** ALBANIA. 7425, March 26 at 2354, R. Tirana daily Albanian hour in well with no QRM. 7425, March 27 at 0128, R. Tirana sole English to NAm confirmed at new A-12 time, also QRM-free, Klara signing on at 0130, but still with old times and frequencies expired in B-11! ``UK 2100 on 7530, USA 0230 on 7420``. Except Sundays/UT Mondays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL [and non]. 15190-, March 26 at 2220, R. Inconfidência can be heard under WYFR in Portuguese, which like always in A-seasons, usurps this frequency back to Brasil at 2200-0045. Being slightly off-frequency makes the undermusic from BH sound off-key. As time goes on, WYFR weakens a bit by comparison (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA [and non]. 15180, March 26 at 1902, Arabic must have just come on, stronger than 15190 R. Africa, but not too strong; 1905 ID in passing as Radio Canada Douali (means International?). Off already at 1930 check, as 15190 EqG is growing. 15180 is 250 kW, 114 degrees from Woofferton UK at 1900-1930 only.
17735, March 26 at 1914 there is an annoying lo and wavering het circa low C to C# or 135 Hz, between something in French and something in Arabic. Of course the Arabic is IWT, Tunisia, which has been here for a few weeks after a sudden move from 9720, but haven`t got around to telling HFCC about it. 17735 is now from RCI at 19 to 22 in French, English, French. Both are unusable as a result even tho most of the other frequencies in the 17.7s are empty! 1931 still the awful het.
For the A-season, RCI has again moved its only English hour left via Sackville from 18-19 to 20-21, even tho there are no time shifts of even one hour, let alone two, in target Africa; why? At 2005, RCI is starting `The Link` with a sub hostess on 15330 (still with remnant Cuban jamming against Martí underneath, not to be used at all by them for seven months), and 15235. 2057 closing I also run across this on 17735 when by now Tunisia has finally left the frequency. At 2102, RFI French is on 17735 and 15235 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake UT March 26:
9455, good at 1927 vs RFA Mandarin via Saipan. Must be huge power to put such a signal into here over mostly day path
13850, poor at 2329, now weaker than adjacent 13845 WWCR
14400, fair at 2330 but heavy ute QRM. Haven`t heard it here for a long time, in our mornings
14700, fair with flutter at 2329
14970, fair with flutter at 2329; none in the 12s, 15s, 16s
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. 15100, March 26 at 2315 sounds like hymn, in Chinese? Poor with flutter. Aoki shows CRI in Cantonese, 500 kW, 161 degrees via Jinhua-Youbu 831 site at 23-24, followed by Hakka at 0000-0057 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. The papal visit to Cuba led to some very strange bedfellows on the airwaves, which probably nothing else could have accomplished.
First noticed something extraordinary March 26 at 1925 UT when I found RHC had turned its morning frequencies back on, for lack of anything better, i.e. 13670 and 13780 with live coverage of the pope`s arrival in Santiago de Cuba, at the Antonio Maceo International Airport (remember him? The exiles also honored Maceo by naming one of their several Voz del CID transmitters after him; was he a turncoat??). Quickly found other RHC morning ones also back on: 11760, weaker 9850 and weaker still 11690, 11750 and 9540.
13640 also in OC prior to opening European service in French at 1930, but other language services were unphased by the live event. Under 13640 at 1928 was something else, presumably still colliding with India, Arabic at 300 degrees from 500 kW Bengaluru.
The anchors kept repeating the same Commie babble, unable to break away from it even for such a momentous event. By 1934 pope was ready to ``pisar`` on the soil of José Martí where he would be welcomed by ``General del Ejército`` Raúl Castro Ruz. Seems that is his #1 title, with ``Presidente del Consejo de Ministros`` #2 mentioned less often.
The whole ceremony was extremely militaristic. Once Ben was on terra firma, at 1936 the Cuban NA played, as gun salutes roared off, segué unfamiliar anthem of the State of Vatican City as the guns kept firing. I lost count, but anchor said ``21 salvas de artillería`` as befits a head of ``state``. I hope they missed all circumhumans!
At 1940 and several later times, announced that this was a joint broadcast by R. Rebelde, RHC, CMKC Radio Revolución and Radio Mambí, the latter ones being provincial or local outlets. Raúl spoke from 1941 to 1952, then PBXVI from 1952 to 2002, in his strangely-accented Spanish which sounds like he learned it from English rather than German. Nothing very revolutionary, just calling for ``hombres rectos`` to lead Cuba into the future. Then back to anchor commentary, in preparation for the 7-km Popemobile ride from the airport to the city.
