EGYPT
Egyptian Radio and Television Union Boosts AM Radio Signals With New Thomson DRM Transmitters from Grass Valley.
The Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) has placed an order with Grass Valley™ for two Thomson TMW 2050D 50 kW medium-wave digital transmitters and complementary antenna systems to upgrade its existing AM radio broadcast network and ensure reliable regional coverage.
The new Thomson DRM transmitters and antenna systems, which are now being installed in Cairo, Egypt, will be on the air in October 2009, with Grass Valley engineers providing complete design, installation, commissioning and training services. The installation required a special antenna design due to limited space available. ERTU has used Thomson transmission technology since 1969.
"Grass Valley is committed to advancing DRM technology for AM and FM radio providers by continuing to invest considerable resources in the future of radio broadcast technology," Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President of Grass Valley. "Broadcasters like ERTU will see significant improvements in their terrestrial service by using our latest generation of radio transmitters and antennas and that's why we continue to sell many such systems around the world."
By installing the new technology, ERTU will realize a significant reduction in operational and maintenance costs, thanks to the Thomson systems' innovative design and configuration of its internal system components. Thomson antennas provide high-efficiency to ensure that programs arrive at the given coverage area with the lowest possible energy consumption at the broadcasting site.
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is the universal, open standard, digital radio system for short-wave, medium-wave, and long-wave digital radio for frequencies below 30 MHz. It has been standardized by the International Telecommunication Union, and Thomson is one of the founder members of the DRM consortium, which helped develop the key specifications.
Press release from digital transmission producer Grass Valley IBC — Stand 1.D11 (10/9) via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India via dxld yg (19/9-2009)
EGYPT
Middle East Radio starts using 1071 --- Hello DXers, On 15/5/09 The commercial network of ERTU known as Middle East Radio started using the frequency of 1071, in addition to the usual frequency 774 and the FM Frequency 89.5.
1071 used to carry the News Radio Network, but sounds like ERTU decided to drop that network after launching Radio Masr on the FM band frequency of 88.7.
News Radio used to transmit on the FM 91.5, but not any more as they are only transmitting classical and light music on that frequency from 0400 to 1400 UT; after that the usual culture program takes over till 0100 UT. So no more News Radio from the ERTU on the MW and FM frequencies.
P.S.: this might be my last report from Egypt as I'm moving to Denmark starting first of June; don't think DXing the Middle East will be an easy task from there; but you'll never know :)
All the best, guys. Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, May 17, dxldyg via DXLD 9-041 (20/5-2009)
Tarek, we`ll certainly miss your reports from a part of the world lacking monitors like yourself, but best of luck to you in Denmark!
Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST
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ERITREA
ERITREAN OPPOSITION RADIO STARTS BROADCASTING FROM ETHIOPIA.
A coalition of Eritrean opposition groups backed by big supports in Exile launched anti-Isayas Radio broad cast. The Broad cast which has been on trial since January is based in northern Ethiopia Tigray region´s Mekelle city.
Recently some 11 Eritrean opposition groups have launched TV broadcast in Ethiopia´s Capital, Addis Ababa.
"The target of the new broad cast is to brain wash the ill-ideology Eritrean regime has inflicted over Eritrean people against the Ethiopian people" the man currently in charge of the Radio station, Hagos, who refused to tell his second name, told Sudan Tribune Today.
"We are trying to bring together the two brotherly people and bury their enemyness one the other and make sure no more blood shed is repeated again as the result of rouge [rogue?] propaganda of Isayas Afewerki-led regime", Hagos said, adding "we, on be half of the people are assuring the Eritrean people that Ethiopia is in-foe only with the Eritrean leadership and not with the Eritrean people at all."
The new radio station named WEGAHTA (Tigrigna translation- dawn) airs programs twice a day, for 3 hours beginning 6 Am in the morning and for 7 hours beginning 5 Pm in the afternoon for a total of 10 hours a day. [assuming UT+3, that`s 0300-0600, 1400-2100 UT]
"The program is a major bridge to bring back on track the historic ties of the two brotherly people" Twelde Abai, a historian and resident in Mekelle town said.
Currently the radio station airs programs to Ethiopia, Eritrea and partly to Arab nations.
Hagos denied any Ethiopian Involvement on the broad cast: "Neither the federal government of Ethiopia, nor the regional government of Tigray has hands on the broad cast, he said, adding "But it is on the best and mutual Interest of the two neighboring people."
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article26287 via Zacharias Liangas, Greece via DXLD yg (8/3-2008) WTFK?? Could be SW [gh]
Glenn, It's on 909 mediumwave only. Definitely no shortwave (at least, at present). It's the same station that was operating from eastern Sudan two years ago, also on 909 (see WRTH 2006, page 525, and WRTH 2007, page 505). At that time, it was being referred to in the DX press as "Eastern Radio". In Arabic, Al-Sharq can mean East or Dawn. It now appears that the intended name is "Dawn" rather than "East".
Chris Greenway, Uzbekistan? via DXLD yg (8/3-2008)
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ESTONIA
Family Radio Tartus on 1035 kHz has been renamed Radio Eli (Eli = My God) due to the wish of Family Radio. Programming on 1035 is shared with TWR. Building will also start soon, weather permitting, of a second transmitter.
Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria via March BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD 10-10 (11/3-2010)
ESTONIA
Trans World Radio plans to upgrade AM transmitter in Estonia. Trans World Radio is raising funds to upgrade a transmitter that will be able to carry an AM signal [on 1035 kHz] from Estonia into neighbouring Russia, including the metropolitan areas of Moscow and St Petersburg. Having recently learned Russia is no longer permitting TWR to broadcast its programmes from stations inside the country, the ministry hopes to provide a clear signal there through a Christian station owned by Tartu Family Radio in neighbouring Estonia. This $409,000 endeavour will increase TWR’s current potential audience from 50 million to 159 million. In September 2001, Blue Ridge Broadcasting donated a 50kW AM transmitter, which was subsequently upgraded to 100kW. This transmitter now needs to be upgraded to 200kW.
Source: Citizen-Times.com/TWR via Media Network weblog via DXing the Finnish Way (27/2-2009)
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EUROPE
ERI - The tests are not always there but mostly in afternoons and evenings. I have listen them at 1500UTC on 1611, at 17.30UTC on 1593 on Friday and for only about 30 minutes today on 1566. Singal was very good on the last frequncies here at 5/9 + but not good on 1611 and 1593. Always the same id with OM anouncment repeated and no music. Will copy next time an send to you if you want an mp3.
Dimitri Konstantine Bucharest (8/5-2005)
EUROPE
Hello, I yesterday sent report about station Europa Radio International is now very strong here Sunday on 1566 with same OM recorded announcer, Friday they test on 1593 and 1611. NO informations on website, do you know of this station?
Dimitri Konstantine Bucharest (8/5-2005)
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