BC-DX 297-B 17 Mar 1997
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SWAZILAND/SOUTH AFRICA TWR SWZ Z97 schedule, til Oct 26:
3200 0300-0330 Ndebele Zimbabwe 35 3
3200 0400-0430 German Southern Africa 25 233
3200 0430-0600 English Southern Africa 25 233
3200 1630-1700 German South Africa 50 233
3200 1730-1745 Fri Sotho Southern Africa 50 233
3200 1730-1745 Sat+Sun Pedi Southern Africa 50 233
3200 1745-1800 Mon-Fri English Southern Africa 50 233
3200 1800-2015 English Southern Africa 50 233
3240 0300-0345 Shona Zimbabwe 25 3
3240 1600-1630 Tshwa Mozambique 25 3
3240 1630-1645 Shangaan Mozambique 25 3
3240 1800-1830 Ndebele Zimbabwe 25 3
3240 1830-1900 Shona Zimbabwe 25 233
3240 1900-1915 Ndau Zimbabwe 25 233
4760 0300-0330 Swahili East Africa 100 13
4760 0330-0345 Sat Swahili East Africa 100 13
4775 0400-0430 German Namibia 50 313
4775 0430-0600 English Southern Africa 25 233
4775 0430-0805 English Southern Africa 50 233
5965 1600-1630 Tue Tumbuka Malawi 50 5
5965 1600-1630 exc.Tue Chewa Malawi 50 5
5965 1630-1658 Chewa Malawi 50 5
5965 1700-1800 Swahili East Africa 100 13
5965 1800-1815 Sat+Sun Swahili East Africa 100 13
6040 0400-0430 Chewa Malawi 100 13
6040 0430-0500 Tue+Fri Tumbuka Malawi 100 13
6040 0430-0500excTu+Fr Chewa Malawi 100 13
6100 0400-0415 Lomwe North Mozambiqu 25 3
6100 0600-0700 English Cape 25 233
6115 1845-1900 Umbundu Angola 100 313
6115 1900-1915 Mon+Tue PortuguesAngola 100 313
6115 1900-1915 Sat LunyanekaAngola 100 313
6115 1900-1915 Wed-Fri KiKongo Angola 100 313
6115 1900-1930 Sun PortuguesAngola 100 313
6115 1915-1930 Sat Luchazi Angola 100 313
6115 1915-1945 Mon-Fri PortuguesAngola 100 313
6115 1930-1945 Sat Kafunga Angola 100 313
6115 1930-1945 Sun Chokwe Angola 100 313
6115 1945-2000 Kimbundu Angola 100 313
6115 2000-2005 Mon-Fri PortuguesAngola 100 313
7175 1440-1510 French Madagascar 100 53
7175 1510-1555 MalagacheMadagascar 100 53
7315 1420-1425 Mon-Fri PortuguesN. Mozambique 50 3
7315 1440-1510 PortuguesN. Mozambique 50 3
7315 1510-1525 Makua N. Mozambique 50 3
7315 1525-1540 Lomwe N. Mozambique 50 3
7315 1540-1555 Mon-Thu Lomwe N. Mozambique 50 3
9500 0505-0805 English South. Centr. AF 100 005
9500 1540-1555 Sun+Fri Tigrinya Ethiopia 100 13
9500 1600-1830 English Central Africa 100 5
9525 1900-1930 Lingala Zaire 100 343
9525 1930-2000 French Zaire 100 343
9525 2000-2015 Sat+Sun French Zaire 100 343
9650 0605-0805 English Cape 25 233
15195 1400-1415 Urdu Pakistan 100 43
In June, July, and Aug, German will be on MW 1170 kHz instead of 3200
kHz at 0400-0430 UTC. No Tswana, Zulu, Kinyarwanda language progrs
anymore via TWR Manzini.
