NASWA Journal Columns · Listener’s Notebook, July 1996

Richard D’Angelo • 2216 Burkey Drive • Wyomissing, PA 19610 ✉ rdangelo3◊aol.com

Listener’s Notebook, July 1996

Ladies And Gennemum

of the SW community, we have a monster on our hands. Or at least I do. It’s called the Internet, and it’s so crammed with, er, stuff of all sorts that it’s darned near overwhelming. I’ve never waded through so much info to assemble a column as I’ve done this month. This in itself wouldn’t be so bad, but for every net posting containing useful data, there are fifty about how the Antichrist has a show on WWCR and “where can I get a decent shortwave radio for $39.95?”

Why do I continue to wrestle with this nuttiness every month? Beats me. Must be some kind of Zen thing, a self-imposed trial at the end of which I’ll have this big revelation or something.

Hmmm. Maybe not. But that’s the wonder of it all. As the Zen master said to the hotdog vendor, “Make me one with everything.”

Thanks, as usual, to our extremely enlightened contributors for showing us the true path to DX.

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Contents

Copyright Notice

Items credited to BBCM are copyright by the BBC Monitoring Service and may not be reproduced without BBCM permission. (Many BBCM items are not available in the electronic edition of Listener’s Notebook. The printed edition of Listener’s Notebook, sent to club members, contains much more information culled from the publications of the BBC Monitoring Service. For information about subscriptions to the BBC Monitoring Service’s publications over the Internet, contact Marian Martin, Marketing Executive, at 100431.2524@compuserve.com.)

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Australia

Defence Forces Radio, initially aimed at Australian peacekeeping troops in Somalia and Cambodia, is now broadcasting only to HMAS Melbourne, currently on UN peacekeeping duties in the Arabian Gulf. The station uses a 40-kW transmitter located in Canberra. Address: Australian Defence Forces Radio, Anzac Park West, APW 1/B/07, Reid, ACT 2601, Australia. Fax: +61-2-266-6565 Sked 0430-0630 in English on 13525U. (BBCM)

Contrary to domestic press reports appearing after the recent electoral change of government, ABC says it has not lost faith in shortwave broadcasting and that Radio Australia will continue on shortwave, as well as via other delivery channels, in spite on continuing funding pressures. (John Figliozzi/DXPL/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

The Radio Australia operational schedule effective from 30 June shows five transmitters at Darwin with 250W. A 300 kW transmitter is listed, but is not yet in use. This reflects the planned closure of the Carnarvon site at 1430 URC on 30 June. Darwin will be operating 24-hrs, with all five transmitters in use from 2100 until 1430. From 1430 until 2130, one transmitter is off line for maintenance. The single sideband reduced carrier transmission will be on one frequency, 17880, Sats and Suns, in English, 1000-0800, taking the sporting service. (Mick Ogrizek/23-Jun/EDXP/Padula-Australia)

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Bahrain

Monitoring over the course of a week in Crete failed to turn up any sign of Radio Bahrain on either 6010 or 9746 kHz clear channels when a signal ought to have been audible at a distance of 2623 km. The conclusion is that the station is currently inactive on shortwave. (Henderson/Cumbre/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

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Bhutan

Bhutan Broadcasting Service has returned to 5030 kHz after a short stint on 5023v. (Goonetilleke/DX-Window/June “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

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Bolivia

Radio Mauro Nunez, 6142, has been off the air for over a month. (Klemetz/DATELINE BOGOTA/Lobdell/Cumbre)

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Burundi

Burundi’s National Communications Council has agreed to a request for registration by the Voice of Peace (Ijwi Ry’amahoro), a new radio station that is to be launched by the Burundi Conference of Catholic Churches. (8-Jun/BBCM)[No word whether this is to be a SW operation -AQ]

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Cambodia

The Domestic Service of National Radio of Cambodia active on 6089.8 at 1100-1500. 4907v is, however, unheard, even in Sri Lanka, and so seemingly inactive. (Goonetilleke/UADX/DSWCI/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

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Canada

Despite previous indications from the station to the contrary, CKFX, the former 10 watt outlet in Vancouver on 6080 kHz, is gone forever. The station was only licensed for 10 watts and a $1000 investment to acquire a replacement transmitter was turned down by station management who indicate there is no chance of returning to shortwave. (Johnson/Cumbre/June “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

One year after introducing overnight radio programming from many nations to CBC Radio, the idea has been declared a hit. Figures supplied by Philip Savage, head of the audience research department of CBC, show an estimated monthly reach of 440,000 listeners and in view of the time when they are aired (1 to 5 a.m. throughout Canada) the numbers are higher than anyone anticipated.

Since 1st May last year, CBC has been broadcasting daily programs in English supplied by World Radio Network (WRN) in London, which are produced by major public radio stations in France (RFI), South Africa (Channel Africa), Germany (Deutsche Welle), Britain (BBC World Service), Australia (ABC), Sweden (SR), Finland (YLE), Netherlands (RNW), Switzerland (SRI) and with occasional airing of stations from other nations. These broadcasts are otherwise only heard on shortwave or via special satellite equipment, but reach a new audience on CBC Radio via up to 400 local AM and FM transmitters across Canada and with considerable spillage into the USA.

CBC has received a volume of favorable letters regarding the programs from night workers, insomniacs, parents feeding babies and others, including many who say they record them and listen at breakfast time.

