Subj: NRC IDXD 64-04, part 1 of 3 Date: 96-10-19 09:46:20 EDT From: JIMRENFREW@delphi.com To: plsbcbdxer@aol.com, DPHT10A@prodigy.com, bjohn@master.ceat.okstate.edu, MarkWa1ION@aol.com, radiohc@tinored.cu, MJ@icbr.ifas.ufl.edu, moore@acc.mcrest.edu, mrodrigu@dino.conicit.ve, djms@bear.com, btaylor@nbnet.nb.ca, bwink@galstar.com, steve.whitt@zoo.bt.co.uk, msittel@ncdc.noaa.gov, 73564.203@compuserve.com, dxsftlk@aol.com, 100657.2376@compuserve.com, ben-dangerfield@msn.com, 71311.2677@compuserve.com, msnl77a@prodigy.com, radiomatt@aol.com, george@pangea.ca, swbcsked@grove.net, jwoods@orednet.org, gnbc@alpha.wcoil.com, radiorob@serix.com, dxfool@aol.com, merriman@shore.intercom.net, andy.gardner@ibm.net, jlm@algonet.se, ken.alexander@odxabbs.tor250.org, alcue@albany.net, JGarzon@arrakis.es, clarkb@sparc.org.nz, jburnell@plato.ucs.mun.ca, 74367.3305@compuserve.com, sponder@milleniuminc.com, 100135.54@compuserve.com, paulorm@es.co.nz, saxelrod@mb.sympatico.ca, decrawf@nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu, charles.hutton@attws.com, RQWQ15A@prodigy.com, 76635.615@compuserve.com, donley@vds.com.au, dcbraun@juno.com, baconti@aol.com, mrolph@northnet.com.au, janalv@sn.no, DavidYocis@aol.com ______ ______ ___ ___ ______ |_ _| | _ \ \ \ / / | _ \ | | | | \ \ \ \/ / | | \ \ | | | | | | \ / | | | | | | | | | | / \ | | | | _| |_ _ | |_/ / _ / /\ \ _ | |_/ / _ |______| (_) |______/ (_) /__/ \__\ (_) |______/ (_) ** The following is the electronic version of "International DX Digest" ** which appears 30 times each year in "DX News", the 64 year old publication ** of the National Radio Club (a non-profit corporation chartered in the ** state of Kentucky). For subscription and other information about the NRC ** please write to: DX News Subscription Center, P.O. Box 118, Poquonock, CT ** 06064-0118 USA. Annual subscriptions (US funds only, please): ** ** USA: $24.00 new subscriber, $22.00 renewals ** Canada: $25.00 new subscriber, $23.00 renewals ** Mexico/Caribbean: $29.00 new subscriber, $27.00 renewals ** All other countries: $36.00 new subscriber, $34.00 renewals ** ** Items appearing in IDXD may be reprinted in other hobby publications ** provided that the original reporter or publication is credited, and that ** the issue number or date be noted. Except for radio clubs having a ** formal reciprocal relationship with the NRC, you may not reprint or ** electronically distribute the entire column without permission from the ** NRC Board of Directors. ~ IDXD 64-04 - RELEASE DATE: OCT 18, 1996 ~ In case you're wondering about IDXD deadlines ... I send stuff to Paul on Friday nights or Saturday mornings, but your material has the best chance to get in if it arrives no later than the preceding Sunday. Sometimes reports arriving later get in ... but sometimes they don't! ~ We have an extensive TP DX report this time, thanks to Harry Helms and Jack Woods. ~ TRANS-ATLANTIC DX ~ 549 ALGERIA Les Trembles, OCT 6 0539-0544 - Good with man in AA, brief upbeat music bridges and AA folk-rock vocal. No problem from domestics on 550. Also heard OCT 4. [DeLorenzo-MA] ~ 549 ALGERIA Les Trembles / unID, OCT 9 0107 - female AA talk; well over unID (German or Russian?) with classical music. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 576 SPAIN RNE5(/1), Barcelona / ALGERIA, Bechar, OCT 9 0110 - woman in SS o/u AA music; fair. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 585 SPAIN RNE1, Madrid, OCT 9 0111 - woman in SS; fair to good. [Connelly*rw- MA] OCT 13 2336 - SS ballad // 684, 855, to strong peak. [Yocis-NY] ~ 675 FRANCE R.France Marseille OCT 13 0325 - Good; pop music and talk in French // 162, over R.Ten Gold-Netherlands. [Conti-MA] ~ 675 NETHERLANDS R. 10 Gold, Lopik, OCT 13 2348 - Presumed with C&W-sounding tune to good peak. [Yocis-NY] ~ 684 SPAIN RNE1, Sevilla, OCT 9 0113 - SS talk, vocal; good. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 693t AZORES RDP Terceira, OCT 6 0445-0505 - No doubt this with man in PP, and DF just about 90 degrees. Considerable interference from CBF-690 sideband. [DeLorenzo-MA] ~ 702 SPAIN RNE1, Zamora, OCT 9 0114 - dominating this usually jumbled channel: SS talk & music // 684. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 711 WESTERN SAHARA Laayoune, OCT 9 0058 - female a cappella AA vocal; excellent. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 738 SPAIN RNE1, Barcelona, OCT 6 0425-0441 - Good with man in SS and an SS ballad. [DeLorenzo-MA] OCT 9 0114 - // 684 with mellow SS vocal; in CHCM slop. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 684 SPAIN RNE Sevilla, OCT 11 2020-2030 - with Tele-talk. Woman taking calls, some short music. Through WRKO-680 splatter. Per Merriman tip who said this was coming in better than 585. Report & Cassette sent. [Musco-CT] ~ 756 GERMANY DeutschlandRadio, Braunschweig OCT 13 0250 - Good; symphonic vocals // 153, over Spain. [Conti-MA] ~ 765 SWITZERLAND RSR, Sottens, OCT 9 0116 - classical music; good to excellent. