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:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2115--Oct. 9, 1990 ::
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Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2115
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SWEDEN CALLING DXers--It's still a bit unclear, but the Managing Director of
Radio Sweden has now decided on the shape of this program and this bulletin
in the future. From the beginning of November, Sweden Calling DXers (possibly
with a new name) will be broadcast once (or possibly twice) a month. The
program will concentrate more on Nordic media developments than previously,
but there will still be shortwave news.
However, from the beginning of November, the printed Sweden Calling DXers
bulletins will come to an end, after nearly 43 years.
The Electronic Edition should continue, although less frequently, and the
format may be different.
SPACE--A new and exciting amateur radio project is being planned for the
Soviet Mir space station known as the "Amateur Radio Experiment on Mir" or
AREM. This project is the result of a collaboration between hams in the
Soviet Union and the Austrian Amateur Radio Society (OeVSV). This project is
designed to provide equipment for both packet radio data and voice
transmissions from Mir in the amateur radio 2 meter band (144-146 MHz).
The voice messages from Mir will provide timely information to radio amateurs
while being another educational tool to help school teachers start students
thinking about space science. The voice messages will be spoken in German,
Russian, and English. The voice beacons will alternate with packet
transmissions.
The first AREM operations are expected to begin around January 1991 when an
Austrian cosmonaut will install the station after he joins the crew of the
Mir. After the Austrian cosmonaut finishes his mission on Mir, the equipment
will remain aboard the space station.
It is envisioned that an upgrade to this station will be to incorporate
Bulletin Board System (BBS) software. This upgrade is not envisioned to
happen until November '91. Also, it must be emphasized that if the
cosmonauts wish, at any time they can pick up the microphone and call CQ.
(AMSAT News Service)
SATELLITE-TV--The European Commission has rejected charges by British
Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) that a firm transmitting its rival Sky Channel
is illegally subsidized by the government of Luxembourg. BSB asked the
commission to look into the allegations more than a year ago.
The Commission says the owner of the Astra satellite, SES, received backing
from the Luxembourg government on a high-risk loan when it started in 1986,
but the loan was paid back. (Reuters)
We reported some weeks back on the successful launch on August 31st of the
first of the new generation of Eutelsat satellites in Europe, Eutelsat 2-F1.
This is in position at 13 degrees East latitude. The finals tests were
completed September 20th, and the various satellite broadcasters have been
moving onto the new satellite.
The new generation from Eutelsat is much more powerful, on a level with
Astra, which means that antennas as small as 90 centimeters in diameter can
be used. One station that has benefited from the increase in power is
Eco/Galavision from Mexico City. Eco is a sort of Latin American CNN, while
Galavision is an entertaiment channel.
The other 11 GHz transponders on the new satellite are being used by Super
Channel, TV5 and Worldnet, Eurosport, the German language Sat 1 and 3-Sat,
Nordic Channel, and the Dutch PTT and Turkey's TRT. An Arabic channel called
MBC is due to appear next year.
Eutelsat 2-F1 also has 6 transponders in the 12 GHz band. These are reserved
for British Telecom and French Telecom.
Meanwhile, back on the Astra satellite, the Dutch TV channel Veronique, which
had its origins in an offshore radio pirate, has appeared under a new name,
RTL 4. The reborn station is intended to be a pan-European entertainment
channel, operating 24 hours a day.
Because of royalties, some of the American series on RTL 4 are coded. But
much of the output is in the clear. ("Roester i Radio TV")
CELLULAR TELEPHONES--Sweden's giant communications firm Ericsson has landed a
250 million dollar order to rebuild the cellular telephone system in the
American states of New York and New Jersey. Ericsson is already the world's
largest supplier of cellular phone equipment. The new order, which also
includes new systems in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, makes
Ericson the largest single supplier in the lucrative American market as well.
The Nordic countries have the highest number of cellular telephones per
capita than anywhere else in the world. But they're very expensive, so
expensive they're called Yuppie teddy bears here, since only affluent
businesspeople can afford them. Cellular phones cost less than half as much
in the United States. Ericsson president Lars Ramqvist has told Radio Sweden
that this is because the American system is less complicated than the Nordic
system, and because cellular operators subsidize the purchase of equipment,
making it much cheaper.
