Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Wavescan NWS227


* Theme - 00:00
            "Birthday Serenade" - Willi Glahe
 
* Opening Announcement - 00:16
            Welcome to "Wavescan", international DX program from Adventist World Radio
            Researched and written in Indianapolis, produced in studios of shortwave WRMI
            Program outline
                        1. Full Details: The big 2013 AWR Annual Wavescan DX Contest
                        2. Tribute to Family Radio Shortwave: The Early Years in New York
                        3. Indian DX Report
                        4. AWR Local Radio in Africa
                        5. International DX Report     
 
* Full Details: The big 2013 AWR Annual Wavescan DX Contest, Focus on Africa - 00:50
            As Adventist World Radio enters into its 42nd year of international radio broadcasting, we take pleasure in announcing our annual "Wavescan" DX contest, which comes to you under the title, "Focus on Africa".  In short, you are invited to check your collection of QSLs from shortwave stations in Africa, and to log AWR programming on shortwave to Africa during the month of July 2013. 
            This 2013 contest begins tomorrow, and here now are the details of our "Focus on Africa" DX Contest:-
 
A. African Shortwave QSLs
            You are invited to make a list of what you consider to be the 5 top QSLs in your collection of QSL cards & letters from shortwave stations in Africa.  These QSLs can be from any shortwave broadcasting station or any shortwave communication station located in any country on the African continent and/or on nearby associated islands.  Amateur stations nor CB stations are not valid for this contest.  Please state very briefly the reason why you consider these 5 QSLs to be your best from Africa.
 
B. Photocopies
            You are invited to provide a photocopy of each of the QSLs that are on your list in Part A.    Preferably, these photo copies should be in color, though black & white copies may be acceptable.
 
C. African QSLs Wanted
            You are invited to make a list of what you consider to be the 5 top shortwave stations in Africa from which you do not hold a QSL, but you would like to add to your collection.  Please state very briefly the reason why you consider these 5 shortwave stations to be your most wanted.
 
D. AWR Reception Reports
            You are invited to prepare three reception reports for the broadcast on shortwave of any AWR programming beamed towards Africa.  These broadcasts from Adventist World Radio may be from shortwave stations located anywhere in Africa or on nearby African islands; or AWR programming beamed into Africa on shortwave from other countries.
 
E. Three Radio Cards
            Where possible, you are invited to include three radio cards for the Indianapolis Heritage Collection with your contest entry.  These cards may be old or new, and they may be QSL cards, reception report cards, or picture cards of radio stations, etc.  (Not valid for this contest are amateur cards nor CB cards.)
 
Other Contest Details
            Well, there you have it, the details for our Wavescan 2013 "Focus on Africa" DX Contest.  This contest will run through the month of July 2013, and all contest entries should be postmarked at your local post office anywhere in the world on any date up to the end of the month of July, and they should be received at the AWR post office address in Indianapolis no later than the end of the month of August 2013.
            Post your entry with all items to Adventist World Radio in Indianapolis, remembering that neatness and preparation, will all feature in the judging process.  Due consideration will also be given to the area of the world in which the contestant lives. 
            Return postage in the form of currency notes in any international currency, or mint postage stamps, or IRC coupons would be welcome.  Where possible, a self addressed return envelope, business size or half quarto size, would also be welcome; or your address label.
            The awards for the AWR 2013 "Focus on Africa" contest will be similar to all previous contests.  There will be a special award for the world winner, one of the Jerry Berg radio history books; and World Radio TV Handbook 2014 for each continental winner.  In addition, there will be other special awards as well as AWR souvenirs and radio curios for many participants. 
            You can remember that all AWR reception reports will be verified with a specially endorsed AWR QSL card.  Please remember that it will take a period of many months, well into the new year 2014, to process all of the contest entries and reception reports, but each will in due course be processed. 
            The only address for the "Focus on Africa" 2013 DX Contest is the AWR address in Indianapolis.
 
