Tuesday, May 31, 2011

First DAB+ AM/FM radio in Australia from LASER

Sydney, Australia, May 31, 2011 – LASER Corporation, IT and consumer electronics accessories company, today launched the DG200AM – the first portable Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB+) radio featuring digital and analogue.
With digital radio coverage currently spanning across Australian capital cities, the DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio caters to listeners in all parts of the country, reaching a more widespread audience. Audio fanatics that love to listen to the radio and are based in regions outside major capital cities now can invest in a device that covers all the bases. The DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio provides portability and versatility in the one package offering AM/FM, as well as crystal clear digital radio broadcasts where there is full DAB+ reception.
In addition to offering listening pleasure, the DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio displays scrolling broadcast information via the backlit LCD screen including name of track and artist on air, plus up-to-date news and sports results. Along with scrolling information, the DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio presents auto and manual scanning for stations, allows listeners to tune in to AM or FM radio and preset 20 favourite AM, FM and DAB+ stations. The DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue radio is lightweight and considerably small measuring only 200 x 170 x 75mm, making it perfectly portable.
Chris Lau, Managing Director of LASER Corporation, said, "The uptake of DAB is progressing steadily with digital radio coverage in major capital cities across Australia. It still however leaves a large percentage of the population without full DAB+ reception. LASER developed the DG200AM to cater to a wider society, for listeners that still don't have digital radio coverage, as well as listeners that miss their AM radio. According to Digital Radio Plus, there are no plans to switch off AM and FM radio services just yet, so the DG200AM offers an ideal and inexpensive all-in-one solution for radio fans." The LASER DG200AM DAB+ digital/analogue portable radio is now available in Australia through selected retailers. RRP AU$99.95 inc GST.


About LASER Corporation
LASER Corporation is an IT and consumer electronics accessories company established in Australia over 20 years ago. A leading challenger brand, LASER products are the value brand of choice and can be found in a range of retail mass merchants and the dealer and IT market. Furthermore and core to its business, LASER offers end-to-end OEM solutions with LASER Private Label. LASER Corporation's head office is based in North Ryde, Australia, with offices in New Zealand, China and Hong Kong. For more information, visit http://www.laserco.com.au/.



(Press Release)

First Community Radio station from Bangladesh on air

The country's first community radio named "Lokobetar" has begun test transmission in the district town of Barguna to build public opinion on development issues like democracy, good governance, human rights, anti-corruption, health and women empowerment.

More at : http://thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=187959

AWR frequency change to India

AWR has made the following change as follows lately:

1500-1530 UTC Telugu to S.India now on 11640 via KSDA (ex 9540)

(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, NIAR, Hyderabad, India)

Reach or frequency, radio on the run

Reach or frequency, radio on the run
May 27, 11
Tasneem Limbdiwala

http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/radio/radionews.asp?Section_id=7&News_id=42266&Tag=34760

Deutsche Welle: Changes in radio broadcasts starting this summer

Increased focus on television, online and mobile services and a reduction of shortwave broadcasts.

Starting July 1, 2011, Deutsche Welle (DW) will be making major changes in how and when its radio programming is broadcast in Asia and Europe, as well as German radio programming as a whole.

The measures will ensure the further development of Germany’s international broadcaster to a truly multimedia organization. As stipulated in the organization’s strategic plan for 2010-2013, DW will focus on modern modules that can be integrated into partner’s FM line-ups as well as being offered as stand-alone, on-demand services for the Internet and mobile devices. DW will thereby increase the cooperation with its partners throughout the world. With the exception of Africa and parts of Asia, linear shortwave broadcasts will be discontinued due to limited usage. The resources that have been saved will be reinvested in projects for the future – especially in the development of television services with regional languages and content, as well as an increase in online and mobile services.

DW will aim to use its available resources to offer two TV channels per region. This will give viewers the opportunity to choose between a channel with predominantly German programming and a channel with a focus on one of the regional languages – English, Spanish or Arabic.

In the future, DW will work with partner stations in Central and Southeast Europe to broadcast regional TV magazines and produce online services – each in the regional language. Starting July 1, 2011, the FM services for Bulgarian, Greek, Croatian, Macedonian and Romanian will be reduced and eventually discontinued. The frequencies that were purchased or rented in Sofia, Bucharest, Pristina and Tirana will be returned, as well as the corresponding licenses. The FM broadcasts for Albanian, Bosnian and Serbian will be reduced. In the future, these services will focus on selected partnerships with local FM stations. A service in Romani will be maintained for the time being. For Ukraine, DW is currently examining whether or not an agreement can be made with a partner to broadcast a reduced amount of FM radio programming that has been tailored to fit their needs. Radio programming for Hindi will be discontinued on July 1.

Reduction of shortwave

On November 1, 2011, DW will be discontinuing the shortwave broadcast for German, Russian, Farsi and Indonesian. For English, the shortwave broadcast will be limited to Africa. The broadcasting times for Chinese programming will be reduced from 120 minutes to 60 minutes. For these languages, DW will also be increasing the online and mobile services as well as video-on-demand and audio-on-demand. The portfolio will also include audio productions for rebroadcast by partners (when applicable).

Starting in November, DW will only be broadcasting radio programming via shortwave in the following languages: Amharic, Chinese, Dari, English and French for Africa, Hausa, Kiswahili, Pashtu, Portuguese for Africa and Urdu.

Closing of relay stations

The shortwave program currently broadcasts 260 hours daily with DW’s own or rented relay stations – with the new focus on Africa and regions in Asia that will be reduced to just 55 at the beginning of the winter season. Only the relay station in Kigali (Rwanda) will be needed for shortwave broadcasts in Africa. The stations in Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) und Sines (Portugal) can no longer be used to capacity. The financial operation is no longer possible and the relay stations will stop being used on November 1, 2011 and closed at the next possible point in time.

With the reduction of rental prices and the closing of the two relay stations, DW will be able to save resources that can be reinvested in the further development of its services.

Development of FM broadcasts with partners

DW will continue to expand its network of FM partners in Africa. The radio production for Hausa, Kiswahili, French and Portuguese for Africa will be optimized for FM broadcasts step by step. DW will also produce a regional radio magazine daily in English, to be rebroadcast by partners in Africa.

Audio content in Arabic will be created for the Middle East and North Africa and distributed online, via mobile or rebroadcast by partners.

DW will focus on FM partnerships for Bengali, Urdu, Dari/Pashtu und Indonesian for South Asia, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. A decision will be made about the future of these partnerships in accordance with the budget situation and following the evaluation results.

Strategic plan for 2010 to 2013

The German Bundestag approved DW’s strategic plan in April 2011 with an overwhelming majority. The core of the plan is the multimedia orientation of the broadcaster, the focus on major tasks and target regions with regards to the budgetary issues. The new strategic direction ensures that DW is prepared for the changing conditions of international media markets:

Services for certain languages and regions will be reinforced to secure DW’s competitive position in the future.

The focus for the coming years will be on Sub-Sahara Africa, the Middle East, Iran and North Africa, South Asia and Afghanistan, Russia and Latin America. Due to the limited budget, the development of services will only be possible when activities are reduced somewhere else. In the area of television, DW will work more closely together with the German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and develop regionalized TV programming with selected partners. For many areas around the world, it will be necessary to further development online and mobile services in order to reach DW’s target audience better: Individuals who are interested in diverse perspectives and use a large amount and variety of media resources. That especially includes opinion leaders and future opinion leaders as well as people who lobby for democracy, freedom and progress in authoritarian countries and thereby strengthen the civil society.

(DW Press Release)

Saturday, May 28, 2011

2011 edition of Dr. Phil's Shortwave receiver buying guide ...

2011 edition of Dr. Phil's Shortwave receiver buying guide ...

http://home.comcast.net/~phils_radio_designs/2011_SW_Guide.pdf

Loads of interesting radio articles
http://home.comcast.net/~phils_radio_designs/

Cumbre DX web site is temporarily down

www.cumbredx.net is down temporarily. A series of thunderstorms is now moving through the location in upstate NY, USA where the server is located. A short power outage has taken it down and I can't diagnose the problem with the server until the storms go away and the power settles down. This may take another 24 to 48 hours or so. As you can see, the mailing list IS still working and should remain so through the web site outage since it is located on a different server system.


