** ARGENTINA. 11711-, Jan 1 at 0203, after hearing 2014 come to BRAZIL 11780, Argentina will be next at 0300 UT, so I tune down to always weaker RAE, but instead of English it`s in Spanish, still at 0212. Maybe due to holiday it`s really a R Nacional relay (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. 11780, Jan 1 at 0157 tune in RNA to hear 2014 allegedly arrive in Brasil, where they pretend it`s an hour later than it really is with DST of UT -2. VG signal but flutter and // 6180. After music, 0159 ID as R Nacional de Brasília, (not Amazônia), NO timesignal, but usual overnight DJ opening `Madrugada Nacional` show greeting us with ``Bom Dia, novo dia . . . novo ano 2,014``, back to music at 0202.5 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 5040, Jan 1 at 0012, RHC English finally fixed or swapped transmitter, no longer severely wobbling, altho slightly squealing, and less than solid signal, antenna problem too? English again at 0612, still OK except squealing. 5990, Jan 1 at 0016, CRI Spanish relay is wobbling and rumbling some at first, making me suspect this is the ex-5040 transmitter; then it stabilizes, but modulation is somewhat distorted. 6270, Jan 1 at 0423, RHC Spanish music leapfrog, even with max attenuation on the FRG-7; i.e. 6060 Spanish over 6165 English another 105 kHz higher (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also THAILAND [non] ** ERITREA [non]. 7235-, Jan 1 at 0420, good signal but very distorted suppressed modulation, talk in unID language, then Horn of Africa music; slightly on lo side. Off already at 0454 check. No doubt it`s the 100 kW R. Ethiopia transmitter carrying the clandestine Voice of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea as per WRTH 2014, M/W/F at 0400-0500. Aoki shows merely R. Ethiopia with an x meaning inactive. Not in HFCC, of course, but instead a 23-hour broadcast from a 5 kW Belarus transmitter on 7235; does that even exist any more? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Oromo Voice Radio to start 1 January 2014. This Ethiopian clandestine will start shortwave operation on 17850 kHz at 1600 UT on 1 January 2014, with programming in Afaan Oromo and English. Further info with YouTube video at http://tinyurl.com/of3xqc4 and on the broadcaster's own website at http://oromovoice.org (David Kernick, Interval Signals Online, Dec 26, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST 13-52) I`ve been monitoring 17850 since *1600 Jan 1, 2014; fair-good signal but heavy flutter, and dead air! Finally talk starts at 1611 until 1612, but sounds like French?? Dead air again. Resumes at 1613-1615. Like they keep trying and failing to find the right program feed. Why do so many start-ups fail? You`d think they`d do dry-runs and have everything set up ahead of time. More on-and-off follows as reception deteriorates. Off at 1632* Site? Probably Issoudun, FRANCE, which uses 17850 earlier and later. Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria, agrees: ``At 1620 UT on 17850 is Radio France Internationale in French, instead of Oromo Voice radio`` Tarek Zeidan, Cairo: ``Been checking 17850 from 1620 and I noticed that the conversation in French was on and off and then suddenly off the air at 1632 UT. SIO 343. Happy new year. Sent from my iPad`` Jean-Michel Aubier, France: ``Same observations: dead air, segments in French, but it sounds like an RFI programme! Off the air at 1632`` Alan Roe, Teddington, UK: ``Glenn, Noted the same here - a strong, clear signal with intermittent talk in French between a man and a woman (seemingly talking between themselves, rather than to listeners?). Transmitter went off air at around 1630 UT (didn't note the exact time). (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Should that be OROMIA [non]? viz. from website above: Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation Launching Event December 1, 2013 News To All Oromos in Washington DC Metro Region, USA --- You are cordially invited to Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation Launching Event Theme: Oromo Voice Radio (OVR) will commence broadcasting to Oromia Venue: 1610 Columbia Rd. NW Washington, D.C. 20009 Date: December 14, 2013 Time: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. [Ethiopian clock or ours?] On January 1, 2014, the Oromo Voice Radio (OVR) will commence broadcasting to Oromia at the frequency of 17850 KHz in the 16 meter band. The new, independent broadcast will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The broadcast service will be provided in two languages: Afaan Oromo (Oromo language) and English. The OVR broadcast will include, not limited to, the following major segments: news, news analysis, guest interviews, documentary, and cultural shows. In its English broadcast, OVR will reach out to Oromo neighbors for the purpose of exploring and identifying areas of common interests and common strategies, which are relevant to the survival of the peoples in the Horn of Africa during the 21st Century. The Oromo Voice media website (www.oromovoice.org) will operate and function as the twin media outlet of this new critical and ambitious outreach to the Oromo nation and its neighbors. The Oromo Voice website, in addition to posting all the contents of the Oromo Voice Radio broadcast, will post other relevant educational materials - in that sense, the