Here's a couple more receptions to finish out the month of July. I think in the future I should spend less time copying down the major news that everyone already knows about. These receptions were done with my Sony ICF SW7600GR.
* China Radio International
* Radio Taiwan International
* 19 Jul 2006, 0400 UTC, 6080 khz (China Radio International): Indonesia is being evacuated as the death toll from the recent tsunami reached 300, and is expected to rise. Several UN organizations are on their way to affected parts of Indonesia. China's economy grew 10.9% in the first half of 2006. China's economy is keeping pace with the world. Israel has not ruled out negotiations as a resolution to its conflict with Hezbollah. Israeli bombing continued in Lebanon on Tuesday. The Hezbollah leader claims that they will never surrender. Hezbollad hit Israel with rocket fire. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are in underground shelters. 82 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Lebanon into Syria. They are employees of Chinese firms and tourists from Hong Kong.
198 people died in China from floods caused by tropical storm Bilis. Beijing is hosting a meeting to discuss security in the Asia/Pacific region. New drinking water standards are being developed. China's original drinking water quality standards were developed in 1985 before most of the industrial development that has polluted drinking water sources. China's biggest bank lender will go public on the Hong Kong stock market. Smuggled dinosaur fossils that were discovered in a Long Beach, California warehouse are being returned to China.
A top Chinese military official traveled to the USA to meet with Donald Rumsfeld to discuss military cooperation. (Anything about fighter jets, perhaps? See below.) The UN is working on a draft resolution to urge Iran to stop uranium enrichment. Iran continues to be defiant. Increased enrollment at Chinese universities has decreased the quality of education. A production of The Lion King recently opened for 100 shows in Shanghai. Chinese schoolgirls are pursuing cosmetic surgery costing several thousand dollars, in order to look like models and movie stars. Beijing weather: cloudy, overcast, 23-30C (73-86F). CRI has been broadcasting for 60 years and started as a wartime station broadcasting from a cave.
"China Horizons" show. Ancient allleyways of Beijing. A composer from Switzerland wrote a chamber music piece in honor of a Chinese city. A Chinese temple that is from 495 AD was the birthplace of a form of martial arts. Zen buddhism consists of long periods of meditation, and martial arts help ease the effects of sitting still during meditation.
* 23 Jul 2006, 0200 UTC, 5950 khz (Radio Taiwan International): President Chen Shui-Bian vows to stay in office despite the controversy of his son-in-law's insider trading indictment. The insider trading was not committed by the president. A political analyst was interviewed and said "That is not the way you change presidents in a democracy... The real scandal is our press... The press goes after sensationalism."
China warns the USA not to sell fighter jets to Taiwan. Such a deal would impact regional security, according to China. Taiwan has a possible deal for 66 jets. China has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan.
Taiwan imported US$189 million worth of scotch whiskey in 2005, and was the world's fifth largest whiskey importer. Sunday weather for Taipei: cloudy with afternoon showers, 29-34C (84-93F). During the Taipei Magazine show, a man from Eastern Europe who has lived in Taiwan since 1975 was interviewed. He witnessed Taiwan's transformation from dictatorial regime to democracy. He observed that today, dissidents in China are able to speak without being silenced, although nobody expected it. I think his name sounded like Dr. E.F.I.Haun. If RTI writes back to me to give me the correct name, I will add it here.
One of the harder parts of logging a broadcast, especially from Asian countries, is spelling a name correctly. I tried to look up this name online, but I did not have specific enough details.
30 July 2006
24 July 2006
mini cc radio postponed
I was expecting the $150 Mini CC radio to start shipping in November 2005. Delays were announced on the C. Crane website on a few different occasions. Today I went to miniccradio.com and learned that they have postponed this project and refunded all of the pre-orders.
23 July 2006
shortwave summary: jul 2006 (part 3)
I don't know how I found the time for all of my shortwave listening this month. But I am nonetheless pleased to publish another series of reception reports.
These receptions came from my Sony ICF SW7600GR, my Kaito 1102, and I finally got my Sangean ATS-505 involved too.
Received stations:
* Radio Havana Cuba
* Radio Australia
* KBS South Korea
* Voice of Croatia
* 13 July 2006, 0500 UTC, 6000 khz (Radio Havana Cuba): Washington admits human rights violations in Guantanamo. (That's not my understanding; I think RHC interpolated here.) Detainees will have rights to protection under the Geneva convention. RHC referred to Guantanamo prison as a concentration camp. The USA government is falling short of obligations to disclose intelligence programs to congress. A major intelligence program being run by the White House remains a secret. Whistleblowers in the government are usually branded traitors. Bush has "consistently played politics with national security." Cuba criticized the USA plan to accelerate its transition plan. An additional $18 million (along with an existing $20-30 million per year) will help fund opposition groups in Cuba. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez says he will continue bilateral cooperation with Cuba.
Editorial viewpoint: Condoleeza Rice said, with a straight face, that Cubans have no greater friend than the USA. USA is using a blockade, propaganda, and opposition funding in efforts to defeat the Cuban revolution. Some people are reportedly offended by the arrogance of the report titled "Bush plan for a transition to a free Cuba." USA is contributing $24 million to "break the information blockade" and provide Cuban citizens with internet access. Fidel Castro's 80th birthday will be in August, and his brother was selected as his successor.
Climate changes are believed responsible for increased number and severity of wildfires in the western USA. There are typically four times the number of fires now compared to the 1970s. Fire season has lengthened by 78 days. Mountain snowpacks melt earlier in the spring, leaving trees more vulnerable.
