** ANTARCTICA. 15476, May 5 at 1210 I set the second receiver with BFO on 15475, to be notified exactly when LRA36 turns on its carrier: Not until *1229 and immediately with music, S9+12 peaks. This turns out to be one of my best receptions so far. 1236 segué to another music, no announcements yet. 1239 finally ID with frequency, plus FM 96.7, longitude & latitude; 1240 other XYLs join in, mixing with ``Soy Feliz`` themesong. Credits to various tenientes/coroneles, operators and bosses. ``Amanecer Austral, del día 5 de Mayo``. 1245 with phone and e-mail contact info. Now the 3-way chatter is hard to follow. 1315 still fair signal with music; weakening at 1347, music and talk. Whenever hearing this, visualize Base Esperanza with bright-red buildings all over it, to facilitate finding them in the blizzards (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA [and non]. 6070, CFRX back on the air after missing all month, May 5 at 1126 interview with 877 toll-free number, in typical style and accent from a Toronto commercial station, so different from everything else on SW; but at this hour heavy Asian co-channel QRM (CCI), i.e. V. of Korear, Japanese service until 1250.
CFRX reactivation was first reported by several DXLD monitors May 4 after 2200, so I had to edit a last-minute update into WORLD OF RADIO 1563 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. Having had Mexican TV DX earlier in the day, I was looking for it again in the evening, with antenna southward. Ch 2 analog video faded in to sync at 0006 UT May 6, but too weak. Finally at 0031 I rotated north and found stronger signals, and yes, in English, so has to be Canada. Weather graphic about Saskatoon, 0033 English talk about trees greening around the legislative building, i.e. Regina; 0034 news about medicine; 0037 CTV News graphic; 0044 football clip in CTV sports; graphic of Swift Current Broncos lineup (so they know how to spell Bronco unlike some Americans). Must be CKCK-TV, a common catch here for sesquidecades at ideal Es distance just over one kilomile. Dominated in and out tho with some CCI, and occasional signs of video on higher channels.
At 0059 on 2, a graphic looked like Sevens Run, and then credit roll, Citytv promo (definitely not CTV), 0100 `Law & Order` video starts, while audio has hockey and occasionally hockey video overtakes. Channel 2 weak videos still showing at 0130, mainly L&O, from further west than Regina; Citytv bug in lower right. Still some fade-ins around 0203.
Citytv is CICT Calgary, and L&O: SVU is indeed scheduled there on Thursday nights at 7 local, following `Reviews on the Run`. W9WI.com listings http://www.w9wi.com/channels/2.html still show CICT as a Global affiliate. It`s more like 2 megameters from here, still a good Es distance.
The CICT website also shows ``My RONA Home``. I had seen RONA on the screen initially when still aimed at Mexico. The channel info page of Citytv http://www.citytv.com/calgary/channelinformation does not even bother with on-the-air channels! Just cable and satellite (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake May 5, starting to monitor earlier than usual:
7970, very poor at 1141; not heard after 1200
10300, good at 1146; SOH had been in clear at 1051; see TAIWAN; also good at 1258, 1321
10965, very poor at 1259-1300*
12240, fair at 1148; fair at 1258
13130, good at 1258
13800, fair at 1059-1100*. Aoki shows this as a SOH frequency at 20-17, but I never hear FD on it after 1200. Also at 1151 at first seems undermodulated, but really under open carrier from WYFR before *1200
13920, fair at 1152, het and ute QRM; good at 1258
14700, good at 1257, the only one not //
14970, very poor at 1152
15745, very good at 1255. Aoki shows SOH via Tajikistan at 1230-1300
15900, very good at 1256
16100, fair at 1159-1200*; very good at 1256. None higher to 19 MHz. Also good at 1318, and none lower now except 10300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. 13590, May 5 at 1101 news with American accent, so is it VOA? It certainly can`t be BBC, which for newscasters welcomes all kinds of regional British and ex-colonial accents except North American.
