VANUATU
The New Zealand Government has given funds for 2 new MW transmitters, one for Vila area, the other for Santo area, and both will be installed by September 2005. Each will be DRM capable.
In handing over funding, the NZ High Commissioner [Ambassador] said that FM and TV might be 'nice to have', but mediumwave 'is an essential part of a functioning democracy'.
MW broadcasts in many parts of the Pacific are in danger of shut down from high power costs [usually diesel generators], lack of technical expertise, weather damage and old equipment.
Currently, Radio Cook Islands 630, SBC Samoa 540 and SIBC Honiara 1035 are all running at half or reduced power because of power costs, Nauru 1323 is off air, KJAL American Samoa 580 is on reduced power after a cyclone, WVUV American Samoa 648 has been operating only at very low power awaiting an FCC frequency and tower change and part of Papua New Guinea's MW network is being rebuilt with Japanese aid.
The comments from the New Zealand government reflect a real concern that neighbor island broadcasters are under severe pressure to survive.
Both RNZI and Radio Australia now provide much of the technical and training expertise needed to keep stations on air as far away as the Marshall Islands and as close as Tonga and Niue. This 'aid' is expected to expand in the future.
The model emerging is for island stations to get help buying new DRM capable MW transmitters so they can relay RNZI DRM [from later this year] and RA DRM [2006] broadcasts to local repeater FM stations whilst providing a stable MW signal for continued reception on analog radio sets.
Recommended reading: 'Digital Radio Broadcasting' and 'Radio Happy Isles' from the Top 40 Radio Book List now available at The Radio Heritage Store (c) at http://www.radioheritage.net
Warm regards David Ricquish, Radio Heritage Foundation, July 31, DX Listening Digest 5-126 (31/7-2005)
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VATICAN
I just received Radio Vaticana program schedule for November 2007 - March 2008. Radio Vaticana is now using digital modulation DRM on 1611 kHz. The DRM programs are coming as follows:
UTC
0700-0745 Italian, French, English
...
0915-1100 Papal audience
1100-1115 Anglus
1115-1200 Italian
1200-1300 French
1300-1400 Italian
1400-1415 Spanish
...
2200-2310 Italian
2310-0000 German, English, Italian
73's Hannu Romppainen via MWC (9/1-2008)
VATICAN
and more..
I just checked 702 at 2130 but heard only Presov, with a nice Radio Regina ID just when I tuned in. Btw, there are even two German transmitters on this frequency, alongside Flensburg on the German- Danish border with NDR Info Spezial (// 792/828/972) also Jülich
(indeed on the shortwave site) with Truck Radio (// 531/738/855) , but usually Presov overrides them here entirely.
So new game, new luck, as German saying goes? Just seven months ago (01-09-2006) they stopped using the Roumoules transmitter on 1467 after exactly five years. I have never seen any statement from Radio Vatican about this, but it could be indicative what Evangeliums- Rundfunk said to explain their withdrawal from the Roumoules transmitter: Airtime there is five times as expensive as on Mainflingen-1539.
It's not the first time that the Col de la Madone transmitter (which is of course located on French soil as well) carries Radio Vatican. In early 2005 they already tried it when the big pirate station in Pridnestrovye started to use this frequency (now they are on 1413 instead), severely disturbing Roumoules. Here is an aircheck from back then:
http://www.radioeins.de/meta/sendungen/apparat/050129_A1.ram
It starts with about 40 seconds of 702, not really suitable to serve Germany (and with audio processing considerably differing from 1467). Then you hear 1467 occupied by the Grigoriopol transmitter, carrying Voice of Russia in Greek, with Roumoules being audible underneath only. Finally 1530, severely disturbed by the Romanian stations, thus useless for Germany as well. This situation arised when Radio Vatican had to drastically reduce the power of this transmitter, forcing them to lease airtime at Roumoules to regain their mediumwave coverage.
Kai Ludwig via dxld yg (13/5-2007)
VATICAN
Vatican Radio tests on 702 kHz were for two days only.