Bob Arnold
webmaster


Cumbredx mailing list
Cumbredx@jumbo.ralabs.com
http://n2jeu.net/mailman/listinfo/cumbredx

VOA Georgian Service Marks 60th Anniversary

NewsletterWashington, D.C. — May 26, 2011
Voice of America's Georgian Service, which first went on the air May 26, 1951, is being hailed for the role it has played in helping bring democracy to the former Soviet republic.
In a message marking the 60th anniversary of the service's creation, Georgia's Ambassador to the United States, Temur Yakobashvili said, "Without any exaggeration I can say that the VOA Georgian Service has played a big role in spreading America's voice to the people of Georgia and making it possible for me to represent a sovereign nation here in the United States. VOA's Georgian Service is as relevant today as it has always been in the past."

VOA began broadcasting a one-half hour daily program to the Georgian people during the most frigid days of the cold war, when Georgia was still a Soviet Socialist Republic. For the past sixty years, through the country's transition to democracy, the service has continued to provide accurate, balanced and comprehensive news and information to the people of Georgia.
Among its many admirers is Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has praised the service as "unique and important in covering events in and around Georgia."
VOA's Georgian Service radio broadcasts were increased to one hour daily in August 2008 following Russia's military incursion into Georgian territory.
The Service broadcasts seven hours of original radio programming a week, reaching listeners via the FM network of Georgia's Public Broadcasting Corporation, the country's most powerful FM distribution facility. The broadcasts are also heard on shortwave frequencies.
Since November 2010, the VOA Georgian Service has also produced a weekly 15-minute TV program that is broadcast by Georgia's Public Broadcasting Corporation. The Service's video reports, along with its daily radio programs, are also available on its website and through Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.
Visit VOA's Georgian Service at www.voanews.com/georgian/news


(VOA Press Release)

Radio's future: Looking at the sunny side up

May 27, 11
Shubhangi Mehta

Radio is a growing medium, however it forms a very small share of the advertising graph. What are the ways to overcome this? Can radio emerge as a standalone medium? These are very pertinent questions that the radio industry is being asked over and over again.


More at :
http://www.exchange4media.com/e4m/radio/radionews.asp?News_id=42268&section_id=7&tag=34762

Friday, May 27, 2011

DRM+ successfully tested in New Delhi



New Delhi, 27th May, 2011: The first ever DRM+ trial measurements in India have thrown up very satisfactory results. The test, organised jointly by All India Radio (AIR) and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium, was an effort to test the strength and coverage of DRM digital radio in FM band (VHF band II).
The single test frequency of 100.1MHz carried three programme channels - Gold DRM (FM), Rainbow DRM (FM) and AIR news in Journaline and its reception was measured by a test vehicle going in four directions from central New Delhi where the transmitter was installed. Nautel VS-1 transmitter with 300W output power (500W radiated power) along with RFmondial DRM+ Modulator and Fraunhofer DRM Content Server were used.
Two test modes were measured - robust 4-QAM and high capacity 16-QAM and the DRM+ coverage was found to be comparable with that of analogue FM station operating at approximately 5 times the power of the DRM+ signal. A full report will jointly be published by AIR and DRM.
This week long DRM+ Showcase (23rd - 27th May 2011) in New Delhi was also accompanied with an extensive workshop on DRM technology covering crucial issues of planning, transition, simulcast, content and receivers. A large number of participants from all across the country attended the sessions that also had interactive discussions with DRM experts.
DRM members Nautel (Canada), Fraunhofer, RFmondial, University of Hannover (Germany) KETI (South Korea), Analog Devices (USA) and BBC (UK) took part in the test either with equipment or experts or both. DRM Consortium will provide more information along with the test results shortly. For details log on to http://www.drm.org/ or write to projectoffice@drm.org.

Ruxandra Obreja, Chairperson DRM Consortium said "This test was a successful culmination of a close partnership of DRM Consortium and All India Radio and the whole hearted support of the DRM members who took part in this event. AIR has already adopted DRM30 for its SW/MW network and DRM+ will play a complementary role operating in VHF band."


About DRM
Digital Radio MondialeTM (DRM) is the universal, openly standardised digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies up to 174MHz, including LW, MW, SW, band I and II (FM band). DRM provides digital sound quality and the ease-of-use that comes from digital radio, combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services. DRM on short, medium and long wave for broadcasting bands up to 30 MHz (called 'DRM30') provides large coverage areas and low power consumption. The enhancement of the DRM standard for broadcast frequencies above 30 MHz ('DRM+') uses the same audio coding, data services, multiplexing and signaling schemes as DRM30 but introduces an additional transmission mode optimized for those bands. For more information and DRM updates please visit http://www.drm.org/ or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org


(DRM Consortium Press Release)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Radio expands its reach in Malaysia

Radio in Malaysia attracts 2.31 million people aged 10 years and above in an average 15-minute time slot, according to the latest Nielsen survey. This is the largest radio average audience on record for Peninsular Malaysia.

Full story at : http://tinyurl.com/3lg44pd

BBC Turkish radio service to sign off for last time due to cuts

BBC Radio's Turkish Service will end on May 27 after 72 years of continuous programs following a serious of British government cuts to their funding

More at :
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=bbc-radio-to-end-its-turkish-service-2011-05-23

Saturday, May 21, 2011

FRS tests Sun May 22nd

Dear FRS Friends,

In preparation of a full and regular FRS 3rd Sunday broadcast in June (19th), we will do two short 15 minute tests tomorrow Sunday May 22nd. The tests will only last some 15 minutes and will be aired on 7685 kHz (7600 is occupied in the afternoon).
The first test is at 15:00 UTC= 17:00 CEST, the second test one hour later at 16:00 UTC= 18:00 CEST.
Reception reports are highly appreciated via [frs@frsholland.nl]. For this test we prefer mail reports only!
At 17:00 UTC= 19:00 CEST Radio Star Int. will test till 20:00 UTC= 22:00 CEST.
They can be reached via POBox 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, the Netherlands or [rsi@live.co.uk].


73s, Peter V.

Fantastic opening of new FM DX Season !

After a fortnight of monitoring FM band mostly during 0200-0400z here are the first Es logs of this season, surprisingly my logbook shows during last summer first Es log was on 19th May 2010, stations logged were Friends FM, Kolkata & Radio Oman .

18 May 2011 (Wed)

0317z 91.9 Friends FM, Kolkata Bengali Ad's/songs 1305 kms 119deg http://tinyurl.com/66ne4qn
0432z 87.5 Punjabi Songs (Spurious) http://tinyurl.com/5u2m7u6
0436z 88.9 Padamya FM,Myanmar Burmese Talk by YL 2028 kms 107deg
http://tinyurl.com/5v6je4n
0442z 89.0 Unid Playing english songs
0445z 90.1 Unid Arabic Talk
1634z 88.1 Radio Oman Arabic Talk 1938 kms 252deg http://tinyurl.com/6zg5yr
1631z 87.9 Radio Tashkent,Ujbekistan Ujbek 1588 kms 335deg http://tinyurl.com/6f2qjv3

(Sony XDR-F1HD + Triax 5 Ele Yagi)

What is Sporadic E (Es)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporadic_E_propagation
http://www.g4xgt.co.uk/what-is-sporadic-e.htm
http://www.uksmg.org/content/sporade.htm
http://www.mike-willis.com/Tutorial/sporadicE.htm

Estimated Distance Boundaries for Sporadic E Propagation Modes
http://home.iprimus.com.au/toddemslie/Es_distances.html

Friday, May 20, 2011

New DRM broadcast to India

New regular daily DRM broadcast to India as of today May 20, 2011 as follows:



Days: Daily
Time: 1530-1630 UTC
Transmitter: Issoudun Alliss 100 kW DRM
Frequency: 15775 kHz
Antenna: HR 4/4/0.5
Azimuth: 79 degrees
Program: The Disco Palace
Language: English
Target area: India
Start: 20 May 2011

MPs force rethink on BBC World Service cuts

By Gerri Peev

The BBC World Service's funding will not be cut after ministers gave the corporation a surprise stay of execution. The Foreign Office caved in to pressure from cross-party MPs to announce a
review into its decision to cut its budget.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1388800/MPs-force-rethink-BBC-World-Service-cuts.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

House of Commons Discussion of the World Service
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9490000/9490411.stm

EDXC Conference in Melink & Sofia,Bulgaria

Dear DX Friends all over the World !
EDXC -- European DX Council -- cordially invites you all to the next EDXC Conference in Bulgaria, coming up on August 18 - 23, 2011. First we begin with our conference in Southern Bulgaria, in Melnik. Melnik is situated 176 Kms South from Sofia on the European Highway E 79. The same Highway leads to the Greek border -- 28 Kms. After our conference in Melnik we are going to visit Radio Bulgaria External Services in Sofia.

