Sunday, September 30, 2007

Tuning in the shortwave radio

Roberto Carlos Alvarez-galloso
30 September 2007, Sunday

Before the advent of computers, shortwave radios were
the electronic tools for information. Even in today's
day and age, the Shortwave Radio has uses that the
computer does not. Some events of 1989 tell you the
reason.
SHORTWAVE RECEPTION was from good to poor in the late
1980's, depending on the radio stations that the person
was listening to and the amount of interference. I will
concentrate on the shortwave reception in 1989 during
certain historical moments.
During the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan,
I managed to hear Radio Moscow, Radio Tashkent, Radio
Vilnius, Radio Yerevan and Radio Afghanistan on my
Panasonic RF B60 shortwave radio. The reception from the
radio stations inside what was then the USSR were
excellent compared to the poor reception from Radio
Afghanistan.
During the China incident, Radio Peking was transmitting
clearly. Of course, my shortwave radio was next to the
window and the antenna had been pushed out in the open.
During the events that lead to the collapse of Communism,
I was able to have a front row seat, while listening to
Radio Berlin International, BBC Radio, Radio Netherlands,
Radio Bucharest, Radio Budapest, Radio Polonia, Radio
Vilnius, Radio Moscow, Radio Prague, Deutsche Welle,
and Radio Prague.
Inspite of interference from Radio Habana Cuba and the
Voice of America, these stations were heard clearly.
To hear the contemporary history unfold before your
ears was pleasant.
Radio Bucharest was the station I was listening to when
eaucescu fell. I could still remember turning on the
shortwave radio and hearing Ceaucescu speak, while the
people were laughing at him. Afterwards, the station
interrupted Ceaucescu's speech to play music composed
by Bach. Radio Bucharest then resumed broadcasting the
news that Ceaucescu had fallen and that there was a
new Romanian radio station.
All in all, I was able to enjoy the quality and
quantity of my shortwave radio broadcasts with
minimum interference.

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=126684

Time to cut radio's ride on airwaves?

Neha Seth / CNN-IBN
Published on Sunday , September 30, 2007 at 10:40 in Nation section
New Delhi: There's trouble in the airwaves and Red FM - the radio station
under fire for broadcasting allegedly derogatory remarks against Gurkhas and
the newly-crowned Indian Idol Prashant Tamang - is at the centre of it.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued a showcause notice to
the station for inciting protests and clashes in Siliguri on Friday.
The state machinery's efforts and an appeal for peace from Tamang have
diffused tension for now. But the question remains who should take
responsibility?
"It's the responsibility of the Radio Jockey that are derogatory or that can
inflame a community," says RJ with Radio One 94.3, Prince.
The I&B Ministry says Red FM seems to have violated the All India Radio
programme code.
The ministry takes action against radio stations when a complaint is bought
to its notice. But a regulatory code of any sort still doesn't exist. Some
say self-regulation is the answer.
"The answer is self-regulation," says media commentator, Akhila Shivdas.
Red FM has already issued an apology, saying: Our shows and RJ's use humour
and satire in their presentation. We have not intentionally caused hurt to
the sentiments of any person or any particular community, caste or creed. In
the event any offence has been caused, we tender our apology for the same.
There are over 250 radio stations in the country today, making it one of the
most powerful tools of mass communication.
One wrong word or a careless remark can have serious consequences. It's time
someone recognised the need to pay attention.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/time-to-cut-radios-ride-on-airwaves/49622-3.html

AIR Gangtok completes 25 years of broadcasting

The Gangtok All India Radio Completes 25 Years of Broadcasting

Gangtok,Sep29: The All India Radio Station of Gangtok has
completed 25 years of its first broadcast from Sikkim.To
mark the occassion,The Gangtok Station of All India Radio
will relay tomorrow a special programme to be aired
starting at 3.15p.m. on Sunday. The only radio in Sikkim
airs its programme on Frequency (mediumwave and shortwave
in kHz) at 1404 kHz, 4835 kHz,and 6085 kHz from Gangtok.
The national All India Radio is the only radio station
in the capital city of Sikkim although there are plans
to open 3 FM radio stations in Sikkim by I&B Ministry
of Government of India as per information released.
at 9:49 PM Posted by The Sikkim Times

http://sikkimnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/gangtok-all-india
-radio-completes-25.html

SUNDAY - 30TH SEPT - 0945 UTC

Thursday, September 27, 2007

AIR Chennai Tamil Dx Prog "Vaanoli Ulagam" going to stop

Sakthi Vel from Chennai informs that AIR Chennai
Tamil Dx Prog "Vaanoli Ulagam" is going to stop
on 30th Sep 2007 in the 90th week.
Kindly listen the last programme and give your
comments.
If possible request you all to send the personal
letter/email to the station director to continue
the DX program.

