Fiji broadcast media to switch frequencies

More at :

 

http://www.abu.org.my/abu/index.cfm/elementid/68860/Fiji-broadcast-media-to-switch-frequencies

India expects 800 FM radio stations soon

More at :

 

http://www.abu.org.my/abu/index.cfm/elementid/68864/India-expects-800-FM-radio-stations-soon

NHK reports record-breaking revenue

Read the story here  :

http://www.abu.org.my/abu/index.cfm/elementid/68854/NHK-reports-record-breaking-revenue

 

 

 

Nautel Emerges as one of Radio Industry’s Largest Transmitter Manufacturers

Hackett's Cove, Nova Scotia -- Nautel Limited announced this month that the company has surpassed the 10,000 unit mark in transmitter sales worldwide, and in the past 3 years has become one of the largest radio transmitter manufacturing companies in the world.
While Nautel started innovating with solid state transmitters 42 years ago the recent history of company has been marked by accelerated growth . "It is significant to note the rapid acceptance of our recently introduced transmitters," said Peter Conlon, Nautel President and CEO. "In just a few short years, our NV Series FM transmitters, NX Series AM transmitters and VS Series low-power transmitters have been installed in over 1100 sites."
The company attributes the success of its radio transmitter line to the strength of the Nautel engineering team, which is constantly pushing the boundaries of transmitter design, paired with uncompromising product support. "An interesting note is that we are still providing support on every transmitter ever made by Nautel, including units made several decades ago," said Conlon. "Once a Nautel transmitter goes into service, we are committed to supporting it for its full life."
Nautel products can be found in climates ranging from arctic to desert to jungle and have been deployed in 177 countries on all continents. The company pioneered solid state radio transmitters in 1970 and has seen many industry firsts since then including the first solid state transmitters in many power categories for both AM and FM; advanced transmission technologies such as Reliable HD Radio Transport, Asymmetrical Sidebands, HD PowerBoost; and the Nautel AUI, a portal for accessing some of the most comprehensive control and diagnostic capabilities ever found in a broadcast transmitter.
"We are thrilled to have reached this latest milestone in our company's history, and we are looking forward to continuing to serve broadcast customers everywhere in the world," said Conlon. "With our superb development team and unmatched customer support, our goal is to make Nautel the undisputed leader in quality, reliability and operational capabilities. We're dedicated to living up to our motto, 'Expect More', in every way."

About Nautel
Nautel is a global leader in the design, manufacture, sales and support of high power Radio Frequency ("RF") products for AM and FM broadcast, navigation, industrial and space-based applications. With more than 10,000 transmitters deployed since 1970 for AM and FM broadcast, communication systems, navigation applications and industrial RF systems, Nautel continues to lead the way in providing valuable new solutions for digital radio broadcasting and other applications. Thousands of customers in more than 177 countries have discovered that Nautel delivers world class RF solutions - systems that meet stringent quality standards at its ISO 9001-2008 registered manufacturing facilities.

 

(Press Release)

Highest FM station in China

There is an new FM station in Xigaze coming on the way, the frequency is FM 95.0 MHz, with 1 kW power output, the elevation is 3850 meter, this is the highest local broadcasting station in China so far.

 

The pre-test broadcasting is from this May, and official broadcasting is from this July.

 

Additional Information:

 

Xigaze = Shigatse = Xikaze = Rikeze = RiKaZe

 

Thanks to Tao Qu for this info.

 

(Alokesh Gupta)

 

  

Radio Slovakia International page launched on Facebook!

Dear friends,

We have reached the limit of what this group can offer to our growing number of listeners and supporters therefore we have prepared a brand new page for you on Facebook. It's called Radio Slovakia International_English and you can find it at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Slovakia-International-_English/211157745569330

On the new page you can listen live to our flagship programme "Slovakia Today" without having to go to the main website, check what's on offer in the upcoming days, access the archive, interact with our hosts, take part in competitions and so on. Please switch to Radio Slovakia International_English as this Group will cease to exist on June 1st.

Thank you very much and we are looking forward to explore the new page together!

Regards,

RSI team

Radio Japan Bengali on additional FM channels in Bangladesh

With effect from 1sy May Radio Japan can be heard in Bengali language via Bangladesh Betar in following cities at 2100-2145 Bangladesh Local Time (1500-1545 UTC) :

 

Comilla    101.2

Khulna     102.0

Rajshahi  105.0

Rangpur   105.4

Sylhet      105.0

 

Radio Japan Bengali is already on FM at following cities :

Dhaka  97.6

Chattagram 105.4

 

 

(Alokesh Gupta)

 

The world's most famous offshore radio station - on air !

The world's most famous offshore radio station - on air !

It's Radio Caroline's 47th Bday bash today !!!

http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html

Live from the ship "Ross Revenge"

Listen online at : http://radiocaroline.servemp3.com/

Mindblowin' stuff !!!

Radio Caroline is now Live from the Ross Revenge

 

Dear Radio Caroline Supporter,

Radio Caroline is now broadcasting live from the Ross Revenge on AM 531 to south Essex and north Kent, in addition to our Sky 0199 channel to the UK and Europe and our worldwide internet streams. Join us for the next 11 days as we celebrate our 47th Birthday Bash.

This year we have two very special gifts for those joining our Support Group or making a donation of £30 or more at any time during our Birthday Bash! Plus a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

We've designed a very special 47th Birthday Bash Live From The Ross Revenge Easter 2011 T-shirt available only to every new member or minimum donor plus a CD containing three one hour audio documentaries about Radio Caroline and offshore radio, written, produced and narrated by Paul Rowley, BBC Radio Kent's Westminster correspondent and closet anorak!

We also have dozens of spot-prizes to give away to new members and minimum donors.

Do seriously consider helping the station if you enjoy listening to us. We can only continue with your generosity.

