** CUBA. 9780, Dec 24 at 2258, FMy humblob, strong enough to recognize distorted modulation as RHC matching 9710, so a spur from that, apparently. 9710 itself has heavy QRM from WTWW-2 spikespurs, see USA; unfortunately that interference is not deliberate, unlike the jamming the Cuban commies impose on other US stations.
6060, Dec 25 at 0606, RHC is in wrong language, Spanish instead of English which survives on the others: 5040, 6010, 6125, 6165. Did not check tonight before 0600 whether English was again on wrong frequencies 6120 and 9810 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FINLAND [non]. 11690, Dec 25 at 0441, something in French, i.e. R. Okapi via SOUTH AFRICA at 04-05. Was checking for Scandinavian Weekend Radio as scheduled Xmas eve/day on 11690 at 2200-0800. I would hardly expect to hear this 100 watt station under the best of conditions, but it`s a bit counterproductive everywhere to use the same frequency as 250,000 watts from South Africa! // 6170 until 06 is no better, with RHC on 6165 and Vietnam/WHRI on 6175. Okapi is off at 0503, still nothing audible from SWR on 11690.
For several years, SWR has had two frequencies each on 49 and 25m, 5980, 6170, 11690, 11720, which face other collisions. They really need more frequency flexibility to be successful, and why not? There are plenty of open spots if chosen carefully, or do they consider themselves lucky to have been licensed for the ones they have, don`t rock the boat? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. 7265, Dec 25 at 0501, no signal from Hamburger Lokalradio, special Xmas broadcast. I`ve yet to hear it at all, but these occasional early hours should be our best chance. Registered as 1 kW, 230 degrees from Göhren. A weak signal on 7270 was no problem, listed as 500 kW from Iran.
Further HLR specials are scheduled Wednesday, December 26th 2012 at 05-10 on 7265, 10-13 on 6190, 13-17 on 7265, including WORLD OF RADIO 1648 from last week at 0630 and 1330 on 7265 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. Checking for the NDR Xmas eve SW special --- ironically, it takes this for an official German station to appear on SW sites within Germany, as DW abandoned them years ago.
9850, Dec 24 at 2004, audible only on 9850, with poor signal. This is Wertachtal at 285 degrees to the N Atlantic, but still not far enough north for us. The other four frequencies at 19-21, 11720, 11840, 11965 and 13780 to other parts of the Atlantic & Indian Oceans are inaudible. MUF is simply not supporting even traces of offbeam signals. At 2015 check, fair signal on 9850 with a German song.
7335, Dec 24 at 2134, again poor signal in German from the same transmitter closest to USward but now 270 degrees. The other four at 21-23 are inaudible: 9490, 9650, 9735, 11655. I trust the German sailors enjoyed good reception, however (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. 5765-USB, Dec 25 at 1349, AFN is back! A nice Xmas present, as had been AWOL for weeks and feared lost at sea. Segment on how to make Xmas candles, maybe NBC Today TV show audio. BTW we have a lite dusting of snow and snow-static on the lower bands, but the brunt of the storm is tracking south of Enid across OKC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUIANA FRENCH. 11740, Dec 25 at 0524, NHK English relay with usual very good signal, and no spurs tonight. So RNZI 11725 listeners breathe a sigh of relief. One can never conclude GUF spurs are permanently fixed, as they come back unpredictably (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. 7550, Monday Dec 24 at 2135, AIR GOS is wrapping up mailbag `Faithfully Yours` with Xmas greetings so maybe is not a rerun; then checked // 9445 and found it better, and // 11670 even better still, as they are going into a film music segment. Should have intuned at 2120! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** JAPAN. 6135, Dec 25 at 1353, Chinese with piano music, so Shiokaze is still here; no het audible yet from Madagascar. Probably will QSY again around yearend (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 540, Dec 25 at 0611 UT, convenient ID at tune in for ``La Ranchera de Paquimé``, i.e. XETX, 5 kW at Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, as heard a few times before.
