Monday, December 29, 2008

special QSLs are now being issued by Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association

To commemorate the 13th birthday of the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association on January 4, 2009, special QSLs are now being issued
for all correct reception reports received up to the end of 2009 for "Radio EDXP" programs hosted by various international shortwave broadcasters.

The full colour QSLs show Australian scenes and wildlife, and indicate the actual transmitter location and the name of the host broadcaster.

"Radio EDXP" is the EDXP's long-time broadcasting service, offering news reports and schedule updates about international broadcasting, propagation,
and monitoring. The programs are known as the "Australian DX Report", and host broadcasters include:

Worldwide Christian Radio (WWCR) - Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Every week, on Sundays, at 0300-0315 and on Mondays at 1245-1300

The Voice of the Andes, HCJB, Quito, Ecuador, each month during the "DX Party Line" English program. The DXPL is broadcast over HCJB-Australia
(Kunnunurra, Western Australia), WWCR, WRMI and IRRS (Slovakia)

World Harvest Radio International, T8WH Palau, WHRA Maine, and WHRI Indiana, monthly during the "DXing with Cumbre" English program

Adventist World Radio worldwide network, every month, during the "Wavescan" program, on weekends. This may be heard over transmitters in Guam, Germany, and WRMI.

Reports must include sufficient details for validation purposes, and indicate the date (UTC), time (UTC), frequency, quality of reception, and
interference effects, and should be sent to:

Radio EDXP, 404 Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert, Victoria 3127, Australia

Return postage is mandatory - A$2 in mint Australian stamps (for Australian addresses), one IRC or US$1 elsewhere

E-QSLs
======

Radio EDXP electronic QSLs are also available and reports may be submitted either by Email, to bobpadula@mydesk.net.au or via the on-line Reception
Report Template. You "pick up" your E-QSL at a special Website after you have received an E-mail notification from EDXP.

The Template is at http://edxp.org

Radio EDXP is also available via the Internet, with a new episode produced each week, and may be accesssed at http://airm.edxp.org

Background
==========

Formed in January 1996, in Melbourne, Australia, the EDXP is a society to bring together relevant information about World Radio High Frequency
Broadcasting, and Australian domestic broadcasting, in a structured and timely manner. Information is contributed by members or researched by the
EDXP administration. Most members reside in Australia.

Special free guest membership is available at http://edxp.org

The EDXP pioneered the use of electronic mail in Australia for collaboration between members, and celebrates its 13th birthday on January 4, 2009, moving
into its 14th year of continuous operations.

Good listening to Radio EDXP, and your reception reports would be appreciated!

Bob Padula
Melbourne

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

PAL AM Radio Guide Covers the Region

Pacific Asian Log AM Radio Guide Covers the Region and now Fully Updated and Available for FREE
________________________________

The classic Pacific Asian Log of mediumwave [AM] radio stations on air across the entire region has now been updated at www.radioheritage.net.

Produced by Bruce Portzer in Seattle WA, this extensive radio guide covers literally thousands of AM radio stations and is hosted by the
Radio Heritage Foundation. It draws on monitoring by many volunteers across the region, as well as information directly from broadcasters
so it's accurate and up to date.

You can search the database or download a pdf version for your own non-commercial use by visiting www.radioheritage.net/PAL_search.asp today.

Amongst the stations you'll find on 1602 AM are 2CP Cooma [Australia], All India Radio, Ziro [India], JOKC Kofu [Japan], HLQE Sabuk [South Korea], Radio Reading Service, Levin [New Zealand], and DZUP Quezon City [Philippines]. The most powerful station listed in the region is 50kW Radio Khost, located in Afghanistan.

You'll find the Pacific Asian Log Radio Guide useful for business and vacation travel [just print out the stations from the countries you're visiting], radio monitoring, advertising and PR campaign media planning and much more...it's up to date and it's free.

The Pacific Asian Log traces its origins back to radio station call lists first published in New Zealand during the 1930's, and is volunteer supported and produced as a free service for everyone.

_____________________________________________
Donate Now to Upgrade PAL this Holiday Season
_____________________________________________
 
If you'd like to make a donation towards upgrading today's Radio Guides with even more information please use your VISA or Mastercard this holiday season and click on the donation button at www.radioheritage.net.

The Radio Heritage Foundation, host of the Pacific Asian Log Radio Guides, is a registered non-profit organization connecting radio heritage and popular culture across the Pacific. Website: www.radioheritage.net

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The Shortwave Report 11/21/08 Listen Globally!

The Shortwave Report 11/21/08 Listen Globally!
by Dan Roberts ( outfarpress(at)saber.net )
Thursday Nov 20th, 2008 4:49 PM
A weekly 30 minute review of news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio. With times and freqs for listening at home. 2 files- broadcast and slow-modem streaming. Free to rebroadcast. China, Netherlands, Cuba, and Russia.
Dear Radio Friend,
The latest Shortwave Report (November 21) is up at the website
http://www.outfarpress.com/outfarpress/shortwave.shtml in both broadcast quality (13.3MB) and quickdownload or streaming form (4.9MB) (28:59)
(NEW! If you have access to Audioport.org there is a higher quality version posted up there {26.7MB} http://www.audioport.org/index.php?op=producer-info&uid=904&nav=&)

This week's show features stories from China Radio International, Radio Netherlands, Radio Havana Cuba, and the Voice of Russia.
From CHINA- The Chinese President is visiting Cuba and other Latin American nations, signing cooperation and trade deals- he also delivered significant aid to Cuba for hurricane relief. China announced energy conservation plans as a means of reducing climate change. China has denied that it plans to send troops to Afghanistan, though it has peace keepers in the DRC. Rebels in the DRC appear to be pulling back as promised, but refugee camps remain full. The Israeli transportation minister has called for targeted killings of Hamas members in Palestine. The UN is looking at the growing problem of pirates off the coast of Somalia.
From NETHERLANDS- Radio Netherlands has eliminated shortwave broadcasts to North America. The decision is based on their surveys that find very few listeners in N America. If you ever listen to RN on shortwave, please let them know- by email to letters [at] rnw.nl or send them a letter to Radio Netherlands Worldwide, PO Box 222, 1200JG, Hilversum, The Netherlands.
The Indian Navy sunk a Somali pirate ship on Wednesday, and the EU is developing a military operation to protect ships in the region. After a brief opening, Israel resealed the borders of the Gaza Strip despite severe food and fuel shortages- Palestinian fishing boats are being attacked by the Israeli Navy.
From CUBA- Cuba has signed a number of trade agreements and loan deferrals with the visiting Chinese President. Bolivian President Evo Morales addressed the UN, saying that neo-liberalism and capitalism were responsible for the global economic crisis. A retiring Law Lord in England has described the invasion of Iraq as a serious violation of international law, and many in Parliament are seeking an independent inquiry into the events.
From RUSSIA- A commentary on Barack Obama's development of a national security team and policy, and his hopes to restore America's moral stature in the world.
There is an article about the Shortwave Report by Cassandra Roos on line at-http://www.campusprogress.org/soundvision/780/big-stories-shortwaves

I was interviewed for an informative weekly radio show Mediageek, available at http://radio.mediageek.net

All that plus times and frequencies for listening at home. It's free to rebroadcast, please notify me if you're airing it and haven't notified me in the last month, please mention the website if you only air a portion. If you just want to listen and have a slow connection, try the streaming version- lower sound quality but good enough and way easier if you don't have a high-speed internet connection. If streaming is a problem because of your slow connection, download the smaller file- it takes 20 minutes or less, and will play swell in any mp3 player application (RealPlayer, Winamp, Quicktime, iTunes, etc) you have on your computer.
This program will be aired on Friday afternoon at 4:30pm (PDST) on KZYX/Z Philo CA, you might be able to stream via < http://www.kzyx.org >
There are several other streams that work better- < http://www.freakradio.org >Freak Radio Santa Cruz now streams this program on Friday at 9:00am.(PDST)
The Shortwave Report may be downloaded as a podcast from < feed://http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?series=outFarpress+presents > or iTunes (search for "shortwave" in podcasts)
Check out the amazing streams at < http://www.radicalradio.org >
And Radio For Peace International at < http://www.rfpi.org >

I hope you'll listen and air this if you're connected with a radio station. I am still wondering how to get financially compensated for the 25 hours I put into this program weekly- any ideas are appreciated. Any stations rebroadcasting this (or listeners) are welcome to donate for production costs. You can do so through the website. Many thanks to those that have donated! No Guilt! (maybe a little)
link for broadcast edition-
< http://www.outfarpress.com/outfarpress/swr_11_21_08.mp3 >(13.3MB)
link for smaller file and streaming-
< http://www.outfarpress.com/outfarpress/shortwave.shtml >
¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts
--"I like the dreams of the future rather than the history of the past."
--Thomas Jefferson

Ethiopia: Ginbot 7 radio program jammed

Tests commence for new DW/BBC DRM service due to launch next year

BBC World Service and Deutsche Welle have announced plans to launch a joint radio service to Europe on DRM shortwave. The new stream, which will be entirely in English, is expected to go live in early 2009. It will be available from early morning till late at night targeting Western and Central Europe and a potential audience of 170 million listeners with global news and current affairs and a rich mix of in-depth analysis, documentaries and cultural programs. The service will provide a multimedia offer of audio and text, the latter coming automatically from the BBC News website.

