** ALBANIA. 13625, March 28 at 1428, our first chance in A-11 to check R. Tirana`s new schedule of English to North America: no adjacent- or co-channel QRM at all, signal S9+10, fair with fading, and as so often the case, modulation is muffled and so low, that the propagational fading is louder than the station. I am able to make out parts of the complete English schedule being announced, and it does have the new DST timings, such as 2000, 1430 and 0030, so presumably updated and correct altho I could not copy it completely with frequencies.
CODAR goes no higher than 13605, so R. Tirana has an absolutely clear frequency. If only it would do its part by fully modulating. At 1451, it`s still too low to understand anything; for a couple of minutes I was even wondering if there was any audio at all.
Next English is at 1845 on 13640 and 7520. Inaudible here on 7520; 13640 has fair signal and better modulation now so that with some concentration one can understand most of the news about Albania. Again this frequency is totally free of adjacent- and co-channel QRM.
The A-11 schedule of all R. Tirana English for our further monitoring:
Mon-Sat:
1430-1500 13625
1845-1900 13640 7520
2000-2030 13640 7465 [and WWCR should be off 7465 now until *2100!]
UT Tue-Sun:
0030-0045 9860
0145-0200 7425
0230-0300 7425
0330-0400 7425
And Albanian, daily:
0630-0900 7390
2030-2200 9860 6165
2300-2430 9860 7325
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ANTARCTICA [and non]. 15476, another week starts with nothing from LRA36, checked March 28 at 1334 and once or twice more in the following sesquihour. Fortunately, still nothing scheduled on 15475 any time, but adjacent channels are fuller now than in B-10:
15470: Saudi Arabia until 13, Brother Scare via Germany 13-14, BBC Cyprus in Hindi & Urdu 14-16;
15480: Poland: via Woofferton in Russian 1300-1330, via Rampisham in Belorussian at 1330-1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** AUSTRALIA. 15340, good with flutter, March 28 at 1459 gospel C&W song, 1501 no ID but introducing Steve Green singing a hymn; 1505 preaching. Must be HCJB, in English at 1445-1530; at tune-in was free of Moroccan 15341 het as that was briefly off for QSY to 15345, resuming at 1502 in Arabic, but no problem for 15340 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. Re my last report, RCI in English on 15330 before 2100: I heard it there, but checking the A-11 schedule later, it`s supposed to be on 13650 which I did not check, with 15330 on the air only after 2100 in French. Are they confused in Sackville about ADT vs UT vs A11 changes? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake March 28, all //:
15900, good with flutter at 1346
14700, very poor at 1346
13500, good with flutter at 1347
13130, good at 1347
No others found 10-17 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [non]. 9650 again this A-season has a big collision at 1300 March 28 between CRI English via Sackville, CANADA and RNW Dutch via Tinang, PHILIPPINES. We repeatedly complained about this last summer, but old habits are hard to break. First of all, it makes no sense to go from a higher band in the winter to a lower one in the summer for a transmission at the same time: 11885 for CRI English via Canada at 13-14 during B-seasons, down to 9650 in A-seasons.
RNW lasts only until 1327 (or plus 3-minute bonus of erroneous English? Must check for that again), but until then the signals are roughly equal here, making them both useless, contrary to theory since RNW is 200 degrees from Tinang toward Indonesia, and we ought to be in prime coverage area of 240 degrees from Sackville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [and non]. 17515, raucous CNR1 programming, extremely annoying hyper-assertive announcer, March 28 at 1328, good with heavy flutter. First assumption is that it must be a jammer rather than a service on its own merits, and that is correct, to block BBC Uzbek via Thailand at 1300-1330; something else via Tashkent itself is scheduled after 1330 on 17515 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENINGN DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. 6010, UT Monday March 28 at 0610 `DXers Unlimited` is starting with coded message like spy numbers, studio quality canned intro by Arnie, then his voice switching to deliberately degraded filtered phone-quality content of new show; also on 6050, 6060, 6150.
