** CHINA. Firedrake April 18, circa 1330:
14950, very poor at 1329; none in the 13s, 12s
15500, very poor at 1332 with het on lo side
15555, very poor at 1332 with het from 15558
16100, fair at 1338, none in the 17s
After 1400:
15615, poor at 1427 and now colliding directly with WEWN which has inexplicably moved up from 15610, or ex-9390; see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COSTA RICA. 5965 and 9630, April 18 at 0548 and 0551 respectively, REE relay is back on correct frequencies, 24 hours after landing on 5995 and 9635, by mistake? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, April 18 at 0556, R. Africa is on rather early and propagating with YL gospel huxter, long IADs, more obvious when music plays; 0559 retune, now YL giving PO Box in NJ 07528, ``stay tuned for today`s message``, then OM g.h., somewhat overmodulated yet muffled. Apparently just changed programs when I was not monitoring, and missed another possible local ID, but probably none given (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 6185, trying to hear R. Educación, XEPPM: April 17 at 2356 weak carrier with no modulation audible, continuing past 2402; there is ACI from Brasil 6180, but no big signal on 6190 yet.
At 0117 April 18, still carrier with no modulation detectable, vs bigsig from Brasil 6180 and now very bigsig from RNW Dutch Bonaire 6190.
0153, same situation except no 6190 problem, Bonaire off after 0127.
0257-0301+, 6185 with trace of modulation, unknown if in Spanish. However, Vatican is at 03-05 to E Europe, starting with Ukrainian.
0449, now some poor modulation, music sounds Greek, which is perfectly possible for XEPPM`s eclectic format; then M&W conversing. Modulation is still so low I can`t be sure it`s Spanish. Or is it Vatican?
0547, no carrier detectable; and during this hour only, 6190 has CRI via Sackville. But even with BFO, I can`t find any signal on 6185.
0605, zero signal on 6185, and in fact nothing audible on 49m above 6160 Canada/Newfoundland.
I asked Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla in the DF about XEPPM, and he replied April 15:
``Desde hace un mes XEPPM transmite todo el día en los 6185 kHz; la he captado en la mañana, al mediodía y en la noche. No sé si ha salido del aire en la madrugada pero he de confirmar esta semana cuál es la situación.``
For a month he has been hearing it all day long, not sure if it`s still on overnight, to be checked out.
Follow-up April 17:
``Hola Glenn: hoy hablé telefónicamente con Pilar Cruz, encargada de la onda corta y me confirmó el nuevo horario de Radio Educación onda corta -6185 kHz- el cual es de las 09:00 a las 06:00 -hora del Centro- (1400 a 1100 UT).
Asimismo la programación independiente de la onda corta es de las 17:00 a las 00:00 horas del Centro (22:00 a 05:00 UTC), horario en el que tienen programas exclusivos para la onda corta; el resto del tiempo la programación es la misma que la de la onda media 1060 kHz``
Pilar Cruz, who is in charge of the SW service, confirmed on the phone that the 6185 schedule is now 14-11 UT; separate SW programming is at 22-05, the rest of the time relaying MW 1060.
I replied:
``Hola Julian, Gracias, pero sigue sin escucharse en varias horas de la noche. Estoy seguro que no esta en el aire por 6185, ejemplo anoche antes y despues de las 06 TU. Tal vez Sra. Cruz no sepa que no funciona actualmente en OC?? No nos importan tanto las horas distintas de la programacion OC, sino las horas correctas que transmiten en OC, sea con programacion de OM o no. Tal vez queria decir, en OC solo de 09 a 18 hora del centro?? En vez de hasta 06? Por favor tratar de escucharla en 6185 a las horas nocturnas y diurnas? Voy a probar aun mas esta tarde. Acabo de consultar su sitio web, donde aparece nada de esto. Nisquiera una grilla de programas OC, como antes hubo. Solo esto:
http://www.radioeducacion.mx/onda-corta
``Su transmisión con programación propia es de las 18:00 a las 12:00 y de ahí se enlaza con la señal de AM hasta las 6:00 horas.``
Parece que queria decir 18:00 a las 24:00 (o 00:00) .... AM hasta las 6:00 --- en hora local, el esquema anterior. 73, Glenn``
[Summary translation:] Thanks but it continues to be unheard at various times in the night. For example last night it was not audible on 6185 before or after 0600 UT. Maybe Mrs. Cruz is not aware that SW is not funxioning? The SW-only programming hours are not as important to us as the correct hours when SW is transmitted, whether with MW programming or not.
