WORLDWIDE DX CLUB Weekly Top News
                 compiled by Wolfgang Bueschel
                 February 16th, 1997 (No. 291)
BC-DX 291                                       16 Feb 1997
________________________________________________________________________
ALGERIA   RTA Algier noted here in Spanish 1300-1359, English 1400-1501
UTC. Monitored on v11715.1 and 15160 kHz. Announced 15205 kHz not on
air. Extensive Spanish nx at 1344-1354 UTC. TX break at 1354-1357 UTC.
Signing off at 1501 UTC letting Radio Veritas Asia, Manila in the clear
on 11715 kHz. (WB Feb 12)
ANTARTICA   LRA36 Arcangel San Gabriel.
v15475.98 kHz, LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, heard on Feb
11 from *1900-2053* UTC, with SINPO 35443. ID's in SP, EG & FR, SP
announc at 1958, 2031, 2047 as "Esta es LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel
San Gabriel transmitiendo desde la Base Esperanza, en la peninsula
antartica o Tierra de San Martin, en la frecuencia de 15476 kilohertz
AM, a los 63 grados 24 minutos latitud sur, 56 grados 59 minutos
longitud oeste. Los radioescuchas interesados en recibir su tarjeta QSL
pueden remitir su reporte de escucha a LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San
Gabriel, Base Esperanza, Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del
Atlantico Sur, Argentina; codigo postal 9411. No olviden incluir el
franqueo" by F anncr, ID in EG at 1959, 2032 and 2048 as "This is LRA36
BCing St Arcangel San Gabriel bcing from Esperanza st in the Antarctic
land of San Martin, Antarctic peninsula, in the frequency of 15476 khz
AM, at 63 degrees 24 minutos South, 56 degrees 59 minutes West. If you
want to receive your QSL card, please send your listening report to
LRA36 Arcangel San Gabriel bcing st, with code 9411, Esperanza station,
Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur, Argentina. Not
forget include a post stamp" by F anncr. ID in FR at 2000, 2033 & 2049.
The official CORRECT time of transmission UTC is *1900-2100* !!!
(Gabriel Ivan Barrera-ARG, Feb 12)
After this report, thanks to the notice of Raymundo Cruz in the past
week, who heard the first transmission about the reactivation of LRA36
on Feb 3, 1997; today I talk with Base Esperanza, with Mrs Adriana
Figueroa, and here other comments:
LRA36 now is in daily test transmissions, with the usual 1 kW Philips tx
on 15476 kHz. They will begin regular transmissions daily from *1900-
2100* UTC (including Sat & Sun), and the power will be increased with a
new transmitter up to 3 kW in 1 month approximately. The lady announcer
is Mrs Adriana Figueroa, and the program names actually are: "Correo de
Oyentes" (reading listener letters), "Hola Antartida" (with press
reports), "Verde Esperanza" (ecology), and "Argentina: Destino
Turistico" also they have a "Espacio de LRA36 dedicado a la Actualidad"
(with actuality comments).The new s/on and s/off musical folk song is
called "Asi es mi Argentina" by Mariano Mores composer.
(Gabriel Ivan Barrera-ARG, Feb 12)
Note: On next Saturday 15, will be commented on the air my talks with
Mrs. Adriana Figueroa of Base Esperanza. [in RAE English/Spanish DX
progr?]
AZERBAIJAN/UK   BBC Monitoring recently opened a new media monitoring
unit in Azerbaijan. ... The main aim of the office's opening is the
desire to receive more trustworthy information about the situation and
events in the whole Caucasus region.
('Bakinskiy Rabochiy', via BBCM, via AGDX, Feb 1)
BRAZIL   Brazilian Summer Time.
Next Saturday (Feb 22) at 0300 UTC ends Summer Time in Brazil. Stations
in the south, southeast, and in some states of north-east will turn -1
hour (from UTC-2 to UTC-3). (Djaci Franklin Soares da Silva, Feb 12)
GERMANY   Mega-Radio Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will im Sommer den
Sendebetrieb auf 576 (Schwerin-Woebbelin) und 1017 (Greifswald) kHz
aufnehmen. Beabsichtigt wird, in Stereo auszustrahlen. Uebersehen wird
dabei allerdings eine Kleinigkeit: In Europa gibt es praktisch keine
Empfaenger, die MW-Stereo verarbeiten koennen...
