Golden Jubilee of All India Radio HPT, Khampur & inauguration of DRM Service

TWR Announces New International Director of Africa

CARY, NC, January 16, 2008–International Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) officially announced today the selection of Dr. Emmanuel D. Mbennah as its new International Director for Africa. Hailing from Tanzania, Dr. Mbennah succeeds the Rev. Stephen Boakye-Yiadom, who passed away in June 2007. Mbennah will begin his new role on April 1. "Dr. Mbennah is eminently qualified to lead the ministry of TWR Africa, and we're excited to have him on board" says TWR President/CEO Lauren Libby. "He brings a tremendous blend of spiritual leadership and maturity as well as the strategic ability to develop mission." Prior to accepting his new position, Mbennah served as a Country Director for Compassion International in Tanzania. There he provided strategic leadership and management for program quality and impact. He also helped maintain a vital spiritual environment for the staff and ministry, and he served as a model child advocate for the Church, the nation and the Compassion organization. Mbennah's extensive academic resume includes a postgraduate degree in Biblical Studies. Dr. Mbennah holds a Ph.D. in Communications from Potchefstroom University in South Africa. He also earned a Master's in Communications from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., as well as a B.A. in Communication Arts from Messiah College in Grantham, Penn. With more than 10 years of experience teaching and conducting research at a university level, Mbennah has published numerous articles for various scholarly publications. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Dodoma Christian Medical Center and Action for Children. Mbennah accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior on June 15, 1975, when he was 16 years old. He and his wife, Ruth, have four children.

(TWR Press Release)

Shortwave radio still packs an audible thrill

Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:29pm EST
By Robert MacMillan
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Somewhere on a lonely mountaintop on a starry night, or maybe in an apartment on a bustling city block, someone is channeling the whole world onto a mobile device. It's not a phone; it's a shortwave radio. A staple form of broadcasting in many parts of the world since the 1920s and 1930s -- shortwave in North America has been mostly a hobby for decades. Now that the Internet is a fixture in many homes in the United States and Canada, there are few practical reasons to buy a shortwave radio. Thousands of stations that once were available only on the shortwave band are online.

Read this interesting story here :
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE50D6JF20090114

II2RAI

The RAI Hamradio Team, to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the regular service of TV broadcasting in Italy, made by RAI in January 1954, will activate the special callsign II2RAI, from January 2009 to all June 2009. For the occasion a special QSL card will be printed and sent to any ham station who will connect II2RAI. For the qsl card will be considered valid any qso in any band and mode, except those made via repeater end Echolink.QSL card via IQ2RD.

QSL Info
QSL cards can be sent to us via Bureau or directly at our postal address:
Gruppo ARCAL Radioamatori Rai
c/o stanza 3602 - C.P. RF-TV RAI Milano
Corso Sempione, 27
20145 Milano
ITALY
Tel. +39-02-3199-3060

email: iq2rd@rai.it
web: http://www.iq2rd.it/

(Dario Monferini via playdx)

Radio still rules

14 January, 2009 - What was used five years ago for information is in use today for entertainment. This was one of the most significant changes in media trends, according to the draft media impact study (MIS) 2008, conducted by the centre for media and democracy. The most visible influences of media are in the language, dress, behaviour, thinking and culture. The study found that Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) radio had the widest influence (33.8 percent), followed by BBS TV (29.5 percent) and Indian TV (22.3 percent). The study had 1191 respondents. Though most felt that media promoted Dzongkha after the election debates, the study also states that, "a significant development is the emergence of Dzonglish (a mixture of English and Dzongkha), particularly among the youth." The visual media's influence on dress, appearance, concept of beauty and behaviour (imitation of TV actors) are other impacts of the media. "The concept of beauty, with traditional notion of beauty being related to health and strength, is being replaced by the hour glass figure," says the study. Newspapers influenced decision makers, while Bhutanese broadcast media had the greatest influence on mass thinking. In terms of culture, Hindi music was replaced by rigsar and youth are taken in by the fast talking radio jockeys. One significant social change was that, today, Bhutanese have adjusted their lives around TV viewing for, in 2003, 64.5 percent said that TV viewing affected the time they have for work, while today it's only 16.3 percent. While media now are critical players in the political process of an emerging democracy, overall, it found that there is a lack of content for children. In terms of news preference, BBS radio tops as the main source for news. 49.4 percent respondents choose BBS radio, followed by BBS TV (37.6 percent) and Kuensel with 27.5 percent. Kuzoo FM is the main source of entertainment for 35.8 percent, followed by international TV, 21.7 percent and BBS TV 7.7 percent. Among other findings, the study states that, with foreign radio jockey (RJ) culture, the private radio's popularity has grown among youth and the rate of international radio listeners has dropped from 33.7 percent in 2003 to nine percent in 2008. After the launch of satellite TV in 2006, BBS overtook international channels, with its viewership increasing from 30 percent to 54 percent. The past five years also saw a drastic increase in the use of mobile phones, with more than 250,000 users, compared to 28,000 fixed line users. Yet, while the digital media became more popular, with eight percent of the respondents having access to Internet, 41.2 percent going to cinema, 44.8 percent watching TV for entertainment and 45.8 percent for news, the study found that newspapers were the least popular. Among the respondents, 34.6 percent read Kuensel, 21.7 percent Bhutan Times and 20.9 percent Bhutan Observer. Though Dzongkha was the most popular language for TV and radio, for newspapers, it was English. In terms of news coverage on developmental topics, good governance and culture were seen to be better covered than socio-economic and environmental issues. On content, however, people generally thought that youth were portrayed negatively, along with gender stereotypes, and the media was becoming more tabloidish, political and the nation's critic. They also saw a need to balance rural-urban stories and wanted more coverage on laws (marriage, citizenship, policies, NOC). BBS TV and radio enjoy more credibility than private radios and international TV. 29.5 percent believed in BBS TV as compared to 7.5 percent in international TV. In case of press, Bhutanese newspapers were more believable than the international papers.
14.1 percent said Kuensel was a more credible source of news, while 6.5 percent said Bhutan Observer and 6.2 percent said Bhutan Times. But the competition in the media has made people question accuracy, thus affecting the media's credibility, says the study. "Many note new sensationalism and degradation in content." Five districts representing the east (Trashigang), west (Thimphu), south (Sarpang, Chukha) and central (Bumthang) regions were covered during the survey. The survey sample includes 600 rural and 600 urban households.