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 774 EGYPT / SPAIN, OCT 9 0117 - AA vocal over/under SS talk & piano music. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 783 SYRIA Tartus, OCT 9 0117 - AA music; poor, in CFDR slop. [Connelly*rw- MA] ~ 819 EGYPT Batra, OCT 8 2326 - AA vocal; in mess. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 836 AZORES RDP, Barossa, OCT 8 2326 - light pop vocal; stronger than 837 stations. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 846 ITALY R. Due, Roma, OCT 9 0118 - classical music, opera vocal; fair. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 855 SPAIN RNE1 synchros, OCT 9 0057 - SS talk by woman; just overprobable Romania. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 13 2336 - SS ballad // 585, 684, to strong peak. [Yocis-NY] ~ 864 EGYPT Santah, OCT 8 2324 - male Koranic vocal; good. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 13 0215 - Good; Holy Koran program // 819. [Conti-MA] ~ 873 SPAIN SER, Zaragoza, OCT 9 0119 - SS talk; dominant over jumble of others. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 873 GERMANY AFN Frankfurt a/M, OCT 13 0205 - Good; American League Championship Series baseball in English, over Spain. [Conti-MA] ~ 882 UNITED KINGDOM BBC, Washford et al., OCT 9 0120 - EE financial report by woman; over Canary Islands SS station. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 891 ALGERIA Algiers, OCT 9 0056 - wild drumming, flutes, strings. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 909 UNITED KINGDOM BBC R. 5, Moorside Edge et al., OCT 9 0055 - fair with EE talk about writers guilty of plagiarism. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 954 SPAIN R. Espana, Madrid, OCT 9 0121 - man in SS; fair. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 13 2339 - SS talk by man, fair. [Yocis-NY] ~ 999 SPAIN COPE, Madrid, OCT 9 0122 - monotone SS talk by man; good, some CKBW/CFLP/WLUP slop. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1026 SPAIN SER synchros, OCT 8 2315 - fast SS talk; good with WBZ phased. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1044 SPAIN SER synchros, OCT 9 0123 - SS news by man; excellent. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1089 RUSSIA Tbilisskaya, OCT 10 0314-0400 - Did anyone pick up the fantastic reception on 1089 kc. Of what I think was the Russian at Tbilisskaya? This station was on top of UK Talk for 45 minutes with Islamic-Middle East type music and almost continuous singing by a man and a woman. It faded at midnight here, 0400 GMT, and I would calculate that at just about dawn over there. Earlier in the evening the synchronized UK stations were dominant. [Dangerfield-PA] (maybe Albania? They are traditionally Islamic. See next item - Jim) ~ 1089 ALBANIA Durres OCT 13 0410 - Fair; ethnic instrumental music, mostly under TalkRadio-England, but clearly parallel 6100. [Conti-MA] ~ 1098 SLOVAKIA Nitra, OCT 10 0049 - Good with slow pop orchestral (`elevator') music. Pips to mark hour at 0100, news (?) by female then back to music at 0106 or so. [Sullivan-NJ] ~ 1098 SLOVAKIA Nitra / SPAIN, RNE5 synchros, OCT 8 2312 - Slavic talk mixed with SS talk and growl. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1125 SPAIN RNE5 synchros, OCT 9 0125 - woman with SS teletalk show; good. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1134 CROATIA Hrvatska Radio, Zadar, OCT 9 0124 - a crazy blend of doo-wop and disco music (with a bit of hip-hop and "techno/industrial" dance music thrown in as well); loud signal, way over Spain. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 11 2320-2330 - through WBBR side-band splatter. Man in Slavic language and some vocals in unID language. Fair to good levels. Glad WBBR is a talk station. Report & Cassette sent as well as e-mail message. [Musco-CT] (Any e-mail I've tried sending has bounced back undeliverable - Jim) ~ 1179 SPAIN/CANARY ISLANDS SER synchros OCT 13 0115 - Good; salsa music with heavy echo from delay between synchronized stations, // 1026, 1044, & 1116. [Conti-MA] ~ 1188 unID, OCT 8 2309 - jumble with possible SS talk (but maybe FF - Morocco ?). A het from something on 1187 was noted at times. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1197 LESOTHO BBC Lancer's Gap OCT 13 0020 - Fair; BBC World Service in English // 198, over Spain. [Conti-MA] ~ 1197 SPAIN EI, Vitoria, OCT 9 0100 - pips, SS news; over others. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 13 0100 - Good; Euskadi ID and eccectic mix of folk, rock, & rap music. [Conti-MA] ~ 1206 unID, OCT 9 0047 - bits of teletalk that seemed to be in a language resembling AA (maybe Hebrew ?); Israel possible, but reception was too dodgy to rule out France entirely. Noted again at 0127 with shallow audio on teletalk show. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1206 FRANCE Bordeaux OCT 13 0030+ - Fair; French and English pop/adult contemporary music, checked throughout the night but no sign of Israel target. [Conti-MA] ~ 1215 SPAIN COPE / UNITED KINGDOM Virgin Radio, OCT 9 0127 -even-strength "duke-out" between SS and EE programs. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1215 UNITED KINGDOM Virgin R., synchros, OCT 17 2321 - To good (S-7) peaks with Mellencamp (or a sound-alike) music, in and out all evening. Other strong hets from hi-band Brit channels tonight (1053, 1089, 1341, 1458, 1548) but only snatches of audio. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1251 LIBYA Tripoli, OCT 9 0129 - AA vocal at low audio level on monster carrier. Other stuff (including fast talk by man: believed to be Portugal) noted just a bit under. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1296 SPAIN COPE, Valencia, OCT 9 0044 - SS teletalk; atop apparent BBC (Orfordness). [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1305 SPAIN RNE5 synchros, OCT 9 0044 - man & woman in SS; fair. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1314 NORWAY Kvitsoy, OCT 9 0011 - old-time music, woman in Norwegian; very good. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1349 MAURITANIA R. Mauritanie, Nouakchott, OCT 9 0042 - usual huge carrier and thin audio: AA talk by man. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 12 2335 - Fair; percussive Arabic music // 4845. [Conti-MA] ~ 1377 unID (FRANCE or UKRAINE likely), OCT 9 0043 - monster open carrier with other stuff under. St. Pierre-1375 totally absent. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1386 unID, OCT 9 0018 - Greece, Kaliningrad, or ?? here briefly with 'Balkan- sounding' male vocal. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 12 2315 - Fair to poor; Middle Eastern style music, couldn't find any parallels before it faded away. [Conti-MA] ~ 1394t TOGO Lome OCT 12 2310 - Strong het against low side of JazzRadio-1395 Netherlands. [Conti-MA] ~ 1395 NETHERLANDS JazzRadio, Lopik, OCT 9 0020 - Latin-American style jazz and vocal; fair. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1413 SPAIN RNE5 synchros, OCT 9 0022 - SS talk over several others. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1521 SAUDI ARABIA Duba OCT 12 2230 - Good; "Arabiyah al-Saudiyah" ID and talk in Arabic, // 9555 & 9870. [Conti-MA] OCT 12 2241 - Long AA talk by man, strong in USB to avoid WWKB slop. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1530 VATICAN Vatican R., OCT 9 0028 - "wall to wall" orchestral easy- listening instrumentals, including the "Star Trek" theme (!); way over WSAI. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 12 2304 - Classical music blowing away WSAI, brief announcement by female at 2315 and off. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1544 ALGERIA-CLANDESTINE Tindouf, OCT 8 2352-2353 - in foreign service with accented SS talk, then soul-type music; good. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 12 2256 - AA chanting with native instruments, loud. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1548 KUWAIT VOA, Kuwait City, OCT 8 2337 - VOA interview about schools; fair. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 12 2250 - Fair; VOA news in English, over unID soft rock station from England. [Conti-MA] ~ 1566 SWITZERLAND Sarnen, OCT 9 0036 - Alpine-sounding orchestral music was most likely this; fair and pretty much alone on channel, WQEW slop a problem some of the time. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1575 SPAIN SER synchros, OCT 9 0037 - woman in SS with teletalk show // 1584; good over SAH. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1584 SPAIN SER synchros, OCT 9 0038 - SS teletalk // 1575; good over others. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 12 2255 - Presumed with SS talk by man, fair-poor. Usually I can ID this by the 1575 //, but there was nothing on 1575 at the time, not even a carrier. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1602 SPAIN SER, synchros, OCT 18 0205 - Lively SS music // SER-1584, fair- good. [Yocis-NY] ~ Bruce speaks: "Had a nice car DX outing to Rowley; the first this season now that the cold weather keeps the number of visitors down on weekends. Thanks to tips from Jean Burnell and Ben Dangerfield, Albania-1089 was logged with ease; it's all a matter of knowing when to listen and what to listen for. No signs of Mark Connelly's possible Israel on 1206 though. Spain was everywhere as usual; only a couple of logs given in detail." ~ [end, part 1] Subj: NRC IDXD 64-04, part 2 of 3 PAN-AMERICAN DX ~ 530 TURKS & CAICOS RVC, OCT 5 0615 - with animated SS preacher 0615, very good signals past the TIS mess on channel. [Helms-CA] ~ 555 ST. KITTS ZIZ Basseterre, OCT 4 0207-0220 - loud with block of local ads followed by "BBC Caribbean Report". [DeLorenzo-MA] ~ 580 MEXICO XEMU, OCT 2 0137-0142 - On top with birthday greetings & "La Rancherita del Aire" ID. Strong. [Moore-IA] ~ 620 ANTIGUA ABS St.John's OCT 13 0400 - Good; a hearty "Good morning!" from the DJ and ABS ID, soca music, first time heard. [Conti-MA] ~ 650 COLOMBIA Antena Dos, OCt 13 0115 - Woman gives Antena Dos ID during sports broadcast break, weak through WSM. [Renfrew-NY] ~ 660 MEXICO XEAR Tampico, JUL 12 0043-0130 - LA pop music, ranchera, poor. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 670 unID, OCT 13 0310 - Wide-band buzz interfering with R.Rumbos and extending to either side of 670, not local, heard both here and in NH. [Conti- MA] ~ 690 MEXICO XECS Manzanillo, SEP 16 0907 - LA pop music, ranchera, ID as "Radio Cadena", fair until 0912 when R. Progreso took over. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 720 VENEZUELA Radio Oriente, OCT 14 0142-0150 - Presumed with ad string with prices in Bolivares and mentions of Margarita. Poor under WGN. [Moore-IA] ~ 760 COLOMBIA RCN-Barranquilla, SEP 30 0136-0152 - End of Radio Nederland transcription program, then RCN ID. Good and mostly on top. // much weaker 770 which was down in the muck. [Moore-IA] ~ 810 COLOMBIA HJCX Bogota, SEP 19 0823 - Talk show, electronic fanfare, CARACOL ID, fair. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 830 COLOMBIA HJDM Medellin, SEP 22 0323-0330 - LA pop music, call letter ID. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 850 MEXICO XETQ Orizba, JUL 18 0322-0500 - LA pop music, ID only as "La Grande", poor into KOA. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 1040 PUERTO RICO WZNA Moca, OCT 1 0045 - Fair; many Moca mentions in ad string, romantic vocals, over/under "Foxy" WYFX-Florida. [Conti-NH] ~ 1040 UNIDs, OCT 18 0005-0103 - Two SS stations here in WHO null, dominant one with lengthy political speeches, many mentions of Puerto Rico (but mentions of many other LA countries too), the Popular Party, and the election. WZNA, which has been reported here recently, now has a CP for 5 kW, but is listed as a daytimer. Too much WHO after 0100. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1060 CUBA R.Victoria, Amancio Rodriguez SEP 30 2350 - Good; many Victoria mentions in Spanish talk. [Conti-NH] ~ 1180 CUBA Radio Rebelde, OCT 16 0051-0103 - fair-to-poor on crowded band, with talk and call-ins; "Rebelde la Habana" ID at 0000, into music. Presumed coming from CMBV Villa Maria. Every time I have heard a Cuban on 1180 in recent years, it has been Radio Taino. [Dvorak-WI] ~ 1190 COLOMBIA HJCT, Barranquilla, OCT 9 0104 - La Voz de la Costa ID surfaced over a jumble of many stations. [Connelly*rw-MA] ~ 1340 EL SALVADOR YSXW Usulatan, AUG 12 0048-0134 - talk and some music, no ID, poor. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 1360 MEXICO XEDI Chihuahua, AUG 12 0743-0800 - LA pop music, mostly ranchera, ID as "Radio Centro" and "frontera", fair through WKAT. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 1375 ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON seem to be off the air. Checked on OCT 9 @ 0014 and several other times. [Connelly*rw-MA] OCT 18 0212 - Excellent with FF ballad, as strong as 1370/1380 domestics. [Yocis-NY] ~ 1420 UNID MEXICO or COLOMBIA, JUL 18 0125-0150 - Play-by-play, dramatic yell after score, XEXX or Caracol, noth countries mentioned. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 1430 VENEZUELA YVRW Coro, AUG 17 0140-0204 - LA pop music, ID as "Radio Coro", over/under WACT. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 1550 MEXICO XENU Nuevo Lareda, AUG 26 0115-0122 - LA pop music, ranchera, mention of Monterrey. [Trelford-JAM] ~ 1570 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HIAJ Santo Domingo, SEP 8 2345-0045 - Religious talk, music, full ID at 0035 as "Radio Amanecer Internacional", fair. [Trelford- JAM] ~ 1580 MEXICO XEDM Hermosillo SON, OCT 19 0601 - Noted in mess of domestics with "La Grande de Sonora" ID and Mexican National Anthem. [Renfrew-NY] ~ TRANS-PACIFIC DX ~ 234 RUSSIA Arman, Far East, OCT 5 1440 - Fair to poor // 279 with RR talk. [Woods-OR] ~ 279 RUSSIA Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, FE, OCT 5 1042 - Good with pop music with vocalists. [Woods-OR] ~ 531 JAPAN JOQG Morioka, OCT 