You will need 3 / three /nights in Melnik : Arrival August 18 -- Departure August 21, 2011. We recommend : Hotel Melnik in Melnik. Phone : + 359 7437 2272. E--Mail reservation : reservation@hotelmelnik.com. Homepage : www.hotelmelnik.com Room prices : From EUR 36,-- / Room per night, including Bulgarian Breakfast.


You will need 2 / two / nights in Sofia : Arrival August 21 -- Departure August 23, 2011. In Sofia we recommend : HOTEL DEDEMAN Princess Sofia, 131, Maria Luisa Boulevard, 1202 SOFIA, Bulgaria. Phone : + 359 2 933 88 88. E -- Mail : sofia@dedeman.com Homepage : www.dedeman.com
Room prices : from EUR 60,-- / Room per night, including Bulgarian Breakfast. Please do RESERVE your hotel rooms NOW !


Our programme in Melnik, what we know now :
We will have our Conference at Hotel Melnik. Lectures, meals and also our Banquet Dinner at this hotel. Beyond that : One excursion to Macedonia, just over the day, just to see a little bit of another country !


Our programme in Sofia :
On Monday, August 22 we are going to visit Radio Bulgaria External Services. They transmit at least in 10 languages on Shortwaves !


Conference Fee : EUR 85,-- to be paid to the Organizer Committee when you arrive on August 18 at Hotel Melnik. EDXC Reception Desk will be open from 12.00 Hours midday ( noon ). The Conference Fee EUR 85,-- includes : Use of the Conference Room with fully equiped Technical Aid : LapTop with Latin Letters and picture projection possibility. Also included : Lunch on Friday, August 19 and Lunch on Saturday, August 20. And our traditional Banquet Dinner on Saturday evening is also included. Furthermore : It will be a bus taking us from Melnik to Sofia on Sunday, August 21. This bus is only reserved for our group. The price for this special bus trip is also included into the Conference Fee EUR 85.


Special participation fee for spouse : EUR 70,-- / spouse. Special participation fee for child : EUR 58,-- / child.


The EDXC is coming back to you with more detailed programme later on. If you wish to hold lectures with interesting subjects related to our DX Hobby, please do not hesitate to tell me.


As to your often put question : How to proceed to Melnik from Sofia ?

Our answers :
1. By railway: From Sofiya Main Railway Station:
Sofia 07:40 12:15 14:00 15:35
Sandanski 11:56 15:53 18:33 19:32


Sofia 17:05 22:37
Sandanski 20:09 02:09


From Sandanski you can continue to Melnik by taxi. Distance Sandanski -- Melnik : about 17--18 Kms.


2. By bus : CENTRAL BUS STATION, Sofia,
100 Kniaginia Maria Luiza Boulevard, Sofia.
Phone : + 359 900 21 000.


Every day there is a bus at 14.00 Hours local Sofia time from Sofia to Melnik. Every hour there are buses running from Sofia to Sandanski.


As to the lectures on the conference :
What we know now, Anker Petersen the Chairman of the Danish Shortwave Club International will hold a lecture on the subject : " Radio Travel in Northern Part of India and Bhutan. "
If you wish to contribute with lectures related to our radio hobby, you are welcome to inform the Organizer Committee .


With best wishes and greetings,
The Organizer Committee
E -- Mail : tiszi2035@yahoo.com


(Tibor Szilagyi)

RNZI Shortwave Budget Frozen Again

Radio New Zealand International Budget Frozen for Third Year

Wellington[NZ]
New Zealand's international shortwave broadcaster, Radio New Zealand International [RNZI] has again had its annual budget frozen in the latest government budget for FY 2011-12 announced here today.


This is the third year in a row that RNZI's budget has been capped at NZ$1.9m [US$1.5m) but the buying power in US dollars has actually increased by almost 20% because of the stronger New Zealand currency.


The budget is forecast to stay the same in future years through to 2015, so the good news is that core shortwave services to the Pacific continue to be funded, but the bad news is that increased wages, costs and inflation [around 2-4% in the coming few years] will effectively put greater pressure on the broadcaster.


Again, no funding is provided for a replacement of the 21 year old 100kW analog transmitter, but RNZI must achieve 99% transmission service on both this and the more recent 100kW digital capable transmitter.


To reduce costs, RNZI often cuts the power down to 50kW on both transmitters, whilst making sure it also delivers daily news bulletins able to be rebroadcast by a minimum of 17 Pacific region radio stations.


Currently, RNZI provides FM quality news bulletins and its flagship 'Dateline Pacific' program to some 19 Pacific stations, and rebroadcasts by the BBC Pacific program stream reach another 11 local stations across the Pacific region.


In addition, RNZI provides live audio feeds, podcasts and audio on demand news, current affairs and other programs from its website www.rnzi.com.


RNZI also continues to provide emergency tsunami, earthquake and cyclone warnings for much of the region between French Polynesia and the Solomon Islands and also works with New Zealand and Australian aid programs to upgrade the shortwave broadcasting capacity of local broadcasters such as VBTC Vanuatu and SIBC Solomon Islands.


The budget freeze is in the context of government budget expenditure reaching 8.4% of GDP this year because of the world economic climate and the massive economic and social cost of the Christchurch earthquake in February. All government agencies have had budgets frozen or reduced for FY 2011-2012.


****************************************************
Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit run by volunteers connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage across the Pacific. Features, news, information and radio listener guides are at www.radioheritage.com.
Operating costs are currently 60% funded from supporters worldwide. Donations are welcome to support this free community service. US$50 donation covers one day of operating costs.
****************************************************
Media Release, Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.com

Thursday, May 19, 2011

DRM+ Trial in Scotland Ends

http://drm.org/news_item/DRM%252B_Trial_in_Scotland_Ends

NASB Releases Results of its Shortwave Listener Survey at 2011 Annual Meeting

Around 1300 shortwave listeners from around the globe took part in the NASB shortwave listener survey between May of 2010 and May of 2011, and the results of the survey were announced at the 2011 NASB annual meeting on May 14th. In the conference center of Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas, anchored off the coast of CocoCay in the Bahamas, Dr. Jerry Plummer of WWCR announced the results for the first time. Jerry is the administrator of the survey, which was posted online at the NASB website, http://www.shortwave.org/, with links on other shortwave and DX websites.
Most of the respondents were located in North America and Europe, with significant numbers from Asia and Oceania as well. Nearly half of those who responded were also amateur radio operators. Around 97 percent were male. Not surprisingly, most listeners who took the survey listen to shortwave stations for news and commentary, and many listen for cultural programs as
well. Around 7 percent listen for religious programming of a variety of faiths. The number one shortwave station in the poll was the BBC. Full results of the survey will be published in the next NASB Newsletter, which will also be on the NASB website, http://www.shortwave.org/.
The NASB meeting took place on the Majesty of the Seas May 13 to 16, sailing from Miami to CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas, then returning to Miami. Twenty-one persons from the United States, France, England and Finland participated, including representatives of NASB member stations, associate member organizations and DX clubs. It was the first time the NASB has ever held its annual meeting on a cruise ship. In addition to the meetings, delegates were able to enjoy a variety of entertainment onboard the ship, a private beach resort in the Bahamas, and a sightseeing tour of Nassau, capital of the Bahamas.
The meeting began May 13th with a presentation sent especially for the meeting by Chinese shortwave listener and language teacher Cui Litang, who explained about Chinese jamming of shortwave signals and Internet sites, as well as about his use of shortwave station language programs for teaching English in China. John Wineman of HCJB's Global Technology Center in Indiana showed the new Pappradio DRM receiver housed in a small external hard drive box.
On May 14th, Risto Vahakainu of the Finnish DX Association told particpants about his country in northern Europe and the special challenges and opportunities of doing shortwave and mediumwave DXing there. He presented a video produced by his club about DXing in the Arctic at the very northernmost part of Finland, where mediumwave stations from North America can often be heard using so-called beverage antennas stretching up to one kilometer through the forests of northern Finland. For a totally different venue, Jerome Hirigoyen of TDF -- Telediffusion de France -- told about his company's shortwave sites and other installations, including the large relay station in exotic Montsinery, French Guiana, where a number of 500-kilowatt transmitters are located, reaching nearly all of the Americas and West Africa as well.