Is dominating frequency, making one wonder what has become of 150 kW XEWA San Luís Potosí? This non-direxional behemoth really isn`t getting out, so I suspect it`s on much reduced power or some other problem. I remember visiting their huge single tower many years ago with the spark gap at the base (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO [and non]. 6185, Dec 24 at 2136 `Concierto de Aranjuez` on guitar and horns, with fast SAH. Can`t see how it could be anything other than XEPPM on the air much earlier than usual, perhaps for Xmas eve only, mixing with the only thing in HFCC on 6185 at this hour, CRI Arabic via Albania. Radio Educación is typically off-frequency like this causing the SAH with whatever else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. Channel A2 NTSC, Dec 25 at 0027 UT, sporadic E signal fades in with someone holding a hand-printed sign saying ``Texas Loves Y`all``, but I am not going to assume it`s XHRIO on the border; then ``Primer/Impacto`` bug on two lines in lower left, same news show as seen in USA on Univisión. Audio doesn`t match, coming from some other station.
Another fade in an hour later at 0127 still has Primer Impacto bug, which originates with Televisa net-2, and the bug in upper right looks like tele/ver in two lines, i.e. Veracruz, XHFM. Wasted a lot of time trying to get program schedule at TeleVer website; and TV Guide listings for Veracruz are only for the cable system. On-air channels are converted to the 200s, and no match there either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. Channel A2 NTSC, Dec 25 at 1820 UT, something fades in by sporadic E with antenna south, guy in black cowboy hat; then I can make out a circular bug in the UR containing +v which is Mas TV = XEWO in Guadalajara. Soon out and nothing more for 2+ hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. 21600, Dec 26 a few sex before 1500, strong carrier comes on but not in time for the beginning of The Mighty KBC special, joined in progress about a semiminute later. Announces frequencies as 9835 non-direxional 125 kW; to Canada, S America, USA, 21600 direxional with 250 kW; and to Asia and Australia 15470, direxional 250. Also this hour to be repeated at 16-17 in DRM on 9755 via Bulgaria on a curtain antenna with 100 kW. ``The Mighty KBC goes global``, several jingles. Checked 15470 and found it weaker but sufficient, an improvement over a biday ago.
1510, Ron O`Quinn segment from rewindron@gmail.com. Seems several different DJs get brief segments on this show: 1520, ``Greatest Memories of All Time``, a ``miniature 8-minute show``, including at 1524 an ``archive commercial`` for 7-Up. Other commercials were genuine for KBC import products. 1533 Emperor Rosko; 1545 promo for DJ Bob`s 9-11 am CET show. Off at 1559*. One more of these specials is scheduled for Boxing Day. These DJs seem to favour rock music of the 60s, a rather limited speciality (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 930, Dec 25 at 1400 UT, WKY OKC is in dead air, allowing easy ID of KLUP (see USA). By 1416 has resumed modulation, but strange: Loop in English says ``Around the World`` over and over, and every minute there is a countdown in Spanish by a funny voice: 1417, ``comienza el show en 3 minutos``, then 2, then 1, then at 1420 a countdown by seconds from 10 to 1, ``La Indomable`` slogan and into Mexican music. Same thing was on 1020 Nebraska: see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1020, Dec 25 at 1420 UT, KOKP Perry is in open carrier/dead air. This often happens but no doubt the holiday made it more likely. Facilitated hearing KMMQ, Nebraska, see U S A.
1580, Dec 25 at 1432 UT, KOKB Blackwell is in open carrier/dead air like sibling station KOKP 1020, facilitating audibility of some other US stations, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1120, Dec 25 at 1452 UT, carrier is cutting off and on, could it be yet another big station with big problems, KMOX? Finally decide it`s just KEOR, as Spanish music is OK for a bit from its direxion; 1458 carrier breaking up less than before, but 1459 total breakup (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1170, Dec 25 at 1429 UT, KFAQ Tulsa transmitter is extremely out of order, cutting on and off the air rapidly many times per second, maybe 20, causing total breakup of modulation too during Xmas carol, ``We Three Kings`` --- yes, it`s Mannheim Steamroller again with `An American Xmas` show as already heard on WIBW, KKOB and KFAB. Breakup continues during a flooring ad. Recheck at 1438 now KFAQ is OK (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [and non]. 9690, UT Tue Dec 25 at 0440, REE in weekly Sephardic to N America, usual VG signal direct, scheduled 0415-0445.
