::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2108--Aug. 21, 1990 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2108 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- We begin out of alphabetical order with some items concerning the Gulf crisis: IRAQ--Radio Baghdad now has special programs aimed at the American soldiers in Saudi Arabia. The programs are apparently inspired by World War II broadcasters Tokyo Rose and Axis Sally, warning the Americans that the desert will bury them, and so on. The frequency is 11860 kHz and the times are 10:00 to 12:00 hrs, 16:00 to 18:00, and apparently 20:00 to 22:00 hrs. That last time is the same as for a regular Radio Baghdad transmission, and it's uncertain whether the broadcast on 11860 is in parallel. (Swedish Radio's Titti Nylander, who heard the station in Aqaba, and BBC Monitoring) This is just part of Iraq's use of the airwaves in the crisis. Radio Baghdad has also reintroduced its Voice of Egypt of Arabism program, which is critical of Egypt, at around 18:30-22:00 hrs on 12025, 15150, 15170, and 17720 kHz. And a new station calling itself Holy Mecca Radio has appeared in Arabic on 9730 kHz. Heard at various times between 04:00 and 22:00 hrs, the station supports Iraq and appeals to Arabs to rescue Mecca from foreign occupation. (BBC Monitoring) EGYPT--Egypt has answered the Iraqis by allocating a shortwave frequency for transmissions in the name of Radio Kuwait, scheduled to broadcast for two hours a day. According to the Middle East News Agency, a number of Kuwaiti broadcasters who managed to leave the country will take part. (BBC Monitoring) USAF--Bob Parnass reports on Usenet American Air Force frequencies, used by the base at Insulic, Turkey, which may be of interest during the Gulf crisis. The frequencies to look for are 6738, 11176, and 13214 kHz, SSB. (Brian Gregory) (Here in Stockholm we can hear a lot of traffic on the latter two channels, but it's difficult to work out where all these planes are.) KUWAIT--According to the Danish Amateur Radio Society, the Iraqi forces have banned amateur radio in Kuwait. There are some 160 radio amateurs in Kuwait, including the exiled Emir and his brother. None of these stations have been heard since the Iraqi invasion. There are just 3 registered amateur radio stations in Iraq, all apparently under government control. (RB) UNITED KINGDOM--The British Forces Broadcasting Service has begun shortwave transmissions to the Middle East for the British forces there. These broadcasts are at 02:00-02:30 hrs on 7125, 9640, and 13745 kHz; 09:30-10:00 hrs on 15205, 17695, and 21735 kHz; and 13:30-14:00 hrs on 15195, 17695, and 21735 kHz. (Robert Schneider on CompuServe and Richard Langley) CANADA--Radio Canada International has suddenly started its postponed Arabic service, which was to have gone on the air in April. RCI is transmitting in Arabic at 03:30 and 04:30 hrs on 11730 and 15275 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) UNITED STATES--Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the Voice of America has increased its broadcasts in Arabic from 7.5 to 9.5 hours daily, adding one hour extra in the local mornings and evenings. Iraq has begun jamming VOA broadcasts, and VOA has responded by adding two extra frequencies for most transmissions. One new broadcast is at 05:30-06:30 hrs on 1260, 6160, 7255, 7160, 9740, 15160, and 17705 kHz. In addition there are new 15 minute newscasts at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, and 15:00 hrs on 11705, 15105, and 17810 kHz. All VOA Arabic broadcasts are also relayed using the WorldNet transponder on the Eutselsat F-4 satellite, using the audio subcarrier on 7.02 MHz. (USIA, Stockholm) The VOA is also relayed on two Intelsat 5 satellites, one at 27.5 degrees west over the Atlantic on transponder 21, the other over the Indian Ocean at 180 degrees east, on transponder 14. In both those cases the audio subcarrier at 7.02 MHz is being used. ("Media Network" via BBC Monitoring) Many stations have added programs for their stranded nationals in the Gulf. Here are some: Radio Denmark has added a special 25 minute a day program beamed to the Gulf, with greetings and messages to Danes in Kuwait and Iraq. Currently Radio Denmark is sending 8 programs a day to the Middle East. (RB) Radio Thailand is now broadcasting a special program for Thai workers in the Middle East. The broadcast is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 15:00-15:30 hrs on 9655 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) Other stations with special programs for their nationals in the Gulf include Radio Netherlands, which has extra frequencies for the Dutch programs