Erik Bettermann, Director General at Deutsche Welle, said: "It is great that two of the world's most established broadcasters can work together on a project of this scale. This is an exciting venture that will offer European listeners top class content and provides the perfect opportunity to reintroduce listeners to DRM."

Media Network contributor Christopher Lewis reported this morning "0858 UTC. I am currently listening to BBC and DW Test (the text as appeared on the display) on 9610 kHz DRM. I am not sure where the transmission is being relayed from, but signal is steady, with stereo audio. Programming is featuring reports about the environment, agriculture, sciences etc. Test continues at 0900 on 9610 khz, opening with a bulletin of DW news in English."

In fact, the transmission on 9610 was from Sines, Portugal. In the DRM Sofware Radio Forums, the complete schedule is given for the tests which will continue at 0500-2300 UTC today, tomorrow and Thursday. There are also tests scheduled on mediumwave 1296 kHz at 0500-0700 and 1700-2300 UTC. Visit below for the full schedule. 

(Source: DRM Consortium)

BBC & DW Joint Test Transmission

Hi all,

today, wed and thu BBC & DW will be testing a new joint schedule. The transmission schedule is as follows, please let us know how it works and what you like and don't like:

HF

Code:
start end freq Station power Azim Antenna days Prog Mode Audio Source 05:00 07:00 3995 SINES 90 40 HR 1/1/0.50 1234567 BBC B ENEUR 07:00 08:00 6130 SINES 90 45 HR 4/4/0.80 1234567 DW B DW02 07:00 08:00 6195 SKELTON 100 150 HR 2/1/0.50 1234567 DW B DW02 08:00 09:00 9610 SINES 90 45 HR 4/4/0.80 1234567 DW B DW02 08:03 09:00 13810 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 DW B DW02 09:00 10:00 9610 SINES 90 45 HR 4/4/0.80 1234567 DW A DW02 09:00 10:00 13810 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 DW A DW02 10:00 11:00 9545 WOOFFERTON 100 114 HR 2/4/1.00 1234567 DW A DW02 10:00 11:00 13810 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 DW A DW02 11:00 12:00 9545 WOOFFERTON 100 114 HR 2/4/1.00 1234567 DW A DW02 11:00 12:00 13810 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 DW A DW02 12:00 13:00 9545 WOOFFERTON 100 114 HR 2/4/1.00 1234567 DW A DW02 12:00 13:00 13810 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 DW A DW02 13:00 14:00 9545 WOOFFERTON 100 114 HR 2/4/1.00 1234567 DW A DW02 13:00 14:00 13810 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 DW A DW02 14:00 15:00 9545 WOOFFERTON 100 114 HR 2/4/1.00 1234567 BBC A ENEUR 14:00 15:00 13590 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 BBC A ENEUR 15:00 16:00 9545 SKELTON 100 153 HRS4/2/0.60 S12 1234567 BBC A ENEUR 15:00 16:00 13590 SINES 90 30 HR 4/4/1.20 1234567 BBC A ENEUR 16:00 17:00 3995 SKELTON 100 121 HR 1/2/0.30 1234567 BBC B ENEUR 16:00 17:00 5895 KVITSOY 35 190 LPH 1234567 BBC B ENEUR 17:00 18:00 3995 SKELTON 100 121 HR 1/2/0.30 1234567 BBC B ENEUR 18:00 19:00 3995 SKELTON 100 120 HR 1/1/0.30 1234567 DW B DW02 19:00 20:00 3995 SKELTON 100 120 HR 1/1/0.30 1234567 DW B DW02 20:00 21:00 3995 SKELTON 100 120 HR 1/1/0.30 1234567 DW B DW02 21:00 22:00 3995 SKELTON 100 120 HR 1/1/0.30 1234567 DW B DW02 22:00 23:00 3995 SINES 90 40 HR 1/1/0.50 1234567 DW B DW02
MF
Code:
start end freq Station power Azim Antenna bit/s days Prog Audio Source 05:00 07:00 1296 ORFORDNESS 35 96 VM 101208 1234567 BBC ENEUR 07:00 17:00 1296 ORFORDNESS 35 96 VM 101208 1234567 off air 17:00 18:00 1296 ORFORDNESS 35 96 VM 101208 1234567 BBC ENEUR 18:00 23:00 1296 ORFORDNESS 35 96 VM 101208 1234567 DW DW02

IRIB to launch sports TV channel in 2009

An independent TV channel featuring sports will be launched in summer 2009, said the deputy head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) TV. Speaking to Morteza Mir-Baqeri added that the channel was earlier scheduled to become operational this year with the support of the Majlis and government. However, this did not happen and the initiative was delayed until the next year.

The channel will cover all sports programmes, and if they exceed in number other channels will also air sports programmes, he said. The sports channel will work around the clock, he said.

Mir-Baqeri also said that channels currently broadcasting sports programs will focus on social ills and youth affairs.

(Source: IRNA)

Ghanaian regulator told to "stop radio stations from transcending their boundaries"

A project consultand, Nii Tackie Otoo, has called on Ghana's National Communication Authority (NCA) to enforce its regulations that prevent radio stations broadcasting beyond their boundaries. He said some radio stations were broadcasting beyond their boundaries because certain aspects of the NCA regulations, LI 1719 of 2003, were not proactive [sic].

He was speaking at a one-day workshop on "Radio Stations Broadcasting Beyond their Boundaries" organised by the Western Salem Communication, operators of Kyzz Fm, and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund in Takoradi.

Nii Otoo said the regulation should be reviewed to ensure that radio stations that broadcast beyond their boundaries face stiff sanctions. The framework of the law, he said, must ensure a level playing field and fairness in the industry because well-established radio stations were overshadowing small ones. He suggested that radio stations and the NCA signed a memorandum of understanding so that the Authority could be held accountable when its regulations were flouted.

(Source: ModernGhana.com)

Andy Sennitt comments on http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/: This displays a lack of understanding about the basic laws of physics and insufficient technical planning. By definition, a radio station's coverage area cannot have "boundaries". The signal can't be turned on and off like a tap. What's needed is a licence which specifices a primary coverage area, and the required transmitter power calculated accordingly. It may be that a lack of regulations and/or monitoring and onsite inspections have led to some stations using transmitters which are far more powerful than they need to be. However, just because a station may be received well beyond the area for which it is licensed, that doesn't necessarily mean that it has flouted any regulations. Hopefully, the situation can be resolved without forcing stations off the air or making them pay crippling fines.

