Monday, November 29, 2010

AIR B10 SW schedules

Updated B-2010 schedules of All India Raduo is now available as follows:

SW Frequency wise: http://qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm

External Service (Time wise): http://qsl.net/vu2jos/es/time.htm

External Service (language wise): http://qsl.net/vu2jos/es/Language.htm

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 http://www.niar.org/

(Via dx_india list)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

SLBC backs digital radio forum in Colombo

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) is supporting pioneering efforts to introduce cutting edge technology that would take radio broadcasting in Asia to the digital era. The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium has announced a DRM+ trial and workshop in Colombo to boost these initiatives.
The consortium is joining forces with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC), SLBC and Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to run a trial of DRM+ and showcase its benefits.

Full story at :
http://www.thebottomline.lk/2010/11/28/page27.html

Monday, November 22, 2010

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Noel Curran is new Director-General of RTÉ

The Chairperson of the RTÉ Board, Tom Savage, has announced that the RTÉ Board has, with the consent of the government and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, appointed Noel Curran as the next Director-General of RTÉ.

In announcing the appointment the Chairperson, Tom Savage, said: "This appointment follows an exceptionally intensive and exhaustive international recruitment process. Noel Curran honed his award-winning skills as a journalist first in print and then in broadcasting. He has produced both Current Affairs and Entertainment with distinction. He was Managing Director of Television through seven years of creative change."

"Noel has the editorial acumen, the cultural assurance, and the business flair to lead RTÉ into a new era of public service. In these especially challenging times, I am very pleased to announce his appointment and I wish Noel well as Director-General."

Noel Curran said: "I am absolutely delighted to be appointed Director-General. RTÉ has a unique role and a unique responsibility in Irish life. It also has a unique relationship with its audience. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I hope to see that bond strengthened."
(Source : RTE)

BBG Broadcasts Attract Large Audiences in Key Countries

U.S. international broadcasters continue to draw large global audiences on radio, television, and the Internet in key countries, according to the newest Broadcasting Board of Governors' (BBG) Performance and Accountability Report released today.

Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, and Burma are among countries where the five entities under the BBG reached substantial audiences in 2010. The BBG broadcasters are increasingly popular in conflict-prone regions and those that lack reliable sources of news and information.
Expanded transmissions, new television offerings and additional affiliate distribution platforms helped to increase audiences.

In Afghanistan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Radio Azadi and Voice of America's (VOA) Afghan service reach 65% of adults, including in remote tribal areas. In Burma, the BBG's first-ever national survey found that more than eight million people tune in to
Radio Free Asia (RFA) and VOA. The U.S. is the leading international broadcaster in Iran, with the VOA's popular Persian News Network and RFE'/RL's Radio Farda. In Iraq, Alhurra TV reaches 66% of adults each week, and Radio Sawa is the second most popular radio station in the country. In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, VOA reaches more than 25 million people weekly.

The BBG is delivering news to growing audiences on the Internet, via text messaging and new media platforms, continuing its active outreach to young audiences, independent bloggers and nascent social networks around the world. The largest BBG Internet audiences are in Iraq, Mogadishu, Somalia, Kuwait, and Oman.

Overall, the report finds that more than 165 million people turn to U.S. international broadcasts across media platforms every week and that most consistently find programming consistently highly reliable and informative.

The figure is a decrease from the BBG's 2009 audience estimate of 171 million people. The report notes that U.S. international broadcasting faces ongoing distribution challenges including increased local competition, crowded FM markets and fragmented TV markets. Persistent jamming in Iran contributed to the audience decline as did the discontinuation of VOA broadcasts in Hindi. Increased media fragmentation in Pakistan and the loss of key affiliates in Ukraine were additional contributors to audience declines.

Harassment and threats to BBG journalists in Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Serbia, Yemen, and Uzbekistan along with censorship and jamming in many countries including China, Iran and Cuba are ongoing challenges.

The BBG's global audience estimate is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR), which catalogs the Agency's achievements against a series of defined performance measures and results.

(http://media.voanews.com/documents/BBG+FY+2010+PAR1.pdf)

Further information can be found here
(http://www.bbg.gov/reports/performance-reports/BBG_Research_Methodology.html)
on research methodology and measures including explanation of difficulties in countries where information is tightly controlled and tuning in to foreign broadcasts is sometimes illegal.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is to promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multimedia communication of accurate, objective, and balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas. BBG broadcasting organizations include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí).

