Cuban blackout across the country

 

Power goes out on entire island of Cuba, leaving 10 million people without electricity

Cubans expressed alarm, with one resident saying it felt as if the country had reached the “bottom of the barrel.”

By Orlando Matos and Carmen Sesin

HAVANA — The electricity went out Friday in Cuba, affecting the entire island's population of 10 million after one of its main power plants failed, according to Cuba’s energy ministry.

On Friday evening, authorities announced power had been restored to about 20,000 residents of the capital, Havana, which has a population of 2 million.

Power outages have been chronic in Cuba for years and have worsened in recent months. But the situation was so critical in the past three days that the government took measures to keep the lights on.

Additional story at: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/power-goes-entire-island-cuba-leaving-10-million-people-dark-rcna176169

Cuban monitoring reveals closedowns due to Hurricane Ian

 

CUBA   

Due to electricity supply problems by Hurricane Ian, on September 28 no signals were observed  

0500-0700UTC of the usual frequencies of RHC, Radio Rebelde, and Cuban Spy Numbers HM01

All times UTC

Radio Habana Cuba

0500-0600 on  5040 BAU 100 kW / 083&263 to Cuba English

0500-0600 on  6000 QVC 250 kW / 010 deg to ENAm English

0500-0600 on  6060 BAU 100 kW / 010 deg to ENAm English

0500-0600 on  6100 BAU 100 kW / 310 deg to WNAm English

0500-0600 on  6165 BAU 100 kW / 340 deg to WNAm English

0600-0700 on  6060 BAU 100 kW / 010 deg to ENAm English

0600-0700 on  6100 BAU 100 kW / 310 deg to WNAm English

0600-0700 on  6165 BAU 100 kW / 340 deg to WNAm English

and then 1100-1500UTC

1100-1400 on  6000 QVC 250 kW / non-dir to NCAm Spanish

1100-1300 on  6100 BAU 100 kW / 340 deg to WNAm Spanish

1100-1500 on  9535 BEJ 100 kW / 230 deg to CeAm Spanish

1100-1500 on  9710 BEJ 050 kW / 110 deg to SoAm Spanish

1100-1500 on 11760 BAU 100 kW / non-dir to NCAm Spanish

1100-1300 on 13740 BAU 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAm Spanish

1100-1500 on 15140 BAU 100 kW / 130 deg to SoAm Spanish

1200-1500 on 15230 QVC 250 kW / 305 deg to WNAm Spanish

1300-1500 on 13700 BAU 100 kW / 310 deg to WNAm Spanish

Radio Rebelde

0500&1500 on  5025 BAU 100 kW / non-dir to Cuba Spanish

Cuban Spy Numbers HM01 Sun/Mon/Wed/Fri

0502-0554 on 10860 BEJ 050 kW / unknown to Eu/Am Spanish

0602-0654 on 10345 BEJ 050 kW / unknown to Eu/Am Spanish

0702-0754 on  9330 BEJ 050 kW / unknown to Eu/Am Spanish

(DXB 28 Sept 2022)

Radio Rebelde monitoring observations

 

Observing differing days, each hour and different random combinations from Bauta, Bejucal, and Quivic sites

Cuba

All times UTC

Radio Rebelde on wrong 5040 & 6100 Bauta, 6100 Titan-Quivican, 9535/9710 Bejucal, noted on September 25 from 1100 on  5040*BAU 100 kW / 083&263 to Cuba Spanish. Good/very good via SDR Frostburg/Boca Raton.

* instead of  5025 BAU 100 kW / non-dir to Cuba Spanish Radio Rebelde, scheduled 24 hrs Summer/Winter

1100-1106 on  6000 QVC 250 kW / non-dir to NCAm Spanish, instead of Radio Habana Cuba RHC Summer A-22

1100-1106 on  6100 BAU 100 kW / 340 deg to WNAm Spanish, instead of Radio Habana Cuba RHC Summer A-22

1100-1106 on  9535 BEJ 100 kW / 230 deg to CeAm Spanish, instead of Radio Habana Cuba RHC Summer A-22

1100-1106 on  9710 BEJ 050 kW / 110 deg to SoAm Spanish, instead of Radio Habana Cuba RHC Summer A-22 

1106 on  5040 kHz continues Radio Rebelbe & 6000/6100/9535/9710 kHz continues Radio Habana Cuba!

1330 on  5040*BAU 100 kW / 083&263 to Cuba Spanish. Good via SDR Boca Raton in FL

1630 on  5040*BAU 100 kW / 083&263 to Cuba Spanish Radio Rebelde and continues!!!

* instead of  5025 BAU 100 kW / non-dir to Cuba Spanish Radio Rebelde as scheduled 24h schedule

(DXB)

On historic anniversary Martís filling information gap on crackdown

 

11 July 2022

MIAMI —  On the one-year anniversary of the historic July 11 protests in Cuba, in which Cubans took to the streets in unprecedented numbers to protest decades of oppression and demand basic freedoms, Radio and Televisión Martí are providing audiences on the island with uncensored and reliable information on the demonstrations and the subsequent — and ongoing — government crackdown. 

“Cubans deserve to know the truth about how their government has responded to last year’s protests,” said Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting Sylvia Rosabal. “As the network of record, we are helping audiences on the island understand the severity of the government’s suppression — thousands of years of detention have been sentenced, just for speaking out.” 

Puestos y Conectados, a new three-part web series, provides audiences with vivid and unfiltered information on what led to the nationwide demonstrations: increasing economic distress, the government’s tepid COVID-19 response, and the harsh crackdown on artists deemed critical of the government.  

Using never-before-seen footage, almost 90 percent of which comes from cell phones, the series also provides a complete and detailed look at the developments of that day. 

“Cubans on the island have limited options for information on the protests, what led up to them, and how the government has responded,” said Rosabal. “The government denies it, while international broadcasters cater to their audiences overseas. This leaves Cubans with unverified reports and rumors. Our journalists have sorted through thousands of hours of footage, and verified reports to provide our audiences with contextualized, reliable, and truthful information they can’t find anywhere else.” 

Another video series, Madres del #11J, provides a unique and compelling look at the impact of the crackdown by speaking with families of some of the more than 550 people —20 of whom are minors—sentenced to jail time for their participation in the demonstration.  

In addition to the special programming and several new podcast episodes, Radio and Televisión Martí has developed an interactive map geolocating reports, photos, and footage from demonstrations in more than 50 cities across the country. 

The Martís’ coverage on the July 11 anniversary will include reports from independent journalists on the island, expert analysis, responses from multiple U.S. government representatives, and reaction from the Cuban diaspora — including planned demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and various locations in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and elsewhere.  

Last year, despite disruptions to social media platforms in Cuba, the network saw a more than 320 percent increase in Facebook content consumption, and the network is bracing for additional government censorship attempts. In addition to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram content, Radio Martí will broadcast continuing coverage of the anniversary via short and medium wave radio to the island. This multi-platform approach will help audiences access the information in spite of any internet blockages imposed by the government. 