11 1330 - Fair with JJ talk //594. This is the NHK1 network. [Woods-OR] ~ 558 SOUTH KOREA KBS Taegu, OCT 14 1340 - with woman in KK, fair level. [Helms-CA] ~ 594 JAPAN JOAK Tokyo, OCT 4 1305 - with alternating man and woman, seeming language lessons at fair level. [Helms-CA] OCT 11 1331 - Good with man in dramatic speech in JJ. NHK1. [Woods-OR] ~ 621 UNID, OCT 8 1332 - Talk by man in what seemed to be KK, but not 100% sure, poor signal. [Helms-CA] ~ 648 UNID, OCT 8 1328 - Man and woman alternating here, similar to NHK programming but couldn't parallel to 774 or other channels; weak, fluttery signal. [Helms-CA] ~ 666 JAPAN JOBK Osaka, OCT 7 1335 - with man and woman in JJ Oct 7 1335, fair level. [Helms-CA] ~ 693 JAPAN JOAB Tokyo, OCT 14 1327 - pushing past mega-local XETRA seeming language lessons with man and woman; signals finally strong enough to overcome 690 splash. [Helms-CA] ~ 774 AUSTRALIA Melbourne 3LO, OCT 4 1224 - Poor signals but clear audio of man in accented English doing news. [Axelrod-MB] ~ 774 JAPAN JOUB Akita, OCT 8 1350 - Good as usual with English language lesson; business talk, "But we're always looking for ways to add some extra value". At 1400 into news in English. This is the same news program broadcast on short wave by Radio Japan. [Woods-OR] ~ 828 JAPAN JOBB Osaka, OCT 11 1334 - Fair with English language lesson; talk about tornadoes and hurricanes in the U.S. [Woods-OR] ~ 855 UNID, OCT 4 1226 - Poor signals of man talking in accented English. I suspect either 4QB or 4QO but ... [Axelrod-MB] ~ 873 JAPAN JOGB Kumamoto, OCT 7 1328 - with man and woman EE lessons at good level, including the always useful phrase "Uh huh, she eats too much." [Helms-CA] ~ 954 JAPAN JOKR Tokyo, OCT 6 1334 - assumed one with JJ talk amid 950 splash. [Helms-CA] ~ 963 ASIATIC RUSSIA, OCT 8 1320 - RR talk by man at S9 level. [Helms-CA] ~ 1035 CHINA, OCT 6 1336 - CC talk by man at fair level. [Helms-CA] ~ 1044 CHINA, OCT 7 1323 - Nice signals with man and woman in animated CC, much like a radio play or a CC version of Regis & Kathy Lee. [Helms-CA] ~ 1053 UNID, OCT 8 1339 - A signal over the "Space Patrol" jammer! Tune-in to peppy pop vocal chorus, vaguely disco-ish, and into Oriental talk by man with jammer in background. 1342, jammer once again dominant but first station still audible in background until I had to quit 1345. I guess this must be the South Korean clandestine station the North Korean jams, but as usual WRTH is useless for such stations. Anyone have suggestions? [Helms-CA] ~ 1134 JAPAN JOQR Tokyo, OCT 16 1340 - pushing past local KSDO and also OCT 17 1307 with JJ pop vocals and male announcer. [Helms-CA] ~ 1143 UNID, OCT 4 1243 - Light rock music and man in accented English. I suspect 4HI but.... [Axelrod-MB] ~ 1305 CHINA, OCT 11 1325 - Monotone male talk in Oriental language (couldn't ID it) at really low but steady level; still hanging in there with talk at 1340. OCT 15 1327 - previously UNID here noted with man in definite CC at weak level but steady carrier. [Helms-CA] ~ 1314 JAPAN JOUF Osaka, OCT 11 1320 - assumed one here with male pop vocal group, into JJ talk by man 1324. [Helms-CA] ~ 1422 JAPAN JORF Yokohama, 1317 - assumed one with woman in JJ, weak, fluttery signal. [Helms-CA] ~ 1593 JAPAN NHY synchros, OCT 15 1320 - with woman in JJ; signals peaking S8. [Helms-CA] ~ 1638 UNID, OCT 4 1233 - Good Het but no audio came of it. [Axelrod-MB] ~ Shawn speaks: "Well what a SRS session it seemed that there was a HET on almost every TP frequency I have ever heard them on. Audio however was rare with only three making it through. Still it is GREAT to log TP's on a loop at home." ~ Harry speaks: "Conditions have been terrific lately! I have the memories in my R8 set for TP splits, and to listen to the Russian on 963 on OCT 8, and then switch to 972 and hear the South Korean without retuning the loop, and both stations S9+. If you're a DXer, life doesn't get much better! Outstanding upper band TP opening this morning, OCT 11. South Korea-1566 was literally pinning the S-meter, far stronger than 1560/1570 domestics, and lots of intriguing carriers and bits of audio on frequencies like 1332, 1368, 1377, 1386, and 1395 that I was unable to get some IDable material out of. Nonetheless, quite a ride around sunrise here today!" ~ THE LATEST WEATHER (update) ~ Jan Alvestad reports that the IDXD item seen two weeks ago is already out of date. "September and the beginning of October has been very quiet with no sunspots for more than 3 weeks. Since the beginning of August a clear majority of new numbered regions have been cycle 23 regions, something which is a good indicator that the sunspot minimum has already occurred. For the latest on solar conditions and solar cycle 22/23, you