More directional instead of nondir antennas are in use. 100 kW unit is
now in use for Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
TWR Manzini via Meyrton-RSA relay Z97 schedule:
7215 0333-0404 Mon-Wed English Ethiopia/Eritrea 500 20
7215 0333-0404 Thu+Fri Oromo Ethiopia/Eritrea 500 20
7215 0333-0404 Sat+Sun Amharic Ethiopia/Eritrea 500 20
7215 2100-2130 Arabic WeAF 500 335
7215 2130-2145 Sun Arabic WeAF 500 335
7265 1528-1543 Yao Kenya 250 19
7265 1543-1558 Sena Kenya 250 19
9650 1640-1655 Somali Somalia 500 5
9850 1600-1630 Kirundi CeAF 250 19
9850 1630-1700 Mon Borana CeAF 250 19
9850 1630-1700 Tue-Sun Oromo Ethiopia/Eritrea 250 19
9850 1700-1730 Tigrinya Ethiopia/Eritrea 250 19
9850 1730-1800 Amharic Ethiopia/Eritrea 250 19
9850 1810-1825 Sat KinyarwanCeAF 250 7
9510 1830-1900 Nupe WeAF 500 313
9510 1900-1930 Yoruba WeAF 500 330
9510 1930-2000 Fulani WeAF 500 330
9510 2000-2030 Hausa WeAF 500 330
9510 2030-2057 Twi WeAF 500 330
11730 0600-0657 English WeAfrica 500 320
(TWR SWZ schedule)
TAIWAN Domestic: Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC).
BCC networks 1 and 2 announce as "Chung-Kuo Kuang-Po Kung-Su" .
BCC Popular music network announces as "Chung-Kuang Liu-Hsin Wang".
Address: 53 Jen'ai Road, Sec 3, Taipei 10628, Taiwan.
Tel: +886-277-10151 Fax: +886-275-19277
BCC NETWORK 1 Taipei
0000-0330 Chinese 11725 15270. 0330-0530 9610. 0530-0900 9610 11725.
0900-1400 11725. 1400-1700 11725. 2100-2200 11725. 2200-0000 9610 11725
15270.
BCC POPULAR MUSIC NETWORK, Taipei
0000-0700 Chinese 9280 11885-(unconfirmed) 15125. 0700-1700 15125.
2100-0000 11885-(unconfirmed), 15125. (BBCM via AGDX, Mar 11)
TAJIKISTAN Radio Voice of Free Tajikistan to change frequency, bc the
following announcement on 11th March: "Dear listeners, a change will be
introduced in the bcing of our progrs fr Sat 16th March this year. You
will hear the 0300 UTC progr on 49 mb SW, 5965 kHz. 0600 UTC progr will
be bc as usual on 41 mb SW, 7100 kHz.
(Voice of Free Tajikistan, Mar 11, via BBCM via AGDX)
USA MONITOR RADIO WEB SITE
This web site of the "Christian Science Monitor" has a section devoted
to their International SW operations WSHB, Cypress Creek USA, and KHBI,
Saipan. It is very nicely done and contains schedules by region, as well
as Technical descriptions, including pictures, maps and antenna
bearings, of the WSHB and KHBI facilities. Also listed is the of staff
at each facility, including e-mail address. This gives one an idea of
what staff it takes to run operations such as these.
It also has a section to submit a RR for a QSL. It includes a handy on-
line form for your report! You can access the days news stories as well
as archives. (Dan Ziolkowski-USA, via EDXP, Mar 7)
World Voice of Historic Adventism, Greenbush, ME 9930 kHz 2010 UTC
religious radioplay, 2100 UTC ID. World International Broadc., Red
Lion, PA 11740 kHz 2007 UTC reli-pop song. (Michiel Schaay-HOL, Mar 10)
The Stocks and Funds network was still not on the air in March. In Febr
the company has not registered with the Atlanta Business Licencing Dept.
Jerry Hoffman, station owner, was given a two year prison sentence in
1971 for a $1 million fraud involving mortgage payments and barred from
security actions in New York. He was declared bankrupt four years later.
The company was evicted Jan 15th from studios at the Protestant Media
Centre by court order for non payment of rent. Hoffman claimed Febr 20th
they would be on the air in "a couple of weeks".