Monday, November 24, 2008

VU2RVM: the first post merger HAM Operator from Sikkim

A sample of the VU2RVM QSL Card
My story on AC3PT was widely appreciated and it was something new to the people of Sikkim too. But little did I know that there was one person in the entire crowd who was closely watching my article and he too had been part of Sikkim Ham radio activity. Meet Rajesh Verma, Director, Department of Information Technology, Government of Sikkim. Rajesh Verma is better known in Sikkim for his well-liked Guide book on Sikkim. Nevertheless there are few people who really know that he was also an active radio ham with a call sign VU2RVM and he had also written a book on ham radio. His book “ABC of Amateur Radio and Citizen Band” was first published in 1987.
It was more of an opportunity for me to have a swap over of emails with Rajesh Verma. I shall also remain ever grateful towards him for his book that he sent me along with his personal call sign QSL card. I am here sharing his call sign QSL card that shows eight lucky sign of Buddhist culture along with other different QSL cards he had received over the years.
I also would like to add Rajesh Verma’s fantasy with Ham in his own words “…… But it is not always talking for pleasure that hams indulge in. There are examples galore in which hams have provided efficient communication during emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, storms and other calamities. I operated a Ham station from Gangtok from 1979 to 1995 with a call sign VU2RVM (VU2 denotes India) using home brewed equipment. Later as a Club Station of National Institute of Amateur Radio I used Kenwood equipment. In 1986, I trained 20 Scouts and Guides and their instructors from Sikkim and many of them got their licenses. Some of them used to operate my equipment for going on air. Sadly with the advent of the internet and mobile communication, Ham Radio is steadily taking a backseat. But in Sikkim there is still scope for Ham radio to be used as an alternate means of communication during disasters.”
What is more interesting is the piece of information that when Sikkim was an independent kingdom, Sikkim had a call sign AC3 followed by PT named after late Chogyal (King) Palden Thondup Namgyal. Post 1975 after Sikkim got merged with mighty Indian Union, the next call sign licensed was VU2RVM i.e. VU2 for India and RVM the person's name.

QSL cards collected by Rajesh Verma
:


Saturday, November 08, 2008

Sri Lankan media groups to challenge new restrictions

Media groups in Sri Lanka, already restricted from covering the war against Tamil rebels in the north, are bracing to challenge new regulations that seek to control television broadcasting and new media, Inter Press Service reports. The new rules, announced on 27 October, control content not only for broadcast but also MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) on mobile phones. Newspapers reported government plans to bring in similar rules for radio broadcasting.

"Censorship, there is no doubt about it," said Sunanda Deshapriya, spokesman for Sri Lanka's Free Media Movement (FMM), an association representing journalists, publishers and private broadcasters. He said media groups and civil society organisations plan to challenge the regulations in the Supreme Court before 10 November, the deadline for objections before the regulations take effect.

The new regulations provide the Media Minister with powers to cancel licences if content is "detrimental to the interests of national security; incites a breakdown of public order; incites ethnic, religious or cultural hatred; is morally offensive or indecent; is detrimental to the rights and privileges of children", among other restrictions.

The government has defended the new regulations. The Media Minister, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, said they were needed to bring about uniformity in the fast-growing electronic media broadcasting field.

Official radio in Moldova's rebel region in dire situation - paper

The state-run radio Pridnestrovye in Moldova's breakaway Dniester region has cut its broadcasts from 23 to a bit more than three hours a day due to the lack of proper office space, the eponymous Dniester official daily reported on 5 November.

The paper said that because of the last summer's floods the station's radio equipment and personnel were evacuated from its premises in central Tiraspol, but no new office place has been allocated to it so far.  The radio channel's equipment is stored in a garage, and journalists work at a canteen of the breakaway region's information ministry.

While information minister Vladimir Belyayev is still in the process of making a decision whether to repair the station's old premises or to find a new office for it, 100 out of the station's 146 staff members have been sent on an open-ended leave, with their wages cut by 30 per cent.

Commenting on the radio station's critical situation, the Russkiy Proryv! weekly said on 5 November that the situation was aggravated by disagreements between the Dniester parliament and the information ministry. According to the law on the state-run media in the Dniester region, all official radio and TV channels should list parliament and the president as founders, but the ministry took upon itself all managerial functions over the Pridnestrovye radio channel, the weekly said.

It recalled that in 2007, parliament initiated a probe into the ministry's activities linked to the radio station and unveiled numerous violations, including money-laundering. Members of the Dniester parliament tabled a proposal then that the radio station sign a separate agreement with president Igor Smirnov and radio Pridnestrovye become answerable to parliament, the paper said.

(Sources: Pridnestrovye, Tiraspol, in Russian 5 Nov 08; Russkiy Proryv!, Tiraspol, in Russian 5 Nov 08 via BBC Monitoring)

BBC World Service temporarily broadcasting via RNW Madagascar relay

Serious flooding in Thailand has forced the BBC's relay station at Nakhon Sawan off the air. It's expected that the station will be silent until next Tuesday at the earliest. VT Communications has arranged temporary broadcasts from other sites. Until Nakhon Sawan is back in normal operation, the RNW Madagascar relay station is broadcasting BBC World Service programming towards India as follows:

  • English 0100-0200 UTC on 11955 kHz 250kW beam 050 degrees
  • Hindi  0230-0300 UTC on 15405 kHz 250 kW beam 050 degrees
  • English 0300-0500 UTC on 17790kHz 250kW beam 050 degrees

Friday, October 10, 2008

DX News - October till date, 2008

CANADA China Radio Intl Relay-CRI 6145 2310 English
Oct 4 YL and OM with news items from China.
MacKenzie-CA.

CANADA Radio Japan Relay-NHK 6145 0000 English 444
Oct 4 YL with comments in Whats Up Japan program. YL
singing 0006 in Japanese. YL interviwming an OM 0008.
//13650 [333]via Japan. MacKenzie-CA.

ENGLAND Radio Japan Relay-NHK 5960 0010 Japanese 333
Oct 4 YL with comments. MacKenzie-CA. MacKenzie-CA.

GREECE Voice of Greece 9420 0015 Greek 232 Oct 4
Vocal music heard
otherwise a noist frequency. MacKenzie-CA.

KOREA, North Voice of Korea-VOK 13760 0240 Spanish
433 Oct 7 YL and OM with comments. YL with an ID at 0245.
//15180 [333] and 11735 [333].
MacKenzie-CA.

LITHUANIA Radio Vilnius 7325 2354 English 333 Oct 4
YL with comments and some vocal music and suddenly off the
air at 2357. MacKenzie-CA.

RUSSIA, Vladivostok Voice of Russia-VOR 13775 0233
English 333 Oct 7 YL ancr with some folk music in the
Music Tales program. MacKenzie-CA.

RUSSIA, Petrovlovsk Voice of Russia-VOR 13635 0238
Russian 333 Oct 7 OM with comments plus a YL with
comments then some more pop music. // 7125 [433]Moldova.

Stewart MacKenzie, WDX6AA
Huntington Beach, California, USA
"World Friendship Through Shortwave Radio Where
Culture and Language Come Alive"

ASCENSION BBCWS Relay 7160 0338 English 333 Oct 4
YL interviewing an OM. Mackenzie-CA.

ASCENSION BBCWS Relay 6145 0347 English 444 Oct 4
YL comments on Italy's usage of Euros within Italy.
MacKenzie-CA.

CANADA Voice of Turkey Relay-VOT 7325 0327 English
444 Oct 4 YL on Turkish wedding culture. Turkish music
0328. Bells at village weddings culture by a YL.
Mackenzie-CA

CANADA Voice of Vietnam Relay-VOV 6175 0344 English
444 Oct 4 YL interviewing an OM, then a music interlude
followed by a YL with comments.
MacKenzie-CA.

COSTA RICA Radio Exterior Espana Relay-REE 6040 0353
Spanish 444 Oct 4 YL and OM with ongoing comments.
MacKenzie-CA.

ROMANIA Radio Romania Intl-RRI 5960 0357 Spanish 333
Oct 4 Two OMs with comments. MacKenzie-CA.

SPAIN Radio Exterior Espana-REE 6055 0352 Spanish
4444 Oct 4 YL interviewing an OM. MacKenzie-CA.

UNITED STATES, North Carolina Radio Marti 7405 0320
Spanish 444 Oct 4 OM with comments. MacKenzie-CA.

AUSTRALIA Radio Australia via Shepparton-RA 9580 1758
English 333 Sept 29 YL and OM with comments on the
world's financial crisis. //7280 [444]Shepparton.
Mackenzie-CA.

CHINA Music Jammer 7260 1748 333 Sept 29 Jamming
Radio Free Asia. //7280 [444]RFA, 9355 [444]RFA, 9455
[333]RFA, 9540 [333]RFA, 9865 [444]RFA and 11540 [444]RFA.
MacKenzie-CA.

