MW Radio Bandscan (and a bit of FM and Shortwave)
from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
September 2005

This year we took off for Bonaire, and you won't find a more laid-back
place in the Caribbean.  There are none of the crowds of Aruba - and
you can have that cattle pen of an airport there!  There are only
10,000 residents, beautiful scenery, flora, fauna, and plenty of
great restaurants.  Downtown Kralendijk is small, walkable, and
picturesque.  And the place is completely attitude-free.  English
is spoken almost everywhere, but a few words in Dutch or Papiamentu
will win you instant friends.

I expected an RF jungle, but even though we were less than 10 kM from
the 100 kW transmitter of TWR on 800 kHz, and about 50 or so from the
big RNW relay station, the only ill effect noticed was some splash
plus and minus 20 kHz from 800 - to be expected, really.

RNW and TWR both have offices on the north end of Kralendijk, distinct
from their transmitter sites.  We gave TWR's a miss, but dropped in
on RNW and met the very accommodating station manager, Hans.  He
spoke of continually having to justify shortwave to the Dutch
government, who (predictably) wants to cut shortwave in favor of
internet streaming.  They have an internal joke that they provide an
alternative viewpoint to countries with tightly-controlled media -
like the US!  And we told him there was a certain element of truth
to their joke.  He suggests writing to RNW director Jan Hoek at
the usual PO Box 222 address in Hilversum if you wish RNW to continue
on shortwave.

Hans is happy to arrange tours of the transmitter site (we had to
decline due to time constraints - the beach was calling.  However,
He called ahead to the site to let them know two crazy tourists
were going to come up and take pictures - "we're off until 3:00,
it's safe!").  We were not challenged the entire time we were in
the shadows of the awesome curtain arrays.  

Pictures of the RNW site, as well as the TWR site, both stations'
offices, and beer and listening post pictures, are available here:
http://havana.yak.net/photoalbums/bonaire-radio-album/

Stations heard on AM were almost exclusively from the Venezuelan states
of Falcon, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, coastal Anzoategui, and Nueva
Esparta, and the city of Caracas - all via water path.  Inland stations
were almost completely absent.  There also seemed to be a direct path to
the Dominican Republic, whose stations were heard on many frequencies
where there were no Venezuelans audible.

Equipment used on this trip included a Sony ICF-SW7600GR radio
and Kiwa pocket loop, a Pogo Radio Your Way LX AM/FM mp3 recorder,
and a C. Crane/Sangean CCRadio.  (Radio samples will be forthcoming
here, if I can find the time.)


The bandscan -- All times local (EDT/AST)

 540   	R. ABC, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Religious rant.
	1551 merengue; Canned "R. ABC" ID 1602.  Weak second station 
	in its null.  Sept 25

 550	YVKE Mundial, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  
	"Noticiero Mundial" in progress 1220; bookstore ad; loud.
	Sept 20

 570	R Rumbos, Villa de Cura, Aragua, Venezuela.  National anthem
	1200, promo for religious show "La Voz del la Liberacion",
	"570 AM" IDs, into music, second station in the mix;
	Noti-Rumobos 1606, and ID "Radio Rumbos, la emisora de
	Venezuela".  Sept 25

 590	R Continente, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Full
	ID/station promo 1110, mostly Venezuelan music mix, loud.
	"Emisora Matriz de CRC" 1132, list of affiliates, into
	network news.  Sept 20

 600	R Sucre, Cumana, Sucre, Venezuela.  Venezuelan rural music,
	sports promo, lots of IDs, in splash from strong 590.
	Sept 20

 610	R Centro, Cantaura, Anzoategui, Venezuela.  Two stations here,
	this one with "musica bailable" and IDs 1814; second one 
	earlier with classical music 1235, ads for Barquisimeto 
	businesses including multiple restaurants 1733, but no ID
	heard - likely R Cristal.  Sept 25

 630	R Nacional Canal Informativo, Caracas, Distrito Federal,
	Venezuela.  Loud with El Presidente speech about the "Modelo
	Capitalista" 1240; IDed by // with 770, then ID "R Nacional,
	El Canal Informativo de Radio Nacional de Venezuela".
	Sept 20

 640	unID, academic talk about the history of Venezuelan music
	1245.  Never returned for an ID.  Sept 20

 650	R Universal, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Talk about
	Mickey Mantle's baseball career 1250; ad for "su 
	supermercado favorita"; lots of sports promos; 1300 ending
	program "Deportivo Universal".  ID'ed as "650 Universal",
	then into bachata music.  Sept 20

