Bangalore ARDF - Tenth VHF Day Fox Hunt

In series with the Celebrations of Golden Jubilee Year of Bangalore Amateur Radio CLub - VU2ARC and Hamfest India 2009, the Organising Committee is pleased to announce the Tenth VHF Fox Hunt in Bangalore on 17 May 2009. This day also happens to be celebrated as "World Telecom Day" across the Globe. The complete details of the event, entry fee, rules & regulations, etc are available at www.hamfestindia.com or www.barc.in
We expect your participation in big numbers. Please feel free to write to us at info@hamfestindia.com or info@barc.in for any further information.

73
Ramesh Kumar
VU2LU
Member, Organising Committee
Hamfest India 2009
+91-9845057731

Tensilica Debuts Digital Radio Mondiale Decoder for HiFi 2 Audio DSP

Posted by EDA Geek News Staff in DSPs on Monday, March 30, 2009

Tensilica,® Inc. announced the immediate availability of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) decoder on its popular HiFi 2 Audio DSP, which can be easily integrated into system-on-chip (SOC) designs. The implementation is based on software developed by Dolby and has passed Dolby's certification procedure. Now designers of digital radio systems can use one processor core - Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio DSP - to run all decoders required throughout the world for digital radio, enabling a universal worldwide digital radio receiver. Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio DSP already has support for four other terrestrial and satellite standards: DAB, DAB+, HD Radio, and XM Radio. DRM can deliver FM-comparable sound quality on frequencies below 30 MHz (the bands currently reserved for AM broadcasting) for very long-distance signal propagation. It has the advantage of being able to fit more channels into a given amount of spectrum with higher quality because it employs digital audio compression rather than amplitude modulation techniques. DRM has been approved by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), and the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) has approved its use throughout most of the world. Approval for ITU region 2 (North and South America and the Pacific) is pending. More detail on DRM is available at www.drm.org.

"In today's economy, manufacturers don't have the luxury of developing different radios for different geographic markets," stated Larry Przywara, Tensilica's director of mobile multimedia. "Now single SOCs, including the HiFi 2 Audio DSP, can be compatible with all global digital radio standards. We chose Dolby's implementation of DRM because of our previous close collaboration with them on HE AAC and derivative standards including DAB+ and T-DMB. Two Tensilica customers have already licensed the HiFi 2 DRM decoder."

"Both India's and Russia's regulators just recently have taken serious steps towards digital radio and mandated DRM due to its advantages of wider geographic coverage in the sub 30 MHz spectrum. With these countries gaining momentum, the arrival of Tensilica's solution appears to be just in time for the marketplace," stated Toni Fiedler, senior manager, business development, Dolby Laboratories. "Tensilica's HiFi 2 Audio DSP will enable development of low cost DRM receivers by leveraging the aggregate investment in all the digital radio standards for highly integrated multi-standard SOCs. HiFi 2 provides a proven, approved, drop-in audio solution."

Because the HiFi 2 Audio DSP is based on Tensilica's programmable Xtensa® processor, it provides chip designers with one hardware platform that can be used for multiple audio standards. Tensilica, its customers, and its partners have ported over 50 software packages to the HiFi 2 Audio DSP, so designers can pick the software they need for the application. As the market evolves and new standards are defined, they can be easily and quickly ported to the HiFi 2 Audio DSP, thereby "future proofing" the chip design. The HiFi 2 Audio DSP has been designed into chips for portable devices by five of the top 10 semiconductor companies.

Availability
The DRM decoder is available now from Tensilica.

About Tensilica
http://www.tensilica.com/
Tensilica, Inc. is the recognized leader in customizable dataplane processors. Dataplane Processor Units (DPUs) consist of performance intensive DSP (audio, video, imaging, and baseband signal processing) and embedded RISC processing functions (security, networking, and deeply embedded control). The automated design tools behind all of Tensilica's application specific processor cores enable rapid customization to meet specific dataplane performance targets. Tensilica's DSPs and processors power top tier semiconductor companies, innovative start-ups, and system OEMs for high-volume products including mobile phones, consumer electronics devices (including portable media players, digital TV, and broadband set top boxes), computers, and storage, networking and communications equipment. Tensilica and Xtensa are registered trademarks belonging to Tensilica Inc.

http://edageek.com/2009/03/30/dolby-drm/

VOA wins powerful base for broadcasts into N.Korea

Voice of America has boosted its radio broadcasts into North Korea this year by transmitting from Seoul with support from a South Korean president who has taken a hard-line stance against the reclusive communist regime. President Lee Myung-bak's administration is allowing the U.S. government-funded broadcaster to use transmission equipment in South Korea to send its dispatches into the North for the first time since the 1970s. That makes the signal much clearer than VOA's long-running shortwave broadcasts from far-flung stations in the Philippines, Thailand and the South Pacific island of Saipan. Moreover, it's an AM signal, so listening in doesn't require a shortwave radio. "Radio can play a big role in changing people," said Kim Dae-sung, who fled the North in 2000 and is now a reporter at Free North Korea Radio, a shortwave radio broadcaster in Seoul. "Even if it's simply news, it's something that North Koreans have never heard of." Still, the move could be seen as yet more provocative policymaking by a government already at loggerheads with the North over Lee's tough policy on Pyongyang, and comes at a time of heightened regional tensions over North Korea's plans to launch a rocket early next month. Nuclear envoys from South Korea and Japan flew to Washington for talks Friday with top U.S. diplomats about North Korea. "North Korea will see this as meaning that the South's government is trying to overthrow the regime by uniting strength with U.S. hard-liners," said Paik Hak-soon, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute think tank outside Seoul. Information control buttresses North Korea's autocratic rule. Radios in the country come with prefixed channels that receive only government signals brimming with propaganda and praise for leader Kim Jong Il. But some listen to outside broadcasts using radios smuggled in from China or by removing the frequency jammers on their state-issued radios, despite the risk of harsh punishment, including incarceration in North Korea's notoriously grim political prison camps. VOA, founded in 1942 with a broadcast in German, now has programs in 45 languages. During the Cold War, it targeted listeners in totalitarian states. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, it has focused on countries where radio and TV news is government-controlled and outside news sources are banned. Since Jan. 1, VOA has been using the antenna facilities of the Far East Broadcasting Company-Korea, a Christian evangelical radio station, for half of its three-hour nighttime broadcast into the North. The antenna is only 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the border. "I think it's getting deeper into the North in better quality," said Park Se-kyung, head of the Northeast Asian Broadcasting Institute, an association of radio experts monitoring broadcasts in the region. The broadcast is mainly news, with a focus on North Korea, such as its
ongoing nuclear standoff with the United States and other nations. South Korea prohibited VOA from broadcasting from its soil for carrying a 1973 report on the kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung, then a leading South Korean dissident. The authoritarian Seoul government at the time is widely believed to have been behind the abduction. Upon becoming president of democratic South Korea in 1998, Kim ushered in a "sunshine policy" toward the North that called for cooperation and engagement. The warming of relations won him the Nobel Peace Prize. But President Lee has taken a far tougher line on North Korea since taking office in February 2008, a stance that has opened the way for VOA to resume transmissions from the South. Some radio experts say VOA's arrangement with the Christian station violates a South Korean ban on broadcasters relaying foreign signals. But Kim Jung-tae, an official with the Korea Communications Commission, justifies his agency's decision to allow the VOA broadcast on the grounds that local networks are allowed to fill up to 20 percent of their airtime with foreign programming. Joan Mower, VOA's public relations director in Washington, D.C., described the project as "a routine arrangement, similar to thousands of other arrangements VOA has worldwide." Broadcasting via South Korea helps VOA "expand its reach to audiences inside North Korea," she said by e-mail. Reporters Without Borders announced this week that the France-based media watchdog group and the European Union will support three Seoul-based radio stations targeting North Korea, including Free North Korea Radio, with about 400 million won ($290,000). "These radios are one of the few hopes to create a real evolution in the country. Without that, the North Koreans don't know what is going on in the world and they don't know even what is going on in their own country," said Vincent Brossel of Reporters Without Borders. North Korea condemns such broadcasts as "U.S. psychological warfare" and often jams the signals. So far, it has not interfered with VOA's new AM broadcast, said radio expert Park. Doing so requires more equipment than blocking shortwave signals, and the fact that North Korea isn't doing so may indicate the North is struggling economically, he said. Park said he supports the broadcasts. "North Korean people have the right to information," he said. "Providing correct information to people in a closed nation is what democratic nations should do."