Then at 2008 I found the R. Católica Mundial, WEWN was also covering this in Spanish on 12050 and very weak 13830. The also-weak English frequency, 15610, was not covering it, but more important ``pro-life`` stuff and `Open Line` program. I then tried EWTN TV via cable, and they were live from Cuba with English coverage, but only until 2015 when back to a Lenten filler, `Rome`s Hidden Churches`; EWTN probably to resume after the lull. No live popestuff on Telemundo or Univisión.
By 2051 next check, RHC was gone from 13670 and 13780, but now 13830 WEWN had built up to good level, finally a bit of HF sporadic E to assist these otherwise too-close overskipping transmitters.
During a 2-hour 22-24 UT power outage due to arcing on a nearby pole, which had the lights, computers and everything flashing on and off till we rushed to the major breaker, I resume monitoring on battery power. Unfortunately the outage does not go far enough to get rid of all the line noise, but it is somewhat reduced.
At 2228, RHC live coverage in Spanish has resumed on 9660 [normally separate Mesa Redonda channel] // 9710, 9810, 13640, 13690.
At 2312, I find a new frequency, 15470, but this one has voice-over translation of the papal festivities into Portuguese! VG with some flutter. At first I thought it was Benedict underspeaking, but really a Cuban religionist with a similar but stronger voice.
At 2322, WEWN Spanish on 13830 is // RHC but about 6 seconds behind it
as the Cuban Catholic official is speaking, and then with PBXVI himself prompting rote responses from the crowd.
15470 is also // about 1 second ahead of WEWN 13830. There we have three different SW stations covering this; are there more? I boldly try R. Martí, and by golly, it is too, on still heavily jammed 6030 and well atop jamming on 11930, about 12 seconds behind RHC 13690! Must have got to Miami via a circuitous routing.
At 2331, WEWN English 15610 has decided to join in during the pope`s mass, with a good deal of music. This frequency as usual is distorted and accompanied by squishy spurs.
How about VOA which is starting its usual Spanish broadcast at 2330? No, VOA news about the visit but not // coverage, on heavily jammed 12000 and stronger vs jamming 9885, with 5890 not checked.
Before 00 UT, 11840 has CRI English via Sackville, Chinese lesson, but at 0001, RHC has come on for another one with live coverage.
At 0002, I find WEWN English now on 11520 with English translation of the Spanish festivities.
Before 0000 UT there is a suspicious strong open carrier on 11945, and after 0000 UT March 27, it too adds papal visit coverage during the mass, and 15470 is also still on with Portuguese translation and no ID at hourtop.
A few days ago I checked Vatican Radio`s ``special broadcast`` page and found nothing about any shortwave coverage. But I suspect 15470 and 11945 are VR, so check again. The disorganized Vatican Radio has more than one webpage about Special Broadcasts, and you may get the wrong one first by searching. I kept looking until I found this:
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/trasm_spec.asp
``Special Broadcasts Tuesday 27 March 2012 [times Roman = UT +2!]
Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI to Mexico and to the Republic of Cuba: Santiago de Cuba, Holy Mass at 00.30 am [2230 UT 26 March]
From Plaza Antonio Maceo in Santigo [sic] de Cuba, Holy Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of the "Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre"
Live Broadcast from 00.20 a.m. [2220 UT 26 March]
- in German via Internet on Channel 3
- in Portuguese for Brazil on kHz 15470 SW and via Internet Channel 4
- in Italian for the Rome area on kHz 585 MW, MHz 105,0 FM and via Internet on Channel 5
- in Spanish for Latin America on kHz 11945 SW and via Internet on Channel 6``
So that clinches that, except VR never tells us what the transmitter sites are, but with this strong reception I strongly doubt direct from SMG. Maybe Sackville? Bonaire?
Summing up: RHC, R. Martí, WEWN and Vatican Radio were all covering the same event on SW, altho not all with the same commentary. The Cuban Commies are eager to cloak themselves in the respectability(?) of Catholicism, not Atheism.