Mr. Srinivasa Raghavan,
Station Director,
All India Radio,
Kamarajar Salai,
Mylapore,
Chennai-600004,
Tamil Nadu,
India

Monday, September 24, 2007

Tanzania: State broadcaster changes name

The name of the state broadcaster of Tanzania is now the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, TBC. The Managing Director of the organisation, Mr Tido Mhando, says the changes are aimed at making TBC more self-reliant in conducting its business as a state corporation. Mr Mhando said the changes had been made by the corporation's board, which met recently and closed the position of assistant executive secretary and created four new senior management positions.
In the reforms, Ms Edah Sanga was appointed senior manager in charge of radio, Mr Joseph Rugarabamu appointed senior manager in charge of business and administration and the former technical director of TUT, Mr Harold Limo, was appointed acting technical director, TBC. Other appointments were Mr Clement Mshana who has been appointed director of programmes and acting general manager in charge of television. TBC got a new director in charge of news and features, Ms Susan Mungi, while Mr Ngalimecha Ngayoma becomes director of special programmes and public relations.

(Source : CBA)

Friday, September 21, 2007

All India Radio frequency changes wef 26th Sept

AIR has changed frequency for its Vividh Bharati Service from 10330
kHz to9870 kHz and txer site to SPT,Bangalore 500 kW from HPT,
Khampur(Delhi),250 kW.Consequently,following changes have been made
in the A07 Schedule:

Vividh Bharati Service 0025-0435 UTC 9870 B'lore(ex 10330 Delhi)
Vividh Bharati Service 0900-1200 UTC 9870 B'lore(ex 10330 Delhi)
Vividh Bharati Service 1245-1740 UTC 9870 B'lore(ex 10330 Delhi)
Russian 1615-1715 UTC 10330 Delhi (ex 9875 Delhi)
Chinese 1145-1315 UTC 11840 Delhi (ex 11840 B'lore)
Swahili/Hindi 1515-1730 UTC 9950 D15 Delhi(ex 9950 D16 Delhi)
Hindi 1615-1730 UTC 15075 Delhi (ex 15075 B'lore)
GOS-I 2245-0045 UTC 11645 Delhi (ex 11645 B'lore)

HP seeks community radio stations for tribal areas

Shimla, Sep 20: Himachal Pradesh has requested the Centre to set up community radio stations in the remote, inaccessible and tribal areas of the state to ensure fast and equitable communication.
Information and Public Relations Director Dinesh Malhotra, while speaking in the Information and Broadcasting Ministers' Conference at New Delhi yesterday said that traditional media like newspapers, magazines, television channels have limited reach for the difficult geographical and topographical parts of the hill-state.
He stressed that as the tribal areas like Pangi, Lahaul Spiti remained cut off from rest of world for six months in a year, the community stations could play pivotal role in emotional unity of the people of state besides information, education and communication in these sensitive border areas.
Mr Malhotra pleaded the Centre to sep up community stations for different communities and regions so as to cater to their local needs in local dialects and native language, which could prove to be much effective than present system of communication.
He, hoever, added that AIR and Doordarshan have wide reach in all parts of the state and were the fastest medium of communication to the Government as well as people of the state.
He demanded that news time of Shimla Doordarshan should be increased from present 15 minutes to 30 minutes daily while the news time of All India Radio Shimla should be extended from present 10 minutes to 15 minutes daily.
He also requested for strengthening of transmission system of All India Radio and Doordarshan Shimla in the state.
Mr Malhotra requested the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to start centrally sponsored schemes in the state and also pleaded for supply of 20,000 DTH receiver sets to the state for setting up in the sensitive border areas so as to ensure maximum reach of official media in these areas.
--- UNI