How come this news broadcast didn't mention Israel's strike on Lebanon? They covered Israeli news that seemed to be a day old.
During the mailbag show, Ed Newman responded to a Japanese letter writer by saying, "thank you for writing to us in English, because our Japanese is real bad!"
* 13 July 2006, 0555 UTC, 15240 khz (Radio Australia): Discussing nuclear testing in the south Pacific, and reparations for the Marshall islands. The radio station id said "Thank you for your company!" and had a short, funky music interlude at the end of the hour. "This is Radio Australia news." Police searching for clues in the India train bomb attacks. Pakistan warns against being blamed for the attacks, although India hasn't named Pakistan specifically. The attack reminds some investigators of a Kashmiri Islamic group. Three hundred persons died in the attacks. The Phillipines have been afflicted by landslides. It was hit by a second storm in July, which is the height of the monsoon season. Shell Oil is selling some of its assets in Tonga and Fiji. Due to a payroll shortage in the North Marianas, some military personnel were temporarily laid off. "Radio Australia - your Asia/Pacific news source." There was an editorial about believing in angels and about the human need for explanations for everything. One in ten British scientists knock on wood.
That was a very good signal, which included a wide range of relevant news stories for that region. It's true that I don't have any other news source for Oceania at the moment, as I haven't been able to hear Radio New Zealand International for some time. And I need to QSL both Australia and New Zealand.
* 14 July 2006, 0200 UTC, 9560 khz (KBS South Korea): Oil prices hit a record high of US$76 per barrel. The market is "agitated" by the middle-east violence. Oil futures trading began in 1983. UN Security Council is considering two draft resolutions in response to North Korea's recent missile testing. Japan might drop its harsher resolution and adopt the one drafted by China and Russia, which lacks sanctions. There are four candidates for the position of UN Secretary General; Kofi Annan will retire at the end of 2006. President Bush says that Washington will persuade North Korea to return to the six-party talks. South Korea used its economic clout to pressure North Korea to return to the talks, by postponing humanitarian aid to the North. The Washington Post referred to this move as a rare diplomatic bright spot. There were various updates on the South Korean military which I decided not to write down in my notebook. Heavy rains swept through Seoul on Wednesday, forcing some road closures. More rain, thunder, and lightning is expected through the weekend. An editorial discussed summer camps that provide instruction for economics and finance.
* 17 July 2006, 0200 UTC, 9925 khz (Voice of Croatia): 39 Croatians (not to mention at least 25,000 Americans) awaiting evacuation from Lebanon. Hot weather brings both tourists and wildfires to Croatian coastal regions. Tourists are coming from Italy, Germany, and Romania; and causing traffic delays. Forecast: sunny and overcast, 9-14C (48-57F) inland, 18-22C (64-71F) at the coast. The news bulletin lasted for about 5 minutes, then I heard approximately 6 songs. The broadcast is only scheduled to last for 15 minutes according to primetimeshortwave, but the music continued until 0230 UTC, at which point Spanish language announcers came on the air. I regret not recording this broadcast because I liked some of the music. It sounded like rock music from the 1980s in a foreign language (hopefully Croatian). I had a lot of noise on 9925 khz so I tuned down to 9923 khz to improve reception.
These receptions came from my Sony ICF SW7600GR, my Kaito 1102, and I finally got my Sangean ATS-505 involved too.
Received stations:
* Radio Havana Cuba
* Radio Australia
* KBS South Korea
* Voice of Croatia
* 13 July 2006, 0500 UTC, 6000 khz (Radio Havana Cuba): Washington admits human rights violations in Guantanamo. (That's not my understanding; I think RHC interpolated here.) Detainees will have rights to protection under the Geneva convention. RHC referred to Guantanamo prison as a concentration camp. The USA government is falling short of obligations to disclose intelligence programs to congress. A major intelligence program being run by the White House remains a secret. Whistleblowers in the government are usually branded traitors. Bush has "consistently played politics with national security." Cuba criticized the USA plan to accelerate its transition plan. An additional $18 million (along with an existing $20-30 million per year) will help fund opposition groups in Cuba. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez says he will continue bilateral cooperation with Cuba.
Editorial viewpoint: Condoleeza Rice said, with a straight face, that Cubans have no greater friend than the USA. USA is using a blockade, propaganda, and opposition funding in efforts to defeat the Cuban revolution. Some people are reportedly offended by the arrogance of the report titled "Bush plan for a transition to a free Cuba." USA is contributing $24 million to "break the information blockade" and provide Cuban citizens with internet access. Fidel Castro's 80th birthday will be in August, and his brother was selected as his successor.
Climate changes are believed responsible for increased number and severity of wildfires in the western USA. There are typically four times the number of fires now compared to the 1970s. Fire season has lengthened by 78 days. Mountain snowpacks melt earlier in the spring, leaving trees more vulnerable.
How come this news broadcast didn't mention Israel's strike on Lebanon? They covered Israeli news that seemed to be a day old.
During the mailbag show, Ed Newman responded to a Japanese letter writer by saying, "thank you for writing to us in English, because our Japanese is real bad!"
