Peter's DX Corner

The wonderful world of listening to the radio

QSL CJMR 1320 Oakville

The first QSL of the 2024/25 Transatlantic season. I heard CJMR from Oakville, Ontaria, Canada with nice Indian music. Again the Shazam app was a great aid in identifying the songs. I sent my report via their web form. Mrs. Paige Dent, Director of Engineering, was so kind to confirm my reception:

I already noticed that CJMR has the same postal address as CJYE 1250 “Joy Radio”, and it was Mrs. Dent who signed my PPC last time. So I did sent a PPC to CJMR as well, and do hope that she will sign again. And do note they apparently have plans to acquire CKTB 610 AM as well!

CJMR brands itself as “The Voice of the City” and as a multicultural station they are broadcasting in 15 different languages.

And yes I do know there are perfectly good opportunities for Transatlantic DX in summer, most of all towards South America, but I like the seasonal notion for North American reception.

CLE 309 “Maidenhead Hunt”

I am a fan of NDB listening. Not only because you get nice QSL replies, but also because the NDB List group organizes a “Coordinated Listening Event” every month. It is fun and you can compare your own reception results with those of other enthusiasts.

My CLE 309 “Maidenhead Hunt” results.

On the 309th listening evenent running from October 25th-27th the aim was to log up to 8 beacons from each Maidenhead square. Maidenhead is the locator system used by radio amateurs.

Conditions to the north and north west were not good. But that was more than compensated for by good conditions to Russia on the first night. In total I logged beacons from 19 Maidenhead squares and I was able to reach the max 8 for 8 of them. You can see the results below.

