Month: June 2020

United States

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640 WNNZ Westfield MA
Does anyone who follows MW broadcasting know if this station has reduced its daytime power or changed its antenna pattern. I used to pick up this 50kW NPR affiliated daytimer with ease here during daylight hours in the Albany NY area. Now I find it’s almost impossible to hear.
Thanks.
John Figliozzi to WOR Groups.io (2020-06-18)

Ireland

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Re. item of June 14th Spirit Radio 549KHz. The Harris DX25U transmitter damaged on the 10th of June in a lightning storm has returned to full service today Tuesday the 16th of June 2020 at 18:00 local time.
Spirit Radio lost the 549KHz AM service on the 10th of June 2020 at 11:50 local time, a reduced power service was restored on the 12th of June 16:00 local time.
Peter Leach (2020-06-16)

Canada

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(CRTC) More ethnic programming requested for CJLV 1570 Laval.
Radio Humsafar Incorporated has applied to increase the allowable amount of ethnic programming on CJLV 1570 Laval from 25% to 40% during the broadcast week. 60% of the total programming will remain French, while the remaining 40% will cater to 12 ethnic groups in 4 different languages. The applicant states that the changes are necessary to remain financially viable.
Canadian Radio News FB group (2020-06-16)

Ireland

mw

Spirit Radio 549KHz.
Mid April the main Tram 50 Transmitter failed on 549KHz, local engineer was unable to repair, so the standby Harris DX 25 had the covers removed and put back into service. I still think the Harris has a better sound than the Tram 50 unit. Due to Lockdown etc it was decided to wait until Autumn yearly visit to repair and carry out the WWW (windy wet winter) checks.
Then Wednesday 10th of June a lightning storm in the area took the Harris off air. A mast light at 42 metres level on the main tower is missing and part of an electrode on the mast base insulator lightning protection system is also damaged, time to get the angle gridder out! Also all fuses on the 3 phase supply L1&L2 had blown!
The Tram 50 (main TX) was saved by the fact it was not in operation, this is now back in service on reduced power until spares hopefully arrive on 15th of June to complete repairs to the Tram 50.
14 hour working days are taking place at the moment to repair and make the site safe, hopefully restore the Harris transmitter which took a hit via both the antenna and electricity supply.
All internal boards on the Harris have to be removed, test and if possible repaired. 64 RF amplifiers boards to inspect / repair is just the start of the work.
I enjoy a good challenge…..
Peter Leach (2020-06-14)

Canada

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CHHA-1610 Toronto cuts back on Spanish language programming.
CHHA is now running large blocks of Punjabi programming, including Overnight when Spanish programming formally greeted most DXers. From what I heard from Edmonton, the “Punjab content” overnights is continuous Punjabi pop vocals with 2-4 breaks an hour for commercials and announcements.
A reply from the station indicates they are still running 6250 watts, even though they were recently approved to increase to 10KW with the same West-facing directional pattern on the same single tower with the null created by powering the Eastern guy wire.Canadian Radio News FB group (2020-06-13)

Pakistan

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The federal government in Islamabad has allocated a sum of Rs360.908 million for the Information and Broadcasting Division under the Public Sector Development Programme 2020-2021, including Rs50 million foreign aid.
For modernisation of camera and production equipment of state run TV, Rs100 million have been allocated, and for the establishment of 100KW Medium Wave Radio Station in Gwadar Rs40 million been earmarked.
According to the budgetary document released Friday, the government has allocated Rs300 million for the nine ongoing schemes and Rs60.908 million including Rs50 million foreign aid for one new scheme of Information and Broadcasting Division.
Moreover, Rs40 million each have been allocated for rehabilitation of Medium Wave services from Muzaffarabad (AJK) and replacement of Medium Wave Transmitter at Mirpur. Another Rs25.412 million have been earmarked for rebroadcast station, at Kharan (Balochistan).
For only new scheme of the division, a pilot project DTMB-A-Digitalisation of Terrestrial Network of state run TV (Chinese Grant in Aid) Rs60.918 million have been allocated, out of which Rs50 million is foreign aid and Rs10.908 million local component of it.
The News, Pakistan (2020-06-13)

United Kingdom

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I live in the DG3 post code area and can confirm the closure message loop was still running on the BBC Radio Scotland 585kHz frequency at 6pm on June 11th, serving parts of the Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) region.
The 810kHz transmission from Westerglen is audible in parts of the region for BBC Radio Scotland, but unlike the 585kHz frequency, it does not provide the D&G regional opt out service!
The Sandale transmitter in Cumbria and its D&G subordinates carry BBC Radio Scotland’s FM service, including the D&G opt outs. There is no local DAB multiplex within D&G.
Willie Bone (2020-06-11)

United Kingdom

mw

I can confirm the announcement on 585kHz Dumfries [BBC Radio Scotland] appeared on 9 June 2020.
I do not yet know the date it is being turned off.
James Robinson (2020-06-10)

Maybe it already has taken place? Seen this on BBC website
“The areas that will be affected from the 9th June are:
Redmoss (Aberdeen) 810kHz
Listeners can re-tune to 93.1 MHz or 93.8 MHz FM
If listeners want to hear the MW schedule, they can use DAB or TV
Dumfries 585kHz
Listeners can re-tune to 94.7 MHz FM
If listeners want to hear the MW schedule, they can use 810 kHz MW or TV”
Ydun Ritz (2020-06-11)