Associated Press writer Kwang-tae Kim contributed to this report.

(Source : Voice of America: http://www.voanews.com)

IndiBlogger Meet in Delhi/NCR

Bloggers from Delhi & NCR !

IndiBlogger.in is happy to announce our return to the capital for another blogger meet!

When?
Saturday, 4th April 2009 at 3PM

Where?
Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd
DLF Cyber Green, DLF Cyber Citi
Sector 25A, Phase3, Gurgaon - 122002

Is it free?
Yes, it's free.

What's the plan?
The agenda is on the official blogger meet page. (link below)

How do I register?
RSVP at the official meeting page, where you will find a link to confirm your attendance:
http://www.indiblogger.in/bloggermeet.php?id=33

Please help spread the word by doing what you do best - blogging!

For those of you who haven't been to an IndiBlogger meet, do check out this review of the one we had last year. For enquiries, please contact Anwin at +919880518019

A big thank you from the IndiBlogger team to the Delhi Bloggers Bloc for helping us promote this meet!

Keep blogging,
The IndiBlogger Team
http://www.indiblogger.in

Bringing in winds of change through Radio Ga Ga

By Anjali Singh on Sunday, March 29, 2009

Lucknow: 32 years old Kanshiram undergoes a complete transformation as he goes behind the microphone talking to his listeners on the Community Radio (CR). Formerly a bus conductor who used to ferry passengers to and fro from the remote village of Lalitpur, today he works as a radio jockey (RJ) at the newly set up community radio station here. "I can't believe I am now a RJ broadcasting and anchoring radio programmes. It gives me an immense sense of satisfaction that I am doing something for the society. What makes it even more meaningful is the fact that I get to see the real issues through my work and and also provide solutions for it."
Read the full story here :

http://www.freshnews.in/bringing-in-winds-of-change-through-radio-ga-ga-134196

DXpediton to Grandi Island, Goa

Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

Grandi Island, Goa, India (AS-177) is the new IOTA (Islands on the Air) to be activated from 5th April 2009 to 8th April 2009. The team consists with OM Sara, VU3RSB, OM Frank, DL4KQ/VU3FRK, OM Jose, VU2JOS, YL Yamini, VU2YAM & OM Manju, VU2SMS. The callsign will be AT9RS. Grandi Island is an uninhabited Island and Location is: 14.92N - 15.77N / 73.67E - 74.07E . The setup would be one CW & one SSB Station with Vertical and Dipoles.
IOTA frequencies - CW 28040 24920 21040 18098 14040 10114 7030 3530
SSB 28560 28460 24950 21260 18128 14260 7055 3765
QSL Via W3HNK for South & North America & DL4KQ for Rest of the world.
The official website can be found soon at http://www.vu3rsb.org/ but
http://www.mdxc.org/ holds information too.

(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio )

MV BALTIC RADIO - NEW time slot

MV BALTIC RADIO - NEW time slot for summer 2009

The new time slot for the MV Baltic Radio relay service will be 9 - 10 UTC (11-12 CEST) on 6140 KHz. This will be active from the 5th of April until the last Sunday of October 2009.

MV Baltic Radio relay service Schedule for summer 2009
1st Sunday – MV Baltic Radio
2nd Sunday – Bluestar Radio
3rd Sunday – European Music Radio
4th Sunday – Radio Gloria International

Good Listening
73s Tom

Second transmission of third Happy Station for April 8th, 2009 at 1500UTC

Hi Everyopne,
Just want to let you know my guest on the April 8th Happy Station at 1500UTC is going to be legionary Australian pop singer Frank Ifield. During the 1960's Frank had hits such as I Remember You, The Summer Is Over, Wayward Wind, Please and others. People may not know that but in the early 1960's 4 lads from Liverpool or the Beatles were his opening act. I have known Frank and his wife for almost 20 years now and 4 years ago had the pleasure of hosting a 6 part radio series about the history of Australian music with him. Something you may not have known about him, but Frank use to listen to Happy Station as a boy in the 50s and use to listen from time to time until the late 1980s. He has a funny memory about meeting Eddy Startz while in tour in Holland in the mid 1960s. We will keep that part for a whole different show. If any of you would like to take part in the interview feel free to email me what ever questions you may have for Frank or even record them.

Air Date: April 8th, 2009
Frequency: 9955 khz
Time: 1500 UTC
Area: North & South America

For those outside this region you can catch it at the same time on www.wrmi.net

Frank's website www.frankifield.com

Regards,
Keith

New DRM receiver unveiled and reiterated support for DRM from EBU/ABU

Uniwave "Di-Wave 100" on display during BES Expo 2009

Erlangen, Germany – A new state-of-the-art DRM digital radio receiver was unveiled to DRM members at the annual general assembly of the Consortium being held in Erlangen, Germany where the world's two biggest broadcasting unions – EBU and ABU – re-iterated their support to the DRM Consortium. The new DRM receiver is called 'Di-Wave 100' and has been developed by Uniwave Development SAS. This is the first DRM receiver with colour screen and will be in mass production from April 2009. The receiver has all the multimedia features offered by DRM technology including identification by station name, programme information, Journaline, MOT Slideshow and listening time shift. The radio can receive DRM broadcasts in SW, MW and LW as well as analogue FM and can store 768 stations in its memory. The receiver also has a USB/SD card -reader and mp3/mp4 play-back. The 3.5 inch TFT display colour can display text in many different languages. Patrick Leclerc, CEO of Uniwave said "The unique thing about the new receiver is that we have a clear road-map and plan to produce subsequent models with newer features like recording, EQ, DVD, GPS and navigation for an in-car version." The DRM General Assembly is being attended by members from all over the world and got support from the EBU and ABU. Sharad Sadhu, Technical Director of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union told the DRM
members "It is the most suitable technology for MW broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific region and that the Consortium should have a 'look east' policy for the roll-out of DRM". Lieven Vermale, Technical Director of the European Broadcasting Union said "DRM is one of the critical technologies for converting analogue radio to digital and is being endorsed by several countries in the world. Both broadcasting unions are in favour of different digital radio bodies in the world working more closely together to give a unified message to the users." "We are really excited about the good news we are sharing with our members : major countries like India and Russia opting for DRM, up-to-date receivers ready to hit the market, completion of the DRM standard family with DRM+. The DRM consortium is in a good place, ready for cooperation and real activities to push the digitisitation of radio worldwide", said Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairman.

Picture: Patrick Leclerc, Uniwave SA, CEO with the receiver 'Di-Wave 100'

http://www.drm.org/uploads/media/P1000809.JPG

(http://www.drm.org/ Press Release)

India 'a major success' for DRM consortium

The decision taken by All India Radio (AIR) to take up digital radio broadcasting using the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system was today described as "a major success" for the DRM consortium. The 2009 General Assembly of the DRM consortium being held in Erlangen, Germany, was told that the Indian public broadcaster had started making significant investments in DRM technology and had purchased transmitters and other equipment. AIR has already started DRM digital shortwave services to Europe using a powerful shortwave transmitter. The broadcaster is expected to roll out a major plan on providing DRM digital radio services in the medium wave band. The ABU's Technical Director, Sharad Sadhu, said that the sentiment prevailing at the meeting was that a large scale implementation phase of DRM digital radio had now dawned, given the steps taken by several governments and broadcasters to set up transmission infrastructures. Mr Sadhu told the Assembly that in the Asia-Pacific region, the emphasis needed to be put on DRM in the medium wave band. "Given the large area coverage required for national radio services, we believe that DRM in the medium wave band would provide an optimum solution, particularly in the larger countries," he said. One of the latest DRM digital radio sets, unveiled at the General Assembly, provides a full set of DRM applications, including text, data, slow scan images and graphics. The radio set has a 5-inch colour LCD screen which makes it suitable for all DRM "radio with pictures" services.

