News Archive

# SAAR # SAMOA AMERICAN # SCOTLAND # SENEGAL # SERBIA # SLOVAKIA
# SOUTH AFRICA # SOUTH CAROLINA # SPAIN # SRI LANKA # SUDAN # SWEDEN
# SWITZERLAND # SYRIA

SAAR
The new 1179 kHz program of Saarländischer Rundfunk will be launched on Monday (Dec 12) at 0700 UT. It will be called SR Antenne Saar, reminiscent to a commercial station that shared FM frequencies with Deutschlandradio Berlin but had to give up after some time, allowing Deutschlandradio to go 24/7 on these frequencies.
SR Antenne Saar will most of the time relay SWR cont.ra, the remainder of the service will be relays of SR 2 and SR 3 plus French news from RFI (however, RFI's German service will not be relayed). Own programming will be limited to occasional live coverage (Saarbrücken parliament, other events via Phoenix TV audio) and SR's Italian programme. http://www.sr-online.de/as 
And while checking this out I find a news item about Berlin's senator of finance (the one who considers Brandenburg as ``landscape management of Berlin``) demanding the wind-up of Saarland and Bremen: http://www.sr-online.de/nachrichten/30/445444.html 
This is broadcast-related in as far as some observers think that sooner or later SR and Radio Bremen will be swallowed by SWR and NDR, respectively.
Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 10, DX Listening Digest 5-212 (10/12-2005)
Top

SAMOA AMERICAN
AM frequency change in American Samoa Leone, American Samoa: 720 kHz: WVUV granted move from 648 kHz. Power reduced from 10,000 watts to 5,000 daytime, 2,000 nighttime, non-directional. New site 14-20-24S/170-46-22W
Posted by Doug Smith @ 1:06 AM Saturday, July 26, 2008, American Bandscan blog via DXLD 8-086 (29/7-2008)
This has been pending for some time, to get away from a 9-kHz-spaced frequency offtunable only by caradios; but why reduce power?
Glenn Hauser, DXLD 8-086 (29/7-2008)

SAMOA AMERICAN
Received this message from Maugaoao T. Alailefaleula in American Samoa:
"KJAL Tafuna: Could you please give me the update on the change of frequency for the about station. Also, could you please have them (FCC) explain the delay of arroving the change of frequency from 585 to 630?"
Does anybody know?
yours truly (5/12-2006)

SAMOA AMERICAN
APPLICATIONS: 648 WVUV AS Leone - Applies for Special Temporary Authority to be silent as they construct a replacement for their long wire antenna. The station has a pending application to move to 720 kHz with U1 5000/5000.
Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC E-DX News June 19 via DX Listening Digest 6-088 (18/6-2006)

SAMOA AMERICAN
License Cancellations/Call Letters Deleted: 648, WVUV, Leone --- licensed canceled, along with their application to move to 720. I suspect this is a ``Red Light Dismissal``. If the station does not appeal in 30 days, the license is canceled and the frequency is opened up to new applicants.
Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC DX News July 11 via DX Listening Digest.
Shouldn`t that be ``yellow light``? I believe this was the original AmSAm radio station and for many years, the only one, government? WRTH 2005 does not specify its nature, but said it was on low power.
Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest 5-115 (12/7-2005)

SAMOA AMERICAN
Petitions for Reconsideration for Applications [previously denied] 648, WVUV, Leone --- Seems to have been deleted form the FCC`s on-line resources, but they`ve submitted a request for reconsideration for an application. Looking at the Auction 84 list, they asked to move to 720 with U1 5000/5000, but must have missed an FCC cut-off date for refiling on the new forms. We`ll keep an eye out for this.
Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC DX News April 4 via DX Listening Digest 5-059 (4/4-2005)

SAMOA AMERICAN
Grants to Existing Facilities: 585, KJAL, AS, Tafona - CP granted to move to 630 kHz with U1 5000/5000 .
Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC DX News March 21 via DX Listening Digest 5-050 (21/3-2005)
Yet another one getting off a split, sob (gh)
Top

SAUDI ARABIA
I heard BSKSA Qurayyat (Saudi Arabia) on 1098 kHz on 5 JUN 2008 at 1900 UTC with A2 program (Second Arabic). Nice signal. This transmitter is not listed in EMWG.
Good Luck with MW, Karel Honzik, CZE via MWC (8/6-2008)
Top

SCOTLAND
Effective 11 August, Scotland’s only independent international broadcaster, Radio Six International, returns to shortwave with a resumption of its Saturday morning broadcast on 9290 kHz beamed to Europe, the Far east and Pacific regions.
The programme – transmitted every Saturday between 0700 and 0800 UTC – will be relayed from the 100 kW facility at Ulbroka, Latvia as well as from the 2.7 kW mediumwave transmitter on 945 kHz in Riga, Latvia.
The station has recently expressed reservations about the effectiveness of shortwave transmissions, and is available 24 hours a day on the internet at www.radiosix.com as well as via satellite and FM in various parts of the world at certain times of day.
The shortwave and mediumwave transmissions will continue until the end of September, when the situation will be reviewed.
Source: Tony Currie, radio six international, via Andy, Media Network blog (27/7-2007)

