April 2009
IN THIS ISSUE:
DRM USA
Miscellaneous
HF-related News and Views
DRM USA
Last Call for Registration for 2009 NASB-DRM USA
You
can still register for the 2009 NASB-DRM USA annual meetings in Nashville , Tennessee Nashville fsiyfr@okeechobee.com .
Here
is the latest tentative agenda for the meetings:
Thursday, May 7, 2009 – DRM USA Annual Meeting
9:00 am – Opening of DRMUSA USA
9:05 am - The Latest Developments in Digital Radio Mondiale – Adil Mina of Continental Electronics and the DRM Consortium will report on what is happening with DRM around the globe.
9:00 am – Opening of DRM
9:05 am - The Latest Developments in Digital Radio Mondiale – Adil Mina of Continental Electronics and the DRM Consortium will report on what is happening with DRM around the globe.
9:30
am – WinDRM: Amateur Radio's DRM Evolution - One of amateur radio's digital
voice and image transfer modes was derived from DRM's Dream
receiver/transmitter software. Mel Whitten,
who holds amateur radio callsign K0PFX, will talk about how these amateur modes
were developed, how they are used and the transmitting and receiving equipment
used.
10:00
am – A Profile of Ten-Tec - the Tennessee
10:30
am - Coffee Break, sponsored by Media
Broadcast
11:00
am – Question and Answer Session with NASB Attorney Edward Bailey
11:30
pm - Lunch, sponsored by World Christian
Broadcasting and WWCR, in The
Nashville Room at Jack's Bar-B-Que, 416 Broadway, next to the Ryman
Auditorium. The buffet-style menu will
include Tennessee pork shoulder, smoked turkey, barbecue sauce, barbecue baked
beans, cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread and buns, chocolate fudge pie and
beverage (tea or fountain drinks).
1:30 pm - Bus leaves hotel for Sightseeing Tour, sponsored by TCI International, visiting WWCR studio/transmitter site and World Christian Broadcasting headquarters in Franklin.
6:00 pm - Dinner at Stoveworks restaurant, sponsored by VT Communications. Stoveworks offers authentic Southern cooking served with down home style in a historic setting at The Factory inFranklin
9:00 pm - Bus returns to the Holiday Inn Express. The rest of the evening is free to explore The District.
Friday, May 8, 2009 – NASB Annual Meeting
9:00 am – Opening of NASB Annual Meeting in the Holiday Inn Express Amphitheater. Welcome remarks from NASB officers. The Amphitheater meeting room is sponsored by TCI International.
9:15 am - Panel Discussion: The State of Shortwave Listening and Broadcasting inEurope . Panelists will include Michael Murray, former
Secretary General of the European DX Council.
1:30 pm - Bus leaves hotel for Sightseeing Tour, sponsored by TCI International, visiting WWCR studio/transmitter site and World Christian Broadcasting headquarters in Franklin.
6:00 pm - Dinner at Stoveworks restaurant, sponsored by VT Communications. Stoveworks offers authentic Southern cooking served with down home style in a historic setting at The Factory in
9:00 pm - Bus returns to the Holiday Inn Express. The rest of the evening is free to explore The District.
Friday, May 8, 2009 – NASB Annual Meeting
9:00 am – Opening of NASB Annual Meeting in the Holiday Inn Express Amphitheater. Welcome remarks from NASB officers. The Amphitheater meeting room is sponsored by TCI International.
9:15 am - Panel Discussion: The State of Shortwave Listening and Broadcasting in
9:45
am – Sports Programming on Shortwave – Independent producer Bruce Baskin will
tell about his experiences with World Cricket Today and World Baseball Today on
shortwave.
9:55
am – Update on Digital Aurora Radio Technologies DRM project in Alaska
10:15
am – New Technologies from Galcom International – an update on Galcom's new
suitcase-sized transmitter and the possibility of a low-cost DRM receiver.
10:30 am - Coffee Break, sponsored by Continental Electronics
10:30 am - Coffee Break, sponsored by Continental Electronics
11:00
am – Madagascar World Voice, African shortwave project of World Christian Broadcasting
11:30 am – Kintronics and
its involvement in HF broadcasting, by Tom King, President, Kintronics Labs of
Bristol, Tennessee
12:00 pm – Lunch, sponsored by Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia, at Big River Grille, 111 Broadway. The menu will be a Southern Buffet including greenhouse salad with dressing, assorted breads, chicken fried chicken with country gravy, white cheddar mashed potatoes, creamy coleslaw, assorted bite-size desserts, and unlimited coffee, tea and fountain sodas.
2:00 pm - NASB Business Meeting, including plans for next year's annual meeting inCanada
4:00 pm - NASB Business Meeting ends, conference ends. Brief closed meeting of the NASB Board.
12:00 pm – Lunch, sponsored by Thomson Broadcast & Multimedia, at Big River Grille, 111 Broadway. The menu will be a Southern Buffet including greenhouse salad with dressing, assorted breads, chicken fried chicken with country gravy, white cheddar mashed potatoes, creamy coleslaw, assorted bite-size desserts, and unlimited coffee, tea and fountain sodas.