Thursday 26 Mar 2009
(Source : ABU)

Voice of Russia to focus more on online streaming

Voice of Russia to hold higher profile in worldwide web

Voice of Russia chairman Andrei Bystritsky says his radio company will be holding a much higher profile on the Internet. The Voice of Russia broadcasts in 38 languages, to 160 countries. There will be more radio, online and multimedia broadcasting. The Voice of Russia audience will be treated to video films, multimedia reports, and infographics. The Voice of Russia will be broadcasting in 40 languages, instead of today's 38. Special attention will be paid to the languages of former Soviet republics – say, Ukrainian and Georgian. Twelve language divisions will limit their efforts to online broadcasting. Bystritsky wants Voice of Russia broadcasts to remain timely and true to life. He lays emphasis on professionalism and good judgment.

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=42574&cid=219&p=25.03.2009

New bbcbrasil.com website launches report into future of Brazil, Russia, India and China

Today, BBC Brasil has formally launched its redesigned website, bbcbrasil.com, alongside a major editorial initiative exploring the place of Brazil, Russia, India and China in the changing global political and economic order. The BRICs 2020 – The Future Of Brazil, Russia, India And China report will go live on the new bbcbrasil.com from Monday 30 March 2009. In addition, bbcbrasil.com will offer a whole range of improved functions and features. With its clean design, enhanced interactivity and easily accessible videos, the website will provide online audiences with an improved user experience as they navigate the BBC's latest news and analysis. The BBC Brasil team has applied all the new website features – text, audio and video – to present the BRICs 2020 – The Future Of Brazil, Russia, India And China report. The report will take a comprehensive look at the economic, political and social future of Brazil, Russia, India and China – the countries grouped together and abbreviated into the term "BRICs" due to their prominent role in the emerging world order. The bbcbrasil.com journalists have travelled to each country, exploring issues such as agriculture, environment, energy, education and political leadership, talking to experts and using latest evidence, research and analysis. The resulting rich content is aimed at engaging the online audiences in a high-quality debate. The revamped bbcbrasil.com website has the capacity to embed flash video clips in stories and headlines, and is generally more flexible for content placement and positioning. The website features a range of image formats and interactive modules such as forums, debates and blogs – including the recently-launched BBC Tendências and Planeta & Clima. A special forum about the new site welcomes readers' opinions and suggestions. Head of BBC Brasil, Rogerio Simoes, says: "bbcbrasil.com has an ever-increasing audience of internationally-minded Brazilians, seeking a global view of events,
whether they take place in Brazil, the rest of the Americas or elsewhere in the world. "Every week, around 1.6 million unique users access BBC Brasil stories, via our bbcbrasil.com and on our partner websites, and we receive more than 400,000 requests a month for our video material. The new additions to bbcbrasil.com open up a range of exciting opportunities to make our content even more engaging for our users. "A project such as BRICs 2020 showcases what we at the BBC do best – objective, independent reporting and in-depth analysis, engaging audiences, wherever they are, in a global conversation."

BBC Brasil is a multimedia operation, with the internet as its main platform through bbcbrasil.com and its partners such as UOL, MSN Brasil, IG, Terra, G1, Folha Online and Estadão which syndicate the bbcbrasil.com content on their news sites. According to an audience
appreciation survey, Pulse, bbcbrasil.com was rated as "exceptionally good" by its visitors, receiving a Net Promoter score of 73 (Net Promoter scores are the industry standard for measuring user loyalty to websites. The Net Promoter scale runs from -100 to 100, with scores
over 60 recognised as "exceptionally good"). BBC Brasil radio is currently available on shortwave and via partner networks CBN and Globo which rebroadcast the BBC news bulletins. BBC Brasil also has a partnership with Bandeirantes Network which rebroadcasts international news video clips available on the bbcbrasil.com website on its prime-time news programmes.

(BBC World Service Publicity)

TWR now on Facebook

TWR is now on Facebook, one of the most popular social networking sites out there. Follow the buzz or become a fan by simply going to www.twr.org/fb or by searching for TWR once you're logged in to http://www.facebook.com/

MEDIA BROADCAST broadcasts football radio via DAB

Bonn, 20 March 2009
MEDIA BROADCAST and REGIOCAST DIGITAL, organizer of the football channel 90eleven, have reached an agreement to pilot a radio broadcast via Digital Radio using the DAB standard (Digital Audio Broadcasting). The radio program, which was previously available via DVB-T and on the Internet, has been broadcasting on the DAB networks in Berlin and Brandenburg since March 19, 2009. The pilot test is being undertaken to establish the level of public acceptance of the channel via digital terrestrial broadcast. In addition, 90eleven will shortly be broadcast in and around Leipzig within the framework of a DAB+ trial run of the State Media Authority of Saxony for private broadcasting and media - SLM (Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien). The first football radio station in Germany is a 24-hour service for football fans. At the core of the broadcast are reports on first and second division matches, background reports on this very popular sport, as well as interactive offers for listeners.
(Press Release)

DW-radio looks for Indian partnership

Mumbai: Germany's international broadcaster, Deutche Welle, on Tuesday said that it is scouting for partners in radio broadcasting in India. "We are searching for partners for our internet and radio services here," DW's representative for Distribution in South Asia, Tobias Grote-Beverborg, said in Mumbai. Grote-Beverborg, however, did not name the companies or entities it was talking to, saying this "was confidential". DW-radio airs programmes on three Indian languages, he said.

Read the full story here :
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/dwradio-looks-for-indian-partnership/438453/

Additional English b'cast from VOA on President's News Conference on 25-MAR-09

VOA will b'cast additional English on the morning of 25th March 2009 only on President's News Conference as per the following schedule :

0000-0115 hrs UTC on 7135 11840 15095 15625 17585

(Alok Dasgupta via http://dxasia.info/news/)

"The New Happy Station Show" - March 26th transmission

The March 26th editions of Happy Station are just 3 days away from transmission. Both broadcasts at 0100 to 0155 UTC and 1500 and 1555 UTC will be different. So you will have a chance to hear 2 different shows.
ALL TIMES IN UTC:
Date: March 26th, 2009
Times: 0100 and 1500UTC
Frequency: 9955khz
Transmitter location: Miami, Florida, USA
Webstream: www.wrmi.net

(Via Keith Perron)

Shifting of AIR frequencies from 7100-7200 kHz Band

Shifting of AIR frequencies from 7100-7200 kHz Band wef 29th March,2009

AIR changes for A09

Regional SW Transmitters

Station Time (IST) Time (UTC) Freq(kHz)
Old New
-------------------------------------------------
Bhopal 0755-1600 IST 0225-1030 UTC 7180 7430
Chennai 0830-1700 IST 0300-1130 UTC 7160 7380
Hyderabad 0755-1715 IST 0225-1145 UTC 7140 7420
Imphal 0800-1530 IST 0230-1000 UTC 7150 7335
Jaipur 1130-1645 IST 0600-1115 UTC 7120 7325
Lucknow 0945-1615 IST 0415-1045 UTC 7105 7440
Port Blair 0845-1615 IST 0315-1045 UTC 7115 7390
Shillong 1000-1615 IST 0430-1045 UTC 7130 7315

Reports to : spectrum-manager@air.org.in

All India Radio HPT at Avadi (Chennai) would carry TAMIL/SINHALA/FM-Gold (Chennai) Services on 7270 kHz instead of 7360 kHz wef 29th March, 2009.
0000-0045 UTC Sinhala
0045-0115 UTC Tamil
0115-0430 UTC FM-Gold

Information on changes regarding AIR external services still awaited.

