SWEDEN CALLING DXERS from Radio Sweden Number 2037--April 4, 1989 Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by Bengt Dalhammar. Electronic Edition edited by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2037 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SATELLITE-TV--Europe now has it's second direct broadcast satellite, Sweden's Tele-X, which was launched over the weekend from French Guiana, one day later than the scheduled blast-off on the Feast of All Fools. The day before the launch Tele-X became a wholly Swedish satellite, Norway having given up its 15 percent share. In return the Norwegians get to use one of the three TV transponders on board, which is just as well, since there are so far no other customers for either the TV channels or the satellite's three data channels. Last week we mentioned a press conference about the satellite. All that happened there was that Swedish Television announced it was studying the possiblity of broadcasting pay-TV from Tele-X, which was scarcely news. To some extent, it really doesn't matter if there isn't any programming on the satellite, since no one in the Nordic region is selling receiving equipment for Tele-X. Home viewers will only need antennas 30 cm in diameter to monitor the satellite. If you have the right equipment, in three weeks you can look for Tele-X in its proper position at 5 degrees East longitude. The three downlink channels are listed as 12.20698 GHz, 12.32206 GHz, and 12.4755 GHz. Those are transponders 26, 32, and 40 in the European DBS frequency allocation. (George Wood) Meanwhile, Greece has extended surface relays of satellite TV channels. In Volos viewers will be able to watch local relays of a different satellite program every day. In Kerkira there are five satellite programs being broadcast over the air locally--RAI-Uno, Super Channel, CNN, and Sat-Eins. On the other hand, Singapore is banning the sale and installation of satellite dishes for receiving television from abroad. According to the Minister of State for Communications and Information, Mah Bow Tyan, unlimited access to programs beamed by foreign TV stations can not be allowed because in developed countries commercial television is designed to make money. But in the process it might transmit harmful values. In developing countries, the minister says, the media are key instruments in nation- building. (BBC Monitoring) AUSTRALIA--Radio Australia is now testing to the Pacific 05:00-06:00 and 08:00-09:00 hrs on 11770 kHz. Radio Australia can also be heard 05:00-08:00 hrs on 15320 kHz, a slight shift from 15315. (Ashoka N. Patel and P. Duryodhana, both India) Radio Australia has also been heard at 21:00 hrs on 15160 kHz and at 22:00 hrs on 15240. (Jan Bysterbosch, Netherlands) Also at 22:00 hrs, there's a transmission to the Pacific on a new frequency of 21740 kHz. It can be heard in Europe until around 03:00 hrs, although it is scheduled until 07:30. The English transmission to the South Pacific and Europe 07:00-10:30 hrs on 9655 suffers from severe interference from Radio Moscow on the same frequency and is virtually inaudible in Europe. 17715 kHz may sometimes work as an alternative to Europe. (Andre Schmidt, West Germany) AUSTRIA/CANADA--The program relay agreement between Radio Austria International and Radio Canada International went into operation on March 26th. Radio Austria International is being relayed to the West Coast of North America from Canada 05:00-07:00 hrs on 6015 kHz. Radio Canada International programs are being relayed to the Middle East 03:00-05:00 hrs, but no frequency has been indicated. (BBC Monitoring) COLOMBIA--Centro Todelar en Arauca has been heard on 4925 kHz up until a sudden sign-off at 24:00 hrs. This is probably the old Meridano 70 back on the air. (Kenneth Olofson in "Shortwave Bulletin", Sweden) Radio Caracol Bogota can be heard almost daily in the early morning on 4775 kHz. (Kay Richter, GDR) Radio Nacional in Bogota provides an excellent signal from around 23:00 hrs until after 01:00 on 17875 kHz. (Andre Schmidt) ITALY--European