Those listeners joining the RCSG or making one-off donations of £30 or more between Friday, April 22 and Monday May 2 UK time will receive two free gifts:

Gift 1: A CD containing three one hour Paul Rowley radio documentaries:

• The Radio Election, one of the last "untold" stories of Radio Caroline, set in May 1970, when Ronan O'Rahilly pitted himself against his arch nemesis, Harold Wilson, in an unprecedented attempt to take down the Government which had forced him off the air two years previously, against the will of the new 18+ electorate
• The Other Radio Caroline, the story of Radio Caroline North, which at least from 1964 to 1966 was very arguably the more popular and influential of the two Radio Caroline ships; and
• When Pirates Ruled the Waves, the amazing story of offshore radio.

Gift 2: A 47th Birthday Bash T-Shirt, featuring photos of all your favourite present day presenters in a unique Radio Caroline bell design to commemorate our 11 day broadcast, specially created as a "one off" for this event, and sure to become a collector's item.

You will also be entered in our fabulous Prize Draw, taking place over the last three days of our Birthday Bash broadcast, April 30 to May 2, with over 40 prizes including:

• 5 pairs of weekend passes, each pair with a face value of GBP 240, to the London Feis Music Festival taking place on June 18-19, with headliners Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, and also featuring Clannad, The Waterboys, The Cranberries, The Saw Doctors, Horslips, Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Cliff and many more. All the details here.
• A very handsomely packaged box set of Bob Dylan's first 8 studio albums in their original mono versions;
• 2 iPod Shuffles, the latest model, in smart silver and black, with 2GB of storage capacity and 15 hour battery life;
• 10 DVDs of the Foo Fighters brand new documentary, Back and Forth, detailing the band's rise to fame and culminating in the recording of the band's back to basics new album in Dave Grohl's garage on analogue tape. The album is now Number One in the UK album charts;
• "King of Limbs" CDs, Vinyl LPs and Collector's Posters from Radiohead, the latest release from the UK's most influential band of the last two decades;
• 5 DVDs of "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones" filmed in Texas on their legendary 1972 US tour with 15 of their best songs and arguably their strongest line up, with Mick Taylor on lead guitar;
• 5 copies of the soon to be released paperback edition of "Life", the widely and deservedly acclaimed autobiography of Keith Richards;
• 5 signed copies of our own Steve Conway's "Shiprocked", describing in funny and sometimes harrowing detail his life, and near death, aboard the Ross Revenge in the 1980's. Each copy comes with an A4 size colour photo of the Ross Revenge at sea with her giant mast. And don't miss Steve's live shows from the Ross Revenge during our Birthday Bash.

Starting today, to join or donate, click on the 'Directly Help' button at the top of our Home Page or click here to go to our Support Group page which also contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions about our Birthday Bash Membership Drive.

Please also visit our Webshop during the Birthday Bash for great Caroline clothing, electronics, music, books, memorabilia and more.

Radio Caroline
http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/

---

 

NHK collaboration with Google reunites families

Apart from Japan's NHK's comprehensive broadcast coverage of the country's twin disasters, the public broadcaster teamed up with Google's People Finder service to help people locate their loved ones, reported IDG News

 

 

http://tinyurl.com/3b2ma3n

 

 

 

BBC Hindi & Mandarin to be back on shortwave from May 1 !

Planned additional txions of BBC in Mandarin Chinese and Hindi on SW have been moved to May 1 (ex April 18)

BBC Mandarin Chinese

1300-1530 on  6095 KIM 250 kW / 290 deg
              9605 NAK 250 kW / 020 deg
             11920 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg
             15285 SNG 100 kW / 013 deg

2200-2300 on  7325 SLA 250 kW / 063 deg
              9580 KIM 250 kW / 285 deg
              9610 NAK 250 kW / 020 deg
              9855 SLA 250 kW / 060 deg
             11795 SNG 250 kW / 013 deg
             11980 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg

BBC Hindi

0100-0130 on  6065 SLA 250 kW / 060 deg
              9425 SLA 250 kW / 060 deg
             11995 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg
             13745 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg
             15510 NAK 250 kW / 280 deg

0230-0300 on 11995 SLA 250 kW / 100 deg
             15660 NAK 250 kW / 305 deg
             17510 NAK 250 kW / 300 deg
             17655 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg

1700-1730 on  5910 SLA 250 kW / 060 deg
              7460 NAK 250 kW / 280 deg
              9605 CYP 250 kW / 090 deg
             11740 NAK 250 kW / 275 deg

Hindi, currently schedule on SW

1400-1500 on  7565 NAK 250 kW / 280 deg
              9685 NAK 250 kW / 275 deg
              9685 SLA 250 kW / 063 deg
             11795 SNG 250 kW / 340 deg
             15470 CYP 250 kW / 097 deg

(Ivo Ivanov)

World Radio Online May 2011 issue

World Radio Online May 2011 issue is now available for download at :

 

http://www.worldradiomagazine.com/wro_issues/2011/WRO_05_2011.pdf

 

WRO 2011 Back Issues at :

http://www.worldradiomagazine.com/wr_back_issues.html

Ravenshaw University radio goes 'on air'

CUTTACK: Ravenshaw Radio 90.4 FM , Orissa's first campus-based community radio station, was launched on the occasion of Maha Bisuba Sankranti on Thursday.

Full story at :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Ravenshaw-University-radio-goes-on-air/articleshow/7988328.cms

 

 

Interview with T.V.B.Subrahmanyam of Analog Devices

Interview with T.V.B.Subrahmanyam, Global Marketing Head, Home AV , Analog Devices mostly on issues related to DRM

 

http://www.mediavataar.com/interview.php?id=23

 

Radio Caroline's 47th Birthday Bash and RCSG Drive Live from the Ross Revenge

 

Dear Radio Caroline Supporter,

Join us starting this Easter Friday at 7:00 am UK time live from the Ross Revenge for a very special 11 day celebration of Radio Caroline's 47th birthday. We will be broadcasting on AM 531 to south Essex and north Kent, in addition to our Sky 0199 channel to the UK and Europe and our worldwide internet streams.