Some of the amateur e-qsl's received during last fortnight

Amateur Radio Satellite to be launched by ISRO in April 09

A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV –C12) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is getting ready to put in orbit Israeli satellite RISAT in the first week of April along with a mini-
satellite called Anusat built by Anna University, Chennai. Anusat, an amateur communication satellite weighing 38 kg was integrated at the Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai of Anna University. It is undergoing tests at the ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore. It will reach Sriharikota soon. Its integration helped the students to get hands on experience in understanding the complexities in building a satellite The PSLV that will put RISAT and Anusat in orbit in April from Sriharikota's second launch pad is a core-alone version without the six strap-on booster motors that form part of the standard PSLV .The core-alone vehicle weighs 230 tonnes while a normal PSLV weighs 295 tonnes. The PSLV is 44 metres tall.
(The Hindu 19 March 2009)

(National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad 500082, INDIA )

40 years of Radio Veritas in Asia

Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), the only continental Catholic short-wave station in the world, will celebrate forty years of broadcasting on April 15 and 16, 2009. The station first aired its regular overseas and domestic programs on April 11, 1969 after a longer period of test broadcasts. The jubilee celebration on April 16 will be preceded by a symposium on April 15. Radio producers, programmers and other invited professionals will share their experiences and insights on the theme "Catholic Radio Broadcasting in Asia." The jubilee celebration proper on April 16 stands under the heading "Crossing Borders, Sharing Christ." It will be opened by Archbishop Claudio Ma. Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in the Vatican, who will give the keynote address. This will be followed by greetings and reflections from the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, Archbishop Joseph Edward Adams, and other Church and secular authorities. Radio Veritas Asia operates in the responsibility of the "Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences" (FABC). It broadcasts in 15 different Asian languages via short-wave. Some programs are also available via the Internet. The studios of RVA are in Quezon City, Metro Manila; whereas the transmitter site is in Palauig, Zambales, some 230 kilometers north-west of Manila. Major parts of the programs are produced in the local target areas, wherever this is possible.

http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/11572-1-10-40-years-of-Radio-Veritas-in-Asia

Related News :

Vatican official guest speaker of Veritas Asia's 40th anniversary celebration
http://cbcpnews.com/?q=node/7910

2nd Regional Conference of AMARC Asia Pacific to be held in Bangalore, India from 10-13 October 2009

March 19, Kathmandu.

The Asia Pacific region of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC Asia Pacific, will hold its 2nd Regional conference and Assembly from 10-13 October 2009 in Bangalore, India. The conference will be hosted by VOICES, a Bangalore based NGO working to promote community broadcasting in India. The regional conference will bring together community radio broadcasters, activists, academics, policy makers, and representatives of the donor community and governments to review the development of the community broadcasting in the Asia Pacific region in the last 4 years. It will take a careful look at thematic areas of development such as the empowerment of women within the CR sector, the role of community broadcasting in peace building, it's role in the face of global climate change and at times of natural disasters as well as for poverty eradication. The regional conference will address practical issues such as capacity building in areas of management, technology, community participation, monitoring and evaluation, media convergence, and networking and the conference will recommend steps that will ensure the way forward for the CR sector in the region. The 2nd Regional Assembly of AMARC Asia-Pacific will be held in conjunction with the Regional Conference. The Asia Pacific chapter of AMARC was formally established in November 2005 by the 1st Regional Assembly of AMARC's members in the Asia Pacific region during the regional conference held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Conference provided a significant push to Community Radio in the Region by bringing together practitioners from Asia-Pacific and beyond along with experts and NGO representatives from the community media and communications rights sector. The Jakarta Regional Assembly elected a regional board and decided upon an action plan aimed at developing the community broadcasting sector in the region. As per the statutes of AMARC Asia Pacific, the regional assembly is held every four years. Registration for the conference will open shortly. For regular updates, please visit:
http://asiapacific.amarc.org/index.php?p=2_Conference_Asia_Pacific_2009
or contact the following for more information:

• AMARC Asia Pacific Regional Office, Kathmandu, Nepal, suman_basnet@asiapacific.amarc.org

· Ms. Divya Wesley, VOICES, Bangalore, India, divya.wesley@gmail.com, voices4all@gmail.com

• AMARC International secretariat, Montreal, Canada, secretariat@si.amarc.org,

About AMARC:

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) is a global non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement worldwide. Its goal is to support and advocate for the development of community and participatory radio on the principles of solidarity and international cooperation. Created in 1983, AMARC now has nearly 3000 members in 106 countries. Its international office is located in Montreal, Canada, and has regional offices in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
____________________
Suman Basnet
Regional Coordinator
AMARC Asia Pacific
Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone: +977 1 5554811 ,Fax: +977 1 5521714 , http://www.asiapacific.amarc.org/

(Suman Basnet via cr-india ml)

Demosntartion of DRM at Bangalore

Dear Friends,
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a new terrestrial digital sound broadcasting technology in MW and SW bands. DRM can provide wide coverage - the inherent advantage of long distance propagation characteristics of this band. Due to robust digital modulation and coding schemes employed, DRM can provide FM like sound quality to the listeners. It also has additional advantage of carrying data transmission along with the audio, easy selection of the frequency for the user etc. World wide, DRM transmission by majority of the public service broadcasters like BBC, Deutsche Welle etc has already started. Recently, AIR too has inaugurated DRM transmission from Delhi. Expert opine that, in coming years, gradually, DRM shall replace the conventional analog sound broadcasting in MW and SW bands. Considering the importance of DRM technology in terrestrial sound broadcasting, Bangalore chapter of Broadcast Engineering Society, has arranged a presentation/demonstration of this technology by me on 23rd March 2009 at 1800 Hrs at BEL officers club, BEL, Jalahalli, Bangalore. Presentation will contain brief like necessity, objective, system summary, broadcast hardware infrastructure, service planning of DRM technology etc. Also, demonstration of field recorded sound of the DRM will be made.

You are requested to attend the presentation.

Yours faithfully
R.Narasimha Swamy
Superintending Engineer,
All India Radio, Raj Bhavan Road,
BANGALORE, 560001
India
Phone: +91-80-22261243(office), +91-80-23512445(Residence)
FAX : +91-080-22261243, Mobile: 09880197441

73
Jose Jacob, VU2JOS
National Institute of Amateur Radio
Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India
Telefax: 91-40-2331 0287 Cell:94416 96043

www.qsl.net/vu2jos www.niar.org

(Via dx_india yg)

Radio Gloria International this Sunday

Date 22nd of March 2009
Time 1300 to 1400 UTC
Channel 6140 KHz
The transmissions of Radio Gloria will be broadcast over the transmitting station Wertachtal in Germany. The transmitter power will be 100 000 Watts, and we will be using a non-directional antenna system (Quadrant antenna).

Good listening
73s Tom

New head for RTM-Malaysia

New head for RTM-Malaysia The new Director-General of Radio Television Malaysia, Ibrahim Yahaya, said today his aim was to ensure that RTM's move towards digitalisation would be successful, Bernama news agency reports.