2:00 pm - NASB Business Meeting, including plans for next year's annual meeting in
4:00 pm - NASB Business Meeting ends, conference ends. Brief closed meeting of the NASB Board.
Hotel Reservation Details
The Holiday Inn Express at 920
Broadway in downtown Nashville
-----
Report
from NASB delegate Jeff White
The spotlight was on Arab shortwave broadcasters at the A09
HFCC/ASBU frequency coordination conference in Tunisia Tunis
For the rest of the week-long conference, delegates met at a large hotel called theAlhambra (designed to resemble the famous Alhambra Palace
in Spain ) in the popular
beachside resort of Hammamet, some 65 kilometers south of Tunis Mediterranean Sea
too cold to swim in at this time of year, it was still a scenic location.
A record attendance of approximately 130 delegates came from around 55 Frequency Management Organizations from 40-some countries around the world. Fittingly for the host and location, there were a large number of delegates from the Middle East andNorth Africa .
Countries like Syria , Saudi Arabia , Algeria
and Oman were represented,
as well as Kuwait , Bahrain , the United
Arab Emirates , Jordan South Africa
As usual, the main job of the HFCC/ASBU Conference was to input frequency selections for the coming broadcast season -- the A09 season, which begins March 29 and ends October 25, 2009. A new more sophisticated collision identification program was used to determine potential frequency collisions, and the delegates spent the week working out these interference problems with each other, constantly updating schedules through a complex Internet and Intranet system. The vast majority of the world's shortwave schedules are coordinated at the HFCC/ASBU meetings, avoiding problems for stations and listeners alike during the upcoming frequency season.
For the rest of the week-long conference, delegates met at a large hotel called the
A record attendance of approximately 130 delegates came from around 55 Frequency Management Organizations from 40-some countries around the world. Fittingly for the host and location, there were a large number of delegates from the Middle East and
As usual, the main job of the HFCC/ASBU Conference was to input frequency selections for the coming broadcast season -- the A09 season, which begins March 29 and ends October 25, 2009. A new more sophisticated collision identification program was used to determine potential frequency collisions, and the delegates spent the week working out these interference problems with each other, constantly updating schedules through a complex Internet and Intranet system. The vast majority of the world's shortwave schedules are coordinated at the HFCC/ASBU meetings, avoiding problems for stations and listeners alike during the upcoming frequency season.
Also as usual, there was a lot of cultural entertainment and
sightseeing during the week. On Wednesday night, the ASBU invited all
delegates and their spouses to a six-course Tunisian dinner which took place
underneath a large Moroccan-style tent, complete with live performances of
Arabic music and dancing. It was quite an experience. And on Friday
afternoon, when the conference officially ended, the ASBU provided a bus tour
of Tunis
After passing through miles and miles of olive farms and vineyards en route toTunis , the tour visited the fabulous Bardo Museum ,
which is filled with Roman mosaics and sculptures unearthed in Tunisia
After passing through miles and miles of olive farms and vineyards en route to
The next stop on the tour was the Roman ruins of Carthage , just outside of Tunis
At the final plenary session on Thursday afternoon, special thanks were given to Abdelrahim Suleiman and Bassil Zoubi of the ASBU for all of their hard work preparing the conference inTunis Punta Cana , Dominican
Republic
At the final plenary session on Thursday afternoon, special thanks were given to Abdelrahim Suleiman and Bassil Zoubi of the ASBU for all of their hard work preparing the conference in
-----
Opening Remarks of HFCC Chairman Oldrich Cip at the
HFCC/ASBU A09 Conference
Good morning
ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, distinguished guests! First - on behalf of all of us here - I would like to thank the high-level guests for coming over to our
Opening Ceremony, namely His
Excellency Mr. Rafaa Dkhil, Minister
of Information and Communication Technologies of Tunisia; and Mr. Salah Eddine
Maaoui, Director General of the Arab States Broadcasting Union, for his opening words. There would be no conference in Tunis
We are here in the newly constructed
headquarters of the Arab States Broadcasting Union and I would like to devote
at least a part of the opening remarks to the history of ties between the two
so-called regional co-ordination groups, HFCC and ASBU. As it has already been
said, the date of the present conference is also important since the
association between the ASBU and the HFCC started almost exactly ten years ago.
In fact the decision on the part of the ASBU in 1998 to join the HFCC provided
a basis for a global system that has been developed during the past decade.
In the early 1990s a special task group of the
International Telecommunication Union studied the methods and procedures of an
informal co-ordination group active outside the ITU that later became known as
the HFCC. The task group came to a conclusion that informal co-ordination was
the magic formula for the successful frequency planning of shortwave
broadcasting. The World Radio Conference in 1997 created a new Article of
International Radio Regulations. An extensive and complex co-ordination among
the so-called regional groups was expected originally since Article 12 of the
Regulations foresaw the creation of a number of groups around the world.
Luckily enough the need for coordination among those separate groups just did
not emerge. The HFCC and ASBU have worked together from the start. Methods
improved in the meantime, and another smaller group in the Asia-Pacific area that
we helped establish agreed to use the common database as well. It is now
completely clear that the frequencies of some, mainly smaller stations in
Africa or South America that are still outside the co-ordination process could
be incorporated easily into one, single database. There is also no great need
for the creation of more groups.
