News Archive

GERMANY
The commercial German station Truckradio ceased to transmit on mediumwave this week. Jülich 702, Nordkirchen 855 and presumably also Hirschlanden 738 were switched off on Monday or Tuesday, and today Burg 531 has been turned off as well. At present the web stream and the fully subsidized DAB relays at Halle/Saale and Magdeburg (local 1.5 GHz
ensembles only) are still on but with music only, and today nobody could be reached at Truckradio anymore, so it's not even sure if this continued playout is intended at all.
Those who can point a satellite dish at 23.5 deg. East could check if the Astra 3A transmission on 11.515 GHz h is still on. This is or was a 64 kbps mono signal, merely meant as feed to the mediumwave transmitters.
A peculiarity of Truckradio was or perhaps still is that they had live relays of Deutsche Welle German for TOH news. Gossip has it that Truckradio could do these rebroadcasts free of charge, but details of this arrangement are unknown. The problem is here that companies like dpa-RUFA (audio service of Deutsche Presseagentur) and BLR/Radiodienst offer news for commercial stations (including RTL Radio in German; this "national station for Germany" has not even an own news department), so one could argue that this arrangement deprived either company from attracting Truckradio as a customer.
Kai Ludwig, dxld yg (16/5-2008)

GERMANY
Truckradio has stopped his transmissions over all Mediumwave transmitters in Germany !!!
http://truckradio.de
Peter Kruse, MWDX (16/5-2008)

GERMANY
As from May 5th Bavarian Open Radio (729/801 khz) will be named as on3radio
on3radio@br-online.de
Peter Kruse via mwdx yg(2/5-2008)

GERMANY
AFN: Auf UKW 98,7 "The Eagle" läuft trotzdem weiterhin eine Ansage, wonach die Mittelwelle "a facelift" erhalte und bis dahin nur mit einem Drittel der Leistung sende.
http://hessen.afneurope.net/
meldet, die Arbeiten an der Mittelwelle 873 kHz dauerten bis September an.

AFN "Eagle" Alert:
"AFN Hessen's AM 873 Power Network transmitter is experiencing a degraded signal due to on-going repairs and upgrades. The transmitter will broadcast at one-third of its normal power until the work is completed in September. Brief and unscheduled outages can also be expected. Please stay tuned to AFN-The Eagle FM 98.7 for further updates. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience".
Jürgen Fenn via Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany via mwdx (16/4-2008)

GERMANY
DLF 153 kHz OFF air 16 to 19 April, 0610 to 1800 UT.
Auf http://www.dradio.de/dlf/vorschau/ 08:10 Uhr Senderabschaltung. Der Sender Donebach auf LW 153 kHz wird bis zum 19.04. von 8:10 Uhr bis 20:00 Uhr abgeschaltet.
Seit November 2007 ist die T-systems Media/Broadcast GmbH dort am DRM werkeln.
Gelegenheit die Langwelle Kronstadt Bod aus Rumänien zu hören.
Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany via mwdx (16/4-2008)

GERMANY
An American Forces Network transmitter that had been off the air since Tuesday resumed broadcasting Friday.
The transmitter, which broadcasts the network's 873 AM signal, was brought back online at 2:30 p.m. It was knocked off the air by a fire that started during routine maintenance.
Full power has not been restored. A fire in a commercial power panel caused the outage.
Three people were injured in the accident. All were briefly hospitalized for observation and released, according to an AFN statement. (The transmitter is in Hessen)
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53849
Stars and Stripes European edition, April 5, 2008 via Mike Terry, mwdx yg (6/4-2008)

GERMANY
Blast knocks AFN Germany off the air on 873 kHz.
Stars and Stripes http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53798
Wolfgang Büschel, Germany (4/4-2008)

GERMANY
Just received via A-DX-List:
Maintenance work at MDR (Germany) Transmitters
12.02.: 9:00-11:00 UTC 1188 kHz Reichenbach
13.02.: 8:00-13:00 UTC 1044 kHz Wilsdruff
14.02.: 8:00-13:00 UTC 783 kHz Leipzig.
73´s Olaf C.Haenssler via MWC (7/2-2008)

GERMANY
AFN Würzburg, which not long ago changed its name to AFN Franconia, has apparently closed down without any ceremony. Their webpages have been replaced by an announcement "The AFN Franconia audience is now being served by AFN Bavaria. Please visit www.afneurope.net/bavaria for more details!", as can be seen at
http://www.afneurope.net/AFNFranconiaSiteUnderRenovation/tabid/691/Default.aspx
AFN Bavaria for its part has not updated its frequency information page so far but already added links to the websites of the Ansbach, Bamberg and Schweinfurt garrisons previously served by AFN Franconia. Note also the webcast of their TV news. http://bavaria.afneurope.net
I have not seen reports about the current use of the former AFN Franconia radio frequencies so far. It remains to be seen for how long the Würzburg transmitters (1143 and 104.9) will stay on the air (in fact I have so far not seen a confirmation that they are still on air at all), since only a few US facilities are left there and will be closed down soon as far as I know.
Apparently the TV operations of AFN Franconia ceased already earlier, here is a discussion of the Bamberg ch. 39 (European channel with video on 615.25, same as American ch. 38) being noted on November 13 to carry AFN Bavaria now while 1143 still had Würzburg programming: http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,541197
Herein they discuss that this must be a mistake, wrong feed patched in, because there were no crawls, no nothing. But obviously the plug had been intentionally pulled and patched into the Vilseck feed.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (28/12-2007)

GERMANY
Tenders advertised for three mediumwave frequencies in Berlin.
The Berlin-Brandenburg Media Council (MABB) decided at its meeting on 7 December 2007, to advertise tenders for the mediumwave frequencies 567 (100 kW), 693 (250 kW) and 1359 kHz (100 kW), all 24 hours a day. There is an option to use DRM on all three frequencies.
567 kHz was abandoned by the previous user, RBB, on 24 January 2006. 693 kHz is currently being used by T-systems for DRM tests of Voice of Russia in parallel with the AM service on 603 kHz. The broadcasting licence of the Voice of Russia runs out on 8 April 2008, and T-systems has indicated that it would like to use both 603 and 693 kHz. Under the rules, a tender has to be issued. 1359 kHz is the frequency previously used  by Radio Berlin International.
The Oranienburg transmitter site to the north of Berlin can be used for all three frequencies, according to the MABB. The deadline for applications is 20 February 2008. 
Source: MABB, via Media Network Weblog (21/12-2007)

