** AUSTRALIA. 11650, Nov 28 at 0556, English interview about visiting Lake Taupo in New Zealand, fair signal, but not // RA on 13630, and RNZI is as usual on 11725. At 0559, 11650 does ID as R. Australia, but not // 15240 either. 0600 both play R. Australia news theme almost synchronized, but then *separate* newscasts, 11650 by M, 15240 by W. At 0605, now 11650 and 15240 really join for the same news in depth program starting with the Egyptian situation. 15240 must have been the Pacific service, 11650 the sometimes-separate Asian service.
11650 is not on any of the schedules for RA at this time, tho it and 11660 are used at other hours from Shepparton. 11650 is scheduled only at 20-22, 30 degrees. So was this a mistake, or a new-frequency change? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BOLIVIA [non]. 6105, Nov 27 at 2303, still seeking R. Panamericana, but not even a het to the China radio war. Nor after 0000 Nov 28 when the frequency opens up. It`s still being reported active in the mornings on 6105.5v (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake Nov 28, before 1400:
9780, good at 1352 with flutter; target is RTI Chinese at 10-14
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1120, Nov 28 at 1429 UT, 2 kW daytimer KEOR Sperry/Catoosa/Tulsa is still playing continuous Mexican music, day and night, never any IDs or announcements; tho I haven`t been logging it every time heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES [and non]. 9430, Nov 28 at 1350, the Chinese service from FEBC with classical music themes is disrupted by variable carrier on hi side, making het of descending chirp tones over and over (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** POLAND [non]. 15180, Nov 28 at 1455, MRP with ID and schedule in Russian, pronouncing ``UTC`` as in English, bit of music and off at 1457*. Good signal. Altho some such broadcasts are now relayed from Bulgaria, this one is via FRANCE, 500 kW, 60 degrees from Issoudun per HFCC at 1400-1500 [sic]. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ROMANIA. 15170, Nov 28 at 1354, music from RRI is now in the clear with fair signal, since Spain deleted its North American morning service via Costa Rica. RRI is at 13-15, 300 kW, 290 degrees from Galbeni to France, but also close to USward (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOMALILAND. 7120, Nov 28 at 0432, R. Hargeisa presumed, still audible with Somali talk, then some music; undermodulation levels vary (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [and non]. REE`s broadcasts for North America have indeed vanished without advance notice. Another major SW broadcaster has abandoned us!
They obviously did not want to give listeners a chance to campaign against these cuts. There had been rumblings about reduxions in service, but this still comes as a shock, despite the overall financial crisis in Spain. Another clue, a bad omen, was that REE never registered a B-12 schedule with HFCC, forcing it just to keep on the books the B-11 schedule for reference.
José Bueno also sent me a link to this pagehttp://www.rtve.es/radio/20121122/radio-exterior-marca-espana-mundo/576560.shtml
which explains the changes, along with preserving the most popular programs and canceling others (what about `Amigos de la Onda Corta`? It`s not mentioned as preserved), and trying to put a positive spin on this --- building up REE`s ``digital`` coverage by internet and satellite instead of SW.
These numbskulls are keeping only the Spanish DRM broadcast to NAm, 9625-9630-9635 and beyond at 00-02 via Costa Rica, ensuring the smallest possible audience, instead of just one AM frequency!
Monitoring Nov 27-28 finds the following situation:
At 2040, gone are 17850-CR and 15110 direct. (Or rather, 17850 had been 18-20 on weekdays so would be off already; 16-23 on weekends)
At 2049, 9605 with song in Spanish, 2052 French about fouteballe espagnole. This is to the Mideast so not cancelled, and neither is English at 19-20 to Africa on same, as others heard, which must be the ONLY English left, but both are M-F only. English to Europe is gone from 9665 at 19-20 M-F, and no doubt also the 6125 at 22-23 Sat/Sun.
At 2303, 9535 and 9620 are still on past usual listed sign-off, maybe not significant; 6125 perhaps too but Chinese CCI; 6055 in French to NAm is gone.