SCOTLAND
Radio Six International "Around the clock around the world".
5110 kHz - from transmitters in Monticello, Maine, USA for listeners in North and South America.
5775 kHz - from transmitters administered by the Italian Radio Relay Service in Milan, Italy, for listeners in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
7415 kHz - no transmissions currently scheduled.
7585 kHz - from transmitters at Sitkunai, Lithuania, for listeners in North America and Northern Europe. No transmissions currently scheduled.
9290 kHz - from shortwave transmitters in Ulbroka, Latvia, for listeners in Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Regular weekly transmissions will resume in mid December, 2006.
9310 kHz - from transmitters administered by the Italian Radio Relay Service in Milan, Italy, for listeners in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
945 kHz (317m) - for listeners in Latvia and parts of Finland, Sweden, and Poland. Regular daily transmissions have ceased, but we still use the frequency from time to time for special programmes.
88.5 MHz in Stereo - from the transmitters of World FM in Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand, for listeners in Tawa & the Porirua Basin.
Internet - http://www.radiosix.com/internet_schedule.html

On Saint Andrew's Day (next Thursday) we'll be broadcasting a live Ceilidh from the tiny Island of Lismore, tucked away between Oban and Mull in the Inner Hebrides. Most of the population of 120 will be in the Lismore Public Hall to take part in the proceedings, with Glasgow- based country dance band The Rusty Nails providing the music, along with the Lismore School Choir and soloists from the local community including Mary MacDougall. The star guest compere will be one of Scotland's best-loved broadcasters, Jimmie Macgregor, and he'll be talking to some of the island's characters. If you'd like to come along, tickets will be on sale on the door from about 8.30pm - £5 admission (£3 concession), with all of the proceeds being divided between the British Lung Foundation Special Nurses Fund and the Lismore Public Hall.
As well as the web feeds, we are aiming to include a live shortwave feed of this programme on 5775 kHz (we're still working on this - our regular transmitter is undergoing maintenance work but we are hopeful that we can find a standby), the broadcast will also be carried live on 945 kHz (317m) Medium Wave in Latvia, 88.5 MHz in Tawa and Redwood, Wellington, New Zealand, and locally by Nevis Radio on 102.3 MHz (Skye& Mallaig), 102.4 MHz (Loch Leven), 96.6 MHz (Fort William), and 97.0 MHz (Glencoe) and Cuillin FM serving Portree on Skye on 106.2 MHz.
It's on air at 2100 GMT on November 30th with repeats at 00:00 (via satellite and FM Slovakia) and 06:00 (via FM in New Zealand).
radio six international website via Mike Terry, John Norfolk, dxldyg via DXLD 6-174 (26/11-2006)

SCOTLAND
Scotland's independent broadcaster RADIO SIX INTERNATIONAL, which currently broadcasts on shortwave, FM in New Zealand, and on the Internet, will add a thrice-weekly transmission on Medium Wave from Friday 6th January, 2006.
The transmissions - on 945kHz (317m) - will come from the 2.7kW Riga station that also carries RADIO NORD, and can be heard on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 20:00 and 21:00UTC (22:00 - 23:00 Latvian time). The broadcasts should be audible in northern Latvia, parts of southern Estonia, and some parts of Finland and Sweden.
The full RADIO SIX INTERNATIONAL transmission schedule for January 2006 is:

DAILY
24 hrs - Internet feed at http://www.radiosix.com 
SATURDAYS
0000 - 0200 88.2MHz Stereo (500mW from Tawa) to Tawa and Redwood, New Zealand
0700 - 0800 9,290kHz (100kW from Ulbroka, Latvia) to Europe, North Africa, Asia-Pacific and 88.2MHz Stereo (500mW from Tawa) to Tawa and Redwood, New Zealand
0930 - 1030 13,840kHz (20kW from Milan, Italy) to Europe, Middle East and North Africa (Second full week of each month only)
2000 - 2100 945kHz (2.7Kw from Riga, Latvia) to Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Finland
2300 - 0000 88.2MHz Stereo (500mW from Tawa) to Tawa and Redwood, New Zealand
SUNDAYS
0000 - 0200 88.2MHz Stereo (500mW from Tawa) to Tawa and Redwood, New Zealand
0800 - 0900 13,840kHz (20kW from Milan, Italy) to Europe, Middle East and North Africa (Second full week of each month only)
1200 - 1300 9,290kHz (100kW from Ulbroka, Latvia) to Europe, North Africa, Asia-Pacific
2000 - 2100 945kHz (2.7Kw from Riga, Latvia) to Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Finland
2300 - 0000 7,415kHz (50kW from Monticello, USA) to North, Central and South America
THURSDAYS
2000 - 2100 5,775kHz (20kW from Milan, Italy) to Europe, Middle East and North Africa (Second full week of each month only)
FRIDAYS
2000 - 2100 945kHz (2.7Kw from Riga, Latvia) to Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Finland
2300 - 0000 88.2MHz Stereo (500mW from Tawa) to Tawa and Redwood, New Zealand
For a full programme schedule, check out our website: http://www.radiosix.com 
Reception reports can be emailed to letters@radiosix.com or mailed to PO Box 600, Glasgow, G41 5SH, Scotland.
All will be acknowledged with a QSL card and a copy of our monthly printed programme schedule "Radio News".
Tony Currie, Programme Director, Radio Six International (27/12-2005)
Top