Of course! It`s CRI as the content of the news centered around the Middle Kingdom soon reveals. Has long/short path echo. HFCC shows CRI, 500 kW, 193 degrees via Beijing site at 10-12 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [and non]. 15250, one would like to hear the only intentional English broadcast from BSK Saudi Arabia, at 0930-1225 on R. Riyadh, per Aoki, but instead one must hear stuff in Chinese: May 5 at 1108 CNR1 echo-jammer plus het against VOA Mandarin via Tajikistan (except on Wednesdays when site switches to Tinang, Philippines; why??). At 1213 still the same, plus SAH, with the VOA site after 1200 daily being Tinang (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. 5055, May 5 at 0452, two Spanish programs mixing about equally, i.e. a leapfrog mixing product of R. Rebelde 5025 and RHC 5040, landing another 15 kHz higher. I could hear it on two different receivers and also when attenuated. It ends of course around 0500 when 5040 goes off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ECUADOR [and non]!
** ECUADOR [and non]. 6050, May 5 at 0454, RHC English service has heavy co-channel QRM and subaudible heterodyne from music. At 0458 RHC stops modulating, and then HCJB is clearly heard in Spanish, 0459 full ID mentioning 89.3, 91.3, 96.1, a couple other FM frequencies in different cities, 690 MW and 6050 SW, automatic timesignal at 0500, signing off until 3:30 am in Quechua, national anthem which sounds like a very old 78 rpm disc.
I think the RHC 6050 carrier had been cut, presumably for antenna change, but I could not tell when it came back on, or whether HCJB left its carrier on for a while. There was ACI from Spain on 6055.
At 0503, I found RHC English underway on 6060, not on 6010 yet, and it did not pick up until later than minute on 6050, when also there was a bit of extraneous music. HCJB used to display this defect after ``sign-off`` on 9745. At 0504 RHC English is only poorly audible on 6050 with SAH from some carrier, maybe still HCJB.
At the 0454 outset, HCJB signal was definitely stronger than I expected for 10 kW. It certainly is capable of messing up RHC reception in North America, which is the only thing which might persuade recalcitrant frequency ``manager`` Arnie Coro to move away from 6050. HCJB, or rather Vozandes Media, is also planning on beefing up its transmissions from Pichincha. OTOH, Arnie`s happy to be colliding with WYFR on 11830 and numerous other instances of poor selexion, not even in RHC`s self-interest, and certainly with no consideration for others (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ECUADOR [non]. 9955, `DX Partyline` via WRMI, Thursday May 5 at 0520 during report from Luigi Cobisi, adequate copy vs heavy pulse jamming, but losing out by 0526 during interview with Brent Weeks, HCJB Global Latin American Engineering Director about a new DRM receiver from New Path Radio (?).
0528 the big announcement by Allen Graham (Allen always with an E as in Ecuador), with excuses why he is killing `DXPL` after the last week in May (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FRANCE [non]. 13640, May 5 at 1149 as I tune across, surprised to hear an RFI ID in Russian during music. I suppose they were just showing off, as this is fill after the Météo Marine in French, via GUIANA FRENCH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. 5765-USB, AFN, May 5 at 1125, sufficient signal with NPR `Morning Edition`, // KOSU 91.7 which was running some 8 seconds behind Guam due to IBOC delay. On my FRG-7, USB and LSB signals can be tuned equally well on the LSB or USB setting, but USB helps to avoid the QRM from WTWW 5755. Had not heard this one in a while in my usual post-sunrise monitoring, so glad it`s still going, but apprehensive about WTWW`s plan to use 5765 too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUATEMALA. 4055, May 5 at 1117, ``Goin` Home`` spiritual à la Dvorak, choral and organ, but modulation rather distorted from R. Verdad (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, unusually awake early, I have a chance to check out reports from Ron Howard that VOI has replaced other languages with nothing but English: May 5 at 1055, poor signal with interview in English as usual during the 10-11 hour. 1142, still in English with speech in echoey venue about the 2011 economy, Asian Development Bank. Until this week, the 11-12 hour had been in Mandarin.
At 1219 instead of Japanese, song in English with IADs; 1221, YL ID as ``Voice of Indonesia, the Sound of Dignity``. None of the usual scripted programs on definite subjects, but instead the YL DJ chats about the song she likes, ``more and more improvements to our programs``, offering to make birthday greetings; 1224 weather forecasts for cities in Indonesia, Asia, Australia, Europe, and even USA, altho it sounded like she expected the same high and low in NY and LA. 1229 another song. A cheap and easy way to fill an extra hour, á la `Live Talk` from R. Australia!
1301, English ID, program previews, 1302 news but reception has deteriorated from fair to poor. This hour seems to be like the old one with certain definite features rather than DJ chatter and music, e.g. `Today in History` at 1322, after which I gave up trying to copy anything.