It seems Arnie is maliciously re-expanding usage of 6050 to hurt HCJB. When RHC quit 24-hour broadcasts at the end of January, that freed 6050 for HCJB at least in the mornings from its *0825, and 6050 was not one of RHC`s morning frequencies from *1200. But March 28 at 1259 tune-in, 6050 is on the air with frequency announcements, but before they got down to the ones on 49m, cut off the air at 1300* sharp as 25m channels were about to be given. 6050 is apparently on the air now from the summer start of *1100. It also had the het from off-frequency Malaysia altho by 1300 HCJB has faded out here.
RHC schedule at
http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/c_frecuencia/frecuencias.htm
as of 1622 UT March 28 still shows 6050 only for English at 01-07, so there is some slim hope this -1300* usage was merely a mistake. Time will tell. That schedule will likely be modified, only for RHC`s own benefit, to get away from some A-11 collisions which could have been avoided if Cuba condescended to participate in HFCC advance planning.
5025, Rebelde, March 28 at 1304, altho fading into daylight seemed weaker than it should still be; reduced power and/or modulation?
11845, on the second day of A-11, the incompetent DentroCuban Jamming Command still has not rediscovered R. Martí on its habitual summer channel, jamming-free March 28 at 1323 while jamming nothing on 11930. Also jamming DW on 15330 instead of Martí; see GERMANY [non].
9570, steady open carrier March 28 at 1410, presumably Cuban operators in no hurry to turn off the CRI relay at 1400, just like 9790 after 0500. How many malnourished DentroCubans could be fed if RadioCuba were just a little more efficient in electrical consumption? Ration food, waste power!
12040, yet another failure of Arnie Coro`s isolationist, go-it-alone frequency ``management``: March 28 at 1432, RHC just ending frequency announcement and starting `Formalmente Informal`, // 11760, 11730, 11690, of which only 11760 is listenable, and 12040 has co-channel QRM in Chinese. No doubt that`s CNR1 ChiCom jamming against VOA Chinese via Tinang, Philippines, now scheduled also on 12040 at 11-15; Commies vs Commies! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CYPRUS [and non]. 21785-21810, OTH radar pulses, weak, presumed from here, March 28 at 1333. Could not yet compare it with BBC Cyprus 21470 since that does not take over from Seychelles until 1400; at 1333 that has only a JBA carrier.
17440-17475 approx., intermittent OTH radar pulses March 28 at 1423
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FRANCE [non]. 17690, RFI, March 28 at 1419 in Spanish with `Revista de la prensa`, so taking a break from strike fill-music this Monday, good via GUIANA FRENCH at 1400-1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY [non]. 21840, fair March 28 at 1416 talking about Q`Daffy; listed as Amharic, at 14-15, DW, 250 kW, 110 degrees via Sines, PORTUGAL. This is the highest frequency scheduled in A-11, also with other DW at 12-13, 15-17.
Frequency managers ignore not only RHC at their own risk, but frequencies jammed by Cuba. Even tho R. Martí does not use 15330 at all during A-seasons, that does not mean any other station is clear to use it! March 28 at 1422, wall of noise on 15330 against much weaker station, and not // clear Martí on 11845.
Then I hear some talk, intonation seems German. At 1441 it`s a little better with guitar music, and still not // 11845. At 1457 definite German is starting to hold its own against the still heavy noise jamming, then with jazzed-up, klezmerized `Moscow Nights` tune, abruptly cut off at 1459:30*, finally stopping QRM to the jamming.