GERMANY
Engineers of T-systems Telekom DLF Donebach LW 153 kHz are preparing the antenna of 20 kHz width for DRM mode services in past six days. Transmitter is off totally or on test in AM and DRM mode between 0710 and 1700 UT approx., and at 1210-1900 UT on Nov 15/16. Both two 500 kW Telefunken beasts of 1981? at Donebach are replaced by new TransRadio transistorized 500 kW units. Antenna alignment action last from Nov 8th til 16th.
Wolfgang Büschel, wwdxc BC-DX Nov 14 via DXLD 7-137 (15/11-2007)

GERMANY
AFN Würzburg: All US military facilities at Würzburg will be closed in 2008. It was suspected from the start that this will affect AFN Würzburg as well, and I just found an official confirmation. It's the very last item in this document:
http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/news/releases/
2007-04-019_FY08_USAREUR-Transformation-English.pdf
I could imagine that the Würzburg transmitters will be turned off when the studios there will close down. Contradictory information circulates about the site of these transmitters, but it appears that at some point the own US forces transmitters at Leighton Barracks were replaced by the Frankenwarte site of T-Systems Media&Broadcast where in late 2003 some
obscure tests of 1386 (ex. Megaradio, shut down on in April 2003) with AFN audio took place, especially strange because reportedly it was AFN Bavaria from Vilseck instead of AFN Würzburg, so not just // co-located 1143, cf. http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld3217.txt
It appears that all US military bases served by AFN Würzburg will finally close, including Ansbach-Katterbach where a new FM transmitter for AFN Würzburg on 107.3 had been put on air only in last March, replacing the 107.4 relic at Fürth which until then lingered around with a poor quality feed from Vilseck which had replaced AFN's Nürnberg studios already in 1994: http://www.br-online.de/bayern-heute/thema/truppenabzug/standorte.xml
(Illesheim is not shown here but mentioned in other publications as part of the closure list.)
However, apparently this will happen only later, so presumably all remote AFN Würzburg transmitters will for the time being stay on air with other AFN programming, with AFN Bavaria being the natural choice of course. Btw, recently it has been disputed if a 1143 kHz transmitter at Schweinfurth exists at all, arguing that Würzburg and Bamberg would
already put a sufficient signal into Schweinfurth, but what I saw so far does not really confirm this theory. Anyway the Bad Kissingen transmitter is gone (no US forces there anymore), as is the AFN Bavaria transmitter at Regensburg (however, 1485 is still on air at Hohenfels, cf. http://subscribe.ru/archive/radio.worlddx/200704/10111404.html )
On the other hand AFN transmitters can stay on air even if no US facilities are left. The Chiemsee hotel has been closed in 2004 and replaced by a new one at Garmisch-Parten-
kirchen, but surprisingly the AFN transmitter at Prien on 90.3 is still on air. This is a
Media&Broadcast facility, so they still pay for it, but who knows if they thoroughly check the bills?
Elsewhere in Germany it appears that the vast majority of the US military facilities in Hessen will close, with Darmstadt and Hanau being due in fiscal year 2008 after Gießen has already been abandoned and 1143 kHz there shut down. Not that anybody would care for the 873 transmitter, but the FM side would be a good field for attempts to strike a deal like a frequency swap with Deutschlandradio (Großer Feldberg 98.7 ./. Wiesbaden 103.7).
Anyway AFN Hessen no longer broadcasts to Baumholder. This really large base, about 40 km northwest of Kaiserslautern, got an own over-the-air AFN service only in January 2006. At this time AFN Hessen went on air via a new transmitter on 106.1 because the Baumholder garrison belonged to the 104th Area Support Group at Hanau. But that's meanwhile a thing of the past, thus 106.1 carries AFN Kaiserslautern now instead.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (17/9-2007)

GERMANY
The Wöbbelin site 25 km south of Schwerin is gone. Reportedly the buildings still exist but all antennas were removed. This was 576 with 250 kW and 999 with 20 kW (the latter in the past together with Hoyerswerda and Weimar transmitters), after 1995 both reactivated with new Thomson transmitters, 999 with temporary tests of a project that never saw the light of the day, 576 for Megaradio which went bankrupt in 2004. As well-known the former Megaradio transmitters on 630, 693 and 1431 were meanwhile leased to Voice of Russia, and a special arrangement with them made it possible to put 1575 again om air as well. Gossip had it that 576 was in the talks as well, but obviously no reactivation will happen here anymore.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, dxldyg via DXLD 7-088 (27/7-2007)

GERMANY
Between 15 and 31 July the German "Wellenforum" (www.wellenforum.de) holds
its second Medium Wave Summer Contest. The purpose of the Contest is to offer a broad spectrum of MW receptions during Summertime.
The Contest manager is Friedhelm Wittlieb (wietti).
Participation and conditions are simple. The participation takes place online. All medium wave enthusiasts can participate.
Every MW log is given a value, each heard station gets one single value. There is no minimum required listening time. Fairness is regarded as something obvious.
Every station from the logger's country gets 10 points, every station from the logger's continent gets 20 points, and stations from other contintents than the logger's get 30 points.
At the end of the Contest there will be a general overview of the stations heard. Every participant will get a participation confirmation (certificate).
The logs can be sent via e-mail to contest@wellenforum.de up to 10 August 2007. Annexes are not required. The mail should be configured as follows:
Frequency-Date-Time-Station-Language-Programme detail-SIO
e.g..:
531-15.07-21.00-Radio Musigwälle-Deutsch-Musik-444

Please make use of the hyphen as this enables us to put the logs later on in a table format. The times should be indicated in UTV.
Enjoy yourself browsing the medium wave band!
73, Friedehelm Wittlieb via emwg yg via Ullmar Qvick (4/7-2007)