(BBG Press release)

Radio Free Sarawak goes on air

Radio Free Sarawak, aimed as an alternative voice for Sarawakians, went on air on 15th Nov 2010.

The transmission details of Radio Free Sarawak are as follows:

1st transmission: 0630-0730 local time (2230-2330 GMT) on 7590 kHz (short wave)
2nd transmission: 1800-1900 local time (1000-1100 GMT) on 15680 kHz (short wave)

Here's the Radio Free Sarawak website
http://radiofreesarawak.org/

Radio Free Sarawak as received from *2232UT on Nov.15 by many Japanese DXer on 7590kHz.
http://ani.atz.jp/DX/bbs1/img/10327.mp3
( by Japnese dxer Hiro in Akita )

It was confirmed in Nov.14 at *2230 by Japanese dxer Hiroshi.
http://hiroshi.mediacat-blog.jp/e59932.html
in Japanese.

Thanks to Japanese dxers Hiroshi & Sei-ichi Hasegwa for tracking down this station.

Related News :

Monday, November 15, 2010

Damage to Shortwave Transmitter Destined for Swaziland a Blessing in Disguise

The project to upgrade a 50,000-watt shortwave transmitter for use by partner Trans World Radio (TWR) in Swaziland came to a smoking and noisy halt within days of when the transmitter was to be shipped last spring.

Read the full story here : http://tinyurl.com/2g7gc9f

Friday, November 12, 2010

Reliance debuts Big Net Radio; 1st web talk radio

Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) has launched India's first internet talk radio, which will be named BIG Net Radio. This internet radio will be available both in 3G enabled mobiles and computers .....

More at :
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/11/12/tech-reliance-launches-internet-radio-big-net-song.html

IRRS evening frequency change effective Nov. 13, 2010

Hello There from Milan, Italy!

Please notice that effective Nov. 13, 2010, IRRS-Shortwave (the Italian Radio Relay Service) will leave the current frequency of 7290 kHz for our daily evening broadcast from 1900-2000 UTC.

Our new daily frequency from 20:00-21:00 CET (19:00-20:00 UTC, winter) will be 6090 kHz to Europe, North Africa and Middle East. We are making this change to improve reception and avoid interference by other stations in our target area.

There is no other expected changes to our current schedule.

Please check our complete frequency and program schedules at :

http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules/

IRRS-Shortwave, IPAR (International Public Radio) and EGR (European Gospel Radio) are services provided by NEXUS-International Broadcasting Association, a non profit media and broadcasting organization based in Milan, Italy. For more information please visit our web sites at:

http://www.nexus.org

Your letters and comments on our programs are always welcome by email at:

reports (at) nexus (dot) org

or by snail.mail to:

IRRS-Shortwave,
PO BOX 10980,
I-20131 Milano, ITALY

Thanks!

73,

Ron

--
Ron Norton NEXUS-Int'l Broadcasting Association

AIR celebrates National Broadcasting Day today

Nov 12, 5:30 PM
National Public Service Broadcasting Day is being celebrated today. This day is celebrated on 12th of November every year in the counrty to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's first and only visit to All India Radio studio.

It was on this day in 1947 Gandhiji spoke on Radio to the refugees from Pakistan stationed at refugee camps in Kurukshetra.

A function was organised in the premises of Broadcasting House today and Gandhiji's address was played to mark the occassion.

(Source : www.newsonair.com)

BBC Urdu launches single number for news on all Pakistan mobile phone networks

Mobile phone users across Pakistan can now listen to news and sports bulletins from BBC Urdu on their phones via the dedicated short code 447474. By calling the number, subscribers to any mobile phone network in Pakistan can now choose between the BBC's one-minute news or sports bulletins on demand.

The BBC bulletins are updated throughout the day and the number of updates will increase if there is a breaking news story. Calls cost 3 Rupees per minute.

Head of BBC Urdu, Aamer Ahmed Khan, says: "Pakistan is among the world's most dynamic news markets, evidenced by the success of our news bulletins through our partner FM stations.

"We are confident that our mobile news offer will be similarly welcomed in the country's highly competitive market because of the credibility and quality associated with the BBC Urdu brand."