It appears that VOI has dispensed with its Japanese and Mandarin services, as well as some of its English staff. We wonder if other languages are also gone, such as the previously scheduled: 1600 Arabic, 1700 Spanish, 1800 German, 2000 French? Yes, Atsunori Ishida reports at http://rri.jpn.org/ that since April 28 it`s been all-English at 10-15 and 16-21, the exact times varying widely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH & SOUTH. 4450, May 5 at 1120, Korean talk with a SAH, but I have no idea which is on top, V. of the People from S to N, or KNDF blocking it from N to S (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALAYSIA. 6100, May 5 at 1130, fair and clear reception in Malay M&W talk about Islam, not news; 1135 choral music with birdsong; 1140 segué to Qur`an. This is a new frequency from Kajang, West Malaysia, first reported by Ron Howard April 24, sometimes relaying Wai FM from Sarawak, sometimes Sarawak FM, but I heard no ID for either, nor heard any //. Aoki shows it in use 24 hours, but CRI clashes after 1200.
However, there was a wavering het on 7270, no doubt caused by the off-frequency Wai FM relay really in Kuching vs China or India. That het was also audible before 1100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. Sporadic E season is getting a good start with another TV DX opening appropriately from here on Cinco de Mayo: I was hoping for it, since Es was affecting HF as early as 1107 from WWCR 15825. When I turned on the analog TV at 1419 UT, channel 2 with at least two stations 10 kHz apart, one with a variety show involving models. By 1434 the MUF was up to ch 4 video. At 1441, 2 was giving a national weather summary with highs in various cities, including 40 degrees in Hermosillo, whew! At 1444, ch 4 has net-5 cartoons (dibujos). I turn off the computer too close to the TV, verifying that when on it blocks ch 5. 1542, ch 4 is still in with net-5 dibujos. Unfortunately there are 6 full-power and 4 low-power net-5 XHGC relays on 4, per W9WI.com.
Then I had to go out for most of the day in search of a suitable 2.5 GHz transmitter to cook my food quickly, which required a trip outside Enid. It`d better not QRM MF, HF or VHF! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3385, May 5 at 1114, poor signal in talk I can`t tell whether English or Tok Pisin, but at least there is some modulation from R. East New Britain, unlike other presumed PNG/Indonesian carriers on 3365, 3325. At the same time, 13m was open at least from Spain. This is a good example for us to beware of simplified A-11 Aoki, which still shows RRI Kupang on 3385, and R. Eastern Highlands on 3395, neither of which have been heard for years (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAIPAN. 12090, May 5 at 2357, no signal as I am checking for the 2330-2400 broadcast of KFBS, but I may have tuned in too late. Wolfgang Büschel says there are rumors that KFBS has closed down. It certainly has a limited schedule of 7 hours a week per the FEBC website, but if you click on ALL for it at http://data.febinfo.org/p_stations.php
you get no transmissions at all.
WRTH says they have 4 x 100 kW transmitters, but nowhere near that usage in HFCC, just a few hours daily at http://hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A11&broadc=FBS
And that`s why I was checking 12090. We need to try the others to find if anything is really on, none of it in English:
0830-0900 11850
0900-1130 15580
0930-1000 11990
1100-1400 11650
1130-1300 11920
1200-1300 11800
1300-1400 15580
2230-2300 12090
2330-2359 15580
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN. 21610, May 5 at 1112, REE poor in Spanish, the OSOB, but nice to find the band open this early, and at the same time all other bands down to 3 MHz; see PNG (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SUDAN [and non]. 13620, R. Dabanga via MADAGASCAR, checked about half an hour earlier than usual, at 0443 May 5, not only had the continuous tone jamming but an envelope of buzz extending between 13612 and 13638. Since this is about 25 kHz bandwidth, it may have typically been an OTH radar such as the one in Cyprus altho the sound was somewhat different (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAIWAN. 10300, May 5 at 1051, VP signal in Chinese, but no jamming, so presumably Sound of Hope. By next check 1146, Firedrake was on. This and many other frequencies compiled under CHINA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TIBET [non]. 15670, May 5 at 1155 and 1256, CNR1 ChiCom jamming against R. Free Asia, Tibetan via Tajikistan, is assisted by spurs from WWCR 15825; see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TURKEY. 15450, VOT, May 5 at 1323-1325* closing the English broadcast, we get to hear the 26-note IS played several times absolutely identically, the variations having been eliminated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K [non]. I found two sufficient frequencies for BBCWS in English, should one care to listen between 11 and 12 UT, unlikely since it carries the pandering `World, Have Your Say` listener-participation programmme: 15285, May 5 at 1106, good signal; and at 1111, fair signal on 17760. 15285 still in at 1153.