A global database is now in place on the HFCC website
for every season and we all keep updating it even between the seasonal
conferences. A newly improved method of detection of frequency
incompatibilities has just been developed. Yet there is not enough space in the
spectrum especially below 10 MHz, and sometimes it is extremely difficult to
find a suitable frequency. That is why I would like to recall in this context
that the history of more than 60 years of failed attempts at frequency planning
- before the introduction of our co-ordination - is still a warning memento to
us. The spectrum has always been limited, but all big ITU shortwave
broadcasting conferences before our time failed due to inflated frequency
requirements. We have come a long way from the confusion of huge and
disproportionate frequency submissions of those unsuccessful conferences. Most
of the requirements in our databases are real and genuine, and "wooden"
or "paper" frequencies can be detected more easily than in the past.
We took up this problem with only relatively few frequency managers who still
keep making such submissions, during the last Moscow B08 Conference and we are
going to carry on with those discussions in Tunis
But there is also a positive item about the HF
spectrum usage on the agenda. Literally for decades there was a problem with
the 7 MHz band allocation to broadcasting since we were not permitted to use it
for transmissions from, within, or to, the World Region 2 - i.e. North and South America . This was difficult, especially during the
epochs of low sunspot activity.
A small improvement came about as a result of an
ITU world conference in1992 but the new 50 kHz segment for this region was
officially endorsed for use in 2007 only. A more important change comes into
force with the start-date of the A09 schedule we are going to co-ordinate here
in Tunis
The upcoming changes after March 29th
2009 are quite complex and Geoff Spells and other Steering Board members have
tried hard to make them more transparent in a document which is on the HFCC
website. We believe that it is worthwhile to make good use of the new spectrum changes.
Coming back to the conference preparation, the
big attendance we have here in Tunis Bahrain in the ASBU group and a renewed
attendance from Algeria Tunis Russian Federation and an application for associate
membership from Radio Sweden
We have been working with Vladislav [Cip] for a
couple of days together with the ASBU team at the Alhambra Thalasspa hotel in
Hammamet. Let me thank all of
them for their work on the Conference preparation. I wish us all a good and successful
Conference.
-----
Message to
HFCC/ASBU Members
from Oldrich Cip,
Chairman
Dear Colleagues: The HFCC/ASBU Steering Board have agreed to
remind you again about important changes in the 7 MHz spectrum from March 29th
2009, the start of the A09 season. We would like to point out in particular
that there are still some requirements left in the range 7100-7200 kHz which
became an amateur band after that date. It is quite essential to continue to
work on moving these requirements to the new 7 MHz broadcasting band. Any
frequency management organizations with operational requirements in this band
at the start of the A09 season are likely to get complaints from the Amateur
service. As we informed you already
prior and during the A09 Tunis Conference, there is a detailed explanation of
the 7 MHz spectrum changes on the HFCC website:
http://www.hfcc.org/pro/A09-7MHz-changes.pdf
The Frequency Range Reference Table (rngfreq) in the package of reference tables on the HFCC website has been also amended.
-----
Message from
the International Amateur Radio Union
from David Sumner,
Secretary, International Amateur Radio Union
On
behalf of the worldwide amateur radio community I want to thank HFCC for
achieving such a high degree of compliance with the change in the 7 MHz
allocation last Sunday [March 29]. All of the comments I have received from
amateurs reflect gratitude for the dramatic improvement in the usefulness of
the band for amateur communication. I am certain that the few remaining BC
transmitters operating on 7200 kHz and below will be addressed in the coming
weeks. Thank you again for your
exceptional cooperation.
-----
Miscellaneous Shortwave-Related News
and Views
New HCJB Global President Emphasizes
Reaching the Unreached for Christ
News
release from HCJB
New
HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson reaffirmed the mission’s priority of
bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ via media and healthcare ministries to
those who have never heard during his inauguration ceremony the evening of
Thursday, Jan. 29. “My life was changed
at 16 when God called me to serve Him,” he told the crowd of nearly 200 HCJB
Global staff, nonprofit leaders, partners and friends at Pulpit Rock Church in
Colorado Springs, Colo. “My life mission for years was to use Christian media
to bring people to Christ. Now it’s using media and healthcare to introduce
people worldwide to Christ.”
Despite
the world’s economic and political challenges, he encouraged attendees not to
despair. “This is a time for hope and opportunity,” said Pederson, who became
the organization’s seventh president on Nov. 1, 2008. “We’re moving ahead. Global missions has
changed from a North American-European model to moving alongside indigenous
partners. We are striving to be the Voice and Hands of Jesus—the proclamation
and demonstration of the love of Christ. The task is not finished. There are
still 6,700 people groups—a quarter of the world’s population—that haven’t
heard the gospel message.”