 
* Program Announcement - 06:04
            Allen Graham
 
* Tribute to Family Radio Shortwave: The Early Years in New York - 06:55
Audio: Insert
                        WYFR sign off, theme & announcement in Spanish
            Two weeks ago, an official announcement from Family Radio stated that their huge shortwave station WYFR located near Lake Okeechobee in Florida will close at the end of the month, on Sunday June 30.  Today, June 30, is their last day of regular on air shortwave service.  This shortwave super-station, with its 14 transmitters and a widespread antenna farm containing 23 different antenna systems, and its illustrious history spanning a total of some 86 years, will lie silent at the end of the broadcast day today.
            Shortwave station WYFR, Okeechobee, Florida, has been by far, the largest non government shortwave station in North America, and rivaled only by some of the larger VOA shortwave stations, such as the three separated facilities at Greenville, North Carolina.
            In honor of this magnificent shortwave station, we begin here in Wavescan a multi-part series of topics that traces the long and interesting history of the station and all of its predecessors, beginning way back at the time when radio itself was a new and novel method of instant communication.  In this topic, A Tribute to Family Radio Shortwave, we look at the early years in New York, under the sub-title, People & Places. 
            A boy was born over in Luxembourg Europe on August 16, 1864, with the name Hugo Gernsbacher.  As a young man in Germany way back around the turn of the century into the 1900s, he built a wireless transmitter and receiver.  He arrived in New York in February 1904, and changed his name to Hugo Gernsback. 
            One year later, Gernsback established a wireless importing business, and he lodged the world's first printed advertisement for a complete wireless station, transmitter & receiver.  He went on to establish many different radio and fiction magazines, including the well known "Radio News", and he also launched his own radio broadcasting station, WRNY in New York City.
            There was another man of wireless/radio fame and that was Walter S. Lemmon who was born over here in the United States in the year 1896.  In the year 1919, just after the end of World War 1, he was one of the radio operators aboard the USS "George Washington", a superior German passenger liner that had sought refuge in New York at the beginning of the war and that was later commandeered by the American government. 
            The General Electric Company installed several radio & wireless transmitters aboard the "George Washington" in April 1919, for experimental work with the navy station NFF at New Brunswick, New Jersey.  At this stage, several program broadcasts were presented from the "George Washington" on 167 kHz longwave, most of which were re-transmitted live by the navy's shore based station.
            At the time, President Wilson was returning to the United States on the "George Washington" after his successful peace negotiations in Paris and Walter Lemmon, one of the ships radio operators, invited President Wilson to make a July 4 speech to the nation.  Wilson did indeed make a brief speech in between music items during the Independence Day broadcast, though he stood so far away from the microphone that his words were not heard clearly in the broadcast.  A news reporter subsequently re-read the speech which this time was transmitted quite clearly.
            The Hotel Roosevelt was just a new hotel in New York, opened in the year 1924, and it was here that Hugo Gernsback installed his new radio broadcasting station, WRNY, with studios on the 18th floor and the 500 watt transmitter and antenna towers on the roof.  One of the speakers at the inauguration of Radio New York on June 12, 1925, was the well known wireless experimenter, Dr. Lee de Forest.  During the next year, the transmitter for station WRNY was re-installed across the river on Hudson Terrace in Coytesville New Jersey.
            Another well known hotel in New York was the McAlpin, which at 24 stories, was the tallest in New York when it was opened in 1912.  This hotel featured in an early experimental radio broadcast when the Italian soprano Luisa Tetrazzini made a broadcast from her hotel room, via a transmitter operated by the Army Signal Corps.
            Early in 1925, another series of test broadcasts went on the air from this hotel under the experimental callsign 2XH.  Then, on February 1, the new mediumwave station WMCA, standing quite obviously for McAlpin, was inaugurated, the 13th for New York City.
            This same Hugo Gernsback and his Experimenter Publishing Co obtained a permit in mid 1925 for a Special Land Station, as they were designated in those days, and the allocated callsign was 2XAL.  This was a portable transmitter, licensed for the McAlpin Hotel, and apparently for use on shortwave for remote broadcasts in association with mediumwave station WMCA.
            Two years later, on May 25 1927, Gernsback received a Construction Permit for a shortwave station to be located on Hudson Terrace Coytesville, just across the river from Manhattan.  That's where we pick up the story again, two weeks from now.
 
Audio: Insert
            WYFR Theme music and announcement in Chinese 
 
* Indian DX Report - 14:10
            Greetings friends and welcome to June edition of Indian DX Report. I am your host Prithwiraj. As always I would like to start this month's DX tips with few updates from All India Radio. 
            All India Radio Chinchurah is testing for the last few days on 1134 kHz in AM mode and in DRM mode on 1142 kHz from 1130 to 2330 UTC using three transmitters at 400 kW each.  They are relaying mostly FM Gold Kolkata programs for these test transmissions.  Reception reports are requested by this station and must be addressed to: 
                        Installation Officer 
                        Super Power Transmitter
                        All India Radio
                        Station Road
                        Chinsurah 712102
                        West Bengal, India
                        Or you can email your reports to ddesptmogra @ gmail.com.
 
            Recently my fellow DXer Gautam Kumar Sharma of Abhayapuri, Assam sent me his monitoring observations for some of the AIR stations in Eastern India.  I am pleased to include this information in this edition of IDXR.
            Gautam informs us that AIR Kashmir was heard by me on 4870 kHz around 1402 UTC on June 16 with a few Hindi film Songs.  The audio was slightly rough.  He also heard ABC Alice Springs on 4835 kHz on the same day around 1400 UTC while looking for AIR Gangtok which is off the air for some time now.  As per his monitoring on AIR regional radio stations from North East Region, AIR-Imphal, AIR-Guwahati & AIR-Kohima are off the air on their respective shortwave frequencies.  But AIR-Aizawl's signal in the morning has been improved slightly on 5050 kHz and can be heard without any QRM.  AIR-Itanagar can be heard regularly on 4990 kHz. 
            According to some newspaper reports, the famous Lord Jagannatha Temple of Puri will host an FM radio station soon.  The temple administration has decided to start this FM station to disseminate information on Lord Jagannath.  The proposed project would be commissioned at a cost of around Rupees 4 crore and programmes to be aired through the proposed radio station include devotional songs, daily rituals and discourses relating to the Lord, etc.  Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri in the Odhisa state of India is a popular Hindu pilgrimage and famous for its annual Ratha Yatra festival. 
 
RTI Item
 
            The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation has dropped its All Asia English Service which goes back to the early days of commercial broadcasting in the 1950s and it is now having a single Hindi service from 0115 - 0330 UTC on 11905 kHz.  In this service, sponsored English Gospel programs are also inserted.  Meanwhile the SLBC service to the Middle East targeting Sri Lankan workers is transmitted from 1630 - 1830 UTC on 11750 kHz on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday only.  The service to South India in Malayalam and Tamil between 1115 - 1215 UTC has been moved to 9720 from 21st June.
            While many major international broadcasters are ceasing or reducing their broadcasts targeting Asia, Taiwan based PCJ Radio International is emerging as a new start in the shortwave medium.  After its successful test transmissions targeting listeners in Asia, PCJ has also tested SW transmissions towards Europe and North America via a transmitter at Nauen clearly indicating its future plan to take hold of the shortwave bands.  Meanwhile PCJ's international "Sunday only" broadcasts via Trincomalee have been extended till August 2013, and from 30th June onwards their one hour Sunday transmissions can be heard from 1330 - 1430 UTC on 11835 kHz. 
            And as the last item, I just want to remind you that the big 2013 Adventist World Radio Annual DX Contest will be underway from July 1st and it will run till the end of July.  As Adventist World Radio enters into its 42nd year of international radio broadcasting, they have announced their annual "Wavescan" DX contest under the title, "Focus on Africa".  In short, you are invited to check your collection of QSLs from shortwave stations in Africa, and to log AWR programming on shortwave to Africa during the month of July 2013.  For complete details on this contest please visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/indiandxreport  
 