GERMANY
Saarländischer Rundfunk issued an invitation of tenders for new 1422 transmitters. See
http://www.sr-online.de/dersr/2251/621408.html and in the linked .zip archive the LV Mittelwellensender.pdf file.
Summary: The current 1422 transmitters were installed in the early seventies, the facility has been designed for a maximum carrier power of 1200 kW. Since the late eighties this equipment is used in DAM mode in passive reserve configuration with a maximum carrier power of 600 kW. A separate back-up facility exists as well, consisting of a 100 kW PDM
transmitter and an aux antenna. During daytime the aux antenna is now in use for another program on 1179, carried by a 10 kW solid-state transmitter.
To be installed is new 400 kW transmission equipment, consisting of two DRM-ready transmitters of 200 kW each in an active reserve configuration. The antenna facilities are to be kept as they are, with an option to make it possible to switch the 100 kW transmitter to the main antenna (two masts, 120 metres tall) as well. The new transmitters are to be switchable to the aux antenna, too, with automatically reducing the output to the maximum power the 60 Ohms coax cable to this antenna can handle (about 100 kW), but not when the 1179 transmitter is on air (1179 has priority over 1422 back-up for this antenna). The
existing EMT limiter/compressor is to be replaced by "an audio processor (OPTIMOD)" [I don't think that they intentionally specify Orban products here], the other audio equipment is to be kept and wired to the new transmitter facility accordingly.
The new facility has to be installed without disrupting the service. Inavoidable breaks have to be agreed and are restricted to a window between midnight and 5 AM. First the existing transmitter #2 has to be removed to make room for the new facility, with ensuring that the 100 kW transmitter can always be used as back-up. It is possible to reuse the transformer cell of old transmitter #2 for parts of the new facility (power supply, fans).
So the output on 1422 will be limited to 400 kW with the new transmitters. Probably this is already the case with 1539 at Mainflingen, reportedly the new facility there is rated at 400 kW, too (old transmitters were 2 x 350 kW = 700 kW output).
Perhaps "passive reserve" and "active reserve" are unknown terms outside Germany: The first one designates a back-up concept with a separate stand-by transmitter, usually not on air (hence passive). "Active reserve" means that there are no idle transmitters, any two transmitters set-up (or any complete unit consisting of a "married" transmitter pair) is the classical example of active reserve: If one transmitter fails the other one will stay on air, just the power will be reduced by half. Btw, a typical concept for FM is passive reserve in n+1 configuration: n are as much transmitters as frequencies are on air from the particular
facility, added is another transmitter which in cases of a transmitter failure will be tuned up on the affected frequency and fired up with the belonging modulation.
Kai Ludwig, Germany via DXLD yg (19/4-2007)

GERMANY
From 2nd of February RADIO JOYSTICK can be heard every weekend on Mediumwave 1602 kHz! Every Friday evening, starting 19:00 h UTC, 1 hour "Funky Sounds 4 Central Europe"!
February is a test, so please write in with Reception reports to
P. O. Box 10 08 12,
45408 Muelheim on the Ruhr,
ALLEMAGNE (Germany).
Thanks!
EMWG via Steve Whitt, mwc (21/1-2007)

GERMANY
ERF on 1539 kHz in foreign languages 04-05 UT: there are quarter-hour programs differing by day of week in: Croatian, Arabic, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Spanish, English, French, Greek, Kurdish.
ERF website via Tony Rogers, Jan BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD 7-006 (13/1-2007)

GERMANY
Deutschlandradio posted this message at
http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/dlf-mw-lw/557046/
``The Neumünster transmitter on 1269 kHz failed on Oct 26 at 00:27.
Transmission equipment and the power distribution system are damaged and not ready for use at present. Employees of the transmitter manufacturer are already on site for stock-taking. Unfortunately a failure of several days must be expected.``
At least the transmitter is still off right now; 1269 is now a big SAH mess, with the COPE transmitters in Spain (apparently not synchronized) on top and some other weak signal (probably Novi Sad which once, when still running high power, used to overrode Deutschlandfunk here) underneath.
The 1269 kHz transmitter is located near the village of Arpsdorf, some kilometres southwest of Neumünster. I did not hear about new transmitters being installed there so far, so probably still the two 300 kW Telefunken PDM transmitters (S4003 if I recall the model designation
correct) from 1986 are in use. Originally these transmitters were combined to a single 600 kW, but today they are presumably on air alternately since just 300 kW are in use now. With 600 kW Arpsdorf was during daytime ND but had to maintain a null towards 105...145 degrees
between 19:00 and 05:00 LT. However, this may have changed with the power reduction. 1269 carries not only the regular Deutschlandfunk program but also the sea weather forecasts at 01:05, 06:40 and 11:05 LT (during summer only also at 21:05 LT), hence Deutschlandfunk has a dedicated feed circuit for this transmitter (unless they changed it recently to a remote-controlled combination of satellite and ISDN dial-up, as it is in use for 177 at Zehlendorf).
See also a description of the Deutschlandfunk AM transmitters from 1988 (549 and 756 kHz transmitters at both sites each were replaced by new equipment since but data for 153 and 207 kHz should still be fully valid):
http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,450897,451113
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (27/10-2006)
Neumünster-Arpsdorf transmitter is again on air since 1609 UT:
Hallo !
Ich habe gerade Radio Novi Sad auf 1269 kHz gelauscht, als um 1609 UTC der DLF wieder zurückkehrte. Mit dem Empfang von Novi Sad war´s dann natürlich vorbei.
73, Patrick Robic via A-DX
via Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (28/10-2006)
At DX 183 the abscence of Neumünster 1269 kHz opened a window toward Asia.
ymr (29/10-2006)

GERMANY
Rhein-Main-Radio-Club, Frankfurt,Germany proudly present the 2nd edition of the unique
QSL-Calendar 2007.
The new calendar will be available to the public from November 2006.
The full colour art print calendar offers real treasures from our historical QSL archives, covering QSL cards from the 1930's to present. The calender is in English and costs 15 Euro including shipment world wide.
We will give *DXers, DX Clubs, DX-Broadcasters and DX Organisations 20 percent*, ordering 20 copies or more.
The calendar is a beautifull marketing instrument, it is rare, unique and a special gift to business partners dealing with radio business.
Cover foto of the QSL calendar 2007 and all details at our website www.rmrc.de
Harald Gabler, RMRC (Rhein-Main-Radio-Club) CEO (18/10-2006)

GERMANY
Germany's Oldiestar Radio heard on 1575 kHz.
Despite setbacks with earlier attempts to revive commercial mediumwave broadcasting in Germany, a new station has been launched on 1575 kHz, 104.9 MHz FM and streamed on the Internet. Oldiestar Radio was first reported by several German DXers on August 2. The station is broadcasting with Oldies format 24 hours a day. Oldiestar Radio can be reached by writing to André-Pican-Str. 42, 16515 Oranienburg, Germany.
DXing.info (23/9-2006)

GERMANY
One of the two pipe masts at the Burg transmitter site has been brought down on Thursday (June 22) at 2 PM with explosives. This was rather tricky because the other pipe mast next-by had to be left untouched.
Reportedly the Magdeburger Volksstimme newspaper published an illustrated article, probably available online. At present I can not get a connection to their server, but an URL to check out would be http://www.volksstimme.de/vsm/nachrichten/lokales/burg/ 
A copy of the Volksstimme report has been posted at http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,421696,422120#msg-422120 
These pipe masts were originally meant for mediumwave transmission, but one of them (not sure if the now demolished or the kept one) had been modified for longwave after the actual longwave mast collapsed in 1976. I assume the other mast was after 1979 used for 657 kHz, from 1987 until 1990 with an almost forgotten relay of DT64 (which is widely believed to made a mediumwave debut in 1992, then on 1044 kHz via, you guessed it, the Wilsdruff transmitter west of Dresden).
Three pictures with both pipe masts still standing:
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/2252/burg1entr6tp.jpg  -- Classical view from the station entrance.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/1741/burg1pipes5wm.jpg   -- The deteriorated condition of the now removed mast is quite obvious.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/9100/burg1site7dy.jpg  -- Station as seen from the town of Burg, with pipe masts, the new longwave antenna ("recycled" mast originally used for a mediumwave Franklin [Russian ARRT design]) and the 1575 kHz vertical incidence antenna.
By the way: T-Systems engineering meanwhile confirmed the power for Truckradio on 531 kHz as 10 kW.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (24/6-2006)