Ericsson won the order to rebuild New York's cellular telephone system over
Motorola, which built the original system there. But Motorola is moving ahead
on two other projects. Just two weeks ago Motorola won the contract to
install the new pan-European cellular system in Germany. The new system will
cover 19 countries, and it looks like Motorola and Ericsson will be the two
main suppliers.
Motorola's other project is far grander, building an international mobile
telephone system using satellites. Project Iridium would involve 77
satellites at low altitude in circumpolar orbits. That means better coverage
of northern latitudes, and small handheld units and rather short antennas.
The system would use frequencies around 1.5 GHz. Motorola hopes to start
developing Iridium in 1994 and to have the entire system in operation by
1996.
EDXC--The European DX Council, which brings together the radio monitor clubs
of Europe, has had problems organizing its annual conference in recent years.
But the council is well ahead of schedule on the 1991 gathering, which will
be held between May 17th and 20th, 1991 in Barcelona. The provisional agenda
includes conferences, workshops, forums with broadcasters and DX clubs,
tourist tours, a banquet and "surprises". For more information write to: EDX-
91, Box 1275, 08080 Barcelona, Spain.
CLUB NEWS--The American Shortwave LIsteners Club (ASWLC) is one of the
largest radio monitor clubs in North America. The ASWLC is holding a monthly
meeting in the Los Angeles area on Saturday November 3rd. The topic will be
about monitoring the conflict in the Gulf. For more information telephone
714-846-1685.
PUBLICATIONS--There's a new book out called "Monitoring the Iraq/Kuwait
Conflict". Written by Langley Pierce, this 25 page book includes details of
military communications, shipping frequencies, and broadcasting stations in
the region. It's available for 4 British pounds, plus 50 postage in the UK,
75p abroad or 1 pound abroad for airmail delivery, from Interbooks, 8 Abbot
Street, Perth, PH2 0EB, Scotland. (Alan Gale)
The 2nd edition of "Dutch Radio Stations" is a 24 page guide in both English
and Dutch to more than 200 medium and shortwave, and FM stations in the
Netherlands. It includes the frequencies for the new Radio 1 FM-network, due
to go on the air by end of 1992, as well as addresses and telephone and fax
numbers. The book costs Dutch Fl 3.50, USD 2, or 3 IRCs from: No-Nonsense
Publications, Kilstraat 40, NL-3363 CE Sliedrecht, Netherlands.
ARGENTINA--Radio Continental, a Buenos Aires station listed on 590 kHz in
WRTH'90, has been noted on 9115 kHz in USB at 23:56 to past 03:00 UTC several
nights in a row. Programming consists of Spanish talk, phone interviews,
news and weather, and frequent commercials. According to the "Confidential
Frequency List", the telecommunications station LRB91 (Gen. Pacheco, Buenos
Aires) operates on this frequency. Does anyone know the purpose of this
Radio Continental feed? (Dr. Richard B. Langley, Bew Brunswick, Canada)
AUSTRALIA--Radio Australia may be running its special Middle East programming
on all frequencies, although only two channels are shown for the Middle East
on the official Radio Australia engineering schedule. (These are 13:00-15:00
hrs on 17630 and 21775 kHz.) On Sundays at 14:30 hrs Radio Australia normally
runs the Communicator program, but on September 30th special programming to
the Middle East was heard instead. (Tom Sundstrom, USA)
There have been changes in the frequencies of two of the stations that belong
to the Australian "Print Handicapped Network". 3RPH in Melbourne has moved
from 1629 kHz to 1179, with an increased power on 5 kW. 4RPH in Brisbane has
moved from 1620 to 1296 kHz, also with a power increase to 5 kW. Other
stations in the RPH Network are expected to move in the near future. (Dan
Gartner, Australia)
AUSTRIA--Radio Austria International is broadcasting in French to Europe
daily at 07:30-08:00 and 12:30-13:00 and 16:30-17:00 hrs on 6155 and 13730
kHz. The latter broadcast also uses 21490 kHz.