Yes, DW in German is now scheduled 14-15 on 15330, 300 kW, 107 degrees from Woofferton UK, oblivious of the DentroCuban Jamming Command. 15330 is also on the RCI schedule at 21-22, but I heard it yesterday before 21 with no jamming then; see CANADA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUATEMALA. 4055, R. Verdad absent UT Monday March 28 at 0540 check; contrary to this schedule,
http://www.radioverdad.org/programaci%C3%B3n
The strange URL is caused by a proper accent on the O of programación. R. Verdad habitually closes earlier than 0600 on Sunday nights, but when? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** HAWAII [a subset of USA but considered a distinct radio entity for geographical reasons]. Not only has WWV 10000 been putting out nasty spurs for a week, see U S A, but WWVH is acting up: on 10000, March 28 at 0545 right after the propagation info finished, tone came on erroneously for several seconds before the voice announcement leading up to the next minute (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA [and non]. VOI, 9526, lucks out in A-11 with nothing on 9525 during 1300 English hour March 28, so still loud and clear, suffering only from its own self-imposed problems, notably intermittent audio dropouts. But het starts at 1357, from CRI Russian, 500 kW, 37 degrees via SZG site so also USward at 14-15, just like last A-season. At 1410 there was too much QRM from CRI to enjoy VOI, altho in Indonesian during this hour, and a source for music. If VOI stay on past 1500, it should again be in the clear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN [non]. 17755, R. Farda IDs, music, fair and now in the clear March 28 at 1325, scheduled 12-14 via Biblis, GERMANY. Turkey`s German service has left this frequency for 13760 at 1130-1230 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020 is the new frequency for Shiokaze = Sea Breeze via JSR JAPAN, says Ron Howard, as of March 27, and expanded to an hour at 1330-1430, says S. Hasegawa. So I look for it at 1330 March 28, but hear only R. Australia, fortunately in the clear with `Innovations`. After RA closed at 1400, checked 6020 again at 1414, but there was only a JBA carrier. Asian conditions were quite poor today on lower bands, altho around 1300, 6020 did bear the usual heavy clash between Australia and Vatican via Philippines (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBYA. 17725, VOAf from the GJ, March 28 at 1418 fair with music, then talk about African unity, echo. Some Eurafrican signals at this time on 16m were echoey, perhaps long/short path. See also USA [non] 17750. At 1503, retried 17725 hoping for topical news, and there was someone screaming, but soon into hilife music. 1509-1511.6 dead air, then YL talking, not certain if English, music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. Collision again on 9650: see CHINA [non]
** PORTUGAL. 21655, March 28 at 1332, RDPI with sports talk, 1416 music, fair. Per A-11 schedule via Carlos Gonçalves, this is now M-F 13-19, 300 kW, 226 degrees to Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné.
17575 also in Portuguese, YL a bit muffled at 1421, // 21655. This is also M-F, 1300-1554, 100 kW, 261 degrees to Venezuela. No 17 or 21 MHz frequencies are in use at all on weekends (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. As we noted already, Brother Scare is gone from 17580 via GERMANY. Now back on 17485 as in early B-10, poor with music at 1328; at 1422 BS hoarsetalking. Much weaker at 1454 when checking // 13810 as he was mentioning his schedule on WVNJ. 13810 was atop some weak CCI, i.e. IRAN; These two are now scheduled for TOM:
17485 14-16, 125 kW, 180 degrees from Wertachtal
13810 14-16, 100 kW, 130 degrees from Nauen; vs VIRI in Hindi, 1430-1530, 500 kW, 102 degrees from Sirjan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [and non]. What is the true schedule for REE`s Spanish DX program in A-11? As usual, the only way to find out is by monitoring and finally hearing it, but that won`t be possible before next weekend.
This page shows the times are still Sat 0605 and Sun 1330 UT, with new A-11 frequencies entered at the bottom:
http://programasdx.com/amigosdelaondacorta.htm
But it was NOT on the air Sunday March 27 at 1330.
This grid linked to REE itself is still outdated, showing a one-hour instead of two-hour difference between UT and HOE.
http://www.rtve.es/radio/radio-exterior/programacion/
According to it, `La Hora de Asia` is at 1205 UT Sundays = 1305 HOE, and `Amigos de la OC` at 1330 Sundays = 1430 HOE. If an overall one-UT-hour-earlier shift were made, `Asia` should now be at 1105, instead of 1305 UT when I did hear it, an hour *later* than before! So it`s not that simple.
This page about `AOC` itself is no help about current scheduling, dated 20.01.2010 when there was a third airing Wednesdays at 0830, not that that would have been of any use in the Américas:
http://www.rtve.es/radio/20100120/amigos-onda-corta/313335.shtml
11895, REE at 0555 March 28 with different version of the IS: instead of the same electronic notes driving you batty by repeating every 5 seconds or so, the same melody on authentic instruments with variations lasting about a minute. Is this new, or have I just never run across it before?