(Office of Cuba Broadcasting)

From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill's Melting Pot schedules, February 13-19

 

From the Isle of Music, February 13-19, 2022: 

This week we honor World Radio Day and St. Valentine's Day with music from the 1999 Bridge To Havana concert featuring prominent musicians from the US and Cuba. 

The broadcasts take place: 

For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100kW, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 kHz, from Sofia, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK) 

For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 kHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). 

For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1300-1400 UTC (NEW FOR B21) on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany. 

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to uplinks from various websdrs in Europe. 

Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/ 

Our V-Kontakte page is https://vk.com/fromtheisleofmusic 

Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford 

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, February 13-19, 2022: 

Episode 255 presents music from Botswana. 

The broadcast takes place: 

Sunday 2300-0000 (6:00PM -7:00PM EST) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe 

Tuesday 2000-2100 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe. 

Saturday 0800-0900 UTC on Channel 292, 9670 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe with a directional booster aimed eastward. 

Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/UncleBillsMeltingPot/ 

Our V-Kontakte page is https://vk.com/fromtheisleofmusic 

Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford 

WBCQ 4790 kHz Test Update February 13-19 US dates (14-20 world dates), 2022

Propagation testing continues on 4790 kHz using 0100-0300 UTC every night.  So far, the signal has been good to excellent in most of eastern and central North America, problematic due to CODAR west of the Rockies and fair to good in much of continental Europe, especially Germany, the Czech Republic, and Finland. 

On February 14 world date 0100-0200 UTC, there will be a special tribute to World Radio Day and St. Valentine's Day.

William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer

Tilford Productions, LLC

Lafayette, IN 

email: bill@tilfordproductions.com

Website: www.tilfordproductions.com

Cuba sees the largest protest in decades

 

Castro and the Cuban Revolution (wikipedia)

Follow live the second day of the popular uprising in Cuba and its international repercussions at: https://www.radiotelevisionmarti.com/

Protests take place across Cuba as the country faces shortages of COVID-19 vaccines and basic necessities

Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in Havana and in other cities to demand vaccines and food on Sunday as the country faces a period of an economic crisis brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic. People criticized President Miguel Díaz-Canel, saying "down with the dictatorship," according to the Miami Herald. In a speech addressing the country, Díaz-Canel blamed the United States for the unrest, according to Reuters.

Radio Marti with additional news, videos, photo gallery, and more at: https://www.radiotelevisionmarti.com/ 

Radio Marti 24-hour schedule listings on mediumwave and shortwave in Spanish, included in the current edition of Global Radio Guide, available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0938DDK5L

Current broadcast schedules for BBC World Service and Voice of America, may also be found in this edition.

Clandestine station, Radio Republica, programming targeted to Cuba

Spanish

0200-0300 Tues, Wed, Thurs via Issoudun, France transmitter on 9490 kHz

0200-0400  Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun via Issoudun, France transmitter on 9490 kHz

The Battle of the Airwaves in Cuba

by Gayle Van Horn

Global Radio Guide 2018-2019

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Radio-Guide-Winter-2018-2019-ebook/dp/B07L3RYTPG

Cuba sees biggest protests for decades as pandemic adds to woes

Marc Frank, Sarah Marsh

HAVANA, July 11 (Reuters) - Chanting "freedom" and calling for President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down, thousands of Cubans joined street protests from Havana to Santiago on Sunday in the biggest anti-government demonstrations on the Communist-run island in decades.

The protests erupted amid Cuba's worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, its old ally, and a record surge in coronavirus infections, with people voicing anger over shortages of basic goods, curbs on civil liberties, and the authorities' handling of the pandemic.

Thousands took to the streets in various parts of Havana including the historic centre, their shouts of “Diaz-Canel step down” drowning out groups of government supporters waving the Cuban flag and chanting "Fidel."

Additional story at: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/street-protests-break-out-cuba-2021-07-11/

Radio Habana Cuba, winter schedule update

All times UTC

English
2200-2300  daily 9720af (ex 0000-0100)

French
2100-2130  daily 9720af (ex 2300-2330)

Portuguese
2130-2200  daily 9720af (ex 2330-0000)
2200-2300  daily 9720af (ex 2330-0000)
(WRTH 04 Feb)

Dxers Unlimited mid-week edition, September 11

By Arnie Coro

Hola amigos… more reasons for the very poor propagation conditions on the MF and HF bands.

Geomagnetic conditions have reached moderate storm levels on a planetary level (NOAA Kp 6 for the 6-9UT period today, 11 September 2018). The storm is due to the enhanced solar wind parameters associated with a coronal hole high speed stream, while the solar wind speed gradually increased from 370 km/s at noon 10 September to values near 610 km/s at 10UT today.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT

According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, September 2-9,  they were 206 DX countries or entities on the air on the monitored amateur bands.

I am Arnaldo, Arnie, Coro your host here at the middle of the week edition of Dxers Unlimited. Now our next news item...

A number of hand-held FM transceivers capable of transmitting on frequencies beyond the 2 meters and 70 centimeters band are being banned by several frequency management authorities around the world. The usually very low-cost dual band FM handie talkies are considered a menace because they can easily be reprogrammed to operate on the public services frequencies. Banning those radios is achieved by placing them in black lists kept by Customs on the countries were they are no longer allowed to be imported.

QSL on the air to Dxers Unlimited's. Listeners that have asked to keep the HF bands propagation updates at the end of the show on every program. Don't worry, from now on whenever possible Arnie Coro's HF plus low band, HF propagation update will be on the air at the end of the show.

Next News Item: Sponsored by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, the specialized oldest United Nations agency, a worldwide research project that is measuring the radio frequency spectrum noise levels will provide valuable information about this severe problem that has a negative impact on the use of radio telecommunications systems that are vital in today's world.

By the way some of the worst radio broadband noise levels measured at several megalopolis, like Mexico City, New York, London, Shanghai, Tokio, Moscow and Paris are showing that the AM broadcast band services are becoming useless at the present transmitting stations power levels. The actual effective service area originally planned for many AM broadcast stations since 1959 have proven to be practically useless due to the poor signal to noise ratios prevailing on the 530 to 1700 kHz frequency range.

Hurricane Florence now is in an almost fixed track, and is going to impact the US East Coast as a category 4 or even category 5 storm. The most powerful storm to reach that part of the continental United States, in more than 60 years.

Amateur radio operators located in the affected areas as well as others around the first skip HF coverage area are already deploying their emergency communications stations. 

It is expected that the record-breaking winds will produce considerable damage to the telecommunications and broadcasting facilities. As it happened last year in Texas, the cellphones networks went down before the full blast of hurricane Harvey had hit the area, making the use of amateur radio emergency systems essential for responding to live saving operations requiring air evacuations from flooded isolated areas.

Number 94 is here. Yes amigos, the number 94 way of enjoying our spare time by means of our radio and television hobby is here: It is known as amateur digital television, capable of high definition transmissions.

