Month: November 2020

United States

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SPECIAL UPDATE—KSEN Test is CONFIRMED for tonight. We have also learned that there was a problem with the transmitter switch last night. Test ran at low power. Tonight will be full power.
The Courtesy Program Committee of the National Radio Club and International Radio Club of America are pleased to announce another DX Test. This time from KSEN 1150 kHz in Shelby, Montana, near the Canadian border. KSEN plays an oldies format with the slogan, “Good as Gold.” They’re a fixture in the Shelby area but can be difficult to log outside of Big Sky country.
This test for distant listeners is being done with the generous support of the owners of KSEN, station management, and Chief Engineer Todd Clark. We can also thank the efforts of CPC member Paul Walker who used his connections in broadcasting to arrange yet another test.
The test will be on late night Saturday-Early Sunday morning on November 8, 2020 starting at 12:01AM Mountain Time for one hour. This is 0700-0800 UTC so it may be tough to log in Europe.
Test will be at the daytime power of 10,000 watts, but we are not yet certain about which antenna pattern may be available for the test.
Todd is attempting to arrange a change to the ND pattern, but may be limited to the night pattern which favors the North and South, with nulls towards E-W.
It looks like Todd will be doing maintenance on day pattern, but this is not confirmed.
KSEN AM Coverage MapKSEN AM 1150 Radio – Good as Gold – Shelby Classic Hits Radio.
Test will consist of voice announcements, Morse Code ID’s, sweep tones, off-hook telephone sounders, etc. The station has a small staff, so they have asked the CPC Committee to handle reception reports and verifications. Verifications will be by e-mail only. A specially designed QSL card in Adobe PDF format will be sent to successful reports.
The CPC prefers audio recordings in .MP3 or .WAV format. These should be e-mailed to: les@highnoonfilm.com
Put this on your calendar, and don’t miss the chance to log a great station in Northern Montana. Thanks again to CE Todd Clark and Paul Walker for this great DX Test.
John “Duke” Hamann, kc2dx, CE WNJC 1360 AM to WOR groups.io (2020-11-08)

India

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In the wake of the strong protest from different corners, Prasar Bharati’s order to decommission the 200 kW Medium Wave (MW) transmitter of the All India radio (AIR) [576 kHz] in Alappuzha has been put on hold on Saturday.
It was on Friday, the Prasar Bharati ordered the de-commissioning of the transmitter with immediate effect.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/79103273.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Times of India (2020-11-07)

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Canada

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(CRTC) Extension granted to CHTO-1 1490 in Mississaugu.
Canadian Hellenic Radio has until September 1, 2021 to get this new 23 watt (days) / 770 watts (nights) Greek language rebroadcaster in Mississauga on the air. The station will simulcast CHTO 1690 in Toronto. No details regarding the delay were made available as the link on the CRTC site has not yet been activated.
Canadian Radio News fb group (2020-11-06)

South Korea

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The FEBC medium-wave station [1188 kHz] in Siheung City, Gyeonggi province covering North Korea has been replaced by a new 250 kW transmitter on Daebu Island.
https://www.media-radio.info/radiodiffusion/index.php?radiodiffusion=Coree%20du%20Sud&id=283&cat_id=64
(Original text: FEBC: Mise en service d’un émetteur en ondes moyennes de 250 kW pour couvrir la Corée du Nord. La station émettrice de la FEBC a déménagé sur l’île de Daebu
La station en ondes moyennes de la ville de Siheung, dans la province de Gyeonggi a été remplacée par un nouveau centre émetteur de 250 kW sur l’île de Daebu.)
Radios du Monde fb group (2020-11-05)

Netherlands

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Radio Mebo 2 from Westerlee has today received a license to broadcast
on the LPAM frequency 846 kHz [with 100 Watt]. The permit for the 1485
[as I know only 1 Watt] has been surrendered.
Haaglanden Radio International has permission to broadcast from
Voorburg instead of Honselersdijk on 846 kHz. The broadcaster is
testing for this frequency.
Radio Monique 963 has started testing on LPAM 918 kHz from Velsen-Noord today, according to their Facebook.
Marco (2020-11-07)

United States

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LAST MINUTE UPDATE:
DX TEST – KSEN-1150 Shelby, Montana will test both Saturday Morning Nov 7 and Sunday Morning Nov 8 12:01 AM – 1:00 AM MST (0701-0800 UTC) with 10,000 watts on daytime pattern. Test will consist of voice announcements, Morse Code ID’s, sweep tones, off-hook telephone sounders, etc. The station has a small staff, so they have asked the CPC Committee to handle reception reports and verifications. Verifications will be by e-mail only. The CPC prefers audio recordings in .MP3 or .WAV format. These should be e-mailed to: les@highnoonfilm.com
Put this on your calendar, and don’t miss the chance to log a great station in Northern Montana. Thanks again to CE Todd Clark and Paul Walker for this great DX Test.
Marc DeLorenzo in MWDX – The National Radio Club fb group (2020-11-06)

Czech Republic

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DAB in Europe:
In the Czech Republic, coverage now reaches 95% of the population, and public broadcaster Czech Radio has announced the phasing out of long and medium-wave transmissions starting from 2021.
(As reported to The WorldDAB General Assembly 2020)
Mike Terry to WOR groups.io (2020-11-05)

United Kingdom

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On the first Tuesday of every month, Ofcom publishes a round-up of all licensing activity on the radio stations that  they regulate. This includes details of any changes to formats and key commitments, as well as information on upcoming licence advertisements.
Excerpts on AM stations from the Radio broadcast update October 2020 of 3 November 2020
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radio-broadcast-licensing/monthly-updates/radio-broadcast-update-october-2020

Additional information by Dr Hansjoerg Biener:
Licence renewals granted in this period.
A seven year renewal has been granted to the following:
East Lancashire (Asian Sound Radio) Asian Sound Radio Limited [963, 1377 kHz]
[https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000183ba3asiansoundradio.htm]

Licence renewals granted in this period.
A five year renewal has been granted to the following:
Stoke-on-Trent, surrounding parts of Staffordhshire and Cheshire (Greatest Hits Radio) Bauer Media Audio Limited LP  [Stoke 1170 kHz] 
[https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000088ba4greatesthitsradio.htm]
South Yorkshire (Greatest Hits Radio) Bauer Radio Limited [Barnsley 1305 kHz, Sheffield and Rotherham 1548 kHz, Doncaster 990 kHz]
[https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000092ba6greatesthitsradio.htm]
Coverage improvement and extension requests.
During the last month the service below had its request for an improvement to its existing coverage provisionally agreed, subject to the new technical arrangements going through our usual formal clearance process (this includes Ofcom liaising with a number of outside agencies before changes can be implemented).
Sabras Radio Leicester [1260 kHz]
[https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/radio-stations/analogue/al000058ba2sabrasradio.htm]
[Unfortunately, an extended licence does not mean that the licensee will keep the stations on the air until the expiry date.]
Dr Hansjoerg Biener (2020-11-04)

Papua New Guinea

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The Papua New Guinea National Broadcasting Corporation launches a million kina transmitter project to improve the National Radio Service in the entire Highlands and parts of the Momase region.
Eastern Highlands province which shares borders with Highlands and Momase regions will host the transmitter at Fimito.
The NBC Fimito Medium Wave Transmitter project will also benefit parts of the Momase region, as well as the Gulf province.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Timothy Masiu and Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu officially did the groundbreaking ceremony at Fimito a few kilometers out of Goroka town today.
[….]
NBC News / PNG Today (2020-11-02)