::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2062--Sept. 26, 1989 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by Ingemar Sandberg. Electronic Edition edited by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2062 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORDLESS TELEPHONES--A new generation of cordless telephones is appearing in Europe, which are being called "the poor man's mobile telephone". At the same time, the current cordless phones in Sweden cost more than cellular telephones in many other countries. Cordless telephones have become popular all over the Western World and the Far East. The exception is Sweden, where cordless telephones remain too expensive for ordinary households. In fact, Swedish cordless telephones cost more than the mobile or cellular telephones used in automobiles in other countries. This is because Sweden uses a unique frequency band for its cordless phones. The kind found in the rest of the world use frequencies around 49 MHz. This band is, however, still used by television in Sweden. Two transmitters for Swedish Channel 1 use frequencies close to 49 MHz. Rather than move those two transmitters, Swedish Telecom has decided that cordless phones in this country shuld use the exotic frequencies of 914 and 959 MHz. Because of this, the legal cordless phones sold in Sweden cost as much as 10 times what similar units cost abroad. Consequently, many Swedes buy cordless phones in other countries and try to smuggle them past Customs. So far this year Swedish Customs has confiscated 1500 to 2000 cordless telephones. That's roughly twice as many as during all of last year. Now Britain has begun testing the next generation of cordless phones, called CT-2. This operates at 864 MHz, using special digital signals. When you use CT-2, you carry the handset in your pocket, and around town there are relay stations called phonepoints, instead of traditional phone booths. The idea is that you can call out from anywhere within range of a phonepoint, although you can't receive calls. That's why the system is being called the poor man's mobile telephone. The pilot service has only 100 users and 30 phonepoints, all in London. The service is expected to cover all of London by the end of this month, and 1000 phonepoints are to be installed during the first year. When Britain is fully wired, there will be 16,000 phonepoints. The British decision is controversial, because European standards have yet to be decided. Britain hopes to sell its CT-2 system to the rest of Euyrope, so that the same pocket telephone can be used anywhere in the continent. It now looks as thought the French have accepted the British system, for their "Pointel" public cordless network. Happily for Swedes, Swedish Telecom has indicated it will adhere to the forthcoming international standard for CT-2. (George Wood) SPACE--After more than 400 lift-offs, NASA launched its last unmanned rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida Monday September 25th. The final launch was a 125 million dollar navy communications satellite called Fleet Communications Satellite, or FLTSATCOM-8. It is the last of a series of satellites which provide orbiting switchboards to link land, sea, and air forces around the world with the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Command Authority, and the President's Military Command Network. (Dow Jones) AFGHANISTAN--Updating SCDX-2044 Radio Afghanistan's broadcast in Urdu is now at 13:30-14:00 hrs on 6100 and 4775 kHz. (Salil Kumar Paul, India) ARGENTINA--Reception reports to Radio Korea can now be sent to the following address in Argentina: Wansu Park, Radio Korea, Embajada de la Republica de Korea, Avenida del Libertador 2257, Codigo Postal 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Jorge Garcia, Argentina) AUSTRIA--Radio Austria International has introduced programs in Arabic. Since September 24th there is Arabic on Sundays at 05:05-05:30 on 6155, 13730, 15410 and 21490 with a repeat at 19:05-19:30 on 5945, 6155, 12010 and 13730 kHz. (Harry Niebuhr, West Germany, Paul Gager and Manfred Schida, Austria) BANGLA DESH--The external service of Radio Bangla Desh uses the unannounced frequency of 17978 kHz between 07:00 and 08:00. English at 12:30-13:00 uses the new frequency of 17910 kHz. (S.Anand, India and Don Hosmer, USA in Glenn Hauser's "DX Listening Digest") BELGIUM--The new English schedule of the BRT is as follows: 00:30 on 9925 kHz, 08:00 on 6035, 11695 and 21815 kHz, at 10:00 on 21810 and 26050 kHz, at 13:30 on 21810 and 21815 kHz, at 16:30 on 17580 and 21810 kHz, at 18:30 on 1512, 5910 and 11695 kHz and at 22:00 on 1512, 5910 and 