BC-DX 789 05 Jan 2007 Private Verwendung der Meldun

NOVEC's presentations of the Flevo/Zeewolde AM antenna facilities, teared
out of the website frame:
Now it appears that KPN Broadcast Services is to discontinue its shortwave
operations at Zeewolde. So far we don't know what led to this end, but it
is remarkable especially because the "Bouquet Flevo" was kind of a
mainstay of the Digital Radio Mondiale movement here in Europe; the German
discussion which broke this news contains some quite shocked comments
about the circumstance that it's over.
Anyway: I think it still remains to be seen if Flevo has really no future.
Another interested party could approach NOVEC to use these antenna
facilities, and perhaps KPN would even sell the transmission equipment for
little money. But on the other hand, who should step in? CVC maybe, but
should Juelich not be enough for them?
(Wilsdruff-D, dxld Oct 9)
NIGERIA 6089.84 presumed VON-Kaduna, 2145-2159, Oct 6, Vernacular. OM
w/ talks b/w excerpts from recorded speech. Wiped out by 6090-DGS at 2159
UT. Poor/fair.
15120 VON, 2027-2041, Oct 1, English. 60 Minutes prg w/ commentaries re
Nigeria's image abroad and Nigeria at 47. TC/ID at 2031. Fair/good.
(Scott R. Barbour-NH-USA, DXplorer Oct 7)
OMAN On 5th June 2007 VT Communications were informed that a category 5
cyclone (Typhoon Gonu) was heading towards the BBC Oman Relay Station on
the southeastern coast of Oman near the town of Aseela, causing major
disruption to services throughout the country. The station was built for
the BBC World Service by VT Communications in 2002, replacing the aging
relay station located 100 km south on Masirah Islands which had been in
operation since 1967. As part of its contract to design and build the Oman
facility, VT Communications also operates and maintains the station on
behalf of the BBC World Service. The station provides optimum coverage to
the BBC's target audiences in the region, including those in Pakistan,
India, the Arabian peninsula, Iran and Afghanistan.
The Omani authorities warned all residents to evacuate the coastline and
7000 inhabitants were taken off the island of Masirah. VT Communications
employs over 35 staff at the station and at this stage all non essential
staff were evacuated 40 km inland. A few engineering staff remained at the
station where they were housed for the duration of the storm and equipped
with satellite phones as back up for telephone networks that were out of
service.
Fortunately by the time Gonu reached the site it had decreased to a
category 3 cyclone as wind speeds dropped. Despite the torrential rain and
the excessive winds the station escaped unscathed, apart from a few minor
water leaks. Unfortunately the surrounding area was affected by quite
severe flooding with many homes and businesses being destroyed. Local
amenities remained closed for several days and the water and electricity
supply was severely disrupted.
Despite the devastating effects of this cyclone VT Communications managed
to ensure that the BBC's programming remained on the air and there was no
disruption to service. The fact that the station survived relatively
unscathed is a credit to the design and construction of the facility.
(NASB newsletter via Dan Elyea WYFR; via wwdxc BC-DX Oct 10)
PAKISTAN 4790.04 R Pakistan, Islamabad relaying Rawalipindi III, *2300-
2337* UT, Sept 18, 19, 21 and 23, on Sept 28 heard till 2348*,