Christian Radio can be heard Sundays in English, German, and other languages on 7330 kHz. This station is also reported at 10:15 hrs in a South European language on 7335 kHz. (Kay Richter, GDR and Bjoern Fransson in "Shortwave Bulletin") Radio Italia International has been herd testing 08:00-11:00 hrs on 7140 kHz. Radio Europe broadcasts with 100 watts on 7295 kHz. (Bradley Allen, England) JAPAN--The Radio Japan "DX Corner" is currently broadcast Sundays at 09:25 hrs on 17810 kHz and at 15:25 hrs on 9505, 11815, and 21700 kHz; Mondays at 01:25 on 17810, 17835, and 17845 kHz and 03:25 hrs on 17765, 17810, and 17835 kHz. There is a new Radio Japan broadcast to the Americas in English and Spanish 03:00-04:00 hrs on 15325 kHz. (Ashoka N. Patel) The Radio Japan European Service can still be heard 07:00-08:00 hrs on 21695 from Gabon and direct from Japan at 15325 and 21700 kHz; 15:00-16:00 hrs and 23:00-24:00 hrs on 11800 kHz. There is also a new transmission from Gabon 21:00-21:30 hrs on 11845 kHz. (Reg Holway, England) MALAYSIA--The Voice of Malaysia can now be heard on two new frequencies for the External Service in Mandarin 10:30-12:30 hrs, 11885 and 15295 kHz. (Uwe Gruner, West Germany) MONGOLIA--Updating SCDX-2034, Radio Ulan Bator can be heard in English 14:45-15:15 hrs on a new frequency of 15260 kHz. This is in parallel with 15305. (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka) NEPAL--The Commercial Service of Radio Nepal can now be heard 12:00-17:15 hrs on 5005 kHz. (Ashoka Patel) NICARAGUA--La Voz de Nicaragua can be heard in English 03:00-04:00 hrs on 6100 kHz. (Uwe Gruner) Radio Catolica, one of the stations operated by the Roman Catholic Church in Nicaragua, has once again been allowed to carry news. This station broadcasts on 720 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) NIGERIA--The Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, says the external service Voice of Nigeria will soon be reactivated. Because of the current economic situation in the country, less than half the corporation's 60 transmitters are functioning. (BBC Monitoring) The Voice of Nigeria can be heard in English 05:00-06:00 hrs and 19:00-20:00 hrs on a new frequency of 7255 kHz, the only frequency now used by the external service. There are no longer broadcasts in German. (Uwe Gruner) NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS--KYOI is to reduce its schedule. The daytime service is being discontinued because of the improvement of transmitter facilities, a new transmitter and 3 new antennas. The station is now on the air only 10:00-14:00 hrs on 9530 kHz. (Cees van Oudheusden, Netherlands) SEYCHELLES--FEBA, the Far East Broadcasting Association, can now be heard in English 15:00-16:10 hrs on new frequencies of 11870 and 15325 kHz. (P. Duryodhana, India) USA--WSHB, the new "Christian Science Monitor" station in South Carolina, has been heard testing from 20:00 hrs on 21640 kHz. The local ID followed a relay of regular broadcasts from Boston (as heard on WCSN). (Olle Alm, "Shortwave Bulletin") KVOH in Los Angeles, is scheduled to operate: in Spanish 14:00-22:00 hrs and English 22:00-01:00 hrs on 17775 kHz, and in English 01:00-03:00 hrs on 13695 kHz. (Kay Richter) USSR--"Economics Bulletin" is a new program on the All-Union Radio from Moscow. It's intended for business people in the USSR and abroad. We've reported before that Soviet radio was introducing advertising and the program is also an agent for these commercials. (Jouko Mynttinen, Finland) DX CAMP--A traditional summer event for many years has been the DX Camp at Doebriach in Austria. This coming summer the DX Camp will be held July 9th-31st. There are plans to visit radio stations in Italy, for lectures on radio propagation and receivers, and much more, including lots of time for listening to the radio and making new friends. Further information from: DX Camp Doebriach 1989, Franz Ladner, Moserhofgasse 28, A-8010 Graz, Austria. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for 55 contributors this week Good Listening!