15385, looking for Ladino on lunes from REE, March 28 at 1420 there is already a carrier; 1422 now stronger with REE IS; 1425 sign-on `Emisión Sefarad`, program summary, but contrary to usual, no schedule announcement of the three weekly broadcasts. Has clicking QRM from usual spurs de Cuban jammer on 15330, now against DW. 1426 address as sefarad @ rtve.es and then music. Also has ACI from 15390, i.e. Gospel for Asia via Wertachtal. At 1440 check, also squeezed by stronger signal from other side, 15380, i.e. VOA Pashto also via Wertachtal. At 1445 heard `Ashna` mentioned on that.
REE Sefarad`s repeat to SAm UT Tuesday at 0115-0145 is supposedly back on 11795 in A-11, out from under Brasil on 11780, but cannot believe it unless confirmed by monitoring. The final repeat to NAm at 0415-0445 Tuesday is scheduled on 9650, not 9690, ditto.
Since REE`s own schedules are uselessly outdated and incomplete, we look for the 15-minute 4-language token news capsules which in B-10 had been M-F at 1530: March 28 at 1435 the now weekday-only direct channel of 17595 is on, and Allison Hughes is already headlining news in English, 1437.7 turning it over to Arabic YL. 1440 outro in Castilian ``noticias en idiomas del mundo``, so it must have started circa 1425 instead of exactly one hour earlier at 1430. Comprehensive English SW schedules should now show this as 1433-1437 M-F, assuming this timing stix, instead of 1537-1541; also on 11880 via CR; 21610 fair direct, 21540 under Kuwait, and 21570 is apparently off.
Still to be located, the Euskera/Basque news which in B-10 had been irregularly 1330/1355 on multiple frequencies; now at 1230? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TURKEY. 13635, March 28 at 0605, Turkish talk with adjacent QRM to and from Australia 13630. Now that A-11 has come to Turkey, this is a new summer frequency at 06-13, 500 kW, 310 degrees from Emirler to W Europe, but also USward. Should be good for music also in the hour before sign-off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. IBB is again using 9335 this A-season, ignoring the presence of V. of Korea, which as an outlaw nation does not participate in HFCC. However, VOK`s usage ought to be well-known as it is long-established. Ask Arnulf or any SWL?
March 28 at 1313 there is a heavy mix and SAH between VOK in English and RFA in Burmese, which is via TINIAN at 1230-1430. Still colliding at 1412 when VOK is in French. In A-11, IBB is also on 9335 at 1430-1930 emanating from Kuwait to Afghanistan, and per B-10 Aoki, probably still the same, VOK runs 9335 from 1000 to 1750 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 17750, March 28 at 1417, VOA Kurdish, 250 kW, 120 degrees via Wertachtal, GERMANY, with echo, due to long/short path? Or short path plus backscatter. See also LIBYA.
15580, March 28 at 1448, VOA English with mailbag, mostly from Facebook to `International Edition`, good signal. But then gives address as crossroads @ voanews.com --- so which program is it? That`s the address of `Crossroads Asia` at 1400. 1454 mentions `International Edition` again. 1430 is one of many scheduled times for the latter. Site is São Tomé until 1530, then handing over to Botswana. Full A-11 VOA English usage of 15580:
1400-1500 São Tomé 100 kW 138 degrees
1500-1530 São Tomé 100 kW 124 degrees
1530-1800 Botswana 100 kW 350 degrees
1800-1830 Sri Lanka 250 kW 275 degrees
1830-2200 Botswana 100 kW 350 degrees
BTW, as far as I can tell, in A-11, there are no longer ANY Greenville frequencies during the daytime for VOA English, nor even via Bonaire, which used to give us adequate reception at certain hours.
More items concerning IBB/USA in this report under: CUBA; IRAN; SPAIN
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9370, WTJC, getting somewhat back in whack: March 28 at 0550, there is a distorted spur around 9393 but cannot match it to 9370 modulation so maybe from somewhere else.
** U S A. NIST is really having technical problems, which is certainly a bad sign for this of all federal agencies! No doubt the Republicans are trying to cut its funding. Who needs standards? Bad for business and imaginary jobs!
