Interview with Radio Damascus June 2009
Antwerpen,
Belgium, 7th of June 2009
Dear Radio Friends
I just arrived back home in Belgium today after a fabulous
4-week visit to the beautiful and friendly country Syria
is.
My very dear friends of Radio Damascus organised a whole
program for me, reflecting the legendary Syrian
hospitality.
The head of the English section, Mr. Rasheed Haidar, also
organised several meetings for me with the director of the
External services , the chief engineer of Radio Damascus'
shortwave station in Adra and the other staff of Radio
Damascus.
Here are some answers to questions which will interest you
all :
Question
: Radio Damascus
is using a media mix to distribute it's programs. You are
now using shortwave, mediumwave (for the Hebrew and Russian
program), satellite (Hotbird, Arabsat and Nilesat) and the
internet (http://www.syriaonline.sy/radio.php).
Since a very long time, listening to Radio Damascus on
shortwave has had it's difficulties due to modulation
problems. Are you aware of this?
Answer
: Yes, many
listeners, all over the world, are writing us about the
modulation problems. The problem with the shortwave
transmitters of Radio Damascus at the Adra shortwave
station is that they are aging. The French made
transmitters were installed in the beginning of the 1980's
and the tubes of the transmitters have to be replaced.
Unfortunately, replacing these tubes is a very expensive
matter and Radio Damascus has a limited budget to operate.
As a matter of fact, there are 2 kinds of tubes in the
transmitter. 2 RF carrier tubes (Radio Frequency Carrier)
and 2 tubes responsible for the modulation. We recently, at
the beginning of 2009, replaced the RF carrier tubes which
resulted in a stronger and better signal on both 9330 and
12085 Khz (12085 Khz is back on the air after a long time
of absence).
Question
: How many
shortwave transmitters are installed at Adra shortwave
station?
Answer
: There were 4
French made shortwave transmitters installed at Adra in the
beginning of the 1980's. Two of them are operational, using
the frequencies 9330 and 12085 Khz.
Question
: What is the
power outlet of these 2 shortwave transmitters?
Answer
: Originally,
they are 500 KW shortwave transmitters but they are now
operating at 400 KW now.
Question
: Since the
replacement of the RF-carrier tubes the signal has
improved. But what are you going to do about the modulation
problems?
Answer
:
As a matter of fact, we are planning to install a new
shortwave transmitter to serve our listeners better. We are
planning to do this next year, that will be in 2010. This
will probably be a 250 KW transmitter. We will soon invite
manufacturers to submit their tenders and we will study
these offers. After the
installation of the new shortwave transmitter, next year,
we will be evaluating the results and if the results are
good we will not rule out the installation of another new
transmitter. But first we will install that one new
shortwave transmitter next year.
Question : You are using 2
frequencies. 9330 and 12085 Khz. To where are these
transmissions specifically beamed?
Answer
: Adra shortwave
station has a full range of antennas to reach different
parts of the world.
The transmitter operating on 9330 Khz is specifically
targeting Europe. We are also getting reception reports
from other parts of the world for the transmissions on this
frequency, which is of course very nice, but the main
target for this frequency is Europe.
The other frequency, 12085 Khz, is beamed to the U.S.A.,
Japan and Australia. Although, as with 9330 Khz, we do get
reception reports from parts of the world which are not the
prime target of this frequency.
Question : You are also
operating a 300 KW mediumwave transmitter on the frequency
of 783 Khz. This transmitter is based in Tartous, a city on
the Syrian coast. This transmitter is used for the Hebrew
program from 16.00 till 18.30 UTC time and the Russian
program from 18.30 till 19.30 hours UTC. I noticed myself
excellent reception of the mediumwave transmissions while I
was in that region. So, I am sure that the Hebrew program
is very well received in Israel on that frequency. What
about the Russian program? Is 783 Khz mediumwave also well
received in parts of Russia?
Answer
: We do get a lot
of response and interaction of listeners tuning in to the
Hebrew program and that mediumwave transmitter is indeed
very well received in Israel.
Concerning the Russian program on the mediumwave. The main
target of this transmission is not Russia itself but also
Israel and the occupied territories. As you may know, there
are many immigrants from Russia settling in Israel and the
occupied territories. They are the target audience of the
Russian program on 783 Khz mediumwave.
Question : Besides the
modulation problem, there is also the problem of buzz or
hum of the transmitters? What will you do about this?
Answer
: Yes, we are
also aware of this problem because of the many kind letters
and reception reports we receive from our listeners all
over the world. And we are also working on this. The
replacement of the RF-carrier tubes was our main priority
and this should result in better results. But we are now
also working on the buzz or hum coming from the
transmitters.
The chief engineer of Radio Damascus is I calling upon you,
dear listeners of Radio Damascus, to let him know how you
receive Radio Damascus in your part of the world on the
shortwave bands. On which frequency you listen (9330 or
12085 khz). And if there is an improvement in modulation
and reception conditions in general of Radio Damascus.
In
this context I also urge you to make a short audio
recording of how you receive Radio Damascus on
shortwave.
You can send all reception reports and audio recordings to
Radio Damascus and these will be rewarded with a beautiful
Radio Damascus QSL-Card.
The kind and motivated people at Radio Damascus love to
hear from you, their listeners, what you like and think
about the programs. Your suggestions are welcome at :
Radio Damascus
P.O. Box 4702
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic
Or you can send
me an email at
radiodamascusenglish@yahoo.com which I will
forward to the Radio Damascus staff immediately.
Kris Janssen
Radio Damascus Listeners Club
http://www.radio-damascus-listeners-club.tk
or
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radio_damascus
Belgium