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THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed
and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License
published by Michael Stutz at http://dsl.org/copyleft/dsl.txt
Today's Topics:
1. AIR to get 2 MW DRM transmitters for Gujarat, W Bengal
(Jaisakthivel)
2. 2010 will be known as the year of radio in India (Jaisakthivel)
3. 15250 ARS BSKSA Riyadh in French (Wolfgang Bueschel)
4. Glenn Hauser logs February 5, 2010 part 2 (Glenn Hauser)
5. Glenn Hauser logs February 5-6, 2010 (Glenn Hauser)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:48:38 +0530 (IST)
From: Jaisakthivel <[email protected]>
To: ardic <[email protected]>
Subject: [HCDX] AIR to get 2 MW DRM transmitters for Gujarat, W Bengal
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
AIR to get 2 MW DRM transmitters for Gujarat, W Bengal
All India Radio (AIR) has placed an order for the supply of two 1000 kilowatt
DRM capable medium wave transmitters. These will replace old analogue
transmitters of same capacity at Chinsurah (West Bengal) and Rajkot (Gujarat),
with state-of-the-art solid state transmitters.
The new Megawatt transmitters can be operated in analogue, in simulcast or in
DRM mode with automatic change-over between these three operational modes. The
transmitters shall provide coverage to very large areas in the Indian
sub-continent as well to the West, North, East and Southeast Asia.
This significant purchase was revealed at the recently concluded Broadcast
Engineering Society (BES) India?s conference in New Delhi, attended by
exhibitors and participants from all over the world. The need for cheaper
digital radio sets and content innovation was highlighted by speakers during
the event.
All India Radio has already chosen DRM as the technology for converting its
vast analogue network to digital. This is part of its digital radio switchover
strategy where more than 40 transmitters are to be made DRM capable in the near
future. AIR is already broadcasting in DRM from one of its high-power shortwave
transmitter located at Khampur near Delhi that covers an area of approximately
800 kilometre radius.
The DRM Consortium says the development underlines the commitment made by India
to new technology in general and the DRM standard in particular.
Source:
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/air-get-2-mw-drm-transmitters-gujarat-w-bengal
-----------------------
Jaisakthivel, Tirunelveli, India
Your Mail works best with the New Yahoo Optimized IE8. Get it NOW!
http://downloads.yahoo.com/in/internetexplorer/
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:51:19 +0530 (IST)
From: Jaisakthivel <[email protected]>
To: dx india <[email protected]>
Subject: [HCDX] 2010 will be known as the year of radio in India
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
2010 will be known as the year of radio
The way the world changed in the first decade of the 21st century can be gauged
by the year-end covers of two prominent magazines. Time Magazine (Dec 7th
issue) called this decade the "Decade from Hell". In contrast, Business Today's
cover (Dec 27th issue) called this decade "India's best decade." Clearly, the
center of gravity of the world of business has shifted towards the East!
While Indian industry battled the slowdown of 2009 rather bravely, and the
Indian economy still grew at over 7 per cent, the advertising industry wasn't
that lucky. As the downturn hit the ad industry, the bean counters took over
and the focus of CEOs shifted towards management of bottom lines.
The first item to be cut was obviously the advertising line. Most media
companies - who rely heavily on advertising for revenues - saw revenue drops of
between 5 and 25 per cent in the first nine months of 2009. While the last
quarter of the year looks better, the overall growth in 2009 is still expected
to end negative.
There were more companies recording revenue de-growths than those recording
positive growths. For every one Colors coming in and grabbing new revenues,
there was a Star Plus and Zee that lost revenues heavily. The sum total:
negative growth. Borrowing the terminology of business news channels, the
"market width" was negative!
The few media companies that recorded positive growths in revenues did so on
the back of inorganic growth (some parts of the business did not exist last
year). Or they were in the early part of their growth cycle (hence last year's
comparative revenue base was small). In other words, the quarters were
incomparable.
Different media sectors exhibit different growth rates to "maturity" (time
taken to grow to a reasonable size). My observation is that radio companies
typically take three years to hit maturity - i.e. to max out on ad volumes.