(RNMN via Mar WDXC Contact)
VOA is now using Hindi at 0030-0100 UTC on 6170 7295(x9650) 9650-THA
(x11835) kHz. The new 7295 kHz is co-channeled by Radio Malaysia and
also often by PAK 7290 kHz. (Alok Dasgupta-IND, Mar 15)
External Radio Free Asia is a US government sce aimed at Burma,
Cambodia, China, NoKorea, Laos, Tibet and Vietnam. It is overseen by the
Bcing Board of Governors. It began bcing at 2300 UTC on 30th Sept 1996.
RFA uses International Bcing Board txs in Delano (USA) as well as hired
facilites in Palau (KHBN), Saipan (Mariana Islands), Tajikistan and
elsewhere(!).
Address: Suite 300, 2025 M Street NW, Washington DC 20036, USA.
Tel: +1-202-530-4900 Fax: +1-202-457-6996 URL: http://www.rfa.org
Radio Free Asia launches Korean sce. On 4th March, NoKorea will hear its
first bc of Radio Free Asia (RFA). The RFA Korea progr will be
transmitted daily from Washington and heard in Korea from 7-8 am and
from 12.30-1.30 am. In its first bc, Richard Richter, president of RFA,
will send a message articulating RFA's mission - "our goal is to inform,
not to preach. We will report about all kinds of events, subjects, and
people. We intend to be interesting, hopefully sometimes entertaining."
As in all its language sces, RFA's Korea sce will provide in-depth
reporting on in-country nx. some world nx will be provided but only when
it directly affects Korea. Nx, nx analysis, expert reporting and letter
reading to relatives in North Korea will be the primary focus of the new
Korean sce which will follow an open format for now to allow for optimal
flexibility.
The initial bc of RFA's Korean sce will provide the first of a special
two-part series on the food crisis in NoKorea, reporting on the shortage
itself. The second part will be bc on 5th March looking at the response
of internat food aid donors. The series will include interviews with UNs
organizations and NoKorea experts.
Established in March 1996, RFA began Mandarin bcs at the end of Sept,
Tibetan in Dec 1996, and Burmese & Vietnamese in early Febr 1997. RFA is
a private corporation which is funded by grants authorized by Congress
to bc to China, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Tibet, Vietnam and NoKorea. Its
mission, as defined by Section 309 of the 1994 International Bcing Act,
is "to provide accurate and timely information, nx, and commentary about
events in the respective countries of Asia and elsewhere; and to be a
forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within Asian nations
whose people do not fully enjoy freedom of expression."
VoA's "Communications World" progr reported that RFA's new Korean sce
was being bc at 2200-2300 UTC 7530, 9455 & 9650 kHz; 1530-1630 UTC on
7520, 9955 & 11600 kHz [but heard testing on 11705 kHz also, ed].
(RFA Febr 28, BBCM via AGDX, Mar 11)
VIETNAM 4678.5 1124 Hanoi OM & YL anncrs in VV //10060, 20/2.
(Foster/OZDX) Also at 0928 on same freq, 22/2. (Martin/OZDX)
5597.5 1218 Lao Cai. Unaccompanied chants, 16/2. //6701.4. Also 1305
on 9/2 relaying Hanoi //10059 & 4657.7. (Martin/OZDX)
5864.5 1501 Hanoi. Distorted mess on this NF, jamming RFA 16/2.//5925 &
10059 till 1511* (Vitek/ OZDX)
6549 1034 Unid Viet. Tx in VV 19/2, 1 kHz down from and weaker than
Beijing 6550. Next day *1030. If this is Cao Bang it's signing on 1.5
hours earlier. (Foster/OZDX)
6702.4 1045 Lao Cai. Unaccompanied vocals //weak 5597.4, 19/2.
(Foster/OZDX)
15010 Voice of Vietnam *1230 s/on EG svc w/o any IS. Opening ancmts by
W, advance of prgm contents and news. Fair and fluttery sigs.