The Tuesday special page linx to another one for Wednesday
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/trasm_spec.asp?cod=txs_2012_03_28_ing.asp
showing events Tuesday evening here by when he will be in La Habana, and his departure Wednesday morning, but when I check it there is nothing listed on SW; maybe there will be last-minute changes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CYPRUS [and non]. 9369-9396, March 26 at 2349, OTH radar pulses presumed from here, bothering WTJC 9370v, but WWRB 9385 is already off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, March 26 at 1902, R. Africa is weak, compared to RCI Arabic on 15180, see CANADA, but by 1930, 15190 has built up to readable level if I cared to, but distracted by special coverage of pope visit to Cuba, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GREECE. 15630, March 26 at 1854, Greek talk and music, as VOG has obviously switched from 15650 to 15630 sometime since last noted at 1413; but when is it now? No more CCI here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. 11620, stronger 11670 = 11715 all unusually audible March 26 at 2224 with Indian vocal music. This is just before the close of the AIR GOS-V in English at 2045-2230, the first two from Bengaluru, the third from Delhi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN. 12080, March 26 at 2222, fair signal with Qur`an, then Arabic announcement. This is the nighttime counterpart of IRIB`s 17550 heard earlier today during its 0530-1630 broadcast, as 12080 is 1630-0530, 500 kW, 289 degrees from Zahedan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KUWAIT. 15540, March 26 at 1853, R. Kuwait in well today with country music, 1855 rap; 1900 ``This is a joint program produxion``, ``Islam . . . peace``, same show which used to be at 1800 daily, ponderous narrative of platitudes about the religion, interspersed with ``Allah Akhbar``s. Yes, it merely means ``God is Great``, but don`t they know it`s been slightly degraded by Islamic extremists yelling it as they explode themselves and/or innocent victims? Ought to play that exclamation down. Still in well at 2012 with music; at 2053 weaker but still audible in rock music; must have just missed the token news headlines at 2050.
Summery conditions are definitely building up just as A-12 starts, and as long as the Sun behaves itself. R. Kuwait`s strange service to C&W NAm on 17550 has reappeared, March 26 at 2221, S9+10 with Arabic music, diminishing but still JBA at 2300. 17550 is missing from A-12 HFCC registrations, but they are meaningless anyway with incorrect entries for 15540 and 21520/21540. Aoki reminds us that in A-11 17550 was 20-24 at 350 degrees. The only thing similar in A-12 HFCC is 9880, 21-24, 310 degrees to Europe. Is that still on or 17550 instead? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MOROCCO [and non]. During the B-11 season, IMM decided to stay on 15349.1 at all times during the day and evening, but in A-12 it`s back to two off-frequencies. Earlier on March 26 at 1320 and still at 1410 it was on 15341.6 or so, putting heavy het on HCJB Australia 15340.0, while 15345 was open and would not have bothered 15350 stations either; but at next check 1906 it`s moved up to 15345.1 or so.
Like last summer, if they would only reverse the two, they would avoid rather than cause interference, but that would make too much sense. Still, since this change comes only one day into the A-12 season, IMM must be attempting to make seasonal adjustments, even tho it refuses to participate in HFCC.
Neither does RAE, Argentina, which now faces QRMorocco since LRA is stuck around 15345v, but not audible today, unless it was the source of very weak het upon Morocco at 2103. IMM gone at 2240 check, but RAE still not audible at 2350 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. What`s left of R. Netherlands in English remains sufficiently audible in CNAm, even tho intended only for Africa, if one is able to listen between 18 and 21 UT: Monday March 26 at 1911, 15495 in English interview mentioning tswi.org which of course refers to the RNW program `The State We`re In`. A minute later I find it // on stronger and synchronized 17605, talking about breast reconstruxion by using extra tissue from the stomach, apparently about injured Kurdwomen.
Must be same site? Yes, both Vatican now, but 15495 is at 1900-2057 and 17605 at 1800-1957 so they double up only during the middle hour. Before next program at 1930, frequency announcement of 17605, 15495, 11615, 7425. However, at 2012 I was still hearing both 15495, and 17605 which went off at 2056*, a minute before 15495 which was still doing the sign-off until 2057*. Contrary to HFCC and Aoki which maintain 17605 is over at 1957 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NIGERIA [and non]. 15120 check Monday March 26, after the usual VON weekend off: at 1856, nothing audible in AM or DRM as 15110 Spain QRM is not too severe yet. DRM might have come on at 1900, but still nothing at 1903 amid splatter from 15110.