may want to check out [http://home.sn.no/~janalv/solar.html]." [Jan Alvestad direct via e-mail] ~ QUERIES, UNIDS, ETC. ~ Re: Steve Francis's observation that all XE stations are required to play the NA at their local midnight and 6:00 am, this is not strictly observed. All of the EE Baja stations on AM (XETRA-690) and FM ignore this, as do stations like XEMMM, XEMO, XEBG, etc. However, all (EE and SS) carry "La Hora Nacional" Sunday evenings as well as all of President Zedillo's speeches. [Helms-CA] ~ HARMONICS ~ 2920H COLOMBIA Radio Turbo OCT 13 0159-0248 - with mix of trop & pop music, UTC-5 TCs "en Colombia", greetings to listeners. Three clear IDs as "Radio Turbo". WRTH lists this as Ondas del Darien in Turbo, which used to be on 6085 SW. Poor but steady. Much weaker next evening. 2x1460 harmonic. Another weak LAm harmonic on 2440. [Moore-IA] ~ HURRICANE HITS CUBA ~ Checked some Habana frequencies on MW and SW, still a little early to tell Lili if passes them, but nothing unusual. No trace of R. Ariguanabo-1200 midday (but that's not unusual--possibly 1/3 of the time they appear to be off). [Krueger-FL] ~ Did a little bit of monitoring on the 2010 while losing consciousness last night; Progreso announced as jointly broadcasting with R. Ciudad de la Habana, Rebelde announced joint with R Cadena Habana and R Reloj, but didn't check if all actually parallel. Lots of announcements from the Comite de Defensa Civil and Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia which sounded like they were designed to spread panic (lots of beeps and yelling echo annts). R Mambi 710 had special coverage also. This morning had Reloj usual format running on 640 up to 1100Z, then into open carrier, no sign of Progeso usual sign-on. Reloj made a big deal of the fact that Fidel was personally visiting the affected areas in Habana Vieja at 0500 local time (doesn't he EVER sleep?). (maybe he's a DXer? Jim) Cuba, BTW, has already gone off DST, announcing Z-5 TCs on Reloj. This morning I can only hear Rebelde on 1180, no sign of Taino here, so they may have pulled the plug... [Crawford-FL] ~ 640 CUBA R Reloj, OCT 18 1505-1630+ GMT - MW and SW observations as Huracan Lili crosses Cuba as I type this: 640 Reloj audio feed replacing Progreso audio, parallel 880. (Progreso outlets normally heard daytime on 870/890/900 either off or reduced power, i.e unheard). Likewise, 1000/1090 Guama outlets untraced, ditto R Ariguanabo on 1200. 1180-Taino programming replaced with R Rebelde (most high-powered Rebelde MW outlets active, as well as SW 5025). Coverage on Rebelde almost festival-like, you'd think this was a baseball play-by-play. Lots of phone-ins, frequent checks with reporters from the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologica (also frequently referred to as "Federal Instituto de Meteorologica", one reporter was from "casa capital"). One interesting report from health and welfare traffic amateur site CM5RP, operated by "Radioafeccionados de Cuba" in Ciudad Cardenas. Montage versions of anthem just before 1600 to stir the patriotism. Live report on Castro's ("el maximo lider de la revolucion") visit by auto motorcade to area outside of Habana (but no soundbytes of the Old Man, sadly). [Krueger-FL] ~ We hope everyone makes it through the storm OK! [Renfrew-NY] ~ CONTRIBUTORS ~ @Shawn Axelrod, Winnipeg MB; ICOM ICR-70 with PLAM board and filter mods. [saxelrod@mb.sympatico.ca] ~ @Mark Connelly, Rowley MA [rw]; Drake R8A; RL-1 Remotely-Tuned Loop, RW-1 Active Whip, DCP-2 Dual Controller / Phaser [MarkWA1ION@aol.com] ~ @Bruce Conti, Nashua, NH; Drake R8A, MWDX-5, 30-m east & south slopers, and Parker River NWR, Rowley, MA; R8A, MWDX-5, 45-m east & west slopers [BACONTI@aol.com]. ~ @David Crawford, FL. ~ @Ben Dangerfield, Wallingford PA. ~ Marc DeLorenzo, Auburndale MA; JRC NRD-525, Quantum Loop. ~ @Bill Dvorak, Madison WI; Superadio III, built-in antenna. [dxerak@aol.com] ~ @Harry Helms, AA6FW, Solana Beach CA; Drake R8, Quantum Loop Plus. [RQWQ15A@prodigy.com] ~ @Terry Krueger, FL. ~ @Don Moore, Davenport IA. [moore@acc.mcrest.edu] ~ @Ron Musco, CT; AMELCO R-390A/URR and Super MWDX-5C "phasor". [MUSCORJ@hsdvax.hsd.utc.com] ~ Jim Renfrew, Rochester NY; Drake R8, Radio West Loop. [JimRenfrew@Delphi.com] ~ @David Sullivan, Jersey City NJ; NRD-535SE, Kiwa loop, MFJ 784 Filter. [Sullivan@bear.com] ~ Don Trelford, St. Anne's Bay, JAMAICA. ~ @Jack Woods, Waldport OR: Lowe HF225 Europa, ALN-1 outdoor loop. ~ @David Yocis, South Nyack NY; R71A, Kiwa loop [DavidYocis@aol.com] ~ [END] Subj: NRC IDXD 64-04, part 3 of 3 IDXD 64-04 Supplement (these should not be printed in DXN) HOW ABOUT WEB PAGES LIST? In your IDXD last issue of DX News, you mentioned some great web pages for dx'ers. I'm not totally on the www but think it would be of great service if these web sites and others collected by other NRC members could be compiled and printed in the publication. Might be a great reprint for NRC Publications. Will try to contribute to your column but am now working the "graveyard shift" and will be lucky to even hear any DX Tests! Hope everything is going well with you and the family and great DX! 73, Joe Kureth LONG-PATH LUNACY From Paul Ormandy, New Zealand [paulorm@es.co.nz] 745 R Fiji, spurious signal created by who knows what branch of mathematics - anyway it's there in // 774 & 1467. 