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:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2119--Nov. 5, 1990 ::
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Shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
Electronic Edition edited by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2119
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Welcome to the first edition in our new format.
PUBLICATIONS--The long-awaited edition 4.0 of Radio Sweden's "DXer's Guide to
Computing" is back from the printers. This is a complete update over the
previous edition, and at 60 pages is half again as long. It tells you
everything you need to know about using a computer in the radio shack, with
chapters on software, digital radio modes like RTTY and weather facsimile,
and computer bulletin boards for radio hobbyists.
"The DXer's Guide to Computing" edition 4.0 is available from Radio Sweden
for USD 5, GBP 3, FF or SEK 30, DM 8, or 8 IRCs. The individual chapters are
being uploaded to telephone-based and packet radio computer bulletin boards.
Former Radio Sweden colleague Roger Wallis has, together with Stanley Baran,
written "The Known World of Broadcast News", a critical look at what news
broadcasters are telling us about the world we live in. Published by
Routledge in London and New York, a key section of the book compares the news
carried by major radio and TV broadcasters in the United States, Britain, and
Sweden. That chapter earned the authors the Cooley Award of the American
Speech Communication Association.
SATELLITE-TV--Britain's two satellite television broadcasters have ended
their ratings war and have agreed to merge. Sky Television's four channel
service will merge with British Satellite Broadcasting's five channels to
form a new network called British Sky Broadcasting.
Sky, which launched its current system when the Astra satellite went online
in February, 1989, has been losing 4 million dollars a week. It's current
channels are Sky News, the entertainment channel Sky One, Sky Movies, and
Eurosport.
BSB has been in operation for six months from its own direct broadcast
satellite. It's five channels are the Movie Channel, the Sports Channel, two
entertainment outlets called Galaxy and Now, and a music video channel called
the Power Station.
According to reports, the merged operation will have five channels, including
two pay movie stations. The others will probably be Sky News, Sky One, and
Eurosport.
The primary system will be on Astra, but BSB promises a lengthy transitional
period during which arrangements will be made to protect existing
subscribers. That means the 100,000 Britons who've bought the receivers and
distinctive square antennas, or "squarials" for BSB.
It's unclear what will be happening to the BSB satellite in the long-run. The
new network may wish to add further channels in the future. It certainly
won't want to let a new competitor take over the satellite. (AP, Reuter, Dow
Jones)
SATELLITE-RADIO--There are two new satellite radio stations broadcasting to
Europe: Radio Nova, using the Lifestyle transponder on the Astra satellite,
and Radio Northsea International, on the TV4 transponder on Intelsat 5A-F12.
Both are former pirate stations that have resurfaced on satellite. Radio
Northsea International was an offshore pirate operating from off the Dutch
coast in the 70's. Radio Nova was an Irish private station that was forced
off the air by new legislation. It was an early satellite radio pioneer, but
went off the air for economic reasons. It can now be heard on the 7.38 and
7.56 MHz audio subcarriers on the Lifestyle transponder on Astra. (Goeran
Lindemark in "QRG-Bulletinen" and Thomas Bergstam, both Sweden)
Radio 5 from Radio Nacional de Espana has been heard on the Eutselsat 1 F-5
satellite, on the TVE International transponder. The audio carrier is at 7.38
MHz. (BBC Monitoring)
Meanwhile, there are celebrations at the satellite radio broadcaster Radio
10. The Dutch state council has ruled that the Italian-owned but Amsterdam-
based operation is a legitimate foreign organization, so it can be allowed
back onto Dutch cable networks. Radio 10 can be found on the FilmNet
transponder on Astra, using the subcarriers at 7.92 and 8.10 MHz. ("Music and
Media" via Thomas Bergstam)
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The Gulf:
UAE/EGYPT--Egyptian troops in Saudi Arabia have complained they can only hear
Iraqi radio. The Information Minister of the United Arab Emirates says the
UAE is making one of its medium wave transmitters available for a 24 hour