While
HCJB Global is best known for its “giant shortwave station” in Ecuador Indonesia
Pederson
also introduced a new initiative focused on reaching households to be launched
at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention in Nashville
HCJB
Global Board Chairman John Baugus added that Pederson’s vision for HCJB Global
will be guided by his years of broadcasting and leadership experience at KTIS
at Northwestern College Latin America and Euro-Asia. He listed 10 priorities as HCJB Global moves
forward: effective use of new technologies, program formats geared to those
under 25, strong recruitment efforts to the next generation, agile decision-making,
lean infrastructure, emphasizing the Voice and Hands of Jesus, human crisis
response teams, reaching households and communities, strategic alliances with
Christian organizations, and an innovate financial model.
Since
1931, HCJB Global’s passion has been to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Using
mass media, healthcare and education, and working with partners around the
world, HCJB Global has ministries in more than 100 countries. Together with
local partners, the gospel is aired in more than 120 languages and dialects.
Thousands of listeners and healthcare patients are meeting Jesus. Local
believers are being trained as missionaries, pastors, broadcasters and
healthcare providers.
-----
Radio
Equipment Needed for new Shortwave Station in Africa
Dr.
R.M. Ako of Jewels of God International recently sent the following appeal to
the NASB: “We recently received a
license to operate a not for profit private SW radio station in West Africa and
would appreciate assistance by way of donations of new/used equipment or
contacts to purchase used but servicable equipment. All relevant broadcast equipment are needed
and their donations would be much appreciated. We are looking at a 10kW
SW transmitter to transmit in the 10kHz bandwidth. Our e-mail address is: jewelsofgodinternational@gmail.com. Thanks in anticipation of required
assistance.
-----
-----
VTC Offers ad hoc shortwave
broadcast time to Sudan, Bangladesh
and Pakistan
News release from
Tim Ayris of VT Communications
VT Communications
(VTC) is providing ad hoc, quick turnaround capacity on its global shortwave
network for broadcasters requiring extra transmissions into Sudan , Bangladesh
or Pakistan
Ad hoc, extra short wave broadcasts into Sudan - We have available slots
that would suit daily 30 minute and 60 minute programmes targeting Sudan
including: 0200 - 1200 UTC (5am
– 3pm local time), 250/500 kW options from a VTC transmitter located in
Dhabayya, UAE; 1900 UTC onwards (10pm onwards local time), 250/300/500 kW
options, VTC UK transmitter site.
Ad hoc, extra short wave broadcasts
into Bangladesh - We have available slots that would suit daily 30 minute and
60 minute programmes targeting Bangladesh including: 0200 - 1200 UTC (8am – 6pm local
time), 250/500 kW options from a VTC transmitter located in Dhabayya, UAE;
Various time slots available, 100/200 kW options, Central Asian
transmitter site.
Ad hoc, extra short wave broadcasts into Pakistan
- We
have available slots that would suit daily 30 minute and 60 minute programmes
targeting Pakistan including: Various
time slots, 250/300/500 kW options, VTC UK transmitter site.
All slots are offered on a "first come, first
served" basis. This is part of VTC’s
service which provides broadcasters with extra cost-effective capacity to
rapidly increase their transmission capability to cover major regional and
world news stories and events. If you require
extra capacity into these countries during this time, please contact
your designated VT Communications’ Account Manager or Tim Ayris, VT
Communications' Business Development Manager for Broadcast: tim.ayris@vtplc.com or telephone:
+44 (0)7515 333 142.
-----
Will Oceanographic Radar System Threaten HF Broadcast Spectrum?
On
February 18, Tom Lucey of the FCC's International Bureau advised the NASB of
the following:
“The
FCC's WRC-11 Advisory Committee, see http://www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc-11,
in Informal Working Group 1, has under its consideration WRC-11 Agenda Item
1.15 'to consider possible allocations in the range 3-50 MHz to the
radiolocation service for oceanographic radar applications, taking into account
the results of ITU-R studies, in accordance with Resolution 612
(WRC-07).' These allocations will be used for the operation of
oceanographic radars that monitor the sea surface for wave heights, currents and
tracking of large objects. Marcus Wolf,
one of the FCC representatives on this issue, has expressed to me the need for
the presence of the HF Broadcasting community in IWG-1 on this issue.”
The
NASB immediately got to work researching this issue. Glen Tapley of WEWN sent the following
initial report:
“
Reading
“Global
oceanographic stations, including those along the U.S. east and west coasts as
well as the Florida coast, will be using 50 watts to radiate frequencies in
order to monitor the ocean surface and then measure the scattered waves which
come back (Bragg’s Scattering). Apparently, this will assist in wave
heights, currents, and the tracking of large objects. Climate change,
pollution, and ship safety are the goals of the studies. These radars
have been in use for the past 30 years on a non-interference experimental
basis. Now they want to study the permanence of spectrum
allocation. Under study are the types of antenna, the possibility of
utilizing directional antennae, limiting spurious and out-of-band emission, and
to limit the emission bandwidth to the necessary bandwidth. Also being
studied is the possible re-use of sharing common spectrum by multiple
oceanographic radar stations. The thought is that if the sweeps to the
ocean surface is time staggered, a single frequency could be used by multiple
radar stations. While a typical operation of the HF bandwidth is 5 kHz,
the oceanographic stations will require signal bandwidth of 150 kHz to
sweep.