After this, revenue growth happens only on the back of pricing increases.
In the case of newspaper editions, I am told this can extend for up to 10
years. Many Hindi publications (Hindustan for eg) have grown aggressively in
recent years on the back of an increase in editions, and these editions
obviously represent "inorganic" growths.
In the case of TV, it's more complicated. With unhindered competition, it is
difficult to say how much time a channel takes to maturity. A successful
channel like Colors appears to be hitting mature levels of GRPs, ad volumes and
revenues in record quick time. Another channel like NDTV Imagine still appears
some distance away from that. The revenue growth of Colors should be seen as
inorganic growth.
In 2009, almost all "mature" companies experienced air-pockets in their path,
and saw revenues tank. The notable exception? Sun TV of course! This one
behemoth - much like China - continues to grow with scant regard for the
problems the rest are facing!
How did media companies react to this slowdown? In the most obvious way.
Cutting costs. Payroll, marketing, programming, G&A, travel?.even electricity
were all cut to barebones levels. Headcounts were cut. Incentives were cut.
Product companies cut back drastically on R&D (Consumers should expect to see a
deficit of innovative products in 2-3 years time). Most media companies also
took salary cuts. In the end analysis, anything that could be cut was cut.
Today, media companies are structured like they should have been in the first
place. Fit and ready to run the marathon!
So the key question is: Is the worst behind us? Most would respond by saying:
Yes. But is the worst really behind us? My strong suspicion is that we have now
recovered from last year's levels, but are still a few months away from a real
recovery. Real turnaround could be delayed till August-September of 2010 (next
season). Most media companies are recording growths on year-on-year basis post
November 2009 (low base effect of 2008). But how many are recording growths
compared to two years back? Very few. Reversing this 2-year decline will take
time and I see that happening only by August-September 2010. The pain will
continue longer!
The key challenge for the media going forward in 2010 is managing ad pricing.
Pricing has taken a huge hit in 2009. Average media pricing is down by about 25
per cent as advertisers asserted themselves on the back of negative sentiments.
To be fair, most advertisers have had big savings in 2009. Media companies have
co-operated wholeheartedly as the businesses of their clients got hit.
As client businesses revive, our hope is that inventory pricing will climb back
to at least 2008 levels, if not higher. Now the media companies are looking for
an appropriate quid pro quo!
The second challenge is managing the bottom line as the markets recover - and
as costs start to surge. One of the key costs to be cut in 2009 was payroll
cost. Now with the media markets opening up, there is a huge pent-up pressure
on payrolls that needs to be released slowly. Companies will have to be careful
in rewarding key people - while still keeping overall payroll budgets in check.
Likewise, programming and marketing costs will tend to surge. Not to mention
travel and the G&A.
Keeping a focus on costs will have to continue for at least another full year
if not longer. A connected challenge is one of holding on to key people. As the
market booms, there is always a willing "buyer" of managerial and creative
talent!
To be sure, 2010 will be a better year than 2009. There is no doubt about that.
At least in terms of profitability. Hopefully, media companies will go back to
putting some of that profitability back into what is required for long-term
growth: Brand building, programming, training?I also expect that there will be
a large number of M&A deals in 2010 and beyond.
The crippling impact that 2009 had on the weaker players could put many of them
on the block. With the stock markets willing to bet again on the more
profitable media companies, there should be a large number of deals
fructifying. In the TV space, hopefully, some of these acquisitions will lead
to an extinguishing of the channel! There's just too much unworthy stuff still
being broadcast!
I am quite sure that 2010 will be known as the year of radio. Phase III policy
of radio reforms is around the corner. Hat's off to the Ministry of I&B for
betting big on radio! If they announce the policy quickly, the auctions of as
many as 800 channels in 300 new towns could well be completed in 2010 itself.
And by 2011, the radio industry could start offering a serious alternative to
regional print publications. With much economic activity expected in the
smaller markets in the next decade, the potential for radio to become a far
bigger medium is very tangible.
But before the government thinks of growth, it has to address the "survival"
question first. It's a known fact that the radio industry is bleeding from
multiple cuts - and this has been going on right from its inception in 2000.