9925 kHz. (Harry Niebuhr) French to Europe from RTBF is broadcast as follows: weekdays: 06:30-07:35 on 5965 kHz, 11:00-13:00 and 16:00-16:45 on 9925 kHz. Saturdays: 06:30-07:30 on 5965 kHz, 07:30-13:05 and 16:00-16:45 on 9925 kHz. Sundays: 06:30-07:30 on 5965 kHz and 07:45-16:45 on 9925 kHz. (Francois Chalory, France) CAPE VERDE ISLANDS--Updating SCDX-2019, three 500 kilowatt commercial shortwave transmitters will be installed soon by the French Company "Media Connection International". The project will be operational in 1991 and it will broadcast commercial programs towards the Americas, Africa, Southern Europe and the Middle East. (AFP New agency via BBC Monitoring) COSTA RICA--French programs from Adventist World Radio are broadcast daily except Saturdays at 11:00-12:00 on 11870 kHz. (Andre Hemlin, Quebec, Canada) HONG KONG/TAIWAN--The world's first underwater optical fiber telecommunications system is planned to be built between Hong Kong and Taiwan. The 730 kilometer line will carry data, facsimile and video signals as well as voice communication. It will operate at a rate of 420 Megabits per second. (Vitaly Liberny, USSR) IVORY COAST--Radiodiffusion Television Ivorienne has drifted away from its nominal frequency of 7215 kHz to 7208. (Thomas Sundstrom, USA) NETHERLANDS--A couple of changes in Radio Netherlands schedule valid from September 24th: English at 10:30 is on new 9505 kHz and English at 11:30 is on new 21615 kHz. (A. Ghiri and Ajay Kumar, India) PHILIPPINES--Radio Veritas Asia has moved from 11735 to 11820 kHz for their Tamil and Sinhala broadcast at 00:00-00:55. (Salil Kumar Paul, India) POLAND--The London Correspondent of PAP news agency learned about a project to build in Warsaw a satellite transmission station which would make it possible for residents of Warsaw and nearby localities to receive BBC World Service 24 hours a day as well as BBC Polish programs to be aired on VHF. (BBC Monitoring) SYRIA--Radio Damascus broadcasts to Europe in Russian at 17:00-18:00 on 12085. German at 18:05, French at 19:05 and English at 20:05 are on new 9950 and 12085 kHz. (Vitali Liberny and Thomas Sundstrom) UNITED KINGDOM--BBC World Service has just added two new 250 kW transmitters and four new antennas to its relay base on Ascension Island in the Atlantic. These are to be used for broadcasts to South America in Spanish and Portuguese and to West Africa in English, French, and Hausa. (Reuters, BBC) USSR--Radio Kiev's new schedule reads: 18:00-18:30 to Europe on 9600, 7240, 7205 and 7150 kHz. At 23:30-24:00 and 02:00-02:30 on 17690, 17665, 15180, 11675, 9800 and 9610 kHz. Heard in use but not announced was 7400 kHz at 23:30. (Thomas Sundstrom) Radio Kiev was heard with English to North America at 02:00 on 11790 kHz. (Salil Kumar Paul, India) Towards the end of the year a non-governmental youth radio station, the first of its kind in the Soviet Union will come into operation in Vilnius, Lithuania. Called M-1, the new station will operate on VHF with 4 kilowatts and the programs will feature much music, live discussions, interviews and reports on youth life. The station is financed by the city of Vilnius, local companies, and youth organisations. (Radio Vilnius via BBC Monitoring) VATICAN CITY--Vatican Radio's new schedule shows English at 02:00 on 11750 kHz and at 15:00 on 17870 kHz, Hindi at 01:15 on 7125 kHz and at 14:30 on 11955 kHz. (Salil Kumar Paul) UNOFFICIAL RADIO--"Democracy Broadcasting Station" is a station hostile to the Chinese government and is thought to broadcast from Taiwan. It has been obeserved with 15 minute broadcasts in Standard Chinese on 7125 kHz at 11:40, 13:35, 14:40 and 15:15. (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. Beginning Sept 24, RS broadcasts to North America: 15:30 hrs on 17880 and 21610 kHz 02:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz To Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: 15:30 hrs on 21655 kHz (East Africa) 18:00 hrs on 1179, 6065, and 7265 kHz 21:00 hrs on 1179, 9655 and 11705 kHz 23:00 hrs on 1179 kHz 00:00 hrs on 1179 kHz And to Asia and the Pacific: 12:30 hrs on 15190, 17740, and 21570 kHz 14:00 hrs on 11905 and 17740 kHz 01:00 hrs on 7225 and 9640 kHz The Radio Sweden schedule to Europe can be found on Sky Channel's teletext Service, Sky Text, on page 496. 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 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 BBC Monitoring, which are copyright. We welcome comments and suggestions about the electronic edition, Sweden Calling DXers, and our programs in general. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to 33 contributors this week Good Listening!