CLE 309 results: date/time/frequency/call/distance/ITU/location

HM
  26.10.2024  0300  380.0  FIL   2993  AZR  Horta / Faial Island              
HP
  25.10.2024  2030  392.0   KF   2065  ISL  Keflavik                          
IM
  25.10.2024  2345  432.0  HMB   1920  ALG  Hammam Bou Hadjar for Oran        
  25.10.2024  2015  382.0  LAR   1812  POR  Arruda                            
  26.10.2024  1900  415.0   ON   1868  ALG  Oran / Es Senia                
  26.10.2024  1945  356.0  SGO   1435  ESP  Sagunto                        
  27.10.2024  0200  292.0  MIA   1968  MEL  Melilla                        
  27.10.2024  2315  407.0  BCR   2343  ALG  Bechar                      
  27.10.2024  2045  425.0  EVR   1805  POR  Evora                      
IN
  25.10.2024  1930  410.0    C   1389  ESP  La Coruna                        
  25.10.2024  1930  401.0  COA   1381  ESP  La Coruna                        
  25.10.2024  1930  389.0  ZRZ   1242  ESP  Zaragoza                          
  25.10.2024  1730  359.0  LOR    766  FRA  Lorient / Lann Bihoue            
  25.10.2024  1745  351.0  OSA    811  FRA  Ouessant                          
  26.10.2024  1845  417.0  CVT   1465  ESP  Madrid / Cuatro Vientos        
  27.10.2024  2015  383.0  ALD    562  GSY  Alderney                    
  27.10.2024  2015  329.0   JW    595  JSY  Jersey                      
IO
  26.10.2024  0215  347.0  NQY    709  ENG  Newquay                          
  25.10.2024  2345  361.0  CFN    933  IRL  Donegal / Carrickfin              
  25.10.2024  1800  328.5  EGT    857  NIR  Londonderry / Eglinton            
  25.10.2024  2245  401.0  BBA    985  SCT  Benbecula                        
  25.10.2024  2345  344.0  WCK    864  SCT  Wick                              
  25.10.2024  2345  351.0  SBH    947  SHE  Sumburgh Head                    
  25.10.2024  1715  388.5  CDF    573  WLS  Cardiff                          
  26.10.2024  2215  395.0   KW    906  ORK  Kirkwall / Orkney Isl.        
IP
  25.10.2024  1930  337.0   MY   1340  FRO  Myggenaes                        
JL
  27.10.2024  0230  450.0  AOO   2907  LBY  El Sharara ? (ROO)            
  27.10.2024  2015  470.0   WF   2618  LBY  Wafa                        
JM
  26.10.2024  1830  423.0  BJA   1715  ALG  Bejaia / Soummam              
  26.10.2024  2345  510.0   BL   1741  ALG  Blida                          
  26.10.2024  1845  424.0  GRS   1914  ALG  Ghriss                        
  27.10.2024  0130  394.0  IZA   1493  BAL  Ibiza                          
  27.10.2024  0215  384.0  ADX   1408  BAL  Andraitx for Palma de Mallorca
  27.10.2024  0100  412.0  SIG   1816  SCY  Sigonella (CT)                
  27.10.2024  1915  316.0  CAL   1468  SAR  Cagliari / Elmas            
JN
  25.10.2024  1800  340.0  BLK   1197  BIH  Banja Luka                        
  25.10.2024  2015  715.0    C    778  CZE  Caslav                            
  25.10.2024  1930  436.0  SME   1078  HNG  Sarmellek / Balaton              
  25.10.2024  2245  412.0  HUM   1320  HRV  Humac                            
  25.10.2024  2215  420.0   GO   1535  MNE  Podgorica                        
  25.10.2024  1815  463.0   CL   1034  SVN  Cerklje                          
  26.10.2024  1730  375.0  GLA    642  SUI  Gland for Geneva / Cointrain  
  27.10.2024  2030  375.0   CV   1101  COR  Calvi / Ste Catherine      
JO
  25.10.2024  1715  360.5  MAK    159  BEL  Mackel for Brussels Ntl          
  25.10.2024  1715  352.5   DD    172  BEL  Oostende                          
  25.10.2024  1715  355.0  ONW    105  BEL  Antwerpen / Deurne                
  25.10.2024  1715  352.0  LAA    107  DEU  Niederrhein                      
  25.10.2024  1800  357.0   KD    474  DNK  Kolding / Vamdrup                
  25.10.2024  1845  373.0   NW    139  HOL  Maastricht / Beek                
  26.10.2024  1915  375.0  EKO    507  XOE  Ekofisk L                      
  26.10.2024  1745  380.0  ULA    571  XOE  Ula / BP Platform              
JP
  25.10.2024  2330  345.0  STM   1652  NOR  Strommen / Mo I Rana              
  25.10.2024  2330  348.0  SAD   1840  NOR  Leknes / Sandsund                
  26.10.2024  2200  368.0   OY   1243  SWE  Sveg                          
  27.10.2024  0100  414.0  STA   1036  XOE  Stafjord A Platform            
  27.10.2024  0100  414.0  STC   1030  XOE  Statfjord C                    
  27.10.2024  0100  615.0  STB   1027  XOE  Statfjord B Platform          
  27.10.2024  2330  328.0   DK   1547  SWE  Vilhemina                  
  27.10.2024  2245  364.0  VNA   1566  SWE  Vanja                      
KN
  25.10.2024  2230  399.0  KMN   1999  BUL  Burgas / Kamenar                  
  25.10.2024  2345  297.0  PEP   1733  MKD  Prilep                            
  25.10.2024  1830  521.0  BSW   1767  ROU  Bucuresti / Baneasa              
  25.10.2024  2100  349.0  OPE   1778  ROU  Bucuresti / Otopeni              
  25.10.2024  2100  470.0   QL   2482  RUS  Taganrog                          
  25.10.2024  1800  405.0  JST   1574  SRB  Nis / Justic                      
  25.10.2024  1900  425.0   KE   1220  SVK  Kosice                            
  25.10.2024  2030  580.0   KC   2252  UKR  Kacha                            
KO
  25.10.2024  2015  920.0    G   1295  BLR  Grodno / Obukhovo                
  25.10.2024  2015  840.0   KR   1090  KAL  Kaliningrad / Khrabovo            
  25.10.2024  1800  407.0   PN   1143  LTU  Palanga                          
  25.10.2024  1800  437.0   NP   1048  POL  Tomaszow-Mazowiecki / Porter      
  25.10.2024  2100  770.0    B   2151  RUS  Moscow / Sheremetyevo            
  25.10.2024  2015 1215.0   WT   2174  RUS  Kartino                          
  25.10.2024  2015  732.0   AO   2209  RUS  Aksinyino                        
  25.10.2024  2345  478.0   MF   2286  RUS  Larionovo                        
KP
  26.10.2024  2115  329.0   WU   1578  SWE  Umea                          
  27.10.2024  2300  377.0   OL   1782  SWE  Lulea / Kallax              
LM
  27.10.2024  0345  355.0   ARB  3670  IRN  Ardabil
LN
  25.10.2024  2130  486.0   KL   2538  RUS  Krasnyy Sulin                    
  25.10.2024  2015  876.0   WG   2783  RUS  Volgograd / Gumrak                
  25.10.2024  2030  618.0   NK   2939  RUS  Akhtubinsk                        
  26.10.2024  0230  618.0   TB   2939  RUS  Akhtubinsk                        
  25.10.2024  2030  777.0   ST   2723  RUS  Sirotinskaya                      
LO
  25.10.2024  2200  705.0   PX   3250  RUS  Perm / Bolshoye Savino            
  25.10.2024  2230  995.0   DW   2922  RUS  Nikolskoye                        
  25.10.2024  2345  672.0    M   3131  RUS  Bugulma                          
  25.10.2024  2015  905.0   UD   2623  RUS  Buturlino                        
  25.10.2024  2015  932.0   KR   2783  RUS  Krasnoarmeysk                    
  25.10.2024  2015  965.0   BL   2890  RUS  Kazan                            
  25.10.2024  2015  960.0   RP   2505  RUS  Sosnovkoye                        
  26.10.2024  2015  963.0  KCh   3374  RUS  Orenburg-2                    
MO
  25.10.2024  2330 1130.0   YS   4425  RSE  Kalachinsk                        
MP
  25.10.2024  2030  752.0   BB   3616  RSE  Beryozovo                        