Read the full story here :
http://tinyurl.com/cpee3m

DRM Consortium plans the way forward with India and Russia

With India and Russia deciding to implement DRM as the solution for digitising radio, the technology is poised to become a widely-used open digital standard worldwide. This is the belief of the DRM Consortium which is planning its next steps for extending reach and expanding the DRM family. At its annual General Assembly to be held in Erlangen, Germany on 26-27th March at the invitation and headquarters of Fraunhofer IIS, the DRM Consortium will hear and debate how the recent decisions of these two big countries to implement DRM for SW and MW bands, will become the driving force for the rollout in the rest of the world. And this becomes a clear opportunity for manufacturers to tap into these huge markets with smart receivers offering the consumers an enhanced radio experience. The DRM General Assembly will also assess the standardisation plans of DRM +, the technology to digitise FM bands with all existing DRM features plus CD quality sound. Scientists and experts involved in the development of DRM+ will explain how this new addition will complete the DRM family and make it a viable, total solution for broadcasters all over the world. An independently commissioned business case study for DRM+ will also be unveiled at the event in southern Germany. Held under the theme of 'DRM Digital Radio - From Possibility to Reality' the General Assembly will be attended by Consortium members, experts, broadcasters, service providers and manufacturers from all over the world. The technical heads of the European and Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Unions will also take part and express their views on the digital scene in the two continents. Ruxandra Obreja, Chairperson, DRM Consortium and Controller, Business Development, BBC World Service says "I am excited and encouraged by the developments in India and Russia with their huge broadcasting networks and where DRM implementation will give radio a new and exciting 'digital' lease of life. The DRM General Assembly is well-timed to discuss the implication of this roll-out and that of DRM+, expected to join the family of openly-available worldwide DRM standards later this year. "

(Press Release)
www.drm.org

CVC AUS A09

CVC Australia A09

via DRW=Darwin:

Chinese to China
2200-0200 on 15170 DRW 250 kW/340 deg
0400-1000 on 17830 DRW 250 kW/340 deg
0630-0900 on 17660 DRW (DRM) /340 deg
1000-1400 on 13660 DRW 250 kW/340 deg
1400-1600 on 11640 DRW 250 kW/340 deg

English to India
0830-1130 on 15555 DRW 250 kW/303 deg
1130-1500 on 13635 DRW 250 kW/303 deg
1500-1600 on 11730 DRW 250 kW/303 deg
1600-1730 on 9680 DRW 250 kW/303 deg

Indonesian to Indonesia
2300-0200 on 15250 DRW 250 kW/290 deg
0400-1000 on 17820 DRW 250 kW/290 deg
1000-1300 on 9670 DRW 250 kW/290 deg
1300-1700 on 6110 DRW 250 kW/290 deg

(Updated 16 Mar,2009)

Community Radio Station to Start at Nuh, Mewat, Haryana

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has signed aGrant of Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating a Community Radio Station at Nuh, Mewat, Haryana, by Seeking Modern Application for Real Transformation (SMART), New Delhi. Letter of Intent had been issued to the NGO on 13.06.2008 for seeking allotment of frequency from Wireless Planning Coordination Wing. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement. Seeking Modern Application for Real Transformation (SMART), New Delhi is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) engaged in the processes development of communities through Information and Communication Technologies as a development tool. SMART believes in promoting community radio as a catalyst in the development of rural and under privileged urban communities particularly women.

(Press Information Bureau, Govt of India)

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=48316

Commentary of Test Matches of India-New Zealand Cricket Series-2009

Running commentary of 1st cricket test match between India-New Zealand was noted on following SW channels :

Lucknow - 4880
Jaipur - 4910
Jeypore - 5040
Bhopal -7180
Thiruvanathapuram - 7180

----

Running commentary of cricket test matches of India-New Zealand Cricket Series-2009 in New Zealand

All India Radio will broadcast ball by ball commentary of three test matches of India-New Zealand Cricket Series-2009 in New Zealand on some of the SW, MW & FM-Gold Channels as per following schedule. There will be hourly updates on FM-Rainbow Channels:

DATE TIME (UTC) EVENT VENUE
18-22 Mar, 2009 2150-0510* 1st Cricket Test Match Seddon Park,Hamilton
26-30 Mar, 2009 2120-0440* 2nd Cricket Test Match Mc Lean Park,Napier
3-7 April, 2009 2120-0440* 3rd Cricket Test Match Basin Reserve,Wellington

*or till the end of the match

Digital radio legislation planned in France

A law which stipulates all new radio receivers, including in-car terminals, should be able to pick up digital radio transmissions is set to be passed in France. In June the French media regulator will publish its migration and licensing plan, with the government giving a clear message to the industry that digital migration will happen and the process should be fast. The law sets out a three step programme to integrate digital radio into all radio receivers:
- 1st September 2010 - radio receiver which can display multimedia content will have digital radio reception enabled with the exception of in-car terminals
- 1st September 2012 - all new terminals will be dedicated to the reception of digital radio and multimedia with the exception of in-car terminals

- 1st September 2013 - all radio receivers will be digital Quentin Howard, President of the WorldDMB Forum, said, "The bold position taken by the French government recognises the need to ensure universal availability of digital receivers and gives the radio industry a solid foundation and certainty with which to plan its digital future." http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4510

Vintage MGR's and Two Bobs Shows Now Online

The only known surviving recordings of the old Swiss Shortwave Merry-Go-Round of the 1960's and Two Bobs shows of the 80's and 90's are now available as MP3 files under The Two Bobs section of www.switzerlandinsound.com

(Robert [Bob] Zanotti via Tibor Szilagyi )

swissinfo celebrates ten years of Swiss news

Friday marks the tenth anniversary of swissinfo.ch, a multimedia platform that produces news about Switzerland in nine languages for an international audience.

Read the full report here
http://tinyurl.com/bty4sy

Radio Dabanga: Dutch lifeline to Darfur refugees

HILVERSUM, Netherlands (AFP) - For an hour each morning, two small rooms in central Netherlands become a lifeline for refugees in war-torn Darfur, cut off from the world and massed in dire camps thousands of kilometres away. At 7:30 am Sudanese time (0430 GMT), Radio Dabanga starts broadcasting its daily programme in five local languages to the remote western Sudan region witness to one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.

Read the AFP report here :
http://tinyurl.com/ctax6h

BBC Russian launches new radio schedule with innovative weekend live news programme

BBC Russian service has introduced a new programme in its newly refreshed radio schedule. From 14th March, live weekend news and current-affairs programme, Pyatiy Etazh (Fifth Floor) will go on air every Saturday and Sunday. Broadcast at 20.00 Moscow Time (MT) (17.00 GMT) Saturdays and Sundays from the fifth floor of Bush House – the London home of the BBC Russian service for more than 60 years – Pyatiy Etazh is a news and current-affairs programme with a difference. As well as covering breaking news stories as they happen, the programme offers audiences a fresh view on key events and trends, seen by studio guests from various walks of life. Pyatiy Etazh is a conversation about latest developments in politics and world affairs, culture and sport, and society, with a special focus on British life. With a different tone to the weekday news and current-affairs programmes on BBC Russian, Pyatiy Etazh aims to create an atmosphere for lively, engaging discussions. Reporters from the BBC Russian team around the world, the wider BBC as well as personalities from different areas of Russian and international life will be invited to take part with their comments and views. The programme will have regular reviews of British press, and it will have its own webpage on bbcrussian.com where the team will stay in touch with listeners and readers about current and future programmes. Pyatiy Etazh producer Ben Tobias says: "We want this programme to be a place where interesting conversations happen. We hope to draw out opinions that haven't been heard before and to shed a new light on stories by looking at them through the eyes of our guests." On Sundays there will be regular appearances by author and broadcaster, Zinovy Zinik, known to BBC audiences as the host of the programme Westend. Zinovy adds: "On Pyatiy Etazh we will put cultural events in the context of politics and life in general, revealing, sometimes invisible, links and connections, and joining lives and developments in stories which, I hope, will engage our audience." The introduction of Pyatiy Etazh is part of a wider change in the BBC Russian radio output. Head of BBC Russian, Sarah Gibson, comments: "In an increasingly competitive environment and with fast-changing audience demands, we have decided to focus our services on what audiences primarily expect from the BBC – high quality news and current affairs, and strong analysis of global events, in whatever area of life they occur. "But at weekends audiences want something a little different. We also know that they are very interested in British life. I think Pyatiy Etazh will bring audiences the content they expect in a format that they will enjoy." In other changes to the BBC Russian radio schedule, the flagship morning weekday news and current affairs programme, Utro na BBC, has been increased by half an hour to three-and-a-half hours each weekday. It now starts at 06.30 MT. The afternoon weekday drivetime news and current affairs sequence, Vecher na BBC – which includes the hour-long BBSeva hosted by Seva Novgorodsev – will be increased in April by one hour to four hours each day (from 17.00 MT). In the new schedule, the last hour of this sequence, from 20.00 MT, will include the BBC's extended interactive programme, Vam Slovo. Sarah Gibson concludes: "We are excited by these changes and believe that together they will deliver an even better service to our audience in Russia and around the world."