 660	Tu R Popular, Coro, Falcon, Venezuela.  ID in passing, rural
	music about "El ultimo hombre en el caballo".  Sept 20

 670	R Dial, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.  Nice
	surprise here in absence of R Rumbos.  1500 IDs in passing,
	political statement by some candidate for something,
	full ID 1507.  Every once in a while a huge OC opened up 
	over it, so probably xmtr problems at Rumbos, but later
	noted loud and clear with ID 2157.  Sept 20

 680	R Continente, Cumana, Sucre, Venezuela.  Merengue, female
	DJ, "En Continente...." 1508.  Sept 20

 690	R Guarachita, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Weak with
	bachata music, canned, shouted ID "HIAW R Guarachita!" 1515,
	back to bachata.  Sept 20

 710	R Capital AM, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  ID 1520
	and into program of Venezuelan folkloric music.  Local-like.
	Sept 20

 720	R Oriente, Porlamar, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.  Vallenato music
	in loud splash from 710, full ID 1656.  Sept 27

 730	R HIZ, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, one of the handful
	of stations here, dominant 1527 with bachata and ID 1527
	Sept 20.  Heard some English in its null 1440 Sept 29, likely
	Trinidad.

 740	R CNB, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela.  ID, talk about family
	relationships, giving callin number, selection of romantic
	vocals 1701.  Sept 27

 750	RCR Caracas, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Ad for
	digital cameras, full ID 1530, loud.  Sept 20

 760	La Doble Q, Puerto la Cruz, Anzoategui, Venezuela, Cuban
	salsa, ads, ID 1535.  Sept 20

 770	R Nacional Canal Informativo, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  
	// 630 1539. Sept 20

 780	R Coro, Coro, Falcon, Venezuela.  Canned timecheck and
	ID 1540, song announced as a ranchero selection.  Sept 20

 790	R Venezuela 790, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.
	Mixed Latin music styles, singing ID "Venezuela, su AM
	digital" and spoken ID "Senal 790" 1555.  Sept 20

 800	Trans World Radio, Bonaire, noted missing 1557 Sept 20,
	but loud 1818 same day, splashing plus and minus
	20 kHz at our location less than 10 km from the transmitter
	site.  800 is the only TWR Bonaire frequency now, 
	with shortwave ending years ago and the old 500 kW
	omnidirectional pattern replaced by a 100 kW directional
	slewable towared Brazil or Cuba around six years ago, 
	according to RNW Bonaire station manager Hans.

 810	Super Radio 810, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Long ad
	for "cristals de poder" at Centro Botanico in Valencia,
	promising help with love problems, bad luck in business, etc.
	1601 full ID for "Super Radio Digital AM" mentioning
	Valencia is the "Centro Industrial de Venezuela".  Sept 20

 820	R Guadelupana, Coro, Falcon, Venezuela.  Venezuelan folkloric
	music with lots of guitars, ID 1607.  Sept 20

	Radio Paradise, St. Kitts and Nevis, in null of R Guadelupana
	with Carib-accented English preaching, thankfully not with
	TBN relay.  ID 1100, then into "Morning Melodies" music and
	call-in program.  Sept 28

 830	R Sensacion, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.
	1632 with Alejandro Sanz song and similar Latin pop, interviews
	with call-in kids, animal quiz, "It's a Small World" theme,
	sounds like the Caracas version of Radio Disney.  Loud and
	local-like Sept 20.  Sports 1107 with "en Sensacion 
	Deportiva" mention Sept 28.

 840	unID with high plains Venezuelan cowboy yip-yip music;
	1718 "840 AM" non-ID heard multiple times during an hour
	plus of listening, but gave up after that.  Sept 27

 850	RV-850, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Venezuelan history
	segment by Universidad de Carabobo 1638, birthday greetings,
	"RV-850 la super estacion" in passing.  Sept 20

	R Fe y Alegria, Maracaibo, Zulia.  Vallenato and pop music,
	1457 giving phone numbers and ID, in null of RV-850.  Sept 29

 860	R Curom, Willemstad, Curacao, likely the one with endless
	Papiamentu talk every time I tuned in, as at 1645 Sept 20.

 870	CNB, listed as Puerto La Cruz, Anzoategui, Venezuela.  But
	I thought I heard location givin as Barcelona in ID 1501.
	Sept 29

 880	R Deportiva 8-80, Caracas, Venezuela, likely the one with
	sports yak at 1730, but no ID heard.  Sept 27

 890	R America, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Celia cruz song
	1650, lots of "en America" IDs in passing, "Sciencia y
	technologia" featurette 1655, big ID with URL 1659.  Sept 20

 900	Mara Ritmo 900, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela.  Full "Digital AM"
	ID with YVMD calls 1702, repetition of some very familiar
	network chimes, mentioning "modelo socialista para Venezuela"
	Sept 20

 910	R. Q, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Huge splashing
	signal with "AM Centerl las noticias" 1705, Sept 20.  Also 
	1200 with full ID and into program supplied by the Vatican,
	Sept 24.