With more than Rs 20 billion invested in just Phase II in One Time Entry Fees
and capex, and more than Rs 5 billion of accumulated losses incurred in the
last three years, there is no way the industry can survive. Unless the
government chips in with support yet again.
The radio industry has requested for the licence period to be extended from 10
years to 15 (if not 20). This would give them some time to get some returns on
their capital. The other bugbear, of course, is music royalties.
In most of the Phase III towns, there is simply no viability till the time that
music royalties can become reasonable. In most developed radio markets, radio
broadcasters pay up to 4 per cent of their revenues as music royalties. This is
when more than 90 per cent of the population listens to radio every week. In
India, we are requesting for the same - but scaled down to reflect the
percentage of listenership that radio has at present. When radio listenership
becomes 90 per cent in India, we are willing to pay 4 per cent then. This is a
good time for the music industry to aid in the growth policies of the
government. Can they accept this global benchmark for at least the new Phase
III stations?
If the radio industry survives (government extends licence period) and if music
royalties are sorted out, it's possible that in the next few years, radio will
become 8 per cent of the ad industry. It's my view that as soon as the
government completes Phase III, it has the opportunity to immediately announce
Phase IV. It should draw its attention back to the bigger towns and increase
the number of channels to at least 25.
If Colombo and Singapore can have 25 channels, why can't Mumbai and Delhi?
There are, of course, the usual spectrum problems. The government needs to
clean out the current "squatters" on the FM band. And demand more
accountability from AIR - either they launch more channels of their own, or
they make it available to the private sector. After all, air waves are public
property - let there be good use of the same.
If this happens, and if a multitude of programming formats becomes available,
radio listenership will grow fast. And with that the share of radio could rise
to upwards of 10 per cent of the total ad industry. Of course, there will be a
lot more investment needed to be made - but if there is viability and a
semblance of profitability, then the radio industry will not be found lacking!
All in all, I expect the tide to change soon. I expect a lot more radio to
become available in 2010 and then, again, going forward. The next five years
could well be the most glorious years for radio - a great future?.if, of
course, it survives the present!
Source: http://www.indiantelevision.com/
------------------------------
Jaisakthivel, Tirunelveli, TN, India
The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
http://in.yahoo.com/
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:55:16 +0100
From: "Wolfgang Bueschel" <[email protected]>
To: "HCDX" <[email protected]>, "DXLD" <[email protected]>
Subject: [HCDX] 15250 ARS BSKSA Riyadh in French
Message-ID: <a6b9e7eb68714bc4b164d5efe9201...@hnpc2>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
SAUDI ARABIA 15250 - is that a new channel for BSKSA Riyadh's French
service in \\ to 17660 at 1400-1555 UT?
Noted with more than fair signal of S=8 around 1430 to 1450 UT, in \\ to
usual registered 17660 kHz to West Africa which is tiny poor of S=2 just
above the "turf" just slightly above the local noise level with computer on.
Light Arabic music program with charming Arabic lady voice.
wb, Feb 5
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:45:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Glenn Hauser <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [HCDX] Glenn Hauser logs February 5, 2010 part 2
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
** BRAZIL [and non]. Just as I tune across 9695, Feb 5 at 1236, I hear
``Funda??o Rio Mar`` mentioned in Brazilian, so no waiting required for an ID
from R. Rio Mar, Man?us, making an awful het of about 0.2 kHz with something in
Thai on 9695.0, i.e. R. Japan aimed Thaiward from Yamata, whilst Rio Mar is
Africaward at 70 degrees, both per Aoki; and NHK soon overtaking (Glenn Hauser,
OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHAD. 6165, checking for Chad Feb 5 at 0558 just in time to hear some hilife
music with SAH from weak open carrier, and start of French announcement before
Bonaire blasted on at 0559 with tone and RNW IS starting Dutch to NAm. Anyhow,
that was enough to confirm RNT active on 6165, the interim carrier probably
Croatia (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COLOMBIA. 2980, Feb 5 at 0614 just barely audible music, presumed HJAY
Barranquilla. Wish they would turn up the power a bit on the second harmonic
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. 11705, I noticed an open carrier shortly after 1300 Feb 5,
presumed no quick turn-off for the Venezuela relay at 12-13; but at 1315 still
OC here with occasional clicking.