website will have more expanded educational services. OVR and Oromo Voice website are owned and operated by the Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation (MWMF), which was established in October 2013 by a collection of concerned community leaders, human rights activists, feminists, attorneys, journalists and intellectuals. MWMF is a non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organization, incorporated and registered in Washington, D. C., USA. It is operated by the board of directors and the administrative staff under the direction of the Executive Director. The MWMF media outlets are run by experienced journalists. It is a membership based organization, which solicits the support and participation of all interested and committed Oromo and all persons of good will who have the desire to empower the Oromo and its neighbors so that that they can face the 21st Century in their own terms. How can you support the new Oromo Voice media outlets? You can support this new, important initiative in three major ways: First, we wish to invite you to listen to the Oromo voice Radio broadcast. You can also visit our website, http://oromovoice.org on a regular basis. Second, you can give us donations for seed money so that we can get this new media program of the ground. Third, you can become a member and support the success of this new media initiative on a sustained basis. For further information about the Oromo voice media outlets and the MWMF, please visit our website: http://oromovoice.org We thank you and look forward to working with you on this new and exciting educational endeavor (via DXLD) ** IRAN. 7420, Jan 1 at 0208, VIRI in Spanish with NY greetings, poor-fair; and also a weaker signal on 7430, presumably VIRI in Kazakh; fortunately, both finish at 0220, so no ACI to ALBANIA on 7425 from 0230 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. 9775, Jan 1 at 1450, R. Free Chosun is playing K-pop, as I continue to wonder how serious a clandestine it can be; or is that the best way to undermine the evil regime? Now it`s almost sufficient but with heavy flutter, more so than 9800 VOA Korean via Philippines; both of them were quite poor at 1400, and 9775 was still playing a musical prélude before then. Not 9755 if typoed (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6925-USB, Jan 1 at 0453 poor signal with rock music, off around 0500; missed any announcement, switching back and forth with 6935, q.v. 6925-USB reported by numerous at http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,14730.0.html as Fake RFW [Radio Free Whatever] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORTH AMERICA. 6935-AM, Jan 1 at 0453 rock music, 0500 wishing Happy New Year, and count (up?) from 20 seconds, off the air before 0501. Much better signal than 6925 had been. These agree on the count-up, and call it ``Whispery Wolverine``: http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,14730.0.html I noted no pirate activity on the band at earlier check here around 0200 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7320, Jan 1 at 0422, R. Rossii, Magadan is still on the air in 2014y, in Russian, undermodulated but almost sufficient now. There have been unclear reports that its SW services would also be closed down; maybe later in January? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALILAND. 7120, Jan 1 at 0454, presumed R. Hargeisa with music hasn`t faded out quite yet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 9545.0, Jan 1 at 1044, I awaken long enough to check for SIBC reactivated here: a JBA carrier incomparable to 9580 RA. There had been numerous DXLD yg reports of SIBC December 31 back on 9545 ex-6080, with New Year special extended all-night including 1300 UT = midnight in the +11 zone. Evidently replaces 6080, since R. Australia reneged on its agreement to ``occupy`` 6080 only until SIBC was ready to use it. Remains to be heard what the normal hours on 9545 will be, besides 5020v (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. 7570, Jan 1 at 0010, Brother Scare via WRMI on expanded schedule, with a regular ``program`` at this hour and at 1200, pentecostal howling & moaning, // 11565 (and // but not synch 5085 WTWW). Per new graphic frequency schedule just put up at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtF_YVDtCVlNdDJma2Jham9mYVlNQldpUWNiR1hYa2c&usp=drive_web#gid=0 WRMI has made a number of changes. Summarizing BS broadcasts: 7570 extended to 2200-1000 11730 dropped completely 9690 has been dropped in evening but extended in morning all day to 1100-2100 [so still blox AIR GOS at 1330-1500] 11825 new 1000-2200 [also confirmed Jan 1] 7730 new to Europe at 19-23, last hour 22-23 being RMI programming, same as on 9955? 7730 replaces 15440 and was on 15460 harmonic by mistake on Dec 28. 7730 is also on the #1 transmitter, reactivated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also USA: WBCQ ** SPAIN. REE has proven to be a good source of Jahrwechsel musical entertainment in past years, but nothing audible on possible frequencies before 2300 UT Dec 31, so I go to the web and instead watch/listen to RTVE main TV channel, which is covering festivities, a huge crowd crammed into some plaza in Madrid; rather reminds me of the Hajj, around some large rectangular prism in the middle. Hosts imbibe some liquid in champagne-like glasses after the hour. Note spelling unless you are an Illinois city (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND [and non]. 