Maybe she meant to say from 9 to 18 central time, instead of until 06? Please try to hear 6185 during night and day. I am going to try harder this evening. I just consulted their website where nothing about this appears. Not even a SW program grid, like there used to be, just this athttp://www.radioeducacion.mx/onda-corta
``Its transmission with separate program is from 18:00 to 12:00 hours, and from then on linked to the AM signal until 6:00``
Apparently this was supposed to say from 18 to 24 (or 00), and then AM until 06, which was the old schedule.
Julián replies April 17:
``Hola Glenn: en estos momentos 18:25 -Central Time- escucho perfecto a XEPPM -6185 kHz-, mas noche nuevamente intentaré escuchar.
Te aclaro, el nuevo horario de trasmisión de la onda corta es de las 09:00 hasta las 06:00 del día siguiente -Central Time- "descansa" 3 horas entre las 06:00 y las 09:00 - Central Time-
La programación propia de la onda corta -separada del 1060 - inicia a las 17:00 -Central Time con una hora de música mexicana, a las 18:00 inicia la programación hablada y concluye a las 24:00 horas, a las 24:00 horas se toma la programación de la onda media. Todos los horarios te los doy en "Central Time". Si hay alguna duda escribeme y me comunico con la Srita. Cruz, Saludos, Julián``
He was hearing it perfectly at 2325 UT, and reiterates the above new schedule info, i.e. on the air continuously from 14 to 11 UT the next day, taking a break at 11-14.
From my monitoring as above, it seems to be on the air until 0500 UT or so but just barely modulated, and off the air after 0500, until --- ? Possibly the MUF falls below 6185 around local midnight, but at 2 megameters distance, this was habitually audible best after 0600 when the QRM cleared up.
BTW, when I went to their website, this popped up:
``Aviso importante
En términos de lo dispuesto por el artículo 41 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, durante el tiempo que comprendan las campañas electorales y hasta la conclusión de la jornada comicial, debe suspenderse la difusión en los medios de comunicación social de toda propaganda gubernamental. Por ello, del 30 de marzo al 1 de julio de 2012, inclusive, se suspenderá el acceso a las secciones de este portal de Internet que contienen difusión de programas, acciones, obras o logros de gobierno.``
Saying all government advertising and links on the website to anything about government activities has been suspended during the election campaign, 30 March to 1 July, in accordance with Art. 41 of the constitution. Does this mean all stations have also suspended all government PSAs, which are normally required and ubiquitous, including those lauding the Presidencia in particular? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NIGERIA. 15120, April 18 at 0555, VON good signal with hum, sufficient but undermodulation giving address english @ voiceofnigeria.com and closing program credits (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOUTH AFRICA. 15255, April 18 at 0601 music in a loop, but not BaBcoCk`s; 0602 Channel Africa, ``Voice of the African Renaissance`` introducing final hour of program on 7230, 15255 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 15615, WEWN here April 18 at 1336, but why? Now they will be colliding with Firedrake (also to Asia!) after 1400, as I have been hearing that reliably. It`s there because of V. of Tibet on 15613. Sure enough, WEWN and Firedrake are mixing at 1427, and both are weaker than 15620 FEBC Bocaue in Javanese into Indonesian. Why leave 15610? There`s nothing else on 15610 at 13-15 per Aoki, EiBi, nor on 15605. (Only HFCC has VOR on 15605 at 13-16 from Moscow, presumably wooden.) I can still hear weak squishy spurs at plus/minus 9 kHz from 15615 tho they may have been somewhat attenuated. 15615 is in latest HFCC for WEWN at 13-15, claiming it started 25 March, which is a lie. (And still on 15610 at 15-24).
Furthermore, the WEWN websitehttp://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm
still shows 11615 at 13-15, not 15615. Typo??