 930	WEKO, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, suspected the one with network
	ID "Cadena Radio Puerto Rico" and ad mentioning "#1 en
	computadores" 1116, in 940 splash.  Sept 28

 940	R Punto Fijo, Punto Fijo, Falcon, Venezuela, ID in passing
	1718 in program of Venezuelan regional news, message from
	Minister of Health.  Sept 20

 950	R Popular, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Musica
	Mexicana 1720, feature "La Enciclopedia Popular", vallenato
	music, lots of IDs as R Popular.  Sept 20

 960	Venezuela Llanera 960, Acarigua, Portuguesa, Venezuela,
	canned ID using this station name 1732, merengue mx.  Sept 27

 970	R Continente, Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela.  Newscast, ads,
	CRC network promo, ID 1729 Sept 20.

	R Mundial, Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela.  ID'ing this way
	in null of R Continente 1256 Sept 30.  Two loud stations 
	located only two states apart.

 990	unID with religious pontification 1732 mentioning "salvacion
	de la alma ... la vida eterna", etc., promising to solve
	matrimonial and other family problems.  No patience to ID
	these kind of stations, especially while on vacation.  Sept 20

1000	Caribena Mil AM, Moron, Carabobo, Venezuela.  TV cable company
	ad, another saying "enjoy the benefit of electricity for all",
	lady calling in with kid yelling "mama" in background, loads
	of ads for local moron businesses, ID 1740 mentioning "La senal
	del Caribe"; 1806 "El Mundo del Disco" with Karyn White's
	wonderful "I Love The Way You Love Me".  Hadn't heard that one
	in about 15 years.  Sept 20

1010	R Aragua, Cagua, Aragua, Venezuela.  "Informativo regional" for
	el estado de Aragua 1820 Sept 20; ad with chipmunk voices, then
	romantic vocals 1037 Sept 29.  Seems to only ID as "Aragua".

1020	R Alegria, Chivacoa, Yaracuy, Venezuela.  Suspected the one
	with spot sweep with mentions of Alegria in outro, then
	romantic vallenato selection 1738, but no ID noted.  Sept 27

1040	LV de Carabobo, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Program of
	vallenatos describing instrumental lineup of each song,
	callins, mentions of "la hora de Carabobo", ad for comidas
	criollas in Valencia.  1658 full ID mentioning "La emisora
	de Magallanes", then into publicidades.  Sept 21

1050	R Nacional Canal Informativo, Cabudare, Distrito Federal,
	Venezuela, // 630, slightly weaker of two stations here 1614
	Sept 21.

	"R Educativa 1050", laid-back music station mentioning
	"govierno bolivarano" 1620 Sept 21 - possibly the listed
	R Nacional Canal Musical in Caracas?  Really two stations
	in DF here?

1060	unID in English with SRN news, hurricane Rita evacuation of
	Texas ordered by Governor "Goodhair" Perry.  Rattled off
	three calls in San Juan at ID time 1601, then into religious
	programming ID'ing as "The Rock".  Sept 21

1070	Mundial Zulia, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela.  Sin Banderas
	song, lots of tele-talk, news promo with ID in passing 1554.
	Sept 21

1080	Venezuela 1080, Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela.  ID'ing this way
	and saying "en el primer lugar de sintonia" (several stations
	heard claimed this, in fact).  1527 local music mix, Futbol
	Clube promo for a team in Maracay.  "YVNR su AM digital" 1536.
	Sept 21

1090	Union Radio, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  ID 1508,
	phone interview with metro police official.  Sept 21

1110	Union Radio 1110 AM, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Travel
	agency ad, regional music, ID 1507.  Sept 21

1120	R Metro, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  non-stop latin
	pop mix including "Ven devorame un otra vez" (various versions
	heard often this trip).  1503 ID calling itself "Metro Hit".
	Sept 21

1130	R Ideal, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Palabra de
	Dios stuff, strong 1419 Sept 21.  Preacher had Brazilian
	accent.  ID "1130 R Ideal" heard 1628 Sept 27.

