RSID: <<2017-01-08T20:30Z
MFSK-32
@ WEBSTREAM WRMI [SYSTEM
D]-11580000+1500>>
Hello and welcome to DigiDX 44 a weekly review of the latest radio and DX
news. This episode contains LF, MF, HF and VHF radio related news.
DigiDX weekly schedule:
Sunday
2030-2100 on 11580 kHz via WRMI (100 kW, Okeechobee, FL, USA)
Sunday 2330-0000 on 11580 kHz via
WRMI (100 kW, Okeechobee, FL, USA)
Monday 2000-2030 on 3975
kHz via IBC (1 kW, Europe)
Wednesday 2100-2130 on 3975 kHz via IBC (1 kW,
Europe)
To buy shortwave time at very reasonable rates from WRMI visit
http://www.wrmi.net/
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DIGITAL MODE BROADCASTS
All days and times in UTC
VOA RADIOGRAM
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.
http://voaradiogram.net/
ITALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (IBC) DIGITAL
Wed 2030-2100 UTC 3975 kHz in MFSK32 and
OLIVIA 16-500 (Europe, 1 kW)
Fri 0225-0230 UTC on 9955 kHz in MFSK32 (Okeechobee, FL, 100 kW)
Sat 2125-2130 on 1584 kHz in MFSK32
(Momigno, Italy, 1 kW AM Stereo)
Sun 0055-0100 UTC on 7730 kHz in MFSK32 (Okeechobee, FL, 100 kW)
Sun 1130-1200 UTC on 6070 kHz in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 via Radio BCLNEWS (Rohrbach,
Germany, 10 kW)
For schedule updates, visit IBC at
http://ibcradio.webs.com/ or
https://www.facebook.com/ITALIANBROADCASTINGCORPORATION/
LATEST RADIO NEWS
- FRENCH 162 KHZ BROADCAST LICENCE
- GREEK RADIO STILL RECOVERING FROM THE 2013 LOCKOUT
- VOA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2017
- NORWAY TO SWITCH OFF FM RADIO IN RISKY, UNPOPULAR SHIFT TO DIGITAL
FRENCH 162 KHZ BROADCAST LICENCE
The French Superior Council of Audiovisual (Content), CSA, is calling for
expressions of interest in broadcasting on 162 kHz
They say: In accordance with the provisions of Article 26 of the amended
Freedom of Communication Act of September 30,
1986 and at the request of
the Government, the CSA decided to withdraw from Radio France the use of the
162 kHz frequency for broadcasting of France
Inter.
In order to determine whether the Commission should initiate the procedures
necessary to appeal the 162 kHz frequency,
it decided to issue a call
for expressions of interest for the broadcast of a radio service on the 162
kHz frequency.
Responses are expected no later than January 16, 2017.
Announcement in French:
http://www.csa.fr/Espace-juridique/Decisions-du-CSA/Frequence-radio-162-kHz-appel-a-manifestation-d-interet
(source: Southgate Amateur Radio News -
http://www.southgatearc.org)
For our French speaking audience:
Last week, from Monday to Friday at 1210 local time, the French radio network
France Bleu broadcast a mini series on the history of the longwave
transmitting station in Allouis: "L'histoire de l'émetteur d'Allouis avec
Jacques Lane".
The five short broadcasts are available on
https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/histoire-en-berry/berry/l-histoire-de-l-emetteur-d-allouis-avec-jacques-lane
Image of the Allouis transmitting station...