3350, Dec 25 at 0450, REE COSTA RICA relay is very out of order with constant crackle of audio dropouts; wiggle that patchcord!
5965, Dec 25 at 0608, the only REE CR frequency kept on after 0600 is in open carrier/dead air. Holidays always seem to provoke many more transmission errors than usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K [non]. 17640 via CYPRUS, better than 17830 via ASCENSION, Dec 25 at 1505, BBCWS news by that deep-voiced Jamaican guy, 1506 into a year in review show on these African service frequencies. I was hoping to hear HM The Queen in 3-D, at a time which used to be traditional on Xmas day, but no such luck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9610-9730, Dec 24 at 2007, extremely distorted modulation spike spurs over this range from WTWW-2 9905, peaking roughly 9705; also a bit around 9625, and 10100-10120; Ted Randall is interviewing someone about Bible Worldwide, the service carried at limited times on WTWW-3, 12105 (which is not on at the moment). This is on the main receiver, FRG-7 with E-W longwire.
Then at 2011 I go outside onto the porch with the DX-398 and plug in its much shorter wire around the eaves: essentially the same deal, on a receiver with completely different circuitry: 9660-9705-9725, 10095-10120 --- the exact extent is constantly varying depending on the intensity of the signals; and also the fundamental is splashing from 9880 to 9930 or so, but not the same spikes as further out.
At 2132 when Brother Scare is now on 9905, still the spur field 9660-9730, 10095-10120. And at 2140 still heavy circa 9705; and still at 2255, when RHC 9710 is suffering heavy interference, tsk2. Numerous weaker signals in the 9660-9730 range have no chance against this.
On Dec 25, I hear that WTWW is still working on locating the source of this problem (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 580, Dec 25 at 1409 UT, WIBW Topeka KS with ``Hark the Herald`` version by Mannheim Steamroller, then Chip Davis of that group with stories about Xmas traditions, such as how Xmas trees came to be lighted. Later during same hour, found same syndicated show on KKOB, KFAB, KFAQ, and had also heard it at local midnight on some other clear station I did not log. Includes national commercial breaks such as GEICO; causes talk stations to break format for the holiday. Not sure all of the music played was Steamroller`s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 770, Dec 25 at 1405 UT ABC News ending with item on HM The Queen being in 3-D this year for her Message, NM and ABQ ads, i.e. KKOB, sufficient and steady having gone onto non-direxional day pattern at 1400. At 1413 recheck I find it`s playing `An American Xmas` show from Mannheim Steamroller as also on WIBW, KFAB, KFAQ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 930, Dec 25 at 1400 UT, KLUP ID and news, San Antonio TX easily heard without even nulling WKY since the latter is in open carrier/dead air! Another Xmas screwup, see OKLAHOMA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1020, Dec 25 at 1419 UT, after hearing the funny-voice with countdown on WKY 930 OKC (see OKLAHOMA), surprised to hear the same thing on 1020 a few sex ahead, under the dead air from semi-local KOKP Perry OK, which I have come to recognize as from the SS station in Nebraska, KMMQ Plattsmouth (Omaha market). And after 1420 playing same music as WKY, so both are taking some satellite service, but ``La Indomable`` slogan must have been inserted at WKY only. NRC AM Log 2012 says the slogan of KMMQ is ``Ke Padre`` which seems rather strange and I have yet to hear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1110, Dec 25 at 1422 UT, KFAB Omaha NE with `An American Xmas` from Mannheim Steamroller, like WIBW and KKOB, but not // 770, considerably out of synch. Not sure if this is a one-hour program or longer. Was also on KFAQ 1170, see OKLAHOMA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1130, Dec 25 at 1423 UT, yet another station with open carrier/dead air for Xmas holiday, obviously nearby KLEY Wellington KS --- it`s amazing how many stations can`t trust their automation but do so anyway rather than having a real human being overseeing them on a holiday, if not everyday. Still