            And with this I would like to conclude this edition of  DX Report from India.  For this edition I would like to thank all members of Asian DX League and DX India Yahoo Group.  If you have any suggestion or comments on this presentation or if you would like to obtain a special IDXR QSL by sending a reception report, then please write to:
                        Indian DX Report
                        C/O-Prithwiraj Purkayastha
                        Pub Bongalpukhuri
                        By Lane 4
                        Jorhat  785001
                        Assam India
 
or you can drop me an email at <indiandxreport@gmail.com>.  For a paper QSL return postage will be highly appreciated. 
            So, friends until next time its goodbye from Assam.  
 
* AWR Local Radio - 21:17
            Over in Africa, Adventist World Radio is operating a total of fourteen FM radio stations in ten different countries, each of which is on the air 24 hours daily.  For those of our listeners living in Kenya in Africa, you have three stations at three different locations from which to choose, and they are:-
                        Eldoret 103.9 FM        Kitul 105.3 FM             Nyamira  89.7 FM
            For those of our listeners living in Burundi, you can tune in the FM station in Bujumbura on 101.8 MHz, with all programming in the Rundi language.  The AWR station in Yaounde in the Cameroons is at 92.4 FM with programming in four languages: Beti, English, French and Fulfulde.
 
 
 
* International DX Report - 22:17
            Jeff White: North India Floods, VU2JOS & others, emergency communications
                              Jerry Berg, Ontheshortwaves, searchable procedure
                              Anker Petersen, Update on radio in Greece
 
* Music of the World - 25:42
            Finland, Classical piano, folk song, Strawberry
 
* Closing Announcement - 26:05
            Thanks for listening to "Wavescan", international DX program from Adventist World Radio
            Researched and written in Indianapolis
            Next week:-
                        1. NASB Report
                        2. Ancient DX Report 1904    
                        3. Japan DX Report
            Two QSL cards available: AWR & WRMI
            Wavescan address:-
                        Box 29235
                        Indianapolis
                        Indiana 46229 USA
            Wavescan @ AWR.org
            Jeff White, shortwave WRMI
 
* Music Outrun - 27:11
 
* Program Ends - 28:55
==============================================================================
 
1. Tribute to Family Radio Shortwave
 
Progressive Summary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No.      Topic                                                   Callsigns                                  Year to Year                NWS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.         The Early Years in New York             WRNY WMCA 2XAL              1925-1927                   227
2.         The Early Years in New Jersey                                                          1926-                           229
3.         The Move to Boston
4.
==============================================================================
2. Tribute to Family Radio Shortwave: The Early Years in New York
 
 People & Places
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Year  Date    Information                                                                                                      Reference
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hugo Gernsback: Early Years
  1864 Aug 16  Born in Luxembourg as Hugo Gernsbacher
                        Studied electricity at Technical University, Bingen, Germany
                        Constructed radio transmitter & receiver
  1904 Feb       Arrived in New York
  1905              Established, with partner, Electro-Importing Co
  1905 Nov 25 1st advert, wireless transmitter
  1908 Apr       Founded world's 1st wireless magazine, Modern Electrics
  1911 Apr 11  Began writing science fiction, articles published in his magazines
  1919 Jul        1st issue, Amateur Radio News
  1920 Jul        Amateur Radio News became Radio News
  1925 Jun 12  Founded radio station WRNY, 1st broadcast
  1928 Aug       Began experimental TV transmissions
  1929              Declared bankruptcy, re-organized his publications
  1948 Jul        Radio News became Radio Electronics
  1967 Aug 19  Died New York
  2003 Jan       Last issue Radio Electronics
 
Walter S. Lemmon: Early Years
  1896              Birth of Walter S. Lemmon, New York City
  1917              Graduated B.Sc. electrical engineering, Columbia University
  1919              Served on USS "George Washington" Brest Harbor France, President Woodrow Wilson
                                    Broadcasts of Peace progress in Paris from ship
  1919              Served aboard ship returning President Woodrow Wilson to USA after Peace                                Conference in Switzerland
  1919              Woodrow Wilson broadcasts from ship returning to United States
                        Wireless operator with US Coast Guard
  1929 Aug       Walter Lemmon was General Manager W2XAL                                                    Sidel 114
  1930              Invented 3 gang tuning condenser, sold to RCA
                        Executive with IBM
                        Linked up with TV developer Hollis S. Baird at 70 Brookline Rd, Boston
  1971              Death of Walter S. Lemmon
 
USS "George Washington"
  1908 Nov 10 Ship SS "George Washington" launched Bremen Germany
                                    Passenger liner for North German Lloyd
                                    3rd largest passenger liner in the world at the time
  1912 Apr 14  Warned Titanic of nearby iceberg
  1914 Aug 3    Ship interned
  1917 Apr 6    Ship taken over by US gov
  1917 Sep 6    Commissioned as USS "George Washington"
  1919 Mar 13  Arrived Brest with President Woodrow Wilson
  1919 Jul 8     Paris Peace Conference
  1919 Nov 28 De-commissioned from US navy
  1921              Taken into commercial freight & passenger service
  1931              Laid up
  1941 Mar 13  Re-commissioned as USS "Catlin", lendlease to England
  1943 Apr 17  Taken over by US army
  1947 Apr 21  Released from service                      
  1951 Jan       Disastrous fire
  1951 Feb       Sold for scrap
 