(BBC World Service Publicity)

'Many reasons for radio to go digital'

There are many reasons why radio broadcasters should go digital, the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium was told today. The CEO of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said that although digital radio was unlikely to be a money-earner for the next few years, broadcasters should not hesitate to embrace it.

Read the full story here :
http://tinyurl.com/dawqv2

"Dxers Guide" celebrates 5th anniversary

Quarterly DX newsletter from "Ardic DX Club" is celebrating its 5th anniversary.

Jan-Mar 2009 issue of "Dxers Guide" can be downloaded using this direct link :
http://vaanoliulagam.googlepages.com/DGJan-Mar2k9.pdf

or from this link :
http://dxersguide.blogspot.com/2009/03/dxers-guide-janmar-2009.html

For hard copy and subscription details contact :
ARDIC DX CLUB SUBSCRIPTION RATES
ONE YEAR INDIA Rs. 75.00, TWO YEAR Rs. 150.00
REST OF THE WORLD 12 IRC for one Year and 24 IRC for two year

Send your comments to :
ardicdxclub (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) in

If you subscribe the hard copy of Dxers Guide, you will get the bonus copy of 32 pages A09 booklet. This publication also covers DRM to Asia, DX Programme list and WRN Schedule in this booklet. All these things in one pack. Great bonanza for DX enthusiasts in India.

ADXC newsletter is published by :
Jaisakthivel, 59, Annai Sathya Nagar,
Arumbakkam,Chennai-600106,India
Visit: www.dxersguide.blogspot.com
Mobile: +91 98413 66086

Radio and Change

morungexpress
As Nepal continues in its transition of defining its political destiny as a new born republic, what remains certain is the fact that the Radio assumes an indispensable role in shaping the opinion of the people; and hence the fate of its future. A distinctive and central feature of Nepal's sovereign dispensation has been its willingness to facilitate the development of the Radio as a means to encourage the making of an informed society. Indeed, the Radio has been a central pathway of connecting and empowering the diverse people of Nepal as a dynamic political entity.

Read the full story here :
http://www.morungexpress.com/editorial/17027.html

India is Going DRM

After extensive trials in 2007, the Indian state broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has decided that DRM is the best technology for converting its vast public service broadcasting network to digital. After conducting trials over a one and a half year period, AIR has started regular DRM transmissions from a 250 KW SW transmitter installed near the capital city New Delhi in January this year. AIR is also in the process of converting 4 shortwave transmitters (250 kW) to DRM mode by March 2009. There are plans to introduce DRM transmissions in 42 new medium wave, 36 existing medium wave and 5 new short wave transmitters. However, the cost and availability of good receivers remains the main issue in their implementation strategy for the next five years. The BES (Broadcast Engineering Society of India) event held in New Delhi on 23rd, 24th and 25th February was a great opportunity for the Consortium to interact with AIR at a very senior level and understand the broadcaster's plans and problems. While Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Chairperson, was the keynote speaker for the event, the DRM workshop on the opening day and DRM session next day was attended by about 300-400 delegates and had excellent presentations by Lindsay Cornell and Julian Cable (BBC), Thomas Feustel (Deutsche Welle), Joseph Troxler (Thomson), T V B Subbramnyam (Analog Devices), S R Aggrawal, (AIR), Vineeta Dwivedi (DRM).

(Source : www.drm.org)

http://www.drm.org/news/detail/news/india-is-going-drm/

New-look bbcvietnamese.com website offers more interactivity

BBC World Service has re-launched its bbcvietnamese.com website with a new-look, enhanced interactivity and user-generated content and other improved functions and features. The new, wide format, site offers Vietnamese-speaking audiences the opportunity to post their own photography and video clips as well as emails with their news stories and audio comments. Other new features of the revamped site include special sections covering the United Kingdom and Premiership Football. In addition to the BBC's latest international news and information in text, audio and video, users can continue to listen to the BBC Vietnamese radio programmes online and watch BBC video news clips. Head of BBC Vietnamese, Giang Nguyen, says: "In the previous months, bbcvietnamese.com has received up to 21 million page impressions a month, and the number of unique users has increased by more than 60% between January 2008 and January 2009. "The new-look website has exciting new features and design which, in addition to showcasing our best editorial content, allow us to accommodate even wider user participation. Interactivity performs especially well as users of our website welcome the opportunity to add their comments to global debates. "That is why, as a next step, we are planning to set up message boards on bbcvietnamese.com where our users can post their views on various issues and developments. All this will help us to further expand our audience base among Vietnamese-speakers and engage them, wherever they are, in a global conversation."

BBC Vietnamese is a multimedia broadcaster, bringing together radio listeners and internet users in Vietnam and around the world and enriching their lives with impartial and informative programming. bbcvietnamese.com offers coverage of international, East Asian and Vietnamese current affairs, culture, sport and business, plus a popular Learning English page. The thriving Forum page regularly attracts thousands of emails in response to stories and discussions. BBC Vietnamese broadcasts at 21.30-21.45 (Vietnam Time) every day. At weekends, news bulletins are followed by in-depth interviews and features. BBC Vietnamese also broadcasts a wide range of Learning English programmes designed to improve English comprehension and speaking skills at all levels. These and other programmes are available to partner stations to rebroadcast. BBC Vietnamese is available on AM 1503 kHz in Vietnam, on shortwave across East Asia, on FM via local partner stations in the USA and Australia, and online at bbcvietnamese.com.

(BBC World Service Publicity)

2009 CBA Broadcasting Awards

BBC, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, All India Radio, and New Delhi Television (India) are the main winners of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association's Broadcasting Awards for 2009. The awards were presented in Nuku'alofa, Tonga on Wednesday 11 February. Another small ceremony was held at BAFTA, London on 11 March. The prestigious Elizabeth R Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Service Broadcasting was awarded to Javad Mottaghi, Director, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development.

Read the full report here : http://tinyurl.com/adxh28

Training 'important' for success of digital radio

Studio production staff will need to be properly trained to ensure that digital radio reaches its full potential, the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium in Kuala Lumpur heard today.

Read the full report here : http://tinyurl.com/bqr8gq

Broadcasters 'must go ahead with digital migration'

The broadcasting industry cannot afford to defer the move to digital transmissions despite the economic turndown, the ABU Secretary-General, David Astley, said today.

Read the full story here : http://tinyurl.com/dg5s9b

Loyal VOA listener in Malawi receives long-awaited prize

Washington, D.C., March 11, 2009 – It took him a year to get it, but Benjamin Chinkhunda, a farmer from Malawi, was happy to wait for the prize he won from the Voice of America (VOA), it was delivered to him in his village by the U.S. ambassador. Ambassador Peter Bodde traveled last month to Nkhomphola, a remote village along the Malawi-Zambia border, to present Chinkhunda, 48, with a shortwave radio and a book about American presidents, prizes for winning an essay contest that asked the question: "Why are the American people so proud of their nation's Constitution?" "The fact is that all (American) achievements were made because of the conducive climate created by the Constitution," Chinkhunda wrote. "Established in 1787, the Constitution, which replaced the discredited Articles of Confederation, enabled the then-leaders of American to save their country from … disaster." The farmer, who spends long periods away from home tending the fields, said he lamented that Malawi did not have leaders such as James Madison and James Wilson. Bodde praised Chinkhunda, saying, "I believe he has more knowledge about the American Constitution than many Americans." Many villagers, including Chinkhunda's parents and siblings, the village chief, and local school children and their headmaster attended the awards ceremony, which received wide press coverage in Malawi. Chinkhunda said he will enjoy using his radio to listen to his favorite programs. "During my leisure time, I listen to VOA. Music Time in Africa, African Beat, Our World are some of my favorite programs, including World News. Music Time in Africa sponsored the contest that ended in 2007. Chinkhunda's essay was one of 20 award winners – the only one in Malawi - among over 3,000 entries. VOA launched Music Time in Africa in 1965 with host Leo Sarkisian. The show features traditional and contemporary music from the continent and is broadcast every Saturday and Sunday to listeners across Africa.