This year we have two very special gifts for those joining our Support Group or making a donation of £30 or more at any time during our Birthday Bash! Plus a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

We've designed a very special 47th Birthday Bash Live From The Ross Revenge Easter 2011 T-shirt available only to every new member or minimum donor plus a CD containing three one hour audio documentaries about Radio Caroline and offshore radio, written, produced and narrated by Paul Rowley, BBC Radio Kent's Westminster correspondent and closet anorak!

We also have dozens of spot-prizes to give away to new members and minimum donors.

Do seriously consider helping the station if you enjoy listening to us. We can only continue with your generosity.

Those listeners joining the RCSG or making one-off donations of £30 or more between Friday, April 22 and Monday May 2 UK time will receive two free gifts:

Gift 1: A CD containing three one hour Paul Rowley radio documentaries:

• The Radio Election, one of the last "untold" stories of Radio Caroline, set in May 1970, when Ronan O'Rahilly pitted himself against his arch nemesis, Harold Wilson, in an unprecedented attempt to take down the Government which had forced him off the air two years previously, against the will of the new 18+ electorate;
• The Other Radio Caroline, the story of Radio Caroline North, which at least from 1964 to 1966 was very arguably the more popular and influential of the two Radio Caroline ships; and
• When Pirates Ruled the Waves, the amazing story of offshore radio.

Gift 2: A 47th Birthday Bash T-Shirt, featuring photos of all your favourite present day presenters in a unique Radio Caroline bell design to commemorate our 11 day broadcast, specially created as a "one off" for this event, and sure to become a collector's item.

You will also be entered in our fabulous Prize Draw, taking place over the last three days of our Birthday Bash broadcast, April 30 to May 2, with over 40 prizes including:

• 5 pairs of weekend passes, each pair with a face value of GBP 240, to the London Feis Music Festival taking place on June 18-19, with headliners Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, and also featuring Clannad, The Waterboys, The Cranberries, The Saw Doctors, Horslips, Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Cliff and many more. All the details here.
• A very handsomely packaged box set of Bob Dylan's first 8 studio albums in their original mono versions;
• 2 iPod Shuffles, the latest model, in smart silver and black, with 2GB of storage capacity and 15 hour battery life;
• 10 DVDs of the Foo Fighters brand new documentary, Back and Forth, detailing the band's rise to fame and culminating in the recording of the band's back to basics new album in Dave Grohl's garage on analogue tape;
• "King of Limbs" CDs, Vinyl LPs and Collector's Posters from Radiohead, the latest release from the UK's most influential band of the last two decades;
• 5 DVDs of "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones" filmed in Texas on their legendary 1972 US tour with 15 of their best songs and arguably their strongest line up, with Mick Taylor on lead guitar;
• 5 copies of the soon to be released paperback edition of "Life", the widely and deservedly acclaimed autobiography of Keith Richards;
• 5 signed copies of our own Steve Conway's "Shiprocked", describing in funny and sometimes harrowing detail his life aboard the Ross Revenge in the 1980's. Each copy comes with an A4 size colour photo of the Ross Revenge at sea with her giant mast. And don't miss Steve's live shows from the Ross Revenge during our Birthday Bash.

Starting this Good Friday, April 22, to join or donate, click on the 'Directly Help' button at the top of our Home Page or click here to go to our Support Group page which also contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions about our Birthday Bash Membership Drive.

Please also visit our Webshop during the Birthday Bash for great Caroline clothing, electronics, music, books, memorabilia and more.

Radio Caroline
http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/

David Ensor to Serve as Director of Voice of America

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has selected award-winning broadcaster and communications executive David Ensor to serve as the next director of the Voice of America (VOA). VOA reaches an audience of 123 million people with unbiased news and information in 44 languages across multiple media platforms.

"The democracy uprisings of the past two months have shown the critical importance of the free flow of credible information in empowering people around the world. The Voice of America has been pursuing this mission for seventy years by providing great journalism and a clear presentation of America and its policies," said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the BBG which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting including the VOA. "David Ensor is uniquely suited to lead VOA in fulfilling this dual mission. We are deeply honored that he would continue to be of service to journalism and to his country by following in the tradition of Edward R. Murrow and John Chancellor."

Ensor has been Director for Communications and Public Diplomacy of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan since January 2010 and will join VOA in June.

"David Ensor's unique experiences and skills make him a solid fit for this role," said Judith A. McHale, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, who serves as Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton's representative to the BBG, and who oversaw Ensor's work in Afghanistan. "The State Department has been very fortunate to have David oversee our public diplomacy effort in Afghanistan, and we
wish him well as he prepares to take the lead at VOA."

Ensor is a winner of a National Headliner Award and an Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist whose 32-year career in television and radio news included extensive reporting on international affairs. Ensor covered
the demise of Communism in Russia and Poland, armed conflicts in Bosnia, Chechnya, El Salvador, and Afghanistan, and the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks. He was CNN's National Security Correspondent and
prior to that, an ABC News correspondent, with assignments in Washington, Moscow, Rome, and Warsaw. Ensor reported from Washington for National Public Radio covering foreign policy and defense issues.

In welcoming David Ensor, the BBG thanked retiring VOA Director Danforth Austin for his outstanding leadership. The Board recognized Austin's role in improving VOA's ability to engage with and grow audiences across multiple media platforms, integrating broadcast, online and social media while remaining steadfast to the principles of sound journalism enshrined in the VOA charter. Appointed to the post in October 2006, Austin has been one of the longest serving VOA directors.

Ensor is a member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations and is fluent in French. He received a B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley. Ensor holds the Knight's Cross awarded by the
President of Poland.

