** CUBA [and non]. 870, Dec 30 at 0413, fast wobbler vs WWL; none vs
1040 WHO now as it accuses Biden, Obama of crimes. Screw WHO. What
would Ronald Reagan say? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** CUBA. 9790, Dec 30 at 0348, CRI relay S9+30 but only a trace of
suptorted modulation at peaks, seems English; same at 0448 recheck
when presumably Cantonese. Something`s always wrong at RadioCuba
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** DOMINICA. 24970 USB, Dec 39 at 1608, OSOB is a YL? voice calling CQ
from Dominica, but could not copy call. DXHeat around same time shows
many contacts circa 24975 with J75K. QRZ.com: yes, there is now a
DXpedition to Dominica until 4 Jan with this call, address in Italy:
https://www.qrz.com/db/J75K
``J75K Dominica flag Dominica, Luca Polese Serafini, VIA D.MANIN, 13,
ROVEREDO IN PIANO, PN 33080, Italy`` -- I think Luca is not a YL name,
but would explain the strange stress of ``do-MINN-ee-kah`` while a
native would pronounce it ``do-mih-NEE-kah``. Official website:
https://j75k.jimdofree.com/
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** KURDISTAN [non]. 11530.0 & 11540.0, Dec 30 at 0438, two JBA signals
are the OSOB = only signals on band, in degraded propagation. Since
not 11529.9, must not be Hikari FM pirate. EiBi shows both could be
Dengê Gel via ARMENIA and Turkish jammer starting at 0400. But which
is which now? JBA talk on 11530, and 11540 JBA carrier is soon gone
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** MEXICO. 720, Dec 30 at 0756 UT, ``lo que quieres escuchar, La Lupe,
105.7``, overcoming WGN. That`s XEDE Saltillo, Coahuila, 8000/250
watts per IRCA Mexican Log (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** MEXICO. 970, Dec 30 at 0745 UT, romantic songs in Spanish. DFed
toward WSW so not CDMX Fórmula; yes, it`s XEJ Ciudad Juárez,
Chihuahua, 0752 ``La Jota Mejicana 9-70`` with horny music. Dominant
and easypullby local 960 KGWA. IRCA Mex Log lax that slogan. It`s
news/talk but also lots of music. 1/1 kW. But NRC Pattern Book showed
ND with larger daytime circle (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** MEXICO. 1570, UT Mon Dec 30 at 0453, `Coahuila en La Hora Nacional`
mentioned at least thrice, refers to ``el año viejo, el año nuevo``;
extolling some aspect of the estado. Not // 1140, 1050, of course. QRM
from KBCV MO, more or less mutually nullable, q.v. 0500 full ID
``Desde lal tierra de amistad, Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, XERF, La
Poderosa`` and station`s own song, neat. Note: my log a biweek ago
misplaced this in Black Stones, which is across from Paso Aguilar,
while XERF is of course across from Of the River (Glenn Hauser, OK,
WOR)
** NORTH AMERICA. 7475, Dec 30 at 0451, S9/+10, thin voice of Josiah
detectable with Yahweh stuff, so pirate, Station YHWH (Glenn Hauser,
OK, WOR)
** ROMANIA. 9510, Dec 30 at 0441, VG S9+30/40 hard rock, then `Living
Romania`, RRI ID; 0442 ``In the Spotlight`` about international
exchanges, Ambassador from USA Kathleen Kavalec awarded ``Order of the
Star of Romania``, announcer reads her acceptance speech lauding
``strategic partnership`` between our countries. Later found weaker
only S9+20/30 // on 7410 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** TURKEY. 9610.006, Sun Dec 29 at 2130, VOT English VP into UTwente
beamed away altho can be VG off the back. I don`t try to catch
`Letterbox` during this one. 2219 s/off with sked of several if not
all English broadcasts instead of the 1330 only! And off 2220* before
any IS.
At 2040, Sebastian Schlueter posted to the WOR iog: ``Hello, just a
quick info/question: I was just listening to the Voice of Türkiye
English on 6050 khz with their letterbox program and unless I
completely misunderstood (or did not get the joke) they said that this
was the last letterbox program ever, i.e. they will not continue in
2025. Does anybody know anything about it? I think the speaker said
something about structural changes happening at TRT right now. Best
regards, Sebastian``
[and non]. 5960.004-, Sun Dec 29 at 2255, VOT English manages to be on
the air with IS, S9+15/25 into UTwente; 2300 sign-on as if the 1330 on
13635: something`s always awry at Ankara. Leading the olds, the plane
crash in Korea South by the time the toll was almost 100% - but too
old to mention that Jimmy Carter had died a few hours before now
[RIP!]. 2317 music.