WWV spurs from 10000 now in their second week: March 28 at 1349 circa 10050; at 1409 awful on 9951 blocking WRMI 9955 and whatever is on 9950, and secondary weaker spur on 9900 too; see also HAWAII (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
CODAR goes no higher than 13605, so R. Tirana has an absolutely clear frequency. If only it would do its part by fully modulating. At 1451, it`s still too low to understand anything; for a couple of minutes I was even wondering if there was any audio at all.
Next English is at 1845 on 13640 and 7520. Inaudible here on 7520; 13640 has fair signal and better modulation now so that with some concentration one can understand most of the news about Albania. Again this frequency is totally free of adjacent- and co-channel QRM.
The A-11 schedule of all R. Tirana English for our further monitoring:
Mon-Sat:
1430-1500 13625
1845-1900 13640 7520
2000-2030 13640 7465 [and WWCR should be off 7465 now until *2100!]
UT Tue-Sun:
0030-0045 9860
0145-0200 7425
0230-0300 7425
0330-0400 7425
And Albanian, daily:
0630-0900 7390
2030-2200 9860 6165
2300-2430 9860 7325
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ANTARCTICA [and non]. 15476, another week starts with nothing from LRA36, checked March 28 at 1334 and once or twice more in the following sesquihour. Fortunately, still nothing scheduled on 15475 any time, but adjacent channels are fuller now than in B-10:
15470: Saudi Arabia until 13, Brother Scare via Germany 13-14, BBC Cyprus in Hindi & Urdu 14-16;
15480: Poland: via Woofferton in Russian 1300-1330, via Rampisham in Belorussian at 1330-1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** AUSTRALIA. 15340, good with flutter, March 28 at 1459 gospel C&W song, 1501 no ID but introducing Steve Green singing a hymn; 1505 preaching. Must be HCJB, in English at 1445-1530; at tune-in was free of Moroccan 15341 het as that was briefly off for QSY to 15345, resuming at 1502 in Arabic, but no problem for 15340 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. Re my last report, RCI in English on 15330 before 2100: I heard it there, but checking the A-11 schedule later, it`s supposed to be on 13650 which I did not check, with 15330 on the air only after 2100 in French. Are they confused in Sackville about ADT vs UT vs A11 changes? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake March 28, all //:
15900, good with flutter at 1346
14700, very poor at 1346
13500, good with flutter at 1347
13130, good at 1347
No others found 10-17 MHz (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [non]. 9650 again this A-season has a big collision at 1300 March 28 between CRI English via Sackville, CANADA and RNW Dutch via Tinang, PHILIPPINES. We repeatedly complained about this last summer, but old habits are hard to break. First of all, it makes no sense to go from a higher band in the winter to a lower one in the summer for a transmission at the same time: 11885 for CRI English via Canada at 13-14 during B-seasons, down to 9650 in A-seasons.
RNW lasts only until 1327 (or plus 3-minute bonus of erroneous English? Must check for that again), but until then the signals are roughly equal here, making them both useless, contrary to theory since RNW is 200 degrees from Tinang toward Indonesia, and we ought to be in prime coverage area of 240 degrees from Sackville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [and non]. 17515, raucous CNR1 programming, extremely annoying hyper-assertive announcer, March 28 at 1328, good with heavy flutter. First assumption is that it must be a jammer rather than a service on its own merits, and that is correct, to block BBC Uzbek via Thailand at 1300-1330; something else via Tashkent itself is scheduled after 1330 on 17515 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENINGN DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. 6010, UT Monday March 28 at 0610 `DXers Unlimited` is starting with coded message like spy numbers, studio quality canned intro by Arnie, then his voice switching to deliberately degraded filtered phone-quality content of new show; also on 6050, 6060, 6150.
It seems Arnie is maliciously re-expanding usage of 6050 to hurt HCJB. When RHC quit 24-hour broadcasts at the end of January, that freed 6050 for HCJB at least in the mornings from its *0825, and 6050 was not one of RHC`s morning frequencies from *1200. But March 28 at 1259 tune-in, 6050 is on the air with frequency announcements, but before they got down to the ones on 49m, cut off the air at 1300* sharp as 25m channels were about to be given. 6050 is apparently on the air now from the summer start of *1100. It also had the het from off-frequency Malaysia altho by 1300 HCJB has faded out here.