(BBG Press Release)

 

The VOA Is Losing Its Voice

Read the WSJ article here ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704495004576264880231253582.html

DOMESTIC BROADCASTING SURVEY 13 (DBS-13), April 2011

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DANISH SHORTWAVE CLUB INTERNATIONAL (DSWCI)
www.dswci.org

NEW SURVEY AVAILABLE:
The DOMESTIC BROADCASTING SURVEY 13 (DBS-13), April 2011
edited by DSWCI Chairman, Anker Petersen.
ISSN 1399-8218

 

The 54 years old DSWCI which counts experienced DX-ers in 33 countries all over the world as members, has just issued the 13th Edition of its annual Domestic Broadcasting Survey. This survey is divided into three parts:
Part 1: The 39th edition of the Tropical Bands Survey covering all ACTIVE broadcasting stations on 2300 - 5700 kHz, including clandestines.
Part 2: Domestic stations on international shortwave bands above 5700 kHz broadcasting to a domestic audience.
Part 3: Deleted frequencies between 2 and 30 MHz which have not been reported heard during the past five years, but may reappear.
(This Part 3 is only published in the E-mail version, but buyers of the printed version can get a copy from the Editor upon request.)

This new Survey is based upon many official sources and DX-bulletins. A11 schedules are included when available.
In order to make the DBS reliable, our own monitors around the world have checked throughout the period May 2010 – March 2011, if each of the 775 station frequencies is on the air. ACTIVE stations are marked with an A ("Regular"), B ("Irregular") or C ("Sporadic") in the list. D means "Likely inactive". A unique feature is the right column called "Last log". It shows the last month and year before DBS deadline on March 31, 2011 when the particular station was reported logged by a DX-er somewhere in the world. This is another way of indicating the current audibility of the station. To avoid inactive stations in this DBS, most frequencies which have not been heard during the past year, have been deleted and are moved to Part 3.

Other useful features for easy identification (ID) are the parallel frequencies and reference to Station ID slogans. Three sample extracts from the DBS-13 are shown the next page. Reviews can be found on http://www.dswci.org/dbs All buyers of DBS-13 will get a username and password to the monthly updates on the tropical bands published as "Tropical Bands Monitor" on our website. The similar data from 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are available at www.dswci.org/tbm to anybody.

The 26 pages A-4 size DBS-13 is available by e-mail as pdf-format (about 955 KB). A limited number is also available printed on paper. It has 23 pages without Part 3.
It is sold by the treasurer:
DSWCI,
c/o Bent Nielsen, Egekrogen 14, DK 3500 Vaerloese, DENMARK
E-Mail edition: DKK 35,00 or USD 7.00 or EUR 5,00 or GBP 4,00 or SEK 45,00 or IRC 3.
Printed edition: DKK 70,00 or USD 14.00 or EUR 10,00 or GBP 9,00 or SEK 90,00 or IRC 6.
Payment by cash notes are accepted whereas checks and postal money orders are not accepted.
DSWCI Bank is Danske Bank, 2-12 Holmens Kanal, DK-1092 Copenhagen K.
BIC/SWIFT : DABADKKK. IBAN: DK 44 3000 4001 528459.
Danish buyers please use: Reg. 3001- konto 4001528459.
If you have EURO as national currency, you are advised to pay to our representative in Germany, Andreas Schmid.
Andreas Schmid, Lerchenweg 4, D-97717 Euerdorf, Germany. E-mail: schmidandy@aol.com
Account 2912472076 at Targobank BLZ: 30020900. BIC: CMCIDEDD. IBAN: DE24300209002912472076 .
If you want to pay via PAYPAL, you have to contact Andreas Schmid, before you send your payment.
Payment via PayPal only in US$ currency and only for persons, living outside the European Union (EU).

Best 73's,
Anker Petersen and Bent Nielsen

Jarring Notes

Jarring Notes

 

Radio has more listeners and revenues now, but the government still has it on a short leash

Gurbir Singh

 

http://www.businessworld.in/bw/2011_04_16_Jarring_Notes.html

 

DW Hindi on Facebook

प्रिय मित्रों,

संचार के नए माध्यमों के जरिए दुनिया के किसी भी हिस्से से आप और डॉयचे वेले हिंदी संपर्क में बने रह सकते हैं. फेसबुस एक ऐसा ही माध्यम है. अगर आप फेसबुक पर हैं तो बस www.facebook.com/dw.hindi पर जाएं और  Like के आइकॉन पर क्लिक करें. जिस भी पल हम नई खबरें अपनी वेबसाइट www.dw-world.de/hindi पर डालते हैं ठीक उसी समय यह आपके फेसबुक अकाउंट में सीधे आपके डेस्क टॉप पर आपको मिल जाएंगी. यहां आप हमारे लिखे आर्टिकल्स पर दूसरे पाठकों से चर्चा भी कर सकते हैं इसी बहाने एक दूसरे से विचारों का आदान प्रदान भी होता है.

हमें बहुत खुशी होगी कि आप फेसबुक पर हमसे जुड़ें और अपने दोस्तों को भी हमारी वेबसाइट के बारे में बताएं. बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद.

फेसबुक पर आपकी प्रतीक्षा रहेगी.
डॉयचे वेले हिंदी सेवा,
बॉन, जर्मनी

Amitabh Bachchan & HAM Radio

Big B to brush up his ham radio skills

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Big-B-to-brush-up-his-ham-radio-skills/articleshow/7988377.cms

 

 

During 'Coolie' days I became a member of ham radio, reveals Amitabh

 

http://post.jagran.com/during-coolie-days-i-became-a-member-of-ham-radio-reveals-amitabh-1302871534

Apply now for the bit eXpress Internship

"Bit eXpress - your digital radio" offers interested students of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg in the summer semester 2011, an internship for a first glimpse of the work on the campus radio. In 5 basic units (interview, forms / formats and review, facilitation, communications and digital audio interface) and during a field trip, theoretical knowledge of function and ways of working in radio broadcasting will be taught. The practical implementation is in exercise scenarios during the seminars and group work in a live magazine program, the trainees will be coached by tutors.