When audience responses to the overnight service were recently sought, views were overwhelmingly in favor of continuation of international programming. [So THERE.-AQ]

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Central African Republic

Radio Centrafrique was noted back on the air from 6 June on 5033.8 kHz (until 1900*). It had been off since 17 May following fighting in Bangui. (BBCM)

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China

Lhasa noted on new 7195 kHz, perhaps replacing 7110 kHz at 1300. (Foster-Australia/Contact/BCDX/Bueschel)

China National Radio Network-1, observed at 1234 on NFs 11100 and 9380 //7504.(21-Jun/MacGibbon/23-Jun/EDXP/Padula- Australia)

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CIS

Radiostantsiya Meditsina Dlya Vas (Medicine for You) started broadcasts in June 1996. The announced frequency of 11630 kHz has not been confirmed. Announced sked is 0300-1300 in Russian on 11630.(BBCM)

Re the relatively obscure Arabic language religious programming being heard over Voice of Russia transmitters from 1900-1930, and announcing a mailing address in Limassol: This programming is sponsored by IBRA Radio, with studio production from Cyprus. I received a QSL for the channels of 5935, 12015, and 12020 from Gosts Akerlund, Director, of IBRA Radio, S-105 36 Stockholm. Sites were advised as Samara (5935), and Moscow (12015, 12020). (23-Jun/EDXP/Padula-Australia)

R. Rossii Yazykovo on 4485 kHz observed with weather report for Kamchatskiy at 2300-2314. (Goncalves-Portugal/SWN/BCDX/Bueschel)

6260 kHz is Radiostantsia Yunost at 0420 UTC with pop music px. TX is situated at Tula, 200 kms south of Moscow, 50 kw.

9550 kHz, Radio Sem (Radio 7) at 0520 UTC, with orthodox religious px in Russian. According to ann Radio Sem is an independent multinational station situated in Samara, bc in eight CIS languages (weekends only?), including Russian, Tatar, Ukrainian. ID as Mnogonasionalnaja Radio Sem (“Multinational Radio Sem”). Heard till 0650 UTC, then fade out. (24-May/Pashkevich-Russia/Cumbre)

A revised BBC sked was issued on 5 June. Russian relays are now listed:

0030-0045 Bengali 9875 Tashkent
0045-0100 Hindi 9875 Tashkent
0800-0830 Bengali 17655 Tashkent
1000-1100 Mandarin 11990 Vladivostok
1300-1530 Mandarin 11640 Chita
1330-1410 Bengali 12025 Alma Ata
1400-1500 Hindi 9860 Tashkent
1500-1530 Nepali 9860 Tashkent
1600-1630 Ukrainian 7330 Ekaterinburg
1630-1700 Bengali 9860 Tashkent
1700-1730 Azeri 12015 St. Petersburg Sa-Th
1700-1730 Uzbek 12045 Moscow Sa-Th
1730-1800 Azeri 12015 St. Petersburg Fr
1730-1800 Russian 12045 Moscow + 12015 St. Petersburg Mo-Th/Sa
1730-1800 Uzbek 12045 Moscow Fr
1900-1930 Ukrainian 7330 Ekaterinburg Mo-Fr
1930-2000 Ukrainian 7330 Ekaterinburg Sa/Su
2200-2300 Mandarin 9860 Chita

(Researched from BBC Engineering/Padula).

Radio Minsk (Belarus) External Service:

1800-1900 Belarussian* 7180 7210 9875 11960
2330-2400 Belarussian 7250 12010 15180

*=GG 1830-1900 We/Sa/Su(2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

Radio Tashkent observed on new 5995 kHz, ID at 1658 UTC. (28-May/Liangas-Greece/BCDX/Bueschel-Germany).

Uzbek Radio Local Network

0000-2100 5995 Uzbek 1
0430-1230 15200 15165 Uzbek 2
0930-1000 4510  
1200-1230 4510  
1230-1400 15200 Uzbek 2
2030-2300 9540 Uzbek 2

(NDXC/2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

Radio Vatandosh, Uzbekistan, in Uzbek language on 9530 and 9545 kHz at 0230-0330. Also // 7190 and 9715 kHz. (Ostroverkh-Kazakhstan/DXW/BDXC/Bueschel)

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Clandestine-Africa

Nigeria’s alternative radio station began its shortwave transmissions on 12 June. Radio Democrat International, operates from 0600-0630 on 11900 kHz, and from 1500-1530 on 15120 kHz, likely from Meyerton (RSA) site. In its inaugural broadcast Radio Democrat International said that it would publicize the activities of human rights, environmental and pro-democracy groups within and outside Nigeria. It said that it was launched to complement the activities of its sister station, Freedom Radio (also known as Freedom Frequency) which has broadcast on VHF/FM in the Lagos area several times during the past year. (BBCM) Monitoring on 27-Jun indicates that as of 1 July, the station will begin actual programming (instead of filler music and sundry program/sked announcements). Program will air once a day, from 2100-2200 on new 7195 kHz.-AQ.

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Clandestine-Asia

Thabye Radio, the black clandestine, pro-[Myanmar] government KNU station, still operating on 6355.2 according to its published schedule: 0030-0130, 0530-0630 and 1030-1230. (Krone/DSWCI/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

The black clandestine Tamil Service on 6035 kHz is produced by the Elaam Peoples Democratic party which is allied to the government. In fact, all Tamil groups fight along with the government forces against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam–the LTTE. The service on 6035 is from 1315 to 1430 and is via a 12.5 Marconi transmitter located in Puttalam at the TWR transmitter complex. The complex is owned and operated by the SLBC. This transmitter has a varied history. It was imported to jam LTTE communications and broadcasts, then it went bust. TWR repaired it and carried gospel programs and now it’s a black clandestine. (Krone/DSWCI/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

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Cote D’Ivoire

7215 R. Cote d’Ivoire +2045-2400v* Reactivated after many moons and noted daily since May 29 during this time period and also after South Africa TWR goes off at 0600*. No sign of 6015 or 4940. (2-Jun/Hill)

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Croatia

Croatian Radio, Zagreb, released the following schedule for J96:

0100-0500 7165 5895
0500-0600 13830 9830 7165 5895
0600-1130 13830 9830 7165
1130-1600 13830 7165 5920
1600-2000 13830 7165
2000-2200 11635
2200-0100 7165

EE nx is listed for six minutes at 0403 (5895), 0606 (5920 7165 9830), 0803 (5920 7165 9830), 2203 (5895 7165). (RVI/EDXP/2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

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Cuba

Radio Habana Cuba is now broadcasting on the 22 meter band (13715 kHz) beaming to Europe. The English language segment 2100-2200 UTC is heard in Europe very well according to reports received in Habana. 13715 kHz is using 100 kW and a 13 dB gain rhombic antenna with a departure angle of about 10 degrees. This antenna was used for the Cuba to Europe radiotelephone links in the pre-satellite era, and after a nice repair it is now used for broadcasting very successfully. This was a low cost alternative to installing an expensive curtain array. 13725 kHz is on SSB with a 20 kW PEP tx, also of the pre-satellite days radiotelephone service. The antenna is a similar rhombic, beamed slightly more to the north, and according to reports, its making its way well into both NoAm and Europe during the 2100-2200 UTC time slot. (13-Jun/Coro-Cuba/EDXP/Padula-Australia)

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Denmark/Russia

(Presumably) on 23 June, a new, independent commercial station–Radio ABC–began shortwave broadcasting. Sked is Sundays from 0800-1200, frequency 7520 kHz. Programs in English consist of music, entertainment and information. The official Danish Airplay Top 30 will be aired every Sunday at 1000-1100 UTC and there will be an ABCDX-Report for shortwave enthusiasts at 1130 UTC. Station will use a 120 kW transmitter at Kaliningrad, Russia. Address: Radio ABC/Denmark, PO Box 174, DK-8900 Randers, Denmark. Internet home page is http://www.radioabc.dk. (BBCM)

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Dominican Republic

New station is Cristal Internacional, Santo Domingo, on 5012v, operating with 1 kW from 2100-0300. Reception reports should be sent to: Radio Pueblo, Apto. 1099, Santo Domingo. (Cumbre/2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia) Address also listed as Apartado Postal 894, or Av. Pepillo Salcedo No. 18 altos. Fax no. 809 567 910 (6-Jun/Fleming/Cumbre) [Which one is it?-AQ]

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Ecuador

HCJB in English to PAC at 0700-1130 UTC replaced 5900 with 9445 kHz, because of Papua New Guinea medical service on nearby 5895 kHz. Also, listener club ANDEX has been closed forever. (5-Jun/HCJB)

Radio Federacion, Sucua, has increased power from 5 kW to 10 kW on 4785.8, operating 1215-1800 only on weekdays; and on 4860.1 at 2100-0100 in Shuar & at 0100-0300 in Spanish. (TIN/Krone/DSWCI/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

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Gabon

Lightning recently damaged the Africa Numero Un transmitters, leading to ongoing disruptions in the skeds of ANO (0300-0500 on 9580 kHz, 0600-0700 and 0800-1000 on 17630 kHz, and 1500-1800 on 15475) and other broadcasters relayed by the site. (BBCM)

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Greece

Changes for Voice of Greece, effective 2-Jun:

0000-0350 GK/EE 9935 (ex 7448)
1200-1350 GK/EE 15630 (ex 15650) and 15180 (ex 15170)
1500-1700 GK/Alb/S.Cr/Bulg/RR 11645 (ex 9420)
1710-1750 GK/RR/Polish 11645 (ex 9425)
1800-1850 GK/EE 11645 (add)
1900-2150 GK 9375 (ex 9420)
2000-2050 EE/FF/GG/IT/SS 9420 (ex 7430)

(Padula/van Oudheusden/RVI/June “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark–Canada + Finkle/Cumbre)

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Guyana

The Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has returned to shortwave, using 5 kW per this sked: 0900-2100 on 5950 kHz and 2200-0900 on 3290 kHz. (BBCM) Just got off the phone with Shiroxley Goodman, chief engineer for the GBC. Not much to add to the current information available, though he did tell me that in addition to new 5kW transmitters, they had to refurbish their antennas. Both were vandalized due to a security fence being down; thieves stole all of the copper wire, which had to be replaced. (They also have a new fence up!)

Shiroxley says they are using very simple dipole antennas for 3290 and 5950, a configuration suggested by the VOA (he says he has a friend who works there). Obviously, the idea was to get as little sky wave as possible, and beam a signal to Guyana’s interior. To date, Shiroxley has not received any reports from Guyana’s interior, he says it is a remote area and it will take awhile to see if coverage is adequate. But he is receiving reports from afar–mostly the U.S. and the Caribbean, but says he also got one report from Europe (didn’t say where) and Ecudaor. Have to wonder if the latter wasn’t from Rich McVicar at HCJB! He also went out of they way to tell me they have a new all-night show, which they just started a few weeks ago. Says it is music with brief news segments, etc. Since he specifically told me about the new overnight endeavor, perhaps reception reports which detail this program will be especially appreciated.