GERMANY
/France: Evangeliums-Rundfunk has announced that they will stop their evening broadcast (21.30-22.00 h CET/CEST) on their traditional medium wave 1467 kHz at the end of October. With Mainflingen 1539 kHz using a new night antenna since April 2006, the religious broadcaster says reception in their target area has improved and there is no need for the simulcast any more. Ending the evening broadcast will save them about 150000 Euro per year. The morning broadcast (5.45-6.15 h CET/CEST)from Roumoules which is not in parallel with Mainflingen will continue for the time being.
Evangeliums-Rundfunk has been heard on 1467 kHz since 1966, first from Monaco, later from French soil. Ten years ago, they obtained a licence for medium wave broadcasts in German soil. During daytime the Mainflingen transmitters' main coverage is Hessen, during the dark
hours in the morning and evening it reaches Central Europe.
Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, www.biener-media.de via emwg yg (7/9-2006)

GERMANY
Evangeliums-Rundfunk, the German branch of Trans World Radio, will cancel the 2030-2100 (summer 1930-2000) transmission via Roumoules-1467 as of B06 but keep the 0445-0515 (summer 0345-0415) for whatever reason, stating that it will save them 150,000 Euros annually, see below.
They plan to abandon 1467 already for some time, stating that airtime on this transmitter is five times as expensive as on Mainflingen-1539 which now provides good nighttime coverage of Germany with a new NVIS antenna.
Thomas Kamp via A-DX Mailing-List via Kai Ludwig, dxld yg (5/9-2006)

GERMANY
Summary: Oldiestar Radio is on air via Burg 1575 in DRM mode for 12 hours a day as an engineering experiment; 0800-1400 UT with 20 kW, 2200-0400 UT with 100 kW, the remaining time will be used for AM transmissions of Voice of Russia for the duration of this experiment.
Oldiestar CEO Oliver Dunk says: This is the most powerful digital mediumwave transmitter in Europe [sic], we are eager about the performance of the new [sic] vertical incidence antenna and expect the indus try to launch DRM receivers immediately, we will make a decision for expanded airtime and a regular service if an acceptable amount of receivers is on the market.
Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt has authorized this engineering experiment on July 19, their head Christian Schurig says that he is delighted about Sachsen-Anhalt being the first state of Germany with digital mediumwave transmissions [sic].
Comments by klu: "Engineering experiment" in the German understanding just donates that it is no regular transmitter lease, and it is quite obvious that only the deal with the Russians made it economically possible to put the (already existing) transmitter on air at all. The mentioned power levels of course refer to the DRM output, AM carrier power for the VOR relays may well be higher, although it not exactly sounds like full 500 kW at night.
The performance of the DRM signal via the vertical incidence antenna could indeed become an interesting story, considering all the distortion from selective fading / multipath reception one can note in AM mode. Just remember 3995 which is basically a disaster, apparently never run at more than 14.5 kbps since otherwise it would not work. Perhaps some reports will appear in this already opened thread: http://www.drmrx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1466
http://www.oldiestar.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=21
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (8/8-2006)

GERMANY
Re 1575 kHz, Oldiestar Radio: yesterday evening they carried Voice of Russia. Just now they had Oldies at 1200 UT, out of the blue switching to Russian, then back to Oldies and at 1205 the carrier went off completely. Back at 1210 in DRM. And at 1215 UT Oldies in AM.
73, Martin Elbe, Germany, Aug 4, mwdx yg via DXLD
The website of this new German Radiostation can be found on http://www.oldiestar.de
Peter Kruse, Germany, playdx yg via DXLD 6-117 (5/8-2006)

GERMANY
Long announced "Oldiestar Radio" testing 1575 kHz from Burg near Magdeburg. Still in AM, but their intention is to go DRM asap. With WDR on 1593 kHz operating in DRM that would lead to the situation, that four transatlantic-channels 1570, 1580, 1590 and 1600 are history then. What a bloody nuisance for european MW-DXers
More about the station here: www.oldiestarradio.de 
Truck Radio 531 kHz, also from Burg, seems to use increased power now. Both 1575 and 531 kHz with a S9+40 signal here, about 70 km west of the transmitter site. Now it's only 261 kHz to be revived, and the mess is perfect.
Martin  Elbe via mwdx yg (2/8-2006)

GERMANY
It has been confirmed by German DXers that the parasite signals on 1359 and 1503 kHz come from the Voice of Russia relay transmitter in Dresden-Wilsdruff (1431 kHz, 250 kW), Germany. On the A4 highway Leipzig-Dresden which runs very close to the transmitter site the strength of all three signals is equal. In more distant areas the parasite on 1503 kHz is weaker than the one on 1359 kHz.
Karel Honzik, The Czech Republic via mwdx yg (13/7-2006)

GERMANY
Radio Bremen 936 kHz - off air temporarily! Radio Bremen 936 kHz is and will be off the air from Mo. to Fr. until the beginning of the football world cup due to painting works at the transmitter. Timetable: 0500 to about 1600 UT (depends on weather conditions).
Source: Radio Bremen/Sendertechnik via Olaf C. Haenssler, Germany, May 17, MWC via DXLD
I guess this means it is still on the air at night, and even day when weather is bad. Might have been useful opportunity to DX the new Afghan 936 of unknown potency. So when does the FWC begin? (The FIFA World Cup to start on June 9th. (yours truly))
Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest 6-076 (19/5-2006)

GERMANY
Since today (May 15) Truckradio is on air via the Burg transmitter on 531. The press release about the start of these transmissions has not been posted on their own website yet but already appeared here: http://www.digitalerrundfunk.de/archiv/archiv.php?content=2003&&id=501  or http://www.radioforen.de/showthread.php?p=241774 
I was able to trace a presumed Burg signal only after Beromünster signed off, still almost buried in a jumble with presumed Romania. This hardly sounds like the 20 kW used by MDR until 1998. Will check it out during daytime for a more serious fieldstrength assessment (pure groundwave signal).
531 kHz transmitter container and antenna: http://img297.echo.cx/img297/3297/burg531bldg8aj.jpg  http://img297.echo.cx/img297/9772/burg531dfa8bi.jpg 
By the way, Oldiestar Radio announced DRM transmissions via Burg on 1575 with 100 kW (digital equivalent of 500 kW AM) already for January, later they told about a "small delay". Just mentioned here in case a DRM signal suddenly pops up on 1575.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (16/5-2006)