936 R Counties Maunkau, new NZer - Maunukau is a City just South of Auckland 1233 BBC World Service relay via Wellington 1593 Reo Atumotu, Auckland has gone off air Long-path Lunacy - A Dxers Answer to Inactivity I had been hoping that my long weekend ( Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 4th - 7th of October), would bring a few new long-path Europeans - I wasn't to be disappointed! They faded-in just prior to 0500z (5 p.m. local) with the sturdiest Spaniards vaporizing around 0640z. Friday night saw in the "usuals", R Monte Carlo 1467, Spain 1107 & 1485, V of Russia, Wachenbrunn, Germany 1323 and Deutschlandradio, Heusweiler 1422. All of these logged previously but the latter was so good (and as yet unverified) that I relogged it. Nothing new yet promise of things to come with carriers and weak pieces of audio on a good number of channels, 963, 999, 1062, 1089, 1503 & 1593. Saturday night started with a surprise - Switzerland on 1566 followed by Spain 1107, another Spaniard mixing with semi-local 4YQ 1134, SWF Rheinsender, Germany 1017, V of Russia back on 1323, SER synchros toppling NZer 2XA on 1602, TDF Nice audible through NZer 2ZH on 1557 then I decided to venture lower down the dial and was pleasantly greeted by weak bits of audio on 675, 657, 693, 738, 747, 774 and a loggable signal from TDF Limoges 792 from 0539, towards 0600 someone was interfering, switch aerials and hey presto! - SER Sevilla! Started logging them but the signal soon faded. Then back up the dial checking possible Spaniards and settled on 1485 who was really going strong, 0621 came local id for 2kW R Santander followed by a promotional announcement, After 0630 things dried up. Sunday night was slow to start with a few weak sigs of the previous nights but nothing substantial. I checked the bottom end of the band again and took a double-take when I hit 702, normally dominated by NZer R Pacific, there was something underneath, within a few minutes AA talk came up stronger and stronger eventually on par with the NZer! It was Morocco! Never heard them on MW before - and possibly DW via R Medi Un's transmitter. They faded 0540 so off I went still gob-smacked at hearing Africa long-path when I hit 747, something weak at first so I grabbed the WRTH and noticed that Canary Is were here, expecting the unexpected I stayed put, however when the signal peaked a bit I could tell that it was Dutch! Another first - The Netherlands! They held in till 0608 before sinking under. I checked out 693 again hoping for the BBC and could have convinced myself that the weak talk was English but couldn't be sure. Off up to 792 and this time SER Sevilla held on past 0630 for a good log. Monday night -the last night. Could it last? - yes! First up was RFE Holzkirchen 1593 in Czech then later in Slovak, (an unid with EE on 1197 under NZer 2ZW - VOA MUnich?) followed by a Spaniard on 963 (COPE R Miramar ?) and the RNE synchros on 774. What a pity that I wasn't staying for the whole week - or two weeks! Now to write the reports..... It was very exhilarating, DXing with the WRTH open to the African/European pages and dodging the usually hunted 10kHz splits in favour of the long- pathers - and guess where I'll be next October! My receiver is a Drake SPR-4 and the two aerials used for the above were one of 400m (1400ft) aimed at Mexico/Florida which brought in the Spaniards whilst all the others were best on an aerial of similar length aimed at Peru. Solar activity was very, very low with A & K indices around 3 and 1 respectively. Overall conditions to the US and Latin America were good in the early evening taking a real nose-dive after 0700 every night. Morning conditions were mediocre at best with even usually reliable Vatican R 1611 patchy and the long-wavers not the greatest either. Really, when you're logging signals that have travelled over 20,000kms (NZ's antipodes are off the coast of Portugal) - then anything else is an anti-climax! NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES (OCT 1996) From Bryan Clark [clarkb@sparc.org.nz] Sorry I have been out of touch for a month or two - result of a total meltdown of the home PC, taking