 

Prerequisite for participation in the bit eXpress-intensive internship is interested in the medium of radio, commitment and willingness following the internship at least one semester at biteXpress participate as a volunteer editor. Journalistic experience is necessary.

The aim of the internship is a hands-on training in the field of (digital) radio as a preparation / foundation for additional media placements, and a good introduction for voluntary work Campus in digital radio "bit eXpress.

The internship is confirmed by regular attendance and successful group activity.

 

(Via facebook)

BBC Statement in response to Foreign Affairs Committee report

Date: 13.04.2011

The BBC today issued the following statement:

The BBC welcomes the FAC's strong support for the World Service and
the value it brings in promoting British values and providing a widely
respected and trusted news service. It is of course for the Government
and Parliament to decide on the priorities for public spending.

The cuts being made to the World Service are a consequence of last
autumn's Spending Review and the BBC regrets the scale and pace of
cuts that have been necessary. If, in the light of the FAC report, the
Government is prepared to re-open aspects of the Spending Review
settlement the BBC will be pleased to engage with them constructively.
We look forward to the Government's response to the Committee's
recommendations.

The BBC is committed to the long-term future of the World Service and
hopes to reinvest when responsibility for funding transfers to the
licence fee in 2014.

(BBC Press Office)

BBC engineers see PLT knocking out DAB

Radios go silent as the data flows

 

Recent experiments carried out by the BBC demonstrate how power-line networking can interfere with FM radio and knock out DAB entirely, but only for those who get a decent data rate.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/13/bbc_plt/

 

 

New DRM Receiver Unveiled at NAB 2011

NewStar Receiver Unveiled at NAB 2011

 

http://www.cdnse.com/products/dr111/

 

(DRM Newsletter 4/2011)

 

DRM Newsletter 4/2011

http://newsletters.lavishcreative.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/7A5765F928E54851/C67FD2F38AC4859C/

- DRM+ in Scotland
- DRM station ready in Saudi Arabia
- DRM presence at NAB
- NewStar Receiver Unveiled at NAB 2011

 

Births, Deaths and Marriages the Life Blood of Nepal FM Radio Stations

In the mountainous nation FM radio stations are the main source of information. 
There are now more than three hundred private and community FM stations, five years ago there were just fifty.
As Sunil Neupane found out in rural eastern Nepal they are a vital part of the circle of life.

http://www.asiacalling.org/en/news/nepal/1955-births-deaths-and-marriages-the-life-blood-of-nepal-fm-radio-stations

 

India to Oman on VHF

http://vu2wsm.blogspot.com/2011/04/as-usual-having-qso-with-vu2pjm-on.html

 

Those who are in west coast of India can expect xclnt conditions...have a look

 

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_mid.html

 

 

Korner 15.11 87-108 MHz FM Yagi Review

Review of Peter Korner designed 15.11 FM yagi Todd Emslie :

 

http://home.iprimus.com.au/toddemslie/Korner-15-11-FM-yagi.html

 

Hindi radio in Oman to reach out to expat community

Dubai, Apr 11 (PTI) The owner of several commercial radio stations in Oman has backed a Hindi radio station in the country as a new way to reach out to the Hindi-speaking expatriate community in the country.
 
More at :
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5113520
 
Hindi Radio doing great service in Oman

 

http://www.news24online.com/Hindi-Radio-doing-great-service-in-Oman_News24_24808.aspx

AWR Board Approves Plans for Expansion of Guam Shortwave Station

The Board of Directors of Adventist World Radio has approved, in concept, the expansion of AWR's shortwave broadcasting facility on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. This project will result in much better coverage of China, a critical mission area for the Seventh‐day Adventist Church.

The Guam station, which was established in 1987, currently broadcasts programs in 30+ languages for nearly 300 hours each week to a large portion of Asia. Just over half of these hours consist of Mandarin programming for listeners in China. The station's shortwave footprint also includes India; together with China, these two countries contain close to half of the world's population. As well, listeners in countries such as Vietnam, North Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia and more can all hear AWR programs in their own languages.

The station's broadcast equipment consists of six towers, four curtain antennas, and five transmitters. The largest tower is 330 feet tall, and each curtain antenna is about the size of two football fields. The shortwave signals that are generated can travel for thousands of miles, enabling the gospel message to freely enter non‐ Christian areas without being subject to government control.
The current equipment cannot provide a signal of sufficient strength, at the right frequency, to adequately reach listeners in northern China, Mongolia, Siberia, and beyond. Adding a fifth antenna will enable AWR to
broadcast a strong signal to these areas during prime listening hours, as well as simultaneously transmit additional programs in more languages.

"Over the years, our Mandarin broadcasts have generated incredible response from listeners in China," says AWR president Dowell Chow. "But these listeners are primarily located in the south part of the country, where our signal is much more consistent and clear. So our goal is to provide the same quality of broadcasts to the millions of people in the northern areas.
"At the same time, we are continuing to develop programs in additional languages. We are excited to have recently found producers in Tibet and Bhutan. But once their programs are ready for broadcast, we will need to be ready to add them to our airtime schedule."

While AWR recently put significant resources into launching a comprehensive podcasting system – in which all of its radio programs can also be heard worldwide online – the organization recognizes that shortwave broadcasts are still a vital part of its mission, Chow says. "In spite of the growth in Internet usage," he explains, "shortwave is still the primary method of receiving information for literally hundreds of millions of people. A full 24 percent of the world's population does not have regular access to electricity. So at AWR, we remain very aware that our listeners are extremely diverse."
AWR hopes that the installation of the new tower and antenna can be completed by the end of 2012, which is the Guam station's 25th anniversary year.