RHC schedule at
http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/c_frecuencia/frecuencias.htm
as of 1622 UT March 28 still shows 6050 only for English at 01-07, so there is some slim hope this -1300* usage was merely a mistake. Time will tell. That schedule will likely be modified, only for RHC`s own benefit, to get away from some A-11 collisions which could have been avoided if Cuba condescended to participate in HFCC advance planning.
5025, Rebelde, March 28 at 1304, altho fading into daylight seemed weaker than it should still be; reduced power and/or modulation?
11845, on the second day of A-11, the incompetent DentroCuban Jamming Command still has not rediscovered R. Martí on its habitual summer channel, jamming-free March 28 at 1323 while jamming nothing on 11930. Also jamming DW on 15330 instead of Martí; see GERMANY [non].
9570, steady open carrier March 28 at 1410, presumably Cuban operators in no hurry to turn off the CRI relay at 1400, just like 9790 after 0500. How many malnourished DentroCubans could be fed if RadioCuba were just a little more efficient in electrical consumption? Ration food, waste power!
12040, yet another failure of Arnie Coro`s isolationist, go-it-alone frequency ``management``: March 28 at 1432, RHC just ending frequency announcement and starting `Formalmente Informal`, // 11760, 11730, 11690, of which only 11760 is listenable, and 12040 has co-channel QRM in Chinese. No doubt that`s CNR1 ChiCom jamming against VOA Chinese via Tinang, Philippines, now scheduled also on 12040 at 11-15; Commies vs Commies! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CYPRUS [and non]. 21785-21810, OTH radar pulses, weak, presumed from here, March 28 at 1333. Could not yet compare it with BBC Cyprus 21470 since that does not take over from Seychelles until 1400; at 1333 that has only a JBA carrier.
17440-17475 approx., intermittent OTH radar pulses March 28 at 1423
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FRANCE [non]. 17690, RFI, March 28 at 1419 in Spanish with `Revista de la prensa`, so taking a break from strike fill-music this Monday, good via GUIANA FRENCH at 1400-1430 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY [non]. 21840, fair March 28 at 1416 talking about Q`Daffy; listed as Amharic, at 14-15, DW, 250 kW, 110 degrees via Sines, PORTUGAL. This is the highest frequency scheduled in A-11, also with other DW at 12-13, 15-17.
Frequency managers ignore not only RHC at their own risk, but frequencies jammed by Cuba. Even tho R. Martí does not use 15330 at all during A-seasons, that does not mean any other station is clear to use it! March 28 at 1422, wall of noise on 15330 against much weaker station, and not // clear Martí on 11845.
Then I hear some talk, intonation seems German. At 1441 it`s a little better with guitar music, and still not // 11845. At 1457 definite German is starting to hold its own against the still heavy noise jamming, then with jazzed-up, klezmerized `Moscow Nights` tune, abruptly cut off at 1459:30*, finally stopping QRM to the jamming.