On May 15th, there was a slide presentation about the NASB's two member stations in Florida -- veteran broadcaster WYFR in Okeechobee and relative newcomer WRMI, Radio Miami International, in Miami. Michel Penneroux, chairman of the DRM Consortium's Commercial Committee, explained the difficulties and delays involved with the mass production of low-cost DRM digital shortwave receivers, and he presented an investment plan for producing a large number of such receivers within a 12- to 18-month period.
Rex Morgan, senior producer for Latin America for World Christian Broadcasting, talked about his efforts to reach Latin American listeners from Miami via shortwave and other media, and Kok Hai Tan from the same organization presented a timely video about the progress of World Christian Broadcasting's new shortwave station being built in Madagascar and where it will reach with programs in Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages, including transmissions to India.
Finally, at the NASB business meeting, two new members were elected to the board of directors. George Ross, frequency manager of KTWR in Guam, was elected to replace Bill Damick, also of Trans World Radio, whose term was ending. And Charles Caudill, President of World Christian Broadcasting, was elected to replace David Creel of Far East Broadcasting Company, whose term
also ended this year.
Others attending the NASB meeting included Arto Mujunen, a Finnish DXer who works at the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau monitoring office in Helsinki; Michael Murray, a British DXer who is a former secretary general of the European DX Council; Dino Bloise of Miami, who produces a syndicated Spanish-language DX program called "Frecuencia al Dia;" Brady Murray, operations manager of WWCR in Nashville; and Terry Borders and Ed Mathis of the Catholic shortwave station WEWN in Birmingham, Alabama. A number of spouses also took part in the cruise. The meeting was organized by Jeff and Thais White of WRMI in Miami.
Next year's NASB annual meeting will take place at the headquarters of Radio Free Asia in Washington, DC on May 10th and 11th, 2012. And just before concluding this year's meeting, the NASB board accepted an invitation by WEWN in Birmingham to host the 2013 NASB annual meeting.



(NASB News Release)

Reception Analysis of TDP DRM Test to India

Reception Analysis of TDP DRM Test to India on 12th & 13th May 2011...



12th May 2011, Bitrate 14.56 kbps Mono


13th May 2011, Bitrate 20.96 kbps Stereo





BSKSA A11

SAUDI ARABIA Summer A-11 of BSKSA:

First General Programm in Arabic

0600-0855 on 17730 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
0600-0855 on 17740 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
0900-1155 on 15490 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
0900-1155 on 17805 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1200-1455 on 17705 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
1200-1455 on 21505 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1700-1755 on 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1700-1755 on 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
1800-2255 on 9555 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1800-2255 on 9870 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu

Call of Islam in Arabic

1500-1700 on 15225 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1500-1700 on 15435 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
Second Programm in Arabic
0300-0555 on 9580 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME
0600-1655 on 11855 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME
1700-2155 on 9580 JED 050 kW / non-dir to N/ME

Holy Qura'n in Arabic

0300-0555 on 15170 RIY 500 kW / 355 deg to WeAs
0300-0755 on 17895 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs
0300-0955 on 9715vRIY ??? unregistered to N/ME
0600-0855 on 15380 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME
0900-1155 on 11935 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME
0900-1155 on 17570 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SEAs
0900-1155 on 17615 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs
1000-1655 on 11785vRIY ??? unregistered to N/ME
1200-1355 on 15380 RIY 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME
1200-1355 on 17625 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs
1200-1455 on 17895 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1300-1555 on 17615 RIY 500 kW / 190 deg to CSAf
1500-1755 on 13710 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1600-1755 on 15205 RIY 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu
1600-1755 on 17560 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf
1800-2255 on 11820 RIY 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu
1800-2255 on 11915 RIY 500 kW / 295 deg to NEAf
1800-2255 on 11930 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf

External Service

0400-0655 on 15285 RIY 500 kW / 190 deg to CSAf Swahili
0800-0955 on 17785 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf French
0900-1155 on 21670 RIY 500 kW / 100 deg to SEAs Indonesian
0930-1225 on 15250 RIY 500 kW / 250 deg to WCAf English
1200-1455 on 13775 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SoAs Urdu
1200-1455 on 15120 RIY 500 kW / 070 deg to SoAs Bengali
1400-1755 on 17660 RIY 500 kW / 270 deg to WCAf French
1500-1755 on 7240 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to WeAs Farsi
1500-1755 on 9885 RIY 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs Turkmen/Uzbek/Tajik
1800-2055 on 9675 RIY 500 kW / 340 deg to N/ME Turkish

(Ivo Ivanov,DX MIX NEWS # 677, 17 May 2011)

AMSAT INDIA May 2011 Newsletter available

The May 2011 issue of the AMSAT-INDIA newsletter is now available for free download.

Topics in this month's edition include:

- HAMSAT (VO-52) Completes Six years in orbit.
- Update- Meeting with distinguished guests from ISRO at AMSAT INDIA ground station.
- Update on the CubeSat Communication system project by AMSAT INDIA.
- High Intercept Low Noise Amplifier with GaAs pHEMT MMIC By: Goran Popovic AD6IW
- News from AMSAT organizations around the world


Download the newsletter from
http://amsatindia.org/Newsletter/AMSATINDIA-News-May_2011.pdf


Previous issues are available at:
http://www.amsatindia.org/Newsletter/


(Nitin [VU3TYG] , Secretary, AMSAT INDIA Via vuhams list)

PCJ & Media Network Contest

How would you like to win a SHORTWAVE Radio?
Well PCJ will have a contest to make this happen. We are giving away 3 Tecsun DR920, and a grand prize a new Sangean ATS909X.


How will this work?
1. Beginning on the May 28th edition with Media Network Plus there will be a small that id asking a question will be played in the show (very easy question). This ID will also be used on Happy Station, Nash Holos, & Switzerland In Sound. All you need to do is answer the question and give details on where you heard the show either FM/AM/Shortwave or internet.
2. There are 3 Tecsun DR920 that we are giving away in June, July and August. Everyone that enters will be entered into the draw to win a new Sangean ATS909X. Winners will be announced in Media Network Plus. The grand prize of the Sangean ATS909 will be announced in the September edition on Media Network Plus.
3. Just make sure when you enter that you also give some program details.
4. Those who enter by snail mail will also receive a small thank you gift.
The address to enter for winning one of the 3 Tecsun's and the final grand prize is: PCJ Radio, 8FL, No. 47, Lane 31, Section 1, Sanmin Road, Banciao, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC 22070

Or email: ats909x@gmail.com

(Keith Perron)

REE Listener Survey and Lucky Draw

Spain's Radio Exterior de Espana is conducting a listener survey. Drop them an e-mail at: english@rtve.es before the middle of June and let them know when and how you listen to them and why - whether that be via shortwave, satellite radio, or the internet. A draw will be held for those who answer this survey request. There are a number of prizes of shortwave radios, CDs, etc.

--
Mark Coady
Editor Shortwave Loggings
Shadow Lake Camp Convenor
Ontario DX Association


(Via ODXA List)

DRM Newsletter - May 2011

DRM Newsletter for May 2011 is now available online at : http://tinyurl.com/6le3htc

Main stories :
- An update on ITU activity
- DRM+ Trial in Scotland Ends
- “Radio World” reports on the DRM+ high power test in Scotland
- DRM+ Showcase in India 23rd-27th May 2011
- DRM Workshop in New Delhi
- DRM on YouTube
- The benefits of DRM – the view from India

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Deutsche Welle: Changes in radio broadcasts starting this summer

Increased focus on television, online and mobile services and a reduction of shortwave broadcasts.