CYPRUS BBCWS Relay 12095 1816 English 333 Sept 24
Two YLs with comments, then an OM interviewinga YL.
MacKenzie-CA.

ENGLAND BBCWS 13675 1823 English 444 Sept 29 Two
OMs with comments on the USA crisis on Wall Street then a YL
with added comments. MacKenzie-CA.

MOROCCO VOA Relay 15410 1830 English 333 Oct 1 YL
with comments on the Pirates holding a ship for ransom. The
ship is surrounded the Navy.
MacKenzie-CA.

NIGERIA Voice of Nigeria 15120 1820 English 333 Oct
1 Two YLs chatting with each other. MacKenzie-CA.

PHILIPPINES Radio Pilipinas 15190 1825 Pilipinas 333
Oct 1 YL talking to an OM. MacKenzie-CA.

UNITED STATES Radio Marti 11930 1813 Spanish 444
Sept 29 YL interviewing an OM. Then an OM with comments and
ID. MacKenzie-VCA.

Stewart MacKenzie, WDX6AA
Huntington Beach, California, USA
"World Friendship Through Shortwave Radio Where
Culture and Language Come Alive"

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Quiz contset of the Voice of Mongolia


Received the following msg from Voice of Mongolia.
**************************************************
Dear all,
             The Mongolian National Radio in cooperation with the National Council for Foreign Advertisement and Cultural relations is announcing a radio quiz "Who better knows Mongolia"

             The quiz is announcing for a period of two months starting from September 15 until November15. The entries for the radio quiz would be considered by a joint selection commission of the above two organizations and names of winners would be announced on December 1.
            
             Here are the questions of the radio quiz "Who better knows Mongolia"    

1.  What do you know about the territory, population and national minorities of Mongolia?
2.   Since when Mongolia has been participating in the Olympic Games? How many Mongolian athletes and in what categories took part in the 29th Summer Olympic Games in Beijing? How many medals Mongolia won and what were the categories?
3.   Some cultural and natural heritages of Mongolia are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. What are they and why they had been put on the UNESCO list?

Three best entries would be selected to be awarded and there would also be two special prizes.

So tune to us, take part in the quiz and be a winner!

Yours sincerely,

Densmaa Zorigt
Mail editor of the VOM

Ulaanbaatar - 13
C. P.O. Box - 365
Mongolia
***********************************************************

So, all the best

--
Swopan Chakroborty
Kolkata, India

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Radio Veritas Asia SMS service

Pleased to inform that Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), Philippines, has started SMS service for its Bengali listeners. Now SMS can be sent in the following Kolkata based mobile phone number regarding RVA Bengali programme & "Chetana" programme / project related issues. Voice call is not allowed.
 
Number is +91 9051229618.

 
Regards,
Swopan Chakroborty
Kolkata, India

Inside Europe's Quiz

Answer Inside Europe's Quiz

This month, we're looking for a European language

At the end of this month, on the 26th of September, Europe will be celebrating linguistic diversity and lifelong language learning.

We want you to identify this European language. This excerpt is the poem "The knight in the panther's skin", a 12th century epic depiction of this country, which has also been in the news again recently.

To win an MP3 player or another great prize, you need to be in the running, so email us your answer to europe@dw-world.de or write to us the old-fashioned way to European Desk, Deutsche Welle, Bonn, Germany. Good luck!

--
Swopan Chakroborty
Kolkata, India

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

DW Hindi News

Listeners Meet of DW Radio-Hindi in India in October 2008

DW Radio-Hindi is going to organise a Listeners Meet in India in October 2008.But the exact date & place of the meeting has not been yet decided.The listeners will be informed about it as soon as it has been decided.

New Presenter in DW Radio Hindi:

A new presenter, Ms Ritika Rai has joined DW Radio-Hindi for two months perhaps.She worked as News Presenter & Producer etc in Doordarshan before joining DW Radio-Hindi.

She gave her introduction in last sunday's Aap Ki Bari Aap Ki Baat , the mailbag programme of DW Radio-Hindi.

DW Radio-Hindi Website Give Away:::

I understand DW Radio-Hindi is also giving away exciting prizes each day for those who visits their website.

There will be some prize info etc hidden on a page or pages of website. One can win those/this each day by finding the place & then send the necessary info perhaps to DW Radio.Believe there will be popup instructions there as soon as you find the link where the prize info is hidden.

That's all for today!!!!

 

73 & 55

Gautam Kr. Sharma,
Assam, India
 
 
 

 

Radio News

(Via Gautam Kumar Sharma, Avayapuri, Assam, India.) 

Hello!!!

Let's first kick off this week with a couple or so of News items related to DW Radio ...

SMS Number for Indian Listeners of DW Radio-Bengali:

DW Radio-Bengali has introduced a new SMS number for Indian Listeners.Now Indian listeners can send their feedbacks etc etc via SMS at this number.Please check out their website plus their shortwave transmissions to note down the SMS number.They are regularly airing the promo related to it.

Website Prizes Giveaway.....:

You can win exciting prizes each day by visiting & navigating DW Radio-Bengali website.

Also I understand DW Radio-Hindi is also giving away exciting prizes each day for those who visits their website.

There will be some prize info etc hidden on a page or pages of website. One can win those/this each day by finding the place & then send the necessary info perhaps to DW Radio.Believe there will be instructions there.

Believe DW Radio-Show By Urdu is going to launch similar giveaway via its website soon.

Listeners Meet of DW Radio-Hindi in India in October 2008

DW Radio-Hindi is going to organise a Listeners Meet in India in October 2008.But the exact date & place of the meeting has not been yet decided.The listeners will be informed about it as soon as it has been decided.

.............................

That's all for this bulletin.

More later in the week perhaps.......!!!!!

 

73 & 55

Gautam Kumar Sharma


Sunday, August 31, 2008

Radio Sweden Special broadcast

Radio Sweden Special 70th Birthday Broadcast
Live from Studio Five

Ever since 1938 Radio Sweden has served as an important link between Swedenand the rest of the world. On Wednesday, September 3 we'll be celebratingour 70th birthday with special broadcasts, a panel discusion, and livemusic.Our first English broadcast of the day, at 12:30 hrs UTC, will be a liveprogram from Studio 5 at Broadcasting House in Stockholm. We'll be taking alook back at some of the major stories we've covered over the years, andtalking with many guests, including some wellknown Radio Sweden voices fromthe past.That will be followed by a special panel debate in Swedish with a number ofcultural and media personalities.The 14:00 hrs UTC Swedish broaadcast will also be live from Studio 5.The entire special program, from 12:30 to 16:30 hours UTC, will be carriedlive in a special web broadcast.So don't fail to join us to celebrate our 70th, Live from Studio Five.

Pakistan will change Local Time

Pakistan will change their local time in November 2008 from DXAsia News Aug 29, 2008 (23 hours ago) The government of Pakistan has decided to postpone the change of local timings untill the first week of November - so VOA Urdu service will continue to use the present timings and frequencies till the end of A08 schedule period. The current schedule is :MW 972 1539 kHz is available at 1300-0100 hrs.SW service 0000-0100 on 7135 11755 kHz.SW service 1300-1400 on 9340 15795 kHz.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

DX Report This WEEK :: Frequency

ALBANIA Radio Tirana 7425 0335 English 333 Aug 26
Two OMs in a conversation with a noisy background.
MacKenzie-CA.
>
BRAZIL China Radio Intl-CRI Relay 9665 0313 Spanish
> 433 Aug 26 OM with comments on the 2008 Olympics. YL with comments plus
> some music. QRM via the Voice of Russia on the same frequency.
> MacKenzie-CA.
>
CANADA Voice of Turkey Relay-VOT 7325 0330 English 444 Aug 26 OM
with comments and then Turkish music vocals by a YL. Mackenzie-CA.
>
CHINA Music Jammer 9865 1835 444 Aug 23 Some real good music this
time around. //9355 [444]. MacKenzie-CA.
>
RUSSIA, Moldova Voice of Russia-VOR 7125 0319 Russian 333 Aug 26
Vocal Music then an OM with comments.
> MacKenzie-CA.
>
UKRAINE Radio Ukraine Intl 7440 0338 Ukrainian 333 Aug 26 OM with
comments. OM with an ID in English at 0339
> plus an IS. MacKenzie-CA.
>
VATICAN STATE Vatican Radio 7305 0327 Spanish 333 Aug 26 YL with
comments plus an OM. MacKenzie-CA.
>
UNKNOWN Unknown station?? 7270 0325 Arabic 333 Aug26 YL with vocal
music. MacKenzie-CA.
>
> Stewart MacKenzie, WDX6AA