“How
exactly this will effect us is still a question to be answered. At this
point, there are still too many TBDs without conclusions and this study is to
determine just what effect it will have on HF broadcasters and other HF
users. We should keep pulse with what’s going on and try to get immediate
information as it becomes available.”
On
March 3, Glen Tapley provided the following update, based on his discussions
with Marcus Wolfe of the FCC and David Franc of NOAA, who is co-heading the WRC
11 study:
“The
study group has divided the HF frequency bands into three distinct
categories: Category A includes fixed,
mobile, and radio astronomy. This is their preferred bands to study for
usable radar frequencies. Category B includes amateur and broadcasting.
David said they would prefer not to use these frequencies due to broadcasting,
but all frequencies within, while not totally ruled out are problematic due to
sharing with amateur and HF broadcasters.
Category C, maritime and aeronautical, will not be studied. “The frequencies
within the fixed service frequencies of 5.060-5.450 are primarily the
frequencies we will have some concern about. The other is fixed service
frequencies to be looked at by the study, including 12.100-12.230. David
pointed out that there will be an initial 100 radar stations along the United States
Glen
suggests reviewing the following web page for a general explanation of HF radar
stations:
The
chief engineer of NASB member station KTWR on Guam indicated that the radar
system could affect two frequencies that the station uses to reach China
Two
meetings were scheduled in Washington for March 17 and 19 to deal with the
oceanographic radar system's desires for spectrum space. The NASB contracted with well-known technical
expert Dr. Don Messer (formerly of the IBB and the DRM Consortium), who also
represented us in hearings regarding the official U.S. position on proposed
changes to the HF broadcast spectrum at the most recent World
Radiocommunication Conference. Dr.
Messer attended both meetings on behalf of the NASB, and he sent the following
report: “Both the IWG-1 and USWP5B
meetings were calm; that is, no controversies concerning Agenda Item 1.15 on
ocean characteristics radars trying to muscle in somewhere in
various segments of the 3 - 50 MHz spectral region (Agenda Item 1.15).
“1.
IWG-1 -- the official industry advisory unit to the FCC on WRC-11 matters
dealing with maritime, aeronautical and radar services: The short document has been approved. It will
be a part of the "approved documents" package that will be presented
at the parent organization (WAC) soon by the IWG-1 chair. The document notes
that it will be best to stay away from the Broadcasting and Amateur bands below
30 MHz as a part of a "US Preliminary View". That's clearly OK for
us. Nevertheless, when the sharing studies
get earnestly underway, here and in Geneva US
“2.
USWP5B - the US Geneva US
delegation shoves off for Geneva
So
that is the latest on the oceanographic radar situation as far as potential
effects on U.S.
-----
Noted Shortwave Broadcaster Passes On
Bob Zanotti of Switzerland
“It is my
sad duty to inform you that Dick Speekman, host of Radio Netherlands' DX Juke
Box in the 1970's and 80's, died on
March 11 in the hospital at Hawker, Australia. He had been ill with cancer for
some time and underwent a series of treatments in the last couple of years. We
were in regular contact, and he sensed that the end was near. With Dick, we
lose one of the great names in SW radio, and I have lost a good friend.”
Bob
also notes that the only known surviving recordings of the old Swiss Shortwave
Merry-Go-Round program of the 1960's and Two Bobs shows of the 80's and 90's
are now available as MP3 files under The Two Bobs section of www.switzerlandinsound.com.
-----
Latest News from DRM
Excerpted from the March 2009 DRM
Newsletter
India
After extensive trials in 2007, the Indian state
broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has decided that DRM is the best technology
for converting its vast public service broadcasting network to digital. After
conducting trials over a one and a half year period, AIR has started regular
DRM transmissions from a 250 KW SW transmitter installed near the capital city New Delhi
The BES (Broadcast
Engineering Society of India) event held in New Delhi
-----
Encouraging News from Russia
The Consortium has received some very
encouraging news from Russia
that its General Radio Frequency Centre has decided to introduce ‘Digital Radio
Mondiale’ (DRM) in Russia
The Russian General Radio Frequency Centre, the organization that
coordinates national spectrum management issues, took the decision on 20
January 2009 following a series of tests on the future use of transmission
networks with digital technology.
The Radio Frequency Service carries out supervision
over emissions of radio-electronic facilities and high-frequency devices,
provides proper use of radio frequencies and radio frequency channels,
radio-electronic facilities and high-frequency devices, assistance in international
legal protection of radio frequency assignments
-----
Polskie
Radio Uses DRM
German transmission-services
provider and DRM Associate Member Media Broadcast has begun transmitting
digital shortwave broadcasts for Polskie Radio, the external service of Polish
public broadcaster using the Digital Radio Mondiale standard.
"The introduction of DRM is considered a renaissance for shortwave radio," Media Broadcast said in the announcement. "The Polskie Radio broadcasts can be heard with DRM throughoutEurope
in considerably better sound quality."
"The introduction of DRM is considered a renaissance for shortwave radio," Media Broadcast said in the announcement. "The Polskie Radio broadcasts can be heard with DRM throughout
Media Broadcast is part of the
TDF Group, which operates transmission facilities and networks across Europe . Media Broadcast launched the service in December.
