WORLDWIDE DX CLUB Weekly Top News

Unter gibt es die Moeglichkeit zum Download von
Kurzandachten. Gut 200 Freunde erhalten die taegliche Andacht bereits als
podcast im Abonnement.
(Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, ntt Jan 1)
MADAGASCAR 11705, R. VO the People relay, at *1700-1717 on Dec 25,
English/Vernacular, IS then continuous format of IDs "This is R.VO the
People b/cing to Zimbabwe, daily at 1900-2000 UT in Zimbabwe, etc ..." and
URL b/w nice local mx selections. Fair/good.
(Scott R. Barbour-NH-USA, DXplorer Dec 30)
[to Zimbabwe] 11705 Voice of the People, via Talata-Volonondry,
Madagascar. On Dec 19, Zimbabwean Police detained John Masuku, director of
the Voice of the People (VOP) radio station, at the Harare central police
station where he had been summoned, shortly after three female VOP
reporters were released, said lawyer Tafadzwa Mugabe... The women spent
the weekend in police custody after a raid on their offices on Dec 15.
The section under Zimbabwe's strict media laws prohibits the possession,
establishment or operation of signal-transmitting equipment without a
licence. VOP broadcasts into Zimbabwe on SW from its tx in Madagascar. Its
offices were firebombed in August 2002 The SW radio station is one of only
two independent broadcasters which have managed to circumvent Zimbabwe's
repressive media laws by using txs outside the country to carry their
programmes on SW. Most of VOP's programming is in Zimbabwe's two local
langs, Shona and Ndebele, placing it among the few independent media able
to reach the large rural population who have no access to urban
newspapers. Zimbabwe has four radio stations and one television station
all controlled by the govt.
(Sapa-AFP via Zacharias Liangas-GRC, dswci DXW Dec 20)
MALAYSIA 7295 reactivated.
RTM Traxx FM in English was heard on reactivated 7295 kHz, 30 Dec at 1025
UT and again with nx at 1100 UT. The station had been silent on SW for
several months.
(Alan Davies-THA, DXplorer Dec 30; visiting Lop Buri-THA)
On Dec 30 at 1545-1559 UT, Malaysia: RTM4 'Traxx FM'. Kajang. Thanks to
Alan Davies' tip about the reactivation on dxld. This would almost make it
to Observer 'Meet the New Year on SW list', but not quite: Co-channel DRM-
QRM stops at 1545 UT but VOT signs on in Kazakh at 1559 UT.
(Mauno Ritola-FIN, DXplorer Dec 30)
7295, Traxx FM (RTM), on Dec 31 at 1529-1601 UT, reactivated after being
off since about mid-to-late September(?), thanks to Alan Davies for the
tip. Male DJ in EG, pop mx (songs in EG and a lot of repetitive pop
instrumentals), YM and YL singing station jingle, strong echo effect
(sounded like "T-T-T, R-R-R, A-A-A, XX-XX-XX, FM-FM-FM," TC "44 mins past
11," "16 mins till a brand new year," joined on air with "DJ Bling, who is
in the studio. Put on a headphone and get a mike." DJ Bling had an
upcoming program that started at midnight (1600 UT).
The two DJ's talk about New Year resolutions ("It's the same thing over
and over again, to quit smoking."). Fair, but from 1459-1529 covered by a
strong station (Russian sounding lang). Very nice to be able to hear them
again, as I have checked on this one 3-4 times a week hoping for their
return. They have a good web site:
(Ron Howard-CA-USA, DXplorer Jan 1)
MALI 11960 very seldom heard here in Central Europe, usually under
threshold level. I guess 25 mb channel outlet has a distinct east-west
antenna pattern. 5995, 7285, and 9635 kHz channels logged much stronger in
the past.
(wb, wwdxc BC-DX Dec 31)