SENEGAL
765 kHz, RTS. Is it really off? In the country section, the WRTH '05 lists Matam 965 [sic] kHz 1 kW only, while its MW list still includes Dakar 300/10 kW [on 765] which could easily be traced, for Switzerland is easily nulled with the K9AY.
Carlos Gonçalves, SW coast of Portugal, DX Listening Digest 5-111 (7/7-2005)
Top

SLOVAKIA
Since January 20 2008 there are only three active MW transmitters in Slovakia:

  702 kHz - Presov    100kW
1017 kHz - Rimavska Sobota  50kW
1098 kHz - Nitra      50kW (F.Pl. 100kW)

Schedule (UTC): Mon-Fri 0700-1700, Sat 0600-1800, Sun 0600-1900.
Program: Patria (for national minorities).
A swift decision made by the Slovak government in January, ceased operation of the following transmitters:

567 kHz  Rimavská Sobota
567 kHz  Zilina
621 kHz  Horná Lehota (Orava)
864 kHz  Cadca
864 kHz  Snina
900 kHz  Velky Slavkov (Tatry)
927 kHz  Cizatice
1017 kHz  Bratislava
1035 kHz  Banská Bystrica
Karel Honzik, CZE via MWC (21/1-2008)

SLOVAKIA
Slovensky Rozhlas plans to stop its mediumwave transmissions because they are considered as too expensive. Going ahead with this plan still requires a decision what will happen to Radio Patria, the minority language service distributed on the remaining mediumwave outlets.
Probably Radio Patria will be wind up and programmes for ethnic minorities broadcast on the remaining SRo networks instead:
http://www.radiowoche.de/index.php?area=1&p=news&newsid=3733
Also remarkable: Prior to abandoning FM in Slovakia the BBC WS was on air without a valid licence. The media authority RVR failed to notice that the licence had been run out until the BBC requested a change of the licence conditions. They did not punish the BBC because they concluded that it was not the BBC's intention to broadcast without a licence.
http://www.radiowoche.de/index.php?area=1&p=news&newsid=3156
Former BBC frequencies already reallocated to Funradio, Radio Expres, Radio Lumen, Slovensky Rozhlas and three new stations, news item from Dec 4 2006:
http://www.radiowoche.de/index.php?area=1&p=news&newsid=2665
So when was the game over for BBC WS on FM in Slovakia, widely unnoticed abroad it seems? Must have been sometime during 2006.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (8/7-2007)

SLOVAKIA
Yesterday around 1600 an "extraordinarily strong" signal on 1521 has been heard in Switzerland. Programming was "in a Slavic language, most likely Russian", with a signal felt to be just too strong for being Mayak from Russia or Urumqui, so it issuspected that this was the Slovak Kosice-Cizatice transmitter:
http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?8773,493468
I just (1830 UT) checked 1521 but heard only a jumble, including what sounded like the low power transmitters in the UK (Capital Gold), Saudi-Arabia and the famous Urumqui transmitter with CRI in Russian. No trace of a strong signal from Slovakia.
Kai Ludwig, Germany via DXLD yg (25/4-2007)

SLOVAKIA
RADIO TATRAS INTERNATIONAL SAYS IT IS NOT DROPPING MEDIUMWAVE.
The Director of Pan-European radio station Radio Tatras International (RTI) has rubbished a story from an online source in Germany which says that "Due to a lack of funds at Radio Tatras International, the RTI relays via Kuldiga, Latvia on 1350 kHz (provided by Krebs TV) will end on 1 February."
Eric Chilvers says that the author of the item (which was uncredited and unattributed) has not spoken to him or the Chairman of RTI, and points out that RTI is a 52% shareholder in KrebsTV. In fact, RTI has just signed a new 12 month contract for the use of 1350 kHz, which Chilvers describes as a "marketing tool." Furthermore, funding is not a problem at RTI, and the station has just invested in a new studio complex in Slovakia. 
http://www.rti.fm/  via Mike Terry, mwdx yg via DX Listening Digest 6-020 (30/1-2006)

SLOVAKIA
At 13.45 CET (12.45 UK Time) Radio Tatras International (RTI) will re-brand as a 24/7 RTI service. The separate Radio Tatry identification will cease.
There is also a brand new web site accessible via www.rti.fm The site will also see the launch of the studio web cam.
Regards Eric RTI (7/10-2005)
RTI on 1350 kHz via Latvia (ed)

