::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: :: from Radio Sweden :: :: Number 2115--Oct. 9, 1990 :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2115 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SWEDEN CALLING DXers--It's still a bit unclear, but the Managing Director of Radio Sweden has now decided on the shape of this program and this bulletin in the future. From the beginning of November, Sweden Calling DXers (possibly with a new name) will be broadcast once (or possibly twice) a month. The program will concentrate more on Nordic media developments than previously, but there will still be shortwave news. However, from the beginning of November, the printed Sweden Calling DXers bulletins will come to an end, after nearly 43 years. The Electronic Edition should continue, although less frequently, and the format may be different. SPACE--A new and exciting amateur radio project is being planned for the Soviet Mir space station known as the "Amateur Radio Experiment on Mir" or AREM. This project is the result of a collaboration between hams in the Soviet Union and the Austrian Amateur Radio Society (OeVSV). This project is designed to provide equipment for both packet radio data and voice transmissions from Mir in the amateur radio 2 meter band (144-146 MHz). The voice messages from Mir will provide timely information to radio amateurs while being another educational tool to help school teachers start students thinking about space science. The voice messages will be spoken in German, Russian, and English. The voice beacons will alternate with packet transmissions. The first AREM operations are expected to begin around January 1991 when an Austrian cosmonaut will install the station after he joins the crew of the Mir. After the Austrian cosmonaut finishes his mission on Mir, the equipment will remain aboard the space station. It is envisioned that an upgrade to this station will be to incorporate Bulletin Board System (BBS) software. This upgrade is not envisioned to happen until November '91. Also, it must be emphasized that if the cosmonauts wish, at any time they can pick up the microphone and call CQ. (AMSAT News Service) SATELLITE-TV--The European Commission has rejected charges by British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) that a firm transmitting its rival Sky Channel is illegally subsidized by the government of Luxembourg. BSB asked the commission to look into the allegations more than a year ago. The Commission says the owner of the Astra satellite, SES, received backing from the Luxembourg government on a high-risk loan when it started in 1986, but the loan was paid back. (Reuters) We reported some weeks back on the successful launch on August 31st of the first of the new generation of Eutelsat satellites in Europe, Eutelsat 2-F1. This is in position at 13 degrees East latitude. The finals tests were completed September 20th, and the various satellite broadcasters have been moving onto the new satellite. The new generation from Eutelsat is much more powerful, on a level with Astra, which means that antennas as small as 90 centimeters in diameter can be used. One station that has benefited from the increase in power is Eco/Galavision from Mexico City. Eco is a sort of Latin American CNN, while Galavision is an entertaiment channel. The other 11 GHz transponders on the new satellite are being used by Super Channel, TV5 and Worldnet, Eurosport, the German language Sat 1 and 3-Sat, Nordic Channel, and the Dutch PTT and Turkey's TRT. An Arabic channel called MBC is due to appear next year. Eutelsat 2-F1 also has 6 transponders in the 12 GHz band. These are reserved for British Telecom and French Telecom. Meanwhile, back on the Astra satellite, the Dutch TV channel Veronique, which had its origins in an offshore radio pirate, has appeared under a new name, RTL 4. The reborn station is intended to be a pan-European entertainment channel, operating 24 hours a day. Because of royalties, some of the American series on RTL 4 are coded. But much of the output is in the clear. ("Roester i Radio TV") CELLULAR TELEPHONES--Sweden's giant communications firm Ericsson has landed a 250 million dollar order to rebuild the cellular telephone system in the American states of New York and New Jersey. Ericsson is already the world's largest supplier of cellular phone equipment. The new order, which also includes new systems in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, makes Ericson the largest single supplier in the lucrative American market as well. The Nordic countries have the highest number of cellular telephones per capita than anywhere else in the world. But they're very expensive, so expensive they're called Yuppie teddy bears here, since only affluent businesspeople can afford them. Cellular phones cost less than half as much in the United States. Ericsson president Lars Ramqvist has told Radio Sweden that this is because the American system is less complicated than the Nordic system, and because cellular operators subsidize the purchase of equipment, making it much cheaper. Ericsson won the order to rebuild New York's cellular telephone system over Motorola, which built the original system there. But