Welcome to the DX Extra the extra thing you need to digest your shortwave news – it’s show number 6. Hope you are all doing well. I’m Robb Wise from Hobart Radio International with you in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Positive tests results using the DRM+ standard for a radio station broadcasting on FM were unveiled at an international symposium yesterday. Throughout March, April and May 2008, the University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern has broadcast its experimental radio station across the southwest German city in digital on 87.6 MHz using DRM+ in order to test this extended version of the DRM digital radio standard. Germany’s Federal Network Agency, the University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern and the German State Media Authority of Rhineland-Palatinate have carried out extensive field tests to validate the trial. DRM+ extends the regular DRM standard, by allowing FM stations in the 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz frequency range to broadcast in digital. Lindsay Cornell, the Technical Committee Chairman for the DRM Consortium who spoke at the symposium, says: “these tests demonstrate that DRM+ provides clear added value for the listener by offering not only an uninterrupted service for both portable and mobile reception but also excellent audio quality. The DRM Consortium applauds the work undertaken in Kaiserslautern which goes a long way to show that DRM+ has great market potential.” Mr Cornell went on to thank Professor Dr Andreas Steil from the University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern and Mr Joachim Lehnert, Head Engineer from the German State Media Authority of Rhineland-Palatinate, for their significant input into the tests. The University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern expects to receive a new licence to continue DRM+ test broadcasts from the German Federal Network Agency following this successful first test phase. Please visit www.drm-radio-kl.eu for further information on the trial and the project. From the Radio Netherlands Media Network Blog. As disaster recovery efforts continue following the earthquake in the Wenchuan area of China's Sichuan province on May 12, China's Information Office of the State Council reports that the death toll has reached more than 67,000 persons as of May 27. Communications in some of the surrounding areas were cut off, and communications in some other areas experienced network congestion due to drastically increased traffic. According to the Chinese Radio Sports Association (CRSA) -- the Chinese IARU Member-Society -- Chinese government officials and the news media have recognized that when communications failed after the earthquake, Amateur Radio operators stepped in to provide vital links. CRSA designated 14.270, 7.050 and 7.060 MHz for emergency communications use during the quake, but these frequencies are now no longer restricted for this use; should a severe aftershock occur, CRSA said it will make the call for them to be kept clear again. On Monday, May 26, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that, "When all other communication means failed, Amateur Radio operators came out! An Amateur Radio emergency communication network was set up, and one of the commanders, Liu Hu [BG8AAS], called for Amateur Radio operators on air to provide services for disaster relief." Fan Bin, BA1RB, on behalf of CRSA, said, "Thankfully, one main repeater survived during the earthquake. This repeater provided 100 km coverage to Mianyang. Amateur Radio operators from Chengdu, Shenzhen, He'nan went to the center of the disaster area, set up repeaters in Beichuan County and provided various valuable first hand information from the center." The CRSA said it appreciates the support given by the Amateur Radio community in helping to keep clear the emergency communication frequencies of 7050 kHz, 7060 kHz and 14270 kHz during the critical period after the earthquake: "Thanks for the cooperation and efforts made by all Amateur Radio societies." The CRSA also acknowledged having received inquiries and the "warm concerns" of Amateur Radio societies worldwide. -- Information provided by Fan Bin, BA1RB, on behalf of CRSA, via IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee Chairman Jim Linton VK3PC http://www.eham.net/articles/19433 From the DXLD Digest via Mike Terry. Now a look at some logs from Brian Alexander in Pennsylvania, USA. ** BRAZIL. 4914.97, Radio Difusora, Macapa, 0301-0325, May 30, several IDs at 0302-0303. Many mentions of Macapa. Promos, ads, jingles, Electronic sound affects. Portuguese talk. Romantic ballads. Fair but noisy conditions. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** BRAZIL. 9629.91, Radio Aparecida, 0125-0140, May 30, Portuguese religious talk. Religious music. Fair. // 5035.07-very weak, // 6134.96- fair, // 11855-weak under Family Radio-Okeechoobee. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** BRAZIL. 9645.27, Radio Bandeirantes, Sao Paulo, 0135-0145, May 30, Portuguese talk. Ads, jingles, promos. Poor to fair. // 11925.21- threshold signal. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** CHAD. 4904.97, RNT, *0433-0445, May 30, abrupt sign on with local drums & Afro-pop music. French talk at 0438. Fair. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** COLOMBIA. 6035, LV Guaviare, 0250-0300*, May 30, local Spanish ballads. Spanish announcements. Sign off with National Anthem. Poor, difficult reception with heavy adjacent channel splatter and co-channel QRM. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** NORTH AMERICA. Pirate. 7575.19, The Crystal Ship, 0248-0310, May 30, 80?s pop music. ID. // 5385.50-both frequencies poor to fair in noisy conditions. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** SUDAN. (non). SLOVAKIA. 15650, Miraya FM Radio, *1500-1520, May 30, Presumed. Sign on with local African music. Announcements and English news at 1501-1511. Mentions of Sudan. Arabic talk at 1511. No ID heard. Poor in noisy conditions. (Brian Alexander, PA) ** SUDAN. (non). via Sines, Portugal. 17690, Sudan Radio Service, *1500-1605+, May 30, Arabic talk. IDs. Short breaks of local African music. Poor in noisy conditions. Looking for English but only hear Arabic. (Brian Alexander, PA) From the shortwaves digest: "BRD" (Booster Recovery Director) comms with "Cape Radio" now (1505z) on 5711 kHz USB. Earlier I heard comms between "Cape Radio" and SRB Retrieval Ship "Freedom Star" on 5711 as well as on 10780 kHz USB. BRD just informed Cape Radio that they will remain using 5711 unless the freq becomes unusable. An updated message is then sent: 5711 kHz USB 1953z: "BRD" (Space Shuttle Booster Recover Director) wkg "Freedom Star" and "Liberty Star" (Space Shuttle Booster Recovery Vessels); vessels pass location coordinates, heading, weather conditions, temperature, sea state; BRD updates vessels on launch status. (31May2008) (ALS). AL STERN Satellite Beach FL[orida, USA.] The Voice of America’s additional English broadcast to Asia at 0200-0300 UTC is to discontinued as from today, so the following transmissions are cancelled: 9780 kHz at 0200-0300 UTC from Sri Lanka 11705 kHz at 0200-0300 UTC from Thailand Due to the change to Daylight Saving Time in Pakistan the following changes are effective from tomorrow, 1 June, for the Voice of America’s Urdu service: MW 972 and 1539 kHz at 1300-0100 (ex-1400-0200) UTC SW service at 0000-0100 (ex-0100-0200) UTC on 7135 and 11755 kHz SW service 1300-1400 (ex-1400-1500) UTC on 9340 and 15790 kHz. 31st of May, Radio Netherlands Media Network blog. Radio Taiwan International is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. We sincerely welcome our listeners to celebrate this important occasion with us! To participate in the event, all you need to do is to send us a short congratulatory message, preferably in just one sentence! Time: from June 1 to August 15th (postmarked) How to participate: Mail to P. O. Box 123-199, Taipei, 11199, Taiwan. Email to rti@rti.org.tw Fax to 886-2-28862294 Best entries RTI will choose 130 listeners for best entry and there will also be 300 consolation prizes! The entries will be chosen on Septemer 9th at RTI's headquarters in Taipei (to make processing easier, please write your name and address legibly) Prizes: Best entry prize:(130):a limited edition RTI watch Consolation prize (300):an RTI t-shirt (Via RTI Website) ----------------------------------------------------- Alokesh Gupta New Delhi via the DXLD digest. And if this news was not enough, we recommend The World of Radio by Glen Hauser, the website www dot world of radio dot com and also Dxing With Cumbre, www dot cumbredx dot org and cumbre is spelt c-u-m-b-r-e DX Extra is being relayed by Spider Radio Greece, Sundays on 6925USB and World FM 88.5FM in Tawa, Wellington New Zealand. Worldfm dot co dot nz – and the details are on the website. The DX Extra is currently trying to be relayed in Tasmania on Amateur bands – will keep you up to date with the progress. Kia Ora everyone! Until next time remember shortwave radio is still full of mysteries – keep tuning and keep reporting. Take care and stay safe.