2320 start `Letterbox` cold, no theme and canned intro/outro! Host is
very hurried, apparently winging it, as usual hard to perceive just
whom he is calling, and there is CCCCCCI. Does say the ``Yellow Rock``
announcer is not there any longer -- that was Halil --- who once
explained that was literal meaning of his name. This other OM says he
did L`box a few weeks ago. 2) someone from Netherlands wants info.
2329 already time for a song, by Michael Jaxon, ``Don`t stop --``
[tuned away a bit to check WOR]. 2328 4?) Mohammed Bashir, Pakistan, a
regular, wants calendar - I think host indicated not available. 5?)
someone from a Bengal. 2331 another song already, this from UK, not
Turkish again!
Before song is over he starts talking under it: at first thought it
QRM! Can`t pull out what he says at first and this is the important
bit. Paraphrasing - probably off the air in new year unless something
changes, the last Letterbox ... more music, too loud at 2335, hope to
reach out to you somehow ---. More music. 2343 ``always-by-your-side``
promo [really?], music. 2350 early s/off, and YL with skeds of some
other, such as the 1730, but I think not all the English broadcasts,
which they have avoided giving all season until now. 2351 IS, chopoff
already at 2351.5* uncovering Chinese.
Tnx also to Ron Howard who recorded the significant announcement. And
another report about this: ``Well, it was definitely mentioned on
Letterbox on TRT that this could well be the last Letterbox broadcast
unless decisions are changed by year end. The problem was, the
producer did not pot down the music during the first part of the
announcement making it impossible to understand if this was just
letterbox going off the air or VoT altogether. Listening during the
2300 UTC broadcast December 29, 2024. 73 Mick Delmage, Sherwood Park,
Alberta``
One more chance to hear this around 0430 UT on 6125, 7285, but could
not make out any more detail. I emailed englishdesk@trt.net.tr and got
this reply which was identical to that forwarded by several others,
from: sehercemre.aytekin@trt.net.tr
``Dear Sir, Thank you for your e-mail, and we appreciate your concern
regarding some changes at the Voice of Türkiye Radio going forward.
We are currently undergoing a reorganization process, and we were told
that TRT’s all foreign broadcasts (VOT radio, multiple-language
websites, and podcasts) will be consolidated under one roof, called
TRT Global, which will be launched soon.
In this new structure, VOT English shortwave broadcasts will be
handled by the TRT World channel in İstanbul. We, as the Voice of
Türkiye English Desk, will not be going on the air. We will be in
charge of translating and presenting several podcast series, which
will be available through our newly planned online platforms.
About the VOT English shortwave transmissions (to be carried by TRT
World) in the new term (no date has been set), we really have no idea
what type of programming there will be. TRT VOT Arabic will face the
same fate.
But, all other languages remain on the shortwave, and there might be
new ones in the new term. I am personally sad about all this, but I
still hope that it will be turned around at some point. You never
know😊
We remain contactable at englishdesk@trt.net.tr All the best,
EnglishDesk
Seher Cemre TURAN
MÜTERCİM SPİKER
DIŞ YAYINLAR DAİRESİ BAŞKANLIĞI
+90 312 463 33 70
TRT Genel Müdürlüğü, Turan Güneş Bulvarı 06550 Oran, Ankara``
Kai Ludwig replies: ``The whole arrangement was pretty strange for
years anyway. TRT launched one "new language service" after another,
with Farsi being the most recent one.
https://www.intellinews.com/turkey-launches-persian-news-media-aimed-at-iran-359138
At the same time they keep the existing editorial teams but treat them
in their PR as if they never existed. And all they are still supposed
to run is linear radio, they are stripped of all other
responsibilities, the websites have been handed over to the new teams.
What purpose is this approach supposed to serve?