(Nigro, Mar 2, - all via DXW)
ZAMBIA Roger Stubbe of HCJB shed some light on plans for an expansion
of the st's bcing activities in Africa in an interview with Ken MacHarg
of the 'DX-Partyline' on 1/3. He said that an application was 'pending'
for a 'middle-sized' st in Zambia. Possible languages for the st incl
Portug, English, French and possibly some Spanish as well as
vernaculars. However, we shouldn't hold our breath - Stubbe indicated -
that things are moving very slowly, probably because of local
sensitivities about basing an international SW st in the country.
Although the privately-run 'Christian Voice' is already operating, its
primary audience is domestic with progrs in English only. Stubbe made
reference to an application by another organisation in another country
which had been in the works for some five years, and was still
unresolved. (Matt Francis-AUS, via EDXP, Mar 6)
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Time flies - from recent EDXP - Electronic DX Press:
ROBERT JONES, (Sydney, New South Wales): This is the 30th anniversary of
our cooperation in DXing, I joined the ARDXC in Febr 1967 when I read
that you had taken it over! I was familiar with your name, at that time,
as you were a contributor to the fortnightly :"World Radio Bulletin, put
out by the World Radio Handbook (now WRTH). Before then, I was not a
member any DX Club and I did not write anything, although had been a
regular SW listener since I was 14, December 1948. Before the WRH
bulletin, I relied upon "Radio and Hobbies" magazine and the Radio
Australia DX show "DXers Calling", as well as my own listening
observations.
"London Calling" was published six weeks in advance and came weekly by
surface mail. The VOA had a bi-monthly colored progran booklet which was
discontinued at the end of the Truman democratic administration in early
1953. There were also big cuts in VOA progrs at that time and the VOA
txs KGEI, KWID, and KWIX were also closed at Can San Francisco of KGEI
of course continued under private ownership. Radio Australia was taken
over by the ABC from the Dept of Information in April 1950. Where will
we go now? In 1954, we had the very low sunspot minimum number of 3.4 in
April. I would guess that thousands of SW listeners gave up altogether
that year because of the poor reception conditions. Four years later we
had the opposite extreme, with the record high (201) solar cycle, and in
the last 20 years, we have experienced the 2nd and 3rd highest cycles
(in that order), which have, in my opinion, contributed to the increased
popularity of SW listening in the 1980's. (EDXP, Mar 5)
______
OLAV GRIMDALEN, (Oslo, Norway, Norwegian Telecommunications Authority):
The High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC) took place in
Istanbul-TUR, fr 3-7 Febr. It was impossible to find free frequs in the
6 MHz band, and 7 MHz proved easier as we were able to use the extended
bands. Istanbul was an interesting city with 11 million people. The
Conference was held during Ramadan - every day canons were fired to
remind people when they should eat and so it. In the beginning the shots
were a bit scary but we got used to is. Istanbul was a fine city with
many ancient buildings and interesting scenes. The Grand Bazaar was very
impressive. The next frequency coordination meeting for the winter
season 97/98 will be in Poland, in the first week of August.
(EDXP, Feb 27)
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SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS PAST AND PRESENT - COMMUNICATION RECEIVERS 1945-
1996.
Second Edition, by Fred Osterman. ISBN 1-882123-06-9. 350 pages, 8.5 x
11 inches. Published by Universal Radio Research. Retail price:
US$19.95.
This book is promoted as a comprehensive guide to over 500 SW txs
manufactured in the last 50 years. Tabletop (non-portable) general
coverage, SW, amateur and speciality rxs are featured. It is designed
for the radio collector, the informed rx buyer, or anyone interested in
the history and development of SW radios. Over 500 rxs from 60 American
and international manufacturers are featured, with commentary on an
additional 400 variants. Entry information incudes: rx type, date sold,
photograph, size and weight, feature reviews, specifications, new and
used prices, variants, value rating, and availability. The data is
arranged in alphabetical order of manufacturer.
This book is a heavy tome, weighing in at nearly 2 kg! There has been an
enormous effort in researching the material, much of it historical, and
photographs of many entries were obtained from early promotional
information and specification brochures, enhanced for this work. The
manual also discusses buying used rxs, sources, comparisons between tube
and solid state gear, restoration, and testing.