Unfortunately, 15285 is about to be canceled! Plus three others, according to Ivo Ivanov May 5: ``Cancelled BBC frequencies from May 8:
1600-1800 on 9495 SLA 250 kW / 085 deg in English
0900-1300 on 15285 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg in English
0800-1300 on 15400 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg in English
0900-1300 on 21660 NAK 250 kW / 020 deg in English``
HFCC agrees that 15285 has been 13 degrees from SINGAPORE, and 17760 is 25 degrees from THAILAND, so both USward unintentionally (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. George McClintock phoned May 4 at 1915 UT to advise that WTWW #3 transmitter is now testing on 12100, about 20 kW and 50% modulation. We checked and it was VG here, S9+22 or so, and sufficient modulation, noticeably less than the over-modulation on 9479. Still going past 2030. Says he is working out the bugs and will continue testing 12100 on and off the next week, not on the other three frequencies, and work up to full 100 kW.
Yes, #3, as the #2 transmitter is held up by some parts problems, so #3 on the 40 degree antenna toward Europe will be operational before #2. May change to a 15 MHz channel in the daytime. Modulation was gospel music, but when fully programmed, 12100 et al. will be carrying nothing but scripture reading from Spoken Word of God, in English, Arabic, German, French, Portuguese, perhaps Spanish; plans to add Chinese later on the other transmitter.
In English the SWOG is by Alexander Scourby, whom I used to respect as a secular narrator, heard on several other stations, even giving Brother Scare an occasional breather. Now he is remembered mostly for his Bible readings, having died in 1985, so yet another dead SW broadcaster, 25 years and counting (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1563, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9370, WTJC remains out of whack with distortion on the fundamental and wide-ranging spurs messing up many neighboring signals. At 0524 May 5, I could hear WTJC at many spots between 9315 and 9455. At 1052 the main peaks were circa 9320, 9345 and up to 9420 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST0
** U S A. 9330-CUSB, May 5 at 1052, WBCQ again in dead air, with mush from WTJC 9370 spurs audible underneath. Next check at 1146, GFRN modulation had resumed, still with WTJC hash. It seems DA from Orangeville is not unusual, a sure way to lose what few listeners they could have (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9265, WINB is fond of confronting CODAR, not only on its only other frequency, 13570, but also here: May 5 at 1051 in English, lite CODAR underneath, with its weak peak circa 9250 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 15825, May 5 at 1107, a bit of a novelty to hear Russian on WWCR, but now so scheduled, and good signal getting a sporadic-E boost this early before sunrise, shortly after sign-on. Per May 3 WWCR program sked, this is a version of James Dobson`s `Focus on the Family`, M-F at 1100-1115, followed by Arabic New Testament at 1115-1130.
15825 was so strong, S9+20, that at 1155 when back in English, modulation spike spurs traced to it by matching could be heard on 15670 vs Chinese radio war --- see TIBET [non], and spreading 15660-15680; 1210 faded to only fair, disaudiblizing the spikes; 1256 could again hear the spurs vs Chinese. This was a tipoff to more Es seen later from Mexico up to 68 MHz, q.v.
Strangely enough, the May 3 program schedule still shows Rollye James, Mon-Sat 0500-0800 on 3215, tho her show went off the air at the end of March and WWCR has been playing fill music shows instead. Maybe they expect her to resume any time. Of course, if she really appreciated shortwave, she would do her show there if nowhere else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1563: first airing should have been 0330 UT Thursday May 5 on WRMI 9955, but too busy to check it here; then at 1500, 2100, Friday 1430, Saturday 0800, 1730, Sunday 0800, 1530, 1730. On WWCR: Friday 2030 on 15825, Saturday 1600 on 12160, Sunday 0630 on 3215, as still shown on May schedule.