GERMANY
From today Hamburger Lokalradio will broadcast via Latvia on 945 every Sunday 2000-2100 a special programme (i.e. prerecorded, not // Hamburg FM 96.0), cf. http://hhlr.homepage.t-online.de/index.htm 
Probably the very first client for the new Riga-Ulbroka 150 kW mediumwave relay service. Wonder if the rates are as attractive as they are for 9290? 
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (7/5-2006)

GERMANY
The German authorities have permitted a second experimental station to conduct propagation  studies on medium wave. The station with the callsign DI2BO operates under the same technical conditions as DI2AG (440 kHz plus/ minus 100 Hz, 9 W ERP). The QTH of this station is in Peine near Hannover in Northern Germany (JO52BH) with me, DK8KW being responsible. 
I will coordinate the test transmissions with Walter so that both beacons can be operated at the same time. To fine tune and tweak the station currently DI2BO is operating exactly on 440 kHz in plain CW. 
The station consists of a ship radio transmitter DEBEG 7121 with around 100 Watt output which puts about 2.3 Ampere into my 18 m high umbrella antenna with 5 top load radials. Theoretical this results in an ERP of around 5 Watt.
Reception reports are welcome! Please send those to mf@qru.de or via DK8KW.
Martin Elbe: Peine is only about 30km from my QTH as the crow flies, so DI2BO is audible here even at noon with an S9+20 signal. A reception report was answered within 10 minutes, Geri says, that QSLs will be printed and send via the DARC bureau.
Geri, DK8KW / DI2BO via RSGB LF-mailinglist via Hartmut Wolff via Martin Elbe, mwdx yg (6/5-2006)

GERMANY
Got just alerted by the enclosed message: Langenberg 1593 kHz is right now on in AM with 1 kHz tone. Mediocre signal with lots of fading here (50 km north of Dresden), some co-channel station still audible underneath the whistle. Co-located 720 is better, but probably running higher power as well.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (3/5-2006)

GERMANY
Today first tests on 1593 from Langenberg were reported, at times DRM, at times AM with a test tone of ca. 2 kHz (instead of more common 800 Hz or 1 kHz), estimated power around 5 kW. Reportedly they run 720 with their other new TRAM transmitter now, the old tube rig has been already scrapped.
On this occasion it became also known that since late October 2005 a new 100 kW transmitter is on air from Rohrdorf on 666, replacing a 300 kW tube unit which was run at 150 kW and said to be power-hungry, leading SWR to choose this frequency for an overnight silence period.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 20, DX Listening Digest 6-064 (21/4-2006)

GERMANY
Just checked 693 after 2200 when Zehlendorf should be off: Yes, DRM hiss dominates the frequency now. Underneath a station with lively programming in Arabic, who's this? Should have give it a listen a few days earlier . . .
A report of 693 reception at Mönchengladbach with the unavoidable decoding software screenshot now appeared at http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,151753 
Says that he saw the ID flags of Siziano and Zehlendorf alternately while listening to the analogue signals brought up hiss with traces of speech underneath, so BBC 5 Live reception on this frequency at Mönchengladbach is no longer possible. Quite remarkable for a location just 20 km away from the German-Dutch border.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 10, DX Listening Digest 6-061 (13/4-2006)

GERMANY
1431 kHz to Voice of Russia.
The media authority of Saxonia allocated Wilsdruff 1431 to Voice of Russia, following an unanimous recommendation by the authority's committee for programming matters. Voice of Russia promises to produce special programmes for Saxonia (programmes dedicated to Berlin, aired via 603/630/693 only and not via shortwave or Bolshakovo/Wachenbrunn mediumwave, exists already for some years).
http://www.slm-online.de/psk/slm/slm_content/powerslave,id,668,nodeid,11.html 
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 28, DX Listening Digest 6-038 (1/3-2006)

GERMANY
Antenne Saar (Saarbrücken, Germany) can still be heard on 1665 kHz. I found this in late December while in North-Germany and just checked again (0800 UTC) , and it is still there. It is a spur and nobody really cares anymore. I wonder do they ever make measurements at their Tx site?
Jurgen Bartels via mwdx yg (14/2-2006)

GERMANY
This year Evangeliums-Rundfunk is in its tenth year of broadcasting over the Mainflingen station on 1539 kHz. In 2005 a new antenna was built to reduce local interference to electric appliances and to enhance reception Europe-wide. Unfortunately for the Christian broadcaster, their programmes are still broadcast via the old antenna.
Because the WRTH 2006 does not mention it, it might be of interest for QSL-hunters, that there are foreign language programmes on the mediumwave station Mainflingen 1539 kHz. Currently, there is the following line up (UTC):
0400 Mo Arabic, Tu Farsi, We Russian, Th Turkish, Fr Su Croatian, Sa English 
0415 Mo Arabic, Tu Farsi, We Russian, Th Turkish, Fr Spanish, Sa English, So French (Radio Evangile)
0430 daily French (Radio Evangile) 
0445 Mo Greek, Tu Arabic, We Russian, Th Turkish, Fr Croatian, Sa Kurdish-Sorani, So English.
All programmes are religious in format. From 0500 to 2300 h the frequency is used for German.
Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, wwdxc BC- DX 30 Jan via DX Listening Digest 6-024 (5/2-2006)

GERMANY
Langenberg: New transmitters for 720 and 1593 (!)
Summary of the enclosed message: Westdeutscher Rundfunk ordered two 100 kW mediumwave transmitters (plus two 50 kW auxiliary transmitters) from the former Telefunken, now Transradio company. At present testing of these transmitters is under way at the Berlin workshop of Transradio while the staff of the Langenberg station provisionally moves the existing transmitter (Siemens 200 kW, installed around 1980) out of its place to make room for the new equipment.
One of the new 100 kW transmitters is meant for 720, the other one for 1593. The former 1593 antenna equipment still exists at Langenberg in operational condition, so a reactivation of this frequency appears to be no big challenge. So far it is unknown who will or could use 1593 at Langenberg again.
The transmitters are DRM-ready, but Westdeutscher Rundfunk staff does not dare to foretell if they will be ever used in this mode (short tests disregarded here of course).
An addition re. Telefunken: The renaming into Transradio came into force as of January, and it is clear now that they were indeed forced somehow to give up the Telefunken brand.
Reinhard Meier via Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 3, DX Listening Digest  DXLD 6-022 (3/2-2006)