Not checked again until 1924, and now DRM noise is clearly audible from 15115 to 15125 (and Spain/Costa Rica is no longer on 15125 at this time in A-12; now registered only at 11-14 daily). Presumably off around 2000 as usual, since checked at 2006 again no DRM to be heard, altho Spain [q.v] spurs from 15110 were much worse.
7255, March 26 at 2223, all VON can manage is an unmodulated carrier, so North American SSB hams are taking advantage of it to transmit in pseudo-AM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OMAN. 15140, March 26 at 2219, poor conversation in Arabic. Nothing listed but R. Sultanate of Oman, which is supposed to end a seven-hour Arabic to Europe (and NAm onward) at 2200, running over? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ROMANIA. 15220 and stronger // 13800, March 26 at 2052, RRI in English with sports segment, continuing to get thru on loud and clear frequencies direct from Europe better than any other station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SERBIA [non]. Later on Sunday, IRS did put up their A-12 schedule as found by Alan Roe at
http://voiceofserbia.org/program-schedule
including English to NAm at 0030-0100 UT Tue-Sat on 250 kW via Bijeljina 9685, same frequency as last summer.
But: no signal, March 27 at 0035 check, nor on former 6190. Now what? Europe was in well including VOR on 9665. BTW, the new sked still shows the old frequency to Europe, 10 kW 9635 direct, changed weeks ago to 9640, and still in use March 25, as J-M Aubier points out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN. 15110, March 26 at 1903, REE is not totally out of whack today, just splattering up to 15120 where Nigeria is not yet audible. By 2006, it`s now putting out spurs peaking at multiples of about 10 kHz, 15090, 15100, 15120, 15130. It`s a report about the Pope in Cuba, but not live coverage on this station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAIWAN [non]. 17725, March 26 at 2300, RTI opening Spanish relay via WYFR, G signal, Paul Hsiao admitting that this is the program for sábado 24 de marzo! I recently heard another transmission headed as two days late, and now it`s 3 days, already 27 March in Taibei. At least they don`t try to hide these out-of-date broadcasts, but why should they be? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TUNISIA. 17735: see CANADA [and non]
** U S A [and non]. 17530, March 26 at 1919, big open carrier with French JBA underneath; 1929 VOA sign-on. Yet another instance of unnecessary site changes in the middle of a transmission, causing VOA to interfere with itself: HFCC shows French at 1830-1930 via São Tomé, and 1930-2030 via Greenville B, which should tune up elsewhere and crash-start on 15730.
15340, March 26 at 2241, poor signal from VOA Spe-cial Eng-lish, which is due west from SAIPAN at 2230-2400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 5078.5-USB, March 26 at 2235, Navy MARS net, mainly NNN0APJ control, and NNN0AEV in Missouri; strictly structured yet personal QSOs as per military discipline. This could be a very good reason US SWBC stations are not on 5080, like WTWW started to use, shifted to 5085. Googling finds NNN0APJ is Ed Menard, probably in Nebraska. They were allowed to use abbr`d callsigns, and `AEV mentioned that this is a ``pretty tricky frequency`` propagation-wise (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WEWN papal visit to Cuba coverage: see CUBA [and non]
** U S A. KBOI, 670, Boise ID, QSL card p-mailed March 22 received March 26 for e-mail report with code ID audio attachment following the DX test on 50 kW day pattern at 0807, 0837 UT March 10:
http://www.w4uvh.net/KBOIQSL.jpg
View of transmitter site. v/s Randall Rocks confirms I heard them in Enid OK. Also enclosed more photos of studios, Bill and Randall, transmitter, phasor and 6-tower antenna array in envelope from Citadel Broadcasting Company comprising two AM, four FM stations in Boise starting with KBOI. Thanks Scott Fybush and Bill Frahm for the test, and the QSL. To be added to my gallery at
http://www.worldofradio.com/QSL.html
(Glenn Hauser, OKO, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 12035, March 26 at 2358, VR IS is playing. I fear that it`s the end rather than beginning of a broadcast, as VR has this annoying habit of doing that. Yes, off at 2400* without announcement, but listed as 2315-2400 Vietnamese, 75 degrees from SMG. I wonder if they are still mis-inserting a couple minutes of English before 2315?