On WWRB, UT Friday 0330 on 2390, 5050, we hope back this week after missing last week. On IPAR, Saturday 1800 on 7290 via Slovakia. On WRN via SiriusXM, on new channel numbered 120, Saturday and Sunday 1730, Sunday 0830 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** UZBEKISTAN. 9660, May 5 at 1306, YL in S Asian language, music, and mentions ``Voice Asia``; fair with flutter. It`s CVC in Hindi via Tashkent, 100 kW, 153 degrees at 11-14. I`d much rather hear the late lamented R. Tashkent, even if it is from one of the most repressive, controlled-press countries in the world, which very well may have once used the very same transmitter. Apparently the time-brokers consider CVC a kindred spirit (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###
** CANADA [and non]. 6070, CFRX back on the air after missing all month, May 5 at 1126 interview with 877 toll-free number, in typical style and accent from a Toronto commercial station, so different from everything else on SW; but at this hour heavy Asian co-channel QRM (CCI), i.e. V. of Korear, Japanese service until 1250.
CFRX reactivation was first reported by several DXLD monitors May 4 after 2200, so I had to edit a last-minute update into WORLD OF RADIO 1563 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. Having had Mexican TV DX earlier in the day, I was looking for it again in the evening, with antenna southward. Ch 2 analog video faded in to sync at 0006 UT May 6, but too weak. Finally at 0031 I rotated north and found stronger signals, and yes, in English, so has to be Canada. Weather graphic about Saskatoon, 0033 English talk about trees greening around the legislative building, i.e. Regina; 0034 news about medicine; 0037 CTV News graphic; 0044 football clip in CTV sports; graphic of Swift Current Broncos lineup (so they know how to spell Bronco unlike some Americans). Must be CKCK-TV, a common catch here for sesquidecades at ideal Es distance just over one kilomile. Dominated in and out tho with some CCI, and occasional signs of video on higher channels.
At 0059 on 2, a graphic looked like Sevens Run, and then credit roll, Citytv promo (definitely not CTV), 0100 `Law & Order` video starts, while audio has hockey and occasionally hockey video overtakes. Channel 2 weak videos still showing at 0130, mainly L&O, from further west than Regina; Citytv bug in lower right. Still some fade-ins around 0203.
Citytv is CICT Calgary, and L&O: SVU is indeed scheduled there on Thursday nights at 7 local, following `Reviews on the Run`. W9WI.com listings http://www.w9wi.com/channels/2.html still show CICT as a Global affiliate. It`s more like 2 megameters from here, still a good Es distance.
The CICT website also shows ``My RONA Home``. I had seen RONA on the screen initially when still aimed at Mexico. The channel info page of Citytv http://www.citytv.com/calgary/channelinformation does not even bother with on-the-air channels! Just cable and satellite (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake May 5, starting to monitor earlier than usual:
7970, very poor at 1141; not heard after 1200
10300, good at 1146; SOH had been in clear at 1051; see TAIWAN; also good at 1258, 1321
10965, very poor at 1259-1300*
12240, fair at 1148; fair at 1258
13130, good at 1258
13800, fair at 1059-1100*. Aoki shows this as a SOH frequency at 20-17, but I never hear FD on it after 1200. Also at 1151 at first seems undermodulated, but really under open carrier from WYFR before *1200
13920, fair at 1152, het and ute QRM; good at 1258
14700, good at 1257, the only one not //
14970, very poor at 1152
15745, very good at 1255. Aoki shows SOH via Tajikistan at 1230-1300
15900, very good at 1256
16100, fair at 1159-1200*; very good at 1256. None higher to 19 MHz. Also good at 1318, and none lower now except 10300 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. 13590, May 5 at 1101 news with American accent, so is it VOA? It certainly can`t be BBC, which for newscasters welcomes all kinds of regional British and ex-colonial accents except North American.
Of course! It`s CRI as the content of the news centered around the Middle Kingdom soon reveals. Has long/short path echo. HFCC shows CRI, 500 kW, 193 degrees via Beijing site at 10-12 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [and non]. 15250, one would like to hear the only intentional English broadcast from BSK Saudi Arabia, at 0930-1225 on R. Riyadh, per Aoki, but instead one must hear stuff in Chinese: May 5 at 1108 CNR1 echo-jammer plus het against VOA Mandarin via Tajikistan (except on Wednesdays when site switches to Tinang, Philippines; why??). At 1213 still the same, plus SAH, with the VOA site after 1200 daily being Tinang (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA. 5055, May 5 at 0452, two Spanish programs mixing about equally, i.e. a leapfrog mixing product of R. Rebelde 5025 and RHC 5040, landing another 15 kHz higher. I could hear it on two different receivers and also when attenuated. It ends of course around 0500 when 5040 goes off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also ECUADOR [and non]!