Motorola is moving ahead on two other projects. Just two weeks ago Motorola won the contract to install the new pan-European cellular system in Germany. The new system will cover 19 countries, and it looks like Motorola and Ericsson will be the two main suppliers. Motorola's other project is far grander, building an international mobile telephone system using satellites. Project Iridium would involve 77 satellites at low altitude in circumpolar orbits. That means better coverage of northern latitudes, and small handheld units and rather short antennas. The system would use frequencies around 1.5 GHz. Motorola hopes to start developing Iridium in 1994 and to have the entire system in operation by 1996. EDXC--The European DX Council, which brings together the radio monitor clubs of Europe, has had problems organizing its annual conference in recent years. But the council is well ahead of schedule on the 1991 gathering, which will be held between May 17th and 20th, 1991 in Barcelona. The provisional agenda includes conferences, workshops, forums with broadcasters and DX clubs, tourist tours, a banquet and "surprises". For more information write to: EDX- 91, Box 1275, 08080 Barcelona, Spain. CLUB NEWS--The American Shortwave LIsteners Club (ASWLC) is one of the largest radio monitor clubs in North America. The ASWLC is holding a monthly meeting in the Los Angeles area on Saturday November 3rd. The topic will be about monitoring the conflict in the Gulf. For more information telephone 714-846-1685. PUBLICATIONS--There's a new book out called "Monitoring the Iraq/Kuwait Conflict". Written by Langley Pierce, this 25 page book includes details of military communications, shipping frequencies, and broadcasting stations in the region. It's available for 4 British pounds, plus 50 postage in the UK, 75p abroad or 1 pound abroad for airmail delivery, from Interbooks, 8 Abbot Street, Perth, PH2 0EB, Scotland. (Alan Gale) The 2nd edition of "Dutch Radio Stations" is a 24 page guide in both English and Dutch to more than 200 medium and shortwave, and FM stations in the Netherlands. It includes the frequencies for the new Radio 1 FM-network, due to go on the air by end of 1992, as well as addresses and telephone and fax numbers. The book costs Dutch Fl 3.50, USD 2, or 3 IRCs from: No-Nonsense Publications, Kilstraat 40, NL-3363 CE Sliedrecht, Netherlands. ARGENTINA--Radio Continental, a Buenos Aires station listed on 590 kHz in WRTH'90, has been noted on 9115 kHz in USB at 23:56 to past 03:00 UTC several nights in a row. Programming consists of Spanish talk, phone interviews, news and weather, and frequent commercials. According to the "Confidential Frequency List", the telecommunications station LRB91 (Gen. Pacheco, Buenos Aires) operates on this frequency. Does anyone know the purpose of this Radio Continental feed? (Dr. Richard B. Langley, Bew Brunswick, Canada) AUSTRALIA--Radio Australia may be running its special Middle East programming on all frequencies, although only two channels are shown for the Middle East on the official Radio Australia engineering schedule. (These are 13:00-15:00 hrs on 17630 and 21775 kHz.) On Sundays at 14:30 hrs Radio Australia normally runs the Communicator program, but on September 30th special programming to the Middle East was heard instead. (Tom Sundstrom, USA) There have been changes in the frequencies of two of the stations that belong to the Australian "Print Handicapped Network". 3RPH in Melbourne has moved from 1629 kHz to 1179, with an increased power on 5 kW. 4RPH in Brisbane has moved from 1620 to 1296 kHz, also with a power increase to 5 kW. Other stations in the RPH Network are expected to move in the near future. (Dan Gartner, Australia) AUSTRIA--Radio Austria International is broadcasting in French to Europe daily at 07:30-08:00 and 12:30-13:00 and 16:30-17:00 hrs on 6155 and 13730 kHz. The latter broadcast also uses 21490 kHz. There are additional broadcasts weekends at 18:30-19:00 hrs (Sundays 20:00) on 5945 and 6155 kHz and 21:30-22:00 hrs on these same two frequencies, as well as 9870 kHz on Sundays. (Francois Chalory) BELGIUM--RTBF is now broadcasting in French to Europe at 06:30-07:30 hrs on 7140 and at 11:00-13:05 (weekends from 07:35) and 16:00-16:45 hrs on 9925 kHz. On Sundays their is a continuous broadcast between 07:35 and 16:45 hrs. (Francois Chalory, France) BERMUDA--VSB-2 on 1160 kHz is now relaying the BBC World Service for 18 and a half hours a day, between 15:30 and 10:00 hrs. (Dr. Richard Langley) CZECHOSLAVAKIA--Czechoslavakia is providing a frequency for relays of the BBC World service in Czech and Slovak, and possibly English. (Slovak Radio, via BBC Monitoring) EGYPT--Egypt has decided to extend its Voice of the Arabs service to 24 hours a day. It's been carried around the clock on 621 kHz, and for shorter periods on 1008 and 1107 kHz. Egypt's General Program in Arabic is now 24 hours a day on 819 kHz. The Middle East Program is broadcasting for much of the day on 774 kHz. (BBC Monitoring) FRANCE--Radio France International has increased broadcasts to the Middle East in both French and Arabic. Arabic is now 03:00-05:00 on shortwave and 04:00-05:00 hrs on medium wave (presumeably 1233 kHz