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Author Topic: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave  (Read 7432 times)

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« on: September 01, 2019, 2152 UTC »
From HCDX:

Unfortunately, a communique by the AGERPRES news agency 6 days ago announced the close of RADIOCOM and both its transmitter sites and the continuation of RRI broadcasts only on the Internet :( (Cristian Mocanu on Bclnews)

https://www.agerpres.ro/stiri/2019/08/26/comunicat-de-presa-mediasind--360115

Crude translation from Google:

Do not destroy Radio Romania International!

The Romanian Syndicate of Journalists MediaSind, through the Radio Romania Branch, expresses its concern at the intention of the SRR president-general director, Georgică Severin, to suspend the shortwave broadcast of the Radio Romania International station.

Due to the superficiality with which the responsible factors of the institution treated the problem of the allocated budget, the Romanian Broadcasting Society lost, at the last rectification, 10 million lei, an amount without which the good functioning of the company cannot be ensured.

In order to cover this consistent deficit, according to some public statements of the President - General Manager, the expenses with the shortwave transmitters owned by Radiocom, which broadcasts Radio Romania International (RRI) programs in 13 languages, would be cut. dialects.

The 'solution' to closing the shortwave emission, even if it is the most handy, having immediate effect, is a totally wrong one. Indeed, as hypocritically motivated by the Georgica Severin decision, these transmitters are not useful in the country, with the expansion of the FM network.

The gravity of the decision of the Radio management is, however, a huge one, undermining even the national interest, with which even Georgică Severin has no right to play. Let us not forget that Romania has the second diaspora in the world, as a percentage of the population, after Syria. From the recent estimates of the Ministry for Romanians Everywhere, around the country live about 9.7 million countrymen whom we have to treat as Romanians with full rights, who have the right to information, including by Radio Romania International.

The head of the SRR, Georgică Severin, had to make energetic and repeated requests from the Government in order to obtain sufficient funds for the good functioning of the institution, including for the antennas, taking into account the future presidential elections of 2019 and parliamentary from 2020. Why Is the main means of transmitting messages to Romanians abroad exactly during this pre-election period being abolished? Should we consider this gesture merely as a sign of disrespecting the diaspora?

On the other hand, it should be noted that RRI issues programs for the Aromanian communities in the world, as well as for foreigners, in general, interested in Romania and the geographical area in which we are, RRI being thus an efficient polyglot software soft diplomacy tool. .

Let us not forget then that the shortwave broadcast has a strategic character, because, in case of necessity, of disasters, of calamities, but also of suspension, by hostile decisions of Romania, of the Internet, the Romanian state can communicate with the Romanians from abroad and with the world at large. As it is known, the Internet is extremely vulnerable to political decisions. Also, in the case of catastrophic floods, earthquakes, conflicts, short waves remain the only reliable way to communicate with the world.

Therefore, the idea of ​​stopping the shortwave broadcast, coupled with another simplistic idea that RRI will successfully broadcast on the Internet, can produce serious effects, jeopardizing Romania's national security.

Exiting the Internet only means, in fact, closing the RRI station, which is in contravention of Law 41. According to art. 1 of the law, SRR makes programs for abroad, not online content; broadcast means radio broadcast, not online!

The exit of the RRI from the shortwave frequencies (this is a heritage of about 7,000 frequencies that are traded biannually by international broadcasters) will result in the loss of frequencies in favor of other countries. At the same time, Radiocom stations in Ţigăneşti, Săftica and Galbeni, where the 5 stations used for RRI are located, will be closed and Radiocom employees will be relocated or even fired. And as according to a harmful Romanian tradition, any provisional decision becomes final, it is hard to believe that it will return to the previous situation, to the issuance on short waves, even if the Government would allocate the necessary funds.

Closing the shortwave transmitters, without offering other means of transmission in exchange, would practically equate to the disappearance of the station; radio means broadcast on radio waves, analog or digital; a station on the Internet is no longer radio, it's just a multimedia product.

The next logical step, after a possible shutdown of the shortwave emission at RRI, will be the personnel restructuring. See the unhappy experience with Radio3Net station, which is only online and experimentally on DAB, in Bucharest, which has under-sized staff, even under the conditions of online production.

