From: xberri@quark2.aero.org (Jason E. Berri) Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Subject: SCDX 2155 Date: 16 May 92 20:09:00 GMT Reply-To: xberri@arecibo.aero.org Organization: The Aerospace Corporation News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan :: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2155--May 12, 1992 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2155 All times UTC unless otherwise noted. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: This edition has been delayed a week because of my recent trip to London. EUROPEAN SATELLITE RADIO: WORLD RADIO NETWORK--The World Radio Network conducted tests recently on the Astra 1B satellite, on the Sky Sports transponder at 11.508 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.56 MHz, relaying English language programs from a number of broadcasters, including National Public Radio from the United States, BBC World Service, All India Radio, Radio Australia, Vatican Radio, and Radio Sweden. Some relays were from satellite, some used digital ISDN telephone lines, and some were directly off shortwave. In this week's English edition of Sweden Calling Dxers we visit the WRN studio in London on the last day of the tests. WRN co-founder Karl Misoga told us the experiment had gone well, and WRN hopes to begin regular broadcasts within three months. There are more far-ranging plans for services in German and French. WRN is also offering to relay international broadcasters over the National Public Radio satellite system in the United States. (WRN) SOLAR RADIO--World Radio Network is off the air for the moment, but another broadcaster has begun regular broadcasts on the audio subcarrier next door, at 7.38 MHz, also on Astra's Sky Sports transponder. This is Solar Radio, which seems to relay recorded phone-in talk shows from American religious broadcasters. GIANT FM--A station called Giant FM has been heard on the Sky News transponder on 11.376 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.74 MHz. ("Satnews") However, we didn't hear anything when we tuned in there. RADIO CAROLINE--Recently we reported on why Radio Luxembourg has abandoned medium wave for Astra. Another famous broadcaster is about to appear on Astra. Radio Caroline, the former offshore pirate, is due to become part of QEFM, which is on the Sky Movies transponder on 11.435 GHz, audio subcarriers 7.38 and 7.56 MHz, apparently using the latter channel for four hours a day. ("In Orbit" on Super Channel's teletext service) Caroline has been broadcasting legally recently with a special events licence from the old Caroline ship the "Ross Revenge" on FM from Dover harbor. RADIO NOVA--Radio Nova, which was an Irish private station followed by a brief appearance on satellite, is relaunching on an Eutelsat. The station has chosen Eutelsat over Astra in order to better reach Eastern Europe. ("In Orbit") AMERICAN SATELLITE RADIO: NEW DIMENSIONS--American satellite radio is far more developed than European. Besides dozens of stations using audio subcarriers, there are also hundreds of channels and producers using another technique called SCPC. A few weeks ago we reported on how National Public Radio uses 16 SCPC channels to reach hundreds of local non-commercial stations across the United States. In this week's English edition of Sweden Calling DXers, we visit one of these satellite broadcasters, which ironically, has recently added shortwave. New Dimensions Radio, heard weekly on public radio stations in the United States. For years interviewer Michael Toms has spoken with gurus, environmentalists, peace activists, and many other voices advocating spiritual and social change. Inronically, while many shortwave stations have been adding satellite relays, New Dimensions recently began relays from Radio for Peace International in Costa Rica. This station is about to increase power from 5 kW to 20 KW. New Dimensions is broadcast: Mondays and Fridays at 22:00, 04:00,and 01:00 hrs; Wednesdays at 20:30. 02:30, and 08:30 hrs; and Sundaysat 20:00, 02:00, and 08:00 hrs. Frequencies used vary between 7375,13630, 15030, and 21465 kHz. (New Dimensions) NORTH AMERICAN SATELLITE TELEVISION: THE MONITOR CHANNEL--The Monitor Channel will continue until June 15th, while a new buyer is being sought. The Monitor Channel was to have gone off the air in late April. It's carried on Satcom 4R at 82 degrees West, transponder 20. ("Satnews") TURNER STRIKES AGAIN--Ted Turner, owner of CNN, TNT, WTBS, and the Airport and Check-Out Channels, as well as the upcoming Cartoon Channel, has announced he is thinking about starting The Fitness Channel for use by Health Clubs. It should be noted that Mr. Turner is married to Jane Fonda, who's best know these days for her exercise videos. ("Satnews") GALAXY 5--There's