Adventist World Radio

Wavescan  program #503 -- 35/1

8/21/2004

 

Main Script for Wavescan, Edition number 503 for airing on Sunday8/21/2004. 

 

Host 2

From the studios of Adventist World Radio, This is Wavescan.

Host 1

Our programme for shortwave listeners and radio hobbyists from around the world.   I’m ___________ (Host 1).

Host 2

And I’m ____________ (Host 2).

 

Bring music up and then down. 

Host 1

In today’s edition of Wavescan

Wavescan topic

Continuing our island hopping series: The Story of Radio Broadcasting on Canton Island

 

Travelogue

Flying nightmares -  How one man joined the frequent survivors club.

IC DX report

Horacio Nigro brings the South American DX report

2nd DX report

While Livinus Torty reports from Africa

Feature

Then: How often do you have to lie to become a liar?   That’s all in today’s programme (unless, of course, I’m lying)

 

PAUSE HERE  . . .  with music fade in.

Host 2

So let’s start in with our Wavescan topic for this week.

 

WAVESCAN TOPIC  (5 minutes)  Normally read by Student Volunteer

Host 1

 I guess most people would ask the question: Where in the world is Canton Island?  And maybe another equally important follow-up question: Why Is Canton Island important in the story of radio broadcasting?   Hopefully, Steve Hamstra is here with the answers.

 

Play Wavescan topic: Canton island is part of the recently independent nation of Kiribati (Keer-ee-BAHS) out there in the Central Pacific and it is the most northerly in the Phoenix islands.  It is a low flat sandy island with little vegetation and almost no trees and it is surrounded by a coral reef with a large enclosed lagoon.     

 

          Canton was discovered by American & English whalers in the 1800s and it was named “Canton” by the American Commander Meade in honor of a British whaling ship that ran aground on the reef in 1854.   Both the United States and England claimed Canton Island and several notices identifying these claims were posted on the island, beginning in 1936.

 

           Soon afterwards, personnel from both nations were placed on the island to substantiate the claims of possession.  However, in 1939, both countries signed a 50 year agreement for joint administration.

 

          Now, to answer the second question. It was in 1939 that the United States airline, PanAm established a re-fueling facility on Canton Island for the benefit of the seaplanes in their trans-Pacific Clipper Service.  

         

          The famous American aviator, Eddie Rickenbacker, flew out from California in 1942 via Canton to meet General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea.  However, the navigation systems in the plane were damaged on take-off and he had to ditch the plane when he inadvertently overshot Canton Island.  The crew were finally rescued.  Rickenbacker was already famous for his part in establishing the Indy 500 motor car race track in Indianapolis.

 

          It was in 1937 that the British established the first radio station, a communication facility, on the island called Canton.  A few months later, the Americans also brought radio equipment onto the island and established their own shortwave communication station, which was later allocated the callsign NSN.

 

          The airline company, PanAm, established their own radio communication station on Canton in 1939 and it was noted on air with two different callsigns, KABS & KVZC, one for each channel.  Over the years, there have also been several DXpeditions to the island conducted by amateur radio groups and most of these were on the air under American callsigns.  However, an expedition in 1956 under Danny Weil on the ship “Yasme” went on the air with a very different callsign, VR1B.

 

          Over the years, both AFRS, the American Forces Radio Service, and PanAm have established entertainment radio stations on Canton for the benefit of personnel stationed on this small and lonely island.  The first station was launched in 1944 with the callsign WXLF, the same callsign that was in use by another station on Tarawa Island. This original station WXLF was closed 18 months later.

 

          However, in 1971, the station on Eniwetok Island, WXLE, was transferred to Canton where it went on the air under the same callsign.  This station was subsequently rebuilt into a 250 watt facility which was heard regularly in New Zealand.  It finally left the air in 1979.

 

          In the 1950s & 1960s, PanAM also established an entertainment radio station and this was noted on the air, first as KIBE, and later as KIBS.  The most recent entertainment radio station on Canton was heard in 1994 by Arthur Cushen in Invercargill, South New Zealand.