GERMANY
According to information from the DX 183, where the station has been monitored, Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR) has activated the 10 kW xmitter in Heusweiler on 1179 kHz. This frequency has SR 3 programme, and is on air from 8-18 local time (7-17 UTC). News from Paris every half hour.
Ydun Ritz (29/11-2005)

GERMANY
Deutschlandradio considers for Zehlendorf 177 a return to AM operation, with the exception of three hour DRM tests at night, since it is now clear that no DRM receivers will be available for Christmas as was promised at IFA. This according the Radio-Kurier magazine, already quoted in advance at http://www.satnews.de/mlesen.php?id=1303 
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 16, DX Listening Digest 5-198 (17/11-2005)

GERMANY
Berlin 567 to go dark by yearend! I just received word that Berlin 567 will be shut down on December 31. Error excepted for the moment, but actually the only news here is this deadline.
Herewith the mediumwave operations from the Stallupöner Allee site are to cease after 59 years. The last fittings there consisted of two 5 kW transmitters from 1972/1973 (replaced the original rigs from 1946) for 810/1449 and a 100 kW PDM transmitter (Telefunken, so should be an S4002) from 1980 (replaced the old 100 kW from 1960) for 567. 1449 was the second mediumwave outlet of Sender Freies Berlin and shut down in 1994. 810 was the Berlin frequency of the BBC who abandoned it by the end of 1988; afterwards a relay of Deutschlandfunk on this frequency started in spring 1989 and was kept until Deutschlandfunk came on FM in Berlin in the early nineties. Last 810 activity from Stallupöner Allee were DRM demonstrations during the IFA 2001.
And the story of 567: In the early nineties the output was reduced from 100 to 50 kW and in a second much more dramatic step to a mere ca. 2 kW in spring 1997, reportedly first from a 5 kW running at reduced power but later from a new transmitter. The Radio B2 program carried on 567 was discontinued in August 1997, since then Radio Multikulti is used as modulation on 567.
I assume it went by widely unnoticed that between Christmas and New Years Eve 1996 the Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg program Radio Brandenburg was carried for one night on 567 for a very special program. The 50 kW still in use then were sufficient to produce a feedback on air from near Cottbus. I bet this was the first and last time a telephone on a railway signal tower went on air live. It was a really ancient one, with a carbon microphone of course, and unfortunately it was gone when I three years ago visited this signal tower again. That's my personal 567 story.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 14, DX Listening Digest 5-197 (16/11-2005)

GERMANY
During the last days the new 1179 transmitter at Heusweiler was again on air until required 1700 sign-off, this time with SR Info audio, which is so far a DAB channel consisting of not much more than recorded news from SR3 Saarlandwelle. It is planned to extend this service (amongst other things also with RFI relays), hence the new mediumwave outlet for a real-world audience. Just as a reminder: The big 1422 at Heusweiler, carrying Deutschlandfunk for a decade now, is still owned and operated by Saarländischer Rundfunk.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 6, DX Listening Digest 5-191 (6/11-2005)

GERMANY
On Oct 25 Bengt Ericson observed first activity of the new 1179 kHz transmitter at Heusweiler, around 0800 with SR 3 Saarlandwelle during an apparent engineering test, off at 0830 recheck. A regular service is promised still for this year.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 26, DX Listening Digest 5-186 (29/10-2005)

GERMANY
177 kHz now DRM --- Today at 07:57:05 [UT?] the Zehlendorf transmitter on 177 switched to DRM and did not revert to AM for the sea weather forecast at 0905, still carried on this frequency. Here is a recording of the very last minute in AM (caution: do not turn up the volume too much towards the end, it gets quite loud): http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/050827_a3.ram 
Felsberg on 183 now gets almost entirely drowned out, and it is much more difficult to still pick Bolshakovo on 171 out of the DRM slope [sic]. I wonder if Zehlendorf will still be a problem in the primary target area of 171 (Belarus, Baltics), perhaps even on the other side in French?
Here is the start of the mentioned sea weather programme yesterday, still in audible mode: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/050827_a1.ram 
Note the very slow delivery to allow listeners to take notes and the extremely emphasized (already ridiculous for a casual listener) Oooooooost which donates East (Ost). These sea weather forecasts go out on 177 plus audible 1269, 6005 and 6190 in summer at 0440, 0905, 1905 and 2305, in winter at 0540, 1005 and 0005, cf. http://www.dradio.de/seewetter
All the best, Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 29, DX Listening Digest 5-150 (30/8-2005)

GERMANY
Deutschlandradio switches two transmitters permanently to DRM Kai Ludwig reports: "Deutschlandradio has officially announced that its longwave transmitter at Zehlendorf on 177 kHz and the mediumwave transmitter at Berlin-Britz on 855 kHz will be *permanently* switched to DRM mode on Monday 29 August. 990 kHz will be kept in AM mode and in future carry the special programmes that were previously carried on 177 and 855 kHz. These include sea area weather forecasts. Apparently the special programmes on 177 kHz will continue on that frequency after the conversion to DRM. It´s possible that 177 kHz will switch back to AM for these programmes, but I would not expect this."
# posted by Andy @ via Media Network blog (27/8-2005)

GERMANY
Deutschlandradio switches two transmitters permanently to DRM Kai Ludwig reports: "Deutschlandradio has officially announced that its longwave transmitter at Zehlendorf on 177 kHz and the mediumwave transmitter at Berlin-Britz on 855 kHz will be *permanently* switched to DRM mode on Monday 29 August. 990 kHz will be kept in AM mode and in future carry the special programmes that were previously carried on 177 and 855 kHz. These include sea area weather forecasts. Apparently the special programmes on 177 kHz will continue on that frequency after the conversion to DRM. It´s possible that 177 kHz will switch back to AM for these programmes, but I would not expect this."
# posted by Andy @ via Media Network blog (27/8-2005)Since Friday around 1200 the vast majority of the public radio stations in Germany is on air via Astra 1H, 12.266 GHz H --- details see http://www.lyngsat.com/astra1h.html  --- using an unusually high bitrate of 320 kbps for stereo programs, also in regard of a possible use of these signals as STL and for other professional purposes. This service will be officially launched on August 29, until then these transmissions are considered as tests. A disappointment are so far the RBB programmes from Potsdam-Babelsberg (Antenne Brandenburg, Radio Eins and Fritz): Hardly any audio above 10 kHz and lots of dynamics compression, very similar to FM (where the Optimods are placed at the transmitters, so it is not just the FM feed that goes out via DVB satellite).
Zehlendorf 177 will be switched off on Sep 22 0930-1800 and on Sep 23 0930-1900 "to ensure the DRM transmissions", so DRM tests (plus open carrier / test tones) can be expected during these times. Reportedly 177 and Berlin-Britz 855 will be used for DRM presentations during the IFA. It remains to be seen what will happen with these frequencies afterwards, since they are still provided for special broadcasts (the upcoming transmitter work apparently starts not earlier than 0930 out of consideration for sea weather forecasts at 0905), cf. http://www.dradio.de/dkultur/sendungen/dkultur-mw-lw/ 
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 20, DX Listening Digest 5-143 (22/8-2005)