Da sich auf die Ausschreibung dieser Frequenzen zahlreiche Anbieter
meldeten, beabsichtigt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern die Ausschreibung einer
weiteren MW-Senderkette, bestehend aus den vom NDR aufgegebenen Kanaelen
558 (Rostock-Stadtheide), 657 (Helpterberg), 729 (Putbus) sowie der
Schweriner Frequenz 999 (nach der Wende von RIAS bzw. Deutschlandradio
belegt, 1994 abgeschaltet). Hier soll ein Country- und Truckerprogramm
zur Verbreitung kommen. Fuer dessen Veranstaltung gibt es zwei
Interessenten. (Infosat/Michael Fuhr, Feb 15)
GREECE   Radio Station Macedonia, Thessaloniki. The SW txs are beamed to
Europe and the ME. Address: Odos Yeorghikis Scholis 129, GR-54639
Thessaloniki.
0559-0759 11595 9935 7430; 0759-1659 11595 9935; 1659-2159 11595 9935
7430; 2159-2259 11595 7430. (BBCM via AGDX, Feb 12)
HUNGARY   R Budapest in Hungarian to AUS/NZL at 1000-1100 (Suns -1200)
UTC changed its registered channels (9th of Dec!) 13670 and 15220 kHz,
now replaced by 15395, 17750, and 21685 kHz. Thanks to a tip of Matthias
Gatzke via Andreas Erbe, Kai Ludwig. (checked on Feb 13 by WB)
Statistics of RB incoming reception reports in 1996:  total 7870; 3942
from GER, 595 from RUS, 500 from G, 388 from USA, 272 from AUT, 252 from
UKR, ...
ICELAND   Rikisutvarpid - the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.
Rikisutvarpid's SW sce relays RAS 1. Sporting events and other progrs
are often carried on SW. The SW frequs are subject to change.
Address: Rikisutvarpid, Efstaleiti 1, 150 Reykjavik.
Tel: +354-515-3000, Fax: +354-515-3010, URL: http://www.ruv.is/
1215-1300 EUR 13860-usb 11402-usb; 1410-1440 AM 13860-usb 11402-usb;
1855-1930 EUR 9275-usb 7735-usb; 2300-2335 AM 11402-usb 9275-usb.
(BBCM via AGDX, Feb 12)
INDIA   5010 kHz at 1130-1740 UTC Tiruvanathapuram. Again off the air,
after about a week of operating in this time slot in January.
(Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, UADX, Feb 10)
KAZAKHSTAN   6140 kHz Kazakh Radio (presumed) at 1225 UTC, Russian
sounding OM vocal, 1228 OM/YL says a few words in lang then male OM
vocal mx. 1231 OM/YL tlk. 1232 YL vocal. 1234, OM says a few words, back
to music. 1244 OM singing the song that used to be Voice of Russia
signature tune at TOH. No listing in Passport or WRTH but HFCC lists
show site as Kazan with 20kw non directional antenna. Can't find on map,
but coordinates (55n 49e) put this in extreme west Kazakhstan.
Calculations show this to be about 1 hour before tx sun down. poor
reception. (Ziolkowski, via Cumbre Dx, Feb 8)
LAOS   6975 kHz NR Luang Prabang regularly heard at 0015 past 0200 UTC,
prgs in Lao language. (Sarath Weerakoon-CLN, UADX, Feb 8)
6975 Louang Prabang (tent.) 1345-1400 UTC Weak & faint signal here, but
clearly SE Asian language. Gone at 1400 UTC.