** ECUADOR [and non]. 6050, May 5 at 0454, RHC English service has heavy co-channel QRM and subaudible heterodyne from music. At 0458 RHC stops modulating, and then HCJB is clearly heard in Spanish, 0459 full ID mentioning 89.3, 91.3, 96.1, a couple other FM frequencies in different cities, 690 MW and 6050 SW, automatic timesignal at 0500, signing off until 3:30 am in Quechua, national anthem which sounds like a very old 78 rpm disc.
I think the RHC 6050 carrier had been cut, presumably for antenna change, but I could not tell when it came back on, or whether HCJB left its carrier on for a while. There was ACI from Spain on 6055.
At 0503, I found RHC English underway on 6060, not on 6010 yet, and it did not pick up until later than minute on 6050, when also there was a bit of extraneous music. HCJB used to display this defect after ``sign-off`` on 9745. At 0504 RHC English is only poorly audible on 6050 with SAH from some carrier, maybe still HCJB.
At the 0454 outset, HCJB signal was definitely stronger than I expected for 10 kW. It certainly is capable of messing up RHC reception in North America, which is the only thing which might persuade recalcitrant frequency ``manager`` Arnie Coro to move away from 6050. HCJB, or rather Vozandes Media, is also planning on beefing up its transmissions from Pichincha. OTOH, Arnie`s happy to be colliding with WYFR on 11830 and numerous other instances of poor selexion, not even in RHC`s self-interest, and certainly with no consideration for others (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ECUADOR [non]. 9955, `DX Partyline` via WRMI, Thursday May 5 at 0520 during report from Luigi Cobisi, adequate copy vs heavy pulse jamming, but losing out by 0526 during interview with Brent Weeks, HCJB Global Latin American Engineering Director about a new DRM receiver from New Path Radio (?).
0528 the big announcement by Allen Graham (Allen always with an E as in Ecuador), with excuses why he is killing `DXPL` after the last week in May (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FRANCE [non]. 13640, May 5 at 1149 as I tune across, surprised to hear an RFI ID in Russian during music. I suppose they were just showing off, as this is fill after the Météo Marine in French, via GUIANA FRENCH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. 5765-USB, AFN, May 5 at 1125, sufficient signal with NPR `Morning Edition`, // KOSU 91.7 which was running some 8 seconds behind Guam due to IBOC delay. On my FRG-7, USB and LSB signals can be tuned equally well on the LSB or USB setting, but USB helps to avoid the QRM from WTWW 5755. Had not heard this one in a while in my usual post-sunrise monitoring, so glad it`s still going, but apprehensive about WTWW`s plan to use 5765 too (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUATEMALA. 4055, May 5 at 1117, ``Goin` Home`` spiritual à la Dvorak, choral and organ, but modulation rather distorted from R. Verdad (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDONESIA. 9526-, unusually awake early, I have a chance to check out reports from Ron Howard that VOI has replaced other languages with nothing but English: May 5 at 1055, poor signal with interview in English as usual during the 10-11 hour. 1142, still in English with speech in echoey venue about the 2011 economy, Asian Development Bank. Until this week, the 11-12 hour had been in Mandarin.
At 1219 instead of Japanese, song in English with IADs; 1221, YL ID as ``Voice of Indonesia, the Sound of Dignity``. None of the usual scripted programs on definite subjects, but instead the YL DJ chats about the song she likes, ``more and more improvements to our programs``, offering to make birthday greetings; 1224 weather forecasts for cities in Indonesia, Asia, Australia, Europe, and even USA, altho it sounded like she expected the same high and low in NY and LA. 1229 another song. A cheap and easy way to fill an extra hour, á la `Live Talk` from R. Australia!
1301, English ID, program previews, 1302 news but reception has deteriorated from fair to poor. This hour seems to be like the old one with certain definite features rather than DJ chatter and music, e.g. `Today in History` at 1322, after which I gave up trying to copy anything.