Mediumwave listeners in Europe have been puzzled by the appearance of Vatican Radio on 702 kHz for a couple of days. Although not mentioned on the website of Vatican Radio, we found an explanation on www.italradio.org. A report dated 5 May says “Vatican Radio will test Medium Wave 702 kHz from Monte Carlo on May 8 and 9 at 1900-2200 UTC relaying the European Programme in Italian (1900 and 2200 UTC) French, English (1950 UTC) Spanish, Arabic. Transmitter will use 400 kW power and directive aerials (65°). Reception reports are welcome.”
In an update on 12 May, the site notes that "Listeners from various Italian locations reported to Italradio good reception in Central Italy but problems both in the South and especially in Northern Italy where interferences from 693 kHz RAI DRM transmitter in Milan were rather strong".
Source: www.italradio.org by Andy, Media Network Weblog (13/5-2007)
VATICAN / MONACO
Vatican Radio signing on with IS at 1858 UTC on 702 kHz to-night May 9th 2007. At 1900 UTC px in Italian. SIO= 233/2 fading and someone co-channel.
73's, Ehard Goddijn (9/5-2007)
VATICAN / MONACO
It is now 2110 UTC 8/5/2007 and Vatican Radio is still on 702 kHz most likely via MCO-tx. I heard french, english, spanish, arab and right now again Italian with SIO=2/3-4/3-3.
No trace of the german tx you hearing, only somekind of a Luxemburg-effect probably with high power MCO-longwave tx 216 kHz.
73's, Ehard Goddijn (8/5-2007)
VATICAN
I hear here in Holland Vatican Radio on 702 kHz to-day. Until 1930 UTC in Italian and right now 1945 UTC in French. Modulation is in parallel with internet channel 1.
Look at: http://www.radiovaticana.org/coorpro/entrasmisspec.htm
1950 UTC 702 kHz silent or deep fade?? At 1956 UTC classical music on 702 kHz!
73's from Almere, Holland Ehard Goddijn (8/5-2007)
Here at my place (50 kms north of the Danish/German border and Flensburg) I only hear NDR Info via the xmitter in Flensburg with some music underneath. Vatican Radio not listed on this frequency in the EWMG, neither in the WRTH 2007. NEW frequency?
Ydun Ritz (8/5-2007)
VATICAN
Has Vatican started tests/broadcasts of DRM on 1530 kHz? last night at 2220 UT I heard a massive DRM style signal completely swamping 1530 kHz. On re-checking at 2235 it had gone and UK local stations were dominant though mixing with others. Nothing I could see on http://www.drm.org or http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/index.asp
73s Steve Whitt, UK, Aug 25, MWC via DX Listening Digest 5-147 (26/8-2005)
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VENEZUELA
Venezuelan Minister of Telecommunications and IT Jesse Chacón Sunday said the broadcast licenses for all of the AM radio stations operating in the country have expired and added that his office is currently reviewing the legal framework governing their broadcast licenses...
http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/05/27/en_pol_art_govnt-is-reviewing_27A875717.shtml
Mike Terry via dxld yg (28/5-2007)
VENEZUELA
YVKE Mundial Caracas: As Chavez government is shutting down the main private tv network in a few days and situation in Caracas is very tense (I was there last week), I would not rule out a wave war could blow out there (550 is 24hours government propaganda and very tough on opposition).
Rocco Cotroneo, Rio de Janeiro via mwc (23/5-2007)
VENEZUELA
Since March 2007, the signal of state-run Venezuelan radio station YVKE Mundial for Caracas [550 kHz] has suffered from interference. The motives for this are unknown; the problems, however, begin when the station broadcasts news or public affairs programmes, according to the station’s director, Cristina Gonzáles. The journalist also stated that during the last week the signal has been interrupted, as happened for 14 hours on 10 May.
A commission made up of Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV), YVKE Mundial and the National Telecommunications Commission (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, CONATEL), is investigating these events in order to determine the motives.
Source: IFEX 16th May 2007 by Andy Media Network Weblog (21/5-2007)
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VIRGIN ISLANDS US
1620, WDHP Frederiksted, St. Croix (17 43'N 64 53'W) MAR 31 0530 - BBC World News, 0535 into "The Beat" music show, 0545 mentioned Elvis Presley, Mexican rancheras, Julio Iglesias, feature on the death of Buck Owens and samples of his C&W songs. 0559 female with slight West Indies accent, ID, "You are listening to WDHP, 1620 AM, Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands. Our telephone number is... in Frederiksted, and in Charlotte Amalie the telephone number is..." Jingle, "We are in St. Croix." 0600, "Visit our website at wdhp.com." Time pips, "It's 6 o'clock GMT, the news, read by..." 0606, "In the BBC World Service..." Still good at 0645. Booming, dominant, mostly over KSMH. The most distant western hemisphere station which is heard here every night, and my first USVI catch in 49 years of DXing!