11175 kHz USB 2050z: HF-GCS Station "Puerto Rico" wkg "Reach 243T" for
phone patch to DSN 779-03xx (Scott AFB); rqsts quick-turn at destination
(Ascension?) and departure of 0030z. (27Aug2008) (ALS)

AL STERN Satellite Beach FL

13927 kHz USB 1744z: "Rican 44", 50 miles east of Providenciales in
Bahamas, erroneously calling "Cape Radio on 13927." (27Aug2008) (ALS)


13927 kHz USB 1748z: "Rican 44", over Grand Turk in Bahamas, erroneously
calling "Cape Radio on 13927." (27Aug2008) (ALS)

10780 kHz USB 1749z: Cape Radio wkg "Rican 44," over Grand Turk in Bahamas;
asks for frequency to reach San Juan PR; too weak for Cape Radio to copy; I
had both sides L&C. (27Aug2008) (ALS)

11175 kHz USB 1755z: HF-GCS Station wkg "Rican 44" for phone patch, but
HF-GCS station has Rican 44 too weak; L&C into my qth. (27Aug2008) (ALS)

AL STERN Satellite Beach FL

BONAIRE Radio Netherlands Intl Relay-RNI 17810 2105 Dutch 333 Aug 22 YL and
OM with comments. MacKenzie.
>
BOTSWANA VOA Relay 17895 2050 African 333 Aug 22 African vocal music to 2059
and off the air. At 2100 heard
> the VOA IS and ID in English and off the air at 2100.
>
CANADA Radio Canada Intl-RCI 15330 2116 French 444 Aug 22 OM with comments
and mention of Canada several
> times. MacKenzie-CA.
>
CUBA Radio Habana Cuba-RHC 11680 0320 Spanish 4444 Aug 23 An OM giving a
speech. //11760 [444].
> MacKenzie-CA.
>
FRENCH GUIANA Radio France Intl Relay-RFI 17630 2108 Spanish 433 Aug 22 YL
interviewing an OM. Both mentioned
> Columbia often. MacKenzie-CA.
>
KUWAIT Radio Kuwait 11675 0315 Arabic 333 Aug 23 OM with comments.
> MacKenzie-CA.
>
NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Intl-RNZI 15720 2110 English 433 Aug 22 OM
with comments on bad drugs plus a
> YL with comments on the use of drugs since the 1960's.
> MacKenzie-CA.
>
RUSSIA, Petropavlovsk Voice of Russia-VOR 13635 0330 English 333 > Aug 23 YL
with comments-ID by an OM at 03332. Then a YL with
> interviews at the 2008 Olympics. MacKenzie-CA.
>

Stewart MacKenzie, WDX6AA
> Huntington Beach, California, USA

August 27, 2008

2872 kHz USB 0445z: Gander wkg "El Al 001" for position report. (27Aug2008)
(ALS).

2872 kHz USB 0452z: Gander wkg "Air India 140" for position report.
(27Aug2008) (ALS).


2872 kHz USB 0454z: Gander wkg "Continental 94" for position report.
(27Aug2008) (ALS).


2872 kHz USB 0507z: Gander wkg "Speedbird 208" for Selcal check.
(27Aug2008)
(ALS).

2899 kHz USB 0455z: Gander wkg airliners for position reports. (27Aug2008)
(ALS).

3016 kHz USB 0542z: Santa Maria wkg "Reach 55" for position report.
(27Aug2008) (ALS).


3016 kHz USB 0549z: Shanwick wkg airliners for position reports.
(27Aug2008)
(ALS).


3455 kHz USB 0503z: New York wkg airliners for position reports.
(27Aug2008)
(ALS).


5505 kHz USB 0509z: Shanwick Volmet recites wx for Amsterdam-Schiphol,
Copenhagen, etc. (27Aug2008) (ALS).


5550 kHz USB 0502z: New York wkg airliners for position reports.
(27Aug2008)
(ALS).

5598 kHz USB 0526z: New York wkg "Iberia 401" for routing, climb to FL370.
(27Aug2008) (ALS).


5598 kHz USB 0527z: New York wkg "Speedbird 252" for position report.
(27Aug2008) (ALS).

6586 kHz USB 0458z: New York wkg "American 955" for clearance to climb to
higher altitude. (27Aug2008) (ALS).

6754 kHz USB 0530z: Canforce (Trenton Military) Volmet reciting aviation wx
at various locations: Victoria, Comox, Thule, etc. (27Aug2008) (ALS).

AL STERN Satellite Beach FL

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Partnership with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and DW-RADIO

2008-08-20 12:10:37 - New partnership with Indira Gandhi National Open
University (IGNOU) means that DW-RADIO will broadcast over campus radio
throughout India.

Deutsche Welle recently added a new partner in India by signing a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU). As part of the partnership, 'Gyan Vani FM' will broadcast DW-RADIO
programming in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and English over campus radio at 29
associated universities. In addition, 'Tomorrow Today', the science magazine
from DW-TV, will be

integrated into the schedule from 'Gyan Darshan', an educational channel
that operates nationwide via satellite and cable.

In return, Deutsche Welle has agreed to support IGNOU with training courses
for community radio operators and journalists. Germany's international
broadcaster will oversee several intensive courses per year at the School of
New Media Studies with a focus on New Media Production, Science Journalism,
Train the Trainer and other subjects according to IGNOU's needs and
DW-AKADEMIE's capacities.

'This cooperation has developed through the long-term and trusting
relationship that Deutsche Welle and DW-TRANSTEL have had with IGNOU,' says
Petra Schneider, Head of Sales and Service at Deutsche Welle. 'We are happy
to have the opportunity to reach out to students throughout India.'

IGNOU is the public distance-learning university, which is based in Delhi
and operates five television stations and 29 campus radio stations (FM) in
the most important universities in India. It offers basic and general
education as well as professional training and a degree program in
engineering.

FEBC & Christian radio in Kazakhstan

Christian radio in Kazakhstan? FEBC says 'Yes'

Posted: 18 August, 2008, Topics in this story: asia, christian radio, febc, kazakhstan

FEBC08-18-08.jpg

FEBC has received a license to start Christian radio stations in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan (MNN) ― The lower chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament has passed new legislation that would impose tough new restrictions on foreign missionary activity and evangelical churches. The measure had its first reading in May. However, this new bill isn't stopping Christian radio from entering the country.

Gregg Harris, president of Far East Broadcasting Company, says he is surprised, but he thinks he knows why the activity of FEBC is unaffected. "We work as a nationally registered entity. In other words, we don't come into the country as an outsider. We have an FEBC entity registered inside the country. And that makes a great deal of difference at a time like this when the government is beginning to clamp down and curtail what they perceive to be foreign missionary activity."

Harris says they have big ambitions. "We're hoping to open and operate two FM radio stations in Almaty and Astana. We have been granted the broadcast license, but we don't have the specific frequencies yet to actually open the stations and actually go on the air."

He's uncertain when that will happen. "You can wait just a few weeks. Sometimes it can take months, and unfortunately it can take years. We have already been in these discussions for about two to three years, and we're hoping that something is going to happen very soon."

While they're still some time away from going on the air, Harris says they're moving forward with 24-hours-a-day programming. "We're going to stream it on the Internet and make it available for those in the country that have Internet access, so that we can begin showing the government that we're serious [and] that we're making good programming."

FEBC will be providing programming to meet changing needs in Kazakhstan. "Surprisingly, more people in Kazakhstan speak Russian than they speak Kazakh. But there is a growing nationalistic trend in Kazakhstan that means the Kazakh language will become more and more used and more and more influential."