Yes, DW in German is now scheduled 14-15 on 15330, 300 kW, 107 degrees from Woofferton UK, oblivious of the DentroCuban Jamming Command. 15330 is also on the RCI schedule at 21-22, but I heard it yesterday before 21 with no jamming then; see CANADA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUATEMALA. 4055, R. Verdad absent UT Monday March 28 at 0540 check; contrary to this schedule,
http://www.radioverdad.org/programaci%C3%B3n
The strange URL is caused by a proper accent on the O of programación. R. Verdad habitually closes earlier than 0600 on Sunday nights, but when? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** HAWAII [a subset of USA but considered a distinct radio entity for geographical reasons]. Not only has WWV 10000 been putting out nasty spurs for a week, see U S A, but WWVH is acting up: on 10000, March 28 at 0545 right after the propagation info finished, tone came on erroneously for several seconds before the voice announcement leading up to the next minute (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA [and non]. VOI, 9526, lucks out in A-11 with nothing on 9525 during 1300 English hour March 28, so still loud and clear, suffering only from its own self-imposed problems, notably intermittent audio dropouts. But het starts at 1357, from CRI Russian, 500 kW, 37 degrees via SZG site so also USward at 14-15, just like last A-season. At 1410 there was too much QRM from CRI to enjoy VOI, altho in Indonesian during this hour, and a source for music. If VOI stay on past 1500, it should again be in the clear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN [non]. 17755, R. Farda IDs, music, fair and now in the clear March 28 at 1325, scheduled 12-14 via Biblis, GERMANY. Turkey`s German service has left this frequency for 13760 at 1130-1230 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH [non]. 6020 is the new frequency for Shiokaze = Sea Breeze via JSR JAPAN, says Ron Howard, as of March 27, and expanded to an hour at 1330-1430, says S. Hasegawa. So I look for it at 1330 March 28, but hear only R. Australia, fortunately in the clear with `Innovations`. After RA closed at 1400, checked 6020 again at 1414, but there was only a JBA carrier. Asian conditions were quite poor today on lower bands, altho around 1300, 6020 did bear the usual heavy clash between Australia and Vatican via Philippines (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBYA. 17725, VOAf from the GJ, March 28 at 1418 fair with music, then talk about African unity, echo. Some Eurafrican signals at this time on 16m were echoey, perhaps long/short path. See also USA [non] 17750. At 1503, retried 17725 hoping for topical news, and there was someone screaming, but soon into hilife music. 1509-1511.6 dead air, then YL talking, not certain if English, music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. Collision again on 9650: see CHINA [non]
** PORTUGAL. 21655, March 28 at 1332, RDPI with sports talk, 1416 music, fair. Per A-11 schedule via Carlos Gonçalves, this is now M-F 13-19, 300 kW, 226 degrees to Brasil, Cabo Verde, Guiné.
17575 also in Portuguese, YL a bit muffled at 1421, // 21655. This is also M-F, 1300-1554, 100 kW, 261 degrees to Venezuela. No 17 or 21 MHz frequencies are in use at all on weekends (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. As we noted already, Brother Scare is gone from 17580 via GERMANY. Now back on 17485 as in early B-10, poor with music at 1328; at 1422 BS hoarsetalking. Much weaker at 1454 when checking // 13810 as he was mentioning his schedule on WVNJ. 13810 was atop some weak CCI, i.e. IRAN; These two are now scheduled for TOM:
17485 14-16, 125 kW, 180 degrees from Wertachtal
13810 14-16, 100 kW, 130 degrees from Nauen; vs VIRI in Hindi, 1430-1530, 500 kW, 102 degrees from Sirjan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [and non]. What is the true schedule for REE`s Spanish DX program in A-11? As usual, the only way to find out is by monitoring and finally hearing it, but that won`t be possible before next weekend.
This page shows the times are still Sat 0605 and Sun 1330 UT, with new A-11 frequencies entered at the bottom:
http://programasdx.com/amigosdelaondacorta.htm
But it was NOT on the air Sunday March 27 at 1330.
This grid linked to REE itself is still outdated, showing a one-hour instead of two-hour difference between UT and HOE.
http://www.rtve.es/radio/radio-exterior/programacion/
According to it, `La Hora de Asia` is at 1205 UT Sundays = 1305 HOE, and `Amigos de la OC` at 1330 Sundays = 1430 HOE. If an overall one-UT-hour-earlier shift were made, `Asia` should now be at 1105, instead of 1305 UT when I did hear it, an hour *later* than before! So it`s not that simple.
This page about `AOC` itself is no help about current scheduling, dated 20.01.2010 when there was a third airing Wednesdays at 0830, not that that would have been of any use in the Américas:
http://www.rtve.es/radio/20100120/amigos-onda-corta/313335.shtml
11895, REE at 0555 March 28 with different version of the IS: instead of the same electronic notes driving you batty by repeating every 5 seconds or so, the same melody on authentic instruments with variations lasting about a minute. Is this new, or have I just never run across it before?
