** ANTARCTICA [and non]. 15476+, LRA36 on Friday May 7: carrier not on until *1208. Meanwhile I was hearing a kid show from China on 15480, which continued to mar 15476 due to hi-pitched voices and music. Figured LRA36 copy would be tough, so moved on to other monitoring, but when I came back at 1253 it had faded up nicely during Andean music: singer, guitar, quena (after all, the Antarctic Peninsula could be considered an extension of the Andes, altho ``Andean music`` applies more to styles of Ecuador-Perú-Bolivia). At 1256 quick ID by OM mentioning ``15476``, back to music, now romantic.
By 1258 it`s peaking S9+8 and better than 15480. YL DJ tells story of a ``santa imagen`` which had visited various santuarios around South America; mentioned Córdoba, Tucumán. Apparently the Argies are not concerned about separating church and state, as this government station not only tells religious tales, but is even named for an archangel!
1303 back to music; 1323 YL announcement but fading down. 1339 still audible music; 1431, still a carrier and I reconfirmed that it is a tad on the hi side of 15476, bits of music. Thus concludes the third week of my almost-weekdaily reception during the rescheduled M-F 12-15 transmission (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** AUSTRALIA. 6020: see VATICAN [non]
** AUSTRIA. 15440, May 7 at 1404 nice S Asian music, seemingly secular, but maybe not. I bet it`s AWR via Austria. Yes, at 1404 YL speaking S Asian language; 1410 pronouncing in English a P O Box in Hyderabad, Pakistan, and urdu @ awr.org This is 300 kW, due east from Moosbrunn (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake May 7, scanning up from 8 to 19 MHz: no 8400 or 9000, but:
9380, good at 1330 with QRM de Brother Scare WWRB 9385. Aoki shows 9380 has nothing but a 100-watt Sound of Hope transmitter to tie up one of the jammers. I soon find that 9380 FD is NOT // all the others, running from a different playback of the 60-minute concert.
10300, fair at 1333; S9+12 at 1440
11100, fair at 1333
12600, fair at 1336
12980, fair at 1336
13100, fair at 1337
13300, fair at 1437, not heard during the previous hour
13970, JBA at 1352, but at 1437 this one has risen to good, S9+12
Of the CNR1 jammers, noticed that both 11785 echoey and 11805 not echoey, May 7 at 1335 with Chinese talk had the same 1-kHz tone in the mix for about a minute; so it was from the input (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ANTARCTICA [and non]
** CUBA [and non]. 15380, RHC at 1356 May 7 with severe Qur`anRM, i.e. BSKSA already using this frequency, and making a fast SAH. The two take turns dominating, but Saudi gone at 1404 check. Rumen Pankov`s monitored BSKSA schedule in DXLD 10-18 shows 15380 until 1355 with Qoran Kerim in Arabic (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DCJC: see USA WRMI
** INDIA. 9690, AIR GOS, May 7 at 1331 check in English news about the German ambassador; so in correct language for the fourth day in a row, but poor reception far afield from SE Asia. AIR has always refused to target North America so we have to take whatever we can get (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN [non]. 13860, could enjoy a bit of Bollywood-influenced music, May 7 at 1353, soon IDed at Radio Farda. Only F-P signal, weaker than Russian on 13870 = VOR St. Pete, and also weaker than RHC leapfrog on 13880. Aoki shows 13860 Farda via Lampertheim until 1300; via Wertachtal from 1400, but obviously on the air as well during the intervening hour, probably from former site. Might have been better after 1400 upping from 100 to 250 kW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 6045, XEXQ-OC, May 7 at tune-in 1203 playing Pomp & Circumstance #1, a.k.a. Land of Hope & Glory. 1209 check in Spanish talk segment, 1213 other classical music starting. Reception better than usual today; at 1232 still in at S9+12, but the band noise level is growing.
Meanwhile, 6010 was lacking XEOI, Radio Mil around 1215; is ordinarily weak but reliable during this hour. 1241 check now it`s audible in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES. See VATICAN [non]
** SAUDI ARABIA. See CUBA [and non]
** SUDAN [non]. 15710, Miraya FM via IRRS via SLOVAKIA: May 7 at 1402 poor signal in some variety of Arabic; modulation seems noisy; also overridden for a few sex by ``running water`` utility. Soon faded to inaudibility. I was checking this, since on May 1 and part of May 2, this transmission carried something else in English, perhaps a mixup or last-minute substitute from Milano or Rimavská Sobota. Worth looking for that again this weekend (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WWCR chex May 7: at 0530, 3215 is back on and so are the other three transmitters. Trouble is, 3215 has Dead Gene Scott, where he is not supposed to be; furthermore, he is ALSO on // 5935 AND 5890! I assume 3 x DGS is an anomaly caused by the recent troubles.