In addition to snail-mail, Shiroxley will accept correspondence via fax, at the number provided in the current WRTH. (10-Jun/Sharp/DSWCI)

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Honduras

Radio Copan expects to reactivate 15675, following unsatisfactory tests on 7460. It may look at using the 41 or 60 mb, probably with a different transmitter and antenna. Station has another 1 kW transmitter in Miami, which may possibly be set up in Honduras. (Johnson/Cumbre/2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

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Hungary

R. Budapest to NoAM now on 9840 & 11870 kHz, EE at 0100 & 0230 UTC. (Southwell/Communication)

WRTH96 and BBCM do not list the SW relays of the Hungarian National Radio. For Z96, these are scheduled from the Szekesfehervar site:

0320-2310 6025 100 kW
0500-0600 7155 20 kW
1630-1700 7250 20 kW
1700-1730 7220 20 kW
1930-2000 7125 20 kW

(2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

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Iceland

Radio Alpha and Omega broadcasts Christian programs in English from Reykjavik, Iceland. It is believed to be relayed via the Deutsche Welle transmitter in Jülich, Germany. Address: c/o Omega Television, Reykjavik, Iceland. Sked is 1900-2000 on 6110, Sundays only. (BBCM)

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India

All India Radio has introduced additional transmitters for its external services, from the Bangalore site, using 500 kW:

0100-0130 Burmese 7150
1000-1100 GOS 17585 13700
1330-1500 GOS 13750
1745-1945 GOS 11620
2045-2230 GOS 11620 7150
2245-0115 GOS 11620 7150

(Gupta-India/2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

AIR Delhi changes, taken from June issue of “India Calling”:

2045-2230 GOS 9705
2245-0045 GOS 11660 7150

(Bueschel) [Now I’m really confused.-AQ]

Tibetan additional 11710 kHz at 1215-1330 UTC, //7410 & 9565 kHz, often jammed by China. (AIR/23-Jun/BDXC/Bueschel-Germany)

AIR Domestic service report:

3305/6140 AIR Ranchi is inactive
3390 AIR Gangtok still testing here from 1200-1630v.
4760 AIR Port Blair evening times to read 1030-1630/1700/1730.
4775 AIR Imphal morning times to read 0025-0215.
4790 AIR Itanagar evening transmission is 1030-1730v
4800 AIR Hyderabad 1130-1744 (Suns from 1145).
4850 AIR Kohima active 0000-0215, 1000-1600/1630/1700 – irregular.
4895 AIR Kurseong morning transmission 0100-0405.
4950 AIR Srinagar B is still here although announcing 3277.
4990 AIR Itanagar is no longer using this frequency or 9650
5010 AIR Thiruananthapuram morning tx 0020-0215; 1145-1735 is not heard.
5050 AIR Aizawl 0030-0450 0700-1000–irregular.
6110 AIR Srinagar B morning times to read 0215-0453.
7115 AIR Port Blair morining times to read 0315-0400 (Sats to 0430/Suns to 0505).
7120 AIR Jaipur ex-7270
7140 AIR Hyderabad afternoon times to read 0610-0840/0915 (Sats to 0930/Suns to 1130).
7150 AIR Imphal morning times to read 0230-0430 (Suns to 0530).
7160 AIR Madras morning times to read 0300-0415 (Sa to 0430/0445, Su to 0530), evening times to read 1110-1130 (Mo-Fr).
7180 AIR Bhopal morning times to read 0228-0406 (Suns to 0500).
7210 AIR Calcutta morning times to read 0230-0401v.
7270 AIR Jaipur frequency changed to 7120 kHz.
7280 AIR Guwahati A 0430-0500 is not heard, evening tx 1015-1145.
7290 AIR Thiruananthapuram times to read 0230-0400 0630-0930 (Suns from 0500, Sats to 0945, Suns to 1015)
9650 AIR Gangtok is no longer using this frequency.

(Guha-India/DX Grapevine/Jacob/Cumbre + Manosij/Clark//DSWCI)

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Indonesia

It seems that the Indonesian stations no longer using the “Coconut Island” “Love Ambon” interval signal. Instead, they repeat a simple up and down tune about three times before the news. (Kecskes/Cumbre)

2904.53 RPDT2 Ngada @1030 (Kecskes/Cumbre)
3214.70 RRI Manado @1053 (Kecskes/Cumbre)
3249.80 RRI Banjarmasin @2135 (Kecskes/Cumbre)
3264.70 RRI Gorontalo @1120 (Kecskes/Cumbre)
3325.00 RRI Palangkaraya @1144 (Kecskes/Cumbre)
3395.1 RRI Tanjung Karang @1505 Jakarta nx relay. (9-Jun/Yamada/Cumbre)
3976.0 RRI Surabaya @2220 (Kecskes/Cumbre)
4073.9 RPDT2 Blitar NF @1130-1608*. (Schulze/DSWCI/Cumbre)
5055.4 RRI Nabire @0830 f/in (6-Jun/Schulze-Philippines/23-Jun/BDXC/Bueschel-Germany)
6153.20 RRI Biak @0835 (Kecskes/Cumbre)

RRI Jakarta shifted from 15130 to 15125 kHz as from early June. (Sellers/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

Monitored schedule of RRI-Jakarta is:

4777.1 -1200-1900-
9680.0 #2200-1405#
15125.0 or 15126.0 #1400-1605#
15150.0 or 15151.0 #2200-1515#

(Yamada-JAPAN) [I could be wrong, but I suspect the “-1200-1900-” means f/in and f/out, while the other freqs have s/on and s/off listed.-AQ]

According to a letter, RPDT2 Ngada began broadcasting on 2904 kHz in 1976. Now the station uses a 500W transmitter made in Indonesia, from 0955-1405. Mailing address is; Jalan Soekarno Hatta, Bajawa, Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur.(Yamada-JAPAN)

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Iran

Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (VOIRI) has been testing its huge new facility at Sirjan [Kerman Province]. The site has ten 500-kW transmitters, 48 fixed directional antenna systems on top of 33 masts and a multi-band steerable antenna, all covering 18 sq.km. of land. (BBCM)

VOIRI Tehran new on 6165 kHz in Persian, 2245-2300+ //6175, 7130 & 15084 kHz. On 7190 kHz in Arabic, 1900-2130*. (Padula-Australia/Hill) Also Russian 1930-2030 on unlisted v7290.3 kHz. (Hill/Cumbre)

