::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2119--Nov. 5, 1990 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. Electronic Edition edited by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2119 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the first edition in our new format. PUBLICATIONS--The long-awaited edition 4.0 of Radio Sweden's "DXer's Guide to Computing" is back from the printers. This is a complete update over the previous edition, and at 60 pages is half again as long. It tells you everything you need to know about using a computer in the radio shack, with chapters on software, digital radio modes like RTTY and weather facsimile, and computer bulletin boards for radio hobbyists. "The DXer's Guide to Computing" edition 4.0 is available from Radio Sweden for USD 5, GBP 3, FF or SEK 30, DM 8, or 8 IRCs. The individual chapters are being uploaded to telephone-based and packet radio computer bulletin boards. Former Radio Sweden colleague Roger Wallis has, together with Stanley Baran, written "The Known World of Broadcast News", a critical look at what news broadcasters are telling us about the world we live in. Published by Routledge in London and New York, a key section of the book compares the news carried by major radio and TV broadcasters in the United States, Britain, and Sweden. That chapter earned the authors the Cooley Award of the American Speech Communication Association. SATELLITE-TV--Britain's two satellite television broadcasters have ended their ratings war and have agreed to merge. Sky Television's four channel service will merge with British Satellite Broadcasting's five channels to form a new network called British Sky Broadcasting. Sky, which launched its current system when the Astra satellite went online in February, 1989, has been losing 4 million dollars a week. It's current channels are Sky News, the entertainment channel Sky One, Sky Movies, and Eurosport. BSB has been in operation for six months from its own direct broadcast satellite. It's five channels are the Movie Channel, the Sports Channel, two entertainment outlets called Galaxy and Now, and a music video channel called the Power Station. According to reports, the merged operation will have five channels, including two pay movie stations. The others will probably be Sky News, Sky One, and Eurosport. The primary system will be on Astra, but BSB promises a lengthy transitional period during which arrangements will be made to protect existing subscribers. That means the 100,000 Britons who've bought the receivers and distinctive square antennas, or "squarials" for BSB. It's unclear what will be happening to the BSB satellite in the long-run. The new network may wish to add further channels in the future. It certainly won't want to let a new competitor take over the satellite. (AP, Reuter, Dow Jones) SATELLITE-RADIO--There are two new satellite radio stations broadcasting to Europe: Radio Nova, using the Lifestyle transponder on the Astra satellite, and Radio Northsea International, on the TV4 transponder on Intelsat 5A-F12. Both are former pirate stations that have resurfaced on satellite. Radio Northsea International was an offshore pirate operating from off the Dutch coast in the 70's. Radio Nova was an Irish private station that was forced off the air by new legislation. It was an early satellite radio pioneer, but went off the air for economic reasons. It can now be heard on the 7.38 and 7.56 MHz audio subcarriers on the Lifestyle transponder on Astra. (Goeran Lindemark in "QRG-Bulletinen" and Thomas Bergstam, both Sweden) Radio 5 from Radio Nacional de Espana has been heard on the Eutselsat 1 F-5 satellite, on the TVE International transponder. The audio carrier is at 7.38 MHz. (BBC Monitoring) Meanwhile, there are celebrations at the satellite radio broadcaster Radio 10. The Dutch state council has ruled that the Italian-owned but Amsterdam- based operation is a legitimate foreign organization, so it can be allowed back onto Dutch cable networks. Radio 10 can be found on the FilmNet transponder on Astra, using the subcarriers at 7.92 and 8.10 MHz. ("Music and Media" via Thomas Bergstam) ***************************************************************************** The Gulf: UAE/EGYPT--Egyptian troops in Saudi Arabia have complained they can only hear Iraqi radio. The Information Minister of the United Arab Emirates says the UAE is making one of its medium wave transmitters available for a 24 hour relay of Egypt's Voice of the Arabs. The Minister also says the necessary equipment will be installed to receive the new satellite transmissions of Egyptian television Channel One, in order to relay them to the UAE, including the areas in which Egyptian troops are deployed. (BBC Monitoring) USA--We reported several weeks ago about the shortwave relays of VOA Europe, because of the Gulf crisis. Ivan Penev, visiting Iceland, has heard VOA Europe at 08:00-12:00 hrs on 21570 kHz, with interference from Radio Exterior de Espana. (Ivan Penev, Bulgaria) **************************************************************************** Central