11600, DentroCuban Jamming Command noise starts at *1557 Feb 5. Ramping up a
bit ahead of hourtop is typical. Still going strong at 1800. I still have not
been able to uncover any victim beneath the noise, but I have an unconfirmed
report that Radio Rep?blica is running a low-power transmitter from California.
Can anyone detect that, perhaps closer to the site, or closer to Cuba in the
skip zone of the jamming??
I`ve been hearing this `jamming against nothing`(?), several weeks on 11600 in
the daytime as late as 2200, and even in the nightmiddle. If RR is the cause,
they need to wise up and jump to different clear frequencies. Anyhow it ties up
jammers which might be doing more damage somewhere else, ? la Sound of Hope`s
teeny ham transmitters vs Firedrake (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
More on jamming: see USA: WRMI
** ETHIOPIA. 7110.0, Feb 5 at 0549 with Horn of Africa music, 0550 announcement
and more music, fair. Always seems odd to hear them at this time, almost 9 am
local, but has to be R. Ethiopia, domestic service scheduled 03-21 overall per
WRTH.
Aoki, however, shows this frequency OFF the air at 05-08 except weekends, and
Uganda starting at 0600, but there have been NO reports in years of Uganda
really on 7110. Also a weaker signal with music on 7175, no doubt more from
Ethiopia, but nothing on 7165 except hams (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, VOI at 1307 Feb 5 in English, presumed news but too
undermodulated to follow, especially with the propagational fades being louder.
3325, RRI Palangkaraya was also in later in the hour, mostly music (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN. 15545, at 1420 Feb 5, Qur`an with long pauses, fluttery signal peaking
S9+8; 1442 conversation in Arabic. This is VIRI which has a very long
continuous Arabic broadcast 0530-1628 via Sirjan, 500 kW, 295 degrees, per Aoki
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MOROCCO [and non]. RTM normally switches from 15341 to 15345 around 1500,
but Feb 5 it was already on 15345 at 1418, undermodulated and with usual whine,
leaving 15340 clear for HCJB Australia, which was inaudible. This transmission
is supposedly not among those HCJB has suspended because of wind damage to
antennas, and often does not propagate here anyway.
Recheck at 1802, Arabic music still on 15345, and I think the whine is still
self-imposed, not a het from Argentina if it is still there, as usual blocked
by Morocco during European service (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. I`m such a lucky guy; once again quite by chance without
any conscious intent, I am tuned to 9670 for RNW`s easily missed one-minute
English broadcast! Feb 5 at 1256 I hear the RNW IS, 1257-1258* interview in
English with a kid about something.
What is really happening: this is the tail end of the 1230 Dutch transmission
to Indonesia via IBB Tinian, where they don`t cut it off when it`s really over
at 1257, and the program feed circuit switches to English in progress for
reasons unknown (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAUDI ARABIA. 15435, Feb 5 from *1456.6 with carrier, Arabic modulation with
conversation from 1457.4: BSKSA remains in whack, good modulation and just
occupying its proper bandwidth. Only problem is a bit of whine with varying
pitch, but not too bad, noted at 1511 but continuous (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** SUDAN [non]. 15670, M?raya FM at 1419 Feb 5 with African music, via IRRS via
SLOVAKIA. Propagation not so good today and weaker at 1443 when it had already
started talking, intonation sounding English. A bit better at next check 1511,
with usual mix of English and Arabic dialect from one sentence to the next,
about Juba, Southern Sudan.
It will be interesting to hear what happens Sat and Sun at 1530 when Radio Mada
via Pridnestrovye has been operating on same frequency. I have notified both
IRRS and WRN of the potential collision (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TURKEY. VOT wasting more megawatts on the 1330 English broadcast: Feb 5 at
1415, 12035 has fair signal strength but just barely modulated, while // 15300
is OK modulated but colliding with RFI in French.