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Italy

RAI Rome in Czech 1815, Slovak 1830, Polish 1845-1905 UTC now on 7110 & 9525 kHz. English at 1935 UTC on 7235, 9670, and 11905 kHz. Hungarian 1935-1955 UTC on 5990 & 7110 kHz. Scandinavian langs at 2000 UTC on new 9670 kHz. New Russian at 2000-2020 UTC on 6035, 9695, and 11750 kHz. English 2025-2045 UTC on new 11840 kHz to ME. EE to Asia 2205-2225 on 6025 (ex-5990) (Padula/Bueschel)

Radio Europe, Pioltello, observed on 7203 (x7300v) kHz USB on Sat and Sun in period 0830-1200 relaying Radio Marabu, Play-DX, Power-FM, Radio Pirata, and Con Frequencia (in Spanish). (3-Jun/Play-DX/EDXP)

New on 7140 is Radio Maria, who bought out Radio Italia Intl. Operating 24 hours. Address: Via Turati 7, I-22036 Erba Italy. (PlayDX direct, Mougenez DX Window) Heard by Hill in MA in early May around 2300.(Johnson); 7139.91 R. Marija via R. Italia Int., noted 0000-0035. (11-Jun/Valko/Cumbre)

Re last month’s report on Rock-It Radio via IRRS, email from one Bennie Dingo says: “Thank you for mentioning Rock-it Radio in your Listener’s notebook in the NASWA Journal. And yes I am happy to say that CET does = +2 hours UTC. Actually Rock-it Radio’s schedule has changed a bit since our letter went out to you. IRRS was suffering some severe qrm from Swiss Radio Int. on 3985 so they have Switched to 3950 Khz. and has improved matters considerably. I am also happy to say that Rock-it Radio has had very favorable results in Europe and with a recent agreement with IRRS and WRMI–Radio Miami International, starting July 7th–Rock-it Radio will also be relayed on WRMI. [see also WRMI under “USA”-AQ] The IRRS schedule for Rock-it Radio is now:

1100-1200 7125 Sa
2000-2100 3950 Su

(direct)

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Kuwait

VOA recently opened a 600 kW mediumwave site in Kuwait, targeted at Iran and Iraq. (BBCM)

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Liberia

SIM International reports unofficially that while the ELWA site has been abandoned because of the civil war, the transmitter and generator at the station compound are relatively undamaged. (DXPL/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada) [Will ELWA again rise from the ashes? Maybe…but don’t hold your breath…-AQ]

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Lithuania

On a trial basis, Radio Vilnius has added an 0800-0900 block (half hour each in Lithuanian and English) on 9710. After 0900, the shortwave transmitter switches back to a relay of Lithuanian Radio’s first program, in parallel with 666 kHz. (BBCM)

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Macedonia (Non)

In the June LN, I expressed my doubts about the veracity of an Internet posting alleging that Kiribati had set up a Macedonian relay for its forces in that country. The experts appear to concur that Kiribati has no UN peacekeeping force whatsoever; and Radio Kiribati itself confirms the report as being pure fiction. (Sennitt & Cushen/RNMN/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada) [Good joke, ‘tho-AQ]

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Madagascar

Radio Nederland announced new freqs for English to SoAS and ME at 1330-1625 UTC via Madagascar relay: 9895 & 15585 kHz (ex 9890 & 15150). (13-Jun/RNMN)

3358.0 1440-1450 RTV Malagasy, Antananarivo on reactivated fq with Malagasy talks // 5009.0. (9-Jun/Korinek-RSA/DSWCI)
6135.4 0935-0945 RTV Malagasy, Antananarivo with Vernacular talks. (9-Jun/Korinek-RSA/DSWCI)

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Malaysia

11888 Radio Malaysia, following up on Sharp’s tip. Presume this one here at 1020 with pops. Probably drifting 11885. (11-Jun/Johnson). Radio Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, observed on 22887.95v with CC service 1030, nominally 11885. (19-Jun/MacGibbon/23-Jun/EDXP/Padula-Australia)

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Mexico

While XERMX, Radio Mexico Int’l, is active again, the transmitters on 5985 and 9705 are both having technical problems. The modulation is especially bad on 6185. Neither transmitter is operating at its fully rated 10 kW output, according to the station’s DX program manager. He advises as well that the station’s 100 kW transmitter building has *never* been used. (Gamaz/Jorgensen/DSWCI)

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Mozambique

During the last ten days of March at least, Radio Mocambique was making a brave attempt to get their External Service program in English on the air at 1100-1130 on 9619 kHz, however the audio was very distorted. [See May LN]. In addition, the Provincial Service from Beira was being heard on 9637.9 at 1100 with news and features in Portuguese. (Steyn/The South African Shortwave Listener/SADX/ODXA/Clark)

4921.2 0445-0455 Em. Interprovincial, Maputo heard here //1008 MW in Vernacular with local instrumental mx and messages. (2-Jun/Korinek-RSA/DSWCI)

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Nepal

Radio Nepal has switched to its summer frequency of 7164.4 kHz (x3229.8) at 0920-1015 (Schulze-Philippines/23-Jun/BDXC/Bueschel-Germany)

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Northern Mariana Islands

KHBI Saipan in English at 2000-2100 UTC on new 9570 kHz. (Bob Padula-AUS, May 26)

KHBI plans to change its frequencies for the New Zealand service on 25 June. The new channel will be 9845, 2000-2100 and 0800-0900.(Ogrizek/23-Jun/EDXP/Padula-Australia)

As from March 31, KFBS changed 5810 to 9465 kHz, so ALL 5810 kHz entries in the combined schedule must be replaced by 9465 kHz, 1400-1859 UTC. There are no plans to use 5810 kHz in the next two years. (22-May/Pashkevich-Russia) In Russian to Eastern Russia at 0900-1100 UTC replaced 9465 with 11650 kHz. (6-Jun/Cushen/RNMN)

