{"id":26800,"date":"2017-06-30T18:15:16","date_gmt":"2017-06-30T22:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=26800"},"modified":"2017-06-30T19:50:57","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T23:50:57","slug":"to-gauge-listener-reaction-ckzn-goose-bay-goes-off-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/to-gauge-listener-reaction-ckzn-goose-bay-goes-off-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Action Alert: To gauge listener reaction, CKZN Goose Bay goes off air"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Is anybody even listening?” \u00a0So said the powers-that- be at CKZN. \u00a0To find out, the relay was (temporarily) shut down.<\/p>\n

You, too, may have noticed that the CBC Radio 1 relay through CKZN on 6,160 kHz has been off air for several days. I’m traveling in Canada this summer, and noticed that CKZN has been completely silent lately, whereas earlier this month their1 KW signal was actually penetrating the RFI here where I’m staying in Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post<\/em> contributors–including Ed, Matt, Richard Cuff, Ed McCorry, and Dennis Dura–who’ve provided a few details about this development:<\/p>\n

Richard Cuff shared the following:<\/p>\n

[T]he CBC has apparently switched off the CKZN shortwave transmitter on purpose — to see who notices that it’s missing, it appears — much like Radio Australia did just before shutting down its shortwave service.<\/p>\n

I know I would miss them — they frankly have been an enjoyable companion especially when I’m away from home and unable to connect to the Internet via WiFi.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Richard then included email correspondence that Glenn Hauser received from CBC representative Katie Rowe; Glenn published Rowe’s reply on the DX Listening Digest<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Hi Glenn, They are currently conducting some testing to gauge listenership. I’ve been advised that they will likely be off-air for a couple of more weeks. “<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ed McCorry also received a reply from Katie Rowe when he inquired about CKZN:<\/p>\n

I’ve been advised that the system is being tested. I should have some more information soon I can pass along.<\/p>\n

Thanks for reaching out.
\nKatie<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Richard and Glenn have hit the nail on the head. \u00a0The CBC is taking the same approach the ABC did prior to closing down their shortwave services; they’re gauging listener reactions by turning off the relay…and simply waiting for a response from those in the target region<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The WRTH featured CKZN in their 2017 issue.<\/p><\/div>\n

Some of you might recall that\u00a0Hans Johnson, featured an article about\u00a0CKZN in the 2017 Word Radio TV Handbook, noted that the CBC intended to not only continue the shortwave service directed at Labrador\u2019s most remote areas, but was planning to replace their 1 kW Elcom Bauer transmitter in the coming years.<\/p>\n

Why, then, this sudden silence?<\/p>\n

I rather suspect the CBC are looking at the cost of this transmitter upgrade and considering simply shutting down the service instead of re-investing in it. \u00a0A worrisome\u2013\u2013and potentially short-sighted\u2013\u2013 development.<\/p>\n

Contacting the CBC<\/h2>\n

If you listen to CKZN\u2013\u2013even if you’re not in their target broadcast footprint\u2013\u2013consider contacting them to let the know you’re listening…to nothing.<\/p>\n

Certainly, if you’re a listener in Labrador, northern Qu\u00e9bec, or indeed anywhere in Canada where you might benefit from this service, or in any rural area where radio is sometimes (or often) preferable to inadequate internet service, I’d strongly suggest you make your voice heard. The CBC have been clear about this point.<\/p>\n

Why is this important? \u00a0Because as most regular readers of this blog already know, losing a shortwave radio relay\u2013\u2013a useful service that becomes especially vital in the event of an emergency\u2013\u2013is cutting off a vital channel of communication. \u00a0It is, metaphorically speaking, putting all one’s eggs in one (digital and\/or FM) basket. \u00a0Yet the Internet, which has now largely supplanted radio, is certainly not infallible, especially in rural regions; many rural Canadians, even those who don’t regularly listen to this station, may rely upon this very service in the event of a emergency such as a weather event or other crisis, and unquestionably during an interruption of digital service. \u00a0However, this sort of event is not likely to take place during this testing period, giving the CBC a narrow view of the radio relay’s actual utility.<\/p>\n