http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews&id=3236

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

New Sangean Wi-Fi Internet Radio & Media Player


Description
The Sangean WFR-20 Wi-Fi Internet Radio offers direct access to over 6000 Internet Radio stations (and 21242 on-demand streams) in 250 locations from 60 genres. This allows you to drill down your search quickly and conveniently from your radio or by using your favorite web browser and a computer you can search for specific stations with the convenience only the internet can provide and upload those stations to your radios “MY Stations” folder allowing for quick and easy access to only the most desired stations. Don’t find your favorite internet station on the list? Just submit the station to the website and it will be researched and added to the list, available for all of the current 14,000+ subscribers!
Don’t have a computer? Not a problem with the WFR-20. It still provides you access to the same internet radio stations and is designed to work as a completely independent stand alone unit anywhere in your home, office or dorm. All you need is a broadband internet connection and a wired or wireless router.
Used in conjunction with your wired/wireless networked computer and Windows™ Media Player™ you have full access to your digital media library using the UPnP Server, or simply your Microsoft™ Shared File Folder function in MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, Real Media™, and AIFF formats*.
*File formats utilizing DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection or other copy-protection features may not be supported. Use of a UPnP server may increase compatability, but is not a gurantee.
Microsoft®, Microsoft® Windows™, Windows™ Media Player™, and Internet Explorer™ and their respective logos are all registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. RealAudio® and the Real Audio logo are registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.

Features
Listen to radio stations from around the country, from around the world
Play your music collection from your computer
Wired or wireless connection
High quality Full-range Stereo Speakers (2 x 5W)
Large, Easy-to-read 3-line display
Extra large Clock display
12 or 24 hour clock format
Full display brightness adjustment
Four Alarm timers (radio or buzzer)
Sleep timer with gentle fade
Auxiliary Input socket for iPod, MP3 player, etc
Line Output socket
Headphone socket
Intuitive Menu system
Operate from single rotary control or remote control
Compact, stylish remote control
High-gloss Piano-black finish
Acoustically tuned cabinet
Audio Formats: MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV/AIFF/FLAC/REAL
WiFi (802.11g/b) and Wired Ethernet connections
(10/100 Mbps, RJ-45)
Connects to Windows Shares or UPNP servers
Dimensions (W X H X D): 290 x 115 X 215
Weight 2.98kg

TDP schedule changes

The TDP schedule website shows two changes:
- VO Meselna Delina to Eritrea (MF 1700-1730) moved to 7335 (ex11765).
- Moj Them Radio to Laos (0100-0130 on 15260) is now listed Mon/Wed/Fri
instead of Tue/Thu.

Bernd Trutenau,Lithuania via Cumbredx mailing list
Cumbredx@cs2.ralabs.com
http://cs2.ralabs.com/mailman/listinfo/cumbredx

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

KNLS B07 Freq Schedule

KNLS B07 Broadcast Schedule
Starting October 28, 2007

Time(UTC) Freq(khz) Meters Language
----------------------------------
0800-0900 7355 41 English
0800-0900 9615 31 Mandarin
0900-1000 6150 49 Russian
0900-1000 7355 41 Mandarin
1000-1100 6150 49 English
1000-1100 7355 41 Mandarin
1100-1200 6150 49 Russian
1100-1200 7355 41 Mandarin
1200-1300 6150 49 English
1200-1300 6915 49 English
1300-1400 6890 49 Mandarin
1300-1400 7355 41 Mandarin
1400-1500 6150 49 English
1400-1500 7355 41 Mandarin
1500-1600 6150 49 Russian
1500-1600 6915 49 Mandarin
1600-1700 6150 49 Russian
1600-1700 6915 49 Mandarin
1700-1800 7355 41 Russian
1700-1800 9920 31 Mandarin

Reception Reports to :
Station KNLS, Anchor Point, Alaska - 99556 U. S. A.
Email : knls@aol.com

Friday, September 14, 2007

TWR Puttalam Txer Photo's

Vels, Station Engineer from Trans World Radio, Puttalam, SriLanka
sent me photo's of their transmitter and tower system in response
to my reception report for 882 kHz. They have 2 x 200 KW (combined)
Nautel Solid State Transmitter operating in to 3 tower directional
array with an azimuth of 0 deg.