There are additional broadcasts weekends at 18:30-19:00 hrs (Sundays 20:00)
on 5945 and 6155 kHz and 21:30-22:00 hrs on these same two frequencies, as
well as 9870 kHz on Sundays. (Francois Chalory)
BELGIUM--RTBF is now broadcasting in French to Europe at 06:30-07:30 hrs on
7140 and at 11:00-13:05 (weekends from 07:35) and 16:00-16:45 hrs on 9925
kHz. On Sundays their is a continuous broadcast between 07:35 and 16:45 hrs.
(Francois Chalory, France)
BERMUDA--VSB-2 on 1160 kHz is now relaying the BBC World Service for 18 and a
half hours a day, between 15:30 and 10:00 hrs. (Dr. Richard Langley)
CZECHOSLAVAKIA--Czechoslavakia is providing a frequency for relays of the BBC
World service in Czech and Slovak, and possibly English. (Slovak Radio, via
BBC Monitoring)
EGYPT--Egypt has decided to extend its Voice of the Arabs service to 24 hours
a day. It's been carried around the clock on 621 kHz, and for shorter periods
on 1008 and 1107 kHz. Egypt's General Program in Arabic is now 24 hours a day
on 819 kHz.
The Middle East Program is broadcasting for much of the day on 774 kHz. (BBC
Monitoring)
FRANCE--Radio France International has increased broadcasts to the Middle
East in both French and Arabic. Arabic is now 03:00-05:00 on shortwave and
04:00-05:00 hrs on medium wave (presumeably 1233 kHz from Malta). There is a
rebroadcast to North Africa at 05:00-06:00 hrs.
In French there are six additional hours to the Middle East at 06:00-09:00
and 16:00-19:00 hrs.
According to "Le Monde", Radio France International is considering the
possibility of starting a "World Service" in English, comparible to the 24
hour French service. They still have to convince the French government,
however. (Radio Netherlands "Media Network" via BBC Monitoring)
GERMANY--BBC Monitoring has reported on Radio Berlin International's last
broadcast on October 2nd. This included a comment from the head of the
English service, Robin Mitchell, who said that out of a total staff of 250
RBI employees, only a handful might get a new job with Deutsche Welle.
Radio Berlin International ended its final English broadcast with the Doors
song "The End".
On October 3rd, RBI frequencies were used to carry a live relay from a church
service celebrating German unity. This program was also carried by Deutsche
Welle and Deutschlandfunk.
At the end of the service, Deutsche Welle continued on the former Radio
Berlin frequencies.
Walter Olvik and Andre Tatter have faxed us news about radio stations in what
was the GDR. Here is what is happening on medium and long wave:
Radio Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 558, 729, and 999 kHz
Antenne Brandenburg 1359 kHz
Thueringen 1 882 and 1170 kHz
Sachsen Radio 513 and 1044 kHz
Berliner Rundfunk 693 kHz
DS Kultur 117 kHz
GUAM--Updating SCDX-2093, the Adventist World Radio station KSDA is now
broadcasting in English at 00:00 and 23:00 hrs on 15610 kHz, replacing 15125.
(Mike Terry)
SOUTH KOREA--Radio Korea has added a new English language broadcast at 06:00
hrs to West North America on 7275, 9570 and 11830 kHz. (Tom Sundstrom)
NEW ZEALAND--Updating SCDX-2104, Radio New Zealand International is also
using 9695 kHz from 09:00 until after 15:00 hrs. During the mornings 9855 kHz
is also used. (Bengt Ericson, travelling in South Korea and Japan)
OMAN--Here is the schedule of Radio Oman, in Arabic, beginning November 5th:
02:00-04:00 hrs on 6085 kHz, 02:00-08:00 hrs on 17770 kHz, 04:00-14:00 hrs on
11730 kHz, 04:00-"closedown" (?) on 11890 kHz, 08:00-"closedown" on 17735
kHz, 14:00-19:00 hrs on 9735 kHz, and 19:00-"closedown" on 6085 kHz. (Mike
Terry, England)
SWITZERLAND--Swiss Radio International is to produce special programs for
listeners in Eastern Europe. 15 minute programs in English, French, and
German are scheduled for a trial period to Eastern Europe between 16:15 and
17:00 hrs on 11955 kHz.