BBC World Service Business Development Manager for South Asia, Helen Kathuria, adds: "The BBC is always looking for ways to reach our audiences – with people's changing lifestyles it's especially important for us to reach people in ways that suit them.

"For the first time, we are able to offer on-demand news to everyone in Pakistan with a mobile phone, regardless of the network they are using."

There are about 100 million mobile phone subscribers in Pakistan.

BBC Urdu broadcasts two times a day for an hour and a half. Its flagship programme Sairbeen (20.00 Pakistan time) provides 60 minutes of news and current affairs.The largest Urdu-language news website in the world bbcurdu.com and its mobile version bbcurdu.com/mobile offers up-to-the minute news, features and analysis on South Asia and the rest of the world, in text, audio and video.

Its thriving interactive offer includes major debates, forums, blogs, votes etc. BBC Urdu's official channel on YouTube youtube.com/bbcurdu offers video news and features from the BBC's unparalleled global network of correspondents, including BBC Urdu reports covering events and issues of special interest to regional and diaspora audiences.

BBC Urdu is part of BBC World Service, an international multimedia broadcaster delivering 32 language and regional services. It uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of 180 million globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. Its news sites, which received 7.1 million weekly visitors in September 2010, include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate.

It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take BBC content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices. For more information, visit the BBC World Service website. For a weekly alert about BBC World Service programmes, sign up for the BBC World Agenda e-guide via the BBC World Service website.

The BBC attracts a global audience of 241 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service and the BBC World News television channel.

(BBC World Service International Publicity)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

DRM Newsletter 11/2010

DRM Newsletter 11/2010

http://drm.org/old/index.php?id=372

- Renewed DRM Receiver Interest
- All India Radio drives digital change in India
- DRM member honoured at ABU General Assembly
- DRM+ progress at ITU (International Telecommunications Union) meeting

Innovative new VOA english learning program catching on fast

Washington, D.C., November 10, 2010 – Fans of Voice of America's new English language learning program, The Classroom, are praising the interactive, online lessons.

The free program offers customized, interactive lessons built around news articles from VOA's widely-respected Special English webpage and broadcasts. Individual lessons are designed to increase vocabulary and improve listening and comprehension skills. In the Interactive Learning Lab users can find wordbooks and a dictionary.

In its first week online more than 150,000 people visited The Classroom, which offers English language lessons for beginning, intermediate and advanced learners.

One new user in Indonesia says, "What I wanted and waited for a long time, is finally come true, and the answer is The Classroom."

Click on The Classroom at www.voanews.com/theclassroom, and find out what English language learners from around the world are so excited about.

For Farsi, Mandarin and Russian speakers interested in learning English with a program tailored to their own language, check out www.goEnglish.me, another free, and innovative online learning program from Voice of America.

For more information about VOA or to become friends with us on Facebook or other social media sites, visit www.voanews.com.

(VOA Press Release)

AIH3 DXpedition to Aihkiniemi

The first ever purpose-built DXpedition base in Finland was constructed earlier this year, tested by us in October, and found to be excellent. A spartan cabin in the middle of nowhere is equipped with nine beverage antennas, each almost a kilometer in length. A bunch of New Zealand AM stations and a 10-watt highway advisory station from Alaska were among the highlights heard in Aihkiniemi.

Read more at http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/aih3rep.dx

73
Mika Makelainen
Discover http://www.DXing.info/
Join http://www.DXing.info/community/

(Via mwdx list)

Sudan jams UN radio's website

Sudanese authorities were late on Wednesday blocking access to the UN-backed Miraya FM radio's website

http://tinyurl.com/27smz4s

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Digital Radio: Let's Just Get On With It!

http://tinyurl.com/2c4clxq

Licenses of FM radio stations cancelled in Nepal

Licenses of 77 radio and TV channels cancelled in Nepal

http://tinyurl.com/27nwlg8

EBU Conference Gives Adrenaline Boost to Digital Radio

http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/news/2009/tcm_6-69029.php

India's first Hospital Radio

Community Radio Benziger, India's first hospital radio & the very first FM radio station of Kollam City was inaugurated on Nov 7, 2010 4 pm at Bishop Benziger Hospital, Bishop Jerome Nagar, Kollam, Kerala.