Starting July 1, 2011, Deutsche Welle (DW) will be making major changes in how and when its radio programming is broadcast in Asia and Europe, as well as German radio programming as a whole.
The measures will ensure the further development of Germany's international broadcaster to a truly multimedia organization. As stipulated in the organization's strategic plan for 2010-2013, DW will focus on modern modules that can be integrated into partner's FM line-ups as well as being offered as stand-alone, on-demand services for the Internet and mobile devices. DW will thereby increase the cooperation with its partners throughout the world. With the exception of Africa and parts of Asia, linear shortwave broadcasts will be discontinued due to limited usage. The resources that have been saved will be reinvested in projects for the future - especially in the development of television services with regional languages and content, as well as an increase in online and mobile services.
DW will aim to use its available resources to offer two TV channels per region. This will give viewers the opportunity to choose between a channel with predominantly German programming and a channel with a focus on one of the regional languages - English, Spanish or Arabic.
In the future, DW will work with partner stations in Central and Southeast Europe to broadcast regional TV magazines and produce online services - each in the regional language. Starting July 1, 2011, the FM services for Bulgarian, Greek, Croatian, Macedonian and Romanian will be reduced and eventually discontinued. The frequencies that were purchased or rented in Sofia, Bucharest, Pristina and Tirana will be returned, as well as the corresponding licenses. The FM broadcasts for Albanian, Bosnian and Serbian will be reduced. In the future, these services will focus on selected partnerships with local FM stations. A service in Romani will be maintained for the time being. For Ukraine, DW is currently examining whether or not an agreement can be made with a partner to broadcast a reduced amount of FM radio programming that has been tailored to fit their needs. Radio programming for Hindi will be discontinued on July 1.


Reduction of shortwave
On November 1, 2011, DW will be discontinuing the shortwave broadcast for German, Russian, Farsi and Indonesian. For English, the shortwave broadcast will be limited to Africa. The broadcasting times for Chinese programming will be reduced from 120 minutes to 60 minutes. For these languages, DW will also be increasing the online and mobile services as well as video-on-demand and audio-on-demand. The portfolio will also include audio productions for rebroadcast by partners (when applicable).
Starting in November, DW will only be broadcasting radio programming via shortwave in the following languages: Amharic, Chinese, Dari, English and French for Africa, Hausa, Kiswahili, Pashtu, Portuguese for Africa and Urdu.


Closing of relay stations
The shortwave program currently broadcasts 260 hours daily with DW's own or rented relay stations - with the new focus on Africa and regions in Asia that will be reduced to just 55 at the beginning of the winter season. Only the relay station in Kigali (Rwanda) will be needed for shortwave broadcasts in Africa. The stations in Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) und Sines (Portugal) can no longer be used to capacity. The financial operation is no longer possible and the relay stations will stop being used on November 1, 2011 and closed at the next possible point in time.
With the reduction of rental prices and the closing of the two relay stations, DW will be able to save resources that can be reinvested in the further development of its services.


Development of FM broadcasts with partners
DW will continue to expand its network of FM partners in Africa. The radio production for Hausa, Kiswahili, French and Portuguese for Africa will be optimized for FM broadcasts step by step. DW will also produce a regional radio magazine daily in English, to be rebroadcast by partners in Africa. Audio content in Arabic will be created for the Middle East and North Africa and distributed online, via mobile or rebroadcast by partners. DW will focus on FM partnerships for Bengali, Urdu, Dari/Pashtu und Indonesian for South Asia, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. A decision will be made about the future of these partnerships in accordance with the budget situation and following the evaluation results.


Strategic plan for 2010 to 2013
The German Bundestag approved DW's strategic plan in April 2011 with an overwhelming majority. The core of the plan is the multimedia orientation of the broadcaster, the focus on major tasks and target regions with regards to the budgetary issues. The new strategic direction ensures that DW is prepared for the changing conditions of international media markets: Services for certain languages and regions will be reinforced to secure DW's competitive position in the future. The focus for the coming years will be on Sub-Sahara Africa, the Middle East, Iran and North Africa, South Asia and Afghanistan, Russia and Latin America. Due to the limited budget, the development of services will only be possible when activities are reduced somewhere else. In the area of television, DW will work more closely together with the German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and develop regionalized TV programming with selected partners. For many areas around the world, it will be necessary to further development online and mobile services in order to reach DW's target audience better: Individuals who are interested in diverse perspectives and use a large amount and variety of media resources. That especially includes opinion leaders and future opinion leaders as well as people who lobby for democracy, freedom and progress in authoritarian countries and thereby strengthen the civil society.


(Press Release)

William Hague questions BBC World Service's commitment to savings

William Hague questions BBC World Service's commitment to savings

Foreign secretary says cuts 'challenging but fair' as he questions corporation's transparency

More at :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/may/18/william-hague-world-service

Germany's Deutsche Welle to end most shortwave broadcasting

Bonn, Germany - The government-financed German broadcaster Deutsche Welle is to cease most of its shortwave broadcasts on July 1, with emphasis shifting to television broadcasts and the internet, the corporation said in Bonn Wednesday.

Full story at :
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1639879.php/Germany-s-Deutsche-Welle-to-end-most-shortwave-broadcasting


World Radio TV Handbook A11 CD


WRTH Bargraph Frequency Guide A11
Now Available - Order your cd today!

We are delighted to announce the availability of the new WRTH Bargraph Frequency Guide for the A11 season. The CD contains the complete, and monitored, A11 international broadcasts, and fully updated domestic shortwave, displayed as a pdf colour bargraph.

This CD is only for sale on the WRTH site. Visit our website at www.wrth.com to find out more and to order a copy.

I hope you enjoy using this Frequency Guide.
Nicholas Hardyman
Publisher

Bihar CM inaugurates 2 new community radio stations for farmers

PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated the transmission of two community radio stations for the farmers which have been set up at Barh in Patna and Birauli in Samastipur. He advised the farmers to listen to the two-hour programmes on radio every day which will give them important tips about the farming.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

FAC conclusion on BBC Hindi: Responses from Govt and the BBC

Naleen Kumar at British Parliament

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmfaff/1058/1058.pdf


Govt's response:
The Government has a strong bilateral relationship with India, and we are committed to make it even stronger, wider and deeper. Since the Prime Minister’s visit and the Summit with Indian Prime Minister Singh in July 2010, we have set in train an ambitious agenda of practical co-operation.
Under the terms of the agreement set out above between the BBC and the FCO, the World Service has editorial and managerial independence within an overall strategic framework, agreed with the Foreign Secretary. On this basis, while we retain a strong interest, decisions about changes to methods of broadcast within specific countries remain the responsibility of the World Service.
The BBC World Service told us that they made a decision to cease short wave broadcast in view of a falling short wave audience, and their broader decision to move away from short wave transmission. We were not formally consulted on this decision and we believe that the case they advanced for closure was not compelling. We welcome the World Service’s decision to identify savings from within its budgets to give the service the chance to explore a new operating model. We very much hope that the reprieve will continue, either through a new model of funding, or from the BBC identifying funds from their own resources.


BBC's Response:
The BBC remains committed to providing news to India but to secure its long term relevance needs to respond to rapid and significant changes in the media market. TV is now the key medium for news, and is already in six in ten households. FM deregulation has led to a steep decline in shortwave listening, despite the ban on news from any provider except the state broadcaster (All India Radio). Mobile phones are now ubiquitous in India, with 0.5 billion subscribers, and internet availability continues to grow. These changes have created commercial opportunities which have drawn a plethora of new competitors meeting the Indian preference for localised content.
This is the background which has seen the BBC Hindi audience in India decline by almost half in only three years, from 17.8m weekly listeners in 2008 to 9.7m in 2010—still significant in numerical terms, but representing only 1.3% reach among Hindi-speaking adults. As shortwave listening continues to decline in India, it is to be expected that the BBC shortwave audience will decline further.
As the Committee has noted, the BBC has announced the retention of one hour of Hindi shortwave for one year, in response to audience concern, and while it explores whether sustainable commercial funding can be found for the longer term. The BBC has noted the Committee’s recommendation regarding longer term support for an unreduced service. The original decision to cease Hindi short wave broadcasting was a difficult choice and sooner than we would have liked, however one that we believed was necessary given the resources available at the time. The BBC is examining whether any further retention is possible within the funding constraints.

(Naleen Kumar)

Radio Kuwait A11

KUWAIT Summer A-11 of Radio Kuwait:

0200-0900 on 5960#KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
0500-0900 on 15515*KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic Holy Qura'n sce
0800-1000 on 7250 KBD 500 kW / non-dir to WeAs Farsi
0930-1600 on 11630^KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Arabic Holy Qura'n sce
1000-1500 on 21540+KBD 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service
1100-1600 on 9750!KBD 300 kW / 275 deg to NEAf Arabic General Service
1600-2200 on 6080@KBD 500 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
1700-2100 on 13650 KBD 500 kW / 350 deg to NoAm Arabic General Service
1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
# co-ch Radio Japan NHK in Japanese till 0500
* co-ch BBC in Hausa 0630-0700
^ co-ch CNR in Kazakh/Chinese
+ co-ch REE in Spanish
! co-ch Radio Japan NHK in Japanese and VOR in DRM from 1300
@ co-ch Radio Minsk HS-1 and VOA in English from 1700
Frequencies 6080, 15515 and 21540 are unregistered in HFCC!