15385, looking for Ladino on lunes from REE, March 28 at 1420 there is already a carrier; 1422 now stronger with REE IS; 1425 sign-on `Emisión Sefarad`, program summary, but contrary to usual, no schedule announcement of the three weekly broadcasts. Has clicking QRM from usual spurs de Cuban jammer on 15330, now against DW. 1426 address as sefarad @ rtve.es and then music. Also has ACI from 15390, i.e. Gospel for Asia via Wertachtal. At 1440 check, also squeezed by stronger signal from other side, 15380, i.e. VOA Pashto also via Wertachtal. At 1445 heard `Ashna` mentioned on that.
REE Sefarad`s repeat to SAm UT Tuesday at 0115-0145 is supposedly back on 11795 in A-11, out from under Brasil on 11780, but cannot believe it unless confirmed by monitoring. The final repeat to NAm at 0415-0445 Tuesday is scheduled on 9650, not 9690, ditto.
Since REE`s own schedules are uselessly outdated and incomplete, we look for the 15-minute 4-language token news capsules which in B-10 had been M-F at 1530: March 28 at 1435 the now weekday-only direct channel of 17595 is on, and Allison Hughes is already headlining news in English, 1437.7 turning it over to Arabic YL. 1440 outro in Castilian ``noticias en idiomas del mundo``, so it must have started circa 1425 instead of exactly one hour earlier at 1430. Comprehensive English SW schedules should now show this as 1433-1437 M-F, assuming this timing stix, instead of 1537-1541; also on 11880 via CR; 21610 fair direct, 21540 under Kuwait, and 21570 is apparently off.
Still to be located, the Euskera/Basque news which in B-10 had been irregularly 1330/1355 on multiple frequencies; now at 1230? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TURKEY. 13635, March 28 at 0605, Turkish talk with adjacent QRM to and from Australia 13630. Now that A-11 has come to Turkey, this is a new summer frequency at 06-13, 500 kW, 310 degrees from Emirler to W Europe, but also USward. Should be good for music also in the hour before sign-off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. IBB is again using 9335 this A-season, ignoring the presence of V. of Korea, which as an outlaw nation does not participate in HFCC. However, VOK`s usage ought to be well-known as it is long-established. Ask Arnulf or any SWL?
March 28 at 1313 there is a heavy mix and SAH between VOK in English and RFA in Burmese, which is via TINIAN at 1230-1430. Still colliding at 1412 when VOK is in French. In A-11, IBB is also on 9335 at 1430-1930 emanating from Kuwait to Afghanistan, and per B-10 Aoki, probably still the same, VOK runs 9335 from 1000 to 1750 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 17750, March 28 at 1417, VOA Kurdish, 250 kW, 120 degrees via Wertachtal, GERMANY, with echo, due to long/short path? Or short path plus backscatter. See also LIBYA.
15580, March 28 at 1448, VOA English with mailbag, mostly from Facebook to `International Edition`, good signal. But then gives address as crossroads @ voanews.com --- so which program is it? That`s the address of `Crossroads Asia` at 1400. 1454 mentions `International Edition` again. 1430 is one of many scheduled times for the latter. Site is São Tomé until 1530, then handing over to Botswana. Full A-11 VOA English usage of 15580:
1400-1500 São Tomé 100 kW 138 degrees
1500-1530 São Tomé 100 kW 124 degrees
1530-1800 Botswana 100 kW 350 degrees
1800-1830 Sri Lanka 250 kW 275 degrees
1830-2200 Botswana 100 kW 350 degrees
BTW, as far as I can tell, in A-11, there are no longer ANY Greenville frequencies during the daytime for VOA English, nor even via Bonaire, which used to give us adequate reception at certain hours.
More items concerning IBB/USA in this report under: CUBA; IRAN; SPAIN
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9370, WTJC, getting somewhat back in whack: March 28 at 0550, there is a distorted spur around 9393 but cannot match it to 9370 modulation so maybe from somewhere else.
** U S A. NIST is really having technical problems, which is certainly a bad sign for this of all federal agencies! No doubt the Republicans are trying to cut its funding. Who needs standards? Bad for business and imaginary jobs!
WWV spurs from 10000 now in their second week: March 28 at 1349 circa 10050; at 1409 awful on 9951 blocking WRMI 9955 and whatever is on 9950, and secondary weaker spur on 9900 too; see also HAWAII (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