An English-language program is broadcast on 6015 kHz from 1800-1859 UTC; a
German program is broadcast on 3975 kHz from 2030 to 2100 UTC.
Media Broadcast has shortwave
transmission facilities in Nauen and Wertachtal ,
Germany
-----
Invitation to DRM Event at the NAB Convention in Las Vegas
Continental
Electronics and DRM Digital Radio Mondiale have the great pleasure of inviting
you to a DRM panel discussion and networking event, “DRM is here - wide
coverage, low costs, digital quality.”
The presentations, question and answer session and networking event will
take place on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 from 15:00 – 18:00 hours at the
Continental Booth, N 7007, at the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas , Nevada
The
panel discussion on DRM digital radio at 3 pm will be followed by a social
event where you can meet the DRM Consortium's top experts and other leading
players in the international radio market. Please respond to
pressoffice@drm.org to confirm your attendance.
If you cannot make this date or time, you can still meet DRM officials
and get more information, see new receivers and get DRM roll-out news from around the
world at the Continental booth every day at 3.30 pm from April 20th-23rd 2009
in Las Vegas.
-----
Kintronic
Labs at the NAB
New
NASB associate member Kintronic Labs invites you to its booth at the NAB
Convention in Las Vegas Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas , Nevada
Press release from
Keith Perron
After
an almost 15 year absence on the shortwave dial The Happy Station
Show returned this March. The Happy
Station is one the longest running shows ever on shortwave, having begun in
March of 1927 when Philips Radio started broadcasts over station PCJJ as a way
to reach the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).
Sometime in 1928 a very young Edward Startz created the Happy
Station. He changed PCJJ to PCJ, which
he said stood for Peace, Cheer and Joy. The show continued until the start of
the war. During WW2 the only shortwave done by the Dutch was via the BBC in London broadcasting back to Holland Netherlands
In January 1970 Tom Meijer, who was working for the Dutch section of Radio Nederland, took over as host. This was a major transition. With Tom, the show took on a new life and energy. The Tom Meijer era was one of fun, with Tom making you feel that the Sunday broadcasts were bringing all the listeners together for a family gathering. It truly was your Sunday family show of smiles across the miles. Tom Meijer stayed with Happy Station for 21 years until he retired. After he left the show it was first taken over by long time RadioNetherlands
Why return Happy Station? The Happy Station had and still has a very loyal audience, and now the time is right to return with the same message of Peace, Cheer and Joy and Smiles Across The Miles that Edward and Tom brought listeners every week.
What is different? One of the major changes with the Happy Station today is it won't be a Radio Netherlands production. Instead it will be independently produced and distributed. RadioNetherlands has given permission for the new
producer and presenter to use the name Happy Station, as long as it's made
clear there is no affiliation with Radio Netherlands
The new Happy Station host will be Keith Perron, a Canadian broadcaster who has been based inAsia for almost 10 years. He has
worked as an announcer/producer with CKUT Montreal, Radio Canada International,
Radio Havana Cuba
The new Happy Station Show won't be produced inHolland ,
but will be based in Taipei ,
Taiwan South America . After the show's
first transmission on shortwave, it is uploaded as a podcast so fans of the
show not in the target region will be able to tune in. A plan is in place to
bring it on shortwave to other regions of the world; this will be announced at
a later date. A Facebook page has also been set up where listeners can send in
pictures and recorded messages, which will be used on the show.
With the revival of The Happy Station Show there will also be a Happy Station youtube channel, where listeners will be able to upload videos from whereever they are in the world. The new host of the show will also present videos and a behind the scenes look at the new show and its new surrounding.
For listeners who remember the Spanish version of the show, La Estación de la Alegría, Keith will at a later date present both editions. At the beginning the show will be bi-weekly. When the Spanish edition comes at a later date, it will alternate with the English Happy Station.
For those who fondly remember Tom Meijer, you will also have a chance to hear him again in guest spots as well as some of the songs he recorded at RadioNetherlands
For more information, audio samples and pictures contact:
Skype: pcj.happystation
Email: pcj.happystation@gmail.com
Telephone: +886 938408592
Facebook: The New Happy Station
Post: Happy Station Show Attn: Keith Perron, 8th Floor, No47, Lane 31, Section 1, Sanmin Road, Banciao, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC), 22070
In January 1970 Tom Meijer, who was working for the Dutch section of Radio Nederland, took over as host. This was a major transition. With Tom, the show took on a new life and energy. The Tom Meijer era was one of fun, with Tom making you feel that the Sunday broadcasts were bringing all the listeners together for a family gathering. It truly was your Sunday family show of smiles across the miles. Tom Meijer stayed with Happy Station for 21 years until he retired. After he left the show it was first taken over by long time Radio
Why return Happy Station? The Happy Station had and still has a very loyal audience, and now the time is right to return with the same message of Peace, Cheer and Joy and Smiles Across The Miles that Edward and Tom brought listeners every week.