Harris adds, "Our programming will be a mixture of Russian programming, but we will also be making Kazakh for those who are Kazakh speakers."

Harris is asking Christians to pray that "the government would move ahead, would grant us the frequencies so that we can begin raising funds and actually physically build and operate the station."


 

While Kazakhstan Is Considering Restrictive Religion Laws, Christian Radio Wins Approval

Published: Monday, August 18th,2008.

The lower chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament has passed new legislation that would impose tough new restrictions on foreign missionary activity and evangelical churches. The measure had its first reading in May. However, this new bill isn't stopping Christian radio from entering the country.

President of Far East Broadcasting Company Gregg Harris says he is surprised. But he thinks he knows why. "We work as a nationally registered entity. In other words, we don't come into the country as an outsider. We have an FEBC entity registered inside the country. And that makes a great deal of difference at a time like this when the government is beginning to clamp down and curtail what they perceive to be foreign missionary activity."

Harris says they have big ambitions. "We're hoping to open and operate two FM radio stations in Amity and Astana. We have been granted the broadcast license, but we don't have the specific frequencies yet to actually open the stations and actually go on the air."

He's uncertain when that will happen. "You can wait just a few weeks. Sometimes it can take months, and unfortunately it can take years. We have already been in these discussions for about two to three years, and we're hoping that something is going to happen very soon."

While they're still some time away from going on the air, Harris says they're moving forward with 24-hours-a-day programming. "We're going to stream it on the Internet and make it available for those in the country that have Internet access, so that we can begin showing the government that we're serious [and] that we're making good programming."

FEBC will be providing programming to meet changing needs in Kazakhstan. "Surprisingly, more people in Kazakhstan speak Russian than they speak Kazakh. But there is a growing nationalistic trend in Kazakhstan that means the Kazakh language will become more and more used and more and more influential."

Harris adds, "Our programming will be a mixture of Russian programming, but we will also be making Kazakh for those who are Kazakh speakers."

Sourced By Tokunbo Emmanuel

Venzuela to launch communications satellite from China

Caracas says it plans to launch its first satellite from China in November to boost its telecommunications and broadcast capabilities. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez made the announcement in his weekly television programme, adding that the satellite, named after South American independence hero Simon Bolivar, will cover several Latin American countries.

The satellite to be launched from China's southwestern Sichuan province on 1 November will make Venezuela self-sufficient in television, Internet and other communication transmissions, he added.

China to launch Venezuela's first satellite: Chavez
by Staff Writers
Caracas (AFP) Aug 18, 2008
China is to launch Venezuela's first satellite in November which will serve to relay telecommunications data and television signals over Latin America, President Hugo Chavez said.

The orbiter, named "Simon Bolivar" after a 19th century Venezuelan independence hero, was built under contract by a Chinese firm and will be sent into space on November 1, Chavez said in his weekly radio program on Sunday.

He added that his country planned to have China put a second, reconnaissance satellite above Earth in 2013.

Chavez, Latin America's leftwing firebrand and a fierce critic of the United States, has recently embarked on a spending spree of Russian weapons and military aircraft.

Uruguay, which ceded the geostationary orbit position above Ecuador to Venezuela for the November launch, will have a 10-percent share in the Simon Bolivar satellite and use of its functions, Venezuelan Science Minister Hector Navarro said in April.

"This launch is a further step towards sovereignty. The Simon Bolivar satellite implies a transfer of technology and the use of communications for the people," Chavez said.

(Source: Press TV)

Venezuela to Launch Its First Satellite from China in November

President Hugo Chávez inspected the sattelite control station in Venezuela&#039;s Guárico state Sunday. (Prensa Presidencial)
President Hugo Chávez inspected the sattelite control station in Venezuela's Guárico state Sunday. (Prensa Presidencial)
Mérida, August 18, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuela's first satellite will be launched from Chinese soil on November 1st, President Hugo Chávez announced on his weekly Sunday talk show Aló Presidente, which was broadcast from the satellite control station located at an air base on the vast plains of the state of Guárico, Venezuela.

The satellite is the materialization of the technology transfer agreement initiated by Venezuela and China in 2004, which Chávez said is an example of South-South cooperation.

"Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Satellite, with the incomparable help of sister China, will soon be launched. November 1st, that is the date," said Chávez, who was accompanied by Chinese Embassador to Venezuela Zhang Tuo.

The satellite, which is named after South American independence leader Simón Bolívar, will serve primarily civilian telecommunications purposes, according to Venezuelan Telecommunications Minister Socorro Hernández.

"It is a fundamental tool for technological sovereignty that will be put at the service of the population," said Hernández, who also accompanied Chávez Sunday.

According to the minister, the satellite will help improve the quality and geographical reach of government social programs through televised health and educational services.

The satellite will also serve the needs of the social organizations and communities, with social ends in mind, Chávez emphasized.

The Venezuelan Communications and Information Minister, Andrés Izarra, pointed out that entering the space community will boost Venezuela's television industry. The "Aló, Presidente" presidential talk show is currently transmitted from a Dutch satellite, but "will now be offered with our own satellite," he said.

The Venezuelan government contracted a Chinese firm to carry out the design, manufacture, and launching of the satellite, according to the Aló, Presidente website.

CANTV, Venezuela's National Telecommunications Company that was nationalized in early 2007, will manage the satellite's telecommunications spectrum. The Science and Technology Ministry will administer the control center in Guárico state and the backup control station in southeastern Bolívar state.

Uruguay has agreed to open its orbit to Venezuela's satellite in exchange for the use of 10% of the satellite's telecommunications spectrum.

As part of the technology transfer agreement with China, a team of 150 Venezuelans were trained in space technology, along with 30 Venezuelan students who were selected to complete their doctoral studies in the subject in China.

"Venezuela is expanding, growing from all points of view," Chávez boasted. He also announced his plans to travel to Beijing in the coming months to "give another boost to the strategic alliance between China and Venezuela."

Venezuela's relations with China already include contracts for the joint extraction of Venezuelan crude oil and gas, construction of Venezuela's railroad system, a credit line for Venezuela to purchase Chinese agricultural equipment, and a joint development fund constituted with $6 billion in capital, $4 billion of which came from China, among other agreements.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

DX Reports

ASCENSION BBCWS Relay 17830 1806 English 333 Aug 13
Two YLs with ongoing comments. MacKenzie-CA.

AUSTRALIA Radio Australia-Shepparton 15515 2210
English 333 Aug 11 OM interviewing an OM on the 2008 Olympics. MacKenzie-CA.

CANADA Radio Netherlands Intl Relay 9525 2318 Dutch
333 Aug 17 YL and OM in a happy conversation with each other.
MacKenzie-CA.

CHINA Music Jammer 9355 1754 333 Aug 13 The usual
Chinese style music. MacKenzie-CA.

COSTA RICA Radio Exterior Espana-REE Relay 17850 1804
Spanish 333 Aug 13 OM with comments. Also at 2245 with a YL and OM with
REE ID and more co9mments. //9535 [333]via Spain. MacKenzie-CA.

GABON Afrique Numero Un 9580 1758 French 333 Aug 13
OM with comments and some music. MacKenzie-CA.

GERMANY Voice of Croatia Relay 9925 2308 Croatian
333 Aug 17 A YL and OM with comments. MacKenzie-CA,

PORTUGAL Voice of Germany Relay-VOG 11865 2340 German
333 Aug 17 YL with comments plus another OM at times.
MacKenzie-CA.

AUSTRALIA Radio Australia-Shepparton 9580 1802
English 333 Aug 10 OM with News items and comments on the
conflict between Russia and Georgia.
MacKenzie-CA.

ARGENTINA Radio Nacional 11710 1620 Spanish 333 Aug
11 OM with comments. YL with Radio Nacional ID 1621. Then
more comments by an OM. MacKenzie-CA.

BONAIRE Radio Netherlands Intl Relay-RNI 17605 2157
Spanish 444 Aug 11 IS and OM with an ID s/on. Then an OM
with comments. //15540 [333]via Bonaire. MacKenzie-CA.

CHINA Music Jammer 11540 1615 444 Aug 11 The usual
Chinese style music. //11750 [333]. MacKenzie-CA.