(Van Den Boogert, via Cumbre Dx, Feb 3)
National Radio of Laos. Regional sts, which bc in Laotian and local
tribal languages, are reported on the following frequs: Houa Phan (4660
and 1000 kHz); Luang Prabang (7162-v and 850 kHz); Oudomxai (4535 and
800 kHz); Pakse (6647-v and 1350 kHz); Savannakhet (1430 kHz); Xieng
Khouang (5340-v and 1200 kHz).
Lao National Radio's external sce which previously bc on 7116-v and 1030
kHz has been unheard since August 1994. Address: B.P. 310, Vientiane,
Laos. Tel: +856-4475.
Domestic sce 6130 580-(unconfirmed) kHz, 2200-0230, 0400-0700, 0900-
1600. (BBCM via AGDX, Feb 12)
LEBANON   Israeli air raid on Hezbollah radio near Ba'labakk. Israeli
aircraft on 11th Febr attacked a tx site of the Hezbollah radio st,
Voice of the Oppressed, two km from the centre of the town of Ba'labakk
in the Biqa valley in southern Lebanon, Radio Lebanon reported. The st,
which was bcing on 684 kHz, went off the air after the air raid, and has
not been monitored since 1138 UTC on 11th Febr. At 0815 UTC on 13th
Febr, the st was still unheard. Radio Free Lebanon, a Lebanese Christian
radio, said on the 11th, that the Voice of the Oppressed tx site had
suffered "extensive damage" in the Israeli air raid.
(Radio Lebanon, via BBCM, via AGDX, Feb 11)
LIBYA   Today Feb 13, Libya is testing their new 500 kW txs again, after
few days of silence. Heard whistle tone procedure in usual time span
after 1000 UTC on 6155, 7120, 9655, 9705, and 11770 kHz. Second 25 mb
channel (tx no. six) not on air today. (WB Feb 13)
NEPAL   3230 kHz R Nepal seems to have reactivated the channel. However,
signal strength suggest that it is from the stand by xmtr (7.5 kW)
signing on 0015 UTC. English nx at 0215 and 1415 UTC. //5005.
(Sarath Weerakoon-CLN, UADX, Feb 8)
NETHERLANDS/UK   Delta Radio plans LW mx st for UK and Europe.
A commercial internat bcing organization called Delta Radio and the
Dutch PTT have opened a free information line to answer questions about
a proposed LW bcing scheme.
Just before Christmas [1996], Delta Radio came into the news when plans
to build four tall antenna towers, each 320 metres high, at a place
called Kootwijk near Apeldoorn were revealed to the Dutch press and
local residents. In fact, Kootwijk is already steeped in past and
present radio operations. In the 1920s, a 500-kW Diesel alternator was
built on the heathland just outside the town of Kootwijk. It was
designed to broadcast Morse code messages to what is now Indonesia, then
the Dutch East Indies. And the generator was designed to operate on very
low frequs. Towards the end of the '20s, when the propagation
characteristics for SW were discovered, Kootwijk turned into more of a
SW utilities centre... A LW bc tx also operated from Kootwijk for a
while, but once a fully operational MW and FM network covering the
Netherlands was put in place, the LW channel was surplus to domestic
requirements and the tx dismantled. Much later, at an international
frequency allocation conference in 1978, Holland and Belgium were given
frequencies to start a joint project called Radio Delta...
[USA /VoA/ and Germany /DLF/ had given up usage of Munich-C Eching, 173
kHz Continental 1000 kW, on air fr 1953 til about 1980 and dismanteled.
