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

http://www.outfarpress.com

Ethiopia: Ginbot 7 radio program jammed

DebreTsion is in charge of the Ethiopian Information & Communicatiion Technology Development Agency, but his main job is to block most Ethiopians from having access to information.

The Meles dictatorship in Ethiopia has jammed a radio program that was being broadcast to Ethiopia from Europe by the Ginbot 7 Movement for Freedom and Democracy, according to Ethiopian Review sources in Addis Ababa.

Voice of Ginbot 7 was launched on September 11, 2008, and had been heard through out Ethiopia and most countries in eastern Africa.

Similar attempt by the Woyanne regime to jam the Voice of America (VOA) Amharic program had been successful only for a few days. The VOA countered by running its program on multiple frequencies, each with 500 kilowatt, making it too expensive to jam them. VOA's transmission power can go up to 100 megawatt per frequency when supplemented with powerful antennas.

According to experts, it costs up to U.S. $10,000 per kilowatt to jam a radio program. To build and operate a facility that is capable of jamming multiple frequencies with 100s of kilowatt each, the Meles regime could be spending tens of millions of dollars. This is the money that could have been used to feed and cloth so many of Ethiopia's starving children who are unable to attend school because they are too weak from hunger.

Sources inside ETC say that the facility that the Chinese built for the bloodsucking Woyanne regime can jam frequencies only up to 100 kilowatt.

The Meles dictatorship is also unable to jam Eritrean Radio's Amharic Service, which uses both Short and Medium wave frequencies.

The jamming of radio programs and blocking access to web sites that are deemed critical of the dictatorship in Ethiopia is being carried out by Ato DebreTsion GebreMichael, a central committee member of the ruling Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF) and a protoge of Meles Zenawi.

Ato DebreTsion is chairman of the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC) and Director General of the Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (EICTDA). His main assignment, however, is not the development of information technology in Ethiopia. His primary objective as Ethiopia's chief IT officer is to restrict access of such technology to most Ethiopians. He has been good at it. Under his watch, out of 80 million Ethiopians, only 2 million use mobile phones. There are only 20,000 internet service subscribers in Ethiopia — the lowest in Africa.

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.

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:

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