CUBA Radio Havana Cuba-RHC 13760 0247 Spanish 333
Aug 10 Vocal band music to past 0300. YL and OM with
comments 0302. //11680 [444] and 9600 [444].
MacKenzie-CA.

JAPAN Radio Japan-NHK 9835 1810 Japanese 333 Aug 10
Two OMs with comments. MacKenzie-CA.

NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand Intl-RNZI 15720 2203
English 333 Aug 11 YL with comments on a bank robbery.
MacKenzie-CA.

UNITED STATES, Florida Radio Taiwan Relay 15600 2208
English 333 Aug 11 YL and OM with comments on the 2008
Olympics in China. MacKenzie-CA.


R. Singapore International cleans out its stock of stuff, now that it`s
closed down, sending extra blank QSLs and a kilogram of mementos


VOA moves onto some vacated Singapore frequencies the next day, 6000
and 7235

After several days on 5985.78, Myanma Radio back on 5985.00 from August 12,
probably from Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw sites respectively

An illusion of normality: Liz Skelton remembers Radio Prague after the invasion

[17-08-2008]
By David Vaughan


When Soviet tanks rolled into Prague in the night from August 20-21 1968, the Czechoslovak Radio building was one of the first places that they tried to bring under control. In the process the building was damaged, several
people were killed and dozens injured. Broadcasts went on in secret for several days, keeping the world informed of what was really happening, initially from within the building itself, and then from other locations in the city, using mobile studios and transmitters.


The story of how radio staff defied the invaders is well known, but what we
hear far less often is what happened at the radio in the weeks and months
that followed. The answer may come as a surprise. Almost within days,
things went back to normal. Once the Soviets had bullied the Czechoslovak
leadership into accepting the invasion, their next step was to create the
illusion that nothing very drastic had happened. At the radio this meant
that initially no-one was sacked or purged and people just went back to
their jobs. And it was just at this time, literally days after the
invasion, that a 24-year-old Englishwoman started working here at Radio
Prague. Her name was Liz Skelton, and a few weeks ago I had the opportunity
to record an interview with her as she revisited the building where she had
worked 40 years before. She began by telling me how she came to be in
Prague at such an extraordinary moment.
“Well, it was a little impulsive. I had a friend in England who was half
Czech and half English, and when the Russians invaded in August of 1968, he had to make a significant decision, which was whether to come back to live in Czechoslovakia, with the risk that he couldn’t leave again, or stay in
England. He decided to come back and I decided to come with him, not knowing how long I would end up staying. I thought I might be here for a few weeks. It was impulsive, but it turned out to be a very interesting time. I ended up staying for nearly two years.”
And this was in fact just after the Soviet invasion, so it was a time of  great uncertainty and concern here in Czechoslovakia. Nobody had the faintest idea what was going to happen…

“No, they didn’t at all and nor did I, obviously, and I was very politically naïve. I was 24 years old in 1968 and really had very little knowledge of what could happen walking into a communist country at the time. We drove here and crossed the border about five days after the invasion, and there were tanks quite visible. We arrived in the dead of night and I wondered what on earth I had come to. It was very dark and bleak, and actually in the first couple of nights you could hear tankfire or gunfire, there were still some skirmishes going on until things settled down a bit.

“In the following months there were a lot of demonstrations, there were some very interesting pictures that I actually smuggled out of the country for a fellow called Josef Koudelka, who is very famous now, I gather. He took photos of the crowds climbing up on tanks and, I guess, yelling at these young Soviet soldiers, who were rather offended, because they thought they had come in to save everybody and in fact they had got a very, very unfriendly reception.”
And how about the radio? You started working at Radio Prague. How did that
come about? It was a time when the Soviets wanted to clamp down on Radio
Prague and there had even been fighting outside this building
.

“That’s true. Let me tell you first how I came to work here. Pavel,
who was my boyfriend at the time, had worked in the English section of
Radio Prague before he had gone to England for six months, so when he came
back, he wanted to continue to work part time at the radio. He was actually
studying, doing a degree at Charles University, but as a part time employee
he had worked at the radio. When we came up to see his former colleagues, I
was asked if I had ever had any broadcasting experience, because they
needed another voice in the English section. I said I certainly hadn’t
had any broadcasting experience, but they said, ‘Let’s do a mic
test.’ So they put me in front of a microphone. At the time I had a much
more British accent than I now have, as I’ve lived in North America for a
long time. They said, ‘That’s fine. We’ll give you a job.’

“So I started to work here part time. I read the news, I had a weekly
programme with a lovely fellow called Franta Fröhlich, where we just chatted about local happenings and I introduced a few concerts. But interestingly Dubček was still in power at the time and there was still virtually no censorship for quite a long time. The news broadcasts were, as far as I remember, very truthful, there was no propaganda. I think there was still a lot of optimism, despite the fact that the Soviets had rolled in the tanks. I think people were still very rebellious and not accepting at all the idea of going back to the old regime. So for a long time broadcasting was absolutely unfettered.”
I believe it was really in the spring of 1969 that the screw began to
tighten and many people were sacked. Do you remember that time as well?
“I do. It became rather grim and got to a point where people started to mistrust each other a bit. You weren’t quite sure who you could confide in…”

And you must have been under pressure to read things that you didn’t
believe in.
“I was, and I have to admit I had to stop doing that. I had to start refusing to read some of the news items. My parents were back in England and somewhat masochistically listening to me every night….”
They must have been a little worried….
“They were very worried. My mother in particular was worried that I was going to be spirited away by the Russians and never seen again, which was probably a possibility, but at my age and naïve as I was, it didn’t really cross my mind that that could happen. But it did get to a point where I really couldn’t work here any more. Eventually in fact I was summoned by the police to have what you could describe as an interrogation – although it was not really. They didn’t threaten me with anything, but they actually said I shouldn’t have been working at the radio all that time because I came in on a student visa and I wasn’t technically allowed to work. So they basically said that I couldn’t work at the radio any more. In a way I was relieved that I couldn’t because it was getting to a point where I couldn’t broadcast much of what was put in front of me.”
We are now sitting in a studio in the new radio building, which is just behind the old building where you were working. This is all very hi-tech and modern. It must have been quite different in the late ‘60s.

“Obviously everything was much less hi-tech and we had those old tape
recorders – reels and reels of tape, which occasionally went wrong, the
tape broke and it all ended up on the floor. The editing was literally
cutting and pasting. Everything was done more slowly. There were no
computers and I don’t think there were many copies kept of recordings: in
fact it would be lovely to find a recording from back then.”