QSL BBC Radio Cumbria 756 kHz

Of the many BBC Local Radio stations which you could hear on MW there are only 6 left: Norfolk, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Derby, Guernsey and Cumbria. As soon as Radio Romania Actualitati shuts down at 22:00 UTC you can hear them with a local program. Later in the night they switch to a relay of BBC Radio 5 live.

Mr. Andy Stevenson, operations engineer at the BBC Technology group was so kind to confirm my report by email. He included a link to a site which shows the antennas in Carlisle: https://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=1452

BBC Radio Cumbria transmitter site in Carlisle

“SWL” Contest 2025

I wrote “SWL” between quotes because this is also an MW contest. You can listen to MW, SW or both.

Having participated in the very enjoyable SWL contest 2024 I am going to focus on MW for this one. Let”s see if I can log 250 stations on MW.

But no matter what you would like to do, on behalf of SWL F14368 Frank I would like to invite you to participate in the SWL Contest 2025. You can find the details by clicking this link! If you think you don’t have a good listening location you can opt to use a Kiwi SDR as well. I do hope to see you in the results!

QSL NDB KUN 416 kHz and KNE 434 kHz for Kunovice Airport

Kunovice “International” Airport

The control tower boasts “International” but Kunovice Airport is not a public airport. Instead it is home to three aircraft manufacturersCzech Sport AircraftEvektor-Aerotechnik and Let Kunovice. (source: Wikipedia).

There are two NDBs for this airport: KUN on 416 kHz and KNE on 434 kHz. Mr. Najman from ANS Czech Republic was so kind to confirm my reception. He also included the photos of the beacons:

NDB KUN-416 for Kunovice Airport
NDB KUN-434 for Kunovice Airport

QSL NTNU Ålesund 12353 kHz

Thanks to a tip from Goran Hardenmark I was made aware of a transmission from NTNU Ålesund, Norway. During a class exercise a radio check was made on 3366, 8297 and 12353 kHz. I heard nothing on 3 MHz, some weak conversation on 8 MHz (but not sure if it was NTNU), and a clear “All ships all ships” at 09:20 UTC on 12 MHz. I have to admit that I need to train my ears again for proper USB listening: I got a bit spoilt with all the digital modes!

eQSL NTNU Ålesund for their USB Radio Check on 12535 kHz

The Radio Check could be monitored via their Facebook group. And this also gave me the opportunity to chat with Mr AH Barmen who coordinated this course. He provided the following details:

The frequencies we used today are reserved for intership communication, 3366 KHz have been used for intership communication in Nordic waters, the two others are randomly picked from Appendix 17 – Sub Section B of the Radio Regulations. All maritime schools that provide training for maritime radio certificates are equipped with a ship radio station that can use these frequencies.

On our radio station we have a Sailor 6300 MF/HF radio, 150W and a 12 m antenna, in adition we have Sailor and Furuno NAVTEX receivers, two Sailor VHF’s, INMARSAT-C and an Iridium LT3100s.

I also received the special eQSL card for this event. Thank you Mr. Barmen!

QSL ZSC Cape Town Radio 16804.5 kHz

eQSL ZSC Cape Town Radio on 16804.5 kHz

QSL for ZSC Cape Town Radio 16804.5 kHz. Already in the 80-ies I tried this one when I received them in CW. No luck. More recently I tried again to get a QSL for their DSC transmissions. No luck. Then I got a contact email of Mr. Khan from Artur at Maresme DX, but even that took a 2nd attempt. But hey, here it is, a nice f/d eQSL showing the Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town, South Africa.

The call that I received as logged by ZSC itself: connect with MMSI 229989000, which is container ship CMA CGM RHONE on its way from Miami to Port Klang Malaysia.

And that was not all. The QSL was accompanied with a friendly email, a comprehensive letter describing the history of Telkom maritime services in South Africa, and a 4 page e-brochure:

QSL for Vardo VTS MMSI 002573550 reception on 2187.5 kHz

Yep, not the shortest title for a post, probably the longest. Last week I received a DSC transmission identifying as MMSI 002573550 with a test to MMSI 002570000 “Norwegian Public Correspondence”. MMSI 002573550 is listed as Vardo VTS (Vessel Traffic Service).