13745, Jan 1 at 0003, R Thailand news in English to NAm with heavy ACI from 13740 RHC, because the Cuban slopperation is running overtime. 0004 modulation on that stops, so HSK9 can be copied, but 13740 carrier still on past 0008 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA. 7275, Jan 1 at 0506, ME vocal music, reassuring myself that IWT is still here in 2014, during this hour only before I usually start listening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. We manage to maintain the tradition of listening to BBCWS observing the New Year, despite their best efforts to cut North America off: Dec 31, 2013 at 2358, Bow Bells are heard on 15335 via SINGAPORE, and slightly better on 13725 via THAILAND. At about 2359.6, Big Ben TOH 16-chimes start, followed at 0000:01 January 1, 2014 by full strike, delaying the news for a minute, after a Happy New Year wish. On another receiver I was also monitoring WWV. Just once I`d like to hear them let their hair down and insert a Happy New Year, but it`s business as usual, and furthermore no leap-second to liven things up. That`s how I know that BB started striking a second after 2014 began (of course, part of that was satellite delay to the sites) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 13570, Dec 31 at 1944, notice that WINB again has a wobble on the carrier; lately it had been rather stable. This while checking for a QRP pirate on 13560, nothing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7555, Jan 1 at 0208, KJES is in Spanish, despite schedule just issued by Ivo Ivanov alleging that it`s all-English at 0200-0330. So does Aoki, but WRTH 2014 shows this entire sesquihour in Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7490, Jan 1 at 0507, expecting to hear Brother Scare as now scheduled on WBCQ at 0100-1100 (except for `Financial Survival` at 04-05), but instead not // all his other overkill frequencies, with pleasant music loop vamping, basically two notes alternating but orchestrated (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 9955, Wed Jan 1 both before and after 1400, WRMI with `Wavescan`. Not sure if same edition as didn`t hear much of the first one, but after 1400 it was last week`s already heard, final 2013 one. Current program grid for Wed now shows WS at 1330, blank at 1400, Jimmy Surgener at 1415. 1330 Wed replaces one of those English music shows presented in Spanish. At 1430, ACI from 9960 grows as Furusato no Kaze starts from Palau, but evitable. 1430 into a new `Viva Miami`, this time Jeff interviewing one of the Okeechobee engineers, Harry Robins, who BTW mentioned that the transmitters (all of them?) are running at half-power (50 kW). 1444 ID by Rudy Espinal. BTW, checking latest Aoki for 9960 info, I notice he shows another time for WORLD OF RADIO on 9955, UT Monday 0230 --- I wish it were so, but WRMI grid only shows a similar title, `Word for the World`. Meanwhile, see how much of WOR can fit in Thursday at 1331 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SOUTH CAROLINA [non] ** U S A [non]. 6045, Jan 1 at 0452, some nice music with chimes, good signal, off at 0459* and missed announcement if any. Scheduled is AWR in French, 0430-0500, 300 kW, 220 degrees from Moosbrunn, AUSTRIA (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 2660, Jan 1 at 0443 UT, very poor carrier, trace of music, probably previously IDed 1330 x 2, KGLD, Tyler TX. Not in the WRTH, of course, saving countless pages by skipping stations under 2.5 kW, but making the US info extremely incomplete (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4004.56, Jan 1 at 0445, good AM signal with open carrier, still at 0504, 0616. Pinpointed the frequency in two ways which match exactly: with keyboard close-beat het against 4005.00 BFO on the YB-400, of A above middle-C = 440 Hz; and on the DX-398 by comparing to WWV with BFO on 40-Hz steps, 11 of them below 4005.00. But what is this, some ute? Used to be a Vatican frequency (and they do very well here later on 3975), but only known broadcaster on 4005 now is Kamalabad, Iran in Russian at 1920-2020 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [and non]. 5000, Jan 1 at 0503 doing some calibration with WWV, bothered by some irregular beeping on frequency, certainly not another timesignaler. By 0600 to celebrate arrival of 2014y in the CST zone, needed 2500 for best WWV reception; again, no NY wishes from them. Aloha is as informal as it gets, from WWVH (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Looking for late Latins on NY Eve, stepping thru 60mb with BFO Jan 1 at 0446-0451 find carriers here but hardly any strong enough to pursue vs my noise level, which is yet lower than usual: 4775 (2), 4780, 4785, 4790-, 4810, 4825, 4865-, 4885, 4905, 4950-, 4960, 4975, 4990, 5005, 5015 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This report dispatched at 1851 UT January 1, 2014 _ Hard-Core-DX mailing list Hard-Core-DX@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/hard-core-dx http://www.hard-core-dx.com/ _______________________________________________ THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License published by Michael Stutz at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/dsl.html