Then I found a note from Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria:
``Frequency change of WEWN in English to SEAs from April 17: 1300-1500 NF 15615 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg, ex 15610 on April 16, re-ex 9390
Frequency change of WYFR Family Radio in Portuguese to Brasil from April 17, 2200-0100 NF 15745 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 to avoid R. Inconfidencia. Both confirmed today April 18. 73! Ivo``
Then I sent him my report above to which he replied:
``Yes, very strong Firedrake (also to Asia) here in BUL from 1402 on 15615, but also strong signal from Voice of Tibet on 15613 from Dushanbe-Yangiyul. Shambles! Ivo``
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 10000, April 18 at 0550, weak 2-way under WWV/H, probably in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
14950, very poor at 1329; none in the 13s, 12s
15500, very poor at 1332 with het on lo side
15555, very poor at 1332 with het from 15558
16100, fair at 1338, none in the 17s
After 1400:
15615, poor at 1427 and now colliding directly with WEWN which has inexplicably moved up from 15610, or ex-9390; see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COSTA RICA. 5965 and 9630, April 18 at 0548 and 0551 respectively, REE relay is back on correct frequencies, 24 hours after landing on 5995 and 9635, by mistake? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 15190, April 18 at 0556, R. Africa is on rather early and propagating with YL gospel huxter, long IADs, more obvious when music plays; 0559 retune, now YL giving PO Box in NJ 07528, ``stay tuned for today`s message``, then OM g.h., somewhat overmodulated yet muffled. Apparently just changed programs when I was not monitoring, and missed another possible local ID, but probably none given (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 6185, trying to hear R. Educación, XEPPM: April 17 at 2356 weak carrier with no modulation audible, continuing past 2402; there is ACI from Brasil 6180, but no big signal on 6190 yet.
At 0117 April 18, still carrier with no modulation detectable, vs bigsig from Brasil 6180 and now very bigsig from RNW Dutch Bonaire 6190.
0153, same situation except no 6190 problem, Bonaire off after 0127.
0257-0301+, 6185 with trace of modulation, unknown if in Spanish. However, Vatican is at 03-05 to E Europe, starting with Ukrainian.
0449, now some poor modulation, music sounds Greek, which is perfectly possible for XEPPM`s eclectic format; then M&W conversing. Modulation is still so low I can`t be sure it`s Spanish. Or is it Vatican?
0547, no carrier detectable; and during this hour only, 6190 has CRI via Sackville. But even with BFO, I can`t find any signal on 6185.
0605, zero signal on 6185, and in fact nothing audible on 49m above 6160 Canada/Newfoundland.
I asked Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla in the DF about XEPPM, and he replied April 15:
``Desde hace un mes XEPPM transmite todo el día en los 6185 kHz; la he captado en la mañana, al mediodía y en la noche. No sé si ha salido del aire en la madrugada pero he de confirmar esta semana cuál es la situación.``
For a month he has been hearing it all day long, not sure if it`s still on overnight, to be checked out.
Follow-up April 17:
``Hola Glenn: hoy hablé telefónicamente con Pilar Cruz, encargada de la onda corta y me confirmó el nuevo horario de Radio Educación onda corta -6185 kHz- el cual es de las 09:00 a las 06:00 -hora del Centro- (1400 a 1100 UT).
Asimismo la programación independiente de la onda corta es de las 17:00 a las 00:00 horas del Centro (22:00 a 05:00 UTC), horario en el que tienen programas exclusivos para la onda corta; el resto del tiempo la programación es la misma que la de la onda media 1060 kHz``
Pilar Cruz, who is in charge of the SW service, confirmed on the phone that the 6185 schedule is now 14-11 UT; separate SW programming is at 22-05, the rest of the time relaying MW 1060.
I replied:
``Hola Julian, Gracias, pero sigue sin escucharse en varias horas de la noche. Estoy seguro que no esta en el aire por 6185, ejemplo anoche antes y despues de las 06 TU. Tal vez Sra. Cruz no sepa que no funciona actualmente en OC?? No nos importan tanto las horas distintas de la programacion OC, sino las horas correctas que transmiten en OC, sea con programacion de OM o no. Tal vez queria decir, en OC solo de 09 a 18 hora del centro?? En vez de hasta 06? Por favor tratar de escucharla en 6185 a las horas nocturnas y diurnas? Voy a probar aun mas esta tarde. Acabo de consultar su sitio web, donde aparece nada de esto. Nisquiera una grilla de programas OC, como antes hubo. Solo esto:
http://www.radioeducacion.mx/onda-corta
``Su transmisión con programación propia es de las 18:00 a las 12:00 y de ahí se enlaza con la señal de AM hasta las 6:00 horas.``
Parece que queria decir 18:00 a las 24:00 (o 00:00) .... AM hasta las 6:00 --- en hora local, el esquema anterior. 73, Glenn``
[Summary translation:] Thanks but it continues to be unheard at various times in the night. For example last night it was not audible on 6185 before or after 0600 UT. Maybe Mrs. Cruz is not aware that SW is not funxioning? The SW-only programming hours are not as important to us as the correct hours when SW is transmitted, whether with MW programming or not.