For delivery of television signals, there are several methods in use that include: cable (C), satellite (S), terrestrial (T), internet streaming (www), DVD, etc.

Each delivery system has its own advantages and disadvantages. As a result, different digital encoding mechanisms are used for each method. The cable, satellite and terrestrial all use RF carriers, while satellite and terrestrial are truly over the air rf paths. As radio amateurs, we use over the air rf transmission paths.

In the early days of DTV (early 2000s), some DTV hams were experimenting with using satellite TV equipment, mainly due to the low cost (? $25) of free-to-air (FTA) satellite, L-band (1-2GHz) receivers. Their work was primarily on the 23cm (1.2GHz) band.

Other early adopter, DTV hams experimented using cable TV equipment for the same lowcost reasons. The normal amateur radio environment is really the over the air, terrestrial, rf transmission with radio waves being transmitted horizontally over the surface of the earth.

The major issues encountered with such radio waves is the presence of multi-path, RFI and weak signals. Multi-path refers to multiple rf signals bouncing off of various reflectors, such as hills, buildings, etc. and arriving at the receiving antenna with various time delays. In the days of analog TV, this was readily evidenced by the presence of "ghost" signals on the TV screen.

DTV transmission in a cable TV environment is rf transmission in an almost  perfect environment. It is almost a perfect, echo free environment due to the efforts made to maintain very low VSWR in the cable TV system.   Signal strengths can also be kept up to relatively high levels. Thus, the digital modulation method for cable TV does not need to make many corrections for its good environment.

DTV transmission from broadcast TV satellites, is again in a relatively clean  rf environment. Because of the high gain and directivity of the receive antennas, there is essentially no multi-path to contend with from satellites. The main issue for satellite rf signals is very low signal strength at the receive antennas. Terrestrial rf transmission is the worst possible rf environment. It must deal with multi-path, RFI, and weak signals and still deliver a perfect DTV picture.

Here in Cuba our national television uses the highly efficient DTMB'T that has proven to be more reliable than the ATSC systems variants used in the USA. So far, Cuban radio amateurs have used analog television transmissions using several slow scan TV modes that proved to be very effective sending still photos of hurricane affected areas to the Civil Defense command posts using both 2 meters FM and HF single side band transmissions.

This is Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited. I am your host Arnaldo, Arnie Coro and here is our next radio hobby related item for today...it is about the really amazing results achieved by minimalist amateur radio stations, using minimum parts counts receivers and transmitters.

Starting with a dual triode tubes in a glass envelope the regenerative receiver was designed to work on the 40 meters amateur band, using high impedance headphones.

The first triode is the detector and the second one works as an audio amplifier. The radio tunes from 7000 to 7150 kHz only. It has good sensitivity and uses very common electronic parts that you can find by recycling equipment. It uses a low voltage power supply that is also easy to build.

The transmitter first option uses quartz crystal control and a single power tetrode or pentode vacuum tube, that when fed from a voltage doubler power supply will easily provide between two and five watts into the simple half wave coaxial fed dipole antenna.

When a local amateur that is a QRP low power radios enthusiast saw the minimalist station he said and I agreed with him that it a simplified version of the famous World War II Paraset !!! He took the circuit diagrams and photos to duplicate the set.

And now at the end of the show.... Arnie Coro's HF propagation update.... Zero sunspots ... a blank solar disc with very low solar activity ...AND A GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS: As predicted, a moderately strong G2-class geomagnetic storm was underway on Sept. 11th as a stream of high-speed solar wind buffets Earth's magnetic field. This morning in Alaska, "amazing auroras covered all of the sky," reports Ayumi Bakken from just outside Fairbanks:

Send your signal reports and comments about this program to inforhc@enet.cu or postal mail to: Arnie Coro , Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

(Arnie Coro/R Havana Cuba)

Dxers Unlimited – midweek edition, August 21

By Arnie Coro CO2KK

 Hi amigos, I am Arnie Coro, radio amateur CO2KK, and your host at the middle of the week edition of Dxers Unlimited on the air and on the web from beautiful La Habana Cuba where we are experiencing thunderstorms every afternoon and early evening, with the most powerful ones lasting until late at night.

Cuban radio amateurs are well aware of the dangers of lightning, so it has become a ritual to disconnect all equipment after operating, and when on the air, at the slightest hint of an approaching thunderstorm you stop and disconnect everything, including your wires that go to the physical ground.

Since 1990 when they were recorded by on board cameras operating on the now retired Space Shuttles, sprites and elves have captured a lot of interests by geophysicists and space scientist. The most recent event recorded are:

  

Giant 'ELVE' over Russia 

On Aug. 16, high above a thunderstorm in central Russia, an enormous ring of light appeared in the night sky. Using a low-light video camera in the town of Irbit, amateur astronomer Ilya Jankowsky photographed the 300 km-wide donut hovering near the edge of space.

"It appeared for just a split second, surrounding the horns of the constellation Taurus," said Jankowsky.

This is an example of an ELVE (Emissions of Light and Very Low Frequency Perturbations due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources). First seen by cameras on the space shuttle in 1990, ELVEs appear when a pulse of electromagnetic radiation from cloud-to-ground lightning propagates up toward space and hits the base of Earth's ionosphere. A faint ring of deep-red light marks the broad 'spot' where the Electromagnetic high intensity pulse hits.

"For this to happen, the lightning needs to be very strong-typically 150-350 kilo-Ampères," that is from one hundred and fifty thousand to three hundred thousand Amperes, says Oscar van der Velde, a member of the Lightning Research Group at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. "For comparison, normal cloud-to-ground flashes only reach from 10 to 30 kiloAmperes."

ELVEs often appear alongside red sprites, which are also sparked by strong lightning and are under scrutiny by ionosphere researchers because they may be the cause of some particular form of Sporadic E layer clouds. By the way, during the ELVE event over Russia, Jankowsky's camera caught at least two clusters of sprites dancing nearby.

ELVEs are elusive, and that's an understatement. Blinking in and out of existence in only a millisecond, they are completely invisible to the human eye. For comparison, red sprites tend to last for hundredths of a second and regular lightning can scintillate for a second or more. Their brevity explains why ELVEs are a more recent discovery than other lightning-related phenomenon.

Despite the poor propagation conditions during the weekend, the international event dedicated to lighthouses and lightships was a success, and I think that all participants did enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere prevailing while operating their stations because of the non-contest nature of the event. It did provide a nice opportunity for newcomers to the Dxing world to work the rarely used T4 prefix, authorized for the special occasion to several Cuban radio club stations that operated from lighthouses. Among them, at the Santiago de Cuba Morro Castle Lighthouse T48SC, tango forty-eight sierra charlie accumulated a good number of contacts.