[non]. Special coverage of visit to CUBA: q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 17902.5-USB, March 26 at 2303, Spanish 2-way interrupted by digital data bursts, coördinated? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 18000-SSB, March 26 at 2303, weak 2-way contact, unsure of language, aero-band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL [and non]. 15190-, March 26 at 2220, R. Inconfidência can be heard under WYFR in Portuguese, which like always in A-seasons, usurps this frequency back to Brasil at 2200-0045. Being slightly off-frequency makes the undermusic from BH sound off-key. As time goes on, WYFR weakens a bit by comparison (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA [and non]. 15180, March 26 at 1902, Arabic must have just come on, stronger than 15190 R. Africa, but not too strong; 1905 ID in passing as Radio Canada Douali (means International?). Off already at 1930 check, as 15190 EqG is growing. 15180 is 250 kW, 114 degrees from Woofferton UK at 1900-1930 only.
17735, March 26 at 1914 there is an annoying lo and wavering het circa low C to C# or 135 Hz, between something in French and something in Arabic. Of course the Arabic is IWT, Tunisia, which has been here for a few weeks after a sudden move from 9720, but haven`t got around to telling HFCC about it. 17735 is now from RCI at 19 to 22 in French, English, French. Both are unusable as a result even tho most of the other frequencies in the 17.7s are empty! 1931 still the awful het.
For the A-season, RCI has again moved its only English hour left via Sackville from 18-19 to 20-21, even tho there are no time shifts of even one hour, let alone two, in target Africa; why? At 2005, RCI is starting `The Link` with a sub hostess on 15330 (still with remnant Cuban jamming against Martí underneath, not to be used at all by them for seven months), and 15235. 2057 closing I also run across this on 17735 when by now Tunisia has finally left the frequency. At 2102, RFI French is on 17735 and 15235 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake UT March 26:
9455, good at 1927 vs RFA Mandarin via Saipan. Must be huge power to put such a signal into here over mostly day path
13850, poor at 2329, now weaker than adjacent 13845 WWCR
14400, fair at 2330 but heavy ute QRM. Haven`t heard it here for a long time, in our mornings
14700, fair with flutter at 2329
14970, fair with flutter at 2329; none in the 12s, 15s, 16s
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. 15100, March 26 at 2315 sounds like hymn, in Chinese? Poor with flutter. Aoki shows CRI in Cantonese, 500 kW, 161 degrees via Jinhua-Youbu 831 site at 23-24, followed by Hakka at 0000-0057 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [and non]. The papal visit to Cuba led to some very strange bedfellows on the airwaves, which probably nothing else could have accomplished.
First noticed something extraordinary March 26 at 1925 UT when I found RHC had turned its morning frequencies back on, for lack of anything better, i.e. 13670 and 13780 with live coverage of the pope`s arrival in Santiago de Cuba, at the Antonio Maceo International Airport (remember him? The exiles also honored Maceo by naming one of their several Voz del CID transmitters after him; was he a turncoat??). Quickly found other RHC morning ones also back on: 11760, weaker 9850 and weaker still 11690, 11750 and 9540.
13640 also in OC prior to opening European service in French at 1930, but other language services were unphased by the live event. Under 13640 at 1928 was something else, presumably still colliding with India, Arabic at 300 degrees from 500 kW Bengaluru.
The anchors kept repeating the same Commie babble, unable to break away from it even for such a momentous event. By 1934 pope was ready to ``pisar`` on the soil of José Martí where he would be welcomed by ``General del Ejército`` Raúl Castro Ruz. Seems that is his #1 title, with ``Presidente del Consejo de Ministros`` #2 mentioned less often.
The whole ceremony was extremely militaristic. Once Ben was on terra firma, at 1936 the Cuban NA played, as gun salutes roared off, segué unfamiliar anthem of the State of Vatican City as the guns kept firing. I lost count, but anchor said ``21 salvas de artillería`` as befits a head of ``state``. I hope they missed all circumhumans!
At 1940 and several later times, announced that this was a joint broadcast by R. Rebelde, RHC, CMKC Radio Revolución and Radio Mambí, the latter ones being provincial or local outlets. Raúl spoke from 1941 to 1952, then PBXVI from 1952 to 2002, in his strangely-accented Spanish which sounds like he learned it from English rather than German. Nothing very revolutionary, just calling for ``hombres rectos`` to lead Cuba into the future. Then back to anchor commentary, in preparation for the 7-km Popemobile ride from the airport to the city.