It appears that VOI has dispensed with its Japanese and Mandarin services, as well as some of its English staff. We wonder if other languages are also gone, such as the previously scheduled: 1600 Arabic, 1700 Spanish, 1800 German, 2000 French? Yes, Atsunori Ishida reports at http://rri.jpn.org/ that since April 28 it`s been all-English at 10-15 and 16-21, the exact times varying widely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KOREA NORTH & SOUTH. 4450, May 5 at 1120, Korean talk with a SAH, but I have no idea which is on top, V. of the People from S to N, or KNDF blocking it from N to S (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALAYSIA. 6100, May 5 at 1130, fair and clear reception in Malay M&W talk about Islam, not news; 1135 choral music with birdsong; 1140 segué to Qur`an. This is a new frequency from Kajang, West Malaysia, first reported by Ron Howard April 24, sometimes relaying Wai FM from Sarawak, sometimes Sarawak FM, but I heard no ID for either, nor heard any //. Aoki shows it in use 24 hours, but CRI clashes after 1200.
However, there was a wavering het on 7270, no doubt caused by the off-frequency Wai FM relay really in Kuching vs China or India. That het was also audible before 1100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. Sporadic E season is getting a good start with another TV DX opening appropriately from here on Cinco de Mayo: I was hoping for it, since Es was affecting HF as early as 1107 from WWCR 15825. When I turned on the analog TV at 1419 UT, channel 2 with at least two stations 10 kHz apart, one with a variety show involving models. By 1434 the MUF was up to ch 4 video. At 1441, 2 was giving a national weather summary with highs in various cities, including 40 degrees in Hermosillo, whew! At 1444, ch 4 has net-5 cartoons (dibujos). I turn off the computer too close to the TV, verifying that when on it blocks ch 5. 1542, ch 4 is still in with net-5 dibujos. Unfortunately there are 6 full-power and 4 low-power net-5 XHGC relays on 4, per W9WI.com.
Then I had to go out for most of the day in search of a suitable 2.5 GHz transmitter to cook my food quickly, which required a trip outside Enid. It`d better not QRM MF, HF or VHF! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3385, May 5 at 1114, poor signal in talk I can`t tell whether English or Tok Pisin, but at least there is some modulation from R. East New Britain, unlike other presumed PNG/Indonesian carriers on 3365, 3325. At the same time, 13m was open at least from Spain. This is a good example for us to beware of simplified A-11 Aoki, which still shows RRI Kupang on 3385, and R. Eastern Highlands on 3395, neither of which have been heard for years (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SAIPAN. 12090, May 5 at 2357, no signal as I am checking for the 2330-2400 broadcast of KFBS, but I may have tuned in too late. Wolfgang Büschel says there are rumors that KFBS has closed down. It certainly has a limited schedule of 7 hours a week per the FEBC website, but if you click on ALL for it at http://data.febinfo.org/p_stations.php
you get no transmissions at all.
WRTH says they have 4 x 100 kW transmitters, but nowhere near that usage in HFCC, just a few hours daily at http://hfcc.org/data/schedbybrc.php?seas=A11&broadc=FBS
And that`s why I was checking 12090. We need to try the others to find if anything is really on, none of it in English:
0830-0900 11850
0900-1130 15580
0930-1000 11990
1100-1400 11650
1130-1300 11920
1200-1300 11800
1300-1400 15580
2230-2300 12090
2330-2359 15580
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN. 21610, May 5 at 1112, REE poor in Spanish, the OSOB, but nice to find the band open this early, and at the same time all other bands down to 3 MHz; see PNG (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SUDAN [and non]. 13620, R. Dabanga via MADAGASCAR, checked about half an hour earlier than usual, at 0443 May 5, not only had the continuous tone jamming but an envelope of buzz extending between 13612 and 13638. Since this is about 25 kHz bandwidth, it may have typically been an OTH radar such as the one in Cyprus altho the sound was somewhat different (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAIWAN. 10300, May 5 at 1051, VP signal in Chinese, but no jamming, so presumably Sound of Hope. By next check 1146, Firedrake was on. This and many other frequencies compiled under CHINA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TIBET [non]. 15670, May 5 at 1155 and 1256, CNR1 ChiCom jamming against R. Free Asia, Tibetan via Tajikistan, is assisted by spurs from WWCR 15825; see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TURKEY. 15450, VOT, May 5 at 1323-1325* closing the English broadcast, we get to hear the 26-note IS played several times absolutely identically, the variations having been eliminated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K [non]. I found two sufficient frequencies for BBCWS in English, should one care to listen between 11 and 12 UT, unlikely since it carries the pandering `World, Have Your Say` listener-participation programmme: 15285, May 5 at 1106, good signal; and at 1111, fair signal on 17760. 15285 still in at 1153.
