[HCDX] Glenn Hauser logs April 25

[Glenn Hauser <wghauser@xxxxxxxxx>]

** ALBANIA. R. Tirana began a new broadcast in English April 25, at 2000-2030
on 13720 for North America, but also aimed across Western Europe and UK. Tuning
in early, I feared it would not be making it as there was no signal and nothing
else audible on 13 MHz band from European sites. But it popped on at 2000 with
a good S9+20 signal, which I would rate at SINPO 44444; everything on this band
has a problem with my neighbor`s TV set swish, but that is only my local
obstacle. The TVI only bothered during slight fades of R. Tirana.

Began by announcing English schedule as usual in local time of UT+2; sounded
like the first frequency mentioned for the ``2045`` broadcast was 7665 instead
of 7465, but I wasn`t taping and can`t be sure. After the usual broadcasts,
added brand-new schedule for ``Northern America, Tue-Sun 1500-1530 on 13750 and
2200-2230 on 13720``. Unfortunately, these times were specified as UTC, which
they are not.

Programming would consist of news, Albanian press review, Albania and New
European Integration Process (or something like that), lite entertainment.

Top news item was that Pres. Bush would be visiting Albania on June 10 as part
of a European trip. It would be the first visit ever by a US president to
Albania. (Well, acting president, anyway.)

Daily Press Review at 2010 was about the resignation of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, causing a government crisis.

2014-2018 played Albania`s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest [more about
that elsewhere in DXLD], ``Hear My Plea``. At 2018 urged listeners to vote by
SMS, if they are in eligible countries outside Albania; then a comment about
NATO membership.

Suddenly at 2019 some adjacent QRM cropped up from a strong carrier on 13725
with a tone test. The carrier remained on until 2029:30, but unmodulated after
the brief tone. The QRM could be avoided by slight side-tuning. This was no
doubt VOA Greenville tuning up/warming up for the Creole broadcast on 13725
which does not start until 2100. Is this really necessary? Why not do it
starting at 2049?

At 2022 and 2025 R. Tirana played a couple more songs. 2028, Goodbye, and
anthem, but transmitter cut off before it finished, at 2028:30 or so.

Audio quality was as usual rather lo-fi, as if thru an old phone line, more of
a drawback during the music, but modulation levels were good.

If you can also hear 7465 (inaudible here, hence the suggestion to add a much
higher frequency), you may find that the programs are not the same, with 13720
carrying the previous day`s show, for logistical reasons. 

All in all, this and the new morning broadcast should be good alternatives to
the evening broadcasts for North Americans to hear R. Tirana. Another change we
suggested should now be in effect, English at 0145-0200 on 6120 ex-6115, to
avoid Italy via Ascension on 6110; but at 0230-0300 still on 6115, both //
7425.

On this occasion, with the MUF cooperating, reception here at 2000 would
probably have been even better on the 15 MHz band, judging from a number of
European and Mideast signals coming thru there; but not sure if R. Tirana can
get a transmitter and antenna to go up to 15.7 MHz. Recently they have not had
any broadcasts above the 9 MHz band.

R. Tirana also started on April 25 a new morning broadcast to North America we
suggested at 1300-1330 on 13750, which got some good reports from ENAm and
Europe, and which I shall start monitoring on April 26. Of course, both 13 MHz
frequencies should be much more reliable in Europe beyond the skip zone (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Solar-terrestrial indices for 25 April follow. Solar flux 77 and estimated
mid-latitude A-Index 5. The mid-latitude K-index at 2100 UTC on 25 April was 1
(9 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space
weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours (SEC via DXLD)

** ARGENTINA [and non]. RAE still the victim of 3-way collision with Spain and
Morocco. Monitored 15345 April 25 from 1939, just as RAE`s DX program in
Italian was starting with ``DX`` in Morse a few times, really cutting thru the
QRM. Then several DX news items, including Omdurman, Latvia, Kurdistan
mentioned. This time, RAE was close to 15345, producing a rumble (low het)
rather than an audible het in the 100-200 Hz range. This was combined with
audio from the two other stations, Morocco in Arabic and Spain in Spanish, the
two of which seemed to be very close but not quite zero-beat. Should have
looked interesting on a scope. At first, RAE was actually on top, but still too
much QRM to get much out of the DX news. Most of the audible QRM was in Arabic.
At 1947 ``DX`` in Morse again as DX program concluded; tangos, including one
that sounded like Gardel, 1955 RAE IS.

Propagation now seemed to be favoring South America over Europe. So meanwhile I
checked 15820 for LTA in SSB, and indeed it was audible aside weak WWCR, at
1952 and later. Not even a carrier, however, from LRA36 on 15476. After
monitoring R. Tirana`s new 2000 UT broadcast, back to 15345 at 2032: RAE now in
French mixing with ``Allah Akbar`` at roughly equal level. 2054, RAE IS mixing
mainly with Arabic; 2103, Arabic was on top. And so it goes, as these three
insist on using the same frequency at the same time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)

** GUIANA FRENCH [non]. DRM from TDF Montsinéry was missing again inexplicably,
April 25 at 1935 check, no sign of it on 17870-17875-17880, tho CVC Chile
17635-17640-17645 and HCJB 15675-15680-15685 DRM buzzes were audible. TDF
nominal schedule is 1300-2000. I often find them missing before 1400, and
apparently they also close earlier than 2000 when they feel like it (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. News from Dr Scott Becker at WBCQ: WORLD OF RADIO was airing again UT
Sundays at 0300 on 9330-CLSB for the past four weeks while the time was
available, but now that has ended. (Nobody told gh about it. In addition to UT
Mondays at same time.) 18910 is to move back to 17495-CLSB at the beginning of
May, including WOR Wednesdays at 2300. Also next week, the change by their MW
station WREM from 710 to 780 is to take place, allowing it to operate not only
daytime but at night with low power. And the company won the FCC auction last
week for a new FM station on 94.7 (Glenn Hauser, April 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** U S A. Tornado came thru the area and tore up the power grid, so KAIJ is
without power; don`t know for how long (George McClintock, KAIJ, April 25, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing audible on 9480 around 1930 April 25 (Glenn Hauser,
OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

UNIDENTIFIED. For the third time, I heard that extremely distorted squealing
spur during the 0500 UT hour. Unlike the previous occasions, RN Flevo in Dutch
was propagating, and thus was getting the brunt of the interference around 7310
at 0539 April 25 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

** ZIMBABWE [non]. DX Mix News says SW Radio Africa should be back on 11975
today Wednesday April 25, as it is scheduled Wed-Thu-Fri only, so I checked
that plus 12035, 11810, 11775, all around 1805 --- none audible here, tho
others in Europe were hearing all but 11975. It may not be until next week that
11975 comes back (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

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