From: xberri@quark2.aero.org (Jason E. Berri)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Subject: SCDX 2144
Date: 23 Nov 91 22:16:00 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41
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:: MediaScan ::
:: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS ::
:: from Radio Sweden ::
:: Number 2144--Nov. 19, 1991 ::
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Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden.
This week's bulletin was written by George Wood.
Packet Radio BID SCDX2144
All times UTC unless otherwise noted.
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RADIO OLD AND NEW:
SWEDEN--On November 30th, Sweden's oldest radio station, the long wave
transmitter in Motala, will go off the air. Motala was the first national
radio transmitter in Sweden when it when on the air in 1927, with 30 kW. That
transmitter was replaced with a 150 kW unit in 1935. The current 300 kW
transmitter on 189 kHz went on the air 30 years ago.
According to Swedish Telecom, the cost per listener for the long wave outlet
had become too great. The last night, November 30th, will be a special
program about long wave and the Motala transmitter, including the old
Stockholm-Motala ID. (TT and "Dagens Nyheter")
DIGITAL AUDIO BROADCASTING--Digital Audio Broadcasting is expected to take
over from FM sometime after the turn of the century. Next year's World
Administrative Radio Conference in Spain will allocate frequencies for the
new service. Swedish Radio has been pushing to use the 104-108 MHz band,
unallocated in Sweden but already used for FM in the rest of Western Europe
as well as the Americas. This is apparently to block the starting of new
commercial FM stations in Sweden. But now Eureka 147, the European Digital
Audio Broadcasting research group, has recommended the use of frequencies in
the 200 MHz band. This goes along with research by Grundig using TV channel
12, 230 MHz. ("International Broadcasting" magazine)
EUROPEAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
SWEDEN--The new Swedish government has proposed opening cable networks up for
advertising on cable radio and on local cable TV. Minister of Culture Birgit
Friggebo says the same advertising rules should apply for cable-TV as for the
coming third national channel--commercials only between programs and a
maximum of 10 percent of program time for advertisements. There would be no
restrictions on cable radio. (TT)
Sweden's TV4 is switch standards on its signal to Norway on the Intelsat
satellite at 1 degree West. The current PAL signals are to be switched to D-
MAC from November 25th. TV4 says its signals on the Tele-X satellite will
continue as usual through the end of 1992 at the least, while Sweden's new
terrestrial network is being built up. (Jan Johansson, Sweden)
TV4 recently won the concession to broadcast over the new network, as
Sweden's first commercial broadcaster. While TV4 will begin test broadcasts
over some over the air transmitters in December, it will officially begin
terrestrial operations on March 1st, at the latest. The concession agreement
requires the new TV4 to broadcast for at least 40 hours a week, including at
least 10 hours a week of news, and 5 hours a week of children's programming.
(TT)
TV4 won the concession when rival satellite broadcaster TV3 withdrew its
application and bought a 30 percent share of TV4. Two TV4 journalists say
there is a secret agreement with TV3, which requires major cut-backs in news
and public affairs programming. TV4 management has admitted the existence of
the agreement, but says it is no longer in force. (TT)
The deal between the two broadcasters also gave TV3 the right to sell
commercials on TV4. State authorities have expressed concern that this gives
TV3 a monopoly position. ("Dagens Industri")
EUTELSAT--The launch of the Eutelsat 2-F3 satellite scheduled from Cape
Canaveral on November 14th, has been delayed. No new launch date has been
set. (Dow Jones)
INTELSAT--There's a new channel on the Intelsat at 27.5 degrees West, on the
transponder on 11.55 GHz. This is encrypted, with sound in the clear. It
carries ITN news and BBC Ceefax is being broadcast with the signal. (Karl
Grabe, Ireland)
This is "SSVC", intended for British military personnel in Germany and
Cyprus. The coding system is called Cryptovision and is unavailable to home
monitors. During the night there are also radio broadcasts from the British
Forces station BFBS. (Bertil Sundberg in "Roester i Radio/TV")
TELECOM--EuroSport has been broadcasting on the French Telecom 1A satellite
at 8 degrees West, on 12.62 GHz, in PAL. (Karl Grabe)
SATELLITE DX RECORD--Ian Roberts and Charles Vana in South Africa have been
successful in tuning into the European Astra 1A satellite. Ian used a home-
made 3 meter dish, to pick up signals from a satellite most Europeans can
monitor with dishes 60 to 80 centimeters in diameter. ("Short Wave Magazine")
NORTH AMERICAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
SPACENET--A number of interesting signals have appeared on the Spacenet 4
satellite, transponder 20. There are promotional tapes for four services:
"Outlaw Channels", the "Las Vegas Channel", "After Dark", and the "British
Channel." (Bob Lyle on CompuServe)
NASA INTERFERENCE--Transmissions from the Galaxy 1 and Satcom 1R satellites
were disrupted recently because of interference from a NASA satellite. The
American space agency moved its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite with its
transponders enabled, and without advising other satellite operators. This
caused the interference, which also affected home users' descramblers, in
some cases sending signals that removed the authorizations that keep them
working. ("SatNews")
ASIAN SATELLITE BROADCASTING:
JAPAN--Japan's new broadcasting satellite, Yuri 3B, started operation on
October 25th. Experimental broadcasts of NHK's high definition TV system,
known as Hi-Vision, are expected to begin on November 25th. At present Hi-
Vision can only be seen on 137 screens at various places around Japan. NHK is
hoping to increase this number by setting up more screens at railway stations
and other public places. (BBC Monitoring)
SHORTWAVE:
CROATIA--Studio Zagreb's first program can be heard around the clock on 7240
and 9830 kHz. The 1200 kW medium wave transmitter on 1134 kHz has been
damaged by the Yugoslavian Army. Both the radio program and the TV broadcasts
on Eutelsat 1-F5 on 11.509 GHz have short news bulletins in English. (Josip
Tomasic, Croatia)
CUBA--Radio Havana Cuba has changed from 9710 to a new frequency of 7215 kHz
for broadcasts in English at 22:00 hrs. The 00:00 hrs broadcast has changed
from 11820 to 11950 kHz. (Dave Evans, Wales)
ETHIOPIA--The EPRDF radio stations broadcasting from Ethiopia can be heard in
Amharic and Oromo 03:30-05:30 and 15:00-16:00 hrs on 6940 and 8000 kHz, with
Tigrigna 04:30-05:30 and 15:00-16:00 hrs on 6770, 7450, and 7820 kHz. At
13:45-14:45 hrs there is a broadcast on Saturdays in Amharic on 6940 and 8000
kHz, while on Sundays in Tigrigna on 6770, 7450, and 7820 kHz. (BBC
Monitoring)
ISRAEL--In addition to the restorations of English and French programs in the
Kol Israel schedule reported last time, broadcasts to North America between
23:00 and 04:00 hrs have been restored. For the time being this is a relay of
the Hebrew Reshet Bet service, but they plan to add English headlines to the
hourly Hebrew newscasts.