 

          In addition to amateur radio QSL cards, there have been a few QSLs issued to verify the reception of the entertainment radio stations on Canton Island.  It is noted that several QSLs were issued to listeners located in California, Hawaii and New Zealand on behalf of the AFRS station WXLE during the era when it was operating on mediumwave with 250 watts.  In addition, Arthur Cushen also received a letter verifying his reception of the airways station in 1949.

 

Host 1

Thanks Steve, and next week at this time we’ll be giving you the full details of our September DX contest.

Host 2

You’re listening to Wavescan and if you’d like to write or comment on any of the issues arising in today’s programme, Our address is,  AWR, 39 Brendon St . . .   Or e-mail letters@awr.org.  Those details again at the end of the programme.

 

Travelogue  (5 minutes)

Host 2

Bruce Davidson is our ecology expert, here on AWR, but being interested in ecology, wildlife, and environment, doesn’t stop him from flying. 

Host 1

A recent flight to the United Kingdom got our ever energetic Bruce Davidson thinking  about a number of experiences he’s had while in the air. I suppose you could call them “flying nightmares”.  Bruce . . .

 

Play Travelogue: 1465:Flying Nightmare:

IN: “I don’t know how many of you have had the proviledge . . . ”

 

OUT: “ . . Oh well! I guess you can’t have everything, can you?”

Host 1

I guess not – but our thanks, I think(!) to Bruce Davidson for that Travel Log. You may feel a little frightened from time to time when taking that all too essential trip by plane. But rest assured that if you ask for God’s Spirit to be with you He’ll never let you down.

 

P A U S E    H E R E    P L E A S E

 

DX Report (IC and/or programme hosts)  (4 minutes IC and 2 minute host tips.  Total 6 minutes.)

Host 2

You’re listening to Wavescan, Adventist World Radio’s programme especially for shortwave listeners and radio hobbyists.  Our DX report this week is from  Horacio Nigro in South America.

 

DX Report

Host 2

African DX Report - Livinus Torty in Chad, Africa

          (Pronunciation: Livinus  = le-VEEN-us)

 

* SOUTH AFRICA: Channel Africa from Johannesburg is noted in English at                 0500 UTC on   9770 kHz 

                   0600 UTC on 15215 kHz

                   1500 UTC on 17770 kHz, and

                   1700 UTC on 15265 kHz. 

 

          The French language service of Channel Africa is noted at      

                   0400 UTC on   7265 kHz

                   1600 UTC on 15245 kHz.

 

          All of these broadcasts are directed to listeners in Africa and the reception at these times is very good in Chad.

 

* ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO: Several English language transmissions from Adventist World Radio directed towards Asia are clearly audible in Africa.  They include the AWR broadcast at 0530 UTC on 15225 kHz beamed to Nepal & Tibet from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. 

 

          English language broadcasts to Central India at 1600 UTC on 15235 kHz and to North India on at 1630 UTC on 11975 kHz from KSDA Guam are also heard in Africa with good reception.

 

* BELGIUM: RTBF in Brussels is on the air to Central Africa in French at 1430 UTC on 17570 kHz.  At the start of the transmission, there is a cross- over announcement in English and French, stating, “You are listening to RTBF International, the Belgian French public service radio to Central Africa”.  The audio quality of the French broadcast that follows is excellent.

 

* TURKEY: The Voice of Turkey is noted at 1230 UTC on 15535 kHz in English with a program beamed to Asia & Australia.  The signal is weak in Chad, but audible.

 

* HUNGARY: Radio Budapest is on the air with a 30 minute broadcast in English to Southern Africa at 2100 UTC on 11830 kHz.  The reception level is good.

 

And our thanks to Livinus Torty in Chad for those tips.  Your listening to Wavescan.

 

Feature  (5 minutes) 

Host 1

Recent studies are suggesting that cheating in an academic setting is becoming more and more common.   Today, AWR's David Barasoain takes a look at cheating, why it happens and also talks to an offender.

 

Play Feature 723: cheating at school:

Cheaters never win . . . David Barasoain

Ending

1  Host 2

And that brings us to an end of this week’s edition of Wavescan – a production of Adventist World Radio.  Next week we will be:

1. giving you the full details of our September DX contest

2. find ourselves playing with a snake

3.  and taking a look at the causes of TV aggression

2  Host

Your reception reports, tips and comments are always welcomed.  Here’s our address:

3  Host

AWR, 39 Brendon St, London, W1, England, or e-mail us at letters@awr.org.  