a new satellite beginning to transmit above North America. Galaxy 5 has begun transmission from 125 degrees West, transponders 3, 21, and 23. The Telecom 303 satellite which used to be at that location has been moved to 123 degrees. (Gary Hunt and Michael Painter on CompuServe) ASIAN TELEVISION: BANGLADESH--Satellite monitoring is not legal in all countries. Bangladesh has authorized the reception of satellite signals, upon payment of a special USD 2,200 tax. That in a country where the average annual income is USD 170. But several business and rich individuals have already signed up, enabling them to legally tune into CNN, as well as the Star channels from Asiasat. ("Satnews") KURDISTAN--Kurds have seized Iraqi TV equipment and have set up stations in 3 cities. News, pirate tapes of Westerns and European spy thrillers, plus Kurdish cultural items are being shown. News is taken from Arab wire services, the BBC World Service, VOA, etc. (Gordon Darling, Papua New Guinea, in "Contact") LOCAL AND SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING: BOSNIA--The Serbian community in Bosnia has begun broadcasting on FM 88.7 and 102 MHz. At 12:00-20:00 hrs this station calls itself the Radio of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The rest of the time the Belgrade Radio First Program can be heard. (Radio Belgrade via BBC Monitoring) CAMBODIA--The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia is setting up a national radio station there, and a Japanese charity plans to collect a quarter million transistor radios so Cambodians can tune in. The four rival factions, who have their own partisan stations, will have access to the new national outlet. The station will be staffed by UN personnel, and will have enough transmitters to cover the country. The station will broadcast primarily in the Khmer language. There will also be special French and English services for the 23,000 UN soldiers and civilians in the country. (Reuters) CROATIA--Croatian Radio, Studio Zagreb has been heard at 11:59 hrs on a new frequency of 21480 kHz. A summary of news in English was broadcast between 12:03 and 12:07 hrs. (Richard Langley, Canada) Radio Osijek is on 720 and 1557 kHz. Radio Sabomar is on 1179 kHz. ("Kurier", via Finnish DX Association "Euronews") CUBA--To celebrate its 31st anniversary, Radio Havana is broadcasting on weekends in May on 25800 kHz, using upper side band. This will be at 20:00- 21:00 hrs in parallel witgh 17705 kHz and possiblu 22:00-23:00 hrs in parallel with 9620 kHz. The 22:00-23:00 hrs to Europe is now on 9620 kHz from Cuba and on 11930 kHz from a transmitter in the former Soviet Union. ("World of Radio" and BRT via "Contact") FRANCE--Radio France International is broadcasting in Russian at 18:00-19:00 hrs on 9805 and 11670 kHz. (Radio France International) GEORGIA--Radio Georgia has announced its schedule to the European part of the former USSR daily from 20:00 hrs on 11760 kHz. Russian has been heard at 20:00 hrs, and English at 20:30 hrs. The station also announces a broadcast at 09:00 hrs on 11805 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) GUAM--The American religous station KTWR is broadcasting to the Far East in English at 07:55 hrs on 15200 kHz. Russian is broadcast at 10:00-11:45 hrs on 11805 kHz. Between 16:00-16:30 hrs there are programs in Russian, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Uzbek, and Korean on 9785 kHz. (KTWR) IRAN--The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reduced its English schedule. Broadcasts are now at 10:30 hrs on 11715 kHz to the Middle East and East Africa, 11790 and 11910 kHz to South and Southeast Asia, 11930 kHz to the Gulf, and 9525 kHz to East and Central Africa. At 18:30 hrs to Europe on 9022 and 15260 kHz. And to North America at 23:30 hrs on 9022, 15260, and 15315 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) IRAQ--Radio Baghdad has returned to the air as Radio Iraq International. It has been heard broadcasting to Europe in English at 18:00 hrs on 15210 kHz, with interference from Radio Japan from Sri Lanka. Around 19:30 hrs there is news in French, German, and Spanish. (Akihiro Onagi, Germany) Iraq is also apparently broadcasting Holy Medina Radio to Saudi Arabia at 05:00-09:00 and 16:00-20:00 hrs on 11860 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) JAPAN--Radio Japan's "DX Corner" is now called "Media Round-Up". It is now being broadcast on Sundays: 03:30 hrs on 17810 (Asia) and 11870 kHz (North America); 09:30 hrs on 21610, 11815, and 11840 kHz (to Asia); 15:30 hrs on 11865 kHz (to North America); 21:30 hrs on 17810, 11840, 15430, and 11815 kHz (to Asia) and 17890 kHz (to the Pacific); and 23:30 hrs to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from Gabon on 11735 kHz. Glenn Hauser says it