GERMANY
Stuttgart-Hirschlanden 738 went on air with Truckradio (// Jülich 702 and Nordkirchen 855) this morning. This is the transmitter used until 2003 by Megaradio, diplexed into the same antenna as AFN's 1143 (operated by T-Systems, not by AFN itself). With a mere 5 kW it is of course only a faint whisper underneath Barcelona here. 
All the best, Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 15, DX Listening Digest 5-138 (15/8-2005)

GERMANY
(Northrhine-Westphalia): On the occasion of the RC World Youth Convention, the regional public broadcaster WDR Cologne will broadcast a special "Weltjugendtags-Radio". The programme will be heard from 15 August 9.00 h CEST (7.00 UTC) until 21 August 20.00 h CEST (18.00 UTC) on the following frequencies: locally Cologne FM 87,6 MHz, all over Northrhine-Westphalia with an additional coverage of neighbouring states and countries on the mediumwave frequencies Langenberg 720 kHz and Bonn 774 kHz. The special programme is carried 9.00-23.00 Uhr CEST (7.00-21.00 h) while the rest is a relay from WDR 5 and WDR Funkhaus Europa. International QSL-hunters might appreciate the fact, that the special programme will include service announcements in many different languages, including English at the half hour (:30).
Dr. Hansjoerg Biener (4/8-2005)

GERMANY
1539 D - Evangeliums Rundfunk, Mainflingen (700*) - 24h. This has not been 24hrs for a long time, according to website: http://www.erf.de/index.php?node=1672 
"Mittelwelle Frequenz: 1539 kHz 5:00 bis 0:00 Uhr (tagsüber nur in Mittel- und Südhessen und Nord-Bayern zu empfangen, bei Dunkelheit auch entfernter)
Mittelwelle Frequenz: 1467 kHz 5:45 und 21:30 Uhr.
Steve Whitt, via EMWG yahoogroup (13/7-2005)

GERMANY
A small amendment re Rohrdorf 666: The silent periods of this transmitter are the same as introduced for 828 and 1485 a while ago, i.e. Mon-Fri 2100-0300 (winter 2200-0400), Sat+Sun 2100-0500 (winter 2200-0600). This means that for the first daily transmission hour, still MDR Info will be carried, since SWR cont.ra relays MDR Info Mon-Fri 2100-0400, Sat+Sun 2100-0556 (also here in winter one UT hour later of course).
Noel asked about FM: SWR cont.ra is not on FM, with the small exception of a 300 watts transmitter on the roof of the SWR broadcasting house at Stuttgart (91.5 MHz). Actually SWR was not supposed to produce this sixth program at all, but they rolled it out by declaring it to be a DAB project while putting it on mediumwave (plus satellite for home listening) for a real world audience. So if a listener in southern Baden-Württemberg now wants to listen to the overnight relay of MDR Info and has poor reception on 576 and 1017: Bad luck. And here is a recording of SWR cont.ra wrapping up before 2100, with the described listeners fee lament, an accurate carrier cut and the line generator of one of my neighbours` TV: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta/sendungen/apparat/050709_a1.ram 
Good night, Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 10, DX Listening Digest 5-113 (10/7-2005)

GERMANY
Peter Beck reports that from tonight Rohrdorf 666 will be switched off between 2100 and 0400. I can confirm that this time they indeed enforced this silence period; 666 is empty now, away from some weak signal I don't bother to identify by getting outside with the radio. At http://www.swr.de/contra/index.html  only 576 and 1017 are mentioned for overnight service now, but 711 is still on as well. Recently SWR cont.ra developed a habit to hardly mention 711 in promos etc. anymore, provoking speculations that the two remaining transmitters on this frequency (Heilbronn and Ulm) could be shut down sooner or later as well.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 5, DX Listening Digest 5-110 (5/7-2005)

GERMANY
AFN Kaiserslautern AM 1107 Off Air. Starting June 6th AFN Kaiserslautern begins long-needed repairs to their AM radio transmitter tower. The estimated time for the shutdown is four weeks. During that time, Power Network listeners can tune to AM 873, the Power Network feed from AFN Hessen. Kaiserslautern's FM radio station, Z100.2, will still be on the air so listeners can get critical local information as well as hourly news. AFN Kaiserslautern Station Commander, MSgt Dan Robinson, says the repairs to the AM tower are critical. "These are structural repairs so the tower can remain standing. Workers will be taking care of corrosion and other problems that could eventually bring the tower down if we don't take care of it now." In addition to tuning in AM 873, Power Network listeners who have a AFN satellite receiver can still hear the same programming they're used to by turning to the Channel Guide (Channel 7) on their receiver. http://www.afneurope.net/Kaiserslautern/ 
Mike Terry via DXLD yahoogroup (18/6-2005)

GERMANY
After 1st June I have noted Rohrdorf 666 still AN on two occasions, so they may have had second thoughts of cutting down. 
Olle Alm-SWE, wwdxc BC-DX June 5
Yes, obviously they have changed their minds at short notice, on May 20. They removed the regarding note from the http://www.swr.de/frequenzen/hinweise/index.html  page. No idea why they hesitated from doing it now, since the plan to switch off most mediumwave txs overnight is around already for some time there and has been already implemented on 828 and 1485.
Kai Ludwig, D, wwdxc BC-DX June 5 via Signews, RUS (10/6-2005)

GERMANY
Overnight operation of Rohrdorf 666 kHz will cease as of June 1st. The exact s/on and s/off times are not determined yet. Freiburg 828 kHz and Baden-Baden 1485 kHz are already on air only Mon- Fri 0300-2100 and Sat/Sun 0500-2100 (one hour later in winter of course) anymore. 
Cf. http://www.swr.de/frequenzen/hinweise/index.html  Bernhard Weiskopf reports that the 711 kHz transmitter at Heidelberg, shut down in 2004, has already been demolished. Only the small transmitter building still exists.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, May 19, DX Listening Digest 5-084 (20/5-2005)

