::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2000--July 19, 1988 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. Electronic Edition edited by George Wood. This week's bulletin was written by Lars Ryden. Packet radio BID SCDX2000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To commemorate two thousand weeks of Sweden Calling DXers, we'll begin this week's bulletin with samples from the bulletins from April and May in our first year, 1948. Some of the stations reported 40 years ago still exist, but many have been closed down or they have changed identity, for national, political, or other reasons. When these first programs were broadcast, Sweden Calling DXers was on the air every Saturday over two 12 kW shortwave transmitters located in Motala, using the call signs SBP, SBT, and SDB2. BELGIAN CONGO--On May 1, 1948, Herbert Bluman, at that time in Eritrea, reported Radio Congo Belge in Leopoldville 16:00-20:00 hrs GMT with an experimental transmission on 11720 kcs. Further, Rdio Congolia carried a program in French at 17:00 hrs and a "native" tyoe program 18:00-18:30 on 6010 and 15325 kcs. The frequency of 9210 was also used. CABO VERDE--Raymond Block in Belgium reported hearing Praia in the Cape Verde Islands on 5890 kcs 20:30-22:00 hrs. The signals were rather strong, but disturbances from a morse code station were so heavy that Raymond could not identify the station definately. However, the station went off the air at 22:00 playing the Portuguese national anthem. Now we know that this was CR4AA, Radio Clube de Cabo Verde. This station still exists today as Radio Nacional de Cabo Verde, but operates in the FM band only. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC--In 1948 there were about 25 shortwave stations in the Dominican Republic. HI2A, "La Voz de la Reeleccion" in Santiago de los Caballeros, could be heard daily in Sweden on a new frequency of 7210 kHz, 22:30-02:00 hrs, and sometimes even later. DUTCH EAST INDIES--This was the colonial name for what is today Indonesia, and the name of the capital Jakarta was still Batavia. In our bulletin dated April 3, 1948, Gerhard Kensy in West Germany and David Owen French in England reported that Radio Batavia was coming through nicely via station YDC on 15145 kcs, jammed by WRCA in New York. Batavia could also be heard over PMW on 17630 and PMA on 19345 kcs, including a half hour program in English at 17:00 hrs. PALESTINE--Bert Bluman reported the Near East Broadcasting Station, or "Sharq al Adna", operating on 6790 and 11720 kcs. Shortly afterwards, in 1948, Sharq al Adna moved its operation to Cyprus. It was a commercial station and rather popular at that time. In connection with the Suez Crisis in 1957, Sharq al Adna was taken over by the British and renamed "Voice of Britain". Soon afterwards the station was closed for good. PHILIPPINES--Also in the bulletin for April 3, 1948, we learned that A.W. Robertson in England had noted KZRH, the Voice of the Philippines in Manila on 9610 kcs at around 14:30 and again at 22:15 hrs. Note that in 1948 the Philippines still used U.S. callsigns. This was changed shortly afterwards and KZRH became DZRH. This callsign is still in use for a medium wave station. TRINIDAD--A.W. Robertson reported hearing VP4RD in Port of Spain on 9645 kcs at 21:55 hrs, with a program called "Children's Radio Magazine" on Saturday evenings. Today VP4RD or "Radio Trinidad", as many Latin American stations, has left shortwave and is operating on medium wave and FM only. Now time for this week's DX news: COSTA RICA--Updating the report in SCDX-1997 that Radio Impacto could be heard on 10060 kHz, twice their regular frequency, the station seems to have corrected the problem. (Mattias Gatzke, West Germany) IRELAND--A new broadcasting law has been passed that will outlaw the more than 100 private stations from Dec. 31, 1988. Some stations plan to stay on the air, others will close down and apply for licences. Kiss Radio in County Monaghon has moved from 1008 to 1170 kHz. (Brian Daly and Paul Davidson, both Ireland) NETHERLANDS ANTILLES--Since July 1 Trans World Radio in Bonaire has been testing a new 500 kW transmitter on 800 kHz. (BBC MS) NEW ZEALAND--The New Zealand Broadcasting Tribunal is faced with many applications for new stations in the FM band. There are 13 applications in Auckland, including two for gospel music stations, two ethnic stations, new stations, and medium wave outlets which want to move to FM. In other cities as well, Radio New Zealand wants to move its stations from medium wave to FM. ("Arthur Cushen's DX World", New Zealand) NORWAY--Beginning July 1, Radio Norway International is using the 13 meter band frequency of 21705 kHz. This replaces frequencies in the 19 and 16 meter bands and is in use at 10:00 hrs to the Far East and New Zealand, 11:00 to the Far East, 12:00 and 14:00 to South Asia, and 15:00 to East Africa. All broadcasts are 45 minutes in length. (Radio Norway and Mick Ogrizek, Australia) INTERNATIONAL WATERS--On July 9th a new Dutch station, identifying only as "RM", began broadcasting on 558 kHz, via Radio Caroline. The schedule is 06:00-18:00 hrs, with Radio Caroline the rest of the day. This Dutch service is to move to 819 kHz in one month and Radio Caroline will resume on 558 kHz. (Bradley Allen, England) PUBLICATIONS--The 16th edition of the "Tropical Bands Survey" has been been released, edited by Bernhard Gruedl and published by the Danish Shortwave Clubs International. Its 32 pages contains updated details of all active broadcasting stations in the 2000-5900 kHz range. The TBS is the standard Tropical Bands guide and is available for 7 IRCs or 30 Danish kronor by sea mail, 9 IRCs or 35 kronor for airmail from: DSWCI, c/o Bent Nielsen, Betty Nansens Alle 49, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 14:00 hrs on 15345 and 15390 kHz 23:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz 02:30 hrs on 9695 kHz And to Europe and Africa: 11:00 hrs on 6065 and 9630 kHz 17:00 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz 18:30 hrs on 11845 kHz 21:00 hrs on 1179, 6065 and 9700 kHz 23:00 hrs on 1179 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, Telefax +46-8-667-6283, CompuServe (via the HamNet Forum or Easyplex 70247,3516), through the FidoNet system to 2:501/297 or to SM0IIN at the packet radio BBS SK0TM. 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 the BBC Monitoring Service (BBC MS), which are copyright. We welcome comments and suggestions about the electronic edition, Sweden Calling DXers, and our programs in general. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to all our contributors over the past 2000 weeks!