The frequencies to North America and Western Europe are 7465, 11585, and
11605 kHz; to Latin America on 9435 kHz; and to Eastern Europe on 11675 kHz.
(Andrew Tannenbaum, Massachusetts, USA)
LITHUANIA--Updating edition 2144, Radio Vilnius is also broadcasting in
English at 22:30 hrs on 666, 1557, 9675, and 9710 kHz. (Gregory Grushko on
CompuServe)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--The Voice of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi is
now using 11965 kHz for broadcasts in English at 22:30 hrs. (Dave Evans)
USSR--Radio Moscow has announced that it has not printed up new broadcast
schedules because the service may be abolished in the near future!
Moscow Echo has been given a new frequency of 6035 kHz, replacing 6165. 1206
kHz remains in parallel. (BBC Monitoring)
LOCAL RADIO:
AFN/EUROPE--The American military newspaper "Stars and Stripes" has written
about the future of the American AFN radio stations in Europe. Stations at
military installations scheduled for closure can expect AFN radio broadcasts
until the end. AFN plans to end local radio broadcasting at its Munich
affiliate stations next April, but the transmitter there will carry a network
signal until December. The network plans to close its Berlin affiliate
station in 1993 or 1994.
Meanwhile, "Stars and Stripes" reports that the pending closure of Canada's
two military bases in Europe has left an uncertain future for broadcasting
services for the 1100 Canadian troops who will remain in Europe after 1995.
(David Harden, Germany)
PUBLICATIONS:
TIARE PUBLICATIONS--There are some new books from Tiare Publications. The
"World Ham Net Directory" lists more than 900 special interest radio amateur
nets, that is over-the-air gatherings. These range from such interests as
Bible study, UFOs, and technical forums to Pearl Harbor survivors and
shortwave DXers. The directory lists nets by name as well as by frequency and
day/time.
"Easy Shortwave Antennas" discusses more than 50 antennas and variations for
shortwave listening, including longwires, slopers, verticals, beams,
apartment antennas, and magnetic loops.
"Secret Signals--The Euronumbers Mystery" is all about the mysterious
"numbers" stations used for communications with spies. Despite the end of the
Cold War, they continue unabated. This book includes a full, by-frequency log
with more than 300 entries, complete with notes on formats and schedules.
All of these books are available for USD 12 each, including shipping, one
more dollar for foreign orders, from: Tiare Publications, Box 493, Lake
Geneva, WI, 53147, USA.
SATELLITE ALMANAC--The "World Satellite Almanac", compiled by Mark Long, is
one of the best references around on satellite broadcasting. The third
edition has just been published. Besides a special introduction by Arthur C.
Clarke, the visionary who first suggested communications satellites in 1945,
the new edition includes 200 photos, charts, and maps, and more than 300
satellite footprint maps. The almanac is available for USD 100 (plus USD 35
for overseas airmail) from: MLE Inc., Box 159, Winter Beach, Florida 32971,
USA.
If you can afford it, it's wonderful! (gw)
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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.
Radio Sweden broadcasts to Europe in English at 19:30-20:30 hrs on medium
wave 1179 kHz, as well as shortwave 6065, 9655, and 15270 kHz.
The rest of the Radio Sweden English schedule is (half hour programs):
To Europe:
21:30 hrs 1179 and 6065 kHz
23:30 hrs 1179 kHz
To Asia/Pacific:
13:30 hrs 17740 and 21570 kHz
01:00 hrs 9765 kHz
To North America:
15:30 hrs 17870 and 21500 kHz
01:00 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz
02:00 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz
To Latin America:
23:30 hrs 9695 and 11705 kHz
15:30 hrs on 17875 and 21500 kHz
02:00 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz
03:30 hrs on 9695 and 11705 kHz
Contributions can be sent to DX Editor George Wood by fax to +468-667-6283,
from Internet, MCI Mail or CompuServe (to the CompuServe mailbox 70247,3516),
through the FidoNet system to 2:201/697 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, especially Kauto Huopio Good Listening!
--
Jason Berri (SPEEDX USSR Editor)
INTERNET: berri@aerospace.aero.org or berri@arecibo.aero.org
[SPEEDX is an SWL club, send email to the above address for more information]
[SCDX back issues are available via anonymous ftp from arecibo.aero.org]