Now we must wait for the final report from the organizers of the ILLW International event to see the results. Let me add that to calculate the short propagation conditions for the weekend I had to use the number 1, yes 01 Sunspot Number feeding the forecasting software, that I regularly use because its simplicity and accuracy, the nice job of W6EL, who made it freely available. W6EL HF propagation forecasting software runs fast and when I compare results with other much more sophisticated programs, the results achieved, are good indeed.

The non-conversational digital communications mode FT8 has already brought a lot of controversy, and the saga goes on and on, something that, in my opinion, has benefitted amateur radio during this extended period of extremely low solar activity and its associated very poor HF bands propagation conditions.

  

Item # 2 - of special interest to short wave listeners that enjoy catching DX on the tropical broadcasts bands and good news coming from Brazil. A new station on 90 meters, Rádio Cultura de Araraquara is on 3365 kHz in the   tropical band.

The station has just announced that starting last Friday, August 17, it began transmitting, using 3365 kHz, and running one kW, but not specifying the type of antenna in use. The broadcast schedule will be from 2100-0300 UTC and to make the best possible use of both greyline and night-time propagation at that location of Brazil.

As anyone monitoring the HF bands on a day to day basis, will easily find out, the low solar activity continues to limit the chances of shortwave propagation on frequencies above 20 megahertz, even during the best times of the day at any given location. The exception comes when sporadic E layer openings move the maximum usable frequency up past the 25 MHz range.

Recent observations confirm that solar cycle 24 continues to show very weak activity as compared with any of the previous five solar cycles and some scientists are calling for an extended tail end of the cycle to last even two more years, while other solar researchers are telling us that we are now already well into solar minimum.

Si amigos, I receive many radio related questions coming to the ASK ARNIE section of Dxers Unlimited ... and they have helped me to learn more about the radio hobby, making possible to share with my listeners some very interesting findings.

Peter, from Birmingham in the United Kingdom, wrote asking about how he could replace worn out vacuum tubes on a nice 1950's vintage radio receiver that he is bringing back to life. Peter explains that the wooden cabinet is simply beautiful, and the radio was kept in a dry place for storage after it broke down.

After exploring the circuit diagram, Peter found out that the valve or vacuum tube marked ECH81 showed a whitish dust inside the glass bulb, indicating the loss of vacuum, fortunately the ECH81 tube is still available from Russia where it was manufactured in large quantities under the designation 6 INDIA ONE P.

This is Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited and here is news about a little known amateur radio satellite the first Phase 5 amateur payload is already operational in an elliptical orbit around the Moon.

Yes, you heard it right ... there is a Chinese satellite carrying amateur radio transponders that is orbiting around the Moon...The last transmissions from LongJiang 2 were on 2018-08-05 from 00:30 to 02:30 UTC and from 07:30 to 09:30 UTC on 435.400 MHz and 436.400 MHz.

Various experiments are being carried out with GMSK and JT4G downlink signals. Stations with 'normal' amateur equipment can receive the downlinks quite well. Downlink signals have even been received with no more than an Arrow antenna, no preamp.

DK5LA was the first to have his signals relayed through LongJiang 2 on 2018-07-15. On August 4, the first picture of an onboard camera was downlinked with SSDV. Other experiments will follow later. Why not give LongJiang 2 a try?

Thanks to Nico, PA0DLO for the above information.

See you all at the weekend edition of Dxers Unlimited next Sunday and early Monday UTC days just after the top of the hour news...send your signal reports and comments about this and other Radio Havana Cuba's programs as well as your radio hobby related questions to inforhc@enet.cu and via air mail postage to: Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba. Havana, Cuba

(Arnie Coro)

DXers Unlimited, weekend edition

Special thanks to Arnie Coro, for sharing his program script from July 8

Radio Havana Cuba
for Sunday July 8 2018
By Arnie Coro,CO2KK

Hola amigos radioaficionados... hi my radio hobby friends all around the world... YES, it is time, right now to enjoy about ten minutes of all radio hobby related information coming to you from Havana, Cuba. I am your host, Arnaldo, Arnie , Coro and here is item one of today's show:
Very good news about the present and future of amateur radio here in Cuba.... Results of the most recent amateur radio license tests follow.

Joel Carrazana Valdés CO6JC the webmaster of the Federación de Radioaficionados de Cuba (FRC) has posted the results of the amateur radio exams in Cuba

Three-hundred twenty-three candidates took the ham radio exams for one of the three categories of amateur radio tests in the first half of 2018 and 310 obtained a license. This is an increase in candidates over last year. The overall pass rate was an impressive 95.97%. I have no doubt that the very high marks are due to the Amateur Radio Academy Program implemented at the Cuban radio clubs for the past several years... For your information...

There are three license categories in Cuba:
CO 1st Category - All bands with up to 2,000 watts output CM 2nd Category - HF/VHF/UHF with up to 100 watts output CL 3rd Category - part of 1.8/3.5/5/7/144 MHz bands with 10 watts output

The number of exam passes for the three license categories were:
36 category 1, 53 category 2, 221 category 3.

The pass rates for the three levels of exams were:
92.3% category 1, 94.6% category 2, 96.9% category 3

In all cases, the examination was carried out with the formalities required by this act and characterized by the solemnity and respect that has always been present."

So, we will soon more Cuban stations on the HF bands as those third class licensees that upgrade will start operating especially on the 40 meters band.

High frequency HF bands propagation conditions continue to be very poor due to the extremely low solar activity, with several consecutive days , with a totally blank Solar disc.y. During Friday and Saturday e weekend propagation on the HF bands was very poor,. Si amigos, yes , no surprise as this is typical of the tail end of a solar cycle, nothing abnormal at all... but it is certainly quite disgusting to tune around the short wave spectrum and hear nothing or very weak signals that only sophisticated digital modes can pick up!!!
 
According to the most recent forecasts, next year it is going to be worse , with extended periods of much lower solar activity, that may combine with solar events that will further disrupt propagation conditions.  Now, the HF bands from 7 to 30 megaHertz will  show the the typical summer season patterns of the Northern Hemisphere and the winter patterns will be showing up in the Southern Hemisphere. For those of us that live North of the Equator, one of the most interesting effects of summer propagation is a consequence of the lower electron density of the ionosphere...
At times during the winter months  in  solar minimum years the maximum usable frequency at night may drop even below the six megaHertz band amigos !!! More about medium wave band and short wave bands propagation at the end of the program.