Then at 2008 I found the R. Católica Mundial, WEWN was also covering this in Spanish on 12050 and very weak 13830. The also-weak English frequency, 15610, was not covering it, but more important ``pro-life`` stuff and `Open Line` program. I then tried EWTN TV via cable, and they were live from Cuba with English coverage, but only until 2015 when back to a Lenten filler, `Rome`s Hidden Churches`; EWTN probably to resume after the lull. No live popestuff on Telemundo or Univisión.
By 2051 next check, RHC was gone from 13670 and 13780, but now 13830 WEWN had built up to good level, finally a bit of HF sporadic E to assist these otherwise too-close overskipping transmitters.
During a 2-hour 22-24 UT power outage due to arcing on a nearby pole, which had the lights, computers and everything flashing on and off till we rushed to the major breaker, I resume monitoring on battery power. Unfortunately the outage does not go far enough to get rid of all the line noise, but it is somewhat reduced.
At 2228, RHC live coverage in Spanish has resumed on 9660 [normally separate Mesa Redonda channel] // 9710, 9810, 13640, 13690.
At 2312, I find a new frequency, 15470, but this one has voice-over translation of the papal festivities into Portuguese! VG with some flutter. At first I thought it was Benedict underspeaking, but really a Cuban religionist with a similar but stronger voice.
At 2322, WEWN Spanish on 13830 is // RHC but about 6 seconds behind it
as the Cuban Catholic official is speaking, and then with PBXVI himself prompting rote responses from the crowd.
15470 is also // about 1 second ahead of WEWN 13830. There we have three different SW stations covering this; are there more? I boldly try R. Martí, and by golly, it is too, on still heavily jammed 6030 and well atop jamming on 11930, about 12 seconds behind RHC 13690! Must have got to Miami via a circuitous routing.
At 2331, WEWN English 15610 has decided to join in during the pope`s mass, with a good deal of music. This frequency as usual is distorted and accompanied by squishy spurs.
How about VOA which is starting its usual Spanish broadcast at 2330? No, VOA news about the visit but not // coverage, on heavily jammed 12000 and stronger vs jamming 9885, with 5890 not checked.
Before 00 UT, 11840 has CRI English via Sackville, Chinese lesson, but at 0001, RHC has come on for another one with live coverage.
At 0002, I find WEWN English now on 11520 with English translation of the Spanish festivities.
Before 0000 UT there is a suspicious strong open carrier on 11945, and after 0000 UT March 27, it too adds papal visit coverage during the mass, and 15470 is also still on with Portuguese translation and no ID at hourtop.
A few days ago I checked Vatican Radio`s ``special broadcast`` page and found nothing about any shortwave coverage. But I suspect 15470 and 11945 are VR, so check again. The disorganized Vatican Radio has more than one webpage about Special Broadcasts, and you may get the wrong one first by searching. I kept looking until I found this:
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/trasm_spec.asp
``Special Broadcasts Tuesday 27 March 2012 [times Roman = UT +2!]
Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI to Mexico and to the Republic of Cuba: Santiago de Cuba, Holy Mass at 00.30 am [2230 UT 26 March]
From Plaza Antonio Maceo in Santigo [sic] de Cuba, Holy Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of the "Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre"
Live Broadcast from 00.20 a.m. [2220 UT 26 March]
- in German via Internet on Channel 3
- in Portuguese for Brazil on kHz 15470 SW and via Internet Channel 4
- in Italian for the Rome area on kHz 585 MW, MHz 105,0 FM and via Internet on Channel 5
- in Spanish for Latin America on kHz 11945 SW and via Internet on Channel 6``
So that clinches that, except VR never tells us what the transmitter sites are, but with this strong reception I strongly doubt direct from SMG. Maybe Sackville? Bonaire?
Summing up: RHC, R. Martí, WEWN and Vatican Radio were all covering the same event on SW, altho not all with the same commentary. The Cuban Commies are eager to cloak themselves in the respectability(?) of Catholicism, not Atheism.