Frequency : 107.8 Mhz
Hours of txn : 0630 to 2130 hours IST
Power : 50 watts

Website of Bishop Benziger Hospital Community Radio
http://www.bishopbenzigerhospital.com/communityradio.html


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

Voice of Russia Listeners Conference in New Delhi

Voice of Russia Hindi Service is organising a conference for radio listeners at Russian Science & Cultural Centre, New Delhi. The 5th Voice of Russia listeners conference will be held as following :

Date : Dec 08, 2010 (Wed) - 11am IST
Venue :
Russian Science & Cultural CentreEmbassy of Russia, Cultural Department24,Feroz Shah RoadNew Delhi 110001.E - mail: delhi@russiancentre.org.in

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Amateur weathermen saw cyclone Jal fizzling out

Amateur weather observers and ham radio enthusiasts had put out bulletins early on Sunday fternoon saying that a fizzled-out cyclone had crossed the coast -- nearly 10 hours before the ime estimated by the Met department. But nobody paid them any heed. Isn't it time we also listened to independent weather experts?

Read more at : http://tinyurl.com/36r5zm4

Monday, November 08, 2010

RFA posts schedules and QSL cards on Facebook

A few months ago, Radio Free Asia (RFA) started a new social network service on Facebook where DXers, and others, can access our latest broadcast schedules, frequency data, and information about our current, and past, QSL cards. RFA encourages everyone with a Facebook account to join online at RFA QSL.

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener. RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at www.techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience.

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org, and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:

Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America.

Oct DXing from Assam, India

Hi, I am Prithwiraj Purkayastha from Jorhat (Coordinates: 26.75°N 94.22°E), Assam, India. I am a new Dxer and learning this fabulous electronic hobby for last seven years. I am using a Plhilips Analogue Four band Radio with a telescopic antinna for SW listening.

October is always a special month for me. Its on this beautiful month I came to this earth twenty nine years back. On this October itself I also revealed the great word of Shortwave Radio in 2003. So for making this year's October I have planned a OctoDXing and I was little bit successful too through some very interesting SW logs, QSL received and three interesting interviews with BBC (Bengali), VOA (Bengali) and IRIB R. Tehran (Hindi) services. I also ordered an ANJAN DTS 10 receiver from China for more interesting logs in future and to explore this wonderful world of SW Dxing.

Some of my Logs of October, 2010.

03/10/10 – DW English, UTC 1600-1700, 9485 Khz,, SIO 544
03/10/10 – Radio Taiwan Int., UTC 1630-1700, 11550 Khz, SIO 344
03/10/10 – AWR (Wavescan), UTC 1600-1630, 11720 khz, SIO 333
03/10/10 – NHK R. Japan (Bengali), UTC 1300-1345, 11965 khz, SIO 433
04/10/10 – Radio Thailand (English), UTC 0030-0100, 15275 khz, SIO 454
05/10/10 – Radio Philipinas (Eng), UTC 0300-0330, 15510 khz, SIO 444
05/10/10 – IRIB Hindi Radio, UTC 0230 – 0300, 13750 Khz, SIO 343
07/10/10 – AIR Guwahati (Mahalaya), UTC 2300-0000, 4940 khz, SIO 232
07/10/10 – HCJB, Australia (Eng), UTC 1230-1300, 15400 khz, SIO 544
07/10/10 – B'Desh Betar (Home Service), UTC 1245-1330, 4750 Khz, SIO 243
07/10/10 – Voice of Turky (Eng), UTC 1245-1330, 15520 Khz, SIO 433
08/10/10 – Radio Pakistan (Urdu), UTC 0100-0130, 15490 khz, SIO 433
08/10/10 – IRIB (Bengali), UTC 1430-1530, 13800 Khz, SIO 333
08/10/10 – Voice of Russia (World Service), UTC 0900-0930, 15170 Khz, SIO 444
09/10/10 – AWR (Bengali), UTC 1300-1330 UTC, 11860 khz, SIO 444
10/10/10 - Radio Canada International, UTC 1500-1530, 11675 khz, SIO 544
10/10/10 – HCJB (Eng), UTC 1230-1300, 15400 Khz, SIO 433
14/10/10 – NHK R. Japan (English), UTC 1000-1030, 9605 khz, SIO 343
14/10/10 – Radio Philipinas (Eng), UTC 0300-0330, 15510 khz, SIO 444
14/10/10 – Voice of America (Eng), UTC 0100-0130, 9780 Khz, SIO 444
17/10/10 – Voice of Tibet, UTC 1330 – 1400, 15430 Khz, SIO 433
19/10/10 – Voice of Korea (Eng), UTC 0230-0300, 15100 Khz, SIO 444
24/10/10 – RCI, UTC 1500-1600, 11675 khz, SIO 544
24/10/10 – Voice of Malaysia (Eng), UTC 0700-0800, 15295 khz, SIO 322
26/10/10 – Radio Natherlands Worldwide, UTC 1400-1530, 11835 khz, SIO 544
27/10/10 – Voice of Vietnam (Eng), UTC 1600-1630, 9550 khz, SIO 544
27/10/10 – Radio New Zealand Int. , UTC 1600-1630, 9615 khz, SIO 333
28/10/10 - KBS World R. Korea (Eng), UTC 1600-1645, 9640 Khz, SIO 333

