Easy Listening, April 2000
BBC World Service: New Schedules
The biggest news in April for program listeners is the major reshuffling of BBC World Service program schedules into 8 regional streams. The Americas now has its own program stream, instead of “sharing” one with Europe. Practically speaking, though, the time slots for non-news programs are reasonably consistent in the two services.
The BBC is also finally launching an all-news stream, primarily for rebroadcasters, that stream will be available via internet audio as well. Shortwave streams will be a mix of the news stream and feature programming, designed to provide programs with consistent subjects at consistent times during the day.
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Easy Listening Extra, April 2000
This Easy Listening Extra comes courtesy of the BBC Press Office. This schedule reflects the first full week of the new BBC schedule, which goes into effect on April 3rd.
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Shortwave Center, April 2000
DX Target: Mongolia
A Look At Broadcasting In A Remote Asian Country
By Richard A. D’Angelo
One of the most isolated countries in the world is the Republic of Mongolia. Like Switzerland in Europe, this Asian country is land locked. After years of Communist dominated governments, Mongolia has now adopted a free market system. While not the most modern of countries, Mongolia is making great strides. Its broadcasting structure allows it to reach a significant portion of the world with its high-powered transmitters. In this DX Target, we take a look at the country and its broadcasting activities.
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Technical Topics, April 2000
The NASWA Short-wave Simulator
Short-wave listeners have recently discovered the many radio stations, available free for the listening, via the Internet. With RealAudio’s Real Player 7.0, and Windows Media Player software, streaming audio has never sounded better. Stations from all over the world are just a mouse click away. Some stations are even in stereo. CBC Radio Two from Toronto streams a beautiful stereo signal as do WQXR in New York and KING-FM in Seattle. All four BBC domestic radio services are now available 24 hours a day.
As more and more of us get cable TV modems or DSL service via our telephone lines, we can all listen 24 hours a day to any station of our choice. And we can listen at higher data rates than previously possible on ordinary dial-up modems. What a wonderful time to be alive.
But every sunny day has a dark cloud lurking just below the horizon. Something is wrong. While I was at the SWL Winterfest last year I became aware of an ominous trend among NASWA’s program listeners. Can the sound actually be too good?
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