SLOVAKIA
This weekend sees the launch of Radio Tatra International (RTI) - the new International Radio service headed by Eric Wiltsher and backed by business man - Jan Telensky.
The Pan - European station will have its heart in Poprad - Slovakia but will have satellite broadcasters supplying programmes from the UK with local output in affiliated stations in Central Europe.
The service will be available from this Saturday (09/04) from 7.30 PM Central European Time (UK 6.30) [1730 UT] and will be available on various platforms:
* Online at - http://www.rti.fm 
* Satellite via Sky Digital - The Eurobird Satellite - 28 East 11.623H 27500 2/3
* Radio 1350AM - Baltics, Scandinavia, Germany tune your radio to 1350AM [don`t forget 9290!!!!!!!! -gh]
* Radio Riga FM - T.B.A.
* Radio 94.2FM - in Slovakia
RTI hope to launch a DRM shortwave service late in the year.
On the technical side of things Eric explains how RTI will work. Historically, radio groups were forced to drag presenters to central studios. In turn network radio stations were forced to use out-dated systems to connect stations just a few kilometres apart.
In 2005 RTI bring you radio of the future, TODAY!
All the international programmes and commercials are sent to the RTI Master Control Centre using the latest computer technology. Presenters no longer need to travel to a central studio - they simply make the shows in their nearest/home studio and connect to the RTI Master Control Centre.
Poprad, SLOVAKIA, receives its network feed from the RTI Master Control Centre using our latest computer technology. Via the Radio Tatry FM transmitter - the RTI Network broadcasts are available in southern Slovakia for reception in cars, at work and at home.
At pre-arranged times of the day Radio Tatry will generate it's own local programming, broadcast in Slovakian, which will be aired via the Radio Tatry FM transmitter.
Riga, LATVIA, also receives its network feed from the RTI Master Control Centre again using the very latest computer technology.
The Medium Wave (AM) service of RTI will cover Scandinavia, The Baltics and down towards central Europe - at night the signal carries even further across Europe. The 1350 AM service from Riga will broadcast RTI Network programmes 24/7.
The local AM service in Riga (945 AM), covering central Latvia, broadcasts local Latvian programming combined with RTI network programming.
Riga is also home to the RTI shortwave service which will be transformed into a digital service this Autumn. Once the shortwave service has been upgraded to digital, known as DRM, listeners across Europe will receive RTI network programmes in FM mono quality. At certain times of the day this service will also be receivable in the USA and as far east as Japan.
The Shortwave/DRM service also receives its programming directly from the RTI Master Control Centre. London Switching centre - InformationTV. Again the RTI Master Control Centre sends a computer based signal which in this case is received by InformationTV switching centre in London. iTV then combines the signal for inclusion with the signals of the Eurobird satellite. This satellite covers ALL of Europe and beyond. It ca be received on both Sky Digibox receivers as well as European satellite receivers providing the dish is facing 28 degrees east. iTV also combines the RTI Network signal for reception vie the Internet using the Windows Media Player system (WMP). WMP technology is supplied with around 95% of the worlds computers. Access to the RTI Internet service is via http://www.rti.fm 
Via Dave, BDXC-UK via DX Listening Digest 5-063 (10/4-2005)

SLOVAKIA
A new radio station is set to launch this April broadcasting from the heart of Slovakia to central Europe via a network of AM/FM transmitters. It will also be able to be heard further a field via Sky Digital and the Internet.
At the start of the year we heard rumours of a new European based station, and I guess we thought it was a hoax.
There is often talk on the various radio forums about new International stations broadcasting from the high seas or beamed from the Netherlands - which never happen, and we could have easily dismissed this one too.
However this new station is real and will be broadcasting from Poprad in Slovakia. Strange place you may well ask? - OK so it wouldn't be an obvious choice. However the team behind RTI have spent several months planning such a service - headed by Media Guru - Eric Wiltsher.
RTI - Radio Tatras International will offer international programming all originating and uplinked from the UK. The station is licensed by Ofcom with output servers based in the UK, as well.
RTI will also have local affiliate stations around Europe who will focus on providing the best news, travel, weather services at the times when it's most important to do that.
Each affiliate will all have studios of there own. RTI is set to launch on April 9th.
Mike Terry via DXLD yahoogroup (2/3-2005)
Top

SOUTH AFRICA
Talk Radio 702 shuts down its mediumwave transmitter.
South African commercial broadcaster Talk Radio 702 has shut down its mediumwave transmitter in Ga-Rankuwa, and now broadcasts only on FM, though it continues to use its familiar name. The station can now be heard on 92.7 MHz in Johannesburg and 106.0 MHz in Pretoria, as well as on the DSTV Audio Bouquet at channel 56.
The closure marks the end of the one-year period during which the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) allowed  ‘double illumination’ on AM and FM. Station Manager Pheladi Gwangwa said that the mediumwave transmitter, which belongs to transmission provider Sentech, was old and unreliable, and described it as a ‘dinosaur that was dying”.
Source: bizcommunity.com via Andy, Media Network Weblog (2/7-2007)