relay of Egypt's Voice of the Arabs. The Minister also says the necessary
equipment will be installed to receive the new satellite transmissions of
Egyptian television Channel One, in order to relay them to the UAE, including
the areas in which Egyptian troops are deployed. (BBC Monitoring)
USA--We reported several weeks ago about the shortwave relays of VOA Europe,
because of the Gulf crisis. Ivan Penev, visiting Iceland, has heard VOA
Europe at 08:00-12:00 hrs on 21570 kHz, with interference from Radio Exterior
de Espana. (Ivan Penev, Bulgaria)
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Central and Eastern Europe:
USA/CZECHOSLOVAKIA/GERMANY--Radio Free Europe has ended shortwave broadcasts
in Czech and Slovak. Instead, the station is broadcasting for 12 hours a day
using four mediumwave transmitters in Czechoslovakia, on 1287 kHz. (RFE via
BBC Monitoring)
GERMANY--Deutsche Welle is using old Radio Berlin International frequencies
for their English broadcasts towards South and Southeast Asia: 09:00-09:50
hrs on 21465 and 21540 kHz and 16:00-16:50 hrs on 15240 kHz. (Kanwarjit
Sandhu, India)
USSR--"PLAY-DX" reports on a number of pirate stations operating from the
Soviet Union. Radio Belomor Kanal is reported on around 1705 kHz, while Radio
Kvant was heard around 1758. Relays from the Voice of America and Radio
Liberty have been heard on 1709 kHz. ("PLAY-DX", Italy)
We've reported before about Radio Hope, a station operating from a Soviet
military base in Estonia, opposing the autonomy movement there. The chairman
of Estonia's Supreme Soviet has now sent a telegram to Soviet President
Mikhail Gorbachev, describing the Radio Hope operation as direct Soviet Army
interference in Estonian political life, as well as a threat to the health of
people living close to the transmitter. (Estonian Radio via BBC Monitoring)
The Swedish-based Christian broadcaster IBRA Radio has reached agreement with
the Soviet authorities to broadcast four half hours a month over the Soviet
domestic radio channels 1 and 3. According to an IBRA spokesman, the programs
will be carried simultaneously on longwave, mediumwave, shortwave, and FM.
The programs will be produced together with Finland's IRR-TV.
The programs will air every other Wednesday at 21:30 hrs UTC (THursdays at
00:30 hrs Moscow time) on channel 1, with rebroadcasts on channel 3 the
following Sunday afternoons. ("Dagen")
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The rest of the World:
BHUTAN--The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is carrying out test transmissions
from its new 50 kW transmitter, on 5025, 6035, and 9615 kHz. (Subir Basu,
India)
GUAM--While the WRTH lists the Christian station KHBN to be under
construction, Maarten van Delft, back from a visit to Guam, tells us that the
authorities in Guam have yet to give permission to lease or buy land for
building the station. Relays via KSDA ended in April. (Maarten van Delft,
Netherlands)
The Director of Engineering of High Adventure Ministries, which is behind
KHBN, recently told Radio Netherlands "Media Network" that studio equipment,
a transmitter, and an antenna are all in Guam, and the station was waiting
for the land to erect the antenna towers. (BBC Monitoring)
LEBANON--High Adventure Ministries also operates a station in southern
Lebanon which has been used on behalf of the pro-Israeli Southern Lebanon
Army. Maarten van Delft tells us that this station, the Voice of Hope, is
buiulding a new curtain antenna and a new 25 kW transmitter. It's listed on
6215 and 6280 kHz. (Maarten van Delft)
LIBERIA--Personnel from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria are to be
joined by counterparts from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Guinea in
operating a new radio station in civil war-ravaged Liberia. Known as Radio
Liberty Monrovia, the station was scheduled to begin operations on October
27th. Broadcasts are to be on shortwave, for 12 hours a day, in English,
French, and local languages. (PANA news agency via BBC Monitoring)
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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 since 1948. The program is now broadcast on the first and
third Tuesday of each month. 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,hGmrman, French, and
Spanish can be found on EuroSport (on cable and on the Astra and Eutelsat I-
F4 satellites) Tele-Text page 496.
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 this week's contributors Good Listening!
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