Now here is item two: Producing very valuable results is a very original application that runs on practically any computer that makes possible to see the results of the REVERSE BEACON NETWORK... an amazing achievement accomplished by volunteer amateur radio operators from many countries around the world. I won't attempt to describe here how the receiving stations that are known as quote ¨skimmers¨ unquote, automatically pick up amateur CW Morse radiotelegraphy and RTTY signals that are calling CQ, and then also by means of an automated subrutine measure the CW transmission speed and the signal to noise ratio... If it sounds to you as science fiction, it is certainly not, and the Reverse Beacon Network is adding yet another tool monitor digital modes too in order to learn more about the extremely complex phenomena that make possible ionospheric short wave propagation... t You may want to visit the home page of the Reverse Beacon Network after calling CQ on CW if you already are an amateur radio station operator, and just learn , for example, what is happening when your friend Arnie Coro called CQ on the ham bands the last time he was on the air.... Just type the following URL on your Internet browser search line:
http://www.reversebeacon.net/srch.php

Okay, it is a little long, so I will say it again slowly http://www.reversebeacon.net/srch.php
Then when the site opens and asks for whom you are looking for, type the callsign  and you will see the latest spots on each of the ham bands where that station I called CQ...
Now stay tuned for more radio hobby related information coming to you from sunny La Habana , Cuba

This is Radio Havana Cuba coming to you via short wave and also from the streaming audio at www.radiohc.cu  , I am Arnie Coro and here is now the next item of the weekend edition of Dxers Unlimited...

Here is now ASK ARNIE, la numero uno, the most popular section of the show... answering today a question sent by listeners from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Argentina Barbados, Nigeria, South Africa and the Netherlands... they all wanted to know if possible when solar activity will again reach levels of solar flux past the 100 units mark..

Well amigos, this is quite a challenging question that may lead to yet another controversy, because there are many opinions as regards to WHEN the new solar cycle enters into its most active phase reaching the 100 average solar flux units that will surely improve the HF bands propagation. Some gurus say that solar cycle 25 will be even worse than this present very poor cycle 24... with the Sun entering into a new Dalton minimum !!!
Add to the complexity of the answer the fact that one must listen to widely different criteria by solar physics experts...
And now before going QRT , here is Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited propagation update and forecast...
(Arnie Coro/Radio Habana Cuba)

BREAKING NEWS: Former Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies at Age 90

Fidel Castro/photo via Fox News)

Longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the bearded, cigar-smoking Communist revolutionary who infuriated the United States, inspired both loyalty and loathing from his countrymen and maintained an iron grip on Cuban politics for almost 50 years, died Friday at the age of 90.

Castro, who was the only leader most of his countrymen ever knew, outlasted 11 US presidents since he first took power in 1959.

Castro had been in declining health for years – he continued to spew his anti-American tirades almost until the end.
In October, 2014, Castro reprinted a New York Times editorial in state-run media that argued that the U.S. embargo on Cuba should end. The editorial ran almost verbatim, omitting one line about Cuba’s release of political prisoners.

Additional Story at:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/11/26/former-cuban-leader-fidel-castro-dies-at-age-90.html

Monitoring Radio Havana Cuba on shortwave

B16-Winter Schedule Effective to 26 March 2017

All times UTC

Arabic
1900-1930 15140na
2030-2100 15370eu

Creole
0100-0130 5040sa
1930-2000 15140na
2300-2330 17730na

English
0000-0100 5040va   6165na
0100-0200 6000na   6165na
0200-0300 6000na   6165na
0300-0400 6000na  6165na
0400-0500 6000na   6165na
0500-0600 6000na   6060na   6100na   6165na
0600-0700 5040va   6000na   6060na   6100na   6165na
2000-2100 15140na
2200-2300 11880af
2300-0000 11880af

Esperanto
0700-0730 6100na
1600-1630 11760va
2230-2300 17730sa

French
0130-0200 5040va
1930-2000 15370eu
2100-2130 11880af  15140na
2230-2300 17730sa

Portuguese
2000-2030 15370eu
2130-2200 11880af
2300-0000 15230sa
2330-0000 17730sa

Quechua
0000-0030 17730sa

Spanish
0000-0100 6000na  6060na 6075am 9535ca 11670sa 11760va  11840sa   11950na  13740sa   15230sa
0100-0200 6060na 6075am 9535ca 11670sa 11760va  11840sa   13740sa   15230sa
0200-0300 5040am  6060na 6075am 9535ca 11670sa 11760va  11840sa   13740sa   15230sa
0300-0400 5040am  6060na 6075am 9535ca 11670sa 11840sa  13740sa   15230sa
0400-0500 5040am  6060na 6075am 9535ca 11670sa 11840sa  13740sa 15230sa
0500-0600 5040am  6075am 9535ca  11840sa 15230sa
0600-0700 11840sa 15230sa
1200-1300 9640am 9710na 9820ca   9850na   11760va  11840na   17580sa   17730sa   17750sa
1300-1400 9640am 9710na 9820ca   9850na   11760va  11840na   17580sa   17730sa 17750sa
1400-1500 9550ca 9640am 9710na   9820ca   11760va   15370na  17580sa   17730sa   17750sa
1500-1600 9640am 11760va 15370na   17730sa
1600-1700 11760va
1700-1800 11760va
1800-1900 11760va
2200-2300 5040va  6075am 9535ca 11760va   11840sa  13740sa   15370eu
2300-0000 5040va  6000na  11670sa 11840sa   11950na  15230sa   13740sa  15370eu
(Arnie Coro B16)

Target areas:
af (Africa)

am (America's)

eu (Europe)

na (North America)

sa (South America)

va (various areas)

Radio Progreso from Cuba on shortwave in Spanish, 4765 kHz; 0030-0400. Medium wave in Spanish, 24 hours 660, 720, 730, 820, 880, and 940 kHz.


Radio Rebelde from Cuba on shortwave n Spanish, 5025, 24 hours; Medium wave in Spanish 24 hours; 610, 670, 820, 1180, 1210 and 1620 kHz.

Radio Reloj from Cuba, on medium wave in Spanish 24 hours on 570, 610, 790, 850, 860, 870, and 950 kHz.

(Gayle Van Horn W4GVH/International Shortwave Broadcast Guide-Winter 2016)

Monster Hurricane on Devasting Path in the Caribbean

Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba brace for monster hurricane ....
https://www.yahoo.com/news/haiti-jamaica-prepare-powerful-hurricane-matthew-100108689.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/haiti-jamaica-prepare-powerful-hurricane-matthew-100108689.html

In the event that Radio Havana includes any hurricane coverage or recovery, the following shortwave schedule is effective to the first of November 2016.