(Ivo Ivanov, DX MIX NEWS # 677, 17 May 2011)

Voice of Nigeria A11

NIGERIA Summer A-11 for Voice of Nigeria:

0500-0700 on 15120*IKO 250 kW / 007 deg to NoAf English
0700-0800 on 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg to NoAf French
0800-0900 on 9690 IKO 250 kW / 248 deg to WCAf Hausa
0900-1500 on 9690#IKO 250 kW / 248 deg to WCAf English
1500-1600 on 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg to NoAf English
1600-1730 on 9690&IKO 250 kW / 248 deg to WeAf Swahili/Yoruba/Igbo
1730-1800 on 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg to NoAf Arabic
1800-1900 on 15120 IKO 250 kW / 007 deg to NoAf English
1900-2100 on 7255+IKO 250 kW / 248 deg to WeAf English/French
2100-2300 on 7255^IKO 250 kW / 248 deg to WeAf Fulfulde/Hausa
* co-ch CRI in Chinese
# co-ch AIR in English from 1330
& co-ch RRI in Romanian till 1655
+ co-ch Radio Belarus in German/English and CRI in Turkish/Russian
^ co-ch Radio Belarus in English/Russian

(Ivo Ivanov,DX MIX NEWS # 677, 17 May 2011)

Radio Noida tunes in to connect with masses

Noida: For a little over two years now, a dozen students of a private media school along with five professional staff members have been reaching out to residents through words of mouth, literally. Their aim is to bring them together to discuss civic and other issues through Radio Noida, the city's first community radio service.


Monday, May 16, 2011

Papua New Guinea Radio Review

Papua New Guinea Broadcasting Review

We're currently reviewing the status of broadcasting in PNG as part of our ongoing updates for the World Radio TV Handbook [WRTH] and our PAL Radio Guides at www.radioheritage.com.


Radio Eastern Highlands 3395kHz at Goroka has been reported inactive on SW for some time. In fact, we had even removed it from the WRTH listing.


However, we understand it was most recently off SW for 9 months, returning briefly in January 2011 before another technical problem has taken it off air yet again.


An NBC engineer says 'Radio Eastern Highlands faced a lot of 'off-air' time a few years back because the IC kept getting cooked, and recently [January 2011] the entire mini-transformer box at the transmitter was blown to bits."


"Other TV and 3 radio stations piggyback on our tower and went off air for a whole month. We were lucky we have a standby generator for a bypass power supply."


"The SW transmitter magnetic contactor blew out, so no SW service, using only FM. We've also reduced transmission hours by one, terminating at 2100 hours [local] and this will remain so until the SW transmitter fault is rectified."


The problems are linked to the power authority upgrading national power supplies, and huge voltage surges [up to 400v] are blowing out integrated circuits.


An engineer comments 'NBC engineers have to be very current with PPL's [power company] upgrade and automation so that our delicate digital equipment is not cooked up in their upgrade process."


As a general observation, MW/SW radio services of NBC may often operate irregularly outside Port Moresby because of technical and funding issues.


Simply put,they can come and go from the air as they break down, get fixed, then break down again and listeners need to constantly monitor all PNG shortwave outlets to have a current overview of their status.


NBC plans to replace MW/SW stations with FM only by 2015 but funding issues are now reported to be delaying implementation.


Commercial network FM100 by comparison, has a rapidly growing and technically secure FM network because it is owned by Telikom, the main infrastructure operator.


Its FM frequencies are generally claimed to have 200km coverage which indicates relatively high powered and well located [often on mountains] transmitter sites.


Mobile phone use is growing rapidly in PNG with operators Telikom and Digicel expanding nationwide coverage across the archipelago. Most radio listeners prefer the commercial FM services such as FM100, Nau and Yumi FM


The predominately young population prefers inbuilt FM receivers in mobile phones for listening so the demand for MW and SW services falls faster every year.


Religious broadcaster Wantok Radio Light have recently upgraded their satellite systems at each FM relay station, opened two new FM stations and are planning on some 10 more in 2011 alone to maintain contact with the rapidly growing FM radio audiences.


Blessed Peter ToRot Radio, a network of Catholic community radio stations has also reactivated Radio St.Gabriel on shortwave at Vanimo in recent weeks.


Vanimo is some 20km from the border with Indonesia and there is high tension in the area because of the Free West Papua movement, reports of police and military brutality, and a local economy still suffering from the effects of a devastating tsunami in the area in the recent past.


We are continuing to monitor broadcasting in PNG with the help of several sources within the country in an effort to improve the quality of information available for listeners, travellers and others using the WRTH listings and those of the PAL Radio Guides at www.radioheritage.com.


Observations, comments and news about PNG broadcasting issues are very welcome to info@radioheritage.net.


******************************************************
Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage worldwide. Now covering 60% of weekly operational costs with donations from supporters worldwide. US$50 sponsors one day. Your donation is important to us. Volunteers are unpaid. We keep radio heritage safe for the future.


WRTH Country Contributor for Papua New Guinea
www.radioheritage.com
******************************************************


Media Release , Radio Heritage Foundation
May 16 2011

WRTH A11/Summer schedules file available to download, free of charge.

The WRTH Editorial team is pleased to announce that the Summer/'A' season broadcasting schedules file is now available to download, free of charge, from the WRTH website - click on http://www.wrth.com and follow the link "Latest PDF Updates".

The file is in PDF format (you will require the free Adobe Acrobat reader, v7 or above to open this file. If you do not have the Acrobat reader, please visit http://www.abobe.com to download and install it). The 97 page file is just over 900kB in size and contains the following information:


Summer / 'A' Season broadcasting schedules for over 200 international and Clandestine/Target stations;
- Frequency listing of the above stations to facilitate band scanning
- Broadcasts in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish
- International DRM broadcasts


Please feel free to pass this information on so that we may reach as many SWL's, DX-er's and professionals as possible. For contact details, transmitter sites and much more, please refer to the printed WRTH, which is available to order from the website. We hope you find this a useful accompaniment to the printed WRTH.


On behalf of the publisher and editorial team at WRTH, happy listening!

Sean D. Gilbert, International Editor - WRTH (World Radio TV Handbook)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Demand for radio sets on decline despite booming FM market


NEW DELHI: The FM radio sector may be booming but the demand for radio sets is on a rapid decline forcing multinationals like Panasonic and Sony to either stop manufacturing devices in India or trim down the number of models sold here.

Read the full story here :
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8337826.cms

Saturday, May 14, 2011

KFBS Saipan ends shortwave transmission on 30th April

Oleg Cherny, FEBC Russia's chief engineer, confirms in his letter that KFBS ended transmissions on April 30.

(Aleksandr Diadischev, Ukraine )

(Via DXLD List)

Radio City 91.1 FM now availbale online on sify.com

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ Global Markets: SIFY), a leader in Enterprise and Consumer Internet Services in India with global delivery capabilities, today announced its partnership with the country's leading FM radio brand, Radio City 91.1 FM, by integrating PlanetRadiocity's Web Radio to launch Radio on Sify. This tie-up will enable visitors to Sify.com to enjoy Bollywood, Indi-Pop and other genres of music 24x7.

The content broadcast on Radio on Sify will be different from the terrestrial programming of Radio City 91.1 FM. Some of the special features of Radio on Sify are:


-- Uninterrupted streaming: Visitors can listen to their favourite songs without any buffering at an internet speed as low as even 128 Kbps. -- Popular RJ's: Visitors/audience can select songs from a given list and dedicate it to friends/loved ones. The RJ will announce the dedications during particular shows.
-- Facebook apps: Users can post their comments/dedications via any mail id or their Facebook account. Comments/dedications will also be posted to their Facebook walls.
-- Show Time: Show Time features the daywise list of all the shows.


Speaking on the launch, Mr. Natesh Mani, President, Consumer Infrastructure Services, Sify Technologies, said, "We believe, Radio on Sify is a complete 'fun and masti' offering for young professionals and next generation listeners. We are delighted to partner Radio City and integrate an Indian Internet Radio channel with Sify.com. After the successful launch of Silverlight cricket scorecard, and HTML image gallery for movie fans, the launch of radio will help us offer uninterrupted music to music lovers.
India being a country of cricket, movies and music, Sify.com now covers the entire essential entertainment spectrum for internet audiences making it an exciting place for brands to engage with their consumers."