SOUTH AFRIC
SOUTH AFRICA'S TALK RADIO 702 TO CLOSE DOWN ON MEDIUM WAVE.
Another medium wave transmitter is to close down here in South Africa. According to a report in the press yesterday, Radio 702 is to close down its AM transmitter on 702 kHz. The station has already commenced broadcasting on 92.7 MHz to greater Johannesburg. Radio 702 will also begin broadcasting on 106 MHz in Pretoria.
There will be a 12 month window period where the station will be allowed to broadcast on both mediumwave and FM frequencies, but will retire its AM transmitter on 702 kHz sometime next year. Sister station 567 Cape Talk, from Cape Town, will continue to operate on 567 kHz.
Gary Deacon, Fish Hoek, South Africa, July 26, MWC via DXLD 6-110 (26/7-2006)

SOUTH AFRICA
Talk Radio 702 is finally moving to FM, the broadcaster announced on Friday.
"In a letter to Primedia Broadcasting, Icasa (Independent Communications Authority of SA) says it has granted the application for the amendment of 702's commercial licence to allow the station to migrate to frequencies 92.7 MHz in Johannesburg and 106.0 MHz in Pretoria," it said.
Icasa has also granted 702 a 12 month period of "double illumination" which means it is allowed to continue broadcasting on both the AM and FM frequencies for a year.
Icasa also exempted 702 from the provisions that are in current legislation after it had argued that the prejudice suffered by its listeners because of the poor signal warranted a departure from these provisions.
Primedia Broadcasting executive chairperson Dan Moyane said, "This is a landmark decision by Icasa. It has been a long road for us, but the hard work has paid off".
The company was ordering its FM equipment and would announce the date of the migration in the next few weeks.
http://business.iafrica.com/news/987218.htm via Mike Terry, dxld yg (25/3/2006)

SOUTH AFRICA
Sentech restores 702 broadcast service Sentech has restored 702 Talk Radio's broadcast service on the 540 kHz after a fire at the Sentech broadcast station located in Ga-Rankuwa in the North West Province. Allan Bester, Executive: Operations and Maintenance of Sentech, says the service was restored within seven hours after the transmitter went offline at 4pm on Saturday the 4th of February.
"Our team pulled out all the stops to get the 702 programme up and running as quickly as possible. By 11pm on Saturday evening, with the approval of ICASA (the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa), we were able to restore the service on 540 kHz," he says.
The Sentech transmitter facility in Ga-Rankuwa, where 702's medium-wave signal is broadcast from, is secured by guards and fencing and initial investigations after the fire was extinguished showed no signs of intrusion, Bester says.
Explaining the damage Bester added that there were two transmitters of 50 kW (kilowatts) each, one of which was destroyed by the fire, while further investigations are being done to determine whether the other one can be repaired.
"It is too early to tell when normal broadcasting will resume until further investigations have been completed. However, the station will be able to continue its service on 540 kHz in the meantime," says Bester.
Editorial Contacts:
Pranill Ramchander, 
Portfolio Manager: PR & External Communication
Tel.: (011) 691-7256
E-mail: Pranill @ sentech.co.za
Source: http://www.sentech.co.za via DXLD yg (6/2-2006)

SOUTH AFRICA
Ikwekwezi FM has migrated to FM frequencies at Pretoria and Johannesburg, and the Medium Wave transmitters at Ga-Rankuwa and Welgedaght has been switched off permanently.
Callie Tydeman, Sentech Ltd, via John Plimmer, 24 Jan 06.
The number of MW stations in South Africa is diminishing with 1098 and 1404 Ikwekwezi FM now permanently off air from South Africa; the remaining stations are:
kHz Location kW 
567 Cape Town 25 
576 Meyerton 50 
657 Meyerton 50 
702 Pretoria 100 (curtain array to SW) 
846 E. Cape 100 omni dir
1287 Johannesburg 2
1422 Johannesburg 1
1485 Johannesburg 1
1548 Johannesburg 10
Not much left, eh! The tragedy is that there are lots more broadcasters who would like to go on MW but our regulating body ICASA has such strict rules no one can get a license. But still more stations in Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.
John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa, mwdx, 29 Jan 06 via Medium Wave News via DX Listening Digest 6-020 (30/1-2006)
What has the ``curtain array to SW`` to do with 702? (gh, DXLD)

SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa's 702 Talk Radio applies to move to FM. South Africa's Business Day reports that Primedia's 702 Talk Radio plans to switch to FM from its current AM platform to improve the audio quality of its signal. Primedia Broadcasting was scheduled to submit its application to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) today. Primedia Broadcasting’s submission to Icasa says the Radio 702 mediumwave transmitter in Garankuwa, north of Pretoria, has become obsolete and extremely difficult to maintain due to its poor condition.
# posted by Andy on the Media Network weblog (3/6-2005)
Top