* 13 July 2006, 0555 UTC, 15240 khz (Radio Australia): Discussing nuclear testing in the south Pacific, and reparations for the Marshall islands. The radio station id said "Thank you for your company!" and had a short, funky music interlude at the end of the hour. "This is Radio Australia news." Police searching for clues in the India train bomb attacks. Pakistan warns against being blamed for the attacks, although India hasn't named Pakistan specifically. The attack reminds some investigators of a Kashmiri Islamic group. Three hundred persons died in the attacks. The Phillipines have been afflicted by landslides. It was hit by a second storm in July, which is the height of the monsoon season. Shell Oil is selling some of its assets in Tonga and Fiji. Due to a payroll shortage in the North Marianas, some military personnel were temporarily laid off. "Radio Australia - your Asia/Pacific news source." There was an editorial about believing in angels and about the human need for explanations for everything. One in ten British scientists knock on wood.
That was a very good signal, which included a wide range of relevant news stories for that region. It's true that I don't have any other news source for Oceania at the moment, as I haven't been able to hear Radio New Zealand International for some time. And I need to QSL both Australia and New Zealand.
* 14 July 2006, 0200 UTC, 9560 khz (KBS South Korea): Oil prices hit a record high of US$76 per barrel. The market is "agitated" by the middle-east violence. Oil futures trading began in 1983. UN Security Council is considering two draft resolutions in response to North Korea's recent missile testing. Japan might drop its harsher resolution and adopt the one drafted by China and Russia, which lacks sanctions. There are four candidates for the position of UN Secretary General; Kofi Annan will retire at the end of 2006. President Bush says that Washington will persuade North Korea to return to the six-party talks. South Korea used its economic clout to pressure North Korea to return to the talks, by postponing humanitarian aid to the North. The Washington Post referred to this move as a rare diplomatic bright spot. There were various updates on the South Korean military which I decided not to write down in my notebook. Heavy rains swept through Seoul on Wednesday, forcing some road closures. More rain, thunder, and lightning is expected through the weekend. An editorial discussed summer camps that provide instruction for economics and finance.
* 17 July 2006, 0200 UTC, 9925 khz (Voice of Croatia): 39 Croatians (not to mention at least 25,000 Americans) awaiting evacuation from Lebanon. Hot weather brings both tourists and wildfires to Croatian coastal regions. Tourists are coming from Italy, Germany, and Romania; and causing traffic delays. Forecast: sunny and overcast, 9-14C (48-57F) inland, 18-22C (64-71F) at the coast. The news bulletin lasted for about 5 minutes, then I heard approximately 6 songs. The broadcast is only scheduled to last for 15 minutes according to primetimeshortwave, but the music continued until 0230 UTC, at which point Spanish language announcers came on the air. I regret not recording this broadcast because I liked some of the music. It sounded like rock music from the 1980s in a foreign language (hopefully Croatian). I had a lot of noise on 9925 khz so I tuned down to 9923 khz to improve reception.
20 July 2006
japanese abductees in north korea
I was going to link to an article about North Korea jamming a signal intended for Japanese abductees, but yomiuri.co.jp moved or removed the article so that I can't find it.
However, Media Network Weblog has a similar article about the jamming. Quoting: "The group, known as the Investigative Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea, broadcasts the programme Shiokaze twice a day on shortwave ... It can be heard in North Korea, as well as in areas near the North Korean border in China and in the northern part of South Korea."
Here's a quote from the Yomiuri article which I can no longer find: "The jamming transmission is coming from North Korea and appears to have started from May 5 at the latest," [Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo] Abe said. "It's regrettable if North Korea is jamming the broadcasts because the commission is trying to send messages to as many missing Japanese as possible."
I also located THINK: Abduction by North Korea Resource Site while researching this article.
However, Media Network Weblog has a similar article about the jamming. Quoting: "The group, known as the Investigative Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea, broadcasts the programme Shiokaze twice a day on shortwave ... It can be heard in North Korea, as well as in areas near the North Korean border in China and in the northern part of South Korea."
Here's a quote from the Yomiuri article which I can no longer find: "The jamming transmission is coming from North Korea and appears to have started from May 5 at the latest," [Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo] Abe said. "It's regrettable if North Korea is jamming the broadcasts because the commission is trying to send messages to as many missing Japanese as possible."
I also located THINK: Abduction by North Korea Resource Site while researching this article.
18 July 2006
shortwave summary: jul 2006 (part 2)
These receptions were with my Eton E5 and Sony ICF SW7600GR receivers. Here, you can follow the stories of Israeli military action in Gaza, the World Cup, and the plane crash in Siberia. The news is old though; maybe I should publish these a bit sooner! Also, the Beeb makes a comeback.
Received stations:
* Radio Havana Cuba
* British Broadcasting Corporation
* Voice of America
* Radio Japan
* 04 July 2006, 0500 UTC, 11760 khz (Radio Havana Cuba): This broadcast is 3 minutes late. Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded Gaza on Monday. The Israeli cabinet gave orders to "make sure no one sleeps at night in Gaza." The soldier's abduction was "used as an excuse" for the military actions. A European inspection team called for the closure of Guantanamo prison. It may hold only 30-40 legitimate cases of combatants out of the 460 detainees. Mexicans are uncertain of the presidential election outcome. It will be at least Wednesday, and possibly Sunday, before the winner is declared. This is the closest presidential race in Mexico's history. Victory in Bolivia for socialism. The Festival of Fire is happening in Cuba until 09 July. It features concerts, parades, and art exhibitions; it is attended by citizens of other Caribbean nations.