EMR this Sunday with the last part of the Radio Jackie History

EMR this Sunday with the last parts of the Radio Jackie History

Time Channel Date
1300 to 1400 utc 6140 khz 15th of March 2009

The end in 1985 and a new beginning in 2003, The Radio Jackie History Parts 7/8 with Colin King . EMR/ Internet repeat times - next Sunday and Monday, All programmes are also repeated via the EMR internet stream at: www.emr.org.uk and click on the "EMR internet radio" button which you will find throughout the website (see the menu on left). The programme will be repeated on Sunday and Monday at the following times: 1600 - 1900 – 2100 utc.
The Radio Jackie book can be bought from www.jackiebooks.com

The price in the UK is £10 + postage & packing.

Good Listening

73s Tom

US Supported Foreign Broadcasting Adapts to Digital Age

By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Staff Writer
Washington - The U.S. government's premier international radio and television broadcast organization - the Voice of America (VOA) - will continue to provide timely news and information to more than 130 million people worldwide while pursing innovative ways to engage this audience, says VOA Director Dan Austin.

Read the full report here : http://tinyurl.com/d4ql3f

From 10.3 % to 0.2 % in just one year - VOA Audience in Russia Obliterated by a Decision of US Govt Officials

Read the freeonlinemedia.org story here :

http://tinyurl.com/b6esqt

Interesting experiment by Deutschlandradio to all LW&MW enthusiasts

In search of participants for ARCOPARLANTE, a live radio experiment !

On March 21st, together with the radio-art group of Deutschlandradio, I will organize a big STILLE POST ("telephone", telefono senza fili etc...) game. We will be using the middle/long waves and internet streams of the radio station. For four hours, between 8 pm and midnight, european time (2pm and 6pm USA east coast time ), a speaker will broadcast several transcriptions from my personal collection of "incomprehensible radio broadcastings". These are recordings of broadcasted speech where neither the language spoken nor the meaning are decipherable. The only certain thing is that they will contain HUMAN SPEECH. The listeners ( that's YOU !!) will be asked to transcribe what they hear and ( believe to ) understand. Then send it back to us, via email or telephone. In the best case scenario, this will happen in real time. We will be including all the new transcriptions we receive from you into the broadcasting. We will give them to the speaker right away and then feed the "arcoparlante" circle one more time. You are also welcome to send us your transcriptions LATER, by post, passenger pigeon, by hand, etc.... We encourage all listeners (yes, YOU, again !) to record the moments while you listen and try to figure out what the texts are. Feel free to use any recording device (from very good to very bad quality). We'll take anything from cassettes, mini cassettes, cd's, minidisks, audiofiles etc.... So, invite some friends for dinner (if you are in Europe or Africa), for a late lunch or coffee ( if in the Americas) or for breakfast (if you are in Asia ), turn on your radio and play with us !! Eventually, I will re-compose all the scattered recorded bits and pieces. All these materials will become the building blocks of a final composition. This is how you can tune in and receive the "arcoparlante" broadcasting on your radio or computer :

Medium Wave : 855 and 990 KHz
Long Wave : 153 and 177 KHz
Satellite : ASTRA 1, Transponder 77, ZDF.vision
Internet stream : http://www.dradio.de/streaming/dplus.m3u

This is how you can reach us :
Snail mail :
Deutschlandradio Kultur
Hörspiel / Klangkunst
Hans-Rosenthal-Platz
D-10825 Berlin
e-mail : klangkunst@dradio.de
Phone : 00 800 800 22 11 (only during the broadcast )
Fax : +49 (0)30 8503 940 5585

We hope to hear from you and to play with you !! And don't forget to spread the word about ARCOPARLANTE !

Cheers from Berlin,
Alessandro Bosetti

(Via Herman Boel, www.emwg.info EMWG Mailing List)

Feba India launches internet radio

Febaonline is streaming audio 24/7 via the internet in a number of languages for India to reach the cyber audiences of different faiths with the Gospel and strengthen the faith of Christians.Computer users can hear Feba India's radio programmes in their language of choice at any time by logging on to http://www.febaonline.org/ Febaonline was launched on Saturday 10 January. The home page features a radio dial that listeners can use to tune in to a programme by language, with a wide genre of programmes catering to audiences between 7 to 70 and beyond. The web site also includes a station listing, programme schedule and a live chat group. Kenneth Edward, Programme Coordinator says: "Though the project is still in the teething stage, we already have partners joining us with paid airtime." In addition to people leaving online messages, Kenneth says: "We also have many people coming online to chat with us through the site."

(Source : Feba Radio)

FM Radios catching up fast in bordering districts with Nepal

Patna, (Bihar Times): Several FM radio channels have come up recently in the bordering districts of Nepal. They are not only emerging as popular mode of entertainment for the people across the border in Bihar but they are also being used by the politicians of the state for their election campaign. According to a report in the Times of India the FM radio stations they will broadcast the speeches of politicians, mostly in Maithili, the language spoken in most of the bordering districts of Bihar as they are popular in Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi etc. The channels use both Nepali and Maithili for their programmes. Madhesis (people of Indian origina living in Nepal) speak Maithili.

Read the full report here :

http://bihartimes.com/Newsbihar/2009/March/Newsbihar08March1.html

HCJB Global-UK Set to Relaunch Free Audio Online Site

HCJB Global-UK announced that it will officially relaunch its free audio online site on Monday, March 16, providing short inspirational audio clips for teachers, church workers and radio broadcasters. Audiopot (www.audiopot.org) is Britain's only online library of creative Christian audio, containing nearly 2,000 clips, including award-winning material from the country's top Christian radio production groups. The audio spots are available to preview and download at no charge. "Everything on Audiopot is designed to challenge a non-Christian audience about the Christian faith," said HCJB Global-UK Director Colin Lowther. "It consists of thoughts, interviews, features, drama, faith stories and Christian commercials, all of which are creative, thought-provoking and rarely longer than three minutes. You won't find any sermons on Audiopot!" The improved website includes an innovative page for teachers and those who work in education. "Teachers are always on the lookout for creative ways to get to the heart of the matter with young people, so the EDSPACE section of the website is a place for them to find audio that will shed new light on spiritual topics, using humor and real life stories, keeping everything firmly in the culture of today," Lowther added.

Read the full story here :

http://www.hcjb.org/news/hcjb_global_in_the_news/hcjb_global-uk_set_to_relaunch_free_audio_online_site.html

Latvian 9290 relay news!

The Latvian 9290 khz (low powered 10kw) relay project that was due to return to the air in February 2009 is now on hold until later this year as the financial crisis has affected the station.Let us hope the 9290 khz relay returns later this year.

73s Tom Taylor

Israel Radio cutting AM broadcasts, possibly harming English News

Mar 7, 2009 22:43 Updated Mar 8, 2009 12:31
By GREER FAY CASHMAN
The Israel Broadcasting Authority is gradually eliminating AM (medium-wave) broadcasts, a cost-cutting measure that will seriously harm Israel Radio's news in English and a dozen other foreign languages, The Jerusalem Post has learned. A date for closing the AM service completely has not been announced, but insiders indicated that the move was imminent. Until recently, anyone wishing to ascertain the frequencies used by the IBA for its radio news could find details of both AM and FM transmitters on its Web site. The AM listings have, however, disappeared without any explanation.

Read the full story here :

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1236269366914&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

RRI's 2009 QSL card series on vintage receivers

Radio Romania International is issuing a series of QSL cards on vintage receivers for the year 2009.

