Ladan Salihu is new Director General of Radio Nigeria

A GENTLEMAN BROADCASTER HEADS RADIO NIGERIA

Nigeria's federal public service broadcaster, Radio Nigeria, a.k.a. Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), has a new boss. Known in the industry as the Gentleman Broadcaster, Ladan Salihu's appointment as FRCN's new Director General ends more than one year of transition for Africa's largest radio broadcasting network. The last substantive DG was Barrister Yusuf Nuhu whose tenure ended in February 2013.

More at :

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/a-gentleman-broadcaster-heads-radio-nigeria/177118/

ZBC Board Shocked By SW Station Dilapidation

The ZBC board has expressed dismay over the failure by the national broadcaster and Transmedia to solve transmission challenges that have bedevilled Voice of Zimbabwe (VOZ) in Gweru since October last year.

More at :

http://www.radiovop.com/index.php/national-news/10791-zbc-board-shocked-by-sw-station-dilapidation.html

Radio Free Asia Releases 3rd in Asian Music QSL Series

Radio Free Asia's 53rd QSL card release is the third design in the series "Celebrating Musical Instruments of Asia". This card shows a dan tranh which is a traditional, Vietnamese stringed instrument. Dan tranhs are long and narrow having a rounded, or convex, surface. Each string is supported by a wooden, or bone, bridge in an inverted "V" position. Dan tranhs are covered with high-gloss lacquer and, in many cases, ornately designed with mother-of-pearl which was used for our dan tranh below. The history of the dan tranh dates back hundreds of years and it is still a popular instrument in Vietnam today. This QSL is used to confirm all valid reception reports from April 1 – June 30, 2014.

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 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 http://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 by mail to:

Reception Reports

Radio Free Asia

2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300

Washington DC 20036

United States of America.

(RFA Press Release)

Live Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) broadcast to feature at South African Broadcasting Association (SABA) conference

The DRM Consortium is a Sector Partner at The Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), Digital Radio Broadcasting Summit in Cape Town from 22nd – 24th April.  The event will include a presentation by the DRM Chair, Ruxandra Obreja, on April 22nd at 11.50am and a dedicated DRM workshop on the 23rd April, from 4.00pm to 5.30pm under the title "The DRM Platform: A detailed and practical look at its superior functionalities and flexibility". 

The workshop will offer a live demonstration of DRM30 with a two-hour BBC broadcast, from Ascension Island – a site managed by DRM member, Babcock - to Southern Africa carrying BBC World Service English from 13:30 to 15:30 GMT/UTC (114 degrees) 21735 kHz. 

During and after the workshop DRM representatives and South African DRM supporters will be available to meet you and explain the features and to answer any questions.

The DRM Consortium has already been present at SABA events in Johannesburg and in Arusha (Tanzania) last year.  The DRM standard is the only global standard which can be used in all radio frequency bands and is ideal for the large countries of Southern Africa.  From national networks and regional stations to smaller commercial and community stations, all are able to broadcast their digital radio programmes with enhanced content and in excellent sound quality to everyone in their respective countries, regardless of whether people live in large cities, in small towns or villages.

DRM Consortium

Postal Box 360

1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva

Switzerland

E-Mail: projectoffice@drm.org

Site for DRM: www.drm.org

(Press Release via DRM Project Office)

Digital Shortwave: a radio revolution

But could shortwave - or a version of it - be about to make a comeback? Here's Mark Whittaker with news of what could be a radio revolution.

Listen at :

https://audioboo.fm/boos/2075026-digital-shortwave-a-radio-revolution

The spooky world of the 'numbers stations'

By Olivia Sorrel-Dejerine

BBC News Magazine

This is the era of hyper-tech espionage, encrypted emails and mindboggling cryptography. But you can hear a very old-fashioned form of espionage on shortwave radio.

More at :

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24910397

Open Radio for North Korea goes off the air

Open Radio for North Korea, one of the handful of private radio stations that targets North Korea, has reportedly ended broadcasts to the country.

The Seoul-based station is understood to have suspended shortwave broadcasting at the end of March after a grant from the U.S. government used to pay for the transmissions apparently ended.

More at :

http://www.northkoreatech.org/2014/04/15/open-radio-for-north-korea-goes-off-the-air/

Russia takes Voice of America radio off air

MOSCOW: Russia has pulled the US-funded Voice of America radio station from the air, a senior state media official said today, calling it "spam on our airwaves."

 

Dmitry Kiselyov, the head of the Rossiya Segodnya state media conglomerate, said a contract to broadcast Voice of America on AM radio would not be renewed.

More at :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Russia-takes-Voice-of-America-radio-off-air/articleshow/33518129.cms

Icom Inc. Celebrates 50 Years of Two-Way Radio and Wireless Communication Solutions

Icom Incorporated, parent company of Icom America Inc., enters its 50th year in the wireless communications industry in April 2014. The company is a respected manufacturer and industry leader of two-way radio. Icom’s current product line serves amateur (ham radio), avionics, marine and land mobile markets. The company spearheads digital technology such as D-STAR and the Icom Advanced Digital System known as IDAS™.

"In Japan, it is often said that the average company life is 30 years. Both Icom and Icom America have exceeded this average," says Icom Founder and Chairman Tokuzo Inoue. Icom maintains its longevity by adapting to changing markets and developing technology that’s embraced by the industries it serves. "We have done this by working together to bring innovation to the market with hard work, cooperation and creativity," adds Inoue.