After 0000: 6125, 9535 and 9620 are on with weak signals not to NAm, and 9630-DRM noise. 6055, the only remaining English hour to NAm, is kaput!!! 9765 has a signal but it`s in Khmer, i.e. CRI as in China Radio International, not as in Cariari.
At 0430, 5965-CR is still on starting `Paisajes y Sabores`, seems weaker than usual; could it have been moved back to Spain? No, it`s still satellite-delayed a few sex behind 9535 et al. Announcement from REE referred to ``reducing power`` of remaining SW, and maybe they really mean that literally. 3350-CR also still on but poor. 9675, the other CR with a bigsignal aimed USward, has vanished. Direct signals also heard on 9535 poor but better than // 9620. 6055, the main direct frequency for NAm in Spanish all evening after 0100 is gone. Poor signal on 6125 which is direct to South America.
At 0612, 5965-CR is still going, as usual, aimed 150 degrees, away from us, but best bet to still hear REE at 04-08 via back-radiation.
At 1354, as expected the next morning, 17595 direct to NAm, and 15170-CR USward are gone. 21610 to ME is still audible, and also 21540 underneath Kuwait. 21610 will be our best bet in the mornings; at 1406 `Españoles en la Mar` theme and opening, also heard on poor 11815-CR to SAm, SAH and CCI but atop NHK on this occasion. 1415 discussing mariscos (seafood), 21610 weakening some, but not much echo at the moment.
Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, México DF, was hoping REE was not lumping Mexico in with the rest of North America to be banished from coverage, but that is the case; however, Mexicans can still hear some broadcasts from CR in the opposite direxion, or offbeam from Spain to South America.
At 1358, Kunming, CHINA, still treats us to the off-topic REE IS at 1359 Nov 28 on 7435 and 7220 to introduce the CRI Nepali service.
At 1457, 15385 with REE IS, better signal than usual, about to open to Africa for a bihour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 17655, Nov 28 at 1412 open carrier, no doubt Greenville setting up for the 1700-1830 VOA Portuguese at 94 degrees (Glenn Hausere, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 3843-LSB, Nov 28 after 0615, hams behaving badly. W4AMP is trying to complete a QSO with N1FM, but continually interrupted by a pileup of several stations, one of them saying the N-word over and over and over, also siren sounds, a stronger K9KXQ claiming he was on the frequency first, lots of talking over each other. W4AMP offers to e-mail text or pdf of FCC Part 97 about malicious interference to any of them from w4amp @ att.net Says same guys disrupt 20m like this in the daytime. This went on for at least 15 minutes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1650, Nov 28 at 1418 UT, an hour after sunrise here, I pull some Spanish past 1640 KFXY local --- talking about ``la frontera`` and El Paso before fading out, so presumed KSVE, María, rather than Denver, whose other X-bander on 1690 was still audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 7250, Nov 28 at 0608, open carrier; 6075, Nov 28 at 0611, another open carrier. No doubt Vatican Radio well ahead of the 0630 Latin mass on both. We know the RCC has money (and kW) to burn, so why not? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ZANZIBAR. 11735, Nov 27 at 2046, lively ME music, fair with flutter; 2047 YL in Swahili from ZBC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 6115, Nov 28 at 0612, pop music with fair signal. Suspect R. Nikkei 2, but can`t be sure it`s in Japanese, and // 9760 is not propagating. Aoki and EiBi show both stopping at 0610 on weekdays, while HFCC has them both (available) spanning 23-10 UT daily. Other possibilities: the very rare Radio Congo, (Brazzaville) at 0600-0830 per EiBi; and something from ZRC, Sitkunai, Lithuania in English at 0600-0800 per HFCC only, and probably wooden (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 13650, Nov 27 at 2043, open carrier with hum, lite fading, gone at 2052. HFCC has only Kuwait at 17-20, and Iran at 1830-1930. So more likely it`s Cuba setting up for the 23-24 relay of CRI in Portuguese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Regarding the beeps I have been hearing on many frequencies, carriers on for a second, off for several seconds, Nov 28 at 0005 UT, the one on 17938 is pretty strong, so I go portable and walk around the block --- it peaks by a house about a block away, so that`s the source, altho I see no blinking Xmas lites to match. These are really not causing harmful QRM, and tho I am curious what device produces them, I am not about to confront the neighbors, who also emit linear-amplified CB spurs all over the place on occasion (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