so at 1457, but had come back for the news at 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1580, Dec 25 at 1432 UT, tnx to open carrier/dead air from KOKB Blackwell OK, no problem hearing ``Sports Hog 103.1``, along with SAH, i.e. KHGG Van Buren AR; but soon overtaken by ``Real Radio 1580``, i.e. KREL in Colorado, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1580, Dec 25 at 1433 UT, ``Realradio1580.com`` and another mention of Real Radio 1580, taking over from KHGG Arkansas, while nearest 1580, KOKB in OK continues in open carrier/dead air. This slogan is not in NRC AM Log 2012, but it`s appropriately used by KREL in Colorado Springs. Here`s a story about the re-branding last August:http://www.coloradosprings.com/articles/cochell-16055-time-media.html
The URL above doesn`t work, nor with www ahead of it, but instead as in the article, http://www.krel1580.com/ Their talker schedule is skewed, what else? toward the far-right; unreal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 11615, Dec 24 at 2253, ``Adeste, Fideles``, then play-by-play in French of a mass, and PBXVI`s creaky voice soon heard trying to sing, oooh! This is during the live ``Midnite mass`` which was supposed to start at 21 UT instead, maybe about over by now, and presumed a special transmission by Vatican Radio, probably SMG site. Unfortunately, they delete special schedules as soon as they are over, but here`s what`s pending at the French site when checked Dec 25:http://fr.radiovaticana.va/trasm_spec.asp
If one went by HFCC, one would have to conclude that 11615 at this hour would be YFR in Portuguese via Germany or Guiana French. I think not, after severe cutbax, and FR being anti-church (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 4976, Dec 25 at 0433, het with 4975, and bits of audio on 4976, slightly stronger than 4975. Can it be R. Uganda? Sunrise at Kampala is 0347 UT, per gaisma.com and almost on the Equator it varies little during the year, no later than 0400. Both carriers still there tho somewhat weaker at 0500. Het note is B5 = 988 Hz and virtually zero-beat on my keyboard. The night before I was only hearing the 4975 carrier, Peru or Brasil? Eurafricans are hearing Uganda fine in their evenings, but is it really on the air in the mornings, and from what hour? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
6060, Dec 25 at 0606, RHC is in wrong language, Spanish instead of English which survives on the others: 5040, 6010, 6125, 6165. Did not check tonight before 0600 whether English was again on wrong frequencies 6120 and 9810 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FINLAND [non]. 11690, Dec 25 at 0441, something in French, i.e. R. Okapi via SOUTH AFRICA at 04-05. Was checking for Scandinavian Weekend Radio as scheduled Xmas eve/day on 11690 at 2200-0800. I would hardly expect to hear this 100 watt station under the best of conditions, but it`s a bit counterproductive everywhere to use the same frequency as 250,000 watts from South Africa! // 6170 until 06 is no better, with RHC on 6165 and Vietnam/WHRI on 6175. Okapi is off at 0503, still nothing audible from SWR on 11690.
For several years, SWR has had two frequencies each on 49 and 25m, 5980, 6170, 11690, 11720, which face other collisions. They really need more frequency flexibility to be successful, and why not? There are plenty of open spots if chosen carefully, or do they consider themselves lucky to have been licensed for the ones they have, don`t rock the boat? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. 7265, Dec 25 at 0501, no signal from Hamburger Lokalradio, special Xmas broadcast. I`ve yet to hear it at all, but these occasional early hours should be our best chance. Registered as 1 kW, 230 degrees from Göhren. A weak signal on 7270 was no problem, listed as 500 kW from Iran.
Further HLR specials are scheduled Wednesday, December 26th 2012 at 05-10 on 7265, 10-13 on 6190, 13-17 on 7265, including WORLD OF RADIO 1648 from last week at 0630 and 1330 on 7265 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. Checking for the NDR Xmas eve SW special --- ironically, it takes this for an official German station to appear on SW sites within Germany, as DW abandoned them years ago.