Unfortunately, 15285 is about to be canceled! Plus three others, according to Ivo Ivanov May 5: ``Cancelled BBC frequencies from May 8:
1600-1800 on 9495 SLA 250 kW / 085 deg in English
0900-1300 on 15285 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg in English
0800-1300 on 15400 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg in English
0900-1300 on 21660 NAK 250 kW / 020 deg in English``
HFCC agrees that 15285 has been 13 degrees from SINGAPORE, and 17760 is 25 degrees from THAILAND, so both USward unintentionally (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. George McClintock phoned May 4 at 1915 UT to advise that WTWW #3 transmitter is now testing on 12100, about 20 kW and 50% modulation. We checked and it was VG here, S9+22 or so, and sufficient modulation, noticeably less than the over-modulation on 9479. Still going past 2030. Says he is working out the bugs and will continue testing 12100 on and off the next week, not on the other three frequencies, and work up to full 100 kW.
Yes, #3, as the #2 transmitter is held up by some parts problems, so #3 on the 40 degree antenna toward Europe will be operational before #2. May change to a 15 MHz channel in the daytime. Modulation was gospel music, but when fully programmed, 12100 et al. will be carrying nothing but scripture reading from Spoken Word of God, in English, Arabic, German, French, Portuguese, perhaps Spanish; plans to add Chinese later on the other transmitter.
In English the SWOG is by Alexander Scourby, whom I used to respect as a secular narrator, heard on several other stations, even giving Brother Scare an occasional breather. Now he is remembered mostly for his Bible readings, having died in 1985, so yet another dead SW broadcaster, 25 years and counting (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1563, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9370, WTJC remains out of whack with distortion on the fundamental and wide-ranging spurs messing up many neighboring signals. At 0524 May 5, I could hear WTJC at many spots between 9315 and 9455. At 1052 the main peaks were circa 9320, 9345 and up to 9420 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST0
** U S A. 9330-CUSB, May 5 at 1052, WBCQ again in dead air, with mush from WTJC 9370 spurs audible underneath. Next check at 1146, GFRN modulation had resumed, still with WTJC hash. It seems DA from Orangeville is not unusual, a sure way to lose what few listeners they could have (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9265, WINB is fond of confronting CODAR, not only on its only other frequency, 13570, but also here: May 5 at 1051 in English, lite CODAR underneath, with its weak peak circa 9250 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 15825, May 5 at 1107, a bit of a novelty to hear Russian on WWCR, but now so scheduled, and good signal getting a sporadic-E boost this early before sunrise, shortly after sign-on. Per May 3 WWCR program sked, this is a version of James Dobson`s `Focus on the Family`, M-F at 1100-1115, followed by Arabic New Testament at 1115-1130.
15825 was so strong, S9+20, that at 1155 when back in English, modulation spike spurs traced to it by matching could be heard on 15670 vs Chinese radio war --- see TIBET [non], and spreading 15660-15680; 1210 faded to only fair, disaudiblizing the spikes; 1256 could again hear the spurs vs Chinese. This was a tipoff to more Es seen later from Mexico up to 68 MHz, q.v.
Strangely enough, the May 3 program schedule still shows Rollye James, Mon-Sat 0500-0800 on 3215, tho her show went off the air at the end of March and WWCR has been playing fill music shows instead. Maybe they expect her to resume any time. Of course, if she really appreciated shortwave, she would do her show there if nowhere else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1563: first airing should have been 0330 UT Thursday May 5 on WRMI 9955, but too busy to check it here; then at 1500, 2100, Friday 1430, Saturday 0800, 1730, Sunday 0800, 1530, 1730. On WWCR: Friday 2030 on 15825, Saturday 1600 on 12160, Sunday 0630 on 3215, as still shown on May schedule.
On WWRB, UT Friday 0330 on 2390, 5050, we hope back this week after missing last week. On IPAR, Saturday 1800 on 7290 via Slovakia. On WRN via SiriusXM, on new channel numbered 120, Saturday and Sunday 1730, Sunday 0830 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** UZBEKISTAN. 9660, May 5 at 1306, YL in S Asian language, music, and mentions ``Voice Asia``; fair with flutter. It`s CVC in Hindi via Tashkent, 100 kW, 153 degrees at 11-14. I`d much rather hear the late lamented R. Tashkent, even if it is from one of the most repressive, controlled-press countries in the world, which very well may have once used the very same transmitter. Apparently the time-brokers consider CVC a kindred spirit (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###