Editorial viewpoint: Israel's "barbaric behavior" began on 09 June, and was not due to the soldier's abduction. Israel's military action is "state terrorism." The Hamas government was "legally chosen". Frequent attacks on energy plants leave Gaza without power or water. Mahmoud Abbas is confident that an agreement can be reached to end Israeli violence.
These broadcasts from the communist governments of China and Cuba are interesting to compare. China presented a neutral point of view on the Israel military offensive. Cuba, on the other hand, really let loose. This could be due to the USA's close relationship with Israel and its isolation of Cuba. Or it could be that China's broadcast is simply professional journalism.
* 08 July 2006, 2101 UTC, 15390 khz (British Broadcasting Corporation): Pope Benedict is traveling to promote conservative family values. He visited Valencia, Spain, for a remembrance following the underground train accident. Venezuela is building a new pipeline that is valued at US$200 million. Panama and Colombia will be connected. Ultimately, Panama and Colombia will receive Venezuelan gas from the pipeline. Germany defeated Portugal 3-1 to win third place in the World Cup. The game was held in Stuttgart. Nobody expected Germany to do so well. One team member lives in California and could join USA's team if he is given an offer.
Lots of diplomatic activity in Gaza. Israel says no truce is possible until the abducted soldier is freed by the Palestinians. Israeli military actions were aimed at reducing Palestinian capability for firing rockets. Three American marines were killed in western Iraq. The Mexican presidential election was the closest in its history, where the margin of victory was 0.5%. Some citizens protesting in the streets felt that the election was "stolen from them". The two leaders of Cyprus are meeting to "close the gap". No timetable was set for further talks. A German citizen was arrested for suspected ties to terrorism. He supposedly received training in Algeria and was in contact with an Al-Qaeda member.
Discovery shuttle astronauts performed a 6.5-hour spacewalk. The purpose was to repair the exterior of the international space station and to test thermal tile repair procedures for the shuttle. One of the spacewalkers said "I'm in a dream, don't wake me up".
* 09 July 2006, 0400 UTC, 9575 khz (Voice of America): USA backs China's proposal to resume informal talks with North Korea regarding its nuclear program. Church and government clash in Spain over gay marriage, which has been legalized there. Five Nepalese peacekeepers were released in Congo. Southern Sudan donated US$30 million to the world food program. The funds will be used to rebuild roads in Sudan that will help with food distribution and with stimulating the economy. The world food program has made investment of US$1 billion in Sudan in three major projects. Sudan is described as one of the most remote, undeveloped regions of the world.
Protesters in Somalia were killed by Islamic militants. The protest was over a ban from watching the World Cup, because it is a "western" event. Some countries worry that Islamic radicals in Somalia could be harboring Al-Qaeda members. A holy war is threatened if any foreign troops or peacekeepers set foot in Somalia.
Doctors first identified the symptoms of AIDS in California back in 1981. The disease was originally called GRID (gay related immune deficiency). Doctors originally thought that a cure could be found in a few years. Too many people are unaware that they carry the disease. Finding a cure will require moral, political, and financial commitment.
For the World Cup final game, France will play Italy in Berlin. On July 9, 1941, the British broke part of the German Enigma code. The story is told in the Hollywood movie "U571". A real Enigma machine is in a cryptographic museum near Washington D.C. A Russian airliner carrying 200 people crashed in Siberia. Forty people have been taken to hospitals. No word yet on fatalities.
Between 600k and 800k people are trafficked each year. About half of them are children. Trafficking victims are forced into labor, the military, or the sex trade. Responsible governments are increasing public awareness of the problem. The 12 nations that are considered the worst offenders in human trafficking are Belize, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Laos, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. The USA is also a destination for human trafficking victims. Trafficking was described as "the dark side of globalization." (I obtained the list of 12 countries after the broadcast from the VOA News website.)
* 09 July 2006, 1700 UTC, 9535 khz (Radio Japan): A Russian aircraft crash killed about 120 and injured about 50. The Airbus A310 from Moscow overshot the runway in Siberia. China opposes a UN resolution that condemns North Korea's missile launches. South Korea, which prefers a calm approach to the North Korean missile launches, accused Japan of heightening tensions with North Korea. Koizumi will attend a G8 summit for three days in St. Petersburg. India successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Its range is about 3000 km. The test was delayed in order to maintain good relations with the USA. Japan's zero percent interest rate policy needs to end soon, once it is warranted by economic conditions. Japan and China will meet to discuss their natural gas dispute in the East China Sea. J-mellow music show: discussing Japanese girl bands. Pop joins the world music show: playing a remake of the Godfather theme. Signal fading increased after the half-hour mark.
Received stations:
* Radio Havana Cuba
* British Broadcasting Corporation
* Voice of America
* Radio Japan
* 04 July 2006, 0500 UTC, 11760 khz (Radio Havana Cuba): This broadcast is 3 minutes late. Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded Gaza on Monday. The Israeli cabinet gave orders to "make sure no one sleeps at night in Gaza." The soldier's abduction was "used as an excuse" for the military actions. A European inspection team called for the closure of Guantanamo prison. It may hold only 30-40 legitimate cases of combatants out of the 460 detainees. Mexicans are uncertain of the presidential election outcome. It will be at least Wednesday, and possibly Sunday, before the winner is declared. This is the closest presidential race in Mexico's history. Victory in Bolivia for socialism. The Festival of Fire is happening in Cuba until 09 July. It features concerts, parades, and art exhibitions; it is attended by citizens of other Caribbean nations.