Tunisia: New religious radio station launched

Tunis, 13 Sept. (AKI) - Tunisia's first 24-hour religious radio station, Radio Zaytouna for the Noble Koran, went to air Thursday. It is the country's third privately-owned station and will broadcast around the clock.
Tunisian President Zayn al-Abidin Ben Ali late on Wednesday announced Radio Zaytouna ('olive tree)'s launch which has been timed to coincide with the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
Around 80 percent of Radio Zaytouna's programming will focus on the Koran. The remaining 20 percent will focus on the life and teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, as well as the lives of other prophets and preachers.
The station's licence to broadcast "confirms interest in nurturing the Muslim faith and those who are involved with it ," said Radio Zaytouna's owner Muhammad Sakhr al-Matiri.
"The aim is for Tunis to remain a beacon in the Islamo-Arab world and a symbol of dialogue and fruitful interaction between cultures and civilisations," al-Matiri added.
Radio Zaytouna's launch shows "constant attention to Islam and in interest in its revival and the wish to promote enlightened thought and true Muslim values, including tolerance, solidarity and moderation," said an unnamed Tunisian official.
Although freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Tunisian constitution, the government tightly controls the media. Until late 2003 the state had a monopoly on radio broadcasting.
The state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates two national TV channels and several radio networks.
Egyptian and pan-Arab satellite TV stations command large audiences. Two London-based opposition TV channels can be received via satellite; Al Mustaqillah TV and Zaytouna TV.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=1.0.1301988417

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Cuban Radio celebrates its 85th Anniversary


Celebrations for the 85th anniversary of the birth of Cuban radio began on Thursday with a pilgrimage to the final resting ground of Luis Casas Romero, known as the father of Cuban radio.
The national radio system boosts a large audience and is comprised of 87 radio stations across the island.
Among the activities to celebrate the anniversary will be an award ceremony to be held at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana recognizing outstanding workers in all areas of national radio broadcasting.
Celebrations will include the presentation of a cancellation stamp commemorating the anniversary and a interactive forum on the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly held in US prisons for more than eight years.
Cuban radio has made a significant contribution to the international campaign for the freedom of Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez, known worldwide as the Cuban Five. The forum will open on Saturday at the Jose Marti International Institute of Journalism in Havana.
Cuba was one of the first Latin American countries to develop a radio broadcasting network. The first radio station was inaugurated on August 22, 1922.
Radio Rebelde, the Cuban revolution's radio station, broadcasted for the first time on February 24, 1958 opening a new period in the history of radio on the island.
The Cuban Radio and Television Institute was created on May 24, 1962 with the purpose of extending broadcasting to the whole territory.
(Source: Radio Rebelde)

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

New FM channel for Indians launched in Dubai


A new radio station for the South Asian community has been launched here, which will focus on Bollywood music besides covering local and international news.
Arabian Radio Network (ARN), the region's largest group of popular stations, launched Pulse 95.3 on September 2.
Dubbed "a station for the discerning", Pulse 95.3's diverse offerings capitalise on the growing influence of Bollywood, which has sparked new interest in evergreen hits from the subcontinent.
The station will also provide in-depth coverage of local and international news, a statement from ARN said.
"The arrival of a differentiated South Asian station with a strong personality like Pulse 95.3 means that the Asian community is growing, its tastes and interests are diverse, and the market is responding to that," Chetan Fernandes, Chief Operating Officer of ARN, said.
"As Dubai grows, we will see more and more variation in South Asian cultural offerings in the Emirates. We anticipate that Pulse 95.3 will be at the forefront," he said.
A gala dinner held at the launch of the FM channel was attended by yesteryears cine stars Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia.
The dinner was also attended by Bollywood music director Nadeem Saifi.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=
a04308b4-93ec-4044-a711-1de1877ab6&MatchID1=4508&TeamID1=2
&TeamID2=6&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1=1125&PrimaryID=4508&
Headline=FM+for+Indians+launched+in+Dubai