Radio Station "George Washington"
  1919 Apr       450 m (666 kHz) radio transmitter & receiver installed on "George Washington"
  1919              GE test broadcasts between navy NFF New Brunswick NJ & "George Washington"
                                    Programs received by NFF automatically retransmitted on longwave
  1919 May 6   Newspaper report, nightly music broadcasts from "George Washington"
  1919 Jul 4     Broadcast from "George Washington" on 1800 m (167 kHz) rebroadcast by NFF
                                    Speech by President Woodrow Wilson (2380 kHz?)
                                    Away from microphone, speech re-read for clearer presentation
 
Hotel McAlpin
  1912              Hotel McAlpin constructed, largest in the world 25 stories, 1500 employees, 2500 guests
                                    Broadway & 34th St
  1920              1st broadcast from hotel in New York, Luisa Tetrazzini from her room, Army Signal Corps
  1925              Station WMCA 500 watts inaugurated, call stood for McAlpin
 
Hotel Roosevelt
  1924 Sep 22  New hotel opened, 45 East 45th St, cnr Madison Ave
                        Lawrence Welk orchestra in Hotel Roosevelt           
                        WRNY studios on 18th floor, transmitter & towers on roof
==============================================================================    
 
3. Tribute to Family Radio Shortwave: The Early Years in New York
 
Mediumwave WRNY & Shortwave 2XAL
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Year  Date    Information                                                                                                      Reference
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mediumwave WRNY Studios, New York
  1925 Jun 12  WRNY signed on 1160 kHz
                                    Licensed to Hugo Gernsback Experimenter Publishing Co, Radio News
                                    State of the art studios 18th floor, Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Ave & 45th St
                                    Inaugural broadcast, Dr. Lee de Forest one of speakers
                        WRNY studios on 18th floor, transmitter & towers on roof
 
Mediumwave WRNY Transmitter, New York NY
  1925 Jun 12  WRNY signed on 1160 kHz
                                    500 watt transmitter & aerial masts roof, Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Ave & 45th St
                        WRNY studios on 18th floor, transmitter & towers on roof
  1926              Changed frequency 800 kHz            
  1926 Nov      Transmitter moved to Hudson Terrace Coytesville NJ, across Hudson from Manhattan
 
Mediumwave WMCA Hotel McAlpin New York
  1925              Test broadcasts as 2XH 
  1925 Feb 1    Regular broadcasts began on 428.6 m (700 kHz), 13th station in NYC
  1925 Feb 6    Began on 800 kHz
 
Shortwave Station 2XAL/W2XAL Hotel McAlpin New York
  1925 Jun 1    2XAL new Special Land Station New York, Experimenter Publishing Co      RSB 1-6-25 4
  1926 Sep 30  2XAL Associated Broadcasters Hotel McAlpin, portable                             RSB 30-9-26 5
  1927 May 25 Experimenter Publishing Co received CP new SW station, with WRNY              Sidel 113
==============================================================================     

Maldives Broadcasting Commission's member visits All India Radio, New Delhi

Maldives Broadcasting Commission's member visits All India Radio, New Delhi

AIR to mark advent of Radio in India with discussion on digitization

To mark 86 years of the advent of radio in the country, All
India Radio(AIR) has drawn up plans to organize a symposium and cultural
evening to discuss 'Radio in Digital Age'.The event will be held on 23
July, 86 years to the day in 1927 when the private Indian Broadcasting
Company LTD (IBC) was authorized to operate two radio stations in Mumbai
and Kolkata.

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/air-mark-advent-radio-india-with-discussion-digitization#story

Via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, Via DX India YG



AIR Amravati commissioned

AIR Amravati commissioned

Mysterious Radio Waves From 11 Billion Light Years Away — Discovery Raises Interesting Questions

Interesting Questions Strange short-duration bursts of radio waves — some seemingly originating from regions that are over 11 billion light years away — have been detected by researchers over the past couple of years, but their origins have remained somewhat unclear.
But now, new research has begun to shed some light on these strange radio waves — terrestrial sources have been definitively ruled out, and there is good evidence that they are originating from extreme astrophysical events involving relativistic objects such as neutron stars, black holes, or magnetars.
Lead researcher, Dan Thornton, a PhD student at England's University of Manchester and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, said: "A single burst of radio emission of unknown origin was detected outside our Galaxy about six years ago but no one was certain what it was or even if it was real, so we have spent the last four years searching for more of these explosive, short-duration radio bursts. This paper describes four more bursts, removing any doubt that they are real. The radio bursts last for just a few milliseconds and the furthest one that we detected was 11 billion light years away."

Read more at http://planetsave.com/2013/07/08/mysterious-radio-waves-from-11-billion-light-years-away-discovery-raises-interesting-questions/#uIDMiCozVc6k6tuz.99 

Monday, July 08, 2013

Shortwave services of European Union, foreign radio stations shut

The 72-year-old V. Balasu­bramanian, who used to tune into popular foreign radio stations like Radio Netherlands, Germany’s Deutsche Welle (DW) and Radio Taiwan Intern­ational to get updates about the day’s happenings is sad as most of the radio stations in the European Union and various other parts of the world have started to close down their short wave service. 
 
These radio stations cite lack of funds and growth of technology, which integrates radio into smart phones, as the main reasons for shutting down their SW services. Some top radio stations like British Broad­casting Corporation and DW have also closed their transmitter sites in Trincomalee (service for South Asia) as they found it difficult to make ends meet. Read more on http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130707/news-current-affairs/article/shortwave-services-european-union-foreign-radio-stations-shut

Written by N. Arun Kumar

Yojana July 2013 Special issue onPublic Service Broadcasting

The debate on Public Service Broadcasting in India has often been sharp and acrimonious. The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court in 1995 declared airwaves to be the public property. The court directed the government to regulate the airwaves in the interest of the public. Ruling against the monopoly control of the airwaves, the court strongly argued that airwaves were essential to ensure the diversity of views and opinion which is the life blood of democracy. The judgement has had far reaching and significant implications on the government policy on radio and television in India. This judgement is rightly considered to be a turning point in defining the relationship of the government and the public so far as the broadcasting arena was concerned. More details on http://yojana.gov.in


Prasar Bharati at the Crossroads - Jawhar Sircar
 Prasar Bharati came into being on 28th November 1997 after Prasar Bharati Act of 1990 was finally implemented by the Government and the Directorates...