9850, Dec 24 at 2004, audible only on 9850, with poor signal. This is Wertachtal at 285 degrees to the N Atlantic, but still not far enough north for us. The other four frequencies at 19-21, 11720, 11840, 11965 and 13780 to other parts of the Atlantic & Indian Oceans are inaudible. MUF is simply not supporting even traces of offbeam signals. At 2015 check, fair signal on 9850 with a German song.
7335, Dec 24 at 2134, again poor signal in German from the same transmitter closest to USward but now 270 degrees. The other four at 21-23 are inaudible: 9490, 9650, 9735, 11655. I trust the German sailors enjoyed good reception, however (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUAM. 5765-USB, Dec 25 at 1349, AFN is back! A nice Xmas present, as had been AWOL for weeks and feared lost at sea. Segment on how to make Xmas candles, maybe NBC Today TV show audio. BTW we have a lite dusting of snow and snow-static on the lower bands, but the brunt of the storm is tracking south of Enid across OKC (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUIANA FRENCH. 11740, Dec 25 at 0524, NHK English relay with usual very good signal, and no spurs tonight. So RNZI 11725 listeners breathe a sigh of relief. One can never conclude GUF spurs are permanently fixed, as they come back unpredictably (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. 7550, Monday Dec 24 at 2135, AIR GOS is wrapping up mailbag `Faithfully Yours` with Xmas greetings so maybe is not a rerun; then checked // 9445 and found it better, and // 11670 even better still, as they are going into a film music segment. Should have intuned at 2120! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** JAPAN. 6135, Dec 25 at 1353, Chinese with piano music, so Shiokaze is still here; no het audible yet from Madagascar. Probably will QSY again around yearend (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. 540, Dec 25 at 0611 UT, convenient ID at tune in for ``La Ranchera de Paquimé``, i.e. XETX, 5 kW at Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, as heard a few times before.
Is dominating frequency, making one wonder what has become of 150 kW XEWA San Luís Potosí? This non-direxional behemoth really isn`t getting out, so I suspect it`s on much reduced power or some other problem. I remember visiting their huge single tower many years ago with the spark gap at the base (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO [and non]. 6185, Dec 24 at 2136 `Concierto de Aranjuez` on guitar and horns, with fast SAH. Can`t see how it could be anything other than XEPPM on the air much earlier than usual, perhaps for Xmas eve only, mixing with the only thing in HFCC on 6185 at this hour, CRI Arabic via Albania. Radio Educación is typically off-frequency like this causing the SAH with whatever else (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. Channel A2 NTSC, Dec 25 at 0027 UT, sporadic E signal fades in with someone holding a hand-printed sign saying ``Texas Loves Y`all``, but I am not going to assume it`s XHRIO on the border; then ``Primer/Impacto`` bug on two lines in lower left, same news show as seen in USA on Univisión. Audio doesn`t match, coming from some other station.
Another fade in an hour later at 0127 still has Primer Impacto bug, which originates with Televisa net-2, and the bug in upper right looks like tele/ver in two lines, i.e. Veracruz, XHFM. Wasted a lot of time trying to get program schedule at TeleVer website; and TV Guide listings for Veracruz are only for the cable system. On-air channels are converted to the 200s, and no match there either (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO. Channel A2 NTSC, Dec 25 at 1820 UT, something fades in by sporadic E with antenna south, guy in black cowboy hat; then I can make out a circular bug in the UR containing +v which is Mas TV = XEWO in Guadalajara. Soon out and nothing more for 2+ hours (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NETHERLANDS [non]. 21600, Dec 26 a few sex before 1500, strong carrier comes on but not in time for the beginning of The Mighty KBC special, joined in progress about a semiminute later. Announces frequencies as 9835 non-direxional 125 kW; to Canada, S America, USA, 21600 direxional with 250 kW; and to Asia and Australia 15470, direxional 250. Also this hour to be repeated at 16-17 in DRM on 9755 via Bulgaria on a curtain antenna with 100 kW. ``The Mighty KBC goes global``, several jingles. Checked 15470 and found it weaker but sufficient, an improvement over a biday ago.