Here`s what they should do, if they are not going to fix the modulation on
12035 and get off 15300: swap transmitters, so the unmodulated one is on 15300,
and the modulated one is on clear 12035! More free advice TRT are sure to
ignore (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K [non]. This is the `final week` for BBC`s temporary Creole service,
``Connexion Ha?ti`` produced in Miami, according to someone at BBCWS Trust via
kimandrewelliott.com, so I made a point of listening to some of the
1232:30-1252:30 UT broadcast via WHRI 9410, Friday Feb 5. At 1238 an interview
about vaccinations; 1241 message from the Haitian ambassador ? Washington,
Raymond Joseph, with musical accompaniment. 1252 sign-off listed the FM
frequencies in each Haitian city for the 9:10 am repeat, but no mention of SW
--- who listens to that??? Was this the final broadcast? No, ``? demain``, she
says, however you spell that in Krey?l, so maybe Feb 6 will be the last one.
Immediately followed by classical music fill introduced in Spanish,
``Compositores de Siempre`` but never identifying the musical tidbits played
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 7235, VOA Korean underneath a much stronger open carrier at
1356 Feb 5. At 1358 the latter begins VOA sign-on in English, Yankee Doodle
Dandy, and reepated at 1359. Meanwhile modulation has stopped on the weaker
signal, or it`s off before hourtop.
At 1400 no English announcement that `the following broadcast is in Korean``,
but did say in English ``VOA World News,`` immediately back into Korean.
1400 is when VOA switches sites for the continuing Korean service, from Tinian
to Tinang. No telling how long the Tinang carrier has been on, VOA vs VOA!
Should crash-start it instead.
9930, Feb 5 at 1507 with Pink Floyd, ``Another Brick in the Wall`` starting VOA
Border Crossings requests, but poor reception here, 322 degrees from Sri Lanka.
Should be better on 9760 via Tinang --- but that`s no longer VOA English as
still shown on Aoki! Or rather, it was Spe-cial Eng-lish at 1500, not BC,
anyway, as the VOA A-Z schedule still claims.
Now at 1508, 9760 is really R. Farda, Persian music mix one second ahead of
15410 via Skelton. A feed mixup, or yet another inexplicable schedule shift by
IBB?
The Farda schedule with today`s date when you click on Waves at
http://www.rferl.org/howtolisten/FRD/ondemand.html
displays 9760 in use only in the mornings, at 0730-1100 local = 0400-0730 UT
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9955, WRMI good in French 1233 Feb 5, to gain an audience in Ha?ti.
The M-F 12-13 hour now consists of 1200 R. Prague, 1230 R. Vatican and 1245 R.
des Nations-Unies, but any of that may be replaced by religious programming in
Creole. Already on the schedule Fridays at 1230-1245 is a program called
``Jesus Christ``, but I listened too briefly to tell what it was this week,
assuming it was Vatican.
No jamming until end of hour at 1258 when the DCJC is getting a jump on R.
Libertad. Nothing but jamming audible next bihour. At 1509, WRMI still relaying
R. Prague in English about equal level to annoying DCJC pulses, but losing to
them during fades. May be back on NW antenna now? Was not expected to be yet.
But still needs more oomph vs accurs?d uncalled-for jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 11715-, KJES at 1454 Feb 5 with steady S9+20 signal, better than
usual, and way over Lampertheim; only problem is its own audio which is
somewhat low and distorted, and apparently crosstalk with OM reading verses on
top, YL/kids and guitar singing underneath.
At 1458 Vatican carrier came on 11715.0 with het since KJES is off-frequency. I
was watching the S-meter to see if I could detect any change in KJES strength
at 1500 when they are listed to rotate from 70 to 350 degrees, the former being
OKward, but could not see any change, altho the Vatican relay of RVA
complicated matters. At 1500:30 KJES broke for standard rather plaintive kid ID
with plea for reports, continued in English (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** U S A. WJHR, Milton FL was not reported at all during January, while they
were supposedly installing a higher-gain antenna, but now there have been
reports from Jim Evans in TN and Harold Frodge in MI in the 18-21 UT span Feb
3.
