[HCDX]: DX Listening Digest 00-74, June 12

["Glenn Hauser" <wghauser@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

	DX LISTENING DIGEST 00-74, June 12, 2000
	edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@xxxxxxxxxxx

{Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only provided
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** AFGHANISTAN.  Voice of Sharia has an English-language programme at
1530 daily, on 7085 kHz and mediumwave 1107 kHz. A clip of this
programme signing-on can be heard on the website, at:
http://www.intervalsignals.com Other recent additions include clips
from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Chile, China, Iraq, and Peru. Regards,
(Dave Kernick, UK, hard-core-dx via DXLD)

** AUSTRALIA. Subject:  Concerned about Radio Australia

It seems to me that Radio Australia's predicament is due to a number
of factors. Radio Australia needs to become a separate entity to that
of the ABC and have its own allocation of operating capital, and it
seems that because of funding cuts by the Government of Australia to
the ABC, there is not enough to go around. Foreign affairs needs to
have a serious re-think about funding and take responsibility, as
communications minister Alston seems not to be able sort it out and
Mr Downer thinks that shortwave is no longer a valid point of
communication to overseas listeners. He couldn't be more wrong! Most
people would have access to a shortwave radio in Asia and the North
Pacific more so than the suggested use of satellite and internet
referred to by Mr Downer. In some parts of Asia, satellite dishes are
illegal, and internet would be limited by sheer access costs.

The sheer stupidity of the Government with signing a ten year lease
to Christian Vision, (a UK BASED entity), who do not only have full
control of the Cox Peninsula shortwave site, but have full say of
what comes out of it, and have nothing in common with the people of
Australia, is obvious to me, and that who ever signed the contract
needs a better insight to broadcasting the thoughts of Australians as
a whole to the many overseas citizens! Even the Government of
Australia is selling our country short and not even to an entity who
have anything to do with our country!

In my view, what should have happened was that Radio Australia should
have been given the opportunity to find a joint lessee to for the Cox
Peninsula site, who would not only share the cost but have an equal
share of transmitter access, and a lessee who would not control or
censor our own international broadcaster.

This article was prepared by an ordinary everyday Australian
Shortwave/DX listener concerned by what has happened to Radio
Australia (Tim Gaynor, Australia, June 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** BELGIUM [non]. Hello, while checking the announced special RVI
outlets I found 9925 from one of the CRR-1 Moscow area sites already
shortly after 1820 operational, until 1830 with regular RVI
programming // 5910, then the two streams were split after a
regarding announcement. Contrary Meyerton 9945 did crash-start at
1830 or shortly before. 9925 is a local-like powerhouse here, also
9945 is remarkably strong, the best Meyerton reception I ever had.
Rather interesting is the heavy delay on 9925, full two seconds (!)
compared to 9945 as well as 5910, respectively. It would be really
interesting to learn about the feed path. Regards, (Kai Ludwig,
Germany, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** BELGIUM [non]. RVI NAm service 0400 on 15565 via Bonaire is
splashed by R. Nederland on 15560 (Bob Thomas, CT, June 6, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, it is sometimes a problem here too. I can`t
see why these two (or one) stations think it`s a good idea to be only
5 kHz apart (gh, DXLD)

** ECUADOR. HCJB on 15115 has had the awful buzz for a very long time
already. One or two seasons ago I also heard it on 12005 (?) nights.
Religious stns tend to buy second (or third of fourth...) hand txs
cheap, but forget about the costs of keeping a clean signal on the
air with obsolete equipment. It is certainly a waste of money to run
a signal like 15115 as nobody will mind to stay on the freq. If you
are peddling goods, a neat package is the first thing you need. (Olle
Alm, Sweden, June 5, BC-DX via DXLD)

** HUNGARY. Follow up to the item in DXLD 00-72. I listened again to
Budapest UT June 11 at 0230 on 9835 and this time I did hear the
title DX Blockbuster, although it seemed to refer to the segment
immediately following the news around 0235 which was an interview
which didn't sound as if it had anything to do with radio. After a
brief musical interlude (at least it was a classical piece and not a
piece of pop crap), the actual DX Show began around 0243. As in the
past, it was separated into three segments: DX World (news about
Ireland, sounded out of date), DX Tips (the first item, about Taipei,
was also outdated) and what sounded like DX Net (John Norfolk, OKCOK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** HUNGARY. Frequency change of R. Budapest in English to Europe,
effective June 1, 1900-1930 on new 7130 (44554) ex-9750 to avoid RFE
in Belorussian; and on 6025 (55444) (Observer, Bulgaria via DXLD)

** HUNGARY. R. Budapest gave correct announcement on sked June 6.
English to Europe at 1900 on 6025 and 7130 ex-9750; 2100 on 6025;
2130 on 3975. And of course to NAm at 0100 on 9560, 0230 on 9835. I
don`t know why sked announcements have been so sloppy. Budapest not
the only one this season (Bob Thomas, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** KURDISTAN. 7095 //4085 at 1853 V. of Iraqi Kurdistan starting from
9 June (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, June 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** OKLAHOMA. Towering Over Enid. [photo caption:] Larry Walton, 130
feet above the ground, releases connecting chains from the third 20-
foot section of Chisholm Trail Broadcasting`s new radio station
tower. Crew members from Rocky Mountain Erection Inc. will spend the
next two months finishing the construction of the 1,428-foot
structure, making it the tallest radio station tower in Oklahoma.
(Staff Photo by Bonnie Vculek) (Enid News & Eagle June 11 via gh,
DXLD)