A classification is given to each rx: SW bc rx, general coverage bc rx,
general coverage communications rx, amateur band communications rx,
fixed channel communications rx, marine band communications rx, or kit
assembled.
American manufacturers dominate (as would be expected), and the author
explains that coverage of European-made sets has been strengthened since
the first edition. We also learn about several "rxs that never were"
(which didn't make it to the production lines!). Some of these were
merely advertising prototypes, with no operating systems, and usually
with knobs glued on.
Data for each rx includes features, specifications, circuit complement,
accessories, voltages, readout type, physical, manufacturer status,
rarity, and sources of reviews. New and used prices (in American
dollars) are shown. A rating system gives comparative assessments for
each rx, with five stars representing excellent value, down to one star,
poor value. Two rxs popular in Australia in the late 1970s are the
National-Panasonic DR-49 (RF-4900), rated as three stars and priced at
US$180 used, and the Sony ICF-6800W, given a four star rating, and with
a used value of US$270-360.
A useful glossary of references is provided, advising us of a number of
other publications where we can read about rx reviews, learn about
restoration techniques, historical development, and modifications.
An excellent technical introduction into specification measurement is
given, which discusses sensitivity, stability, selectivity, and image
rejection.
>From an Australian perspective, it's interesting to reflect that during
the 1950's, many ex-military, war-surplus communications equipments
flowed onto the Australian market. These included the well known Marconi
CR10 (B28) (originally manufactured for the British Navy in the 1940's),
and the Murphy B40. These are not included, probably because they were
not readily available in North America. The author acknowledges the
omission of the CR00, and seeks information from readers on that model,
and its variants.
One of the first commercial general coverage communications rxs to be
offered in Australia was the Trio 9R59, in 1961, nine tubes, single
conversion, with bandspread 80-10 metres. We are informed that his model
was the first to be manufactured by Trio in Japan. We learn that Trio
manufactured rxs under the Lafayette label, such as the popular HA-225,
which appeared in Australia in 1965. Data for those rxs is amply
provided. We read abut Eddystone, Hallicrafters, National, Drake, Racal,
Yaesu, to name only a few!
This book has a tremendous amount of information, clearly requiring
meticulous and painstaking research and study in a very complex field.
The author acknowledges the assistance extended from several
organizations and colleagues, and indicates that work is underway in
preparation of a third edition, with possibly a new publication covering
portable rxs from 1945 until the present.
We are reminded that SW rxs have a long product life and do not become
obsolete after five or even ten years, unlike computers and other
consumer electronic items. We are also invited to consider the excellent
value which can be realized by purchasing used SW radio, particularly
solid state gear manufactured in the past twenty years. The author
suggests that problems of tube aging, heat and wear are not factors with
these sets and that purchasing a quality used solid state SW radio can
afford substantial savings with no loss in performance.
It's also suggested that most tube-type sets are mainly sought by
collectors, rather than listeners. We are informed that whilst some tube
models still perform very well, these radios are generally best left for
the collectors.
In my dual role as a practising Professional communications engineer,
and as a monitoring hobbyist of some 45 years, I regard this reference
as an excellent work - accurate, topical, relevant and useful. It's
printed on high-quality, glossy stock, and will obviously endure for a
great many years! It represents very good value, and I'm sure that it
will be seen at innumerable Hamfests, SWL conventions, and Field Days in
the months to come! It's available from Universal Radio, Inc, 6830
Americana Parkway, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-4113, USA.
(BP, in EDXP, Mar)
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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 EDXP may be further reproduced, but only by
organizations or individuals which have on-going exchange arrangements
with EDXP.
This file is put together on a voluntary basis, and is also included
in our WWDXC WWW homepage,-German AGDX Club-direct address:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wwdxc/topnews.htm
or via Link of Homepage:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wwdxc
Both actual and previous week issue are available.
e-mail wwdxc@compuserve.com
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Murphy's Law Of DX #3: Ever hear of a DXer who found a new
station/country on SW and shared this information with the DX community
only to be the one NOT to receive his QSL?! (Lobdell via Cumbre Dx)
vy73 de Wolfgang DF5SX - CompuServe 100523,3446
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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