What is different? One of the major changes with the Happy Station today is it won't be a Radio Netherlands production. Instead it will be independently produced and distributed. Radio
The new Happy Station host will be Keith Perron, a Canadian broadcaster who has been based in
The new Happy Station Show won't be produced in
With the revival of The Happy Station Show there will also be a Happy Station youtube channel, where listeners will be able to upload videos from whereever they are in the world. The new host of the show will also present videos and a behind the scenes look at the new show and its new surrounding.
For listeners who remember the Spanish version of the show, La Estación de la Alegría, Keith will at a later date present both editions. At the beginning the show will be bi-weekly. When the Spanish edition comes at a later date, it will alternate with the English Happy Station.
For those who fondly remember Tom Meijer, you will also have a chance to hear him again in guest spots as well as some of the songs he recorded at Radio
For more information, audio samples and pictures contact:
Skype: pcj.happystation
Email: pcj.happystation@gmail.com
Telephone: +886 938408592
Facebook: The New Happy Station
Post: Happy Station Show Attn: Keith Perron, 8th Floor, No47, Lane 31, Section 1, Sanmin Road, Banciao, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC), 22070
The current shortwave schedule for The
Happy Station is 0100-0200 UTC Thursday to Latin America and 1500-1600 UTC
Thursday to North America – both on 9955
kHz. These transmissions can also be
heard via a live Internet stream at www.wrmi.net
-----
Shortwave – My View
by Keith Perron
Guest
commentary for the NASB Newsletter (your responses are welcome)
My
very first job on shortwave radio was around 19 years ago when I did some
replacement work for Radio Canada International’s English language service to Asia . During that time I have seen so many changes, but
not always for the best. Since around 1991 all of us have seen shortwave
broadcasters drop frequencies, cut back on programming and reduce broadcast
hours. The question that many of us who
work in this medium and listen is: Is
this the right way to go? Yes it’s true
that since the internet took off, broadcasters such as the BBC, Deutsche Welle,
Radio Netherlands and others now have another means of distribution and can
attract a different audience that normally would not listen on shortwave. But!
To cut off an audience of hundred of thousands or I would even go as far to say
millions of people who have shortwave radios and are regular listeners is very
short sighted. Myself and many others are asking why, why, why? What’s going on?
I
think we need to examine when all this started happening. In the early 90s just after the collapse of
Communism in Europe , stations started to think
how to get listeners to listen. This is
around the same time many managers of SW stations started to retire. The new generation of managers (I should also
state not all) are just that: managers.
Many of them know nothing or little about radio -- let alone shortwave
-- to be able to create programs for an international audience that wants to
tune in. It’s almost like when lawyers
and accountants took over the music industry.
Many
of the new generation of station managers think that switching off shortwave
and relaying on internet and satellite is the way to go. A few years ago I was at a radio conference
in Tokyo , Japan New
York , Boston , LA ,
Brisbane US or Canada Canada Sweden Burlington , Vermont at 5:30am; Seattle ,
Washington
Another
point is content. In the last 15 years or so it seems that all shortwave
stations do is news and more news, all trying -- I say TRYING -- to be like a
mini BBC or VOA. After a while if you tune in you will find that the majority
of the news put out by the small to medium international broadcasters is all
the same. If I want to find out what’s
going on in my corner of the world I tune to the BBC. Why would I listen to Radio Bla bla bla for
an hour to hear the same thing that’s being broadcast by the BBC? If I tune to stations like Radio France , Deutsche Welle, Radio Netherlands
My
next point is budget. Yes we have seen
budgets at stations cut, but maybe it’s time to not cut back on programming,
but rather to look at the way you do programs.
Radio Canada International, which has had severe cut backs since the
early 90s, could be a case in point. RCI, like some other international
broadcasters, have so much overhead it’s not funny. At RCI you have in-studio
technicians. What luxury. In almost
every station I’ve worked at as an announcer/producer you did your own
technical work. And now with the new studio technology it’s even easier than it
was 10 years ago when tape and LP's were still widely used. When I was at China Radio International, I
used to produce and present a daily 30-minute current affairs program called
Real-Time China. How many people helped
me? Zero! I would set up interviews, research, write,
edit and transmit the program to master control for broadcast to North America
and Europe .
But yet stations like RCI and others have people that do these things
for the producers and presenters. I mean really, what luxury! So when cuts are made, where is it? First programming, then frequencies and third
staff. Then what do you have? Programs no one hears or let alone listens
to!
Something
that many programmers and managers don’t think of is how important SW is even
to a region like North America . Do any of them
know how many people tuned in during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? From
what I’ve been able to find out, SW was the only way to hear news, as many of
the local stations had no power or were knocked off air when their transmitter
sites were damaged. During the 2005
tsunami, which devastated Indonesia ,
Sri Lanka , India , Thailand ,
and Maldives Taiwan China that
killed nearly 70,000 people in Sichuan
Province
Let’s
move to China Beijing China
were jammed, but all I had to do was tune to a frequency for let's say Africa
or Eastern Europe , and had no problem to
listen. This is the magic of
shortwave. You can have a program
directed only to Europe or somewhere else, but
you can also listen in a different region as the signal is bouncing
around. Try listening to online radio in
China Canada
So
finally. Is shortwave dead? No! Stations, managers and programmers just need
to stop thinking of the internet and domestic relays as new toys. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, improve
it. My feeling is that over the next 10
years or hopefully less, the stations,
people and governments that have cut shortwave will wake up and say “What have
we done?” Yes it’s true that nowadays there is much more competition with the
300 TV channels that are delivered to our homes, or we can just click and
listen to our favorite program. But
radio and shortwave is still the most economical medium.
