Laser Radio testing from Latvia on 576 and 5935 kHz

Once again a test from the Latvian shortwave transmitter on 5935 kHz; this time Laser Radio will go on the air on Sunday, October 27, at 0900-2100 UTC with 100 kW of power. At the same time the station can be heard on 576 kHz with 50 kW. The mediumwave frequency should later be used by "sister station" Radio Karolina, which already operates in Poland. Both 576 and 5935 kHz originate from Ulbroka in Latvia. Laser Radio says it plays the best mix of Classic Rock and oldies from the 60's to the 80's.
(DXing.info, October 25, 2002)

Subcity Radio from Glasgow UK on 1350 kHz

Subcity Radio, a low-power station from Glasgow in the United Kingdom, is due to begin mediumwave transmissions on November 1. The station broadcasts on 1350 kHz as well as on the Internet. A 28-day FM broadcast is planned in February 2003. Based at Glasgow University, Subcity boasts of having established itself as an important player in the Glasgow music scene, acting as a launch-pad for the city's most talented presenters, DJs and live bands. MW transmission is set to go on for five months, with the aim of pushing the boundaries of modern music radio, offering diversity from Brooklyn hip-hop to celtic funk. The station can be contacted by email or by writing to the address: John McIntyre Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom, office tel: +44 141 339 8541 ext 33, fax: +44 141 337 3557.
(BDXC-UK via DXing.info, October 25, 2002)

New Argentine MW stations

Several changes have recently taken place on the Argentine mediumwave dial. Radio Cooperativa "La Voz del Jubilado" is a new station heard in Buenos Aires on 930 kHz by Marcelo Cornachioni and Arnaldo Slaen. Radio Contemporánea (presumably also from Buenos Aires) has been logged on 1130 kHz by Horacio Colacce, and an unauthorized station called AM Presencia from Martinez, north of Buenos Aires, has been heard by Arnaldo Slaen on 1450 kHz (ex-1130 kHz). On the X-band, AM Restauración from Hurlingham has been logged by Nicolas Eramo on a new frequency of 1630 kHz (ex-1650 and 1580 kHz), while a new station, Radio Conurbana from Gregorio de Laferrere, has taken over 1650 kHz. See also the Argentine X band list on DXing.info.
(ConDig list and DXing.info, October 25, 2002)

Radio Tropical new from Peru on 6419 kHz

Radio Tropical has begun transmissions from the Andean highland town of Huancabamba, Departamento de Piura, on 6419.2 kHz. The station was first logged on October 13 in Colombia by Rafael Rodriguez, who heard mentions of Ernesto Laverde as owner-manager and Felicito Campos Campos as administrator of the station. Back in 1995 Radio Imperial from Huancabamba operated on 6420 kHz, but that station has been inactive for a long time. A sample station identification can be found in the Audio section.
(DXing.info, October 25, 2002)

Special boat race broadcasts from Hong Kong on shortwave

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is conducting special shortwave broadcasts during and after the Hainan Race Series 2002 sailing competition. Weather forecasts intended for participating boats are aired on 3940 kHz as follows:

date:	time UTC:
Oct. 16	0933, 2133
Oct. 17	0933, 2133
Oct. 18	0933, 2133
Oct. 19	2133
Oct. 20	2133
Oct. 21	2133
Oct. 22	2133
Oct. 23	2133

The first three days cover the actual race from Hong Kong to Hainan, while the remaining five days are aimed at boats returning back to Hong Kong. The weather forecasts are produced by Hong Kong Observatory. During the event, many other shortwave frequencies are also used for utility transmissions, including race communications to and from ships on 2638 and 4060 kHz in SSB suppressed carrier mode (J3E).
     Hainan Race Series 2002 is a 355-mile dash from Hong Kong to Hainan Island followed by two inshore races in Sanya Bay, Hainan, from Wednesday 16th to Saturday, 19th of October 2002. The race is part of the China Coast Race Week 2002, which in addition to the Hainan Race includes the China Coast Regatta 2002 sailed in Hong Kong waters from Saturday, October 12th to Monday, October 14th 2002.
     RTHK has traditionally been responsible for airing weather forecasts during the race, offering DXers a rare chance to hear Hong Kong on shortwave. On mediumwave, RTHK broadcasts on 567, 621, 675, 783 and 1584 kHz.
      A sample station identification of RTHK (MW) can be found in the DXing.info Audio section. RTHK can be contacted by email or by writing to 30 Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
(DXing.info, October 10, 2002, updated October 24)

TDF testing on 25775 kHz from Rennes, France

Tourist programming in English and French heard recently on 25775 kHz has turned out to be a test operation by Télédiffusion de France (TDF). The tests, first heard in Sweden in June, were aired in simulcast mode (analog and digital) of the DRM protocol. The tests have been broadcast with 200 watts of power from a transmitter located in Rennes, where TDF has a research center. Programming has consisted of loops of English and French programs, which were produced several years ago, to underline the test nature of the broadcasts. The origin of the broadcasts was first revelead in emails from TDF to Jari Savolainen in Finland.
(DXing.info, October 8, 2002)

US: House gives royalty discounts to small Webcasters

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill granting a reprieve from fees that threatened to drive small Internet radio stations out of business. Instead of requiring small stations to pay nearly $100 per listener per year, the bill would let small webcasters pay 10-12% of their revenue or 7% of their expenses, whichever were greater. The measure would apply to webcasters with less than $1 million in accumulated revenue since late 1998 and whose revenue would remain below $500,000 in 2003. The bill, which still needs to be approved by the Senate, nevertheless immediately prompted some netcasters to sign off, saying they would not afford to pay even the smaller royalties. Larger Net radio companies, like America Online or Yahoo, would still be required to pay the higher fees set in June by the Congress.
See ruling on royalties in June
(DXing.info, October 8, 2002)

The purpose of the radio news section is to inform about new mediumwave (AM) and shortwave broadcasting stations worldwide. Other news are published only on major international broadcasters or issues very relevant to DXers. New programs and schedules are not covered.

The news are edited by Mika Mäkeläinen. Extracts from news items may be quoted if the website http://www.DXing.info is mentioned as source. See terms of use for details.