SOUTH CAROLINA
MW 702: Overcomer Ministry goes QRT - Fundraising per Ausschaltknopf.
Summary: R.G. Stair cancelled the transmissions via Col de la Madonne 702 again as of today. Said that they can revive if enough donators will be found. Mentioned that he needs 50,000 USD to continue on 702.
Liebe MW-Freunde, nach Ansage des Moderators "Brother Stair" (er bezeichnet sich selbst als "Gottes Prophet der letzten Tage") lief gestern vorläufig zum letzten Mal das abendliche Programm von "Overcomer Ministry" auf 702 kHz (engl.). Es wurde jedoch in Aussicht gestellt, die Programmaussendungen abends auf dieser Frequenz (via Monte Carlo, 200 kW) für Europa wieder aufzunehmen, sollten sich genügend Interessenten - und Spender - finden. Dabei wurde eine Bedarfssumme von 50.000 US-Dollar genannt. Eine für Europa ungewöhnliche Methode, dieses - in freundlichen Worten gesagt - Fundraising per Ausschaltknopf.
Thomas "Tom" Kamp, DF5JL, Köln, A-DX June 1 via Kai Ludwig, DX Listening Digest 5-091 (2/6-2005)

SOUTH CAROLINA
Hello, From Monaco: on 702 kHz. Vatican Radio & RMC info are no longer on the air, from Col de la Madone's transmitter site. But "The Overcomer Ministry" with Brother Stair, is on the air at 1900-2100 UT. Stay tuned! 
Best 73's Christian Ghibaudo, France, March 31, DX Listening Digest 5-057 (1/4-2005) 
See also loggings on this site/ymr)
Top

SPAIN
Radio Intercontinental Madrid, 918 Khz relays the Colombian Station “W Radio”. Schedule is 1200-1430 Spanish time. (UTC+2 in summer) You can see http://www.wradio.com.co/  I’ve checked R.Intercontinental and W Radio (audio on-line) and the on-line sound was in parallel with two minutes of delay. They have had some local breaks and I listened to ads of Colombian business in Madrid. W Radio is present in the USA, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Chile and Spain.
Juan Antonio Arranz via mwdx yg (30/5-2006)

SPAIN
A good chance to listen to a local break in Radiolé Costa del Estrecho is when local soccer team, Algeciras, plays its match. Next Sunday at 1600 UTC versus Jaén.
But be careful because although this station is based in Ceuta, its local ID is "SER deportivos, Radio Algeciras". It return to music when the match end.
Ignacio Sotomayor, Segovia, Castilla, España via DXLD yahoogroup (25/11-2005)
Top

SUDAN
Sudanese Radio Launches MW station in Soba.
The Vice President of Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, has inaugurated a mediumwave radio transmitter covering the Soba area. He said the project was being inaugurated at a time the country is celebrating the third anniversary of peace realization in the country and that the radio would play a leading role in cementing peace in the country.
The acting Director General for the Sudan Radio and Television Corporation, Mohamed Hatim Suleiman, said that the new radio station would contribute to the realization of development, stability and peaceful coexistence in the country. He said the project which costs four million euros, covers the areas around Soba, El Obied, and Singa.
Source: Sudanese Media Center via Andy, Media Network weblog (8/1-2008)

SUDAN
New "peace" radio with national coverage to be launched in Sudan tomorrow [today].
Khartoum, 25 October: The National Council for Radio and Television will launch an experimental broadcast of Salam [peace] Radio for the first time on Saturday [27 October]. The radio will be available on FM and 312 [metres medium wave - abt. 961 kHz/ed] to cover all parts of the country and spread the culture of peace and remove remnants of war.
This was announced by the general manager of the National Council for Radio and Television, Dr Amin Hasan Umar, in a press conference today on this occasion.
Dr Amin said Salam Radio will be a first of it kind for the community to participate in building a suitable society that will reflect all the cultures of peace to achieve and support in solving communal problems. [Passage omitted]
Source: Suna news agency website, Khartoum, in Arabic 25 Oct 07 via BBC Monitoring October 26th, 2007 by Andy, Media Network weblog (26/10-2007)

SUDAN
/ ERITREA
The "Al-Sharq" ("The East") radio station broadcasting from Sudan to Eritrea on mediumave 909 kHz (quoted as "Eastern Radio" in the DX press in November 2005, see item below) was closed in early November 2006.

Sudan closes Eritrean opposition radio, Saturday 11 November 2006 00:10.
Sudanese Authorities have closed down an Eritrean opposition radio station, Al-Sharq, which was broadcasting from Khartoum.
A source with close links to the Eritrean opposition said the decision was taken due to closer ties between Khartoum and Asmara, the Khartoum based al-Sahafa reported Friday.
Al-Sahafah was unable to solicit any official response on the matter.
The source said the station's administrators had closed its doors and laid off its employees at the beginning of the month.
They said station began broadcasting a year ago from Khartoum and Khashm al-Girbah in eastern Sudan, with its programmes directed against President Isayas Afewerki's regime, reaching deep into Eritrean and Sudanese territory nine hours a day.
After the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement by the Sudanese government and the former rebel SPLM on January 2005, Sudan and Eritrea started a timid rapprochement under the initiative of the former ally of Asmara, the SPLM.
Following last month's signing of an Eritrean-mediated peace between the Sudanese government and eastern rebels, Eritrea and Sudan had fully restored cross-border links at a ceremony on Friday Nov 3.
The Eritrean Sudanese rapprochement is also followed with worry by the Ethiopian government.
Sudan will provide Eritrea with oil and Transboundary trade will help Asmara to face food shortage.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article18609
Bernd Trutenau-LTU via Steve Whitt, MWC (3/12-2006)