No story accompanied, but the caption misses the WHO, WHERE and WHY!
This tower is NOT ``Towering Over Enid`` -- it is nowhere near Enid,
but halfway to Oklahoma City just west of Crescent (of Karen Silkwood
fame). What station? KNID 96.9, not the other CTB stations. Why? To
put a grade-A signal in to the OKC market with bigger bucks, yet
still cover its city of license Enid. This is only one of several FM
stations in outlying towns moving closer in to The Metro at the
expense of their original markets (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** SERBIA [non]. Ukraine/Serbia: Lviv radio station to rebroadcast
Belgrade-based B2-92 | Text of report by independent Belgrade-based
Radio B2-92 web site on 12th June

Following the initiative of Radio Tilos from Budapest, Radio
Iniciativa from Lviv in the Ukraine will shortly begin broadcasting
Radio B2-92 programmes. They will broadcast the news in English on
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1850 [1550 gmt] to 1900 and in
Ukrainian from 2100 to 2110. This is the first case of cooperation
between Yugoslav and Ukrainian independent media. Source: Radio B2-92
web site, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 1145 gmt 12 Jun 00 (via BBC
Monitoring via DXLD) OK, what`s the frequency?! FM? (gh)

** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Your info was much appreciated. I have been
checking 5020 and able to get a fair copy this a.m. Good to hear them
on the air but the female announcer with the monotone is really
difficult to understand. The programming seems to not have changed
much as the usual Aussie nx rebroadcast. Your report was of great
interest and great reading... Thanks again (Bob Montgomery, PA, June
11, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. hi glen we have been working hard on the side band
conversion! working with many radio vendors!! we understand radio
shack is soon releasing the radio shack DX -402 (sangean 505) for
less than $ 100.00 !!!! just in time for our new transmitters (3
units) this is great news! a good side band radio FOR UNDER $ 100.00
soon below $ 80.00 ?????
also working with 3 companies who will be building a prototype "CB"
to shortwave receive only converter i.e. a ssb CB radio to SSB
shortwave! soon truckers and RV'ers (the largest "truck stop" firm
will be carrying them!) will have WGTG ssb shortwave radio access !!
also FCC has approved our digital testing program waiting for the STA
now!
we will soon slash airtime rates to rock bottom prices!!! just
waiting for new transmitters .... then slashing airtime rates bigtime
we are turning shortwave into a viable commercial enterprise the
rates will be so LOW a grandma on social security will be on the air!
([sic], Dave Frantz, WGTG, June 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A [non]. Last year in June on 'Bayerischer Rundfunk Open Day'
at Munich Ismaning txing center we took part in a very interesting
guided tour to the neighbouring IBB Ismaning satellite and MW site. I
can confirm all the given details above. [VOA+ feed paths, DXLD 00-
72] Up to 29 satellite dishes of various diameter size could be seen,
as well as the impressing control center for handling the coverage of
EUR, AF, AS and the FE/PAC program block circuits, of IBB and RFA.
(Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX June 12 via DXLD)

** URUGUAY. 6140, R Montecarlo/Oriental. Acc. to regular monitoring
it seems that this station is using only this channel during its
transmission period. (1000-0300). Other ones 11735 and 9595 are not
heard. I haven't contacted the station to confirm this, but that's my
solid impression. (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Jun 10, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** ZIMBABWE [non]. "Independent" radio station to launch on shortwave

[gh`s summary: New independent Zimbabwean station of unknown name is
starting June 14 on 7215 at 1700-1930 UT, partly in English, to
counter the ZBC monopoly; South African site appears likely to us]

Text of report from Zimbabwean newspaper `Zimbabwe Standard' web site
on 11th June

An independent broadcasting station, which will operate on the
shortwave frequency, is due to be launched in the country this week.

Although details of the station were still sketchy at the time of
going to press, `The Standard' has it on high authority that the
station will start operating on Wednesday [14th June] and will be
transmitting on 7215 kHz on the shortwave band. Transmission will be
in the country's three official languages, Shona, Ndebele and English
in half-hour slots between 7pm and 9.15pm [1700-1930 gmt].

Those believed to be running the station refused to shed any light on
developments and even professed ignorance of the existence of the
station. It is believed that a number of local business people and
some unidentified foreigners are behind the station's formation but
wish to remain anonymous for fear of victimization.

"The station will start broadcasting on Wednesday, but the people
behind it want to remain anonymous because they fear government
victimization. They want to give Zimbabweans an alternative
broadcasting station which is not partisan like the Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Station (ZBC). "This is important as the elections draw
nearer," said one source but he also flatly refused to disclose
further information regarding the station.

The government has always rejected calls to open up the airwaves to
more participants for fear that an independent station could "damage"
the reputation of the government. The government has maintained a
tight grip on the state-owned ZBC, making sure that dissenting voices
are denied air time on the station's channels. The ruling Zanu PF
party has even gone to the extent of calling for the banning of songs
deemed "derogatory" to the ruling party. Opposition political parties
have also had to battle to receive coverage from ZBC. The new station
could thus provide relief for them.

The sources said the station was likely to broadcast from outside the
country and, in terms of the Broadcasting Act, the government could
not stop the station from operating as there are no prohibitions on
those who broadcast from outside. However, only the ZBC is allowed to
own a transmitter.

Before the emergence of the private media, Reverend Ndabaningi
Sithole, tried to break state monopoly over the media by operating a
radio station, Radio Chokwadi, from South Africa.

ZBC's monopoly is being challenged in court by Capital Radio owned by
media consultant, Mike Auret Jnr and veteran broadcaster Gerry
Jackson who are seeking the right to own a transmitter and operate an
independent station in the country. They cite ZBC's partisanship as a
major reason for the station's monopoly to be abolished.

Source: `Zimbabwe Standard' web site, Harare, in English 11 Jun 00
(via BBC Monitoring via DXLD)                         ###

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