Editorial viewpoint: Israel's "barbaric behavior" began on 09 June, and was not due to the soldier's abduction. Israel's military action is "state terrorism." The Hamas government was "legally chosen". Frequent attacks on energy plants leave Gaza without power or water. Mahmoud Abbas is confident that an agreement can be reached to end Israeli violence.
These broadcasts from the communist governments of China and Cuba are interesting to compare. China presented a neutral point of view on the Israel military offensive. Cuba, on the other hand, really let loose. This could be due to the USA's close relationship with Israel and its isolation of Cuba. Or it could be that China's broadcast is simply professional journalism.
* 08 July 2006, 2101 UTC, 15390 khz (British Broadcasting Corporation): Pope Benedict is traveling to promote conservative family values. He visited Valencia, Spain, for a remembrance following the underground train accident. Venezuela is building a new pipeline that is valued at US$200 million. Panama and Colombia will be connected. Ultimately, Panama and Colombia will receive Venezuelan gas from the pipeline. Germany defeated Portugal 3-1 to win third place in the World Cup. The game was held in Stuttgart. Nobody expected Germany to do so well. One team member lives in California and could join USA's team if he is given an offer.
Lots of diplomatic activity in Gaza. Israel says no truce is possible until the abducted soldier is freed by the Palestinians. Israeli military actions were aimed at reducing Palestinian capability for firing rockets. Three American marines were killed in western Iraq. The Mexican presidential election was the closest in its history, where the margin of victory was 0.5%. Some citizens protesting in the streets felt that the election was "stolen from them". The two leaders of Cyprus are meeting to "close the gap". No timetable was set for further talks. A German citizen was arrested for suspected ties to terrorism. He supposedly received training in Algeria and was in contact with an Al-Qaeda member.
Discovery shuttle astronauts performed a 6.5-hour spacewalk. The purpose was to repair the exterior of the international space station and to test thermal tile repair procedures for the shuttle. One of the spacewalkers said "I'm in a dream, don't wake me up".
* 09 July 2006, 0400 UTC, 9575 khz (Voice of America): USA backs China's proposal to resume informal talks with North Korea regarding its nuclear program. Church and government clash in Spain over gay marriage, which has been legalized there. Five Nepalese peacekeepers were released in Congo. Southern Sudan donated US$30 million to the world food program. The funds will be used to rebuild roads in Sudan that will help with food distribution and with stimulating the economy. The world food program has made investment of US$1 billion in Sudan in three major projects. Sudan is described as one of the most remote, undeveloped regions of the world.
Protesters in Somalia were killed by Islamic militants. The protest was over a ban from watching the World Cup, because it is a "western" event. Some countries worry that Islamic radicals in Somalia could be harboring Al-Qaeda members. A holy war is threatened if any foreign troops or peacekeepers set foot in Somalia.
Doctors first identified the symptoms of AIDS in California back in 1981. The disease was originally called GRID (gay related immune deficiency). Doctors originally thought that a cure could be found in a few years. Too many people are unaware that they carry the disease. Finding a cure will require moral, political, and financial commitment.
For the World Cup final game, France will play Italy in Berlin. On July 9, 1941, the British broke part of the German Enigma code. The story is told in the Hollywood movie "U571". A real Enigma machine is in a cryptographic museum near Washington D.C. A Russian airliner carrying 200 people crashed in Siberia. Forty people have been taken to hospitals. No word yet on fatalities.
Between 600k and 800k people are trafficked each year. About half of them are children. Trafficking victims are forced into labor, the military, or the sex trade. Responsible governments are increasing public awareness of the problem. The 12 nations that are considered the worst offenders in human trafficking are Belize, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Laos, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. The USA is also a destination for human trafficking victims. Trafficking was described as "the dark side of globalization." (I obtained the list of 12 countries after the broadcast from the VOA News website.)
* 09 July 2006, 1700 UTC, 9535 khz (Radio Japan): A Russian aircraft crash killed about 120 and injured about 50. The Airbus A310 from Moscow overshot the runway in Siberia. China opposes a UN resolution that condemns North Korea's missile launches. South Korea, which prefers a calm approach to the North Korean missile launches, accused Japan of heightening tensions with North Korea. Koizumi will attend a G8 summit for three days in St. Petersburg. India successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Its range is about 3000 km. The test was delayed in order to maintain good relations with the USA. Japan's zero percent interest rate policy needs to end soon, once it is warranted by economic conditions. Japan and China will meet to discuss their natural gas dispute in the East China Sea. J-mellow music show: discussing Japanese girl bands. Pop joins the world music show: playing a remake of the Godfather theme. Signal fading increased after the half-hour mark.
16 July 2006
cobalt pet anniversary
One year ago today, the first shortwave-related post appeared here on Cobalt Pet. I have learned a lot about shortwave radio since then, and hopefully you have learned something from my posts. Thank you to all who visit the site!
More shortwave information will follow.
More shortwave information will follow.
14 July 2006
audio, video, and war
I really enjoyed the Code of conduct post on ke9v.net:
Follow the link above for the entire article.
Earlier today, a news website I visited had a stunning Reuters photograph of an Israeli-perpetrated explosion in Lebanon. We live in a world of photographed and televised war; details reach the globe in seconds. My complaint is that shortwave broadcasters, especially Radio Havana Cuba, announce war news that is at least a day old.
The ARRL often reminded amateurs of our neutrality (obviously prior to Pearl Harbor).
From the pages of QST in December 1940 here is “The ARRL Code of Conduct for All US Radio Amateurs“...