All times UTC

Arabic
0000-0100 11670sa
0100-0200 11670sa
0200-0300 11670sa
0300-0400 11670sa
1800-1900 15140na
2030-2100 15370eu
2100-2200 15370eu
2200-2300 15370eu
2300-0000 11670sa
Creole
0000-0030 5040ca
1830-1900 15140na
1900-2000 15140na
2300-0000 15370sa
English
0000-0100 6000na 6060na
0100-0200 6000na 6060na
0200-0300 6000na 6060na
0400-0500 6060n
0700-0730 6100na
1100-1200 6000na
1200-1300 6000na
1900-2000 15140na
2000-2030 15140na
2100-2200 6000na
2200-2300 6000na
2300-2330 11880af
2300-0000 5040ca 6000na
Esperanto
0700-0730  Sun 6100na
1100-1200  Sun 11760va
1200-1300  Sun 11760va
1300-1400  Sun 11760va
1400-1500  Sun 11760va
1530-1600  Sun 11760va
1600-1700  Sun 11760va
1700-1800  Sun 11760va
2230-2300  Sun 15370sa
2300-2330  Sun 15370sa
French
0000-0100 11760va
0030-0100 5040ca
0100-0200 11760va
1930-2000 15370eu
2000-2030 15140na
2100-2200 11760va
2200-2230 11880af
2230-2300 11760va 11880af
2230-2300  mtwhfa  15370sa (Mon-Sat)
2300-0000 11760va
Portuguese
0000-0030 15370sa
1800-1900 15230sa
2000-2100 15370eu
2200-2300 15230sa
2230-2300 11880af
2300-0000 11880af
2330-0000 15370sa
Quechua
0000-0030 15370sa
2100-2200 9710ca
2200-2300 9710ca
Spanish
0000-0100 6060na 9535ca 9710ca 11670sa 11760na 11840sa 13740sa 15230sa
0100-0200 5040ca 6000na 6060na 6165na 9535ca 9710ca 11670sa 11760ca 11840sa 13740sa 15230sa
0200-0300 5040ca 6000na 6060na 6165na 9535ca 9710ca 11670sa 11840sa 13740sa 15230sa
0300-0400 5040ca 6000na 6060na 6165na 9535ca 9710ca 11670sa 11840sa 13740sa 15230sa
0400-0500 5040ca 6000na 6060na 6165na 9535ca 11840sa 15230sa
0500-0600 5040ca 6000na 6060na 6100na 6165na 6060na 6100na
0600-0700 6000na 6060na 6100na 6165na
0700-0800 6000va 15230sa
0800-0900 6000na 15230sa
0900-1000 15230sa
1000-1100 15230sa
1100-1200 9535va 9640ca 9710na 9850na 11760na 15230sa 17580sa 17730sa
1200-1300 9535va 9640ca 9710na 9850na 11760na 15230sa 17580sa 17730sa
1300-1400 9535va 9640ca 9710na 11760na 15230sa 15370na 17580sa 17730sa
1400-1500 9535va 9640ca 11760na 15230sa 15370na 17730sa
1500-1530 11760va
1530-1600 11760na
1700-1800 11760na 11840sa
1800-1830 15140na
1800-1900 11840sa
1900-2000 6000na 11840na 15230sa
1930-2000 15370eu
2000-2030 15370eu
2000-2100 11840sa 15230sa
2100-2200 5040ca 9535ca 9710sa 11760na 11840sa 13740sa 15230sa 15370eu
2200-2300 5040ca 9535ca 9710sa 11760na 11840sa 13740sa 15230sa 15370eu
2200-2230 11880af
2230-2300  Sun 15370sa
2300-0000 9535ca 9710ca 11670sa 11760na 11840sa 11950na 13740sa 15230sa
Spanish
Mesa Redonda Intl (Radio Habana program)
2300-0000  mtwh 6000na 11950na
Radio Rebelde
0000-2400 in Spanish on 5025ca

Radio Progreso
Spanish
0030-0100 4765ca
0100-0200 4765ca
0200-0300 4765ca
0300-0400 4765ca
(via Arnie Coro/revised edition via WWDXC Top News # 1247; Bueschel)

Target Areas
af (Africa)
ca (Central America)
eu (Europe)
na (North America)
sa (South America)
va (various areas)

Isle of Music program preview for March 14

Starting March 14 we will be at 0000-0100 UTC Tuesdays (8-9 PM EST Mondays in the Americas)

March 14 in the Americas (March 15 in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania), our special guest will be Leo Garcia, leader of Timbalive, which just released a new Timba album, Gasolina de Avion; we'll converse with him and play some music from the album. We'll also play a new single by Haila Maria Mompie. We'll also share more of the Cuban Classical album Piñera Concertante, a great new Jazz release by Cesar López & Habana Ensemble, and some traditional music by Ecos de Tivoli.

*** Every Monday night from 8pm-9pm EST in North, Central and South America (Tuesday morning from 0200-0300 UTC in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania) on the short waves on WBCQ The Planet, 7.490 MHz: From the Isle of Music, a new radio program dedicated to the music of Cuba – Jazz, Fusion, Timba, Nueva Trova, Son, Classical, Folklorica, interviews with musicians, even a little history of the music now and then. Partly in English, en parte en español. “Like” our page to keep informed about what we will bring you. (For those without shortwave or outside of viable signal range, there are also a couple of ways to stream the frequency via Internet; see the instructions in our NOTES section).

William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC
website: www.tilfordproductions.com

From the Isle of Music program slated for WBCQ Feb 8

Thanks to Bill Tilford for news of his upcoming programming. - sounds great !!

The next edition of From the Isle of Music will air on WBCQ 7490 kHz at 8:00-0900 EST, 0100-0200 UTC. Programming is dedicated to the music of Cuba.

This weeks show will include an interview in English with (and the music of) Zule Guerra, a rising Jazz singer and bandleader in Havana whose influences include Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.  She is also educated as a biochemist.

 For more information, there is a brand new Facebook Page  :https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/?ref=hl

Each program, in addition to a variety of music, will  include an interview that I recorded with a musician, usually but not always in Cuba during my trips there.  Subsequent weeks will have a different Cuban musician each episode, and much of the music will be very difficult to find off the island.   It won't be another "Buena Vista Social Club" showcase - this is meant to be a program of discovery, and most of the names will be unfamiliar to North American listeners.

Shortwave was my window to the world as a child (including the music of Cuba), and I look forward to giving back.Special guests (recorded interviews with music) the first few weeks will be

Arturo O'Farrill (Jazz) in Santiago de Cuba
Zule Guerra (Jazz & Blues) in Habana
Septeto Santiaguero (Traditional Son) in Santiago de Cuba
Juan Chacon (Jazz) in Habana

In addition, every show will feature a few different genres of Cuban music.

For an official QSL card, you will need to write to WBCQ (see the instructions on the WBCQ.com website), but we are also interested in your feedback about the program – where you are listening, when and how, and if you were listening via radio, reception quality along with your favorite part of what you heard. If you send that via email to tilfordproductions@gmail.com, each month there will be a different email thank-you available that will include a photo of something fun that we saw in Cuba.

(ESPAÑOL)
Para una tarjeta oficial de QSL, hay que enviar un informe de recepción a WBCQ (vea las instrucciones de la página web WBCQ.com), pero también estamos interesado en sus comentarios sobre el programa – dónde está escuchando, cuándo y cómo, y si usted fue capaz de escuchar con la radio, la calidad de la recepción, junto con su parte favorita de lo que usted escuchó. Si lo envía por correo electrónico a tilfordproductions@gmail.com, cada mes un correo electrónico de agradecimiento distinto que incluye una foto de algo interesante que vimos en Cuba estará disponible.
Best regards,
William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer

Martís an Essential News Source in Cuba Admidst Policy Changes

WASHINGTON - Changes in the relationship between the United States and Cuba may have resulted in a relaxation on travel and trade restrictions, but they have not diminished the censorship and media control on the island. Leadership of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which manages Radio and TV Martí, described the realities of the evolving Cuban media market to the Broadcasting Board of Governors at its meeting today in Washington, D.C.