1510, Ron O`Quinn segment from rewindron@gmail.com. Seems several different DJs get brief segments on this show: 1520, ``Greatest Memories of All Time``, a ``miniature 8-minute show``, including at 1524 an ``archive commercial`` for 7-Up. Other commercials were genuine for KBC import products. 1533 Emperor Rosko; 1545 promo for DJ Bob`s 9-11 am CET show. Off at 1559*. One more of these specials is scheduled for Boxing Day. These DJs seem to favour rock music of the 60s, a rather limited speciality (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 930, Dec 25 at 1400 UT, WKY OKC is in dead air, allowing easy ID of KLUP (see USA). By 1416 has resumed modulation, but strange: Loop in English says ``Around the World`` over and over, and every minute there is a countdown in Spanish by a funny voice: 1417, ``comienza el show en 3 minutos``, then 2, then 1, then at 1420 a countdown by seconds from 10 to 1, ``La Indomable`` slogan and into Mexican music. Same thing was on 1020 Nebraska: see U S A (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1020, Dec 25 at 1420 UT, KOKP Perry is in open carrier/dead air. This often happens but no doubt the holiday made it more likely. Facilitated hearing KMMQ, Nebraska, see U S A.
1580, Dec 25 at 1432 UT, KOKB Blackwell is in open carrier/dead air like sibling station KOKP 1020, facilitating audibility of some other US stations, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1120, Dec 25 at 1452 UT, carrier is cutting off and on, could it be yet another big station with big problems, KMOX? Finally decide it`s just KEOR, as Spanish music is OK for a bit from its direxion; 1458 carrier breaking up less than before, but 1459 total breakup (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** OKLAHOMA. 1170, Dec 25 at 1429 UT, KFAQ Tulsa transmitter is extremely out of order, cutting on and off the air rapidly many times per second, maybe 20, causing total breakup of modulation too during Xmas carol, ``We Three Kings`` --- yes, it`s Mannheim Steamroller again with `An American Xmas` show as already heard on WIBW, KKOB and KFAB. Breakup continues during a flooring ad. Recheck at 1438 now KFAQ is OK (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SPAIN [and non]. 9690, UT Tue Dec 25 at 0440, REE in weekly Sephardic to N America, usual VG signal direct, scheduled 0415-0445.
3350, Dec 25 at 0450, REE COSTA RICA relay is very out of order with constant crackle of audio dropouts; wiggle that patchcord!
5965, Dec 25 at 0608, the only REE CR frequency kept on after 0600 is in open carrier/dead air. Holidays always seem to provoke many more transmission errors than usual (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K [non]. 17640 via CYPRUS, better than 17830 via ASCENSION, Dec 25 at 1505, BBCWS news by that deep-voiced Jamaican guy, 1506 into a year in review show on these African service frequencies. I was hoping to hear HM The Queen in 3-D, at a time which used to be traditional on Xmas day, but no such luck (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9610-9730, Dec 24 at 2007, extremely distorted modulation spike spurs over this range from WTWW-2 9905, peaking roughly 9705; also a bit around 9625, and 10100-10120; Ted Randall is interviewing someone about Bible Worldwide, the service carried at limited times on WTWW-3, 12105 (which is not on at the moment). This is on the main receiver, FRG-7 with E-W longwire.
Then at 2011 I go outside onto the porch with the DX-398 and plug in its much shorter wire around the eaves: essentially the same deal, on a receiver with completely different circuitry: 9660-9705-9725, 10095-10120 --- the exact extent is constantly varying depending on the intensity of the signals; and also the fundamental is splashing from 9880 to 9930 or so, but not the same spikes as further out.
At 2132 when Brother Scare is now on 9905, still the spur field 9660-9730, 10095-10120. And at 2140 still heavy circa 9705; and still at 2255, when RHC 9710 is suffering heavy interference, tsk2. Numerous weaker signals in the 9660-9730 range have no chance against this.