Commenting on this partnership, Ms. Rachna Kanwar, Head of Digital Media & New Business, Radio City 91.1 FM, said, "This is a strategic move for Radio City. With over 17 million unique visitors per month, Sify.com is one of the leading horizontal portals for Information, Communication and Entertainment among Indians worldwide. Radio City was the first Indian radio station to launch a multi-genre Indian web radio, and now through this partnership, we hope to monumentally increase our listener base among Indian netizens globally. The premise of cross-channel navigation among the visitors of Sify.com is very promising."


Radio on Sify will now appear as a tab on the homepage in all Sify mylife cybercafés and for all Sify Broadband users. To listen to Radio on Sify please visit: www.sify.com/radio


(Press Release)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

In Latin America, the Future of Digital Radio Is a Murky One

Read the Radio World story here :

http://www.radioworld.com/article/in-latin-america-the-future-of-digital-radio-is-a-murky-one/23347

New Radio Website by Jay Allen

Longtime contributor to the radiointel web site, Jay Allen has his own website, here's the link :



It features all of the reviews and radio restoration articles that he has written & he hopes to add more to it.

JJY 40 kHz reactivated again

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) sent "a suicide corps", wearing nuclear protective suits, on May 9 to recover the Mt.Ootakadoya JJY transmitting site - located 17km from dangerous Fukushima No.1 nuclear power station - which was destructed by lightning on April 25. After the recovering works 40kHz time signal was temporally reactivated at 0408UT on the day. The transmission is remote-controlled and may be temporally stopped in case of bad weather condition.

(Takahito Akabayashi, Japan via DXLD List)

Monday, May 09, 2011

TDP DRM Test to India



TDP Radio will do a DRM test broadcast towards India as follows:

Date : 12 May 2011
Time : 1500-1700 UTC
Frequency : 15775 kHz
Power : 100 kW DRM
Location : Issoudun

New Vietnamese program on 1503 khz to Vietnam

Beginning May 15th, 2011 Foundation For Democracy Of Vietnam will broadcast a daily program from 1430UTC to 1500UTC on 1503khz. This time slot had been used by the BBC Vietnamese Service until it was vacated because of the restructuring measures that have been taken by the BBC World Service. The 600kw transmitter and directional antenna azimuth of 247deg is located in Fangliao, South Taiwan (Pingtung County). This site is also used by Radio France International in Khmer, Radio Chan Troi Moi (New Horizon Radio) in Vietnamese, Family Radio in Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese and English. This relay was arranged by Jeff White at WRMI (Radio Miami International) and Keith Perron at PCJ Radio.



(Keith Perron via DXLD List)

Can India rise up through radio?

Pioneering broadcasters use mobile phones and creative programming to push the limits of India's ban on news radio.

More at :



Sunday, May 08, 2011

URUGUAY: Radio Universo reactivated on SW

URUGUAY - 6055 CWA 148 Radio Universo Internacional, Castillos, Rocha Department, REACTIVATED!!!!, 1515-1530 UTC, May 7, Spanish, reported with the programme "Centro Informativo Universo", greetings: ".....saludos para La Toscana" & "....mandamos nuestro saludo para nuestros amigos de La Cantera.......", local advs. 34333.- Nothing about this SW transmission on web page
http://www.universoam.com/cobertura_oc.html

Reported by Enrique Alejandro Wembagher y Arnaldo Leonel Slaen in DX Camp Atalaya, 110 kms. to South-East from Buenos Aires City, near Rio de la Plata coast.

(Arnaldo Slaen,Arentina)

Many thanks , Arnaldo. Now they have their frequency also on their website: http://www.universoam.com/cobertura_oc.html http://www.universoam.com/cobertura_oc.html
Even with a map telling that their signal reaches Europa.
We'll see,
73
(Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands)

Surely it`s low power, 300 watts per WRTH! And if really on air all-night, contrary to usual Uruguayan SW practice, will be blocked by Spain 23-06, and then Japan until well after sunrise. The coverage map looks slightly optimistic. Not to mention adjacents from Cuba, etc. And is Bolivia active on 6054? (Glenn Hauser)

Via HCDX & DXLD Lists

Clear, Strong Signal in Swaziland Comes from Transmitter Where Sparks Once Flew

(May 6, 2011 - by Ralph Kurtenbach) Ted Miller can rest easy in Elkhart, Ind., knowing that a refurbished AM transmitter airing Christian radio programming in Swaziland is operated and maintained by a well-trained staff.

Ful story at :
http://www.hcjb.org/HCJB-Global-News/clear-strong-signal-in-swaziland-comes-from-transmitter-where-sparks-once-flew.html

After 50 Years, Popular Show for Shortwave Radio Listeners to End on Anniversary Date

(May 6, 2011 - by Ralph Kurtenbach) The “dah-di-dit” code tapping that opens the DX Partyline (DXPL) radio program for shortwave hobbyists will fall silent this month, moving the popular program to history’s pages.

Full story at :
http://www.hcjb.org/HCJB-Global-News/after-50-years-popular-show-for-shortwave-radio-listeners-to-end-on-anniversary-date.html

Sri Lanka parliament to start radio channel

Sri Lanka’s legislature plans to start new radio channel to broadcasts its live proceedings, first time in the history.

Read the Asian Tribune story here :
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/05/08/sri-lanka-parliament-start-radio-channel-boat-services-and-rent-out-their-car-park

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Radio New Zealand promised more funding

New Zealand's Labour Party has said it would restore Radio New Zealand's funding to compensate for the government's budget freeze, the public service broadcaster reported.


Full story at :

Friday, May 06, 2011

Radio Free Libya transmits live from Misurata

Despite death threats and bombs, Radio Free Libya continues its rebel broadcasts in support of the revolution.

Read the Aljazeera story here :

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

DRM+ Showcase in India

The DRM Consortium and Indian state broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) will run a test of DRM+ Digital Radio system in FM band in New Delhi from 23rd - 27th May 2011. During the DRM+ Showcase attendees will be invited to experience the DRM+ live broadcast, to observe the initial results of the DRM+ trial and to learn more about the full DRM standard. The aim is to test coverage, power and interference comparing results with the analogue performance for the same area. The tests would then be followed by workshop organised by the DRM Consortium and AIR with invited guests drawn from the Indian/Asian broadcasting community. After evaluation, the result of the test would jointly be made public by AIR and the DRM Consortium.

(Source : DRM Consortium)

Radio Free Asia Launches 15th Anniversary Website

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, on World Press Freedom Day, Radio Free Asia (RFA) launched a website commemorating RFA's 15 years of bringing news and information to people without access to a free press. Featured on the homepage is a video greeting by recently freed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi thanking RFA for keeping her informed during her house arrest and praising the broadcaster for making an "invaluable contribution" to freedom and democratic ideals.
Visitors to the multimedia site can view images, video, and timelines that tell the story of RFA from its beginnings in 1996 to the present. The site also takes visitors behind the scenes through a special section that details the creation and continuation of RFA's nine language services, which deliver objective, timely news and information to people living in countries that restrict press freedoms and censor free speech.
"While much has changed at Radio Free Asia since we began in 1996, our mission continues to be imperative: to advance the principles and the universal right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any medium and regardless of frontiers," said Libby Liu, President of RFA. "We hope this website marking RFA's 15 years as a news organization shows how our staff's work has made a tremendous impact on the lives of our listeners."
In addition to sections devoted to RFA's listener comments, awards in journalism, and praise from global opinion leaders, the site also informs visitors about the journalistic climate of the countries into which RFA broadcasts in nine languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Uyghur, Burmese, Vietnamese, Korean, Lao, Khmer, and Tibetan in three dialects) through an interactive map.