We consider that giving up the short wave, in whole or in part, is not a decision that falls within the competence of a president-general director because it concerns Romania's strategic interests. In this situation, the CSAT opinion should be requested and, in the Parliament, the Law on the organization and functioning of the SRR should be changed. Or, Georgică Severin is far from having the agreement of these institutions.

The role of RRI has been and is very important: promoting the country abroad and spreading Romania's opinions worldwide. By giving up any transmitter, whether from long, short or medium waves, the main object of activity of the SRR is affected, which is the realization and dissemination of programs (according to article 15 of law 41).

Taking into account the serious situation that could arise as a result of the decision of the head of SRR, MediaSind Radio Romania requests the Parliament of Romania to intervene in an emergency regime to stop the destruction of the Radio Romania International station.

MediaSind Communication Department

Bucharest, August 26, 2019
Chris Smolinski
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Offline skeezix

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2019, 0110 UTC »
I certainly hope that RRI doesn't leave shortwave.
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2019, 1604 UTC »
They still seem to be on today, with a reduced schedule.
Chris Smolinski
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Offline skeezix

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2019, 1637 UTC »
RRI 2019 Summer Broadcast Frequencies

2018-03-29 12:57:00
RRI broadcast frequencies valid as of March 31, 2019

RECEPTION AREAS                    UTC                 kHz
   WESTERN EUROPE              05.30 – 06.00      6,015; 7,325 (DRM) 
                               11.00 – 12.00     11,990; 13,750
                               17.00 – 18.00      9,760 (DRM);11,850
                               20.30 – 21.00      6,170; 7,315 (DRM)
                               22.00 – 23.00      5,945; 7,310
   SOUTH-EAST AFRICA           11.00 – 12.00     15,320; 17,670
   NORTH AMERICA (East Coast)  20.30 – 21.00     11,850; 13,650
                               00.00 – 01.00      6,040; 7,375
   NORTH AMERICA (West Coast)  03.00 – 04.00      6,040; 7,375
   JAPAN                       22.00 – 23.00      7,325; 9,790
   INDIA + AUSTRALIA           05.30 – 06.00     15,410; 17,760
   INDIA                       03.00 – 04.00     13,630 (DRM); 11,825


« Last Edit: September 02, 2019, 1646 UTC by skeezix »
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Offline Pigmeat

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2019, 2008 UTC »
It's about the only real news source coming out of the region that gives you the straight info on the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Nestor Makhno wouldn't put up with this crap, he was the "King of The Cowboy Anarchists", who drove Lenin and Trotsky nuts. They don't make them like Nestor anymore.

Offline Josh

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2019, 2025 UTC »
It's a shame but the bottom line is the bottom line, especially when they produce hours of high quality programming, pay the talent and the power bill, and no one, relatively speaking, is listening. Do they still put swbc bands in euro car radios anymore?
We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations.

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2019, 2035 UTC »
A good signal from Radio Romania International on 13650 kHz here in MD at 2033 UTC, SIO 444. Get 'em while you can!
Chris Smolinski
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline skeezix

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2019, 0017 UTC »
Fantastic news. I'm very happy they're staying on the air.
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2019, 1027 UTC »
Fantastic news. I'm very happy they're staying on the air.

Yes, me too. One of my favorite stations.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
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netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline skeezix

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2019, 0005 UTC »
One of my favorites too. Their programs have a nice mix of topics, the only thing I wish is they would have many hours of Romanian music. But now would be a bad time to bring that up.

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Offline redhat

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2019, 2348 UTC »
FWIW, a lot of that is on Galaxy 19, TVR, TRT, et all.  There are some music channels up there in the clear as well.

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Offline East Troy Don

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Re: Radio Romania International no more on shortwave
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2019, 1916 UTC »
Primary: Yaesu FRG-7700  Secondary: ICOM R75 Tertiary: Grundig  750. Tecsun PL-990X, Tecsun PL-880 . Malahit DSP SDR V3,  Alpha Delta  SWL Sloper antenna. : Also, 1940 Mantola am/sw tube. CountyComm GP-5/SSB hand held, Tecsun PL-380 ,et al.  QTH: EAST TROY WI  USA.  Sea Level: + 320 meters .  75 miles (but not far enough) NNW of Chicago