The Tuesday special page linx to another one for Wednesday
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/trasm_spec.asp?cod=txs_2012_03_28_ing.asp
showing events Tuesday evening here by when he will be in La Habana, and his departure Wednesday morning, but when I check it there is nothing listed on SW; maybe there will be last-minute changes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CYPRUS [and non]. 9369-9396, March 26 at 2349, OTH radar pulses presumed from here, bothering WTJC 9370v, but WWRB 9385 is already off (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, March 26 at 1902, R. Africa is weak, compared to RCI Arabic on 15180, see CANADA, but by 1930, 15190 has built up to readable level if I cared to, but distracted by special coverage of pope visit to Cuba, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GREECE. 15630, March 26 at 1854, Greek talk and music, as VOG has obviously switched from 15650 to 15630 sometime since last noted at 1413; but when is it now? No more CCI here (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. 11620, stronger 11670 = 11715 all unusually audible March 26 at 2224 with Indian vocal music. This is just before the close of the AIR GOS-V in English at 2045-2230, the first two from Bengaluru, the third from Delhi (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** IRAN. 12080, March 26 at 2222, fair signal with Qur`an, then Arabic announcement. This is the nighttime counterpart of IRIB`s 17550 heard earlier today during its 0530-1630 broadcast, as 12080 is 1630-0530, 500 kW, 289 degrees from Zahedan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KUWAIT. 15540, March 26 at 1853, R. Kuwait in well today with country music, 1855 rap; 1900 ``This is a joint program produxion``, ``Islam . . . peace``, same show which used to be at 1800 daily, ponderous narrative of platitudes about the religion, interspersed with ``Allah Akhbar``s. Yes, it merely means ``God is Great``, but don`t they know it`s been slightly degraded by Islamic extremists yelling it as they explode themselves and/or innocent victims? Ought to play that exclamation down. Still in well at 2012 with music; at 2053 weaker but still audible in rock music; must have just missed the token news headlines at 2050.
Summery conditions are definitely building up just as A-12 starts, and as long as the Sun behaves itself. R. Kuwait`s strange service to C&W NAm on 17550 has reappeared, March 26 at 2221, S9+10 with Arabic music, diminishing but still JBA at 2300. 17550 is missing from A-12 HFCC registrations, but they are meaningless anyway with incorrect entries for 15540 and 21520/21540. Aoki reminds us that in A-11 17550 was 20-24 at 350 degrees. The only thing similar in A-12 HFCC is 9880, 21-24, 310 degrees to Europe. Is that still on or 17550 instead? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MOROCCO [and non]. During the B-11 season, IMM decided to stay on 15349.1 at all times during the day and evening, but in A-12 it`s back to two off-frequencies. Earlier on March 26 at 1320 and still at 1410 it was on 15341.6 or so, putting heavy het on HCJB Australia 15340.0, while 15345 was open and would not have bothered 15350 stations either; but at next check 1906 it`s moved up to 15345.1 or so.
Like last summer, if they would only reverse the two, they would avoid rather than cause interference, but that would make too much sense. Still, since this change comes only one day into the A-12 season, IMM must be attempting to make seasonal adjustments, even tho it refuses to participate in HFCC.
Neither does RAE, Argentina, which now faces QRMorocco since LRA is stuck around 15345v, but not audible today, unless it was the source of very weak het upon Morocco at 2103. IMM gone at 2240 check, but RAE still not audible at 2350 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. What`s left of R. Netherlands in English remains sufficiently audible in CNAm, even tho intended only for Africa, if one is able to listen between 18 and 21 UT: Monday March 26 at 1911, 15495 in English interview mentioning tswi.org which of course refers to the RNW program `The State We`re In`. A minute later I find it // on stronger and synchronized 17605, talking about breast reconstruxion by using extra tissue from the stomach, apparently about injured Kurdwomen.
Must be same site? Yes, both Vatican now, but 15495 is at 1900-2057 and 17605 at 1800-1957 so they double up only during the middle hour. Before next program at 1930, frequency announcement of 17605, 15495, 11615, 7425. However, at 2012 I was still hearing both 15495, and 17605 which went off at 2056*, a minute before 15495 which was still doing the sign-off until 2057*. Contrary to HFCC and Aoki which maintain 17605 is over at 1957 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NIGERIA [and non]. 15120 check Monday March 26, after the usual VON weekend off: at 1856, nothing audible in AM or DRM as 15110 Spain QRM is not too severe yet. DRM might have come on at 1900, but still nothing at 1903 amid splatter from 15110.