Then moved to Passau, DLF Aholming 207 kHz, new 500 kW unit, WB]
In practice, it never happened. Backed by NOS [Nederlandse
Omroepprogramma Stichting], Radio Netherlands and the BRT, this new st
had plans to operate from Maastricht, with progrs in several languages
aimed at Europe, putting Dutch culture and language on the map. The
Belgians would build a tx on MW 1512 kHz, the Dutch would build a LW tx
on 171 kHz. In the end several factors, not least the high cost of LW,
and the fact that a st in Nador-MRC, NoAF, and Miensk-Belarus was using
the same channel with 2000 kW, thus limiting the coverage, prompted the
NOS to pull out of the scheme at the last minute. The BRT went ahead
with their tx on 1512 kHz though, nowadays used mainly by the
international sce, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal. The Dutch frequ of
171 kHz remained on the books though, until around three years ago when
a commercial organization showed interest in reviving the licence. In
the last three months a commercial organization which has adopted a
variation on the original name, changing it to Delta Radio, has made
moves to get the project up and broadcasting. We're going to use is a 2
MW tx. And they mean 2 MWs out of the tx, before it goes into the
antenna system. Even though many of the residents of this part of
Kootwijk, known as Radio Kootwijk, have worked at the PTT transmitter
site, there's still strong opposition to the plans from [of] Delta
Radio. Some of the concerns focus on how household appliances will react
when exposed to those sorts of levels of RF [radio frequency] radiation.
The backers behind Delta Radio still maintain that Kootwijk is the best
place to put the tx site - perhaps the only place left in this densely
poulated country. By the year 2000 the ship-to-shore communications from
Kootwijk, using 10-kW SSB txs, is expected to be phased out in favour of
satellite. It seems natural then to find a new use for the place.
As far as the programming is concerned, I mean, this is going to be a
pop mx radio station for the UK, a bit like Atlantic 252, but from the
other side of the water, is that the way of describing it? Well, it's a
lot broader than that. We are aiming at what we call western Europe,
because we have to sort of direct the beam a little bit to avoid
interference with a station in Russia [Bolshakovo, Moscow, and Belarus].
An address which is Delta Radio 171, P.O. Box 75065, 1070 AB in
Amsterdam and the toll-free phone number is 0800-8171. If you live
outside Holland you can try +31-800-8171. (RNMN via BBCM, via AGDX, Feb 6)
PAKISTAN   5750 kHz, V of the Independent Kashmir S on in Kashmiri at
0230 UTC with the opening song "Allah O' Akbar" [God is Great] and then
into Freq announcements followed by prgs. Plenty of rhetorics. Evening
xmsns on 4115 kHz, 1530-1730 UTC. (Sarath Weerakoon-CLN, UADX, Feb 8)
Voice of Kashmir Freedom (Urdu: "Sada-i Hurriyat-i Kashmir") is opposed
to Indian control of part of Kashmir. It is sometimes referred to by
other sources as Voice of Independent Kashmir. The station was first
heard by BBC Monitoring on 7th Febr 1991. At the time it was reported to
have started regular bcing on 2nd Febr 1991 after a period of tests. It
is assumed that the station operates from Pakistan or Pakistani-
administered Kashmir. It has announced an address of PO Box 102,
Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, via Pakistan. In the past it has bc in Urdu
and English, as well as Kashmiri. Frequs used in the past include 4080,
5000, 5300, 5750, 5900, 6300 and 7375 kHz. Two or three frequs may be
used at any one time, but programming on them may not always be in
parallel. Transmissions may be in AM or USB mode.
0230-0330 UTC Urdu 5300, 5750, 6300 kHz. 0830-0930 5300, 6300. 1530-1730
Kashmiri 4116, 5300, 6300 kHz. (BBCM via AGDX, Feb 12)
POLAND   (c.f. bc-dx #290) Heard them testing on February 3rd at 1930-
2030 UT with mostly non-stop music and only now and then an
announcement. just testing. (Harld Kuhl-D, Feb 11)
Acc to Lothar Ruehl of ERF-TWR Germany, the Scandinavian section of TWR
"Norea-Radio" will start bcs via Stargard-Tychowo 1503 kHz on March 3rd.