Icom was founded in 1954 by Tokuzo Inoue and was officially incorporated in 1964. Although the company has an international presence in over 80 countries, the company’s head office and factory facilities are located exclusively in Japan. Icom’s design and manufacturing processes are ISO9001/ISO9002 and ISO14001 certified, and Icom radios meet MIL-STD 810 specifications. Icom is the first Japanese company to supply radios to the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Icom established its U.S. subsidiary, Icom America, in 1979 to serve North American and Latin American markets. Icom America, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, has led the migration of 6.25 kHz digital technology for land mobile radio industry users. The company will help promote Icom Inc.'s newest endeavor, an IP Advanced Radio System. This scalable solution is capable of full duplex communication over a wireless LAN and IP networks. System equipment includes Icom's new IP100H license-free radio, an IP controller and remote communicator. "It will be a new key product category for Icom," says Inoue.

Visit Icom America’s website for a complete product listing – www.icomamerica.com

For information on Icom Inc., visit the company's global site at www.icom.co.jp/world/

(Press Release)

International SW Disaster Test

April 2, 2014 - Members of the shortwave listening community can pencil in their logbooks an extremely exciting upcoming date. On June 4-5, 2014, listeners can attempt to log an international test being organized by the High Frequency Coordination Commission of the International Radio for Disaster Relief project.

During these dates, the IRDR will be tested on the shortwave bands at the Media Summit on Climate Change, Information and Communication Technologies, and Disaster Risk Reduction in Jakarta, Indonesia. The IRDR will simulate a major disaster occurring in Southeast Asia, and multiple international broadcasters will be cooperating to support coordinated humanitarian coverage for the impacted region.

Mr. Oldrich Cip of the HFCC graciously confirmed to ReliefAnalysis.com that the roster of broadcaster participants is being organized, and there could well be QSL opportunities for this historic occasion via those outlets.

Click here for a new Fact Sheet about the relevancy of shortwave broadcasting and the IRDR from the HFCC.

http://www.hfcc.org/doc/HFCC_RAD_2014-002-BBG_Request_for_Comment.pdf

Click here my thoughts on how shortwave radio can cross the digital divide, literacy divide, and disaster divide. This piece recently ran on the web site of InterAction--a coalition of 300 international NGOs. 

http://www.interaction.org/blog/world-radio-day-why-humanitarian-community-should-shape-future-shortwave

I'm going to be closely following this event as it gets closer. I'm very excited about what this test could mean for the evolution of humanitarian applications in the world of shortwave broadcasting. 

If you'd like to receive additional updates, feel free to sign up for the Relief Analysis Radio newsletter in the box on the right--I'd be delighted to connect with you.

Mehmet Burk

ReliefAnalysis.com

Source :

http://reliefanalysisradio.tumblr.com/post/81549595859/save-the-date-international-sw-disaster-test

New public broadcaster NERIT to officially launch on April 27, says Kapsis

NERIT, the public broadcaster that will replace ERT, will begin broadcasting on April 27, Deputy Culture Minister Pantelis Kapsis said on Tuesday.

 

Pilot broadcasts will start next month, Kapsis told Vima FM.

More at :

 

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_25/02/2014_537697

 

 

SW Radio Africa reduces shortwave broadcasts

From the SW Radio Africa website...
 

We have an important announcement for our listeners on shortwave. Starting Tuesday 1st April we will be reducing our shortwave broadcasts to one hour a day. There will also be no shortwave broadcasts at the weekend.

 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

Our full two hours of programming will still be available via our website www.swradioafrica.com and also on Channel Zim, available through free to air TV decoders.

 

Our broadcasts via Channel Zim are 5 – 7am and 7 – 9pm.

Our live 2 hours of programming via our website remains 7 – 9pm and podcasts of all our programs are available 24 hours a day. Our shortwave broadcasts, starting Tuesday 1st April, will be one hour 7 – 8pm, available Monday – Friday. All times quoted are Zim times and…………thanks for listening.

 

Source :  http://www.swradioafrica.com/swra-reducing-shortwave-broadcasts/

SW Radio Africa A14 schedule 1700-1800 UTC on 4880 kHz (100 kW)

Sangean Turns 40

Sangean is marking the company's 40th year of operation with a special edition tabletop receiver.

More at :

http://www.radioworld.com/article/sangean-turns-/269798

CRI A14 Shortwave frequencies

By clicking the links, you'll find the relevant frequencies for your listening convenicence in 2014.

America: http://english.cri.cn/7146/2010/03/30/2141s560015.htm

Europe: http://english.cri.cn/7146/2010/03/30/2141s560016.htm

Asia: http://english.cri.cn/7146/2010/03/30/2141s560017.htm

Africa : http://english.cri.cn/7146/2010/03/30/2141s560021.htm

The South Pacific : http://english.cri.cn/7146/2010/03/30/2141s560019.htm

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

YingLian

English Service

China Radio International

http://english.cri.cn/

Why radio is still the best medium

My earliest media memories are of lying in bed in the dark, around age seven, listening to...what else?...the Beatles on my transistor radio. I’m bereft without the radio.

Caitlin Kelly on why Radio is still the best medium ...

http://broadsideblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/why-radio-is-still-the-best-medium/