By Sonam Pelden
spelden@kuensel.com.bt

http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11813

EMR This Sunday with Radio Jackie Part 5

Time : 1300 - 1330 UTC, Channel : 6140 khz , Date : 18th of January 2009

Tom Taylor + The Radio Jackie History Part 5 with Colin King

EMR/ Internet repeat times
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). Today's programmes will
be repeated at the following time: 1700 - 2000 utc. The Radio Jackie book
can be bought from www.jackiebooks.com The price in the UK is £10 + postage
& packing.

A Happy New Year and Good Listening
73s Tom Taylor

Waste of Public Money - BBC's Sinhala Service

Rajiv Peris

Read the full story here :
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items09/130109-12.html

DRM meeting in London

The DRM Consortium will hold its upcoming DRM Steering Board meeting in Bush House (BBC World Services) London on January, 30th. The DRM Steering Board chaired by the DRM Consortium Chair, Mrs. Ruxandra Obreja, has a maximum of 18 DRM members representating the main stakeholders' groups in the consortium. The major role of the DRM Steering Board is to define the overall policy direction of the DRM activities. On the agenda of the January 30th meeting an important point will be to discuss the organisation of the General Assembly in March (Germany) as well as the latest technical and receiver developments of the last few months.

TDF - special DRM transmissions to Finland

This week TDF will perform special SW DRM test transmissions to Finland:

Coding parameters:
Mode : DRM
Cr = 0.6, bit rate # 21 kbits /sec
Audio encoding : AAC / SBR
Tx Power = 150 kW RMS

Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January 2009, from 08.00 to 16.00 UTC

*Frequency = 9725 kHz*
Antenna: 4/4 at 35°
Time: 08:00:30- 08.59 TU
Audio Program: Chinese

*Frequency = 11875 kHz*
Antenna: 4/4 at 35°
Time: 09:00 -14.59 UTC
Audio Program: Chinese.

*Frequency = 9725 kHz*
Antenna: 4/4 at 35°
Time: 15.00-15.57 UTC
Audio Program: Chinese.

Friday 16 January, from 08.00 to 10.00 UTC

*Frequency = 9725 kHz*
Antenna 4/4 at 35°
Time: 08:00:30- 08.59 UTC
Audio Program: Chinese.

*Frequency = 11875 kHz*
Antenna: 4/4 at 35°
Time: 09:00 -10.00 UTC
Audio Program: Chinese.

TDF is interested in reports.

As AM signal fades, Europe moves hesitantly to digital radio

By Eric Pfanner
Published: January 11, 2009

Read the full story here :
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/11/business/radio.php

AIR 7 Mhz frequencies to be changed

The frequencies of AIR stations operating between 7105 & 7195 are proposed to be shifted to frequencies on the higher side of the 41 meter band (above 7200 kHz) from the A 2009 broadcasting period. More details will be available asap.

73
Jose Jacob, VU2JOS
National Institute of Amateur Radio

QSL from V51PP, Namibia

Last night there was an excellent opening towards Africa on 40m band, was listening to VU2PAI from Mangalore 1800 UTC onwards way past 1900. Heard around 35 qso's with stations from South Africa, Namibia, France, Poland, Germany, Japan, Oman & Russia.