[ CONTENTS ]

Norway/Denmark

Frequency changes for R. Norway and R. Denmark from 1 June:

0400-0500 7520 replaces 7465
1600-1700 13800 replaces 11840
2200-2300 9485 replaces 9495

(4-Jun/Koie/R. Denmark)

[ CONTENTS ]

Pakistan

R. Pakistan at 1505 till c/down with National Anthem at 1530 UTC on new 5920.2 kHz. (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, UADX, May 22)

[ CONTENTS ]

Peru

5264.8 Radio 5264, Chiriaco heard with ID around 0020. (20-May/Klemetz/DATELINE BOGOTA/Lobdell/Cumbre)
5050.4 Radio Municipal de Cangallo, Ayacucho (pres) @2320 (17-Jun/Koutamanis/Cumbre)
5980.1 R. LTC 1210-1240 ID as Radio LTC la emisora mx, prog: “LTC Noticia.. siempre los primeros” Tel# 35-31-71. (15-Jun/Arrunategui/Cumbre)

[ CONTENTS ]

Philippines

English from FEBC is heard at 0930-1100 on 11640, notwithstanding the announced frequency is 11635 kHz. (Cushen/RNMN/July “World Radio Report”/ODXA/Clark-Canada)

Radio Veritas Asia changes:

0030-0055 Tamil 9670 (ex 11820)
1230-1255 Pilopino 9505
1500-1525 Pilopino 11715
1525-1555 Pilopino 11715 Sa/Su/We
2330-2355 Burmese 7210 (ex 7230)

(20-May/Padula/EDXP)

The Philippine Broadcasting Service now has additional transmissions from the Poro facility of VOA. Three transmitters are used at 0330-0400 in Filipino & English, on 17730, 15330 and 13770 kHz. (22-Jun/Ferguson/IBB)

[ CONTENTS ]

Sao Tome

VOA‘s 4th shortwave transmitter is now in service:

0430-0700 5970 (incl. English 0500-0630, -0700 weekends)
1630-1830 11765
1830-2130 12080

(1-Jun/VOA Communications World/BCDX/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia)

[ CONTENTS ]

Saudi Arabia

3868 2135-2206 BSKSA with USB feeder here // 9870 and 9555. Arabic talks and mx, Quran call 2147, ID, Anthem and sign off. (Goncalves/DSWCI)

[ CONTENTS ]

Seychelles

FEBA Radio Mahe noted on new 15540 kHz in Tagalog (mixed of English/Pilipino), Fridays 0957-1058 UTC; followed by Arabic to 1130 UTC. (Green/SWN)

A new radio service, Voice of Tibet, broadcasts from studios in Oslo via a shortwave transmitter in the Seychelles. Station was created by Worldview International, the Norwegian Tibet Committee and the Norwegian Human Rights House. The broadcasts are aimed at Tibetan people both in Tibet and in neighboring countries. Schedule is 1145-1200, Monday through Friday, on 15445 kHz. Address: Worldview International, Welhavensgt.1, 0166 Oslo 1, Norway. (BBCM)

[ CONTENTS ]

Singapore

According to their schedule, Radio Singapore International is on the air daily in English from 1100 to 1400 UTC on the frequencies of 6015 and 6155 kHz. The station has a second address in addition to the one listed in WRTH 96: Radio Singapore International, Caldecott Broadcast Center, 1st Storey Annex Building, Andrew Road, Singapore 299939 (RSI schedule/Sandte/Cumbre) RCS–Radio Corp. of Singapore [Domestic Service, formerly called SBC–Singapore Broadcasting Corpn] has begun relaying the Radio Singapore Int’l programs in the 1100-1400/1500 time period. Thus RCS on 6000 relays RSI on 6120 in Chinese to 1400; 6155 relays 6015 in English to 1400; and 7250 relays 6135 in Malay which runs to 1500. Since there are no external RSI programs in Tamil, 7170 continues with its usual programming at 1100-1400. WRTH lists all RSC channels signing on in the local morning at 2200, and while 7170 and 7250 adhere to this sked, both 6000 and 6155 are opening one hour later at 2300. (via David Foster in OZDX-May/96) [Is that clear?-AQ]

[ CONTENTS ]

South Africa

Channel Africa in French to CeAF at 0500-0555 UTC on 9525 kHz. TWR Swaziland via 500 kW Meyerton tx at 0333-0404 UTC Amharic, till close down at 0417 UTC in Somali, both on 7215 kHz. (2-Jun/Bueschel)

Channel Africa is the latest international broadcaster to be threatened with closure due to financial constraints. Early in June, South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister announced that his department would no longer fund Channel Africa, adding that the service would close within months. SABC would then study the feasibility of providing a substitute external service targeted for countries outside Africa.

Immediately after this bombshell was dropped, the staff of SABC and Channel Africa launched a frantic, worldwide campaign to save its own skin. With a fate-sealing June 19 cabinet meeting looming on the horizon, Channel Africa embarked on a national and international campaign to stay on air.