Meanwhile, a commune in the western Swiss canton of Vaud has rejected a
proposal to host a new shortwave transmitter station for Swiss Radio
International. Four communes in the same region rejected a similar project in
June. (BBC Monitoring)
USSR--For broadcasts to Asia at 12:00 and 13:30 hrs, Radio Tashkent now
announces 7325, 9600, 9715, 11860 (replacing 11785), and 15470 kHz (replacing
15460). The frequency with the strongest Radio Korea signal, 17740 kHz, is
not announced. (Tom Sundstom and Gerd Wedeymeyer, Germany)
Members of the English Service here at Radio Sweden recently held a
programming conference onboard a ferry to Tallinn in Estonia, and we visited
Radio Tallinn while we where there. We heard that there was some kind of
pirate radio activity, which the Estonian authorities believed came from a
Soviet military base.
Now BBC Monitoring reports hearing a station in Russian calling itself Radio
Hope, or Radio Nadezhda, opposing the separtist movement in Estonia. The
station has been heard at 04:30 until 06:00, 10:30 until 12:00 and 16:30
until 18:00 hrs, on 747 kHz. They also announce a frequency in the 25 meter
band, but BBC Monitoring has yet to uncover that channel. Estonian television
quotes the Ministry of Communications as confirming that Radio Hope is
broadcasting from a military area, and that the Soviet Army has licenced the
station. (BBC Monitoring)
VATICAN CITY--Vatican Radio is no longer broadcasting in English to Europe at
14:45-15:00 hrs on 7250 kHz. However, 6248, 9645, and 11740 kHz continue.
Evening programs remain at 20:50-21:10 hrs, but only on 7250 and 6248 kHz
(which replaces 6190). 9645 kHz has been dropped. The repeat the following
morning at 06:00 hrs is only on 6185 and 6248 kHz. 9645 kHz has been
discontinued. All European programs continue to be transmitteed on 1530 kHz
medium wave as well.
The broadcast to the East Coast of North America at 00:50-01:10 hrs now uses
only 9605 and 6150 kHz. The broadcast to the West Coast of North America and
Canada at 03:10 hrs is now on 9635 kHz.
The broadcast to Australia and the Pacific at 22:05-22:25 is now on 7125 kHz,
as well as 9615 and 11830 kHz. (Lars Rooth, Vatican Radio)
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Sweden Calling DXers is the world's oldest radio program for shortwave
listeners. Radio Sweden has presented this round-up of radio news, features,
and interviews on Tuesdays since 1948. RS broadcasts to North America:
15:30 hrs on 17880 and 21500 kHz
02:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz
03:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz
To Latin America:
23:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz
To Europe, Africa, and the Middle East:
18:00 hrs on 1179, 6065, 9655, and 11900 kHz
19:30 hrs on 6065 and 7265 kHz
22:00 hrs on 1179 and 6065 kHz
23:30 hrs on 1179 kHz
01:00 hrs on 1179 kHz
And to Asia and the Pacific:
12:30 hrs on 11715, 17740, and 21570 kHz
14:00 hrs on 9765 and 21610 kHz
01:00 hrs on 9770 kHz
The Radio Sweden schedule to Europe in Swedish, English, German, French, and
Spanish can be found on EuroSport (on cable and on the Astra and Eutelsat I-
F4 satellites) Tele-Text page 496.
The Electronic Edition is based on the Sweden Calling DXers bulletins
which are mailed out every 4 weeks to contributors. Contributions can be sent
to DX Editor George Wood to Swedish telex 11738, CompuServe (via the HamNet
Forum or Easyplex 70247,3516), through the FidoNet system to 2:202/297 or to
SM0IIN at the packet radio BBS SM0ETV.
Reports can also be sent to:
Radio Sweden
S-105 10 Stockholm
Sweden
Contributions should be NEWS about electronic media--from shortwave to
satellites--and not loggings of information already available from sources
such as the "World Radio TV Handbook". Clubs and DX publications may reprint
material as long as Sweden Calling DXers and the original contributor are
acknowledged, with the exception of items from BBC Monitoring, which are
copyright.
We welcome comments and suggestions about the electronic edition, Sweden
Calling DXers, and our programs in general.
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Thanks to 20 contributors this week Good Listening!
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