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:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2121--Dec. 4, 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 SCDX2121
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CANADA--Because of the expenses involved in keeping Canadian forces in the
Gulf, and because of mounting budget deficits from previous years, the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation suddenly has to make massive budget cuts.
And one target is the external service, Radio Canada International. There is
a real danger that sometime this week the decision will be made to abolish
RCI completely.
RCI is asking supporters to send letters to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
Since time is of the essence, the best way is to fax him. The number for
that, after your local international access number, is 1-613-952-3904.
(No international access number is required from the USA or Canada.)
SPACE SHUTTLE--The American space shuttle Columbia was launched into space on
Sunday, on a mission to launch a special array of telescopes. But among the
crew onboard the long-delayed mission is astronaut Ron Parise, who has the
radio amateur call letters WA4SIR. He is carrying amateur radio equipment for
both voice and packet radio. Unfortunately, the signals will only be heard
over the lower latitudes. Frequencies to monitor are on FM in the 2 meter
band: 145.51, 145.55, and 145.59 MHz.
There are also relays on shortwave from a number of amateur radio clubs at
NASA bases. These are in single side band (SSB), and the frequencies to look
for are 3860, 7185, 14295, 21395, and 28650 kHz from the Goddard Space Flight
Center in Maryland; 3840, 14280, 21350, and 28495 kHz from the Johnson Space
Center in Texas; and 3840 and 21280 kHz from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
California.
North American satellite TV monitors can watch the mission. NASA transmits
live video from shuttle missions on the Satcom 2R satellite (72 degrees West)
on transponder 13.
Another amateur radio in space mission is scheduled for shuttle STS-37,
possibly launching in April, 1991. Apparently all five crew members are (or
will be) radio amateurs.
MIR--Hours after Columbia was launched, the Soviet Union sent two Soviet
Cosmonauts and a Japanese journalist on a mission to the space station MIR.
Two other Soviet cosmonauts have been on MIR since March. There may been
increased use of the widely heard MIR frequency of 143.625 MHz.
An amateur radio operation from MIR is scheduled in connection with a visit
by an Austrian cosmonaut in February, 1991.
SATELLITE MONITORING--There are many low orbit weather satellites that can be
tuned in to with relatively simple equipment. An ordinary scanner and a small
antenna are usually are that are required, although computers and special
interfaces or decoders are necessary to make sense of weather maps or
telemetry.
Some of the active satellites that can be monitored are: the American weather
satellites NOAA 9 and NOAA 11 on 137.620 MHz and NOAA 10 on 137.5 MHz; Okean
2 on 137.4 MHz; the new Chinese weather satellite Feng Yun 2 on 137.035 and
137.795 MHz; and the Soviet weather satellites Meteor 2-18 on 137.3 MHz and
Meteor 2-19 and 3-3 on 137.85 MHz. (AMSAT-SM Bulletin)
SATELLITE-RADIO--1.3 million households in Sweden now have cable television.
But, unlike other countries, the Swedish cable companies have ignored cable
radio. The country's largest cable company, Swedish Telecom, has told Radio
Sweden they could provide 20 radio channels, but believe a maximum of 8 means
better quality. Telecom does provide the three Swedish national networks, the
single local radio station in each area, and one or more community radio
transmitters on their systems.
In Stockholm, Telecom makes available Radio Sweden, as well as BBC World
Service in the central parts of the city.
A plan to relay Radio Luxembourg's special programs to Swedish listeners via
cable has hit a snag. The Luxembourg programs are carried on the Veronica
transponder on the Astra satellite, and are freely available to anyone with a
satellite dish. They are also carried on cable systems in Denmark and Norway.
Swedish Telecom had planned on adding Radio Luxembourg to its cable networks.
But the Swedish Performing Rights Society has demanded royalty payments far
higher than those paid in other countries. According to Radio Luxembourg,
while in other European countries royalties amount to 9 percent of income,
the Swedish society wants 12 percent, a third again as much.
The head of Radio Luxembourg's office in London has described the demand as
"absurd". (TT)
The largest cable operator in Stockholm, Stjaern-TV, has been carrying VOA
Europe in some parts of Stockholm. The system is contructing a fiber optic
network using the Stockholm subway (Underground), but the time being most of
its subscription areas are linked by microwave relays, which are unable to
carry radio signals. Stjaern-TV expects to provide VOA Europe to all its
subscribers in Stockholm by March or April, 1990. The system is also working
on providing a number of CD quality music channels as pay-radio.