And new languages: Frankly, which ones to they consider as lacking?
http://ab27.bplaced.net/trt.pdf
(From 2022, but I don't think there have been major changes. All this
output used to go out on shortwave, but not anymore since they closed
the Ankara/Etimesgut station in 2009.) Kai Ludwig``
From Dave Kenny: ``Here's the full schedule for VOT English extracted
from the BDXC Broadcasts in English database:
0400-0500 EuMEAm 6125 7285
1330-1430 Eu 13635
1730-1830 MEAs 9660
1930-2030 Eu 6050
2130-2230 AsAu 9610
2300-0000 EuAm 5960
73s Dave Caversham Berks``
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 2275 monitoring: confirmed Sunday
December 29 at 2234 the 2230 on SW Radio, Germany, 3975.002, JBA into
UTwente; but much better into Sligo, Ireland SDR as if on 3974.980,
must be mis-calibrated.
Also confirmed Sunday December 29 at 2330 on WRMI 7570, S8/9+10 into
Georgia SDR, finally on scheduled frequency, but now *also* on
alternate 7780. At 2352 check, intermittent 2-way CCI in unknown
language on 7780-USB! Just before at 2325, Wavescan was wrapping up
with an Indian DX report.
Also confirmed UT Monday December 30 at 0030 on WRMI 7780, S9/+10 into
Georgia, the scheduled frequency and not on 7570. And as usual 7780
better S9+10/15 into south TX SDR.
Also confirmed UT Monday December 30 at 0400 on Area 51 via WBCQ
6159.95 approx., S9+10 direct but JBA vs noise level. Next:
2030 UT Monday SW Radio, Germany 3975;
0330 UT Tuesday WRMI 7780 to SW;
1400 UT Tuesday WRMI 9955 to SSE [also web-, phonecast; jammed?];
1500 UT Tuesday WRMI 9955 to SSE [also web-, phonecast; jammed?];
2100 UT Tuesday IRRS 1323-Italy;
0030 UT Wednesday WRMI 9395 to NNW;
0030 UT Wednesday SW Radio, Germany 3975;
2030 UT Wednesday SW Radio, Germany 3975;
2200 UT Wednesday WBCQ 7490v to WSW;
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 5010 to S;
1730 UT Thursday SW Radio, Germany 3975.
Thanks this week for financial support from Gerald T. Pollard, Raleigh
NC, who sends a generous check on a US bank marking each new season
to: Glenn Hauser, PO Box 1684, Enid OK 73702
One may also contribute via PayPal, not necessarily in US funds, to:
woradio at yahoo.com (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** U S A. 550, Dec 30 at 0700 UT, ``KCRS, Midland-Odessa`` ID and Fox
`news`. This on a portable mounted against a wall such that it nulls
E/W, favors N/S. I don`t often hear this U4 5/1 kW TX station. Night
pattern has deep null thisaway, but not the day pattern. 0734 still
dominant into main receiver on E/W longwire, ``Largest coverage area
of any station in the Permian Basin, 55 Newstalk KCRS``. KTRS St Louis
usually has edge here; KFRM KS owns day, loses night; KTSA San Antonio
unfavorable pattern (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** U S A. 660, Dec 30 at 0754 UT, KTNN fails not to protect WFAN, but
JBA signal at tuneby mentions Window Rock, Page (Glenn Hauser, OK,
WOR)
** U S A. 1069.9761, Dec 30 at 0758 UT, C&W music always with annoying
LAH at night, 0800 ``now another hour of Classic Country, KFTI`` ID
for Wichita. Has been off-frequency minus for ages, not noticeable in
daytime with nothing to het, but makes it tough for KNX at night, even
tho close to right angle apart. I mentioned this previously in an IRCA
discussion about some other station on the plus side, to which this
reply Dec 25: ``Offsets 1070 --- I've got KTFI at 1069.9761 this
morning. Rob Keeney, West Union SC``. Further interesting discussion
about its callsign history follows from here:
https://groups.io/g/IRCA/topic/110280906#msg45433
(Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
** U S A. 1570, Dec 30 at 0457 UT, QRM with English religion to XERF,
more or less mutually nullable. Must be KBCV Hollister MO, site near
Branson, 5/3 kW, night pattern pulled in toward XERF but plenty signal
thisaway, outro with a Dallas address, of Pathway to Victory weekend
edition. It`s a Bott station but not //800 KBCV, so they are not all
running same stuff at same time (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
UNIDENTIFIED. 7370-7375-7380, Dec 30 at 0450, DRM noise S9+20. Nothing
listed anywhere. Might suspect Romania, on 7375 AM elsewhen, except
two AM frequencies already accounted for now, 7410 & 9510, q.v.. Maybe
another sporadic test from TDF FRANCE (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)
This report despatched at 2006 UT December 30
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/article.php?story=20241230201502352