PSB:Wholesome Entertainment-Education Transmedia Storytelling - Arvind Singhal
 Public broadcasting systems all over the world face an existential crisis, caught in the dialectical vortex of serving the public and private good, as...

Why a Public Broadcaster and Communications Policy - B G Verghese
 Any are critical of the tone and coverage of 24x7 commercial broadcasting but lack any understanding of and therefore see no virtue in a public servic...

Why Public Broadcasting? - Vinod Pavarala
Public service broadcasting (PSB) could be distinguished from broadcasting for primarily commercial or political reasons in the sense that it is expec...

Developing the Intelligence Capital of a Nation - K P Mohanan
In frameworks of economics that follow Adam Smith, to measure ‘the wealth of a nation’ in terms of its GDP (the monetary flow into business for produc...

Lead Article
Prasar Bharati came into being on 28th November 1997 after Prasar Bharati Act of 1990 was finally implemented by the Government and the Directorates of All India Radio (Akashvani) and Doordarshan were separated from Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and placed under an ‘autonomous body’. It was...


Saturday, July 06, 2013

Radio Kurier published the details of DX Quiz 2013



Radio Pakistan to air special programmes during Ramadan: DG

n an interview the Director General Radio Pakistan said an embitious plan has been evolved to improve quality of all programmes.
radio
Director General PBC Samina Pervaiz says Radio Pakistan‚ in its national hook-up‚ will launch special programmes during the holy month of Ramadan. 

In an interview with APP on Sunday (June 30)‚ she said religious significance of Ramadan ul Mubarak will be highlighted across the country through programmes with special Sehr and Iftar transmission.
Samina Pervaiz said that a team of leading religious scholars from different schools of thought and shades of opinion will unfold the importance of various aspects of Ramadan.
She said that the pioneer institution in the country had tailored an ambitious plan to further improve the quality of all programmes and revival of dramas to restore its pristine glory. pbc

The Director General said we have evolved an ambitious plan to introduce new dramas‚ revival of Urdu dramas‚ interviews of legends‚ music concerts‚ production of English language programmes for FM 94‚ revival of running cricket commentary in English and digitization of archival material.
She said that FM 93‚ 94 and 101 are also made available on internet through the satellite network. She said that the quality of world‚ external and foreign services will also be further improved to meet the demands of listeners.

A new view card from Radio Pakistan

A new view card by Radio Pakistan. The same one used there as advertisement in Pakistan
PBC COMMERCIAL TARIFF card