11650 is not on any of the schedules for RA at this time, tho it and 11660 are used at other hours from Shepparton. 11650 is scheduled only at 20-22, 30 degrees. So was this a mistake, or a new-frequency change? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BOLIVIA [non]. 6105, Nov 27 at 2303, still seeking R. Panamericana, but not even a het to the China radio war. Nor after 0000 Nov 28 when the frequency opens up. It`s still being reported active in the mornings on 6105.5v (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA. Firedrake Nov 28, before 1400:
9780, good at 1352 with flutter; target is RTI Chinese at 10-14
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1120, Nov 28 at 1429 UT, 2 kW daytimer KEOR Sperry/Catoosa/Tulsa is still playing continuous Mexican music, day and night, never any IDs or announcements; tho I haven`t been logging it every time heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES [and non]. 9430, Nov 28 at 1350, the Chinese service from FEBC with classical music themes is disrupted by variable carrier on hi side, making het of descending chirp tones over and over (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** POLAND [non]. 15180, Nov 28 at 1455, MRP with ID and schedule in Russian, pronouncing ``UTC`` as in English, bit of music and off at 1457*. Good signal. Altho some such broadcasts are now relayed from Bulgaria, this one is via FRANCE, 500 kW, 60 degrees from Issoudun per HFCC at 1400-1500 [sic]. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ROMANIA. 15170, Nov 28 at 1354, music from RRI is now in the clear with fair signal, since Spain deleted its North American morning service via Costa Rica. RRI is at 13-15, 300 kW, 290 degrees from Galbeni to France, but also close to USward (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SOMALILAND. 7120, Nov 28 at 0432, R. Hargeisa presumed, still audible with Somali talk, then some music; undermodulation levels vary (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [and non]. REE`s broadcasts for North America have indeed vanished without advance notice. Another major SW broadcaster has abandoned us!
They obviously did not want to give listeners a chance to campaign against these cuts. There had been rumblings about reduxions in service, but this still comes as a shock, despite the overall financial crisis in Spain. Another clue, a bad omen, was that REE never registered a B-12 schedule with HFCC, forcing it just to keep on the books the B-11 schedule for reference.
José Bueno also sent me a link to this pagehttp://www.rtve.es/radio/20121122/radio-exterior-marca-espana-mundo/576560.shtml
which explains the changes, along with preserving the most popular programs and canceling others (what about `Amigos de la Onda Corta`? It`s not mentioned as preserved), and trying to put a positive spin on this --- building up REE`s ``digital`` coverage by internet and satellite instead of SW.
These numbskulls are keeping only the Spanish DRM broadcast to NAm, 9625-9630-9635 and beyond at 00-02 via Costa Rica, ensuring the smallest possible audience, instead of just one AM frequency!
Monitoring Nov 27-28 finds the following situation:
At 2040, gone are 17850-CR and 15110 direct. (Or rather, 17850 had been 18-20 on weekdays so would be off already; 16-23 on weekends)
At 2049, 9605 with song in Spanish, 2052 French about fouteballe espagnole. This is to the Mideast so not cancelled, and neither is English at 19-20 to Africa on same, as others heard, which must be the ONLY English left, but both are M-F only. English to Europe is gone from 9665 at 19-20 M-F, and no doubt also the 6125 at 22-23 Sat/Sun.
At 2303, 9535 and 9620 are still on past usual listed sign-off, maybe not significant; 6125 perhaps too but Chinese CCI; 6055 in French to NAm is gone.
After 0000: 6125, 9535 and 9620 are on with weak signals not to NAm, and 9630-DRM noise. 6055, the only remaining English hour to NAm, is kaput!!! 9765 has a signal but it`s in Khmer, i.e. CRI as in China Radio International, not as in Cariari.