SATELLITE-TV--We reported recently that Stjaern-TV was adding Sky News in the
new year. The service is now available, having appeared last week during the
contest to choose Britain's new Prime Minister. Swedish Telecom is also
planning on introducing Sky News to its systems, mainly in Sweden's largest
cities.
On November 20th, an Ariane rocket put two American communications satellites
into orbit. One is Gstar 4, which uses the Ku band 12-18 GHz. Turner
Broadcasting, which operates CNN, has contracted for three transponders on
the new satellite, for program transmission and news gathering.
The other new satellite is Satcom C, which is to be used for cable television
broadcasting to Hawaii and Alaska, as well as the continental United States.
The next Ariane mission is scheduled for January, 1991, when two European
satellites are to be put into orbit, the second Eutelsat 2 satellite, as well
as Italy's Italsat.
The French government has decided not to build a third direct broadcast
satellite, to follow up the existing TDF-1 and TDF-2 satellites. The two have
developed faults which have reduced the number of usable channels. Instead,
French Minister for Post, Communications, and Space Paul Quiles says the
satellites will be replaced in due course by a new generation of satellites.
France has also agreed to back Eutelsat's Europsat project, which will see
the launch of a new 12 channel satellite in the next 2 or 3 years.
Considering that Britain's direct broadcast satellite Marco Polo will most
likely be abandoned now after the Sky/BSB merger and swtich to Astra, it
seems the future is bleak for one country direct broadcast satellites in
Europe.
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The Gulf:
EGYPT--The regular transmission of Egyptian TV via Arabsat was scheduled to
begin on December 1. Most of the programs will be from the domestic Channel
One, with some programs from Channel Two, especially news bulletins in
English and French. The satellite transmissions are intended for reception in
Africa, East Asia, and parts of southern Europe. One objective is to provide
programs to the Egyptian troops in Saudi Arabia.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--For English at 13:30-14:00 hrs, UAE Radio in Dubai is
now using a former Radio Kuwait frequency of 21675 kHz. This is in addition
to 15320, 15435, and 21605 kHz. (Tom Sundstrom, New Jersey, USA)
UNITED KINGDOM--The British Forces Broadcasting Service at 13:30-14:00 hrs is
now using 15390, 17695, and 21735 kHz. (Tom Sundstrom)
UNOFFICIAL RADIO--The station identifying as Kuwait Radio, previously
reported on 661 and 663 kHz, is now heard on 666 kHz. (BBC Monitoring)
PUBLICATIONS--Interbooks has already published an updated second edition of
Langley Pierce's book "Monitoring the Iraq/Kuwait Conflict". This 46 page
booklet inlcudes military frequencies , Gulf shipping and aviation channels,
and "numbers" and other spy stations said to be used by the CIA, Israel's
Mossad, and the PLO. There are three pages devoted to English language
shortwave broadcasts from the Gulf, including Radio Baghdad, Radio Cairo, UAE
Radio, and Radio Jordan, as well as the British Forces Broadcasting Service.
The book is costs 4 pounds sterling, plus 50p for postage in the UK, EC or
overseas seamail 75p, airmail one pound, from: Interbooks, 8 Abbot Street,
Perth, PH2 0EB, Scotland.
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Shortwave:
LIBERIA--On November 15th ELBC returned to the air on 7275 kHz. Because of
the civil war in Liberia, it had not been heard since July 20th. The Nigerian
news agency says the new transmitter is a mobile shortwave station installed
by Nigeria for the use of the Liberian interim government. During tests, the
station identified as Radio Liberty-Monrovia. AFP reported on November 18th
that Charles Taylor's rebel forces had tried to destroy the new ELBC. (BBC
Monitoring)
UNITED KINGDOM--The BBC World Service is receiving a budget increase of 12
percent over the next three years. The money is to be used for programming,
especially news and coverage of Asia. The increase, which comes as other
parts of the BBC face cuts, is said to be because of the increased importance
of World Service because of the Gulf Crisis. (Dagens Nyheter)
USA--After months of greatly reduced power (500 watts), WRNO in New Orleans
appears to have returned to its previous power on November 19th. It can be
heard 16:00-24:00 hrs on 15400 kHz, 00:00-04:00 hrs on 7355, and from 04:00
hrs on 6185 kHz. (Joel Rubin, California, USA)
Hungarian Radio says American President George Bush is expected to appoint a
committee shortly to study merging Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty with
the Voice of America. (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, German, 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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