On Dec 25, I hear that WTWW is still working on locating the source of this problem (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 580, Dec 25 at 1409 UT, WIBW Topeka KS with ``Hark the Herald`` version by Mannheim Steamroller, then Chip Davis of that group with stories about Xmas traditions, such as how Xmas trees came to be lighted. Later during same hour, found same syndicated show on KKOB, KFAB, KFAQ, and had also heard it at local midnight on some other clear station I did not log. Includes national commercial breaks such as GEICO; causes talk stations to break format for the holiday. Not sure all of the music played was Steamroller`s (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 770, Dec 25 at 1405 UT ABC News ending with item on HM The Queen being in 3-D this year for her Message, NM and ABQ ads, i.e. KKOB, sufficient and steady having gone onto non-direxional day pattern at 1400. At 1413 recheck I find it`s playing `An American Xmas` show from Mannheim Steamroller as also on WIBW, KFAB, KFAQ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 930, Dec 25 at 1400 UT, KLUP ID and news, San Antonio TX easily heard without even nulling WKY since the latter is in open carrier/dead air! Another Xmas screwup, see OKLAHOMA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1020, Dec 25 at 1419 UT, after hearing the funny-voice with countdown on WKY 930 OKC (see OKLAHOMA), surprised to hear the same thing on 1020 a few sex ahead, under the dead air from semi-local KOKP Perry OK, which I have come to recognize as from the SS station in Nebraska, KMMQ Plattsmouth (Omaha market). And after 1420 playing same music as WKY, so both are taking some satellite service, but ``La Indomable`` slogan must have been inserted at WKY only. NRC AM Log 2012 says the slogan of KMMQ is ``Ke Padre`` which seems rather strange and I have yet to hear (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1110, Dec 25 at 1422 UT, KFAB Omaha NE with `An American Xmas` from Mannheim Steamroller, like WIBW and KKOB, but not // 770, considerably out of synch. Not sure if this is a one-hour program or longer. Was also on KFAQ 1170, see OKLAHOMA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1130, Dec 25 at 1423 UT, yet another station with open carrier/dead air for Xmas holiday, obviously nearby KLEY Wellington KS --- it`s amazing how many stations can`t trust their automation but do so anyway rather than having a real human being overseeing them on a holiday, if not everyday. Still so at 1457, but had come back for the news at 1500 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1580, Dec 25 at 1432 UT, tnx to open carrier/dead air from KOKB Blackwell OK, no problem hearing ``Sports Hog 103.1``, along with SAH, i.e. KHGG Van Buren AR; but soon overtaken by ``Real Radio 1580``, i.e. KREL in Colorado, q.v. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 1580, Dec 25 at 1433 UT, ``Realradio1580.com`` and another mention of Real Radio 1580, taking over from KHGG Arkansas, while nearest 1580, KOKB in OK continues in open carrier/dead air. This slogan is not in NRC AM Log 2012, but it`s appropriately used by KREL in Colorado Springs. Here`s a story about the re-branding last August:http://www.coloradosprings.com/articles/cochell-16055-time-media.html
The URL above doesn`t work, nor with www ahead of it, but instead as in the article, http://www.krel1580.com/ Their talker schedule is skewed, what else? toward the far-right; unreal (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN. 11615, Dec 24 at 2253, ``Adeste, Fideles``, then play-by-play in French of a mass, and PBXVI`s creaky voice soon heard trying to sing, oooh! This is during the live ``Midnite mass`` which was supposed to start at 21 UT instead, maybe about over by now, and presumed a special transmission by Vatican Radio, probably SMG site. Unfortunately, they delete special schedules as soon as they are over, but here`s what`s pending at the French site when checked Dec 25:http://fr.radiovaticana.va/trasm_spec.asp
If one went by HFCC, one would have to conclude that 11615 at this hour would be YFR in Portuguese via Germany or Guiana French. I think not, after severe cutbax, and FR being anti-church (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 4976, Dec 25 at 0433, het with 4975, and bits of audio on 4976, slightly stronger than 4975. Can it be R. Uganda? Sunrise at Kampala is 0347 UT, per gaisma.com and almost on the Equator it varies little during the year, no later than 0400. Both carriers still there tho somewhat weaker at 0500. Het note is B5 = 988 Hz and virtually zero-beat on my keyboard. The night before I was only hearing the 4975 carrier, Peru or Brasil? Eurafricans are hearing Uganda fine in their evenings, but is it really on the air in the mornings, and from what hour? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