Adventist World Radio is the mission radio arm of the Seventh‐day Adventist Church. Programs are broadcast throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East through shortwave and AM/FM radio. All of AWR's multi‐ language programming is also available worldwide as podcasts and on‐demand at awr.org

 

By Shelley Nolan Freesland
AWR Communication Director

(AWR Press Release)

 

AIR VBS on 6090 kHz - testing on simulcast mode ?

AIR VBS noted on 6090 kHz since check in on 9th April, 0900- 1200 UTC,  probably testing in 'simulcast' mode, // to AIR VBS DRM on 6100. During Dec 2009 tests were noted on AM 6090 150 kW + DRM 6100 kHz 50 kW.

Digital radio chief apologises for 2015 switchover 'confusion'

Ford Ennals distances himself from target set by government two years ago, but says move will take place in 'near future'

The executive in charge of digital radio switchover today distanced himself from the 2015 target date set two years ago and apologised for any confusion it may have caused among listeners.

 

Full story at :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/apr/05/digital-radio-switchover-target

AWR holds listeners re-union in Nepal

http://www.awr.org/en/news/show/34

 

 

Deutsche Welle: Ethiopian service jammed again

New example of an evident blockade of critical international media.

Deutsche Welle (DW) has condemned the latest case of jamming of its Amharic service for Ethiopia. Germany's international broadcast has appealed to the Ethiopian administration to ensure that an undisturbed shortwave signal remain available for listeners in the region. The latest infringement has made it difficult for Deutsche Welle to deliver fair and balanced news about the political, economical and social developments in the target area.
DW's shortwave signal for Ethiopia has been jammed since April 6. Programming from Voice of America has also been affected. This has lead DW officials to believe that it is a concentrated effort to block critical international media. Several individual broadcasters were also jammed in Ethiopia in May 2010 around the time of local elections.
The latest case of jamming is occurring at a point in time in which more than 200 from the alleged opposition of the Oromo Group have been arrested and journalists who have voiced criticism of the administration have been silenced. The Ethiopian administration is apparently concerned that the so-called Jasmine Revolution in North Africa will spread into their country. A call for protest has been popping up on social media platforms over the last few weeks using the motto "Beka" (enough).
After being approached by Deutsche Welle on Thursday, April 7, a spokesman from the Ethiopian government has denied any jamming attempts. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has publicly acknowledged the jamming of international broadcasters in the past.
German development organizations will be meeting on Monday, April 11 in Bonn ahead of the bilateral negotiations between Germany and Ethiopia – under the direction of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For the first time, DW will use this opportunity to report on the current media landscape in Ethiopia and expand on jamming and the restrictions put on its correspondents in the country. 
DW has been broadcasting its Amharic service in Ethiopia since 1965 and is along with Voice of America the most popular international source of information.

 

(DW Press Release)

The end of the road for the BBC World Service Drama

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: SAVE BBC WORLD DRAMA
Date: Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Subject: The end of the road for the BBC World Service Drama
To: alokeshgupta

Dear Mr. Alokesh Gupta,

 

Despite our humble petition campaign's efforts to save the BBC World Service Drama from being cut, we were unable to change the course of events in this regards and the BBC World Service has now stopped the scheduling of regular drama output on its English Language Network as of 31^st March 2011.

 

Our endeavours were well meaning and we would like to say a big thank you for your kind gesture in support of the petition and the campaign's efforts.

 

We would also like to use this opportunity to extend to you the appended farewell message we recently received from Marion Nancarrow (BBC World Service Executive Producer, Audio Drama) in summing up of what became of the of the BBC World Service Drama.

 

Thank you once again for your kind support, very much appreciated.

 

Warmest of regards from us.

 

Archie Graham & Linda Bergin

Petition Organizers

Save The BBC World Drama

 

 

 

From: Marion Nancarrow
Sent: 01 April 2011 14:01
Subject: World Service Drama (sadly not an April Fool)

Dear Friends
From midnight last night, after 79 years of broadcasting on the network, World Service's regular drama slot came to an end and the team was disbanded.

In its heydey, Drama transmitted 2.5 hours a week. Voices heard across those years included Donald Wolfit, John Gielgud, Rex Harrison, Peggy Ashcroft, Paul Scofield, Trevor Howard, Ian Holm, Judi Dench, Tom Conti, Penelope Wilton, John Kani, Winston Ntshona, Archie Panjabi, Juliet Stevenson, Keeley Hawes, Toby Stephens, Sophie Okonedo, David Suchet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bill Nighy, Meera Syal, Ed Asner and Calista Flockhart.   Kenneth Branagh, Daniel Day Lewis and Ewan McGregor did their first radio for the World Service!  Plays by Stoppard, Soyinka, Tremain, Beckett, Bennett, Rushdie, Naipaul, Atta Aidoo, Dove, Oda, Agboluaje, Baldwin and Shakespeare have been heard, winning countless Sonys. The hugely popular - and only global - soap, Westway, attracted a diversity of writing and acting talent and won the CRE Award for Best Soap in 2000 (beating Coronation Street!). The entire 7 years of broadcast was repeated on Radio 7.

Recent judges for the international playwriting competition, now in its 22^nd year, included Doris Lessing, Lennie James and Kwame Kwei-Armah. Recent collaborations have been with Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Court, King's College, The Slade School of Fine Art and, of course, the British Council.