at 13:30 and 22:30 hrs; and Radio Polonia, which has added messages for Poles in the area in existing programs. Curiously, Radio Free Europe is also broadcasting to Poles in the Gulf, at 14:00 to 16:00 hrs. (BBC Monitoring) JORDAN--Radio Jordan is now broadcasting in English 04:00-21:00 hrs on 855 kHz, 11:00-13:15 hrs on 13655 kHz, and 13:20-16:30 hrs on 9560 kHz. (Friedrich Buettner and Uwe Gruner, West Germany) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SATELLITE-TV--A Delta rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Friday, carrying Britain's second direct broadcast satellite, Macro Polo-2. An identical satellite, Marco Polo-1, was launched on August 27th last year. Both satellites are operated by British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB), which has five channels. Right now only one is at full strength. The others are at half power, and when Marco Polo-2 becomes fully operational in December, it will take over part of the load, so that all channels will be at full power. The five channels are a pay-TV outlet called The Movie Channel, The Sports Channel, a music video channel called The Power Station, Now, which is aimed at women, and a general entertainment channel called Galaxy. So far about 50,000 British homes have installed the appropriate satellite receivers, and antennas, which are 102 centimeters, or 16 inches, square. BSB hopes to have 1 million units installed by the end of the year. (Reuter) BSB's main competition comes from Astra, which has 16 channels, and a new satellite with a further 16 channels coming up. SATELLITE-RADIO--Several Astra channels carry radio transmissions as well, and a new one went on the air on August 15th. Radio Luxembourg International will use Astra daily 03:00-01:00 hrs, part of the time relaying the shortwave service heard on 6090 kHz. Swedish Telecom has already added Radio Luxembourg to some of their cable systems here. Radio Teen, which uses the FilmNet transponder on Astra, has changed its name to Radio Teen Gold and gone over to an oldie format. (Thomas Bergstam, Sweden) SWEDEN--There are some problems here in Sweden enforcing the law against illegal broadcasting. In most countries if there's an illegal station, the authorities immediately close it down and confiscate the transmitter. That happens in Sweden with illegal transmitters. The problem is when a legal transmitter starts broadcasting illegal commercials. For the second month in a row, the Swedish Community Radio Committee has withdrawn the licence of Radio Nova, a small station in Vagnshaerad, 50 km south of Stockholm. The station has continued to carry commercial advertising, which is forbidden for all broadcast stations in Sweden. One station official faces charges that could lead to a prison sentence. The station has fought back by taking the issue of advertising as free speech both to a Swedish court and to the European Court of Human Rights. And they keep broadcasting. Meanwhile, a local cable-TV station in Gothenburg is in trouble for carrying advertising in connection with a program called "BingoLotto". For the second time they've had their licence withdrawn. They intend to keep going, and point out that cable channels relayed by satellite are allowed to carry commercials. The people behind the programs say they may take the Swedish Cable Board to court for violating free speech. ("Dagens Nyheter") BANGLADESH--The external service of Radio Bangladesh in English has been heard broadcasting to Europe from 18:15 hrs on 11860 and 15255 kHz. (Suresh Kumar, India) BELGIUM--The BRT's Radio 4 Internationale is broadcasting in German daily except Saturdays at 10:30-11:00 hrs, to Europe on 9925 and to Africa on 21460 kHz. The previous 15 minute programs are now 30 minutes in length. (Francois Chalory, France) BURMA--Correcting the report in SCDX-2102, the Voice of Myanmar is broadcasting in 5985 kHz, rather than 5990. The time is 14:30-16:00 hrs. (Lau Teck Yew, Singapore) CHINA--Radio Beijing is broadcasting in French to Africa at 18:30-21:30 hrs on 9700 and 11975 kHz and 21:30-22:30 hrs on 9700 and 11790 kHz (the latter via Mali). French to Europe is at 18:30 to 21:30 hrs on 7800 and 15100 kHz and 20:30-21:30 hrs on 3985 kHz (the latter from Switzerland). (Suresh Kumar, India) ECUADOR--Updating SCDX-2106, HCJB is now broadcasting in German using a number of new frequencies, many of which use single side band (SSB). The complete German schedule is now: 04:30 hrs on 11835, 21460, and 25950 kHz; 06:00 hrs on 9610, 11835, 15270, 21460, and 25950 kHz; 18:30 hrs on 15270, 17790, 21460, 21480, and 25950 kHz. The SSB frequencies are 21460 and 25950 kHz. (Thorsten Koch, West