1140	R Porlamar, Porlamar, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.  AM Center 
	noticias 1225, RQ-910 IDs, in fact // 910, split briefly
	at 1230, then back in // again with promo for traditional
	Venezuelan music show.  List of net affiliates read, including
	R Porlamar 1140.  Strong considering distance (but all water
	path).  Sept 29

1150	Ondas del Caribe, Punto Fijo, Falcon, Venezuela.  Pan-latin
	pop music mix, canned ID 1418.  Sept 21

1160	Caribbean Radio Lighthouse, St. John's, Antigua.  Long program
	of symphonic muzak ending 1300, announced as "Lighthouse Concert"
	in English, then into English preaching.  Sept 29

1180	LV de la Victoria, La Victoria, Aragua, Venezuela.  ID sequence
	1400, PSAs from El Gobierno Bolivarano, reggaeton music.  Sept 21

1200	R Tiempo, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Traditional
	instrumental music, plenty of IDs 0700.  Sept 21

1210	R Anzoategui, Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela.  Music sounding
	like Colombian cumbias, ID "en primer lugar de sintonia" 1024.
	Sept 25

1220	R Valencia, Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Vallenato music 0942,
	one selection sounding like storytelling by lead singer between
	choruses (i.e. vocals spoken, not sung).  TCs after most selections.
	Supermercado Magallanes ad; "R Venezuela" singing ID, then 
	"Valencia 1220" canned ID 1003.  Sept 25

1230	R Barlovento, Caucagua, Miranda, Venezuela.  Long ad string 1030
	beginning "Atencion Caucagua..." Canned ID "El poder del aire",
	"Somos la numero uno", and into Cuban son.  Sept 25

1260	RRB, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Instrumental music,
	low-key religious talk 1040, ID "RRB, YVRM, 1260 kHz" 1303.  Sept 29

1270	unID.  Loud and terribly distorted station playing Latin pop
	and bachata music.  Singing ID as "Mix 107.5" (in English), and
	canned "you pick the mix" 1230, and into reggaeton music.
	Sept 22

1290	R Puerto Cabello, Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Loud with
	teletalk 1241 Sept 22; ID and news promo 1042 Sept 25.

1300	R 1300, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Presumed with 
	musical program "Radio Recuerdos", network IDs as "tu AM Center",
	"Radiocenter" news bulletin 1248.  Sept 27

1310	Radio Nacional Canal Informativo, Barcelona, Anzoategui,
	Venezuela.  // 630 1251, mentioning "responsibilidad
	social de comunicacion".  Sept 22

1320	R Apolo, Turmero, Aragua, Venezuela.  Kids' show, SID, noticias 
	1700, then nonstop music.  Sept 22

1330	R Vision Cristiana, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Weak
	with Spanish-language religious pop music 1055, full RVC ID,
	TCs "en Nueva York".  Sept 25

1340	R Uno, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  ID 1302, then into
	health talk program.  Sept 22

	WSTA, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, USVI.  Tentative with R Uno 
	briefly off 1320 with supermarket ad mentioning St Thomas.  Sept 29

1350	R Falcon, Puerto Cumarebo, Falcon, Venezuela.  0920 music program
	"El ritmo de la gaeta" (?), ID, ads, strong.  Didn't log the date.

1360	R. YVTZ, Charallave, Miranda, Venezuela.  Ad for store offering
	"articles de santeria" 1103, ID simply as "YVTZ", AM Center promo.
	Sept 25

1370	unID, English preaching 1330 in splash from 1380, basically 
	amounting to "read the Bible, you won't have family arguments".  
	Didn't bother waiting for an ID on this one.  Sept 29

1380	Ondas del Mar, Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Strong 
	station with mostly-Cuban music format, turned out to be our
	default beach entertainment station of the vacation.  Singin
	ID after publicidades 0935 including one using "Feliz Navidad"
	as music bed.  Venezuelan stations like to distinctly 
	intro a spot sweep as "publicidades", it seems.  Sept 23

1390	R Fe y Alegria, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  ID 1047
	and into Juanes song.  Local-like.  Sept 23

1400	Harbour Light of the Windwards, Carriacou, Grenada.  Likely the
	one here with church 1105 Sept 25, English religious pontification
	1650 Sept 28.

1420	R Sintonia, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Full ID 1059
	after music program, and into news.  Sept 23

1430	R Bahia, Puerto la Cruz, Anzoategui, Venezuela.  ID in passing
	1110 after tropical music selection, tele-talk over music.  Sept 25

	R Satelite, Guacara, Carabobo, Venezuela.  Equal level with R Bahia,
	both easily nullable but one off-frequency 100 Hz or so.  
	Cuban music, ID "Satelite 1430" 1130 Sept 25.

1440	unID.  Caught the end of a "Radio Impacto" possible ID 1440 giving
	location somewhere in Dominican Republic, and giving FM calls
	in Corona, California (?).  Contemporary religious music format.
	Didn't log the date.