from Malta). There is a rebroadcast to North Africa at 05:00-06:00 hrs. In French there are six additional hours to the Middle East at 06:00-09:00 and 16:00-19:00 hrs. According to "Le Monde", Radio France International is considering the possibility of starting a "World Service" in English, comparible to the 24 hour French service. They still have to convince the French government, however. (Radio Netherlands "Media Network" via BBC Monitoring) GERMANY--BBC Monitoring has reported on Radio Berlin International's last broadcast on October 2nd. This included a comment from the head of the English service, Robin Mitchell, who said that out of a total staff of 250 RBI employees, only a handful might get a new job with Deutsche Welle. Radio Berlin International ended its final English broadcast with the Doors song "The End". On October 3rd, RBI frequencies were used to carry a live relay from a church service celebrating German unity. This program was also carried by Deutsche Welle and Deutschlandfunk. At the end of the service, Deutsche Welle continued on the former Radio Berlin frequencies. Walter Olvik and Andre Tatter have faxed us news about radio stations in what was the GDR. Here is what is happening on medium and long wave: Radio Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 558, 729, and 999 kHz Antenne Brandenburg 1359 kHz Thueringen 1 882 and 1170 kHz Sachsen Radio 513 and 1044 kHz Berliner Rundfunk 693 kHz DS Kultur 117 kHz GUAM--Updating SCDX-2093, the Adventist World Radio station KSDA is now broadcasting in English at 00:00 and 23:00 hrs on 15610 kHz, replacing 15125. (Mike Terry) SOUTH KOREA--Radio Korea has added a new English language broadcast at 06:00 hrs to West North America on 7275, 9570 and 11830 kHz. (Tom Sundstrom) NEW ZEALAND--Updating SCDX-2104, Radio New Zealand International is also using 9695 kHz from 09:00 until after 15:00 hrs. During the mornings 9855 kHz is also used. (Bengt Ericson, travelling in South Korea and Japan) OMAN--Here is the schedule of Radio Oman, in Arabic, beginning November 5th: 02:00-04:00 hrs on 6085 kHz, 02:00-08:00 hrs on 17770 kHz, 04:00-14:00 hrs on 11730 kHz, 04:00-"closedown" (?) on 11890 kHz, 08:00-"closedown" on 17735 kHz, 14:00-19:00 hrs on 9735 kHz, and 19:00-"closedown" on 6085 kHz. (Mike Terry, England) SWITZERLAND--Swiss Radio International is to produce special programs for listeners in Eastern Europe. 15 minute programs in English, French, and German are scheduled for a trial period to Eastern Europe between 16:15 and 17:00 hrs on 11955 kHz. Meanwhile, a commune in the western Swiss canton of Vaud has rejected a proposal to host a new shortwave transmitter station for Swiss Radio International. Four communes in the same region rejected a similar project in June. (BBC Monitoring) USSR--For broadcasts to Asia at 12:00 and 13:30 hrs, Radio Tashkent now announces 7325, 9600, 9715, 11860 (replacing 11785), and 15470 kHz (replacing 15460). The frequency with the strongest Radio Korea signal, 17740 kHz, is not announced. (Tom Sundstom and Gerd Wedeymeyer, Germany) Members of the English Service here at Radio Sweden recently held a programming conference onboard a ferry to Tallinn in Estonia, and we visited Radio Tallinn while we where there. We heard that there was some kind of pirate radio activity, which the Estonian authorities believed came from a Soviet military base. Now BBC Monitoring reports hearing a station in Russian calling itself Radio Hope, or Radio Nadezhda, opposing the separtist movement in Estonia. The station has been heard at 04:30 until 06:00, 10:30 until 12:00 and 16:30 until 18:00 hrs, on 747 kHz. They also announce a frequency in the 25 meter band, but BBC Monitoring has yet to uncover that channel. Estonian television quotes the Ministry of Communications as confirming that Radio Hope is broadcasting from a military area, and that the Soviet Army has licenced the station. (BBC Monitoring) VATICAN CITY--Vatican Radio is no longer broadcasting in English to Europe at 14:45-15:00 hrs on 7250 kHz. However, 6248, 9645, and 11740 kHz continue. Evening programs remain at 20:50-21:10 hrs, but only on 7250 and 6248 kHz (which replaces 6190). 9645 kHz has been dropped. The repeat the following morning at 06:00 hrs is only on 6185 and 6248 kHz. 9645 kHz has been discontinued. All European programs continue to be transmitteed on 1530 kHz medium wave as well. The broadcast to the East Coast of North America at 00:50-01:10 hrs now uses only 9605 and 6150 kHz. The broadcast to the West Coast of North America and Canada at 03:10 hrs is now on 9635 kHz. The broadcast to Australia and the Pacific at 22:05-22:25 is now on 7125 kHz, as well as 9615 and 11830 kHz. (Lars Rooth, Vatican Radio) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 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, German, French, and Spanish can be found on EuroSport (on cable and on the Astra and Eutelsat I- F4 satellites) Tele-Text 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 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 20 contributors this week 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 =============================================================================