Germany) FRANCE/JAPAN--Updating SCDX-2105, the new Radio France International broadcast in Vietnamese has been heard relayed from Japan at 15:00 hrs74 on 17710 kHz. (F. Lienard, Japan) GREECE--Updating SCDX-2095, the Voice of Greece is now using 9695 kHz, instead of 9395, for its European service at 19:00 hrs. This includes Greek at 19:00, English at 19:20, French at 19:30, and German at 19:50 hrs. 11645 kHz remains in parallel. (Francois Chalory, France) LEBANON--The Voice of Arab Lebanon, which supports the Murabitun movement, was destroyed by Amal and PSP forces on April 16th, 1985. It has been heard again on 1377 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) LIBERIA--A radio station calling itself Radio Number 4 of the Voice of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia from Voinjama, has been heard around 21:00-21:50 hrs on 585 kHz. This transmitter formerly identified as ELRV, which was part of the government-controlled Liberian Rural Communications Network. (BBC Monitoring) Previously the Rural Communications Network station in Gbarnga on 558 kHz was heard broadcasting on behalf of the rebels. MADAGASCAR--Radio Madagasikara is broadcasting on a new frequency of 5005 kHz. It was heard in a local language at around 15:30 to 19:00 hrs. (Andreas Kuppert, West Germany) NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS--The Christian broadcaster KFBS in Saipan has been heard in Russian on 12045 kHz at 12:00-14:00 hrs. (Suresh Kumar) PHILIPPINES--Updating SCDX-2082 and 2099, Radio Veritas Asia is broadcasting in Urdu 14:30-15:00 hrs on 9525 kHz. Urdu continues to be heard 02:00-02:30 hrs on 21540 kHz. (Suresh Kumar) USSR--Updating DX-Bulletin 2092, Radio Tashkent is in English 12:00-12:30 and 13:30-14:00 hrs on 7325, 9715, 11785, 15460, and 17740 kHz. (Suresh Kumar) Radio Vilnius is broadcasting in English at 21:30-22:00 hrs on 666, 1557, 6100, and 9675 kHz; and 22:00-22:30 hrs on 6100, 11790, 13645, 15185, 15455, and 15485 kHz. (Friedrich Buettner, West Germany) Radio Moscow has reduced its broadcasts in Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish. The current schedule in Nordic languages is: 15:30-17:00 hrs in Finnish, 17:00-18:00 hrs in Norwegian, 18:00-19:00 hrs in Swedish, and 19:00-20:00 hrs in Danish. The frequencies are 1494, 9800, 11675, and 11950 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) UNOFFICIAL RADIO--Radio Patria Libre, which opposes the government of Colombia, has been heard in Spanish at 00:30 and signing off at 12:20 hrs on 6315 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) The Voice of the Resistance of the Black Cockerel, which operates on behalf of the UNITA movement in Angola, has been heard in Portuguese at 18:00-18:45 hrs on 7100 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) CLUB NEWS--DX Antwerp is holding its annual Open Door Days on September 1 and 2. For more information send a self-addressed stamped envelope or 1 IRC to DX Antwerp at Box 16, B-2710 Hoboken, Belgium. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden Calling DXers is the world's oldest radio program for shortwave listeners. Radio Sweden has presented this round-up of radio news, features, and interviews on Tuesdays since 1948. RS broadcasts to North America: 15:30 hrs on 17880 and 21500 kHz 02:30 hrs on 11705 and 15295 kHz To Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: 15:30 hrs on 21655 kHz (East Africa and Middle East) 17:00 hrs on 1179, 6065, and 9615 kHz 21:00 hrs on 1179, 9655 and 11705 kHz 23:00 hrs on 1179 kHz 22:30 hrs on 1179 kHz And to Asia and the Pacific: 11:30 hrs on 17740, 21570, and 21610 kHz 14:00 hrs on 17740 and 21610 kHz 01:00 hrs on 15405 and 17860 kHz The Electronic Edition is based on the Sweden Calling DXers bulletins which are mailed out every 4 weeks to contributors. Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood to Swedish telex 11738, CompuServe (via the HamNet Forum or Easyplex 70247,3516), through the FidoNet system to 2:202/297 or to SM0IIN at the packet radio BBS SM0ETV. Reports can also be sent to: Radio Sweden S-105 10 Stockholm Sweden Contributions should be NEWS about electronic media--from shortwave to satellites--and not loggings of information already available from sources such as the "World Radio TV Handbook". Clubs and DX publications may reprint material as long as Sweden Calling DXers and the original contributor are acknowledged, with the exception of items from BBC Monitoring, which are copyright. We welcome comments and suggestions about the electronic edition, Sweden Calling DXers, and our programs in general. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to 35 contributors this week Good Listening!