Not checked again until 1924, and now DRM noise is clearly audible from 15115 to 15125 (and Spain/Costa Rica is no longer on 15125 at this time in A-12; now registered only at 11-14 daily). Presumably off around 2000 as usual, since checked at 2006 again no DRM to be heard, altho Spain [q.v] spurs from 15110 were much worse.
7255, March 26 at 2223, all VON can manage is an unmodulated carrier, so North American SSB hams are taking advantage of it to transmit in pseudo-AM (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OMAN. 15140, March 26 at 2219, poor conversation in Arabic. Nothing listed but R. Sultanate of Oman, which is supposed to end a seven-hour Arabic to Europe (and NAm onward) at 2200, running over? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ROMANIA. 15220 and stronger // 13800, March 26 at 2052, RRI in English with sports segment, continuing to get thru on loud and clear frequencies direct from Europe better than any other station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SERBIA [non]. Later on Sunday, IRS did put up their A-12 schedule as found by Alan Roe at
http://voiceofserbia.org/program-schedule
including English to NAm at 0030-0100 UT Tue-Sat on 250 kW via Bijeljina 9685, same frequency as last summer.
But: no signal, March 27 at 0035 check, nor on former 6190. Now what? Europe was in well including VOR on 9665. BTW, the new sked still shows the old frequency to Europe, 10 kW 9635 direct, changed weeks ago to 9640, and still in use March 25, as J-M Aubier points out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN. 15110, March 26 at 1903, REE is not totally out of whack today, just splattering up to 15120 where Nigeria is not yet audible. By 2006, it`s now putting out spurs peaking at multiples of about 10 kHz, 15090, 15100, 15120, 15130. It`s a report about the Pope in Cuba, but not live coverage on this station (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAIWAN [non]. 17725, March 26 at 2300, RTI opening Spanish relay via WYFR, G signal, Paul Hsiao admitting that this is the program for sábado 24 de marzo! I recently heard another transmission headed as two days late, and now it`s 3 days, already 27 March in Taibei. At least they don`t try to hide these out-of-date broadcasts, but why should they be? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TUNISIA. 17735: see CANADA [and non]
** U S A [and non]. 17530, March 26 at 1919, big open carrier with French JBA underneath; 1929 VOA sign-on. Yet another instance of unnecessary site changes in the middle of a transmission, causing VOA to interfere with itself: HFCC shows French at 1830-1930 via São Tomé, and 1930-2030 via Greenville B, which should tune up elsewhere and crash-start on 15730.
15340, March 26 at 2241, poor signal from VOA Spe-cial Eng-lish, which is due west from SAIPAN at 2230-2400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 5078.5-USB, March 26 at 2235, Navy MARS net, mainly NNN0APJ control, and NNN0AEV in Missouri; strictly structured yet personal QSOs as per military discipline. This could be a very good reason US SWBC stations are not on 5080, like WTWW started to use, shifted to 5085. Googling finds NNN0APJ is Ed Menard, probably in Nebraska. They were allowed to use abbr`d callsigns, and `AEV mentioned that this is a ``pretty tricky frequency`` propagation-wise (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. WEWN papal visit to Cuba coverage: see CUBA [and non]
** U S A. KBOI, 670, Boise ID, QSL card p-mailed March 22 received March 26 for e-mail report with code ID audio attachment following the DX test on 50 kW day pattern at 0807, 0837 UT March 10:
http://www.w4uvh.net/KBOIQSL.jpg
View of transmitter site. v/s Randall Rocks confirms I heard them in Enid OK. Also enclosed more photos of studios, Bill and Randall, transmitter, phasor and 6-tower antenna array in envelope from Citadel Broadcasting Company comprising two AM, four FM stations in Boise starting with KBOI. Thanks Scott Fybush and Bill Frahm for the test, and the QSL. To be added to my gallery at
http://www.worldofradio.com/QSL.html
(Glenn Hauser, OKO, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 12035, March 26 at 2358, VR IS is playing. I fear that it`s the end rather than beginning of a broadcast, as VR has this annoying habit of doing that. Yes, off at 2400* without announcement, but listed as 2315-2400 Vietnamese, 75 degrees from SMG. I wonder if they are still mis-inserting a couple minutes of English before 2315?
[non]. Special coverage of visit to CUBA: q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 17902.5-USB, March 26 at 2303, Spanish 2-way interrupted by digital data bursts, coördinated? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 18000-SSB, March 26 at 2303, weak 2-way contact, unsure of language, aero-band (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