"Human rights are abused every day, access to information is limited and heavily controlled, and all media is owned and operated by the state," explained Natalia Crujeiras, Chief Content Officer for all the all the media platforms of the Martís including Martinoticias.com. "Cuban officials dealing with the White House may have changed the tone of the conversations, but the Castro discourse and relentless media campaigns haven't budged on the island."

The Martís are providing much needed reliable journalism on multiple platforms. According to a recent survey, 20 percent of Cubans get their news from Radio Martí. In the first three months of 2015, Martinoticias.com received 1.7 million hits. The Martís' following has grown by 71% on Facebook and 23% on Twitter.

"Cuba is a country in transition," explained Carlos García-Pérez, Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. "We have to think long-term. We may not know where the chips are going to fall, and but we have to be ready to help the Cuban citizens get the information they need to live healthy, successful lives. And we are ready."

BBG Chairman Shell agreed, adding, "Our work in Cuba is important, perhaps now more than ever. Some may think our work there is done, but in many ways our work is just beginning."

Noting that Sunday is World Press Freedom Day, Shell acknowledged that for press in Cuba and around the globe, their work is increasingly dangerous. BBG journalists and contributors have faced a myriad of threats including having family members jailed in China, being shot in Iraq, jailed in Azerbaijan, and expelled from an conference in Panama.

Despite these challenges, Shell explained, "We are committed to the pursuit of global press freedom and upholding the principles of professional journalism across our networks."

Prior to the presentation by OCB, Shell expressed gratitude to departing Voice of America Director David Ensor saying, "David has steered the VOA ship through rocky waters and a rapidly changing media environment. It is a big loss for us, and as one of the longest serving VOA Directors, he will be missed."

After the meeting, Shell invited former BBG Chairman and current President and CEO of the Aspen Institute Walter Isaacson to share insights on changes in the media and political landscapes and how they impact the future of U.S. international media.

"Everyone in U.S. international media really deserves a heck of a lot of credit for being so dedicated to this mission, believing that if we report the truth it will benefit people around the world," Isaacson told the assembled journalists, staff and leadership. "Being here today is my tiny way of saying how valuable your mission is and how much I appreciate work that you are doing."

(VOA)

Russia agrees to reopen Cuban spy base

Moscow (AFP) - Russia has provisionally agreed to reopen a major Cold War listening post on Cuba that was used to spy on the United States, a Russian daily reported Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin visited the island last week.

"The agreements were finalized while President Vladimir Putin visited Havana last Friday," the respected daily wrote.

Russia had closed the Lourdes spy base south of Havana on Putin's orders to save money and due to a rapprochement with the United States after the September 11 attacks.

But Moscow has since shown a new interest in Latin America and its Cold War ally Cuba and relations with the West have deteriorated amid the Ukraine crisis.

The base was set up in 1964 after the Cuban missile crisis to spy on the United States. Just 250 kilometres (155 miles) from the US coast, it was the Soviet Union's largest covert military outpost abroad with up to 3,000 staff.

A secret Russian listening station conducts it's activities October 18, 2001 in Lourdes some 18 mile …
It was used to listen in to radio signals including those from submarines and ships and satellite communications.

"All I can say is -- finally!" one Russian source told Kommersant of the reported reopening.

The defense ministry and military high command declined to comment on the report to Kommersant.

Ahead of Putin's visit to Cuba last week as part of a Latin American tour, Russia agreed to write off 90 percent of Cuba's debt dating back to the Soviet era, totaling around $32 billion.

Russia paid Cuba rent of $200 million per year to use the base in the last few years it was open.

A former head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, Vyacheslav Trubnikov, told the newspaper the base would strengthen Russia's international position.

"Lourdes gave the Soviet Union eyes in the whole of the western hemisphere," he said. "For Russia, which is fighting for its lawful rights and place in the international community, it would be no less valuable than for the USSR."

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.
(Yahoo! Nx)

Update on Cuba's Radio Progreso

Message from Arnie about Radio Progreso Tropical 60 meter band station.

Dear amigo Wolfie:
Radio Progreso's successful test from October to December of 2013 using 4765 kHz frequency registered to Cuba at the ITU with 50 kW omnidirectional and high take off angle antenna was completed on the last
day of December and starting January 1 2014 it is now a permanent daily service 7 days a week.

Under study now is the possibility of extending the on the air time starting at 2300 UTC, so that the broadcast will be from 2300 to 0500 UT.

As regards to reports received and QSL verification, the station will issue a QSL card soon, and in the meantime listeners who report correctly the transmissions will receive a QSL letter.

Please note that the postal mailing address for the 60 meters Tropical Band reports is:

Radio Progreso
Atte: Transmision Banda Tropical
PO BOX 3042
Codigo postal 10300
La Habana
Cuba.

In the meantime I will continue to relay the e-mail messages sent via Radio Havana Cuba's inforhc@ enet.cu
to Radio Progreso's Chief Engineer Ing. Jose Antonio Fuentes Beltran that is going to be the person in charge of verifying and signing the QSL letters now and QSL cards when they come from the printer.

At this moment Cuba has on the air three short wave services Radio Havana Cuba in eight languages using frequencies on the 60, 49, 31, 25, 22, 19, and 16 meters bands.

Radio Rebelde  on 5025 kHz 60 meters band

Radio Progreso on 4765 kHz 60 meters band.

73 and DX
Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich ( AKA Arnie Coro on the air)
Advisor / Senior Consultant to the Director General
Radio Habana Cuba
(via wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 29)
(WWDXC/Top Nx 1148/02 Feb)

Anti-Cuban station from Guatemala

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Dear amigo Michael,
Just read the discussion about a now defuncty station in the TopNews Bulletin, and could not resist to tell the amazing story that follows.

Some time when the US sponsored anti-Cuban station known as La Voz del Cid was still on the air, a team of Radio Rebelde's sports commentators and an engineer from the station traveled to Guatemala City to broadcast a sports event that was going to take place in that Central American nation.

They went early to the stadium and installed the solid state portable audio mixer with its two commentators positions, hooked it up to the two phone lines that connected to the local phone company in order to send the audio signals to Cuba on one 4 wire circuit and with the other two wire circuit keep in touch with the Radio Rebelde Master Control in Havana.

But they could not make that hookup that had worked very well at many different locations to operate properly. They complained on the two wire direct line to Havana that there was a very loud audio signal in Spanish that leaked through without the possibility of removing that audio at all. They placed the telephone mouthpiece next to the local monitor at the mixer board and it was then that we realized that the audio was the infamous "program" from La Voz del Cid.

We asked the engineer to look around the stadium for towers or masts with an antenna hanging between the two and a ladder type open wire transmission line coming down from the center of the antenna...