and Eastern Europe: USA/CZECHOSLOVAKIA/GERMANY--Radio Free Europe has ended shortwave broadcasts in Czech and Slovak. Instead, the station is broadcasting for 12 hours a day using four mediumwave transmitters in Czechoslovakia, on 1287 kHz. (RFE via BBC Monitoring) GERMANY--Deutsche Welle is using old Radio Berlin International frequencies for their English broadcasts towards South and Southeast Asia: 09:00-09:50 hrs on 21465 and 21540 kHz and 16:00-16:50 hrs on 15240 kHz. (Kanwarjit Sandhu, India) USSR--"PLAY-DX" reports on a number of pirate stations operating from the Soviet Union. Radio Belomor Kanal is reported on around 1705 kHz, while Radio Kvant was heard around 1758. Relays from the Voice of America and Radio Liberty have been heard on 1709 kHz. ("PLAY-DX", Italy) We've reported before about Radio Hope, a station operating from a Soviet military base in Estonia, opposing the autonomy movement there. The chairman of Estonia's Supreme Soviet has now sent a telegram to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, describing the Radio Hope operation as direct Soviet Army interference in Estonian political life, as well as a threat to the health of people living close to the transmitter. (Estonian Radio via BBC Monitoring) The Swedish-based Christian broadcaster IBRA Radio has reached agreement with the Soviet authorities to broadcast four half hours a month over the Soviet domestic radio channels 1 and 3. According to an IBRA spokesman, the programs will be carried simultaneously on longwave, mediumwave, shortwave, and FM. The programs will be produced together with Finland's IRR-TV. The programs will air every other Wednesday at 21:30 hrs UTC (THursdays at 00:30 hrs Moscow time) on channel 1, with rebroadcasts on channel 3 the following Sunday afternoons. ("Dagen") ***************************************************************************** The rest of the World: BHUTAN--The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is carrying out test transmissions from its new 50 kW transmitter, on 5025, 6035, and 9615 kHz. (Subir Basu, India) GUAM--While the WRTH lists the Christian station KHBN to be under construction, Maarten van Delft, back from a visit to Guam, tells us that the authorities in Guam have yet to give permission to lease or buy land for building the station. Relays via KSDA ended in April. (Maarten van Delft, Netherlands) The Director of Engineering of High Adventure Ministries, which is behind KHBN, recently told Radio Netherlands "Media Network" that studio equipment, a transmitter, and an antenna are all in Guam, and the station was waiting for the land to erect the antenna towers. (BBC Monitoring) LEBANON--High Adventure Ministries also operates a station in southern Lebanon which has been used on behalf of the pro-Israeli Southern Lebanon Army. Maarten van Delft tells us that this station, the Voice of Hope, is buiulding a new curtain antenna and a new 25 kW transmitter. It's listed on 6215 and 6280 kHz. (Maarten van Delft) LIBERIA--Personnel from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria are to be joined by counterparts from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Guinea in operating a new radio station in civil war-ravaged Liberia. Known as Radio Liberty Monrovia, the station was scheduled to begin operations on October 27th. Broadcasts are to be on shortwave, for 12 hours a day, in English, French, and local languages. (PANA news agency via BBC Monitoring) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 since 1948. The program is now broadcast on the first and third Tuesday of each month. RS broadcasts to North America: 15:30 hrs on 17880 and 21500 kHz 02:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz 03:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz To Latin America: 23:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz To Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: 18:00 hrs on 1179, 6065, 9655, and 11900 kHz 19:30 hrs on 6065 and 7265 kHz 22:00 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz 23:30 hrs on 1179 kHz 01:00 hrs on 1179 kHz And to Asia and the Pacific: 12:30 hrs on 11715, 17740, and 21570 kHz 14:00 hrs on 9765 and 21610 kHz 01:00 hrs on 9770 kHz The Radio Sweden schedule to Europe in Swedish, English,hGmrman, French, and Spanish can be found on EuroSport (on cable and on the Astra and Eutelsat I- F4 satellites) Tele-Text page 496. 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 this week's contributors Good Listening! ============================================================================= Distributed by The Pinelands RBBS * 609-859-1910 * 24/12/3 @ 8N1 * 64 MB FIDO 1:266/32 * RBBS-Net 8:950/2 * Shortwave Listening * Ham & Packet Radio Home of PC Software by W2XQ * Receiver Control Programs for NRD-525, R-5000 English Language SW Broadcast Schedules (1988 WRTH Industry Award Winner) SYSOP Tom Sundstrom * W2XQ * MCI Mail 244-6376 * InterNet 2446376@mcimail.com TRS Consultants * 609-859-2447 * FAX 609-859-3226 * Telex 6552446376MCI UW =============================================================================