As a result of this campaign, which garnered substantial support from listeners, other international broadcasters, and such organizations as Amnesty International, the South African cabinet voted on June 19 to continue funding a scaled-down Channel Africa under the auspices of the SABC. (BBCM, RNMN, direct)

Following up last month’s item about the now-silent Capital Radio, the station has been inactive on shortwave 3930 and 7150 [actually 7149] since late 1994 when its Continental brand transmitters were destroyed in a thunderstorm. Replacement parts were difficult to obtain due to the then economic sanctions and local efforts to repair the transmitters met with little success. The station is presently owned by the South African government which has put it up for sale so the fate of Capital Radio will be determined by the prospective new owners. Transkei was a nation [‘Homeland’] established and recognized only by South Africa but the territory has now become repatriated as part of the Republic of South Africa. (DXPL)

[ CONTENTS ]

Spain

REE Madrid summer schedule changes:

0000-0500 Spanish 11855 (x6055)
0100-0200 Sefardi 11775 Tu
0100-0400 Spanish 5970 (x9745), 3210 (x3200) Tu-Sa
0500-0700 Spanish 9685 (x7145)
1100-1400 Spanish 3210 (x3200) Mo-Fr
1300-1800 Spanish 11815 (x15320) Sa/Su
1400-1800 Spanish 11880 (x17870) Sa/Su
1600-1700 Spanish 17755 (x11775) Mo-Sa //15210
1700-1800 Russian 9620 (x6125) Mo-Fr Russian
1800-1900 Sefardi 6130 Mo
1800-2400 Spanish 11815 (x17890)
1900-2300 FF/AA/SS 15110 (x9580)
1900-2300 Spanish 17870 (x15110)

(REE/23-Jun/BDXC/Bueschel-Germany)

[ CONTENTS ]

Sri Lanka

Standard time was changed to UTC +6:30h on May 25th. According to press reports, local TV transmission hours have also been cut, now closing at 9:00pm local. These actions are no doubt responses to the power shortages reported in earlier bulletins. (3-Jun/Clark/Cumbre)

SLBC‘s All Asia Service in English continues to operate on 15425 and 9720 but the 10 kW transmitter on 6005 kHz is no longer in use. 9720 is the old 1948 Marconi SEAC Radio transmitter. It is still going strong and the engineers say that it’s far more reliable than modern transmitters! (Goonetilleke/UADX/DSWCI)

VOA relay site currently under construction has incurred some delays due to problems with the antennas, but engineers fully expect at least one transmitter will be on the air by late this year. (Goonetilleke/RNMN)

[ CONTENTS ]

Sweden

Radio Sweden Stockholm in Swedish at 0200 UTC, English 0230-0300 UTC on new additional 6090 kHz, //7290 kHz. (6-Jun/Hauser-WoR)

[ CONTENTS ]

Thailand

Radio Thailand via Udon Thani relay in English:

0000-0030 9690
0030-0100 15370
0300-0330 15370
1900-2000 7210
2030-2045 9555

(2-Jun/Radio Japan Media RoundUp)

The Royal Palace Station, Or Sor, continues to operate on 6149 kHz. In Sri Lanka it can be squeezed out from the mess with Radio Singapore blasting through on 6155. Or Sor is tuned at 1130 to usual 1200 s/off [listed Tues-Sat] with the Thai national anthem. (Weerakoon/UADX/DSWCI)

[ CONTENTS ]

Turkey

Log reports appearing in Anker Petersen’s column indicate that both Turkish State Meteorological Service on 6900 kHz (listed 0458 s/on with 5 kW) and Turkish Police Radio on 7370 kHz (listed 0458 s/on with 10 kW–but heard at 0408-0428) are both still active. There have been reports that these stations could be leaving shortwave at some point. (DSWCI)

[ CONTENTS ]

United Kingdom

BBCWS expands Pashto and Persian programs, to give a two-hour evening stream. New transmissions in Persian 1500-1530 UTC, Pashto 1530-1545 UTC on 11720 and 15380 kHz. (BBCWS via BBCM)

[ CONTENTS ]

Uruguay

New station Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, 9650v, first heard 16-17/5 with brief tests during local afternoon. Thereafter, nothing until 20/5, when noted 1640*. Daily since 21/5, coming on air anytime between 1500 and 1600. Local evening reception poor, heard until 2300 fade-out. (Jones-Paraguay/Cumbre/2-Jun/ARDXC NewsPlus/Padula-Australia) They will also start testing on 15230 whenever they finish assembling another transmitter. The station is using a single 1.5 kW homebrew transmitter for the tests that has 4 tubes and a half wave dipole about 18 meters high. The station hopes that these transmissions reach the Southern USA. Future plans also include a Yagi antenna and a second transmitter. The station welcomes reception reports but they haven’t printed up QSL cards yet (they do have stickers). Return postage is not necessary. (Cumbre DX)

A recently received worldwide IBRA Radio sked, effective Dec 1995, shows an odd entry under “Uruguay”: IBRA Radio transmissions on the frequency 6370 kHz on Mon-Fri at 1930-2000, Wed at 1900-1930, Sat at 0805-0900, and daily at 2200-0030. (Berg-MA)

[ CONTENTS ]

USA

VOA has made some frequency changes for English to Africa. Actually, four frequencies have been dropped. From 0300 to 0500, 7405 and 9575 are no longer in service. These are from Greenville, North Carolina. From 1600-2000, 11920 from Thailand, and 12040 from the Philippines have been deleted. The Greenville frequencies have been dropped because other transmitters, including the new Sao Tome relay, are getting through. And transmissions from the Asian sites to Africa just have not been propagating well this year.(22-Jun/VOA Communications World/Ogrizek/23-Jun/EDXP/Padula-Australia)

KAIJ latest sked:

0000-1400 5810
0100-1300 9815
1400-2200 15725
1400-2400 13815
2300-2400 13740

(direct/Cumbre)

New frequency for KVOH is 5085 kHz, the station plans to start using this freq within the next 60 days. No further details available. 9975 kHz KVOH with Farsi program! Heard at 0120 UTC with Farsi talk and address given. KVOH tells me this is UTC Mondays only from 0100-0130 UTC. Address is: Christian Joy Center, P.O. Box 3239, Tustin, CA 92681. I wonder how many folks are up in the middle of the night in Iran listening to this? (direct/Cumbre)

Hans Johnson reports that WINB [shortwave radio station] in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, is still off the air and that the future looks grim. Hans says that according to WINB’s engineer, Fred Wise, the station’s 50-kW transmitter broke down in April 1995 and there are still no plans or money allocated to fix the transmitter.