Richard E. Wood, Keaau, HI, NRC IDXD May 6 via DX Listening Digest 6-071 (7/5-2006)
VIRGIN ISLANDS US
1690, NEW, VI, Charlotte Amalie - This expanded band allotment for U1 10000/1000 was initially granted in 1997 to Three Angels Corporation, owners of WGOD-1090. It was subsequently rescinded by the FCC in 2000 because France had filed an objection on behalf of its territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The French claimed that the original proposal by Three Angels for operation on 1690 kHz at Charlotte Amalie did not comply with Section 1.2 and/or 1.3 of Article 5 of the Final Acts of the Regional Administrative Radio Conference, Rio de Janeiro 1988.
In follow-up discussions with the Commission staff, Three Angels was informed that despite the fact that 1690 kHz was allotted to Charlotte Amalie with the assumption of Model I facilities (power of 10 kW daytime, 1 kW nighttime using non-directional antenna), due to proximity to other Region 2 countries facilities in excess of the standardized parameters specified in the Rio 1988 agreement could not be authorized without the consent of the affected countries. Three Angels is now requesting U1 920/920 from the 1090 tower.
AM Switch, NRC E-DX News Jan 31 via DX Listening Digest
Three Angels is code for a faction of Seventh Day Adventists. But, but --- are there any broadcast or other stations now or planned, on or near 1690 in these parts of France? Or is that beside the point? Glenn Hauser, DX Listening Digest 6-019 (29/1-2006)
VIRGIN ISLANDS US
Applications reinstated: 1690, NEW, Charlotte Amalie --- application reinstated for U1 10000/1000 at N18-18-57, W64-53-02, diplexed into the WGOD-1090 tower.
Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC DX News July 11 via DX Listening Digest 5-115 (12/7-2005)
VIRGIN ISLANDS US
Radio station WSTX in St Croix, US Virgin Islands, is to receive upgrades and improvements after signing an agreement with a prospective buyer. Attorney Kevin Rames said last week that Family Broadcasting Inc has entered into a time brokerage agreement with Caledonia Communication Corp, of which he is the president and sole shareholder. Rames said the agreement is to control the programming of WSTX-AM 970 and WSTX-FM 100.3 radio stations. Family Broadcasting still maintains the licences, but Caledonia will run the programming. Rames said Caledonia plans to ultimately purchase the radio stations.
The FM station previously simulcast the AM station, but Rames said with the new agreement the FM station has changed format to reggae programming, while the AM outlet continues to carry the popular news, sports and talk radio programs.
Source: Virgin Islands Daily News # posted by Andy @ 11:20 UT May 3 Media Network blog via DX Listening Digest 5-073 (4/5-2005)
VIRGIN ISLANDS US
Petitions for Reconsideration for Applications [previously denied] 1690, NEW, Amalie, application for U1 10000/1000.
Bill Hale, AM Switch, NRC DX News April 4 via DX Listening Digest 5-059 (4/4-2005)
VIRGIN ISLANDS US
Highlight this month is the very dominant presence on 1620 of WDHP St Croix US Virgin Islands. Is first in around 0730 UT and peaks around 0830 and swamps WTAW and KSMH, in Greytown. Has an ID on or about the hour which is shorter than that used when the station opened, but the `radio` theme song remains. Heard with Bob Marley music 6 Feb (his 60th anniversary) then into Oldies orchestrals (They`re fond of ``Let me call you Sweetheart`` circa 1920) which appears at the same time most nights (0800) Easily identified from as early as 0700 with back to back instrumentals and dominant instruments (``Love Songs for Sax``) etc.
Tony King Superadio III + 200m ground radials, New Zealand, Feb NZ DX Times via DX Listening Digest 5-031 (18/2-2005)
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