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GREEK RADIO STILL RECOVERING FROM
THE 2013 LOCKOUT: MEDIUMWAVE RADIO FROM MEGARA TO OPERATE AGAIN
Τhe medium wave broadcasting center of the Greek Radio in Pachi Megara is
likely to go live again after three and a half years,
since the procedures for the
necessary maintenance and repairs have recently been initiated, with a high
possibility that one of the two
transmitters will operate again soon. It is worth noting that the broadcasting
center, which used to host two powerful mediumwave
transmitters (the ones of
multilingual "Filia" and of ERA Sport) had been subject to looting by
burglars, few days after the ERT closure
by the Samaras government, which left the premises unattended. Since then, it
has not operated again
Repairs and maintenance
As revealed by official announcements, ERT is launching a tender for the
maintenance of the building and electricity poles with a budget
of EUR 18,703, while in
December they proceeded with a maintenance of the broadcast center and a
cleaning of the 100 kW mediumwave
transmitter. In November, a dummy load was installed by a team of the ERT
subdivision of structural and electromechanical projects and
they checked the generator
Nautel, which ensures the continuation of the broadcast in case of power
outage. They also installed a
new grounding network in the main building of the transmitters.
Alongside, there were other smaller operations required for the safe operation
of the facilities, such as the placement of fire extinguishers
by a private firm, the
restoration of the water supply, the maintenance of fence lighting. In October
there was also a visit by a private security
company, in response to a
tender, whereas data were collected for the water insulation and the lighting
of the buildings where the transmitters are placed.
One of the two transmitters in good condition
Information indicates that the theft of 2013 severely damaged the transmitter
of 981 KHz, which ERA Sport had inherited from ERA4 / YENED,
powered 250 kW, and which
intentionally operated at half of its power, to be able to use the single
existing antenna for both
broadcast frequencies. The burglars took away valuable copper from the
components of the transmitter and the cavities of RF duplexers,
i.e. the necessary filters
for the coexistence of two transmitters on different frequencies.
However, the same sources say from the thefts of 2013 one quite recently
bought medium wave transmitter was saved. It is a transmitter
NAUTEL NX100, with a power of
100 kW, which relayed Filia at 666 Khz; it is the same model as the
transmitter which relays today the
First Program from Boyati at 729 KHz. This transmitter was of significantly
lower consumption compared to the older machine, and it appears
to have attracted the efforts
of the engineers.
Since the transmitters of Megara ceased operations, only one national program
has continued to broadcast in the mediumwave from the Bogiati facilities,
which was guarded by the ERT
employees, despite the closure of the broadcaster. Also, another powerful
mediumwave
transmitter, the one of Rhodes, has switched off due to theft. The broadcast
center of Thessaloniki in Malgara also remains closed, while few
locale mediumewave
transmitters continue, such as the ones at Komotini, Corfu, Volos and Tripoli.
Despite the general
intention for savings, the new administration of ERT seems to keep at least
part of its commitment to continue the operation of the structures
that existed before the
closure of ERT.
(source:
http://www.thegreekradio.com/node/28583)
Image of the NAUTEL NX100 transmitter...
http://www.nautel.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2011/04/NX100-Specs_1.5.pdf
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VOA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH
ANNIVERSARY IN 2017
The following text is from the VOA 2017 Calendar available for downloading
from
https://docs.voanews.eu/en-US-INSIDE/2017/01/03/561d9621-e45c-4ef5-93c2-b49f658c826c.pdf
Dear Friends,
The Voice of America celebrates its 75th anniversary on February 1, 2017. In
honor of this momentous occasion, we are taking you on a journey
around the U.S. to showcase
vibrant and exciting celebrations that take place in various diaspora
communities every year.
From Persian New Year celebrations in Los Angeles to the West Indian American
Day Parade in New York City, to Carnival in Puerto Rico, these
celebrations highlight the
multicultural diversity that makes the United States what it is today. For
example, did you know
that the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. all started with a gift
of cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo more than 100 years ago?
Voice of America’s audience growth has been exponential. In fact, our 2016
numbers were the highest to date. We now reach a record number of
236.6 million people weekly
around the globe through various platforms – television, radio, and the web.
Every year more
people get their news and information from digital platforms, so we placed a
greater emphasis on social media this year, and our numbers skyrocketed.
VOA sites now enjoy nearly
seven million hits weekly from people around the world.