a lot of my DX data with it. Not enough back-ups, something I'll never chance again. Only recent DX success for me was QSL in from HCJB 690 for the early July DX test. This was heard at Pauanui on the Coromandel Peninsula east coast, just over 2 hours drive east of Auckland, and was achieved with a Drake SPR4 and 280 metre long wire laid due east along a suitable footpath after darkness. Fortunately, being mid-winter, I did not trip up or snare any pedestrians in the process! Anyway, here is the latest from down-under, about to be published in the October 1996 'NZ DX Times', from which I hope you'll find some items of interest for IDXD. NEW ZEALAND The 936 open carrier and tone tests first noted in September has been revealed as Counties Manukau Radio, broadcasting from South Auckland. Regular transmissions with a mainly classic gold format from the Auckland area's 24th station will start on 7 October. Music was first noted on 16 September, and test announcements from 21 September as "This is Counties Manukau Radio, 936 AM, your new local community station". Telephone number announced as 298- 6936. For overseas, that would be prefixed 649. (Bryan Clark) ~ Mailing address for Maori broadcaster Ruia Mai 1179 is Private Bag 68886, Newton Auckland. (Bryan Clark) ~ The Government has allocated 19 additional frequencies so that Radio New Zealand's National Radio can be carried to most of the remaining 6 percent of New Zealanders currently unable to receive National Radio. Frequencies have been reserved to serve Otorohanga, Murupara, Taumarunui, Taihape, Waiouru, Ruatoria, Te Kuiti, Turangi, Raetihi, Reporoa, Hamner, Twizel, Reefton, Harihari Fox Glacier & Franz Josef, Te Anau, Wanaka and Ranfurly. (Median Strip 9/96) (While National Radio is predominantly a MW network, as far as MW DXers are concerned it is hoped that at least some of these frequencies will be on the FM band! Ed) ~ The NZ Commerce Commission has turned down the Radio Network's purchase of Nelson private commercial station Fifeshire FM and Fifeshire Classic (990kHz) due to the market dominance this would provide. The privately owned Radio Network took over ownership of the previously state-owned Radio New Zealand Commercial Network. As a result NZ Public Radio reverted to its old name Radio New Zealand on 1 August - now consisting of the non-commercial National Programme (as relayed on shortwave by RNZI and overnight by ZLXA) and Concert FM. (Andy McQueen & Bryan Clark) ~ 1XO Aotearoa Radio 603 5kw verified my taped report in 14 days, my 90th NZer verified on MW! Mailing address - P.O. Box 97-254, South Auckland Mail Centre. And QSL 91 is Radio Tarana Auckland 1386. Manager Rajesh Maharaj replied by letter in 25 days for taped report. Address P.O. Box 5956, Wellesley Street, Auckland. (Pat Martin OR via IRCA) ~ AUSTRALIA ABC National test transmissions still noted early October on 1062 AM at 1000 UTC. According to the National Transmission Centre Canberra, the new transmitter is located at Berri, South Australia. Power is either 2kw or 5kW directional. Reports can go to NTS on fax 61 6 256 8098, attention Craig, Info Line Officer. They have no other AM tests in the offing. Maintenance of this site will be responsibility of TVNZ subsidiary Broadcast Communications Ltd! (David Ricquish) ~ Radio Lebanon Australia 1638 transmitter power is now 392 watts, Greek Radio 1665 is now 400 watts with a new mast since 22 September. 4QA 756 has gone off air for good, according to ABC Brisbane. (John Wright) ~ Overnight at weekends from 5 October, ABC News Radio was to carry World Radio Network relays of major international shortwave broadcasters. Similar programming from WRN is already carried overnight by Canada's CBC (VOA Communications World 28/9 via BC) ~ 2PNN 522 - a letter from ABC Radio Transmitter Manager for NSW Barry Smith confirms that this widely heard signal is in fact a spurious emission by- product emanating from ABC's Sydney MF transmission site where 3 ABC services are co-located - 2BL 702 with 50kw, 2RN (ex 2FC) 576 50kw and 2PNN 630 10kw. Mr Smith gives maths as 2x576-630=522 and says efforts to remove this emission will be forthcoming. ~ 2RN Nowra 603 verified with full data card in 15 days for taped report. QSL came from GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001. 2EA Sydney 1107 verified with letter and programme schedules from D. Moore, Assistant Manager. Address: 14 Herbert Street, Artarmon, NSW 2064. (Pat Martin OR via IRCA) ~ COOK ISLANDS According to the Christchurch Press of 4 September, the government owned radio and television services have been sold to Cook Islands Broadcasting Service, a business group which includes former CIBC staff. (via Tune-In 10/96) Bryan D. Clark, Auckland, New Zealand