Follow the link above for the entire article.
Earlier today, a news website I visited had a stunning Reuters photograph of an Israeli-perpetrated explosion in Lebanon. We live in a world of photographed and televised war; details reach the globe in seconds. My complaint is that shortwave broadcasters, especially Radio Havana Cuba, announce war news that is at least a day old.
13 July 2006
mailbag #1: sw7600gr ac adapter
Here's the first episode of the Cobalt Pet mailbag. A reader from Indonesia wrote in to ask about power adapters for the Sony ICF SW7600GR.
Derin:
I use NiMH batteries in my own SW7600GR. It's interesting to hear of the noisy reception issue with weak batteries, which I didn't recognize. The voltage of rechargeable batteries is 1.2 volts, which is 20% less than a 1.5 volt alkaline battery. Batteries will provide less voltage after use. Even a weak alkaline battery can provide more voltage than a fully-charged NiMH battery.
If you have been in the habit of running your rechargeable batteries in the radio until the radio won't power on anymore,
consider periodically measuring the voltage of your rechargeable batteries. If the measured voltage falls below a certain level (such as 1 volt), then consider moving the rechargeable batteries into a less sensitive device like a flashlight until the batteries fade away. Keep a second set of rechargeable batteries around so that you can put fresh ones in your radio when the current batteries are too weak.
On the AC power side, Sony's original adapter for the SW7600GR was reported to introduce interference. Universal Radio, a mail-order radio company in the USA, offers a power supply for the Sony ICF SW7600GR: MW 41-680 power supply. This adapter provides 6 volts DC, 300 milliamps, is filtered, and is not known to cause interference. I wrote to Universal to get a shipping estimate for Indonesia, but unfortunately they do not ship to Indonesia at this time. If you want their power adapter, you may need to be creative in order to obtain it. It is designed for 110 volt AC outlets, so I assume you would need a transformer in order to use it in Indonesia.
Would you like your question or comment addressed in a future mailbag article? Post a comment for this article and I will try to respond. Thanks for reading!
I just purchased Sony ICF-SW7600GR at the end of 2005. Unfortunately, the receiver didn't come with its original AC adaptor called "Sony AC-E60HG" (sold separately and now discontinued).
So far, I've been powering the unit with NiMH rechargeable batteries, but I'm still not satisfied with the unit's performance due to the following results:
1. When the batteries get weak, my reception suffers/sounds noisy.
2. The tiny volume (sound isn't room filling).
Anyway, the original adaptor AC-E60HG was also dissapointed. I found many reviews that it introduced noise/hum against the SW band (maybe this was the reason behind it's discontinued?).
So, we would like to know, how are you solving this general problem for any 7600GR users.
Thank you.
Derin, Indonesia
Derin:
I use NiMH batteries in my own SW7600GR. It's interesting to hear of the noisy reception issue with weak batteries, which I didn't recognize. The voltage of rechargeable batteries is 1.2 volts, which is 20% less than a 1.5 volt alkaline battery. Batteries will provide less voltage after use. Even a weak alkaline battery can provide more voltage than a fully-charged NiMH battery.
If you have been in the habit of running your rechargeable batteries in the radio until the radio won't power on anymore,
consider periodically measuring the voltage of your rechargeable batteries. If the measured voltage falls below a certain level (such as 1 volt), then consider moving the rechargeable batteries into a less sensitive device like a flashlight until the batteries fade away. Keep a second set of rechargeable batteries around so that you can put fresh ones in your radio when the current batteries are too weak.
On the AC power side, Sony's original adapter for the SW7600GR was reported to introduce interference. Universal Radio, a mail-order radio company in the USA, offers a power supply for the Sony ICF SW7600GR: MW 41-680 power supply. This adapter provides 6 volts DC, 300 milliamps, is filtered, and is not known to cause interference. I wrote to Universal to get a shipping estimate for Indonesia, but unfortunately they do not ship to Indonesia at this time. If you want their power adapter, you may need to be creative in order to obtain it. It is designed for 110 volt AC outlets, so I assume you would need a transformer in order to use it in Indonesia.
Would you like your question or comment addressed in a future mailbag article? Post a comment for this article and I will try to respond. Thanks for reading!
11 July 2006
more on north korea and shortwave
'Sending Messages of Protest to Kim Jong Il'
Quote from the article:
You can also visit the Open Radio for North Korea website.
Quote from the article:
Open Radio revealed “The event is intended to relay voices of South Korean citizens to North Korea’s foremost Commissioner Kim Jong Il and make North Korean authorities reflect upon their policies.”
You can also visit the Open Radio for North Korea website.
09 July 2006
a stranger's encounters with north korean shortwave
Here's a post from a blogger that used to sell shortwave radios. One evening, two gentlemen came into the store and asked to hear the shortwave broadcast from North Korea.
bpl database update from arrl
I'd like to pass along an American Radio Relay League (ARRL) article for those following the Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) situation.
Public BPL Database Restrictions Removed
This policy change is the result of an ARRL complaint filed with the FCC. This will hopefully increase pressure on those causing the interference to comply with established FCC regulations. And it could help the ARRL to further publicize non-compliance.
This article is several weeks old; I just haven't had a good chance to publish the link.
Public BPL Database Restrictions Removed
This policy change is the result of an ARRL complaint filed with the FCC. This will hopefully increase pressure on those causing the interference to comply with established FCC regulations. And it could help the ARRL to further publicize non-compliance.
