BC-DX TopNews WWDXC #945 BC-DX 945

still in a just barely operational condition. This webpage says one has
actually still been used, and in an earlier discussion it had been stated
that in particular no automatic tuning was possible anymore.
The timeline appears to be that the predecessor of Broadcast Australia
purchased two new transmitters from Thomson-CSF in 1993/1994 and moved in
another one from Carnarvon in 1996. Then in 1997 the site has been closed.
Finally in 2000 Christian Vision took it over, and the referenced webpage
revealed for the first time that they brought in two Continental 100 kW
transmitters, now moved to Shepparton and specified as being 418E and
418F, respectively, models. It is said that these transmitters were not
new but have been purchased used, which of course raises the question
about their original location. This part of the story is still a mystery.
In recent years up to four frequencies were on air from Cox
simultaneously. Obviously up to three would have been the Thomson-CSF
transmitters, but there are two possibilities for at least the fourth one:
Either it was indeed still one of the old Collins beasts (perhaps not
always the same one), or this fourth frequency had been run with the
Continental transmitters, thus with 100 kW only. All Cox/Darwin
frequencies have always been registered as 250 kW, but here I would add
"for what it was worth".
Concerning Asia Brown Boveri: When had Thomcast, which combined the
transmission equipment businesses of ABB and Thomson-CSF, actually been
founded? I understand that model designators starting with "TRE" point at
the former Thomson-CSF product line, as opposed to SK... ABB. Correct me
if necessary.
As a reminder: Later Thomcast had been purchased by Thales, a French
armaments trust, but just some years later Thales repelled it and the
whole thing came back to Thomson, which in the meantime had also purchased
Grass Valley, a company focussing on TV equipment. It seems that they
hardly use the Grass Valley brand anymore, and the report from the HFCC
conference indicates that another restructuring is in the pipeline anyway.
And how about the identical Collins transmitters at Sackville?
(Kai Ludwig-D, dxld Sept 14)
AUSTRALIA 2368.5 Radio Symban. For some time I have been trying to get
some decent audio from this station, but back on the date of August the
23rd, one of the rarest openings for some time to make it to my location.
Noted from 1207 to 1252 hours. The signal remain quite audible, and was
further enhanced during local sun raise at 1218 hours. I managed to catch
several IDs and the programming consisted of Middle-eastern flare of music
,what others say is Greek-style programming. I have sent a Postal report
along with a recording and will see a reply will come about. This has been
the one and only time I have heard them with such signal, since that date.
(Edward Kusalik-Alb-CAN, DXplorer Sept 17)
BANGLADESH 4750 Bangladesh Betar Aug 30 1346-1414 33443 Bengali, Music
and talk, ID at 1404 UT.
4750 Bangladesh Betar on Aug 31 at 1229-1247 UT. 33343 Bengali, Music,
ID at 1245 UT.
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