Sure enough, from the top row of the grand stand of the stadium they could see the two steel masts that supported the antenna of the short wave station used by La Voz del Cid, the cause of the interference to the audio mixer board.

The highly capable engineer always carried in his tools kit and accesories ferrite ring cores (toroids) so he proceeded to place them at the proper places (microphone input, telephone lines input and output and the headsets of the commentators ... in order to remove the RF coming into the equipment from the nearby short wave station.

So, they were able to broadcast the sports event and the Cuban audience was very happy with the transmissions...

Of course that it was very interesting to learn, first hand, that the "clandestine" station was located not far from the center of Guatemala city, operating under the protection of the government of that country at
the time.

73 and DX
Your amigo in sunny La Habana  Cuba
Arnaldo (Arnie) Coro
Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby show
Radio Havana Cuba
(Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich-CUB, via pres Michael Bethge-D wwdxc Jan 18)

La Voz del CID recording:
http://www.hueppelshaeuser.de/radios/Clandestine84_LVdelCID_hm.m3u
http://www.kurzwelle-historisch.de/qsl/qsl_Clandestine84_LVdelCID_hm.html
(Manfred Hueppelshaeuser-D)
)BC-DX/Top Nx 1147)
QSL/Gayle Van Horn/Teak Publishing)

Cuba's new Radio Progreso station on shortwave

Information from DXers Unlimited program on Radio Havbna Cuba

Cuba

4765, Radio Progreso Cadena Nacional, La Habana. This is Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited and here is news about the experimental tropical band transmissions to begin on the first day of October by Radio Progreso Cadena Nacional. That means of course Radio Progreso National Network, Cuba´s second most important AM, FM and now it is going to be also on shortwave. Radio Progreso will begin its tropical band broadcasts on 4765 kHz on the 60 meters tropical band starting at zero hours thirty minutes UTC with the popular music show Nocturno, and the broadcast will end at zero four hours UTC with the late evening news. The tropical band transmission will provide excellent coverage of the Cuban archipelago and the surrounding countries. 

Transmitter power is registered at 50 kW and a classic high departure angle antenna will be used as required for the Near Vertical Incidence Skywave transmissions. With Radio Progreso´s new tropical band service, Cuba will have on the air three signals on that band, Radio Rebelde on 5025, Radio Havana Cuba 5040, and now Radio Progreso 4765. 

Reports of the new Radio Progreso tropical band transmissions may be sent to inforhc@enet.cu , and I will relay the reports to my good friend Radio Progreso´s Chief Engineer Jose Antonio Fuentes. ( http://dxersunlimited.blogspot.com/ via Rodríguez, Sep 30)
(DSWCI/DX Window/489)

Radio Habana - summer schedule update

Cuba

Radio Habana


All times UTC

0000-0030  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Creole
0000-0030 15370 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Quechua

0000-0100  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0000-0100  6100 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
0000-0100  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
0000-0100 11680 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
0000-0100 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
0000-0100 11840 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0000-0100 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0000-0100 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish

0030-0100  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM French

0100-0200  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0100-0200  6000 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM English
0100-0200  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0100-0200  6100 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
0100-0200  6165 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM English
0100-0200  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
0100-0200 11680 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
0100-0200 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
0100-0200 11840 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0100-0200 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0100-0200 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish

0200-0300  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0200-0300  6000 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM English
0200-0300  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0200-0300  6100 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
0200-0300  6165 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM English
0200-0300  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
0200-0300 11680 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
0200-0300 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
0200-0300 11840 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0200-0300 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0200-0300 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish

0300-0400  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0300-0400  6000 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM English
0300-0400  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0300-0400  6100 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
0300-0400  6165 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM English
0300-0400  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
0300-0400 11680 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
0300-0400 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
0300-0400 11840 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0300-0400 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0300-0400 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish

0400-0500  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
0400-0500  6000 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM English
0400-0500  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
0400-0500  6165 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM English
0400-0500  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
0400-0500 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
0400-0500 11840 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish

0500-0600  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM English
0500-0600 NF  6000 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to NoWeAM English,
          ex6010 from Aug.14
0500-0600  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM English
0500-0600  6125 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM English
0500-0600  6165 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM English

0600-0700 NF  6000 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to NoWeAM English,
          ex6010 from Aug.14
0500-0600  6060 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM English
0600-0700  6125 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM English
0600-0700  6165 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM English

0700-0730 NF  6000 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to NoWeAM Esperanto Sun,
          ex6010 from Aug.14

1100-1300  6150 HAB 100 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
1100-1300  9540 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
1100-1300  9550 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
1100-1300  9850 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
1100-1300 11690 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
1100-1300 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
1100-1300 11860 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
1100-1300 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
1100-1300 17580 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
1100-1300 17730 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish

1300-1500  9540 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
1300-1500 11750 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
1300-1500 11690 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
1300-1500 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
1300-1500 11860 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish
1300-1500 13780 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
1300-1500 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
1300-1500 15340 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
1300-1500 17580 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
1300-1500 17730 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM Spanish

1500-1530 11760 HAB 100 kW 020 deg to NoAM Esperanto Sun

1900-2000 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM English
1930-2000 17720 HAB 100 kW 053 deg to WeEUR French
2000-2030 11760 HAB 100 kW non-dir to CeAM French
2000-2030 17720 HAB 100 kW 053 deg to WeEUR Portuguese
2030-2100 17720 HAB 100 kW 053 deg to WeEUR Arabic

2100-2200  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
2100-2200  9710 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
2100-2200  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
2100-2200 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
2100-2200 17720 HAB 100 kW 053 deg to WeEUR Spanish

2200-2230 11880 HAB 100 kW 100 deg to SoAF French

2200-2300  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
2200-2300  9710 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
2200-2300  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
2200-2300 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Portuguese
2200-2300 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
2200-2300 17720 HAB 100 kW 053 deg to WeEUR Spanish

2230-2300 11880 HAB 100 kW 100 deg to SoAF Portuguese
2230-2300 15370 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM French Mon-Sat
2230-2300 15370 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Esperanto Sun

2300-2330 15370 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Creole

2300-2400  5040 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM English
2300-2400  6000 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
          Mon-Fri Mesa Redonda
2300-2400  6100 HAB 250 kW 315 deg to CeAM Spanish
2300-2400  9810 HAB 100 kW 340 deg to CeAM Spanish
2300-2400 11680 HAB 250 kW 160 deg to SoAM Spanish
2300-2400 11840 HAB 100 kW 010 deg to NoAM Spanish
2300-2400 11880 HAB 100 kW 100 deg to SoAF English
2300-2400 13780 HAB 100 kW 230 deg to NoAM Spanish
          Mon-Fri Mesa Redonda
2300-2400 15230 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish
2300-2400 17705 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Spanish

2330-2400 15370 HAB 100 kW 130 deg to SoAM Portuguese
(DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 20)
(WWDXC/Top Nx 1129)