This article is several weeks old; I just haven't had a good chance to publish the link.
08 July 2006
shortwave summary: jul 2006 (part 1)
I continued using the quirky Redsun RF-1210, and got the Eton E5 running after recharging the depleted batteries yet again. My Sony ICF SW7600GR was also part of the action. I'm including a June reception that I overlooked last month.
Received stations:
* Radio Canada International
* Radio Netherlands
* Radio Taiwan International
* China Radio International
* 18 Jun 2006, 2004 UTC, 17765 khz (Radio Canada International): There are currently two big sporting events: the soccer/football World Cup and hockey's Stanley Cup. The announcer described the World Cup as "physical poetry." Callers are invited to discuss these sporting events. People at the studio are watching the South Korea / France game. An announcer made an analogy between soccer and music. Pop music is predictable and formulaic: approximately three minutes long with a "payoff" through chord progressions. In jazz, a solo could go nowhere or turn out amazing. Canada is "farther behind now" in returning to the World Cup. Leipzig iscalling hosting the South Korea / France game.
I lost interest in this broadcast due to the prolonged focus on sports. Their broadcasts have never really kept my interest.
* 02 July 2006, 0400 UTC, 6165 khz (Radio Netherlands): "Welcome to the weekend connection." Alcohol consumption warning across the EU; binge drinking is associated with sports events like the World Cup. "Too little, too late" in the case of Ayaan Hirsi Ali (born Ayaan Hirsi Magan), who was ultimately granted Dutch citizenship after it was discovered that she lied in her asylum application. The situation led to the collapse of the second Balkenende cabinet.
The World Cup "encourages binge drinking." One interviewed consumer said that "it's already difficult to speak English." The alcohol industry is responsible for the link between sports and alcohol consumption due to advertising. EU wants to clamp down on alcohol advertising. There was a story about the use of the gaelic language in Ireland. Then a story about working on the EU constitution. Finland will demonstrate to the French president that they are more than simple farmers. (I'm not sure what that means!) The Tour de France has a new doping scandal. Italy has been accused of bribing World Cup officials. Running of the bulls (el encierro) is coming up in Spain. Is justice or peace more important in Uganda? Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leaders have been indicted; their leader is Joseph Kony. The LRA is described by Wikipedia as a "rebel paramilitary group". Joseph Kony has escaped arrest for 20 years. He was continually able to escape, and has been aided by Sudan. Again from Wikipedia, the Sudanese government has given money to the LRA to prevent them from attacking Sudanese cities.
Thanks to Radio Netherlands for telling me about the LRA, which I didn't know about before. The story about alcohol consumption by World Cup fans was an interesting side of the story that I haven't heard elsewhere.
* 02 July 2006, 0700 UTC, 5950 khz (Radio Taiwan International): Taiwan asked Japan to resume fishery talks. A Taiwanese fishing boat was chased by a Japanese coast guard boat. Fifteen talks have been held since 1996 without an agreement. Cancer was Taiwan's number one killer in 2005 for the 24th year in a row. Incidents of oral, rectal, breast, and colon cancer are all increasing. Taiwan is dedicated to helping other developing countries. Taiwan is one of the most successful recipients of international aid; it received aid from the USA from 1950 to 1960. Sunday weather in Taipei: sunny, 29-35C (84-95F). In the legislature, 119 out of the 221 lawmakers voted in favor of a presidential recall, but it was less than the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion. The president needs to regain the public's trust. Following the failed recall effort, a no-confidence vote could happen.
Radio Taiwan International is usually a good source of news about various conflicts in Asia. I didn't know that Taiwan had any disputes with Japan.
* 03 July 2006, 0400 UTC, 6080 khz (China Radio International): Israel attempts to free an Israeli soldier held by Palestinians.
Israel continued its military actions on Monday. The military strikes in Gaza have been going on for a week. Iraq has released a new most-wanted list so that Iraqis know their enemies. Iraq targets those who seek to increase sectarian violence. Mexicans vote for their next president. The Mexican presidential election was too close to call. The winner could be declared late Sunday. The NASA space shuttle launch was scrubbed for a second day. Airbus A380 production delay is a big setback for EADS. China has issued new regulations for the insurance sector.
The new Tibetan railway could help reduce poverty. Tibetans could participate in railway projects and benefit from local tourism. Most tourists to Tibet will be Chinese citizens. Seeing Tibetan people in person will change relations for the Chinese. Automobile duties in China have been reduced from 28% to 25%. Brazil lost to France in the World Cup by a score of 1-0. "One is never prepared for defeat; we only prepare for victory." Weddings in Shanghai cost about US$22k; the highest amount in China. Weather in Beijing: cloudy with showers, 23-30C (73-86F).
"Career or baby?" A pregnant woman was fired from her job at a camera equipment company when she was five months pregnant. She had worked at the company for 3.5 years. She was not given a reason for the termination. In court, the company claimed she was not performing well and the manager intended to give her a different job. Nowadays, more women of child-bearing age in China are working. Women also tend to have children at a later age when they are more financially secure.
I am eager to learn more about the new Tibetan railway, and I definitely want to hear China's side of the story.