Directors Gordon House and David Hitchinson became household names and the department has always shared its expertise with new writers, directors and actors. Westway became a training ground for writers and producers moving on to Eastenders, Casualty and beyond and the department gave advice, support and training for drama projects set up by the WS Trust, including Rruga Me Pisha in Albania, Story Story in Nigeria and Thabyegone Ywa in Burma, as well as to the Asian network soap, Silver Street. We ran writing and acting workshops in Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Zimbabwe, across South Africa, Malawi and the Middle East. We co-founded "Worldplay", an annual season of international collaborations with English-speaking Radio Drama Producers across the world. With the British Council and African Productions, the first ever 2^nd language radio writing residency was set up in London. Writers who attended went on to win the Caine Prize, to be shortlisted for the Asian Booker and to have plays premiered off Broadway and at the Royal Court.

And World Drama became the place for new voices – from the Sony Gold winner Michael Philip Edwards' one man show Runt, about being Jamaican in America, to plays by 10 year olds from Ghana, Kosovo, Singapore and Bangladesh in Generation Next; from 12 Royal Court Young Writers in 12 countries writing online about water in We Are Water, to young people living with disabilities in Uganda in Beautiful Only at Night. Our last 2 regular broadcasts were a play inspired by the work of a theatre company in Malawi who use drama to change attitudes to HIV/AIDS and a Russian playwright's first commission about climate change, written in the Artic!  In this way, the network gave a platform and an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, imagination and universality of every country of which its audience was comprised.

Of course, we continue to run the BBC/British Council International Playwriting Competition and that is a wonderful and genuine way to continue to bring new voices to the network. And some ad hoc drama will hopefully continue.

I'm incredibly proud of what we've been able to achieve - and lament what our audience and the upcoming generation of talent will lose - but I'm also acutely aware that none of this would have happened without you - our fantastic contributors and supporters, who gave so much to ensure that only the best work was heard on air.  And that really is the point of this long email: I can't thank you enough.  I hope we will find other ways to bring those stories to the world. 

In the meantime, my warmest wishes, as ever,
Marion

 

MARION NANCARROW
Executive Producer, Audio Drama     

           

Himalaya revamps website, new DRM Rx expected in 2011 ?

Himalaya (Power) Electronics, a consumer electronics products company from Hongkong & producer of DRM receivers DRM 2008/2009 has revamped its website. As per announcement on the website "Himlaya expects 2011 a special year for launching a handful of new digital products", who knows probably a new DRM Rx ?? Please watch this space !

Radio Congress 2011: Objectives, Achievements and the Way Forward

A special overview by Uday Chawla, Secretary-General, Association of Radio Operators For India (AROI)

We conceptualized Radio Congress 2011 as a continuation of our Vision 2010 event held in Nov 2009 which got together the various interest groups in Radio together to discuss the future of Private Radio in India – stakeholders -- both Government and private -- Radio professionals, media, advertisers, studio- and infrastructure suppliers, etc.

Full report at :
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/opinion/radio-congress-2011-objectives-achievements-and-way-forward

After BBC shortwave

By BINOD BHATTARAI

www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=30010

New DRM compatible SW txer under installation at VL8T,ABC Tennant Creek

Ian Baxter of Shortwavesites Yahoo Group noticed that SW frequency transmissions from the VL8T Tennant Creek (Australia) SW transmitter site have been off for some time. However they are returning.

The ABC advised to Ian Baxter that :

The short wave service from Tennant Creek is currently off due to some major works (they're replacing the transmitter). The works are scheduled to finish on the 7th May 2011.

The works may finish sooner or may go on a little longer, but at the moment all indications are that the service should be restored then.

End Quote

During June 2010 Continental Electronics announced that Broadcast Australia has bought new DRM- ready short wave Continental Model 418G-DRM transmitters for their upgradation.Broadcast Australia had asked Continental Electronics to supply two new DRM-ready 100 kilowatttransmitters for two of its short-wave stations at Tenant Creek & Shepparton.
The purchase represented the first step in Broadcast Australia's plan to enhance its digital short-wave (HF) broadcast capabilities throughout its network of
transmitters. These transmitters will enable Broadcast Australia to transmit programming in analogue AM and digital (DRM) modes from both stations.

FM Dxing with Cell Phone Radios !

By Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

Gone are the days of my dxing adventures with communication and digital radios. My latest craze is dxing FM stations with cell phones! It all started several months back when my wife purchased a new cell phone for her. It was a Samsung which had FM radio in it. Out of curiosity I tuned it and could hear our local FM stations very clearly. Later, on one of my outstation trips, I took that cell phone with me and could monitor many local FM stations on the way and found it very interesting. Slowly I discovered that its sensitivity was very good and that I could pick up far away stations also on it when conditions were good, even with its small headset cord wire antenna. Then I started taking this little wonder seriously.

The advantages of cell phone radio are:
- It receives the stations reasonably well even with its small antenna.
- As cell phone is now an accepted communication gadget, it and does not raise any eyebrows if we are glued to it for long periods.
- It has digital display and can save channels also in memory.
- It has auto scan to memory function.
- Some models are having recording facility.
- It is very compact.
- There is no need to take separate radios/batteries/chargers during travels if your interest is only FM.
- It will be useful during emergencies to monitor local stations.

I had experienced that my home shack in Hyderabad is not good for FM Dxing. However when I traveled to different parts of India, as expected, reception inside the train was weak but once I got out to the platform, the FM stations were heard at better level. Only I had to keep an eye on the train so as not to be left out at the platform when the train started!