SUDAN
UN TO LAUNCH RADIO IN SUDAN IN NOVEMBER
In what is considered the final aspect on the cultural and media levels of the UN's peacekeeping role in Sudan, public relations officials at the UN mission invited a number of journalists and authors to a discussion session at the mission's HQ in Burri. The aim of the session was to share views in advance of the launch of a UN radio in Sudan, following the Id-al-Fitr [4 or 5 November]. [Passage omitted.] UN officials told Al-Watan that most of the programmes will be broadcast in Arabic although some programmes directed at returning displaced persons and immigrants would be broadcast in local languages. 
Source:  Sudanese newspaper Al-Watan, Khartoum, in Arabic 19 Oct 05 via BBCM via DXLD 5-181 (19/10-2005) 
WTFK?? Maybe this will actually be IN Sudan, on AM or FM, rather than from outside on SW?
gh, DXLD
Top

SWEDEN
Mediumwave 1179 kHz returns to full power. After a month with reduced power because of a short circuit, the mediumwave transmitter in Sölvesborg, Sweden, on 1179 kHz is once again broadcasting on full power (600 kW). We hope that will improve reception of our 2300-2400 UTC English broadcast to Europe.
Source: Radio Sweden MediaScan posted by Andy @ via Media Network weblog (15/9-2005)

SWEDEN
Listen to ....Fiskeboda Radio 1602
1602 kHz
500 W
Friday June 10, tx 19-02 UTC approx.
Saturday June 11, tx 19-02 UTC approx.
The transmissions will mainly be in Swedish with a lot of music från the 60- and 70's. Greetings and reports are most welcome and can be sent to fiskebodaradio@ndl-dx.se The email will be monitored during the transmissions.
For those who would like a letter with a QSL have to send the report (incl. postage) to:
Fiskeboda Radio 1602
c/o Claes Olsson
Trestegsgatan 113
SE-60363 Norrköping
Sweden.
Lennart Deimert via EMWG (9/6-2005)

SWEDEN
The Grimeton Radio Station: a Unique Piece of IT History http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-5-17/28849.html.
Andy Sennitt via DXLD yahoogroup (18/5-2005)

SWEDEN
The Nordic Radio Society/SAQ Longwave Seminar 2005 commences 29 June at Varberg, Sweden, and concludes with Alexander Day at the Grimeton World Heritage transmitter site. The First Invitation and Call for Papers has now been issued.
http://www.lwca.org/#newsmwdx via Mike Terry via DXLD yahoogroup (9/4-2005)
Top

SWITZERLAND
Swiss mediumwave transmitter on 531 kHz to close by year end.
2 comments so far: 1
This is SRG’s spin, but when looking at the hard numbers one can only conclude that they reduced the power to comply these regulations. To my knowledge the fieldstrength limit for inhabited places in Switzerland is 8 V/m. The complaint against the transmitter was that it produced 12.6 V/m at such a place when running full 600 kW. Reducing the power to 170 kW (some sources specify the currently run level as 160 kW) brings the fieldstrength down to 7 V/m. If these figures and my maths are correct (there is a possibility that nearfield conditions would have to be considered, the affair appears to concern a place less than 400 metres away from the antenna) there is no problem with electromagnetic radiation.
Kai Ludwig, Media Network weblog (28/7-2008)
According to engineering circles it is still unclear what will happen to the transmitter. The possibilities range from continued operation for another broadcaster (since SRG almost definitely leaves on 31 Dec) to a complete demolition of the station.
Swiss DXer Christian Brülhart, Media Network weblog (28/7-2008)
The possibilities for another broadcaster using 531 are very slim. Some 10 years ago SRG abandoned 1566 kHz, also from B-Muenster, but a commercial Zuerich broadcaster could not make it profitable.The AM situation has worsened since. Only an oldies station with just the electricity costs at 160 kW (low charges for the old TX and site) would be an option Media Network blog (28/7-2008)

SWITZERLAND
The Swiss mediumwave transmitter at Beromünster on 531 kHz is to close by the end of 2008, as it no longer complies with stringent regulations on electromagnetic radiation. The 600 kW transmitter has in recent years been operated at the reduced power of 180 kW.  In 2003 the antenna feeder cable was damaged by lightning. It was planned to replace it, but the plans were cancelled because of protests from local residents.
Andy Sennitt, RN Media Network weblog (28/7-2008)

SWITZERLAND
The Monte Ceneri transmitter on 558 kHz will be shut down at the end of this month, so in all likelyhood on June 30. "Closing down the obsolete mediumwave technology does not impair the broadcast reception in southern Switzerland and enables SRG to save high expenses", thus the close-down has been approved:
http://www.news.admin.ch/message/?lang=de&msg-id=19386
This news release also announces that a fifth TV program will be squeezed into the SRG's German DVB-T mux. Uh-oh, I hope it at least runs in 64-QAM mode with about 20 Mbps of available bitrate. It looks already pretty bad when four programs have to share the 15 Mbps of a 16-QAM mux.
Last year on IFA I came accross a big screen displaying such a signal, next to other ones which were fed by a HD source. Just embarrassing.