4  Host

That’s also the address for your Bible questions or free Bible Guides:  AWR, 39 Brendon St, London, W1, England, or e-mail us at letters@awr.org.  

5 Host

Wavescan is written and produced by Adrian Peterson and Steve Hamstra.  You can find it on the web at:  english.awr.org/Wavescan.  I’m . . . (Me)

6 Host

. . . and I’m . . .  (You) Thanks for joining us.

Radio Broadcasting on Canton Island

 

Historical Information

 

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Year    Date            Event                                                                                                      Reference

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                        Most northerly in Phoenix Islands aka Kanton or Abariringa                  Website

1800s Early            Discovery by American & English whalers                                                         Website

1854   Mar 4            New Bedford whaling ship “Canton’ ran aground on reef                            Website

1872                Commander Meade “Narragansett” named Canton earlier namesabandonedWS 

1936   Aug 6            Claimed by HMS Leith for England, posted sign                                      Website          

1937   Apr 8            British placed Canton under Gilbert & Ellice Islands                                  Website          

1937   Jun 3            2nd sign added by HMS Wellington                                                                 Website

1937   Jul 8            Solar eclipse viewed by US & NZ expeditions                                        Website

1937   Jul 27            Dedication of lighthouse                                                                              Website

1937   Oct            3rd sign added by administrator                                                             Website

1937   Mar 3            F. D. Roosevelt signed order Canton under Dept Interior                            Website

1938   Mar 7            9:00 am 7 Americans landed on Canton, claiming for USA                           Website

1939   Apr            Agreed to joint USA-British administration, 50 year agreement                 Website

1939                Canton became refueling stop PanAm sea planes USA-Australia                    Website

1942                USS President Taylor went aground at Canton Island                       Website          

1942  Oct            Eddie Rickenbacker flight                                                                           Website

1942                9th Army Signal Command operators sent to Canton                              Website

1943                Japanese bombed Canton March & July                                                Website

1961                Pacific Missile Range for Mercury Program, till Jul 1953                         Radiodx.com

1970s              US missile tests                                                                                       NZDXT

1975                US Radar Base being phased out                                                                  NZDXT

1979                US personnel moving away, only 37 locals left                                          NZDXT

1989                End of 50 year agreement                                                                             Website

2004                61 Kiribati citizens now on Canton                                                                 Website

===================================================================

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Broadcasting on Canton Island

 

References

 

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Call                 Year            Date            Event                                                  Reference

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Communication Stations

   British            1937  Aug 31   Two British agents landed, powerful radio equipment      Website

                        1938  Jan 17   Men replaced by two others                                         Website

                        1938  Jun 22   Men replaced by two others                                                    Website

   American            1938  Mar 7     American communication station established                Website

   KABS            1939                  Callsign for PanAm station on 6570 kHz                  RN 11-39 40

   KVZC            1939                  Callsign for PanAm station on 8100 kHz                  RN 11-39 40

   NSN                 1945                  US Coast Guard LORAN station 250 w CW            Radiodx.com

                          1946                  NSN closed                                                               Radiodx.com

 

Amateur Stations

   KF6DW             1939                  American amateur station in operation                   ARW 77.8 7-39

   VR1B            1956  Mar        Danny Weil on Yasme at Canton Island                          QSL.at

   KB6BC                1956                  “1st” ham station on Canton                                      Radiodx.com

   KB6CA               1961                  Jeff Burris, through Jul 1963, “1st” ham station       Radiodx.com

   KB6BZ            1962                  American amateur station in operation                                   AWR

   KB6CB               Later                  Another operator, much later                                 Radiodx.com  

 

American Entertainment Station - Eniwetok

   AFRS1            1944  Jul 15     Inaugurated with 50 watts on 1330 kHz                    AFRTS 453    

   WXLE            1944  Jul 15     2nd AFRS station in mid Pacific                                  RITPW 4        