Norway Vessel Traffic Service (Kystverket) has a nice website but to be honest the structure of VTS is not immediately clear. From this link I conclude that there are 5 VTS centres of which Vardo is one. They are responsible for safe maritime traffic, which includes things like navigational and weather warnings. But they seem to be active on VHF only. Nevertheless I decided to send a report to post@kystverket.no . Within a day I received this answer:

Good afternoon.

NOR VTS/Vardo VTS/Navarea 19 and The National Coordinator for Navigational Warnings is placed i Vardø in North Norway.
We broadcast navigational message to the seafarers. This we do in collaboration with
Norwegian Kystradio. Some types of messages they send out and some we send out but the responsibility lies in Vardø. Norwegian Kystradio is located in Bodø.
We are under Norwegian Coastal Administration.


Best regards
VTS operator
NOR VTS
NORWEGIAN COASTAL ADMINISTRATION

Not really a QSL. I followed up asking if they could confirm it was their station I heard, but that email has not been answered yet.

In parallel I sent a report to Kystradio Nord in Bodø. This resulted in this answer:

So where does that leave me? Well… in the old days (40 years ago) things were easy. You had an office, your own transmitter, your own antenna. Today you have a service. The service could be “monitoring emergencies” like what Kystradio Nord does, or “ensuring safe maritime traffic” like what VTS Norway is doing. But the employees often don’t have an idea on the technical infrastructure needed to perform these tasks. That is a given, with transmitters and antennas operated and maintained by contractors – such as Telenor.

I saw a post on the internet that said that we should regard MMSI 002573550 as a convenient telephone number. If that call is made and received by the antennas in Vardo (or any other antenna) the operators know that this call has to be routed to Vardo VTS (if there is even an operator involved to route such a call). That makes perfect sense.

I assume that it doesn’t make sense for Kystradio Nord to run a test with MMSI 002573550 for Vardo VTS via one of their other MW transmitters like in Bodø. So… this is a QSL for MMSI Vardo VTS via the Kystradio Nord transmitter in Vardo. Any thoughts? Let me know in via the comments on this post.

The eQSL for Kystradio Nord which also accompanied the “Vardo VTS” QSL.

Amsterdam huilt…

“Amsterdam huilt”, “Amsterdam cries”.
This beautiful song, exactly 60 years old, is as relevant as ever after what happened last night in Amsterdam.
I feel ashamed, angry, powerless. I have no words.
But I think it shouldn’t go unnoticed… hence this post.

Als vader weer bladert in zijn fotoboek
Dan sta je versteld als hij weer vertelt

Van de Weesperstraat en de jodenhoek

Als vader dan verhaalt hoe het leven begon
Bij het ontwaken, handel en zaken Humor en gein, dat was de levensbron

En had je een dag eens geen mazzel gehad
Dan ‘s avonds naar de Tip Top waar je je sores vergat


Soms riep d’r nog een in het ‘t late uur ‘k
Heb mooie olijven en uitjes in het zuur


Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt, nog voelt het de pijn
Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt, want weg is de gein

Als vader verhaalt hoe de sabbath begon
Dan sta je versteld als hij weer vertelt
Hoe de voorzanger ‘Addesjem eilje nowa’ daar zong


Op het Channekefeest gingen de kaarsjes weer aan
Dan werd er gewenst, door Godje gebenscht
En dat het hun allen weer goed maar zal gaan


Voor er werd geplunderd en uitgeroeid
Hebben daar jiddische Jeledjes gestoeid
Men noemde hen ras, oh God ,oh God
Waarom mocht het niet zijn zoals het er was


Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt, nog voelt het de pijn
Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt, want weg is de gein


Op vrijdagavond koegel en peren
Wie dat niet nascht, die kan ‘t ook niet waarderen
Het boek gaat dicht en met een traan in zijn ogen


Fluistert hij:
Mazzel en brooche voor de hele misjpooche
Mazzel en brooche voor de hele misjpooche
Mazzel en brooche voor de hele misjpooche

QSL Istanbul Türk Radio 2187.5 kHz

My previous post was about Izmir Türk Radio, a station that I rarely receive. But Istanbul Türk Radio from Turkey is – together with Coruna, Valencia and Olympia Radio – very dominant here on the DSC frequencies.

I received this email QSL in January 2023, about 2 months after I restarted the hobby. At the time I didn’t have this weblog up and running. So this is a bit of a catch- up:

QSL Istanbul Türk Radyo on 2187.5 kHz

Unlike Izmir, Istanbul Radio can also be heard on HF frequencies, making it an easier catch for listeners outside Europe/Middle East.

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