I never hear it when bandscanning around 15-16, so may not be on that early,
nor necessarily every day. Programming of nothing but old screaming sermons is
not exactly a big draw, but I try again anyway Feb 5 after 1800 on 15500-USB:
Yes, there it is, as weak as ever, barely audible at 1801 but I am not lucky
enough to catch another standard ID (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [and non]. 11850, VR at 1449 Feb 5 Laudeturing Jesus Christus, into
S Asian language, with some long-path echo, but sufficient signal direct from
SMG holding up against WYFR 11855. Musical bits sounded like koto (the Japanese
instrument, not the Telluride station).
Then checked 7585 and that was barely audible // but an echo apart. In previous
report I failed to remention that the latter is via TAJIKISTAN. No Firedrake,
so the ChiCom have apparently figured out that they don`t need to jam something
in Tamil (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: KJES
UNIDENTIFIED. 6930.0 SSB, pirate at 0556 Feb 5 with song ``I told the
patriot(?) goodbye``; some splatter from WYFR 6915. 0559:35 pause but no ID,
0600 resuming more music. Poor signal. Anyone get an ID on this one? (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:10:35 -0800 (PST)
From: Glenn Hauser <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [HCDX] Glenn Hauser logs February 5-6, 2010
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
** GUIANA FRENCH. Now I think I know why I heard RFI Spanish at 0100-0130 on
7360 instead of 5995, UT Feb 4 but vice versa on Feb 5. At 2312 Feb 5 I noticed
a VG signal in Portuguese from YFR on 7360, prompting me to look it up and find
that Montsin?ry is scheduled all the way from 2200 to 0100. Aoki shows all
three hours in Portuguese, but it was Camping in English after 0000 Feb 6. So
GUF must have just failed to make the frequency change to 5995 on the date I
heard RFI on 7360. Once again on Feb 6 at 0100, RFI Spanish was on correct 5995
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1170, KFAQ, IBOC had been turned off at 2012 UT check Feb 5;
finally 1160 and 1180 were clear for DX on the caradio, altho this early, there
wasn`t any. Had been on constantly in daytime, so we`ll have to see if this be
a fluke or a policy change. Then a sesquihour later, the powerline noise level
around much of Enid was up, a lot like IBOC except it`s all over the band.
Arrgh (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. As of Feb 5, Lavwadlamerik appears to have cut back its
unpublicized extra broadcasts in Creole to Haiti. Did not check before 2200,
when it had been on 15390 until 21 and 13725 until 22, but at 2311 nothing to
be heard on 7590, 5835 nor any other frequency we could find in the 5-10 MHz
range. We know that 7590 at least had been heard a few days ago during this
hour.
Checked again just before 2400 and still no sign of LVA. UT Feb 6 at 0002,
however, 5835 popped on the air with VG signal; at 0003 weak carrier from 7590,
and // modulation audible from 0004.
Next check at 0101 or the next couple minutes found all the LVA frequencies,
5835, 5960 and 7465 AND all the VOA/Mart? A Fondo frequencies, 7340, 9415 and
finally 11625 --- // in VOA ENGLISH news! Wrong feed input, or Spanish and
Krey?l feeds unavailable?
After a pause at 0105, played some instrumental fill music. But circa 0108
these had switched to the correct languages. Anomalies may have been caused by
heavy rain at the moment, or previous damage to some antenna?
But an hour later at 0158: A Fondo in Spanish about to end, audible on 11625,
much better on 9415 which seems to have some co-channel QRM under, but nothing
listed; and best strength on 7340 but it now has QRM from VOR IS via GUF on
7335 about to start Spanish loud and clear, while for English to N America we
have to fish around for much weaker and unreliable frequencies from the Eastern
Hemisphere.
LVA is also going on 5835, 5960 and 7465, off by 0200. However, at 0201, 7465
is on with VOA news in English, like an hour ago, not Krey?l, joined by 5835
which comes back on at 0201:30. Still nothing on 7590 and of course 5960 is off
in deference to NHK Japanese via Sackville.