E-MAIL/POSTAL ADDRESSES OF PBC STATIONS/UNITS
PBC STATIONS
02. PBC Islamabad/ FM-93   SD 051-9211141 sdislamabad@yahoo.com PBC‚ 1st Floor‚ NBH‚ Constitution Avenue‚ Sector G-5/2‚ Islamabad
03. PBC Rawalpindi-I/ FM-93.5   SD 051-9272241 sdpindi1@yahoo.com Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation‚ 303 Peshawar Road‚ Rawalpindi.
04. Radio Trarkhal/ FM-93 SD 05822-920848 sdmuzaffarabad@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ 
C.M.H. Road‚ Muzaffarabad.
05. Radio Trarkhal (Short Wave)   SD 051-9272260 sdpbcrwpiii@hotmail.com
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation‚ 303 Peshawar Road‚ Rawalpindi.
06. AJK Radio Mirpur/FM-93 SD 05827-927050 shakeeljk@hotmail.com Azad Kashmir Radio‚ Near Chungi No.4‚ Sector F-3‚ Kotli Road‚ Mirpur (AJK)
07. PBC Gilgit /FM-93   SD 05811-920367 Broadcasting House‚ Jutial‚ Gilgit.
08. PBC Skardu   SD 05815-920270   Radio Pakistan‚ Skardu
09. PBC Chitral (FM-93)   SD 0943- 412636 pbcchitral@gmail.com Broadcasting House‚ Near PIA Office‚  Polo Ground Road‚ Chitral
10. PBC Peshawar   SD 091-9210278 radiopeshawar@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ Soray Pul‚ Khyber Road‚ Near Assembly Hall‚ Peshawar City.
11. PBC Abbottabad (FM-93)   SD. 0992-9310346   sdratd46@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ 
Post Office Ghangi‚ 
Mansehra Road‚ Abbottabad.
12. PBC Kohat (FM-93) SD 0922-9260012 Radio Pakistan‚ KDA‚ Kohat  
13. PBC Bannu (FM-93) SD  0928-633334 pbcbannu@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ Township‚ Koht Road‚ Bannu.
14. PBC D. I. Khan (FM-93) SD 0966- 747193   radio_dera@yahoo.com Radio Pakistan Dera Ismail Khan.
15.
PBC Lahore (FM-93) SD 042-99200671 sdpbcl@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ Empress Road‚ Near Shimla Pahari‚ Lahore
16. PBC Faisalabad (FM-93) SD 041-9220148 ahsanzaheer92@gmail.com Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation‚ Peoples Colony‚ D-Ground‚ Faisalabad
17. PBC Sargodha (FM-93) SD   048-9230565 Radio Pakistan‚ Club Road‚ Sargodha
18. PBC Mianwali (FM-93)   SD  0459-237345 Radio Pakistan‚ Muhallah Ameer Abdullah Khan Rokhari‚ Mianwali.  
19. PBC Multan   SD 061- 9200222 radiomultan@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ Nusrat Road‚ Multan Cantt.
20. PBC Bahawalpur   SD  062-9250401 Broadcasting House‚ Near Sport Stadium‚ Circular Road‚ Bahawalpur.
21. PBC Karachi (FM-93) SD 021-99230465 sdkarachi@gmail.com PBC‚ New Broadcasting House‚ Gulshan-e-Iqbal‚ 
Block-14‚ Karachi-75300
22. PBC Hyderabad (FM-93) SD  022-9200590 pbchyderabad@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ 
Mearan Muhammad Shah Road‚ Hyderabad Sadr.
23. PBC Khairpur (FM-93.5)   SD 0243-9280253 pbc.Khairpur@gmail.com radio.khairpur@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ 
Near D.P.O. House‚ Khairpur
24. PBC Larkana (FM-93) SD  074-9410115 pbcbhlarkana@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ 
Wagan Road‚ Wakeel Colony‚ Near Edhi Centre‚ Larkana
25. PBC Mithi      (FM-93) SD. 0232-262429 pbcmithi19@yahoo.com Broadcasting House‚ 
Revenue Colony Mithi‚ Distrcit Tharparkar.
26. PBC Bhit Shah (FM-93) SD  022-2762284 Radio Pakistan‚ Bhit Shah.
27. PBC Quetta   SD  081-9201593 Broadcasting House‚ Near Iranian Consulate‚ Ghalib Road‚ Quetta.
28. PBC Loralai     SD  0824-410785 pbcloralai@gmail.com Broadcasting House‚ Zhob Road‚ Loralai.
29. PBC Gwadar (FM-93) SD 0864- 4211420 Radio Pakistan‚ Gwadar.
30. PBC Zhob   SD  0822-413296 Broadcasting House‚ Quetta Road‚ Zhob
31. PBC Turbat SD 0852-412618 Radio Pakistan‚ Near P. O‚ GPO Road‚ Turbat
32. PBC Khuzdar   SD  0848-412607 Radio Pakistan‚ Mir Chakar Khan Road‚ Khuzdar
33. PBC Sibbi (Relaying Station) Engg. Inch.   0833- Radio Pakistan (Relaying Station)‚ Sibbi
PBC FM-101 CHANNELS
34. FM-101 Islamabad DC  051-9206464     FM-101‚ Broadcasting House‚ 1st Floor‚ Constitution Avenue‚Sector G-5/2‚ Islamabad
35. FM-101 Karachi   DC 021-99231495 FM-101‚ PBC‚
New Broadcasting House‚ 
Gulshan-e-Iqbal‚ Block-14‚ 
Karachi-75300
36. FM-101 Lahore   DC  042-9200673   bob_mdar@yahoo.com FM-101‚ Broadcasting House‚ Empress Road‚ Near Shimla Pahari‚ Lahore
37. FM-101 Faisalabad   DC  041-9220154 fm101fsd1@gmail.com FM-101 Channel‚ PBC‚ Peoples Colony‚ 
D-Ground‚ Faisalabad
38. FM-101 Quetta   DC  081-9201260 fm101quetta1@gmail.com FM-101‚ Broadcasting House‚ Near Iranian Consulate‚ Ghalib Road‚ Quetta.
39. FM-101 Hyderabad PM  022-9200596 FM-101‚ PBC‚ Mearan Muhammad Shah Road‚ Hyderabad Sadr.
40. FM-101 Peshawar   DC 091-9213542 fm101pesh@gmail.com FM-101‚ PBC‚ Soray Pul‚ Khyber Road‚ Near Assembly Hall‚ Peshawar City.
41. FM-101 Sialkot   DC  052-4291068 sdfm101sialkot@yahoo.com FM-101‚ PBC‚ Airport Road‚ Gohadpur‚ Sialkot.
42. FM-101 Multan DC  061-9200293 FM-101‚ Broadcasting House‚ 
Nusrat Road‚


Friday, July 05, 2013

Congratulations to the winners of our "60 years of DW" contest!


Sony SLT Alpha 37 digital cameraFind out who is the grand prize winner.
Countless users took part in our contest "60 Years of DW" – and we would like to thank everyone for putting in so much time and effort to participate in our photo contest.
Here is the list of the participants who have won a digital camera.
The grand prize winner, who will receive the Sony SLT Alpha 37 digital camera:
  • Mitul Kansal from India
Winners of a Sony DSC-W 630 digital camera:
  • Aissatou Thiaw from Senegal
  • Nisreen Adel from the USA
  • Nataliya Krasovska from the Ukraine
  • Ch Faheem Noor from Pakistan
  • Emmanuel Akoyibo from Nigeria
Deutsche Welle congratulates you!
All winners will be informed by e-mail.
Here you can find the winner photos and a selection of our user's contest entries:

Taiwan Tears Down Antennae Carrying Uncensored News to China

Taiwan Tears Down Antennae Carrying Uncensored News to China
By Matthew Robertson, Epoch Times | July 2, 2013
 
 
Taiwan Responds on Shortwave Tower Takedown
By Matthew Robertson, Epoch Times | July 2, 2013
 
 
Via Alokesh Gupta New Delhi DX Asia YG

Radio City plans to add four more digital radio stations

On its 12th anniversary, the channel shares its plans to expand to about 20 more terrestrial stations in Phase 3 of private radio auctions. Radio City, one of the oldest private radio channel in the country, has completed 12 years of operations. Beginning with its first station in Bengaluru in 2001, it has expanded to 20 terrestrial stations. The channel plans to expand to about 20 more stations in Phase 3 of private radio auctions.

Interestingly, it stepped into the digital radio segment in 2010 when the launch of Fun Ka Antenna, which had RJ talks. Then on, about a year ago in 2012, on its 11th anniversary, the company launched another station called Radio City Freedom, a digital radio platform for independent artists. Also, back to back, the channel launched three more digital radio stations - Smaran (devotional music), Indipop (Indi era music) and Hindi (back to back Bollywood songs).
Seeing the great potential of the platform, the channel has announced that it will launch four more digital stations in the next one year. The latest one of these is a Tamil radio station, if one has to believe the market grapevine. Apurva Purohit, chief executive officer, Radio City, says that a major disadvantage of terrestrial radio is that it is restricted by regulations and hence can't expand into the niche genres.