Received stations:
* Radio Canada International
* Radio Netherlands
* Radio Taiwan International
* China Radio International
* 18 Jun 2006, 2004 UTC, 17765 khz (Radio Canada International): There are currently two big sporting events: the soccer/football World Cup and hockey's Stanley Cup. The announcer described the World Cup as "physical poetry." Callers are invited to discuss these sporting events. People at the studio are watching the South Korea / France game. An announcer made an analogy between soccer and music. Pop music is predictable and formulaic: approximately three minutes long with a "payoff" through chord progressions. In jazz, a solo could go nowhere or turn out amazing. Canada is "farther behind now" in returning to the World Cup. Leipzig is
I lost interest in this broadcast due to the prolonged focus on sports. Their broadcasts have never really kept my interest.
* 02 July 2006, 0400 UTC, 6165 khz (Radio Netherlands): "Welcome to the weekend connection." Alcohol consumption warning across the EU; binge drinking is associated with sports events like the World Cup. "Too little, too late" in the case of Ayaan Hirsi Ali (born Ayaan Hirsi Magan), who was ultimately granted Dutch citizenship after it was discovered that she lied in her asylum application. The situation led to the collapse of the second Balkenende cabinet.
The World Cup "encourages binge drinking." One interviewed consumer said that "it's already difficult to speak English." The alcohol industry is responsible for the link between sports and alcohol consumption due to advertising. EU wants to clamp down on alcohol advertising. There was a story about the use of the gaelic language in Ireland. Then a story about working on the EU constitution. Finland will demonstrate to the French president that they are more than simple farmers. (I'm not sure what that means!) The Tour de France has a new doping scandal. Italy has been accused of bribing World Cup officials. Running of the bulls (el encierro) is coming up in Spain. Is justice or peace more important in Uganda? Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) leaders have been indicted; their leader is Joseph Kony. The LRA is described by Wikipedia as a "rebel paramilitary group". Joseph Kony has escaped arrest for 20 years. He was continually able to escape, and has been aided by Sudan. Again from Wikipedia, the Sudanese government has given money to the LRA to prevent them from attacking Sudanese cities.
Thanks to Radio Netherlands for telling me about the LRA, which I didn't know about before. The story about alcohol consumption by World Cup fans was an interesting side of the story that I haven't heard elsewhere.
* 02 July 2006, 0700 UTC, 5950 khz (Radio Taiwan International): Taiwan asked Japan to resume fishery talks. A Taiwanese fishing boat was chased by a Japanese coast guard boat. Fifteen talks have been held since 1996 without an agreement. Cancer was Taiwan's number one killer in 2005 for the 24th year in a row. Incidents of oral, rectal, breast, and colon cancer are all increasing. Taiwan is dedicated to helping other developing countries. Taiwan is one of the most successful recipients of international aid; it received aid from the USA from 1950 to 1960. Sunday weather in Taipei: sunny, 29-35C (84-95F). In the legislature, 119 out of the 221 lawmakers voted in favor of a presidential recall, but it was less than the two-thirds majority required to pass the motion. The president needs to regain the public's trust. Following the failed recall effort, a no-confidence vote could happen.
Radio Taiwan International is usually a good source of news about various conflicts in Asia. I didn't know that Taiwan had any disputes with Japan.
* 03 July 2006, 0400 UTC, 6080 khz (China Radio International): Israel attempts to free an Israeli soldier held by Palestinians.
Israel continued its military actions on Monday. The military strikes in Gaza have been going on for a week. Iraq has released a new most-wanted list so that Iraqis know their enemies. Iraq targets those who seek to increase sectarian violence. Mexicans vote for their next president. The Mexican presidential election was too close to call. The winner could be declared late Sunday. The NASA space shuttle launch was scrubbed for a second day. Airbus A380 production delay is a big setback for EADS. China has issued new regulations for the insurance sector.
The new Tibetan railway could help reduce poverty. Tibetans could participate in railway projects and benefit from local tourism. Most tourists to Tibet will be Chinese citizens. Seeing Tibetan people in person will change relations for the Chinese. Automobile duties in China have been reduced from 28% to 25%. Brazil lost to France in the World Cup by a score of 1-0. "One is never prepared for defeat; we only prepare for victory." Weddings in Shanghai cost about US$22k; the highest amount in China. Weather in Beijing: cloudy with showers, 23-30C (73-86F).
"Career or baby?" A pregnant woman was fired from her job at a camera equipment company when she was five months pregnant. She had worked at the company for 3.5 years. She was not given a reason for the termination. In court, the company claimed she was not performing well and the manager intended to give her a different job. Nowadays, more women of child-bearing age in China are working. Women also tend to have children at a later age when they are more financially secure.
I am eager to learn more about the new Tibetan railway, and I definitely want to hear China's side of the story.
05 July 2006
eton e10 battery problems
From Jim Douglas on the rec.radio.shortwave newsgroup:
"Thought I had found the answer a week ago why my new E10 was not charging and a group member indicated that I had to press the charge on/off button but it was still not charging after 24+ hours!
I sent an email to Eton support explaining my issue. They replied that they had a batch of bad rechargeable batteries where the + side was incorrect in sizing and would not charge?? The bottom line is they are sending out new batteries no questions asked! That's great service!
If you have a Eton E10 and not tried re-charging your batteries you might want to check it out and be sure they are working correctly."
03 July 2006
eton e5 internal photos
Here's a Japanese weblog post with some internal photos of the Eton E5. If anyone is able to provide a partial translation of the page, that would be very kind!
01 July 2006
selling my tecsun pl-350 on ebay
I am selling my Tecsun PL-350 because I don't use it anymore. It is listed on eBay with a starting price of US$29:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120004026145
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120004026145
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