Maybe she meant to say from 9 to 18 central time, instead of until 06? Please try to hear 6185 during night and day. I am going to try harder this evening. I just consulted their website where nothing about this appears. Not even a SW program grid, like there used to be, just this athttp://www.radioeducacion.mx/onda-corta
``Its transmission with separate program is from 18:00 to 12:00 hours, and from then on linked to the AM signal until 6:00``
Apparently this was supposed to say from 18 to 24 (or 00), and then AM until 06, which was the old schedule.
Julián replies April 17:
``Hola Glenn: en estos momentos 18:25 -Central Time- escucho perfecto a XEPPM -6185 kHz-, mas noche nuevamente intentaré escuchar.
Te aclaro, el nuevo horario de trasmisión de la onda corta es de las 09:00 hasta las 06:00 del día siguiente -Central Time- "descansa" 3 horas entre las 06:00 y las 09:00 - Central Time-
La programación propia de la onda corta -separada del 1060 - inicia a las 17:00 -Central Time con una hora de música mexicana, a las 18:00 inicia la programación hablada y concluye a las 24:00 horas, a las 24:00 horas se toma la programación de la onda media. Todos los horarios te los doy en "Central Time". Si hay alguna duda escribeme y me comunico con la Srita. Cruz, Saludos, Julián``
He was hearing it perfectly at 2325 UT, and reiterates the above new schedule info, i.e. on the air continuously from 14 to 11 UT the next day, taking a break at 11-14.
From my monitoring as above, it seems to be on the air until 0500 UT or so but just barely modulated, and off the air after 0500, until --- ? Possibly the MUF falls below 6185 around local midnight, but at 2 megameters distance, this was habitually audible best after 0600 when the QRM cleared up.
BTW, when I went to their website, this popped up:
``Aviso importante
En términos de lo dispuesto por el artículo 41 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, durante el tiempo que comprendan las campañas electorales y hasta la conclusión de la jornada comicial, debe suspenderse la difusión en los medios de comunicación social de toda propaganda gubernamental. Por ello, del 30 de marzo al 1 de julio de 2012, inclusive, se suspenderá el acceso a las secciones de este portal de Internet que contienen difusión de programas, acciones, obras o logros de gobierno.``
Saying all government advertising and links on the website to anything about government activities has been suspended during the election campaign, 30 March to 1 July, in accordance with Art. 41 of the constitution. Does this mean all stations have also suspended all government PSAs, which are normally required and ubiquitous, including those lauding the Presidencia in particular? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NIGERIA. 15120, April 18 at 0555, VON good signal with hum, sufficient but undermodulation giving address english @ voiceofnigeria.com and closing program credits (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOUTH AFRICA. 15255, April 18 at 0601 music in a loop, but not BaBcoCk`s; 0602 Channel Africa, ``Voice of the African Renaissance`` introducing final hour of program on 7230, 15255 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 15615, WEWN here April 18 at 1336, but why? Now they will be colliding with Firedrake (also to Asia!) after 1400, as I have been hearing that reliably. It`s there because of V. of Tibet on 15613. Sure enough, WEWN and Firedrake are mixing at 1427, and both are weaker than 15620 FEBC Bocaue in Javanese into Indonesian. Why leave 15610? There`s nothing else on 15610 at 13-15 per Aoki, EiBi, nor on 15605. (Only HFCC has VOR on 15605 at 13-16 from Moscow, presumably wooden.) I can still hear weak squishy spurs at plus/minus 9 kHz from 15615 tho they may have been somewhat attenuated. 15615 is in latest HFCC for WEWN at 13-15, claiming it started 25 March, which is a lie. (And still on 15610 at 15-24).
Furthermore, the WEWN websitehttp://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm
still shows 11615 at 13-15, not 15615. Typo??
Then I found a note from Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria:
``Frequency change of WEWN in English to SEAs from April 17: 1300-1500 NF 15615 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg, ex 15610 on April 16, re-ex 9390
Frequency change of WYFR Family Radio in Portuguese to Brasil from April 17, 2200-0100 NF 15745 YFR 100 kW / 142 deg, ex 15190 to avoid R. Inconfidencia. Both confirmed today April 18. 73! Ivo``
Then I sent him my report above to which he replied:
``Yes, very strong Firedrake (also to Asia) here in BUL from 1402 on 15615, but also strong signal from Voice of Tibet on 15613 from Dushanbe-Yangiyul. Shambles! Ivo``
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 10000, April 18 at 0550, weak 2-way under WWV/H, probably in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