Bcs were postphoned in Febr due to extensive negotiations with Polish
"Radiocommunication" authorities. Planned are bcs in Swedish and
Norwegian Mo-Fr 1930-2000 UTC only, extended later by Finnish and
Danish. (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, KiR, Feb 13)
(BC-DX #290 follow-up) Test transmissions of Norea Radio noted on Feb 14
between 1945-2033 UTC. The programme consists of instrumental mx and
female\male announcements in Swedish. "Norea Radio" and "Kristianstadt"
were mentioned. Good signal. (Nikolay Pashkevich-RUS, Feb 14)
RUSSIA   Domestic Radio Rossii-Nostalzhi is an association between Radio
Rossii and the French commercial radio organization, Nostalgie
Internationale. Address: Ul Pyatnitskaya 25, 113326 Moscow, Russia. This
schedule is based on information supplied by the broadcaster. Bcs will
be one hour EARLIER during SUMMER. Radio Rossii-Nostalzhi also
broadcasts via the Gorizont 31 satellite at 40.5E (3675 MHz right hand
circular polarization, audio 8.4 & 8.6 MHz).
1600-1800 7345 7210 7200 7140 4885 4860 4610.
2000-0000 4895 4820 4485 693 585 279 270 225. (BBCM via AGDX, Feb 12)
SAUDI ARABIA   v11833.6 kHz //v11948.3 kHz, BSKSA Riyadh at 1745 UTC,
Spurs noted with Qur'an reading //11910 and 9730 kHz.
(Hill, via Cumbre Dx. Feb 2)
SLOVAKIA   AWR Europe in English resumed on 6055 kHz at 2100-2200 UTC,
tx Rimavska Sobota, 250 kW, 305 degrees.
(Mike Barraclough-UK, via WoR, Feb 13)
SRI LANKA   The All Asia Sce of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Colombo signing off at 1600 UTC weeksdays and not 1630 anymore. Further
the Domestic English Sce is identifying as "This is the Sri Lanka
Commercial Service" on 4940 kHz at 0025-0200, 1000-1700. And 0200-1000
on 6130kHz //MW 873 and FM.  Regarding the All Night Buddhist Chants,
intended to invoke blessings on the Nation, is transmitted on all Full
Moon days AND on Special Occasions like Independance day and the like.
4902 kHz and MW 702, 594, 603, 648, 693 kHz and all other National Sce
frequs. (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, UADX, Feb 15)
THAILAND   Radio Thailand's transmission in English from Udorn to Europe
will change [1900-2000?] from 7295 kHz to 9535 kHz, from Feb 14.
(Ferguson, via Cumbre Dx, Feb 14)
v6149.3 kHz 0315-0400 UTC Or Sor, Bangkok, audible here with Thai light mx,
pop songs and local IDs Off at re-check 0658.
(Anker Petersen, on Phuket Isl, via Dx Window)
Also heard between 1115 and 1200* UTC.
(Sarath Weerakoon-CLN, UADX, via Dx Window, Feb 14)
9535 and v9655.4 kHz R. Thailand at 2112* UTC. Concluding Thai with
canned  English announcement giving program time as 2045-2115 UTC
(but no freqs); carrier off at 2115. Is ex-11805.
(Hill, via Cumbre Dx, Feb 8)
9850 kHz at 0100-0300 UTC VOA Udon Thani (x7215) to SoAsia excellent in
English. (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, UADX, Feb 10)
UKRAINE   To Ethiopia via UKR, 9930 (x9870) kHz, V. of Oromo Liberation
at *1600 UTC. Presumed this with some kind of IS and introductory theme,
brief announcement by man, more music, then into presumed Oromo talk by
man and woman. At 1605 UTC, local mx with drums; more talk.
Extremely poor at first, then improved somewhat by 1610 but was almost
out when rechecked 1655 UTC. Unable to verify 1700 s/off, but gone
when rechecked again at 1708. (Hill, Feb. 8)
1645 new frequency, ex-9870. (Koutamanis, via Cumbre Dx, Feb 5)
[UNID noted here, when checked for second free RFA Palau channel in
9930-9990 kHz range at 1500-1700 UTC, Feb 12-14, WB]
USA   11950 kHz, WINB Red Lion, PA, noted at 2300 past 2400 UTC, with
non-stop music, ID at 2330 UTC soliciting reports. On the high antenna,
fair signal despite being so close. (Tom Sundstrom-NJ, Feb 12)
VIETNAM   VoV Hanoi in Mandarin and Cantonese noted here at 1200-1400
UTC on v10010.2 kHz, very seldom heard here in EUR. (WB, Feb 12)
Domestic  Voice of Vietnam, Hanoi, also operates 14 provincial sts bcing
in Vietnamese and the main ethnic languages of their regions. This
schedule is based on information supplied by the broadcaster. Address:
58 Quan Su - Hanoi
Tel: + 84 4 254953  Fax: + 84 4 255765.