At 1250, 15825 is audible poorly, the usual situation here. At 1338 I note that 9980 is inbooming, as is 7490, the latter // weak 13845 with The Power Hower. So everything is getting back to normal; we hope in time for WORLD OF RADIO 1511 first airing Friday at 2029v on 15825.
Then we find a new update on the WWCR website May 7 (and the May 6 one has been removed, so we need to check at least once a day):
``7 May, 2010 - Operations at WWCR are returning to normal almost as quickly as the floodwaters rose in the antenna field. Over the past 24 hours, the water level has dropped by 10 feet and about half of the grass in the field is exposed to the clear Nashville sky. All 4 WWCR transmitters are again in service.
Chief Engineer Phil Patton also installed several new capacitors and rectifiers in WNQM's Harris DX-50 and brought AM 1300 back "on-air" by noon local time on Thursday. WNQM is operating at reduced power until the weekend when Phil plans to wade into the field to assess flood related damage to the transmission line.
Telephone and internet service have not yet been restored. Production Manager Chris Buchanan has brought in a mobile hotspot device to download many of the programs which are delivered via internet.
WNQM and WWCR's return to the air is owed to its incomparable staff. State and local officials are giving initial estimates of damage in excess of $1 billion in both the public and private sectors. While our stations have resumed operation and the rains have passed, a return to normal life will take many months for many of our neighbors, friends and employees. Please keep the people of Nashville, Tennessee in your thoughts and prayers`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Checking the WWRB broadcast of WORLD OF RADIO 1511, UT Friday May 7 at 0330 on 3185: heavy T-storm noise on the band, but WWRB almost overcomes it. Previous preacher still going until 0332. Then dead air for two minutes until 0334 WOR joined in progress during Antarctica item. Apparently they started the playback at 0332 but did not turn up the volume (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9955, WRMI, checking for the Friday 1430 airing of WORLD OF RADIO 1511: May 7 at 1441 audible but still troubled by lite pulse jamming which occasionally overtakes. Tnx a lot, Arnie! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [non]. 6020, R. Australia caught my attention May 7 at 1220 with a discussion of early aviatrix Amy Johnson, first to fly solo (sola?) from England to Australia, whose autographed helmet is now an artifact. She died in WWII. (I equally lament that ``aviatrix`` is becoming archaic, and advocate the -trix suffix being employed to feminize other occupations, e.g. announcetrix; surely better than ``announcess``).
I knew co-channel interference was imminent but had not QSYed to RA on 9580 or 9590 when at 1228 on came music underneath: ``Baby, I`m-a Want You`` by Bread, which is in stereotypical Italian-accent dialect.
Does someone have a sense of humor at Vatican Radio or Radio Veritas Asia? This ran for only two minutes as prélude to the VR relay starting at *1230 with bells of St. Peter`s, 1231 into Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
By 1258 it`s peaking S9+8 and better than 15480. YL DJ tells story of a ``santa imagen`` which had visited various santuarios around South America; mentioned Córdoba, Tucumán. Apparently the Argies are not concerned about separating church and state, as this government station not only tells religious tales, but is even named for an archangel!
1303 back to music; 1323 YL announcement but fading down. 1339 still audible music; 1431, still a carrier and I reconfirmed that it is a tad on the hi side of 15476, bits of music. Thus concludes the third week of my almost-weekdaily reception during the rescheduled M-F 12-15 transmission (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** AUSTRALIA. 6020: see VATICAN [non]
** AUSTRIA. 15440, May 7 at 1404 nice S Asian music, seemingly secular, but maybe not. I bet it`s AWR via Austria. Yes, at 1404 YL speaking S Asian language; 1410 pronouncing in English a P O Box in Hyderabad, Pakistan, and urdu @ awr.org This is 300 kW, due east from Moosbrunn (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake May 7, scanning up from 8 to 19 MHz: no 8400 or 9000, but:
9380, good at 1330 with QRM de Brother Scare WWRB 9385. Aoki shows 9380 has nothing but a 100-watt Sound of Hope transmitter to tie up one of the jammers. I soon find that 9380 FD is NOT // all the others, running from a different playback of the 60-minute concert.