To
end, I would like to say to every international broadcaster: Produce interesting programs that will make
people want to listen on shortwave. Yes,
music does not sound that great on SW, but if you have good radio personalities
and interesting programs people will listen.
Promote shortwave as a very economical means to reach millions of
people. Look into how to improve your
shortwave signal instead of just cutting it.
And do something for all the loyal shortwave listeners that are now cut
off and have no other way to tune in anymore. Bring back the respect we all
once had.
Editor's
Note: An audio version of this
commentary running about 11 minutes is available as an mp3 file upon request from info@wrmi.net.
-----
Name
Change for WEWN
Glen
Tapley reports that the official name of EWTN's shortwave station is now EWTN
Shortwave Radio (WEWN).
-----
Adventist
World Radio Announces 2009 AWR DX Contest
by Dr.
Adrian Peterson, AWR DX Editor
Once
again, Adventist World Radio takes pleasure in conducting an annual listener
contest, and for this year the title is: “Silent Shortwave Station
Contest.” You are invited to search
through your own QSL collection and assemble together all of your QSLs that
verify the reception of shortwave stations and/or shortwave transmitters that
are no longer on the air. In addition to
the regular awards worldwide, there will be special awards for those who
include a reception report of our DX program, “Wavescan,” via Radio Miami
International WRMI, in Miami
Florida
1.
List what you consider to be the five best QSLs from shortwave stations or
transmitters that are no longer on the air.
The “best” may be described as the station or the transmitter itself, or
the distance, or the power, or the age, or the circumstances under which you
heard the station; or the QSL card itself, etc.
(Do not send the original cards.)
2. In
one paragraph each, describe the reason why you consider each card to be one of
the best in your collection.
3.
Enclose a photocopy or each of these five cards, preferably in color, though
black and white may be acceptable.
Remember, do not send the originals.
4.
Send at least three reception reports on any AWR broadcast from KSDA Guam, or
any AWR relay broadcast via any relay station anywhere in the world. The AWR broadcasts may be on shortwave,
mediumwave or FM. All reception reports will be verified with a contest
endorsement on the QSL card.
5.
Where possible, please enclose three radio cards for inclusion in the
Indianapolis QSL collection. These cards
may be old or new, and they may be QSL cards, reception report cards, picture
cards, etc. Not valid for this contest
are amateur nor CB QSL cards.
The
2009 AWR DX Contest, “Silent Shortwave Station Contest,” will run through the
month of June. All contest entries must
be postmarked at the listener’s location in any country of the world on any
date during the month of June, and they must be delivered to the AWR postal address
in Indianapolis
The
only address for the 2009 “Silent Shortwave Station Contest” is:
Silent
Shortwave Station Contest
The
awards for this year’s contest will be similar to all previous contests. There will be a special award for the world
winner, one of the Jerry Berg radio history books; and “World Radio TV
Handbook” or “Passport to World Band Radio” for continental winners. In addition, there will be special awards for
those who send in a reception report on the broadcast of “Wavescan” over the
shortwave station in Miami
-----
Adrian Peterson's
American DX Report
* USA New Zealand , Austria
and the United States Boston
* NEW ZEALAND : The shortwave station, ZLXA,
operated by the Radio Reading Service at Levin in New Zealand
* CANADA : Several reports from shortwave listeners
in Canada and the United States state that the CBC shortwave
station CKZN in Mount Pearl , Newfoundland
can be heard currently with a surprisingly good signal at great distances in North America . This transmitter carries the programming
from the CBC FM studio located at Happy
Valley in Labrador
and it is listed with 1 kW on 6160 kHz.
* AUSTRALIA : The Australian DX News reports that
the two remaining mediumwave stations in Launceston ,
Tasmania Tasmania
-----
Your
News is Welcome
We
invite all NASB members and associate members to send us news about their
organizations for publication here in the NASB Newsletter. Send your news items to Jeff White at
jeff@wrmi.net.
-----
NASB
Members:
Adventist World Radio
Assemblies of Yahweh
EWTN Shortwave Radio (WEWN)
Family Stations Inc.
Far East Broadcasting Co.
Fundamental Broadcasting
Network
La Voz de Restauracion
Broadcasting, Inc.
Le Sea Broadcasting Corp.
Radio Miami
Trans World Radio
World Christian Broadcasting
World Wide Christian Radio
NASB
Associate Members:
Comet North
America
Continental Electronics
Corporation
Galcom International
George Jacobs &
Associates
Hatfield and Dawson
Consulting Engineers
HCJB World Radio
IBB
Kintronic Labs, Inc.
TCI International, Inc.
TDF
TDP
Thomson Inc.
VT Communications
National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters
Ph: (863)
763-0281 Fax: (863) 763-8867 E-mail:
nasbmem@rocketmail.com