                         1947  Mar 4     Station closed                           AFRTS 453 & Radiodx.com

                        1954  Nov        Station on air, apparently old equipment re-activated     Radiodx

                           1955  Dec       Station rebuilt                                                    Radiodx.com

                        1969                  Station closed                                                   Radiodx.com

                          1970                  Station transferred to Canton Island as WXLE           Radiodx.com

 

American Entertainment Station - Tarawa

   AES              1944  Sep         Opened recently Pacific Ocean Network               R&H 79.12 9-44 34

   WXLF            1944  Nov         Listed Tarawa in Gilberts 1340 kHz  Nb 79.217b 41 LI 25-11-44

                        1946  Apr          Listed Tarawa 1340 kHz 1 kW NNRC DXTRA  LI 79.24 30-4-46

 

American Entertainment Stations - Canton

   WXLF            1944  Nov        1st AFRS station on Canton, 5 watts on 950 kHz          AFRTS 454                 1944  Nov        1st AFRS station on Canton, 5 watts on 950 kHz        Radiodx.com

                        194x                  Programmed as part of Pacific Ocean Network             Radiodx.com

                        1945  Dec       5 watt station operated by Edwin Calhoun                         Radiodx.com                           1946  Early      Shown as still on air                                                       Radiodx.com

                        1946  Apr         Listed with 5 watts 950 kHz                                           LI 79.24 30-4-46

                          1946  May        Listed in USA DC directory 950 kHz 5 watts       ATC Hocken

                           1946  Jun        Station closed                                                   Radiodx.com

KIBE                   1950s                Entertainment station PanAM staff 1248 kHz 50 w Radiodx.com

                        1954                  Station on the air                                                       Ricquish Email

                           1956                  Canton MW antenna 50 ft high, 50 w Navy TCS transmitter   RD

   KIBS                1960                  Call change, manager J. V. Cox 1510 kHz 24 w      Radiodx.com                                                     Volunteer station, Hermit Crab Network                Radiodx.com

 

   WXLE            1971                  Station transferred from Eniwetok top loaded antenna   Radiodx          

                           1971                  AFRTS tapes recycled to WVUV Pago Pago Samoa      Radiodx

                           1971                  Weak radio station                                                              Website

                           1972                  Station on air 1385 kHz but not heard in NZ                   NZDXT

                           1972                  Passing airliners make music requests                        Radiodx.com

                           1972                  Plans for new facility, AM and possibly FM                   Radiodx.com

                           1973  Jan         New 250 watt transmitter installed 180 ft tower                          NZDXT

                           1973  Jan 17    First heard in NZ, Bryan Clark                                        NZDXT

                           1973                   Operated by Kentron Hawaii for USAF, manager Lowell White

                        1973                   Callsign WXLE transferred from Eniwetok    EA 79.17 4-73 118     

                               1974  Mar         Global Associates now runs WXLE Manager Max Chapman

                           1974                   Now direct control AFRTS, Max Chapman  EA 79.17 11-74 110

                           1974                   WXLE, USAF Tracking 1385 kHz 250 w     EA 79.17 12-74 110

                           1975  Sep         Vernacular ID introduced                                                      NZDXT

                           1976 Jan 7      Became volunteer operation, James Nolan Manager      NZDXT

                           1976                   Joyce Haas as new manager                                    NZDXT

                                                   Photo Joyce Haas                                                      Radiodx.com

                                                   Photo antenna                                                   Radiodx.com

                           1976                   Was to close now volunteer facility J. Haas EA 79.17 12-76 129

                           1977                   Excellent reception in NZ                                                       NZDXT

                           197x                   Just 250 watts on 1385, manager Joyce Haas                NZDXT

                           1978                   Move from 1385 to 1386 kHz                                            NZDXT

                           1978                   Excellent reception in NZ                                                       NZDXT

                           1978  Aug         Last heard in NZ, David Ricquish                                             NZDXT

                           1979                   24 hrs, volunteer broadcasts to cease Jun or Jul           QSL NZDXT

                                               

   Canton MW             1994  Aug 19                Airways entertainment station heard by ATC                   ATC QSL       

 

   Canton FM            1971                   Unlicensed quarter watt stereo FM transmitter                 Website

===================================================================

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Radio TV Handbook Entries

 

Canton

All Entries Shown

 

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Location            Call            kHz            kW            Operator