"Digital radio is not bound by regulations as is the case with terrestrial radio. We can't expand until the auctions come in, there is a restriction with the genres that we chose and then, one can't offer various streams in a single city since only one frequency is allowed. But on digital, we can expand and go as niche as possible, even the language channels will flourish on this platform," she adds, believing that genre specification will only happen through digital on the radio platform.

It may be noted that digital radio as a segment is still not being monetised due to low listenership figures, although in terms of the share commanded in the advertising spends of brands, radio is still struggling at 4 per cent, while digital spend has reached 7 per cent, Purohit reveals.

"But," she notes, "though digital radio is still a small fraction of all that is digital, one can't wait for monetisation to start. We have to enter the domain and start building a community, get listeners and then, build a brand of ourselves. We don't want to lose the digital boat." She expects digital to become bigger than even TV and print one day.

To tackle the lack of mobility issue of the digital radio platform, the channel has launched an app, PlanetRadiocity, recently. The app enables access to the platform on the go. With smartphones coming in, the usage will only increase. However, Purohit feels that digital radio will never ever be able to 'replace' terrestrial radio. "All will co-exist. The way people thought that newspapers will vanish once news channels are privatised. It never happened. People consume similar content in different manners at different points in time. I don't see anything 'replacing'."

For its terrestrial radio platform, Radio City has increased the ad-rates by about 8-10 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 and expects to hike the rates again in the coming year.

During Phase 3 of privatisation of terrestrial FM radio, the channel plans to expand to 15-20 more stations largely in Tier-II markets, and a few Tier-I markets where the channel is yet to reach. Purohit, however, feels disappointed with the snail-paced developments in the matter. "We are very disappointed that it hasn't yet come out and we keep getting assurances, even today the outgoing secretary announced that it will happen, but we can't see much happening. All the players are ready and the strategies are in place, even the government claims that the paperwork is done but nothing is happening. I fail to understand why."

She adds that the channel never aimed at a larger footprint considering that it's not always profitable. Rather, it plans to focus on the key markets which are important to the advertisers and have a larger base of audience, in terms of population, which will help in faster growth.
By Raushni Bhagia, afaqs!, Mumbai,

Who listens to the humble wireless? Not if you've got one of these bionic radio ears

RESEARCHERS at Princeton University have brought a new tool into the realm of cybernetics: a 3D printer.

The scientists have devised a way to produce an ear-shaped chunk of silicone mixed with bovine cells and infused with tiny particles of silver that form a coiled antenna. Like any antenna, this one can pick up radio signals that the ear will interpret as sound.

The 3D ear is not designed to replace a human one, though the research is meant to explore a new method of combining electronics with biological material.

"What we really did here was actually more of a proof of concept of the capabilities of 3D printing," said Michael McAlpine, the professor who led the project. "Because most people use 3D printing to print passive objects - things like figurines and jewellery."

After it's printed, the 3D ear is soft and translucent. It is cultivated for 10 weeks, letting the cells multiply, creating a flesh colour and forming hardened tissue around the antenna.

Manu Mannoor, a graduate student who worked with McAlpine on the project, held up a petri dish in a lab at Princeton last week to show how the process works.

The dish was filled with liquid and a partly cultivated ear, and Mannoor said the cells were secreting a matrix, the space between cells that exists in organisms. "They make their own living space," Mannoor said.

McAlpine and his team demonstrated the antenna's ability to pick up radio signals by attaching electrodes onto the backs of the ears in the printing process.

When they broadcast a recording of Beethoven's "Fur Elise" to a pair of fully cultivated ears, the electrodes passed the signal along wires to a set of speakers, and the music flowed out clear and without interference.

Although the new research is just one iteration in the field of cybernetics - an area that looks at combining biology with technology - McAlpine said the research could lead to synthetic replacements for actual human functions, and to a sort of electronic sixth sense.

"As the world becomes a more digital and electronic place, I think ultimately we're going to care less about our traditional five senses," he said. "And we're going to want these new senses to give us direct electronic communication with our cellphones and our laptop devices."

Ham radio in Valparai likely in a month's time

The recent rain damage inflicted on Valparai has led to the decision of installing a ham radio station in the town in the coming months. The radio station will link the local taluk office to the amateur radio operators across the world along with district collectorate in Coimbatore and sub collector office in Pollachi. Amateur Radio Club in Pollachi has promised to establish the station free of cost and a permission has been sought from the government by Pollachi sub-collector, RanjanaSiddarthJagade. Once established, it would facilitate emergency communication during the time of calamities and disasters.

"The Uttarakhand disaster has prompted us to approach the authorities with such a proposal. An experimental station was set up at the taluk office on last Saturday and its functioning was explained to a set of revenue, fore force and forest officials. Based on their positive feedback, we have sought permission from the government through the sub-collector. The permission is expected to be granted soon and the radio station will be a reality in another month,'' said K Ibrahim, coordinator of Amateur Radio Club.

"In Uttarakhand, ham radio operators are playing a pivotal role in coordinating rescue works as normal telecommunication gave way in several places. A few years ago, an emergency situation prevailed in Ooty when the hill road was washed away due to heavy rains and all communication modes got affected. Valparai is more prone to calamities and reaching the plains in Pollachi or Chalakudy in Kerala remains risky as it requires travel through the ghat sections. Effective and fast communication is necessary to deal with emergencies,'' said Kasi Viswanathan, a ham radio operator from Udumalpet, who is also part of this mission.