(RFA Press Release)

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Websites of regional AIR Stations

All India Radio - Agartala (Tripura) http://www.airagartala.org/

All India Radio - Ahmedabad(Gujarat) http://www.airahmedabad.in/

All India Radio - Allahabad (UP) http://air.iiita.ac.in/

All India Radio - Aizawl : http://airaizawl.in/

All India Radio - Bhawanipatna(Orissa) http://www.airbpn.org/

All India Radio - Cuttack http://www.aircuttack.com/ (ex www.airctc.com )

All India Radio - Haflong http://www.airhaflong.org/

All India Radio - Imphal (Manipur) http://cicmanipur.nic.in/html/air_imp.htm

All India Radio - Jhansi (UP) http://www.airjhansi.com/ (Domain expired)

All India Radio - Jaipur (Rajasthan) http://www.airjaipur.com/

All India Radio - HPT Malad, Mumbai www.airhptmalad.org.in/ (ex http://www.airhptmalad.com/)

All India Radio - Panaji (Goa) http://www.airpanaji.gov.in/

All India Radio - Rohtak (Haryana) http://www.rohtakakashvani.com/ (Domain expired)

All India Radio - Rampur (UP) http://rampur.nic.in/air.htm

All India Radio - Shillong http://www.airshillong.org/

All India Radio - Thiruvananthapuram http://www.airtvm.com/

All India Radio - Kolkata (Unofficial) www.freewebs.com/airkolkata/


Other websites :

Govt. of India, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting http://mib.nic.in/

Broadcasting Corporation of India (Prasar Bharati) http://prasarbharati.gov.in/

All India Radio - News Portal http://newsonair.com/

All India Radio - Main Website http://www.allindiaradio.org/

All India Radio - Vividh Bharati Service http://www.vbs.org.in/ (Domain expired 21st July 2010)

All India Radio - Vividh Bharati (Temp) http://vividhbharati.weebly.com/index.html

All India Radio, Central Sales Unit,Mumbai http://csuair.org.in/

All India Radio, Civil Construction Wing http://www.ccwprasarbharati.nic.in/

All India Radio - Staff Training Institute (Tech) http://stitairdd.org/

All India Radio - Regional Staff Training Institute(Techl),Bhubaneshwar
http://www.rstitbbsr.org/

All India Radio - Childrens Programme http://childrensection.tripod.com/

(Alokesh Gupta)

KTWR Guam Transmitter Project: Milestone reached!

http://www.twr.asia/twrasia/front_news/guam_project_milestone

Christchurch Radio 'Returns to Normal"

The Radio Heritage Foundation says the local radio dial in Christchurch [New Zealand] is almost back to the situation it was before the massive earthquake of February 22 2011 which disrupted many services.
All radio station brands from the main broadcasting networks [Radioworks, The Radio Network, Radio New Zealand and Rhema Broadcasting Group] are on air with normal programs and no reported technical issues. Access to some local studios in the CBD continues to be an issue but the stations have been working around this problem for over two months now.
Community access stations Plains FM and Compass FM are basically operating their usual schedules along with most other independent stations in the city, although again, some studio facilities remain off-limits in the CBD, with Pulzar FM amongst the worst affected.
The eastern suburbs of the city have seen the return of local low power FM stations The Wave FM from Sumner and Burwood Community Radio, and Beachbreak FM at South New Brighton is close to returning to the airwaves.
Invercargill based Classic Gold now has a low power station located at New Brighton replacing the high powered emergency mobile station we initiated and which they operated as Radio New Brighton 102.1 FM for two months from outside the Central New Brighton School" says foundation chairman David Ricquish.
From this week, students at the fringe CBD based NZ Broadcasting School have also launched C96 FM using a high powered transmitter covering the city. The station is dedicated to the rebuilding of Christchurch and has a fund raising target of $NZ50,000 [$US30,000] to support local businesses and the community.
"Radio proved it was able to respond quickly to local needs after the earthquake, although it did require bringing in additional resources from out of the city in the initial weeks, including a totally new local station for the eastern suburbs" says Ricquish.
"It's clear that if a similar event should occur again, radio resources in the city would again be stretched, probably beyond breaking point. The value of having self-sufficient local community radio stations across the metro area has been driven home by the February earthquake, and they must be accorded greater value in future planning'.
The Radio Heritage Foundation was saddened to see the demolition of the original Radio Broadcasting Company [3YA] studios and building in Christchurch in recent days, another casualty of the earthquake and damage caused to many older buildings.
The Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit organization connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage and its global website is www.radioheritage.com.
Another of its 'Helping Rebuild Christchurch' projects involves restoring the original 3ZB radio studio and transmitter building in New Brighton in time for its 75th anniversary in 2012.

Contact: info@radioheritage.net

Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.com
May 3 2011

Monday, May 02, 2011

AWR Wavescan Podcast

The AWR WaveScan Podcast is available as follows:
 
The AWR iTunes Template assigned to it is: AWR Global
 
 
--
Dr. Adrian M. Peterson
Co-ordinator - International Relations & DX Editor
Adventist World Radio
 

AWR expansion


* AWR Announcement: Expansion at KSDA Guam
 
A special news release from the international headquarters of Adventist World Radio in suburban Washington DC gives broad details of an expansion project at the AWR shortwave station on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific.  This news release was prepared by Shelly Nolan Freesland, who is the Communication Director for the entire AWR System.  This news release states:-
The Board of Directors of Adventist World Radio has approved, in concept, the expansion of AWR's shortwave broadcasting facility, station KSDA, on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean.  It is intended that this project will result in much better coverage of China which is a critical mission area for the Seventh‐day Adventist Church.
The Guam station, which was established in 1987, currently broadcasts programs in 30+ languages for nearly 300 hours each week to a large portion of Asia.  Just over half of these hours consist of Mandarin programming for listeners in China.  
The station's shortwave footprint also includes India; and together with China, these two countries contain close to half of the world's total population.  In addition, listeners in countries such as Vietnam, North Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia and more, can all hear AWR programming in their own languages.
The technical equipment for shortwave station KSDA currently consists of six antenna towers, four curtain antennas, and five transmitters at 100 kW each. The largest tower is 330 feet tall, and each curtain antenna is about the size of two football fields. 
The shortwave signals that are generated at AWR Guam can travel for thousands of miles, enabling the gospel message for these last days to freely enter many areas without hindrance.  Although the current equipment enables a good reliable signal to cover many areas in Eastern Asia, yet a stronger signal is needed to adequately reach listeners in the northern areas of Eastern Asia, such as northern China, Mongolia, Siberia, and beyond. 
This new project for increasing the reliable coverage area from shortwave station KSDA calls for an additional curtain antenna.  Adding a fifth antenna will enable AWR to broadcast a strong signal to these northern areas during prime listening hours, as well as simultaneously transmitting additional programs in more languages.
"Over the years, our Mandarin broadcasts have generated an incredible response from listeners in China," says AWR president Dr. Dowell Chow.  "But these listeners are primarily located in the south part of the country, where our signal is much more consistent and clear.  So our goal is to provide the same quality of broadcasts to the millions of people living in the areas further to the north."
"At the same time," continued Dr Chow, "We are continuing to develop programs in additional languages.  We are pleased to have recently found producers for AWR programming in the languages of Tibet and Bhutan.  When these new programs are ready for broadcast, we will need the additional air time on this planned new antenna system."
Additionally, Dr Chow stated, that while AWR recently placed significant resources into launching a comprehensive podcasting system – in which all of our radio programming can also be heard worldwide online – we recognize that shortwave broadcasts are still a vital part of our mission.  He added that in spite of the growth in Internet usage, shortwave is still the primary method of receiving information for literally hundreds of millions of people.  A full 24 percent of the world's population does not have regular access to electricity.  So at AWR, we remain very aware that our listeners in many areas throughout the world are extremely diverse.
AWR states that the installation of the new tower and antenna system should be completed by the end of 2012, which is the 25th anniversary of station KSDA Guam.
In explanation, it is stated that Adventist World Radio is the international mission radio arm of the worldwide Seventh‐day Adventist denomination.  Programs are broadcast in particular throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East on shortwave as well as by AM & FM radio.  Additionally, all of the AWR multi‐language programming is also available worldwide as podcasts, and also on‐demand at awr.org.
--
Dr. Adrian M. Peterson
Co-ordinator - International Relations & DX Editor
Adventist World Radio

 
Adventist World Radio
Box 29235
Indianapolis
Indiana 46229
USA

Sunday, May 01, 2011

HCJB's DX Partyline program to be discontinued

Allen Graham announced during 30th April edition of DX Partyline program that the final edition of the program will be broadcasted on 28/29 May 2011, the day this progran celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Here's the announcement recorded off HCA 15340 kHz on 30th Apr 2011 at 1526z  :
http://tinyurl.com/67a5ggu
 
DXPL podcasts are available here :
 
Alokesh Gupta, VU3BSE
New Delhi