One reader provided this link for a host of email addresses for CBC Newfoundland & Labrador:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/newfoundland-labrador\/contact-us-cbcnl-1.3990861<\/a><\/p>\n

I also contacted\u00a0Ms. Rowe this morning for comment, but have not yet received a reply. Her email address: \u00a0katie.rowe@cbc.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

Keep in mind, Saturday is Canada Day, and the country is celebrating their 150th…I wouldn’t expect to hear back until next week.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Happy Canada Day, Canadian friends!<\/h2>\n

And let’s keep listening…even for inexplicable silence on the radio dial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Is anybody even listening?” \u00a0So said the powers-that- be at CKZN. \u00a0To find out, the relay was (temporarily) shut down. You, too, may have noticed that the CBC Radio 1 relay through CKZN on 6,160 kHz has been off air for several days. I’m traveling in Canada this summer, and noticed that CKZN has been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,960,3,43],"tags":[864,6001,6285,6284],"class_list":["post-26800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-cbc-radio-1","tag-ckzn","tag-labrador","tag-newfoundland"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6Yg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24358,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/ckzu-unlikely-to-return-to-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":26800,"position":0},"title":"CKZU unlikely to return to shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"February 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow, who writes: From DXLD today in case you missed it . Well at least CKZN St. Johns [also on 6160 @ 1kw] is still on (last I checked) , the one I can hear at my QTH. *************************************************** Bad news re: CKZU\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Sony-SW100-Dial-6160-Loomish.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Sony-SW100-Dial-6160-Loomish.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Sony-SW100-Dial-6160-Loomish.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Sony-SW100-Dial-6160-Loomish.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22636,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/wrth-2017-now-on-pre-order\/","url_meta":{"origin":26800,"position":1},"title":"WRTH 2017: Available to pre-order","author":"Thomas","date":"December 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Andrea Borgnino and Tom Ally who've notified me that WRTH 2017 is available for pre-order! Here's a description from the WRTH website: The Features section for this 71st edition includes articles on Remote Receivers, a Pacific Radio Adventure, The Mighty KBC radio station, CKZN\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"2017-wrth-cover","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/2017-WRTH-Cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":60168,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/dan-asks-what-is-your-longest-dx\/","url_meta":{"origin":26800,"position":2},"title":"Dan asks: “What is your longest DX?”","author":"Thomas","date":"July 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: What is your longest DX (from transmitter to receiver)? Assuming we are limiting the discussion to planet Earth, Perth, Australia would be represent one of the farthest land based locations to hear at 18145 km or 11275 miles as the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DX"","block_context":{"text":"DX","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/dx\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ABC-Perth-Australia-1970.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ABC-Perth-Australia-1970.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ABC-Perth-Australia-1970.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ABC-Perth-Australia-1970.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ABC-Perth-Australia-1970.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23000,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/wrth-2017-a-look-inside\/","url_meta":{"origin":26800,"position":3},"title":"WRTH 2017: A look inside","author":"Thomas","date":"December 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I received my copy of the 2017\u00a0World Radio and TV Handbook (WRTH) directly from the publisher last\u00a0week, just prior to Christmas holiday ravels. As I mention every year, I look forward to receiving this excellent staple radio reference guide--and this\u00a0is their\u00a071st edition! WRTH\u2019s team of noted DXers from around the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/WRTH-Cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23479,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/outback-workers-fight-closure-of-abcs-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":26800,"position":4},"title":"Outback workers fight closure of ABC’s shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"January 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Phil Brennan and London Shortwave for sharing the following story from The Guardian\u00a0(my comments follow): 'It's essential': outback workers fight ABC decision to ditch shortwave radio For some living and working in Australia\u2019s outback, shortwave radio is the only way they can listen to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32886,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/give-your-radios-a-vacation\/","url_meta":{"origin":26800,"position":5},"title":"Give Your Radios a Vacation!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In 2013, I wrote the following feature for the Monitoring Times Magazine. Looking back, I realize that I never posted this article on the SWLing Post. Since we're in the midst of the summer travel season here in the northern hemisphere, I thought I'd post this feature from five years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Radio-Canada-International-Sackville-NB-26-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26800\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}