GERMANY
Dear Ydun, as reported in the forum of www.ukwtv.de , the SWR-tx at Rohrdorf on 666 kHz, currently carrying the programme of "SWR cont.ra", will be signing of for some hours during nightime from June 1st. Exact off-times are unknown yet.
Regards, Sascha Zimmer, Viersen, Germany (20/5-2005)

GERMANY
On April 6 Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt allocated the currently silent mediumwave outlets at Burg to new potential users: 531 to Truckradio and 1575 to Oldiestar, cf. http://www.lra.de/news/news_detail.htm?id=460 
Truckradio shows 531 in a presentation of their future plannings already for a while, cf. http://www.truckradio.de/connect.aspx?do=2&go=543 
Oldiestar is a station launched just a few weeks ago by the company also running Kaufradio, probably known from the 1485 DRM tests at Berlin. At present Oldiestar uses FM 104.9 from Zehlendorf, primarily with the goal to reach at least the northern Berlin. Website of this station, so far containing just contact details and live streams: http://www.oldiestar.de 
Some people are talking about a possible output of 100 kW on 531. If so the original power level had been coordination-wise kept when moving this frequency from Wiederau to Burg, and so probably the 1000 kW authorization for 783 in theory still exists as well. However, I don't know if the statements about 100 kW on 531 are correct.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 7, DX Listening Digest 5-061 (7/4-2005)

GERMANY
The Scheppau (Braunschweig/Königslutter) transmitter on 630 kHz is active with Voice of Russia programming now, probably since today, but I'am not sure whether it was yesterday or earlier when I checked the last time. Modulation characteristics are "DLF-like", I guess due to an EMT DX-377 limiter/compressor being in use. Exact schedule remains to be seen; right now (1530 UT) German is carried of course. Now, from 1700, 630 kHz carries Russian. So this is obviously the feed otherwise taken by the Zehlendorf transmitters (603/693 kHz).
Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 1, DX Listening Digest 5-057 (1/4-2005)

GERMANY
Probably this news doesn't widely circulate outside Germany yet --- Ismaning 1197 kHz will no longer be used in the A05 season and after 56 years sign off for good on Saturday (probably in fact at 0100 on Sunday, but that's merely speculation by yours truly). The equipment will be dismantled and moved to elsewhere, just like the Holzkirchen transmitter today in use at Kuwait, by chance again on 1593 kHz.
All the best, Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 25, DX Listening Digest
IBB MUNICH MEDIUMWAVE CLOSING.
Kim Andrew Elliott writes: "You might be able to hear some international broadcasting history this weekend. The IBB Munich mediumwave relay (1197 kHz) will close. The transition time to A05 is 0800 UTC on the 27th, so I think the last transmission will be VOA Croatian at 0530-0600. RFE South Slavic will have no mediumwave after Sunday, depending on shortwave and FM rebroadcasters."
VOA Bosnian 1600-1615 UTC 1197 2230-2300 UTC 792 1197
VOA Croatian 0530-0600 UTC 756 1197 1395 7165 9635 9655 1930-2000 UTC 1197 6050 7105 7270
RFE South Slavic on 1197 kHz: 0000-0100, 0330-0430, 1700-1800, 2300-2400
Andy Sennitt adds: I must admit to feeling some sadness at the end of an era. I still remember tuning into this frequency (or, rather, 1196 kHz as it was then) on the day when President Kennedy was assassinated, listening to VOA's live coverage of the dramatic events. That was long before satellite TV, and 24 hour news channels such as CNN. 
posted by Andy @ 15:19 UT March 25 Media Network blog via DX Listening Digest 5-053 (25/3-2005)

GERMANY
Good morning, perhaps somebody will be up at 0430-0500 and 0530-0600 to check for a possible last show from Ismaning? Somehow I feel that there will be no such transmission but that it's over now. 1197 came up at 2230, until 2300 carrying VOA Music Mix. Earlier schedules showed the RFE South Slavic program to start at 2230, so obviously it had been cut back to 2300. But for whatever reason IBB did not adjust the transmitter schedule, so VOA Music Mix had been put on as filler. Probably the only AM transmission of Music Mix at all? From 2300 RFE Serbian ("South Slavic") was carried until 0100, i.e. it did not close at 2400 as some schedules suggested. At 0100 the audio was cut during the fade-out of the show's closing song. Carrier off just a few seconds later, here into Coldplay from Virgin Radio. Kept recording a little bit, then stopped and saved the file. Yet another swan song for my eerie collection. 
For now: Good night Kai Ludwig, Germany, 0123 UT March 27, DX Listening Digest yahoogroup (27/3-2005)

GERMANY
As expected Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt on March 17 allocated Braunschweig-Königslutter 630 kHz to Voice of Russia, for the time being only for two years since they would like to see the frequency used for digital transmissions in future. http://www.nlm.de/deutsch/aktuell/pressemit/presse2004/presse1803b.htm One could wonder why VOR is interested in this outlet: The antenna pattern of Wachenbrunn 1323 kHz used in the evening covers mainly southwestern Germany, Zehlendorf covers not much more than the area around Berlin, and Bolshakovo 1215 kHz is able to serve only eastern Germany due to the co-channel UK network. So this can be seen as a consequence of the 1386 kHz matter.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, March 21, DX Listening Digest 5-050 (21/3-2005)

GERMANY
Re 5-034: Glenn, I think I have not followed up on the matter of Saarländischer Rundfunk returning to mediumwave yet: Indeed Deutschlandfunk will stay on 1422 and SR inaugurate a new outlet for its own usage. Planned is 1179 with 10 kW and 8 AM to 6 PM only, but this is not definite yet.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 22, DX Listening Digest 5-038 (3/3-2005)

GERMANY
Saarländischer Rundfunk is to start a new mediumwave program soon. SR director Fritz Raff announced on February 21 an ´´information program´´ with a ´´mainly German-French character´´. Six times a day French news in cooperation with RFI will be broadcast. The program line-up will contain parliament coverage and the ´´Mezzora Italiana´´ program for foreign workers as well: http://www.sr-online.de/dersr/117/339598.html 
SR's release mentions only a ´´state-wide mediumwave frequency´´. Some years ago there were reports about 1179 to be used by SR with 20 kW. So it remains to be seen whether Deutschlandfunk will leave 1422 (but so far no such plans were hinted) or SR will bring up 1179 for the new program.
The media authority of Niedersachsen put 630, the former Megaradio frequency at Braunschweig/Königslutter, on tender. The frequency will be allocated for two years only: http://www.nlm.de/deutsch/aktuell/aus_mw.htm 
Gossip has it that Voice of Russia is interested in using this frequency, hence the reallocation procedure now.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 22, DX Listening Digest 5-034 (22/2-2005)
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