English news finished at 0205 with reference to voanews.com for more,
semi-minute of dead air before instrumental fill music inkix again. At 0208
change to ``Good morning, VOA World News Now`` on 5835 and 7465, so more
English, the announcer imagining he is in Asia, or at least speaking to Asia
rather than America in this fluke, which BBG believes is not entitled to any
VOA English unless it`s Spe-cial. However, by final check 0228, 5835 was back
in Kreyol and 7465 not audible, faded out? So tonight we had quite a mix of
English, Spanish and Creole (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Contrary to a report from a Downunderite, that WWCR-3 is using 4775
from 2300 due to an interference complaint to the FCC about 5070, 4775 really
starts at 0300. Still on 5070 at 2311 check Feb 5 and after 0000, 0100 and 0200
Feb 6.
WWCR has been on 5070 for many years, and just now someone finds it a problem
during the next nine hours? As I recall, initially it was on 5060 or 5065 but
soon settled on 5070.
Another check of WWCR-1 found it going strong on 7465 after 2300 Feb 5, but
almost like someone threw a switch, it became quite weak after 0000 Feb 6. I`m
sure propagation would have been inbooming on previous 3240 --- but who knows,
another interference complaint may have knocked them off that too like 3230
before it, which was used only briefly. After 0100, 7465 again had switched to
7490.
WWCR`s homepage now says:
``WWCR's Transmitter #3 will broadcast on 4.775 MHz from 0300-1200 UTC until
further notice. WWCR's Transmitter #1 will broadcast on 7.490 MHz (moved from
7.465 MHz) for 1 hour daily, 0100-0200 UTC. These changes are noted in the
program guide, updated 5 February.``
All these frequencies on 3, 4, 5 and 7 MHz are ``out of band``, really fixed
bands in the US, and broadcasters trying them must take the risks associated
with their usage being on a non-interference basis (NIB) to higher-priority
transmissions, however sporadic.
Complaints from utility stations at home or abroad seem to count for more, or
be more likely, than from broadcasters which are in-band tropical stations in
their own areas (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. As I was checking out VOA around 0100 UT Sat Feb 6, I also could hear
DX Partyline on WRMI 9955, weak signal but not jammed. Jeff White just sent me
a new program schedule, but he`s not yet finished updating it.
As of now, DXPL is on it as follows: Sat 0100, 1100, 1600, 1800; Sun 0215,
0500, 1130; Mon 1600; Tue 0100, 1600; Wed 1530; Fri 0115.
AWR Wavescan: Fri 0230, 1100, 1630; Sat 0830, 1400, 2030; Sun 0930, 2230; Mon
1630; Tue 0115; Wed 1130; Thu 1530.
Happy Station: the main first broadcasts are still UT Thu 0200 and 1600,
usually different but not always. The repeats may be one or the other? Fri
1400, Sat 0500, 1900, Sun 0600, Tue 0500, Wed 0100.
WORLD OF RADIO: Wed 1630; Fri 0200, 1530; Sat 0900, 1430, 2000; Sun 0900, 1615,
1815, 2000; Tue 1630; Wed 0230 [NEW].
As for WORLD OF RADIO on Area 51, UT Fri 0100 but WBCQ 5110 was missing ---
Larry Will says that unfortunately, weeknight broadcasts of A51 have been
suspended due to insufficient financial support, but he does plan to keep the
webcast going including WOR at that hour.
Larry says: ``We are now Sunday 2200 to 0300 [UT Sun] and Saturday 2300 to 0300
[UT Mon] on 5110. Webcast will remain Tuesday-Saturday 0000-0300.`` For latest
info see http://www.worldmicroscope.com (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 5885, tuned in Feb 5 at 2309 to hear classical guitar music, but
off at 2310* before there could be a 2.5 minute fragment of a Vatican Radio
English broadcast as might have happened on 7395 or 9600 if I had remembered
which frequency to check, leading up to Vietnamese from 2315 (Glenn Hauser, OK,
DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
End of Hard-Core-DX Digest, Vol 86, Issue 6
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