will also be relayed to North America from Sackville Mondays at 01:30 hrs on 5960. ("World of Radio" via "Contact") KAZAKHSTAN--Radio Alma Ata has been heard on a new frequency of 4800 kHz, fading in around 18:15 hrs until sign-off at 20:00 hrs. Also heard around 01:30 hrs. (Anker Pedersen, via "Contact") LITHUANIA--Radio Vilnius has been heard on new frequencies of 9530 and 17690 kHz for English at 00:00 hrs. With the introduction of Summer Time, this has probably shifted to 23:00 hrs. (Bob Thomas on "World of Radio", via "Contact") NETHERLANDS--Radio Netherlands' new shortwave schedule includes no broadcasts at all to Europe. However, there have been so many protests from Europeans wishing to listen to "Media Network" that Radio Netherlands has a special broadcast to Europe once a week, on Thursdays, at 12:30 hrs, on 9855 kHz. The African transmissions at 17:30 and 19:30 hrs are also heard well in Europe on 21590 kHz. ("Contact") MOLDOVA--Moldova is to launch Radio Moldova International soon, but no sign-on date has been announced. ("Media Network" vis "Euronews") RUSSIA--Radio Galaxy in Russia is now on 9880 kHz, between 19:00 and 22:00 hrs. (Rainer Henrich, Switzerland) Radio Alef, a joint program from Radio Moscow and the Jewish Children's Association has been heard in Russian at 16:00 hrs on 7130 and 12075 kHz. It announces it is on the air on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Other days of the week the Radio Moscow Arabic Service continues to use these frequencies. (BBC Monitoring) The former Soviet news agency TASS has discontinued all shortwave radio teletype (or RTTY) transmissions. TASS was a popular station for RTTY monitors, enthusiasts who use computers to receive news agency transmissions. North Americans could easily receive relays from Cuba. According to the deputy head of the TASS English service, the only way to receive TASS now is by satellite. Many other news agencies, which used Soviet transmitters, also seem to be going off the air. One obvious example is the Afghan News Agency. Cuba's Prensa Latina has cut back, but can still be monitored on 16348 kHz between 12:00 and 22:00 hrs. ("SPEEDX Utility World") UKRAINE--The former Radio Kiev is now called the Radio Ukraine World Service. Broadcasts in Ukrainean can be heard in Europe on 7240, 7340, 11690, 11960, 15525, and 17680 kHz. There are broadcasts to North America at 02:00-07:30 hrs on 15195 and 17690 kHz, and at at 16:00-18:00 hrs on 7240, 7340, 11960, and 21720 kHz. At 16:00-17:00 hrs 15525 and 17680 kHz are also used. (BBC Monitoring) USA--The Voice of America has shifted its German service to Europe from mornings to local evenings, 21:00 hrs. The frequencies are 1197 and 11840 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) YUGOSLAVIA--Radio Yugoslavia is broadcasting in English at 11:30-12:00 hrs on 17740 kHz to North America, 17710 kHz to South and Southeast Asia, and on 21605 kHz to Australia. (T.K. Soundara Rajan, India) CLANDESTINE--The Columbian opposition station Radio Patria Libre has been heard at 00:30-01:05 hrs on 5850 and 15050 kHz. The station also announces a broadcast at 11:30 hrs on 6300 and 15050 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) The Voice of Rebellious Iraq has been heard on 8000 and 8010 kHz, replacing 6330. It announces a schedule of 03:30-06:00, 11:30.14:00, and 16:30-19:00 hrs. 1431 kHz is in parallel. (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 on Tuesdays since 1948. Radio Sweden broadcasts to Europe in English at 20:30-21:30 hrs on medium wave 1179 kHz, as well as shortwave 6065 and 9655 kHz, and via satellite on Astra 1B (19.2 degrees East) channel 26 at 11.597 GHz, audio subcarrier at 7.74 MHz, and on the Tele-X direct broadcast satellite (5 degrees East) at 12.207 GHz, audio subcarrier 7.38 MHz. That program is also broadcast to the Pacific and the Far East on 17730 kHz. We're also relay our half hour program at 12:30 hrs on satellite, otherwise it's being carried to South Asia, the Pacific and the Far East on 15170 and 17740 kHz. The rest of the Radio Sweden English schedule is (half hour programs): To Europe: 22:30 hrs 1179 and 6065 kHz To the Middle East and East Africa: 15:00 hrs on 15270 kHz To Asia/Pacific: 13:30 hrs 17740 and 21570 kHz 01:00 hrs 9685 and 11730 kHz To North America: 15:00 hrs 17870 and 21500 kHz 02:00 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood by fax to +468-667-6283, from Internet, MCI Mail or CompuServe (to the CompuServe mailbox 70247,3516), through the FidoNet system to 2:201/697 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! -- Jason Berri [berri@aero.org or berri@arecibo.aero.org] [SPEEDX Column Editor and keeper of the vmsserv swl archive located on] [arecibo.aero.org. Send email for more info on SPEEDX or the archive.]