1450	unID.  "El Amor de Maria" religious talk 1105 Sept 23.  Still
	going 1140 with rosary.  1406 Sept 25 heard string of IDs from
	the Radio Maria Network, some in English ("Greetings from the
	Radio Maria Network in Uganda", etc.), and acoustic religious
	music.

1470	R Vibracion, Carupano, Sucre.  News, sports, ad for phone cards,
	bank ad, Union radio news promo, ID "R Vibracion 1470 AM", then
	NA 1200.  No sign of listed and much closer R Latina, Valencia.
	Sept 23

1480	unID.  Puerto Rican station with multiple non-IDs as "R Isla 1320",
	loads of ads 1730.  Sept 28

1490	La Dinamica, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Likely this one
	with religious talk, talk, talk 1206 and loud signal.  Sept 23

1500	R 2000, Cumana, Sucre, Venezuela.  Romantic Mexican-style music
	1208, spoken ID 1233.  No sign of listed, and much closer, 
	R Galaxia, San Mateo, Aragua.  Sept 23

1520	R Bonita la Guapa, Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela.  Non-stop Latin
	pop 1254, but introduced one vallenato with sounder "musica
	de nuestro tierra".  TC 1300 and "R Bonita la Guapa 1520" ID.
	Sept 23

1530	R San Felipe el Fuerte, San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela.
	Tentative at 1642 with romantic vocals, water commercial mentioning 
	San Felipe, estado Yaracuy.  Weak and fading signal in QRN,
	then faded down to nothing.  Sept 27

1550	R Metropolitana, Los Teques, Miranda, Venezuela.  ID coming
	out of music 1321, then into Kumbia Kings "Fuego".  Sept 23

1570	R Amanecer, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Pretty weak
	station with religious format 1420 Sept 25.  Had a hunch,
	hooked up the wind-up antenna supplied with the ICF-SW7600GR,
	and sure enough:  //6025.  Reasonable daytime signal on
	shortwave.  

1580	unID Venezuelan.  Long acoustic storytelling vallenato 1455,
	same guy followed with two more similar selections.  Break 
	with a guy reading ad copy including one for a restaurant, 
	then into what sounded like phoned-in horserace commentary.
	Probably the one listed for Cumana, Sucre.  Sept 25

1590	R Deportes, Caracas, Distrito Federal, Venezuela.  Sports yak
	1330, long string of restuarant ads.  1405 ID for R Deportes 1590.
	Sept 23

1620	WDHP, Christenstad, St Croix, USVI.  Audible all day, as 1000
	Sept 24.  The usual deep-voiced male announcer doing a Saturday
	morning program, interviewing an old radio guy from St Kitts
	whose calypsonian name is "Lord Black".  Talking about the old
	days of ZIZ, building a radio from a diode and toilet roll
	with 100 turns of wire when they were kids, getting kids today
	interested in radio, etc. - good listening.  Guest was marveling
	at modern equipment at WDHP.  They picked out an "old calypso"
	to play, but couldn't remember what number it was.  Guest said
	"with a turntable it was just push and go!"  WDHP was also the
	only source of reliable English-language news we found during
	the daytime on either AM or FM.

1660	that religious station in Puerto Rico, 1730 Sept 24.

6035	LV del Guaviare, San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia.  Respectable
	daytime signal 1600 with canned ID in between tropical music
	selections.  Sept 25

89.5	Trans World Radio, Bonaire.  Pretty much the programming
	you'd expect, in Spanish and Papiamentu.

91.1	Digital 91 FM, Kralendijk, Bonaire.  Papiamentu DJ, ads,
	mix of local zouk-like music, bachata, reggaeton, and
	merengue.  This was the station they played in most of
	the stores in downtown Kralendijk.

93.1	Alpha FM, Kralendijk, Bonaire.  I know we heard this but
	all I wrote down in the log book was "bachata".

94.7	Voz di Bonaire, Kralendijk, Bonaire.  Good local music mix.

97.1	listed Ritmo FM, Kralendijk, but nothing but a big open
	carrier every time checked.

97.5	Dolfijn FM, Kralendijk, relaying 97.3 Curacao.  This is the
	Dutch-language rock/pop station.

101.1	Loud rock, probably Mega FM, Kralendijk

102.7	Bon FM, Kralendijk, nice local music mix, ads, etc.


Things to check:  
check call on 930 PR
1050 situation
1080 ID in new WRTH

	
Jay Novello (with help and support, as always, from Marie)
Wake Forest, North Carolina