My cell phone radio was put to real test recently in the 3rd week of March 2011, while I was staying on the first floor of a hotel in Bhubaneswar, Odisha in East India. Upon checking on the band in the mornings, evenings and night, I could hear many far away stations from Kolkata, Chennai and even Bangladesh and Myanmar! To get better results I got permission to go to the top floor (5th floor) of the hotel for monitoring. Needless to say reception was much better there and I could make some recordings of these interesting far away stations. I observed that conditions varied from day to day and that all stations were not heard on a daily basis. Normally in the mornings (around 6.00 am to 9.00 am) stations from NE ie Kolkata, Bangladesh, Myanmar region were observed. Propagation used to peak at around 7.00 am. On some days, I could hear stations from Kolkata mixing with our powerful local stations (located 25 kms away) on 92.7, 93.5 & 104.0 MHz! I could null out the local station by turning the cell phone in different direction. In the evenings/nights, it was the turn of stations from South like Chennai etc. However stations from NE also used to be heard at the same time. Often the far away stations used to come with very strong signals and one could find it difficult to believe it. My best catch was getting a couple of stations from Myanmar easily identifiable by their unique music. A bunch of Bangladesh stations were monitored during this particular trip. The private stations (88.0, 88.4, 89.2, 89.6 etc.) were heard with relays of news from Bangladesh Betar at 6.30 am followed by separate local programming. Of this the relay on 88.0 was several seconds later than others. BBC relays in English and Bangla were noted on some channels (100.0, 101.2, 102.0 etc.) while Deutche Welle was noted on 102.0 etc. at 7.30 am. Details of stations heard are given in a separate list. I am very thrilled to have logged over 50 FM stations on my cell phone radio this time.

During my regular trips to Bhubaneswar area for my official work for National Institute of Amateur Radio, I have observed that it is an excellent place for FM Dxing. I understand that FM DX is not a regular event, but I must have been in the right place at the right time. Some splatters from local stations and cable Tv created some confusion for me. The recorder in my cell phone creates a noise if the stations are weak but it is not observed if the stations are strong. There is no S meter on my cell phone. I have to try with external antennas connected to the cell phone. I have read of cell phones with MW radio also but could not test any yet. Hope that in the coming days, we can wish for cell phones with SW also along with FM & MW or even radios with built in cell phones! I have not come across any information on cell phone dxing yet and am interested in getting it. If you have a radio in your cell phone why not try it, especially if you are touring around.

Logs are available here : http://tinyurl.com/6y6m8sr

Jose Jacob, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavana Road, Hyderabad 500082, India. Email : vu2jos@gmail.com

Radio Nepal marks 61st anniv

Radio Nepal, the oldest broadcasting agency in the country, marked its 61st anniversary amid a special programme on Sunday. Speaking at the programme, Executive Director of Radio Nepal Tapa Nath Shukla said Radio Nepal has been reaching out to 86per cent of the country’s population with its services.

Full story at :
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/04/03/nation/radio-nepal-marks-61st-anniv/220182.html

Sudanese protesters take message to air waves

A group calling itself the Sudanese Youth Forum said it would begin shortwave radio broadcasts every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) for 30 minutes to reach the mostly rural population of Africa's largest country. Read the Reuters story here : http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFMCD26434620110402

Radio Free Asia issues 15th anniversary QSL Card

Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces the release of 36th QSL card. This is the first to commemorate 2011 as RFA’s 15th anniversary with more cards expected throughout the year. RFA’s first broadcast was in Mandarin Chinese on September 29, 1996 at 2100 UTC. Acting as a substitute for indigenous free media, RFA concentrates its coverage on events occurring in and/or affecting the countries to which we broadcast. Those countries are: Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, Peoples Republic of China, and Vietnam. This QSL card will be used to confirm all valid reception reports from April 1 – June 30, 2011. The artwork depicts the Great Wall of China and is used by permission of the artist, Sarah L. Handler.

RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA currently broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin, the Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur.
RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at http://www.rfa.org/.

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA 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.
Upon request, RFA will also send a copy of the current broadcast schedule and a station sticker.

(AJ Janitschek, Radio Free Asia)

DELHI-NCR RADIO AMATEURS' MEET 2011

DATE : 3rd April 2011 (Sunday)
VENUE : M. P. Hall, Powergrid Club, Powergrid Township, Near Amity International School, Sector-43, Gurgaon. (Opposite to HUDA City Centre Metro Station)

AGENDA:
1030 IST - Welcome and Introduction
1100 IST - Demo/Presentation by Hams
Morning Session:
VU2MUE, Sandeep Baruah - Use of Amateur Radio in Scientific Applications
VU2ATN, Atanu Dasgupta - Display of Homebrew HF/VHF Rigs.
VU2RBI, Bharathi Prasad - WPC Regulations
VU2RAK, Rakesh Kapoor - ATS Demo
VU2UKR, Sunil - "Digital Modes" Simplified
1300 IST - Lunch Break
1400 IST - Afternoon Session:
VU3AKW, Ashok Sapra - Display of products
VU3DJQ, C.K.Raman - DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale)
VU2YK, Rahul Kapoor - Talk on HF activity
VU3WJM, Rahul Srivastava - HAM Radio Project - Prototype
VU2ANM, Ashish Saxena - Homebrew Antenna for 20 M
Followed by suggestions by Hams, SWLs, XYLs, Harmonics
1530 IST - Tea Break & Decision of next activity, i.e., workshop in May or June 1545 IST - Group Photograph
1600 IST - 73/Bye Bye.
This is a Delhihams activity - a collective effort of Hams in and around Delhi-NCR. To participate please contact VU2OEC, Rajesh Chandwani 9873737694, vu2oec@gmail.com

Nuclear Crisis Stopped Time in Japan

The problems at Japan's Fukushima-1 nuclear plant have had an unexpected impact on the country's ability to keep time: a transmitter that sends the national time signal to many thousands of clocks and watches has been forced offline making the timepieces a little less reliable than usual. More at : http://www.pcworld.com/article/223576/nuclear_crisis_stopped_time_in_japan.html

We Help Move Time Through the Air

http://www.rwonline.com/article/116646

DRM+ Experience Day in Scotland

After three months of testing the technical capability of the DRM+ digital radio system in FM band II, the trial organised by the DRM Consortium culminated in a "DRM+ Experience Day" at which consortium members could experience ‘live’ DRM+ first-hand in a real operating environment.

Read the full report here : http://www.drm.org/index.php?p=news_item&uid=256