Jan 2009 QSL
PIONIER S 503 A, RADIO POPULAR, ROMANIA, 1950
Pionier S 503 A is a receiver made by Radio Popular, the name given after
nationalization to the Romanian Anonymous Society Philips. Pionier is made
after a Russian model, being the second type of receiver made in Romania. At
first, the receiver was electrically powered but later Radio Popular had to
produce a different type of receiver running on batteries.

http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl01.jpg

Feb 2009 QSL
BLAUPUNKT 5W641, GERMANY, 1941
5W641 is a Blaupunkt radio receiver. Its design is simple and it was
produced during WWII between 1940 and 1942. A small amount of metal was used
to make this type of receiver. It was famous for the quality of its sound.
The box of the receiver is double the size of the mechanism inside. It is
operated on 6 waves, with extended short waves dial.

http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl02.jpg

Mar 2009 QSL
'RADIO POPULAR' GALENA, ROMANIA, 1949 'RADIO PROGRES' GALENA RADIO, ROMANIA, 1948

http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl03.jpg

Dragan Lekic infroms photo's of all 12 RRI QSLs for 2009 is available at :

http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl01.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl02.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl03.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl04.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl05.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl06.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl07.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl08.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl09.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl10.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl11.jpg
http://www.rri.ro/images/2009qsl12.jpg

OE100 Austrian Special Event Station

A press release by Wolf, OE1WHC, from the Documentary Archive Radio Communication, states: "The Radio Club of America was established in January, 1909, and issued the first ham licences in April of that year. "To celebrate 100 Years of Amateur Radio, the Amateur Radio Section of ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Documentary Archives Radio Communication /QSL Collection, will activate, April 1-30th, a special event station with the callsign OE100M. "OE100M is an official 'International Marconi Day' station.
"Contacts made on Saturday, April 25th, are valid for the IMD Award. QSL via the OE Bureau or direct to OE1WHC. "Cards without SASE and IRC or green stamps to cover postage will be processed via Bureau."

To see the QSL, download the file at: http://www.qsl.at/down/oe100m.tif

Southgate http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2009/oe100_ses.htm

(Mike Terry via dxld yahoogroup)

Scandinavian Weekend Radio

Scandinavian Weekend Radio starting 6 March 2009, broadcast 22 hours utc this evening [for 24 hours].
Frequencies: (Only one frequency on each band in use at time)
Check http://www.swradio.net/schedule.htm
1602 kHz MW
5980 or 6170 kHz on 49 mb
11690 or 11720 kHz on 25 mb
http://www.swradio.net/index2.htm

(Alpo Heinonen, Scandinavian Weekend Radio)

RTI adds two new programs

Radio Taiwan English Service has added two brand new shows in March. Taiwan Inc, which is aired on Wednesday, offers a unique look at Taiwan's economic situations. Sino Files, aired on Sunday, is a 15-minute program about China and Chinese culture. Meanwhile, the 30-minute weekday music program "Soundwaves" has been cancelled.

(Source : Radio Taiwan Intl.)

Seller of Gandhi items tells VOA he never anticipated controversy

Washington, D.C., March 2, 2009 - James Otis, the California collector who plans to sell possessions once owned by Mahatma Gandhi, told the Voice of America's (VOA) Hindi Service that it never occurred to him the sale would create such an uproar. "I don't want anger or conflict or any kind of fury," said Otis, a peace activist, in his first telephone interview from Los Angeles Friday with VOA's Niharika Acharya.Otis told Acharya that he collected Gandhi's possessions, including sandals and glasses, over a number of years from various sources such as dealers, family members and auctions. The interview was first posted at www.VOANews.com/Hindi When he signed a contract with a New York auction house, Antiquorum Auctioneers, to sell the items, Otis said it "didn't occur there would be an outcry over these possessions . . . Gandhi didn't value possessions . . . and I don't either." Officials in the Government of India have said they would buy the possessions, which are scheduled to be auctioned on March 4, 2009. Otis said Indian officials have not approached him, but if they did, he would be willing to try to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of all parties. Otis is currently making a documentary with Lester Kurtz, a professor of sociology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., entitled, Peaceful Warriors: The History of Nonviolence. Otis, who said his long-term goal is to promote non-violence worldwide, would like to see Gandhi's possessions go on worldwide tour as a way of educating people about peace.Besides Gandhi's glasses and sandals, the items include a pocket watch and utensils.

(VOA Press Release)

AIR to get new technologies

The Government says new technologies will be provided to All India Radio to make it one of the leading public services broadcaster in the world. Speaking at the Akashvani Annual Award ceremony in Lucknow on Saturday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Mr. Anand Sharma said that during the 11th Five Year Plan All India Radio will be digitalised with 21st century technology.

Read the full report here :
http://www.newsonair.com/news.asp?cat=national&id=NN5668

Bhutan King appoints radio head as press secretary

A Bhutanese broadcaster and journalist well known to ABU members, Dorji Wangchuk, has been appointed as Press Secretary to the King of Bhutan.Mr Wangchuk, who is also Managing Director of Bhutan's first private FM station, Centennial Radio, will be the country's first press secretary.

Read the full story here :

http://tinyurl.com/bzfavd

FEBC Philippines Breaks Ground On Newest Radio Station

Written by Lyn de Guzman Sunday, 15 February 2009

FEBC Philippines President Dan Andrew Cura led the FEBC family, together with volunteer program producers and church pastors, in the groundbreaking ceremony for the future studio building of 1143 DZMR Santiago at Sefton Village, Santiago City last January 29.

Read the full story here :

http://www.febcintl.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=147

New Amateur Radio Net in India

Jai Bharath Net will be started from 01 March 2009 on 14150 kHz at 1400 UTC that is 1930 IST. Net Controller is OM Datta VU2DSI or alternate OM Suhas VU2SMN. Hope you will be able to check-in everynight and make it a success. The person checking in most times in a year is to ge given a special award, as also to the one who gives regular interesting DX/QSLing/and other useful information

(de Arasu VU2UR)

Radio Japan A09 in Indian Languages

(Effective from 29th Mar to 25th Oct, 2009)

Bengali 1300 - 1345 UTC (1830-1915 IST) 15215 kHz
Hindi 1345 - 1430 UTC (1915-2000 IST) 9585 kHz
Urdu 1430 -1515 UTC (2000-2045 IST) 9680 kHz

Reports to :nhkworld@nhk.jp

Avinash Premraj of Bangalore is Art of Radio Hawaii Competition Winner!

Winner of Art of Radio Hawaii Competition

Aloha and thanks so much for entering the recent Art of Radio Hawaii Competition here at the Radio Heritage Foundation [www.radioheritage.net]......we were very happy to hear from you. Entries came from all over the globe: USA, India, Bangladesh, China, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Spain, Venezuela, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Mexico, Hong Kong and France. The question was: what is the callsign of the Hawaiian AM radio station that began broadcasting in 1957 from the Kaiser Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki. The answer we wanted was: KHVH and 69% of your entries were correct! Well done everyone who took the time to visit the on-line exhibition and send in an entry! Thanks for your many kind comments about the exhibition too....

Congratulations to Avinash Premraj of Bangalore, India whose name was drawn as the winner of a copy of the 2009 World Radio TV Handbook!

Avinash enjoys listening to radio from around the world amongst other interests, and we're sure you'll find plenty of information in the book to help you discover more of the world of radio Avinash. Again, congratulations! This has been one of our most popular competitions. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin newspaper in Hawaii ran an article about it in Erika Engle's The Buzz radio column and a number of people who used to work at Hawaiian radio stations also took the time to write.... We're celebrating 50 years of Hawaiian statehood right through 2009, and our next competition features a great prize thanks to our good friends at RadioLogoLand [www.radiologoland.com]...a vintage KPOI logo t-shirt! They've got a great new website too.... Look out for this new Art of Radio Hawaii Competition coming soon, and make sure you get your entry in to win this special KPOI t-shirt prize courtesy of RadioLogoLand! Of course, we've got other competitions through 2009 as well....so keep watching your inbox for our mails.... In the meantime, enjoy all our content at www.radioheritage.net, and also watch out for some great book bargains coming your way during March as we clear our stock of great radio books and CDs and give you big savings!

Mahalo
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.net