Unfortunately we haven’t found any recordings of you from that time,
which is a great shame…
“It was fun. It was a bit nerve-wracking for me having never done
anything like that before. Probably, if I were to listen to a recording
from back then I would be terribly embarrassed, because I think my voice
was very flat, I had no acting experience. Someone once told me that I
sounded rather like the Queen, which I don’t consider a great compliment
as she has rather a monotonous voice.”
You certainly don’t sound like the Queen now!
“I think my accent has been corrupted a little.”
At the time the English section was much bigger than it is now. Today
there are eight people in the section, plus freelancers. It was a much
bigger operation then.
“Yes, it was a fairly major operation.”
It was at the height of the Cold War, but from what you’re saying the
atmosphere seems to have been very relaxed.
“It was for about a year. I think that was totally a reflection of the
Prague Spring, when people were so excited all of a sudden to have a taste
of the Western way of life. It wasn’t at all what I imagined living in a
communist country would be, but then I came at the best possible time. But
by the time I left in early 1970 people were getting rather reticent to
confide in others, the political conversations were fewer and farther
between. It was a much less open society generally.”
You managed to stay on at Radio Prague until the end of 1969, but you
didn’t go back home immediately.
“No, I didn’t leave Czechoslovakia until probably the spring of 1970.
I taught English to a group of people who I think were then in what was
called the Ministry of Industry, and I don’t remember how I got that job,
but I did teach English. A couple of times I flew across the country to
Slovakia and taught a group of businessmen English, which yet again was
something which I had no experience in. So my whole time in Czechoslovakia
was doing things that I had no training in at all!”
Eventually you decided to leave.
“I did. I don’t think anybody really kicked me out of the country, but
it came to a point where I almost felt guilty being here with the friends
that I had, who were Czech and simply didn’t have the freedoms that I had
to walk in and out. I knew that I could always leave when I wanted to,
because I had a British passport. It was becoming a bit depressing to be in
this environment.”
At that time were you still with your Czech-English boyfriend?
“Actually we had gone our separate ways as a couple, but we were still
friends, and when I left he was still here. But he did actually want to
leave. He had a British and a Czechoslovak passport, but as long as he was
in Czechoslovakia he was considered to be Czech. He wanted to get out and
go to England. I was able to arrange that for him, once I was back in
England, by putting together a bunch of documents, most of which I forged
– with a lot of fancy-looking sealing wax and stamps on them and
flourishing signatures, the essence of which was that we were going to get
married in England. That was one of the only reasons which would justify an
exit visa from Czechoslovakia at the time. So I sent all these things to
Pavel, and he was actually able to get out of the country on the pretext
that he was going to be marrying me in England. He later got a job at the
BBC and – from what you tell me – he worked there until quite
recently.”
And you didn’t stay in England…
“No. About six months later I actually went to Canada and ended up
staying in Canada for ten years and then went off to New York for ten years
and ended up staying in North America.”
And you didn’t follow a career in broadcasting. You studied law.
“Yes, I gave up broadcasting. I don’t think it was really a career
that was meant for me in the first place. I don’t think it was really my
forte!”
How does it feel to be coming back, to be seeing these places that you
haunted forty years ago?
“It’s wonderful actually. I think it’s thrilling to see what’s happened to Prague. Prague was really a beautiful but bleak city under communism, and it is just gorgeous now. The buildings have been restored, the economy is booming and it’s really a delightful place to be. I would love to come back and spend quite a few weeks here. I’m wandering around
looking at places I used to hang out in, and it’s amazing how everything has developed. It was always a beautiful city, but it had never been allowed to flourish.”
So, Liz Skelton, thank you very much indeed for coming back into the studio after all these years. It’s been a real pleasure to talk to you.
“Thank you for having me here, and thank you for helping me try to find a recording. Maybe we’ll come up with something eventually. It’s lovelyto be here.”
And if any of our listeners happen to have recordings of our broadcasts from late 1968 or 1969 at home, do have a listen, and if you do come across Liz Skelton’s voice, we’d be delighted if you could send us a copy.

The media as development tool

Recently a group of communications experts and practitioners met in Accra on how both traditional and new media can be harnessed to promote development.
Prof. John DowNing co-founder of OURMedia, global network which facilitates dialogue between media academics and practitioners underscored the connection between media and social movement of people who have the same interests and values to protect. Equally important was the suggestion by Prof Alfred Opubor that the syllabi taught in African universities and communications institutes should be changed to perhaps, reflect the growing need to use communication as a developmental tool.
Though the contribution of media economic output mostly in Africa and even in some parts of the world has not been massive, the media remain useful tools in promoting high productivity. Bruce M. Owen in his article "Media as an Industry: Economic Foundations of Mass Media argues that the availability of commercial information contained in advertising greatly reduces consumers' transaction and search costs and creates the possibility of mass marketing, with its economies of scale. Similarly the dissemination of commercial information, like commodity prices and wage rates facilitates productivity in small scale enterprises. Mass communication, he says also serves political, cultural and educational ends.
This explains why in the more matured democracies a very crucial role has been fashioned for the media. In fact the western media are part of the economic system that is pushing the globalisation agenda. Herman et al in "The Global Media: The New Missionaries of Corporate Capitalism:, argue that western media systems have tended to reflect the patterns of the overall system of the west. The global, the add provide the main vehicle for advertising corporate wares and ideas and facilitate the expansion of western corporations into new markets, nations and regions.
Radio for instance, has been used as a very potent channel of education and economic growth in the west, not forgetting the role radio played in the colonization of Africa. The United States for instance won the cold war largely due to the 'productive' use of Shortwave radio. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty funded by the United States government churned out western propaganda against the former Society Union and Cuba. So dominant were these radios that they became the lifeblood of many citizens of Cuba, the Soviet Union and its former Eastern European allies purportedly fighting to liberate themselves. To date the US and Britain still use the VOA and the BBC to pursue their foreign policies. Unfortunately for us in Ghana, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has bailed out of the Shortwave broadcasting which has a wider reach than FM.
How Latin American and Asian countries used and continue to use radio as a driver of economic development has been well documented. They saw the spectrum as a national resource that should be harnessed for national development and they did. The purposeful use of communication as catalysts for social development gave birth to what is now commonly referred to as development communication.
What we have lacked in our development discourse is the non utilization of existing communication tools and applicable theories for result-driven strategies for the advancement of society.
Development communication in Asian and Latin America is greatly linked with the concepts of Sustainable Development (which can be defined as the improvement of a community using information and technology and the community's ability to maintain the created ideal state without compromising its environment and resources). It also relies greatly on Community and People Participation, which is the voluntary involvement of a group of people in a development activity with full knowledge of its purpose that will allow them to grow individually and as a community.
Development communication is the process of eliciting positive change (social, political, economic, moral, environmental, etc) through an effective exchange of pertinent information in order to induce people to action.1 Our media landscape doesn't give room for the utilisation of communication to achieve set goals, safe for promoting parochial interests. The call by Prof. Opubor for change in the syllabi of our communications institutions is forthright.

(Footnotes)
1. 1 ^ Quebral, Nora C.
(1973/72). "What Do We Mean by 'Development Communication'".
International Development Review 15 (2): 25–28.

Author: Amos Safo

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Euromaxx quiz

euromaxx quiz

Our euromaxx quiz is simple. All you have to do is examine four pictures and answer a simple question.

If you've got the answer just drop us a line and you could be the winner of a designer wristwatch made in Europe.

We eagerly await your entry (one entry per person per e-mail). Include your answers in the e-mail text, but not as an attachment.

There is no legal recourse.

  Danish Designer
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:

This week's quiz is about the 50th anniversary of a famous designer brand from Denmark.

A renowned Danish designer is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of his brand. His products are known for their clear lines and minimalist design. They range from exclusive hi-fi systems for the sophisticated listener -- everything from turntables to loudspeakers -- to kitchen accessories -- from designer mixing bowls to the finest porcelain -- all the way to clocks and watches.

And now to our question: What well-known Danish designer label is celebrating its fiiftieth anniversary?

Is it:


Jacob Jensen?Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Jacob Jensen?




Borge Mogensen?Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Borge Mogensen?





Arne Jacobsen?Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Arne Jacobsen?




or Verner Panton?Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  or Verner Panton?

 

Our keyword is "Designer". If you know the answer, you can write to us at:
DW TV euromaxx
Voltastrasse 6
13355 Berlin, Germany

You can also send a fax to: +49-30-4646 6505. The deadline is August 29nd. Please remember to include the keyword! And, as always, our decision is final.

The winner will get a men's watch from the Spanish firm Festina.

And three weeks ago we asked where this year's Manifesta is taking place.

The answer was picture A - South Tyrol. And our winner is Aaron Ong from Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, who will be receiving an Armani's men's watch from Italy.

Congratulations!



--
Swopan Chakroborty
Kolkata, India

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

DW Asia Compact August 2008 quiz

Quiz of the Month
 
Answer the following question to win a short-wave radio and other Deutsche Welle prizes! Which Asian city will host the 2008 Paralympics?

Is it:

A. Beijing?

B. Tokyo?

Or

C. Hong Kong?

To be entered in the prize draw, please send your answers and your postal addresses to us at myasia@dw-world.de or to Deutsche Welle Radio, Asia English Department, Kurt-Schumacher Straße 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany.

The draw will take place at the end of the month and the winners will be informed on our radio programme Asia Compact and on this site. Good luck!

In May, we asked you about 'Sushi'.

The right answer is, of course, a japanese rice-based dish. The winner of the radio is Ms Tayyaba Noor, from Muzafargarh in Pakistan. Congratulations! 

And Moumita Khanom from Kurigram, Bangladesh, Fariha Afrreen from Hyderabad, India,  Fru Glory Zii from Bamenda, Cameroon, Min Lin from Jabar, Indonesia and Siv. Chun Ly from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam--all get consolation prizes.

Thanks for participating in the quiz this month.