URL: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~vern/tien_noi_vn/tnvn_int.html
Network 1, 2200-1600 (-1700 Fris only) 5925, 10059 kHz.
Network 2, 2200-1600 4960, 12025 kHz.
VoVTN Minority language service.
0400-0430 Bana    693.
0400-0445 Cambodian (for southern Cambodia) 747.
0430-0500 Ede     693.
0430-0500 Gairai 1089.
0500-0530 Hmong  6165.
1130-1200 Ede     693.
1130-1200 Gairai 1089.
1200-1230 Bana    693.
1200-1230 Hmong  6165.
1300-1345 Cambodian (for southern Cambodia) 747.
1300-1345 Hmong  6165.
2200-2245 CAMBODIAN (for southern Cambodia) 747.
2200-2245 Ede     693.
2200-2230 Giarai 1089.
2200-2230 Hmong  5035.
2230-2300 Bana    693.  (BBCM via AGDX, Feb 12)
Jamming at RFA. On the 6th Feb, when RFA was starting the offical
Vietnamese bcs Hanoi was already on the freqs of 7415 and 5865 kHz with
the Domestic Sce Ntw 2 //5925, v10060 kHz. There are more than two txs
jamming per frequency of RFA and they vary a few Hertz every minute or
so. The newly added 9910 kHz is not yet jammed since the Viets havent
located that. The Viet Sce occupies the frequency at least 10 minutes
before the commencement of the RFA Viet transmissions (heard whistle
tone procedure at 1453 UTC, WB) and go off also some minutes later,
which in the case of 6240 kHz Burmese at 1500 UTC gets jammed
unintentionally!  Rather surprised that Myanmar hasnt tried jamming RFA
yet, since they have some txs that have been used to jam VoA, BBC and
VoDemocracy in the recent past.
Jamming of Radio Free Asia heard in Vietnam. The first bcs of RFA to
Vietnam appear to have been jammed. Radio Free Asia reported today that
monitoring sts in two locations indicated significant interference that
followed traditional jamming techniques. "Despite the jamming, the RFA
signal could still be heard in some locations in Vietnam, indicating
that the st's programming was not being totally obliterated," said
Richard Richter, RFA president. The first bc in Vietnam was transmitted
from Washington 5th Febr at 7.30 am Vietnam time).
The jamming was recorded at monitoring sts of the Internat Bcing Bureau,
which serves US international bcs, in Sri Lanka and Bangkok.
Similar reports followed transmission of RFA programming today at 9 pm
Vietnam time. The fact that the signal could still be heard in certain
locations was ascertained through phone calls to listeners in Vietnam,
according to RFA. (RFA, via BBCM, via AGDX, Feb 6)
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
BBCM - BBC MONITORING information primarily sourced to German AGDX umbrella
organization may not be further reproduced, except with BBC MONITORING
permission.
Extracts of items sourced to ELECTRONIC DX PRESS (EDXP) may be further
reproduced only by organizations or individuals which have on-going exchange
arrangements with EDXP.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
vy73 de Wolfgang DF5SX @DB0LX.#BW.DEU.EU   -   CompuServe 100523,3446
Older editions of WWDXC Top News can be requested from WORLDWIDE DX CLUB
at the following e-mail address:    wwdxc@compuserve.com
E-Mail:  wwdxc@compuserve.com
URL: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wwdxc/topnews.htm
Crossposted from Packet Radio (HAM).
I am not responsible for the contents of these contributions!
GRTX Martijn R. PE1NQR
Member of the Benelux DX-club
--- TimEd.01+_GEcho.11+
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