10300, fair at 1333; S9+12 at 1440
11100, fair at 1333
12600, fair at 1336
12980, fair at 1336
13100, fair at 1337
13300, fair at 1437, not heard during the previous hour
13970, JBA at 1352, but at 1437 this one has risen to good, S9+12
Of the CNR1 jammers, noticed that both 11785 echoey and 11805 not echoey, May 7 at 1335 with Chinese talk had the same 1-kHz tone in the mix for about a minute; so it was from the input (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ANTARCTICA [and non]
** CUBA [and non]. 15380, RHC at 1356 May 7 with severe Qur`anRM, i.e. BSKSA already using this frequency, and making a fast SAH. The two take turns dominating, but Saudi gone at 1404 check. Rumen Pankov`s monitored BSKSA schedule in DXLD 10-18 shows 15380 until 1355 with Qoran Kerim in Arabic (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DCJC: see USA WRMI
** INDIA. 9690, AIR GOS, May 7 at 1331 check in English news about the German ambassador; so in correct language for the fourth day in a row, but poor reception far afield from SE Asia. AIR has always refused to target North America so we have to take whatever we can get (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN [non]. 13860, could enjoy a bit of Bollywood-influenced music, May 7 at 1353, soon IDed at Radio Farda. Only F-P signal, weaker than Russian on 13870 = VOR St. Pete, and also weaker than RHC leapfrog on 13880. Aoki shows 13860 Farda via Lampertheim until 1300; via Wertachtal from 1400, but obviously on the air as well during the intervening hour, probably from former site. Might have been better after 1400 upping from 100 to 250 kW (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 6045, XEXQ-OC, May 7 at tune-in 1203 playing Pomp & Circumstance #1, a.k.a. Land of Hope & Glory. 1209 check in Spanish talk segment, 1213 other classical music starting. Reception better than usual today; at 1232 still in at S9+12, but the band noise level is growing.
Meanwhile, 6010 was lacking XEOI, Radio Mil around 1215; is ordinarily weak but reliable during this hour. 1241 check now it`s audible in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES. See VATICAN [non]
** SAUDI ARABIA. See CUBA [and non]
** SUDAN [non]. 15710, Miraya FM via IRRS via SLOVAKIA: May 7 at 1402 poor signal in some variety of Arabic; modulation seems noisy; also overridden for a few sex by ``running water`` utility. Soon faded to inaudibility. I was checking this, since on May 1 and part of May 2, this transmission carried something else in English, perhaps a mixup or last-minute substitute from Milano or Rimavská Sobota. Worth looking for that again this weekend (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WWCR chex May 7: at 0530, 3215 is back on and so are the other three transmitters. Trouble is, 3215 has Dead Gene Scott, where he is not supposed to be; furthermore, he is ALSO on // 5935 AND 5890! I assume 3 x DGS is an anomaly caused by the recent troubles.
At 1250, 15825 is audible poorly, the usual situation here. At 1338 I note that 9980 is inbooming, as is 7490, the latter // weak 13845 with The Power Hower. So everything is getting back to normal; we hope in time for WORLD OF RADIO 1511 first airing Friday at 2029v on 15825.
Then we find a new update on the WWCR website May 7 (and the May 6 one has been removed, so we need to check at least once a day):
``7 May, 2010 - Operations at WWCR are returning to normal almost as quickly as the floodwaters rose in the antenna field. Over the past 24 hours, the water level has dropped by 10 feet and about half of the grass in the field is exposed to the clear Nashville sky. All 4 WWCR transmitters are again in service.
Chief Engineer Phil Patton also installed several new capacitors and rectifiers in WNQM's Harris DX-50 and brought AM 1300 back "on-air" by noon local time on Thursday. WNQM is operating at reduced power until the weekend when Phil plans to wade into the field to assess flood related damage to the transmission line.
Telephone and internet service have not yet been restored. Production Manager Chris Buchanan has brought in a mobile hotspot device to download many of the programs which are delivered via internet.
WNQM and WWCR's return to the air is owed to its incomparable staff. State and local officials are giving initial estimates of damage in excess of $1 billion in both the public and private sectors. While our stations have resumed operation and the rains have passed, a return to normal life will take many months for many of our neighbors, friends and employees. Please keep the people of Nashville, Tennessee in your thoughts and prayers`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. Checking the WWRB broadcast of WORLD OF RADIO 1511, UT Friday May 7 at 0330 on 3185: heavy T-storm noise on the band, but WWRB almost overcomes it. Previous preacher still going until 0332. Then dead air for two minutes until 0334 WOR joined in progress during Antarctica item. Apparently they started the playback at 0332 but did not turn up the volume (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9955, WRMI, checking for the Friday 1430 airing of WORLD OF RADIO 1511: May 7 at 1441 audible but still troubled by lite pulse jamming which occasionally overtakes. Tnx a lot, Arnie! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [non]. 6020, R. Australia caught my attention May 7 at 1220 with a discussion of early aviatrix Amy Johnson, first to fly solo (sola?) from England to Australia, whose autographed helmet is now an artifact. She died in WWII. (I equally lament that ``aviatrix`` is becoming archaic, and advocate the -trix suffix being employed to feminize other occupations, e.g. announcetrix; surely better than ``announcess``).
I knew co-channel interference was imminent but had not QSYed to RA on 9580 or 9590 when at 1228 on came music underneath: ``Baby, I`m-a Want You`` by Bread, which is in stereotypical Italian-accent dialect.
Does someone have a sense of humor at Vatican Radio or Radio Veritas Asia? This ran for only two minutes as prélude to the VR relay starting at *1230 with bells of St. Peter`s, 1231 into Chinese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