"We are waiting for government's nod. Officials in Valparai have already shown keen interest in learning about ham radio operation. Collaboration among officials and ham radio operators can make things effective,'' he added. According to him, ham radio with wireless technology can work in climate where internet or mobile phones are un available.

Many houses were damaged and incidents of soil erosion were reported from Valparai, which witnessed heavy rainfall in the past week. "Taking Coimbatore district as a whole, Valparai is in more need of such a facility. A room at the taluk office can house the equipment,'' said Ibrahim.

According to him, ham radio operators across the globe can be contacted during emergency and they can channelise not just life-saving medicines but also a host of relief materials. He also plans to organise a workshop for youngsters in Valparai to make them aware about ham radio operation.

By K A Shaji, TNN Jul 4, 2013, 

AIR journey – down memory lane

Milestone The saga of All India Radio Madras began in 1938. A look at some aural delights.

Friday Review starts Randor Guy's monthly column on AIR Madras, which is celebrating its Platinum Jubilee this year.
All India Radio (AIR) celebrates its Platinum Jubilee this year having commenced operations in Madras, the then capital of the composite Madras Presidency, in 1938. The journey through the decades has been interesting, exciting and certainly entertaining.
(This writer has been involved with All India Radio since his childhood taking part in the Children's Programmes in Tamil, and answering quizzes entitled, 'Vinadi Vina' at the end of the programme, invariably getting the right answer, which was announced in the following week's programme! As a college student, he represented his 'alma mater' on the English quiz programmes conducted by famous professors of English such as Thomas Johnson (Pachaippa's College), Rev. R. S. McNichol (Madras Christian College) and the Tamil ones conducted by noted lawyer, playwright and stage actor, C. V. Gopalratnam, in his own inimitable humorous way.)
Two languages
As the Vijayawada station had not yet come into existence, the Madras Station had programmes in Tamil and Telugu for the Telugu-speaking population in Madras city. There were programmes in both languages, such as 'Srothalu Korina Recordlu' (Telugu-Listeners' Requests), and in Tamil, 'Neengal Kettavai.' Carnatic Music had a major share of the aural entertainment with concerts between 7.30-9 p.m. by maestros such as Ariyakudi Ramanuja Ayyangar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar , D. K. Pattammal, G.N. Balasubramaniam (later he served AIR as producer of Carnatic Music), M.S. Subbulakshmi, Brinda and Muktha, N.C. Vasanthakokilam, T. K. Rangachari, V.V. Sadagopan and others.
There were violin recitals by string wizards such as Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai and the seven stringed legend, Mysore T. Chowdaiah.
Nagaswaram also featured prominently with performers such as the legendary T.N. Rajaratnam Pillai, Thirurvenkadu Subramania Pillai, P.S. Veerusami Pillai, Kulikarai Pichaiyappa, Injiukudi Pichaikannu and Sheikh Chinna Mowla among others.
Flute by the masters including T.R. Mahalingam, Palladam Sanjeeva Rao and T.N. Swaminatha Pillai were also broadcast.
'Thaala Vaadhya Kutcheri' was interesting as many instruments played the rhythms after the beats were articulated, called 'Konnakol'..
Cricket those days was a gentleman's game and not the cash-rich business of today. There were not many test matches then, but Ranji Trophy matches were popular, played mostly at the Madras Cricket Club, which had no stadium. There were running commentaries by well-known names such as Sir Robert Denniston (Managing Director of Best & Company Limited, a First Line Beach British company), the noted lawyer, S. Govind Swaminathan, and P. Ananda Rao. All India Radio broadcast local announcements in English, the local news and the rates of share markets, Madras, when one heard strange and exotic names such as Nilgiri Neergundi, Periyakaramalai, Madras Vanaspathi, and Palamalai Ranganathar.
Those were exciting times and with television unheard of until the mid-1970s, radio was the only source of entertainment to people all over the Presidency.

VOA Radiogram for the weekend of July 6-7, 2013





Greetings all,

I have not responded to any of your reports from the weekend of June 29-30, because I have been busy with a big project not related to VOA Radiogram.

But I will be sending our emails probably starting today, taking advantage of the Independence Day holiday here in the USA, and thus no distraction except for occasional fireworks here in my neighborhood.

I do already know from reading your emails that EasyPal 4-QAM (requires 7:00 to transmit) provided successful decodes in several cases when 16-QAM (2:40) did not. On the other hand, many listeners failed to achieve a successful decode of EasyPal even at the 4-QAM setting.

This weekend, we will take a break from EasyPal. But don't worry EasyPal fans, EasyPal will return soon to VOA Radiogram.

This past weekend, many of you noticed distorted audio on the transmitter. I did, too. It was caused by a problem with the the audio patching system at the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina. The interesting thing is that even though voice and music were difficult to listen to, the MFSK text decoded well for most of us. MFSK text seems highly tolerant of distortion.

This weekend, VOA Radiogram will consist entirely of MFSK text and images. We still need more data on how MFSK text copes with co-channel noise, so if you can introduce noise at your location, at least during the MFSK16 and first MFSK32 VOA News story, that would be helpful. This could be done by turning on an appliance in your house that is notorious for generating RF noise. Or move your portable radio or antenna to a place where RF noise occurs.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, July 6 and 7, 2013:

2:26  MFSK16: Program preview
4:00  MFSK16: VOA News about solar cells
4:21  MFSK32: VOA News about fires in Indonesia
1:55  MFSK32: Accompanying photo
4:18  MFSK32: VOA News about India's Science Express train
2:35  MFSK32: Accompanying photo
2:30  MFSK64: VOA News about solar observation satellite
1:50  MFSK32: Accompanying photo
1:08  MFSK16: Closing announcements
 :21  Surprise mode of the week
 
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com  
  
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC)
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.   
  
Via Kim Andrew Elliott, Producer and Presenter, VOA Radiogram, http://voaradiogram.net