At 0430, 5965-CR is still on starting `Paisajes y Sabores`, seems weaker than usual; could it have been moved back to Spain? No, it`s still satellite-delayed a few sex behind 9535 et al. Announcement from REE referred to ``reducing power`` of remaining SW, and maybe they really mean that literally. 3350-CR also still on but poor. 9675, the other CR with a bigsignal aimed USward, has vanished. Direct signals also heard on 9535 poor but better than // 9620. 6055, the main direct frequency for NAm in Spanish all evening after 0100 is gone. Poor signal on 6125 which is direct to South America.
At 0612, 5965-CR is still going, as usual, aimed 150 degrees, away from us, but best bet to still hear REE at 04-08 via back-radiation.
At 1354, as expected the next morning, 17595 direct to NAm, and 15170-CR USward are gone. 21610 to ME is still audible, and also 21540 underneath Kuwait. 21610 will be our best bet in the mornings; at 1406 `Españoles en la Mar` theme and opening, also heard on poor 11815-CR to SAm, SAH and CCI but atop NHK on this occasion. 1415 discussing mariscos (seafood), 21610 weakening some, but not much echo at the moment.
Julián Santiago Díez de Bonilla, México DF, was hoping REE was not lumping Mexico in with the rest of North America to be banished from coverage, but that is the case; however, Mexicans can still hear some broadcasts from CR in the opposite direxion, or offbeam from Spain to South America.
At 1358, Kunming, CHINA, still treats us to the off-topic REE IS at 1359 Nov 28 on 7435 and 7220 to introduce the CRI Nepali service.
At 1457, 15385 with REE IS, better signal than usual, about to open to Africa for a bihour (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 17655, Nov 28 at 1412 open carrier, no doubt Greenville setting up for the 1700-1830 VOA Portuguese at 94 degrees (Glenn Hausere, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 3843-LSB, Nov 28 after 0615, hams behaving badly. W4AMP is trying to complete a QSO with N1FM, but continually interrupted by a pileup of several stations, one of them saying the N-word over and over and over, also siren sounds, a stronger K9KXQ claiming he was on the frequency first, lots of talking over each other. W4AMP offers to e-mail text or pdf of FCC Part 97 about malicious interference to any of them from w4amp @ att.net Says same guys disrupt 20m like this in the daytime. This went on for at least 15 minutes (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1650, Nov 28 at 1418 UT, an hour after sunrise here, I pull some Spanish past 1640 KFXY local --- talking about ``la frontera`` and El Paso before fading out, so presumed KSVE, María, rather than Denver, whose other X-bander on 1690 was still audible (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 7250, Nov 28 at 0608, open carrier; 6075, Nov 28 at 0611, another open carrier. No doubt Vatican Radio well ahead of the 0630 Latin mass on both. We know the RCC has money (and kW) to burn, so why not? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ZANZIBAR. 11735, Nov 27 at 2046, lively ME music, fair with flutter; 2047 YL in Swahili from ZBC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 6115, Nov 28 at 0612, pop music with fair signal. Suspect R. Nikkei 2, but can`t be sure it`s in Japanese, and // 9760 is not propagating. Aoki and EiBi show both stopping at 0610 on weekdays, while HFCC has them both (available) spanning 23-10 UT daily. Other possibilities: the very rare Radio Congo, (Brazzaville) at 0600-0830 per EiBi; and something from ZRC, Sitkunai, Lithuania in English at 0600-0800 per HFCC only, and probably wooden (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 13650, Nov 27 at 2043, open carrier with hum, lite fading, gone at 2052. HFCC has only Kuwait at 17-20, and Iran at 1830-1930. So more likely it`s Cuba setting up for the 23-24 relay of CRI in Portuguese (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED [non]. Regarding the beeps I have been hearing on many frequencies, carriers on for a second, off for several seconds, Nov 28 at 0005 UT, the one on 17938 is pretty strong, so I go portable and walk around the block --- it peaks by a house about a block away, so that`s the source, altho I see no blinking Xmas lites to match. These are really not causing harmful QRM, and tho I am curious what device produces them, I am not about to confront the neighbors, who also emit linear-amplified CB spurs all over the place on occasion (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