and last but not the least, the DW Bengali and Hindi historic final broadcast on Shortwave.
30/10/10 – DW Hindi, UTC 1500-1530, 9655 khz, SIO 433
30/10/10 – DW Bengali, UTC 1530-1600, 9655 Khz, SIO 444

QSL Received in October:

A very interesting and surprising QSL card received from Bangladesh Betar on 28th October, 2010 for my MW log to their Home Service on 693 khz, UTC 1500 hr dated 17th September, 2010. It is a beautifully pictured QSL card and actually I was uncertain to get such beautiful response from B'desh Betar.

Some other QSL cards received for my October logs are:

03/10/10 – Japan SW Club (Painting of Kim Yeong II) – Stn logged- AWR.
09/10/10 – Radio Free Asia ( 14th Anniversary QSL) – Language Vietnamese, UTC 0000 on 15560 Khz.
08/10/10 – The Voice of Russia ( 80th Aniversary QSL) – UTC 0900 -0930 on 15170 khz.
10/10/10 – HCJB, Australia ( QSL Pic: Sunset) – UTC 1230- 1300 on 15400 khz
10/10/10 – RCI ( QSL Pic: Maple Leaf Mailbag)- UTC 1500-1530 on 11675 Khz
09/10/10 – NHK R. Japan ( QSL Pic: Daybreak) – UTC 1345-1430 on 11825 Khz.

I shall be happy to receive your comments and feedbacks on this report and shall be grateful for any type of advises for future Dxing.

Prithwiraj Purkayastha
Pub Bongalpukhuri
Ward No. 17
Jorhat 785001-23
Assam, India
Email: prithwi20062006@yahoo.co.in
prithwiraj.purkayastha@gmail.com

(Via bangladx list)

SatRadio Impetus

Focus... SatRadio Impetus
Author: Ernst Eberlein, Communications Department Head, Fraunhofer IIS

http://www.satmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=628765951

Radio Ceylon, King of the Airwaves in South Asia

Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.

Young Nepalese Attracted to Radio Broadcasting

With the expanding growth of electronic media in Nepal, the attraction of youth towards the radio anchoring profession has been increasing.

DRM+ Workshop

1st Dec 2010 to 3rd Dec 2010
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka

The DRM Consortium has announced a DRM+ trial and workshop in Sri Lanka. The Consortium has joined forces with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC), the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle and the Asian-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to run a trial of DRM+ and showcase its benefits.

Details at :
http://www.drm.org/index.php?p=event_item&uid=55

Shifting of FM Gold channel to new frequency on hold: AIR

Side-stepping the controversy over shifting its much sought after FM Gold channel to a new frequency, All India Radio said the decision has been put on hold and it is still available in the same frequency.
Read the full story here :
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4535886

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation keeping up the legacy of Radio Ceylon

History of SLBC

http://tinyurl.com/2veou79

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

WWV Test on 4th Nov 1700-1800 UTC

Beginning on 04 Nov 2010 at 1700 UTC until 1800 UTC, WWV will be broadcasting a special test announcement. The announcement will supercede the normal 500Hz and 600Hz tones. The content of the announcement will be a test of an anticipated warning system. All other regular scheduled announcements will not be interrupted.

(WWV)

Voice of Russia conquers time and space

Voice of Russia radio station is celebrating its 81st Anniversary, here's an article from their website :

http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/10/29/30014974.html

Sudan shut the Khartoum office of Radio Dabanga

Read the Reuters Canda story here ...

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE6A11WG20101102