Mahabalipuram Eyeball Meet 2009

All are invited for the Great Eyeball meet at Mahabalipuram in this year 2009

VENUE : Hotel Veeras near Mahabalipuram Bus Stand
TIME : From 08;59 hrs on 14th February 2009 2nd Saturday)
FREQUENCY: 144.900Mc/s - Simplex Mode.
THIS MEET IS DEDICATED TO MV.CHAUHAN
M.A.HA.M was started by OM Vittal/Vu2VIT in 2003,in a small scale with the support of INAR/VU 2INA,APPAN/VU 2MPK and Anna /VU 2KBX,in order encourage poor HAMS & School Students to meet other HAMs of our Motherland,without spending much money.MAHAM is organized every year on 2nd Sturday & February. Mahabalipuram (also known as Mamallapuram) is a 7th Century Port city of South Indian dynasty of the Plaavas,around 60km south from the city of chennai in Tamilnadu.It is believed to have been named after the pallava King Maamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7TH and the 9th Century, and has been classified as a UNESCO world heritage site.For more info: URL:http;//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabalipuram.

SALIENT FEATURES OF THIS MEET
1. Admission is FREE to all Amateurs & Shortwave Listeners.

2. Seniors,Prominent & successful HAMs are attending this Meet. Their Invaluable experience,Infectious Enthsiasm and Exemplary Skills will be useful to the participants.

3.At Mahabalipuram there are many Hotels serving delicious cuisines ranging from indian,Orient,Continental dishes.Hence,the organizers are NOT organizing any Food arrangements for the participants.Participants are encouraged to get together with their friends to decide on the food of their choice.

4. Participants are encouraged to bring their HAM materials for SALE or Exchange.A Small fee of Rs 100( one hundred only) will be collected from each seller for organizing appropriate Displays.

5. Those who are going to sell Brand New Products have to contribute Rs 1000 (one thousand only)

6. Om Lalith Diwakar/VU2LB from Bhavnagar is attending this year meet and brings lot of interesting HAM Materials for participants. He is available on Mobile 09427181973 please contact him of your requirement to bring to the meet.

7.Om Appan VU3MPK is intending to sell excellant RF Probes for Rs 100 oonly. These probes shall be useful for any Home Brewer His ll No 044-65254988

8. Om Sunder VU2VSD is selling High Quality (PIC) frequency counters and
Band pass filters to avoid TVI.

9. Vu2ARA om Arasu coming with SMPS Power supply 13.8v / 10A Mobile : 094429 07669

10. VU3STJ om Radha wants to sell Valve Linear consisting EL84, 807 2 Nos, VR150 -3Nos suitable for RM96 XCVR assembled by VU2SV Mobile no. 097910 34652

11. Room accomodation for night stay Please contact OM INAR VU2INA 09440 83804

12. For further information please contact OM Vittal VU2VIT 044-22240820 & Om Radha VU3STJ - 097910 34652 Those who wants to sell /Buy any Material please send to OM Anna vu2KBX by 31 st January 2009

It Is a great oppertunity for Chennai Hams to meet their Ham friends as it is very near to them.
Let us all wish the Great success for this event year after year

(Varadarajan G, VU2ITI via vuhams list)

Special offer from Medium Wave Circle 2009

Calling all Medium Wave listeners, DXers & enthusiasts

For 55 years the Medium Wave Circle has served Medium Wave listeners, DXers & enthusiasts and now we want to make you the best ever membership offer. Right now is the season for receiving long distance Medium Wave broadcast and utility signals. And we are in the sunspot minimum which is making long distance MW reception better than it has been for many, many years. So there is no better time than now to put on your listening ears and turn the dials. And of course join the premier club for radio enthusiasts interested in the medium waves, the Medium Wave Circle.As a member, you will receive Medium Wave News regularly and you will have use of the MWC e-news service. You will also be entitled to discounts each year on the World Radio TV Handbook and Passport to Worldband Radio and you can be among the first to receive these prestigious books. In fact things are even better since right now the Circle has a special membership offer that will save you money.To find out more about the Medium Wave Circle please visit www.mwcircle.org where you can find out more about the club and the benefits of membership.
To see a recent copy of Medium Wave News just click here: www.mwcircle.org/freemag.htm
Come join the Circle and make the most of your hobby

Steve Whitt
Editor Medium Wave News

P.S. If you are already a member you can extend your membership at the
special new rates saving money

P.P.S. Europe includes the EU, Scandinavia, all of Eastern Europe, Russia,
Ukraine, Baltic countries, and Turkey.

More listening to the radio in tough economic times

January 09, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press
RADIO has once again proved itself to be the most resilient of the traditional media in tough economic times, recording steady advertising revenue in 2008, new figures show. This is despite a 7 per cent fall in ad revenue in radio's key market, Sydney. According to figures released by the industry body, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA), metropolitan commercial radio ad revenue fell by only 0.1 per cent in 2008, compared to 2007.

Read the full story here :
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24891025-12377,00.html