And here is a discussion about Beromünster 531 kHz:
http://forum.mysnip.de/read.php?11947,595327
To sum it up, SRG still sticks with the plan to close it down at yearend, but it remains to be seen if 531 will really go dark. In theory it could also fall into the hands of a competitor, something SRG is quite scared of. Operating the transmitter at reduced power of 160 kW,
as it is the case already for some time, does not violate any fieldstrength limits in the vicinity of the site, no matter that SRG uses this argument as an excuse for the planned shut-down (they are required to not exceed 8.5 V/m, produced up to 12.7 V/m when 600 kW were run, thus the fieldstrength drops below the 8.5 V/m limit when going
below 170 kW). But they still could turn around and tell people that technical adjustments now make it possible etc.etc.etc.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (19/6-2008)

SWITZERLAND
Seit dem 29. August 2005 firmiert die Musigwälle 531 als DRS Musigwälle. Bereits seit dem 24. August ist die adaptierte Website www.drsmusigwaelle.ch aktiv. Die Namensänderung und leichte Programmänderungen stehen im Zusammenhang mit einer Offensive für Digital Audio Broadcasting. Sendestart der Musigwälle 531 war der 1. Oktober 1996, aber eben die Mittelwelle Beromünster wird mittelfristig aufgegeben. Die DRS Musigwälle ist über DAB bereits empfangbar und wird diese Technologie verstärkt benötigen, um die Ende 2008 wegfallende Mittelwelle zu kompensieren. Auch ohne Verbreitung über UKW erreicht die DRS Musigwälle einen Marktanteil von rund 3 %. Christoph Gebel, Programmleiter DRS 1/DRS Musigwälle erklärt dazu: "Der Grundgedanke der DRS Musigwälle als Komplementärprogramm zu DRS 1 wird verstärkt. Die DRS Musigwälle wird für sein treues Publikum noch attraktiver werden: Sie bietet das ideale Angebot für LiebhaberInnen traditioneller und heimatverbundener Musik, von Schlagern und Tanzmusik, die auch über das Geschehen in der Schweiz und in der Welt informiert werden wollen." Das Informationsangebot der neuen DRS Musigwälle wird durch Direktübernahmen und zeitversetzte Ausstrahlungen aus dem Programm DRS-1 leicht ausgebaut. Zudem werden aus dem SR DRS-Archiv populäre Hörspiele (Schwerpunkt Schweizer Produktionen) sowie Highlights aus Kabarett und Unterhaltung angeboten. 
Pressemitteilung 24. August 2005, von Dr. Hj. Biener gekürzt via EMWG yahoogroup (30/8-2005)
Does Beromünster now broadcasts with lower power. It's almost autumn but no trace of 531 kHz here in Slovenia?
73, Miha Rus, Slovenia 
Here in The Netherlands there is also no trace of Beromunster.
Gruesse Wim Greeven, The Netherlands.
Funny, here in Amstelveen, the reception of 531kHz is perfect, after sunset of course! During summer ánd summer time.
Simon Bartels, The Netherlands.
Same here, Simon, in Castricum 52° 34' N / 04°43' E, just some 30 km North of where you are. Signal still is a bit under S9, but it will probably improve in the next hour or so...
Frank, Germany.
I can hear Switzerland on 531 every day here (near York in England). During the day if I beam SE i here Switzerland and NW Faroes. However right now 531kHz also has a low power English station on it called Susy Radio. This is on air for one month. Despite operating 1W it can easily be heard 100+km during the day.
Regards Steve Whitt 
Now at 19.04 UTC it's clear at my place too. 
Wim Greeven, all via EMWG yahoogroup (31/8-2005)
Top

SYRIA
Syria heard well tonight [19/12-2007] from 1900 UTC on off channel 782 kHz (//828). 1900 UTC Ar News, from 1930 UTC Ar music.
Regards, Harald Kuhl, Germany (19/12-2007)

SYRIA
At 1730-1800 two different programs were heard, both in Russian with different songs on MW 783 and 9330 kHz. At 1750 UT on 783 kHz anti-US commentary and 2 min later same was aired on 9330. Home Service in Arabic was heard at 1645 on 666 \\ 747, 918, 936 and 1071 kHz (Sep 10).
Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, wwdxc BC-DX Sep 18 via DX Listening Digest 5-165 (19/9-2005)
Top