
think is a digital bc txion from c1430-1459 on 7385 this past week. I
think 7385 is the nominal freq, but there is splatter and noise
audible between 7300 and 7540 ...  (Noel R. Green-UK, Feb 13, BC-DX
via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

I see an entry for NPT Sveio Norway on the HFCC List. That would fit !
Blowing southwards from Norway to Irish Sea at 180 degrees !
7385 1400-1425 18S    SVE 500 076 N  NOR RNI NPT
7385 1430-1455 27 28W SVE 500 180 N  NOR RNI NPT (Wolfgang Bueschel,
Feb 14, BC-DX via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** OMAN/UKOGBANI. BBC WS and Merlin Communications signed a deal Feb 
17 to relocated and upgrade BBC MW and SW stations in Oman. This will 
extend footprint and give option to develop digital SW, says WS Chief 
Mark Byford.

The existing Oman relay station is located on Masirah Island. The new 
station, which will be completed by November 2002, will be built at 
Al-Ashkarah on the Omani mainland. Chris Gill, Controller Technology 
& Resources, World Service, said "The new transmitter will improve 
coverage and further strengthen the hand of a whole range of our 
language services - Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi and others, as well 
as English." (BBC WS press release, 17 Feb 00 via BBC Monitoring, 
excerpted by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** PERU. Checking for R. Real, Feb 18 at 1130, could hear a bit of 
music measured around 7141.76 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** SOMALIA. New radio station reportedly heard on shortwave
Text of report by Somali newspaper 'Qaran' on 17th February

A new radio station was launched in the town of Baydhabo [Baidoa], Bay
Region [southern Somalia], the day before yesterday and was heard
broadcasting on the 31-metre shortwave band. The station, whose
affiliation is yet to be confirmed, was heard broadcasting test
transmissions from midday to 2 p.m. [local time, 0900-1100 gmt].

Some reports says the radio supports the RRA [Rahaweyn Resistance
Army] which controls Bay and Bakool regions.

The new radio will be the sixth to operate in Somalia, in addition to:

Radio Hargeysa [which broadcasts from the capital of the self-declared
Republic of Somaliland];

Radio Gaalkacyo [which broadcasts from the self-declared state of
Puntland];

Voice of Somali Pacification [which broadcasts from Mogadishu in
support of Uthman Ali Ato];

HornAfrik radio [which broadcasts on FM from Mogadishu]; and

Radio Banaadir [believed to broadcast from Mogadishu].

Except for HornAfrik radio, all the other stations support particular
factions or regional governments.

Source: 'Qaran', Mogadishu, in Somali 17 Feb 00 p 2 ((c) BBC
Monitoring via DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U K O G B A N I. BBC in Greek via VOG via VOA: see GREECE [non].

** U S A. Checking AFN 12689.5 USB Feb 17 before 1300 there was no 
NPR Morning Edition but instead The Tom Joyner Show. Where have I 
heard that name before? Is this an AFN production, maybe? Tom was 
away for a week, so female guest host. Mixes music (``AFN jams the 
beat``) with talk, current subject domestic violence, 1-800-JOYNER1. 
Broke at 1300 for CNN news, 1306 more of same (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX 
LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. Dear Glenn, Our new client for WBCQ-2 wanted another week to
get their studio ready- so the new sign on date for 9340 is Feb 21st 8
am eastern. Weekends are still unsold and I am still looking for a
bulk client to buy the entire weekend. Hopefully some alternative free
radio group. So far most of the requests for time on the new
transmitter are religious. (Allan Weiner, WBCQ, Feb 15, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

** U S A. Edited text out of e-mail from Roger Perkins, owner of that
Boston repeater W1OJ [W1OH was typo]: "Hello Finbar, Thank you very
much for the comprehensive report on the W1OJ Boston repeater. There
was indeed, a very nice opening over the weekend. We're also lucky to
be enjoying the near peak of solar cycle. This message confirms your
report of the W1OJ repeater. Check out the home web page if you
haven't yet. http://www.miniequine.com 73, Roger Perkins, W1OJ "Boston
Repeater", 29.62 MHz." (Finbarr O`Driscoll, Ireland, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

AMATEUR RADIO ON FILM. We are all getting immune to the media's views
of amateur radio, but you may like to be warned of the imminent
release of yet another film involving our hobby in a key role. The
film is called Frequency, and stars Dennis Quaid. The ARRL was
consulted in the interests of accuracy, and came up with an unused W2
callsign. The film is a sci-fi thriller; a long-dead father and his
adult son meet up again via amateur radio, during a sunspot cycle the
like of which we all dream about. The son tries to meddle with the
past in order to prevent his father's death. Look out for a piece of
old Heathkit gear, minus cabinet, and with valves glowing.
Information on the film, cast and crew, together with a trailer, is
available via the RSGB web site. [ http://www.frequencymovie.com ]
(Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News, posted February 16, via
John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)                   ###

BBC Monitoring items are copyright and may not be reproduced further 
without permission.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a message from Glenn Hauser <wghauser@xxxxxxxxx>
to hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx list. To unsubscribe the list, send
"unsubscribe hard-core-dx" in mail body to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For more information, please check http://www.kotalampi.com/hard-core-dx/
or email Risto Kotalampi, risto@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------------------------------------------