Mr. Wise built the station’s transmitter from a Continental AM transmitter back in 1962. He says Mr [John] Norris, the station’s owner, still has not made a decision with regard to fixing the transmitter.

Hans comments that the transmitter was in bad shape when Dave Valko and he visited the station in the fall of 1994. They were only running 17 kW with poor modulation. They had also lost one of their two antennas in an accident during the summer of 1994. Hans adds that during their visit it appeared to him that the organization’s funds were going towards their television and AM-FM radio operation and that this appears to still be the case today. (8-Jun/HCJB/Cumbre)

The latest information on WJCR‘s broadcast (or the lack thereof) comes this afternoon (Mon:June 17@ 2000 UT). Sunday afternoon I noted now they were off 7490 (as well as 13595), and posed this question to staff member Gordon Brown this afternoon via phone. He informed me that now both transmitters are off. In his words, “we’re working both night and day to bring them back up”. No indication from him when that would be. Both still off at 0400 check June 18. (Van Horn/Cumbre) [Still off now–27 Jun @0456-AQ]

WWCR has left 3215 kHz at 0100?-1000 UTC in favor of 7435 kHz. (13-Jun/Hauser WOR/23-Jun/BDXC/Bueschel-Germany)

The Asia Pacific Network, formerly called Radio Free Asia, is expecting to start broadcasting operations this summer, initially in Mandarin. Pacific region sites, probably including certain VOA sites, have yet to be confirmed. (Communications World)

There has been much media attention to a story in the 3rd June “US News and World Report” about Radio Marti.

“US News” obtained documents generated during an investigation by the USIA inspector general. Charges in the documents concerned Cuban-American leader Jorge Mas Canosa who is head of the Radio Marti advisory board. One such charge is that Mas pushed for the hiring of a news director for Radio Marti who is not fluent in English and that the news director pushed stories about Mas’s own activities.

There are also charges of irregularities in the reporting about the size of Radio Marti’s audience.

The report on Radio Marti has not yet been issued, partly because the USIA office of inspector general has been absorbed into the US State Department. “US News” reports that Mas and Radio Marti officials have not commented on the USIA inquiry. (2-Jun/VOA/BBCM)

[ CONTENTS ]

Vatican City

Vatican Radio in Russian at 2000-2030 UTC on 7310 & 9825 kHz, Polish at 1800 and German at 1820 UTC on odd v5881 kHz. (Padula/Bueschel)

[ CONTENTS ]

Yemen

Is Aden still on shortwave? Probably not. It’s unlikely that the two shortwave and two mediumwave transmitters at the Al-Hiswah site just outside Aden, which were destroyed at the end of June 1994 in the closing stages of the civil war, will be rebuilt. The transmitters were a legacy of the former South Yemen (which merged with North Yemen in 1990) and, given that there is already a shortwave site at San’a, there’s little use for the united country having a second SW facility. Although it is possible that some local low-powered broadcasting, perhaps on FM, is on the air in Aden, I would be very skeptical of any loggings of Aden on SW or MW. I have occasionally seen loggings claiming to be of Aden on 7190, but I’m sure that they are of Tehran in Arabic. (18-Jun/Greenway/BBCM)

[ CONTENTS ]

Yugoslavia

Radio Yugoslavia, Belgrade in English to NoAM at 0430-0500 UTC observed on single 11870 kHz, with 9580 kHz not on air. (26-May/Bueschel)

[ CONTENTS ]

Zambia

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has started using one of its new 100-kW transmitters. ZNBC’s Radio One has been observed regularly in the UK in the early morning and late evening on 4910 kHz since about 15th May with a much stronger and clearer signal than in the past. ZNBC has also been heard in the daytime on 7220 kHz. (BBCM)

Sked:

0245-0530 Multi/Radio 1 4910
0250-2210 English/Radio 2 6165
0500-1430 Multi/Radio 1 7220
1430-2205 Multi/Radio 1 4910

(BBCM)

[ CONTENTS ]

Does This Sound Remotely Familiar? -Or- Where Have We Heard That Name Before?


Subject: News Release: New Offshore Radio Project
From: anitam1061@aol.com (AnitaM1061)
Date: 8 Jun 1996 10:17:05 -0400
Contact: Scott Becker
Lightwave Mission Broadcasting
Kiowa, Kansas 67070
Phone 316-825-4209

NEWS RELEASE June 8, 1996

Offshore Broadcaster to Promote Environmental Issues and Provide a Free Radio Voice.

Lightwave Mission Broadcasting in association with Becker Broadcast Systems is in the process of outfitting a ship for international shortwave and medium wave (AM) transmission.

The new vessel is to be names the Electra in honor of the great radio pioneer Marconi, whose experimental radio ship of the 1920s was also named the Electra. The purpose of this station is to provide a free radio voice that can go anywhere to those in need.

The offshore station will broadcast a variety of programs, many dealing with environmental issues facing the world’s oceans and peoples. Broadcast time will also be available for lease to interested parties.

The beauty of this radio station is its ability to go where a radio presence is needed anywhere on earth. “The new radio ship will be tough and dependable,” says Allan H. Weiner of Lightwave Mission Broadcasting. The new offshore radio station is scheduled to be ready by summer’s end.

Lightwave Mission Broadcasting will be offering membership opportunities in the newly formed Offshore Society for interested parties willing to help the project.

Anita Louise McCormick

Author of “Shortwave Radio Listening for Beginners” and “The Shortwave Listener’s Q and A Book,” TAB/McGraw-Hill, publisher.

Read more Listeners Notebook columns.

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