Providing accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information to
global audiences is what we do best. We also have impact around the world.
After a VOA report
highlighted a Yazidi woman disfigured by a mine blast while escaping
enslavement by Islamic State
militants, organizations and individuals around the world reached out to help
and she received the needed surgery. The impact we have seen firsthand
is a testament to the hard
work, dedication, and passion of our journalists and staff, who go above and
beyond 24
hours a day 7 days a week.
2016 was a terrific year, and there is no doubt that VOA will continue to
bring audiences credible, reliable, trustworthy news and information about
America and the world. Be
sure to keep listening, watching, and visiting us online.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and wonderful 2017.
Sincerely,
Amanda Bennett, VOA Director
Image from the VOA 2017 Calendar...
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NORWAY TO SWITCH OFF FM RADIO IN
RISKY, UNPOPULAR SHIFT TO DIGITAL
By Joachim Dagenborg and Alister Doyle | OSLO — Reuters
Norway is set to become the first nation to start switching off its FM radio
network next week, in a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology
that will be closely watched
by other countries considering whether to follow suit.
Critics say the government is rushing the move and many people may miss
warnings on emergencies that have until now been broadcast via the radio.
Of particular concern are the
2 million cars on Norway's roads that are not equipped with Digital Audio
Broadcasting
(DAB) receivers, they say.
Sixty-six percent of Norwegians oppose switching off FM, with just 17 percent
in favor and the rest undecided, according to an opinion poll published
by the daily Dagbladet last
month.
Nevertheless, parliament gave the final go-ahead for the move last month,
swayed by the fact that digital networks can carry more radio channels.
Switzerland plans a similar shift from 2020, and Britain and Denmark are among
those also considering such a switch. A smooth transition to DAB, which
is already beamed across
Norway, could encourage these countries to move ahead.
The shutdown of the FM (Frequency Modulation) network, introduced in the
1950s, will begin in the northern city of Bodoe on Jan. 11.
By the end of the year, all national FM broadcasts will be closed in favor of
DAB, which backers say carries less hiss and clearer sound throughout
the large nation of 5 million
people cut by fjords and mountains.
"We're the first country to switch off FM but there are several countries
going in the same direction," said Ole Joergen Torvmark, head of Digital Radio
Norway,
which is owned by national
broadcasters NRK and P4 to help the transition.
Torvmark said cars were the "biggest challenge" - a good digital adapter for
an FM car radio costs 1,500 Norwegian crowns ($174.70), he said.
One member of the ruling coalition was scathing, however, voicing concerns
similar to those expressed by thousands of elderly and drivers in surveys and
elsewhere.
"We are simply not ready for this yet," Ib Thomsen, an MP from the Progress
Party, a partner in the Conservative-led government, told Reuters.
"There are 2 million cars on Norwegian roads that don't have DAB receivers,
and millions of radios in Norwegian homes will stop working when the FM net
is switched off. So there is
definitely a safety concern," he said.
For the same cost, digital radio in Norway allows eight times more radio
stations than FM. The current system of parallel FM and digital networks,
each of which cost about 250
million crowns ($29 million), saps investments in programs.
Among other nations, Britain plans to review the need for a switchover once
digital listening reaches 50 percent. That could be reached by the end
of 2017 on current trends,
Digital Radio UK spokeswoman Yvette Dore said.
($1 = 8.5861 Norwegian crowns)
(source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-radio-idUSKBN14P1TH)
Switchover timetable from the official switchover countdown page
http://radio.no/countdown/
January 11, 2017 Nordland county
February 8, 2017 Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal counties
April 26, 2017 Telemark, Buskerud, Hedmark and Oppland counties
June 21, 2017 Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Rogaland and Agder counties
September 20, 2017 Østfold, Vestfold, Oslo and Akershus counties
December 13, 2017 Troms and Finnmark counties
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Thank you for listening, please send reports, comments and shortwave related
news or articles to
reports@digidx.uk.
This is DigiDX Signing off...
