Peter's DX Corner

QSL NDB FS-374 Dresden

March 19, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

Two years after I sent my report I received a beautiful QSL card from Deutsche Flugsicherung confirming my reception of NDB FS-374 Dresden.

A traditional QSL card for my reception of NDB FS 374 Dresden

There are still quite a few NDBs operational in Germany, even for large commercial airports like Dresden. NDB FS is located 4.5 miles (7.5 km) NE of Dresden International Airport in line with the runway. Below the Googlemaps images of the location:

Dresden Airport opened to commercial traffic on July 11, 1935. Driven by Germany’s rearmament program after 1933 it served as both a civilian and military airfield. Although initially designed for commercial use, its military significance grew rapidly during the Third Reich, and it served exclusively military purposes during World War II, including supporting an airlift to Breslau in 1945.
After Soviet occupation at the war’s end, the airport remained under military control until extensive reconstruction and negotiations enabled the resumption of civilian operations on June 16, 1957, in the German Democratic Republic. International flights to Eastern Bloc countries restarted in 1959.
Following German reunification in 1990, the airport modernized significantly—with a new terminal in 2001, runway extension in 2007, and rebranding as Dresden International—transforming into a regional hub serving tourism, business, and seasonal destinations.

My Top 10 DX 2025 result

March 8, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 4 Comments

Top 10 DX presents itself as the World’s largest SWL contest. I think they have organized it since 2017. So as posted earlier I decide to participate. Now I knew that I didn’t have a lot of time to spare as we were preparing our move to a new house. So I spent more time packing boxes than behind the radio. But in the true Olympic spirit: “Participation is more important than winning”.

The contest is about logging 10 stations from different countries between 2300 and 30000 kHz. Points are awarded using this formula: distance (in km) / power (in kW). WRTH data are used as reference.
In addition to the rule above there was multiplier of 3 to boost your score for stations from a different continent. Here I probably made my first mistake I tried to log stations from different continents and only missed Antartica. But in hindsight I think you get a multiplier bonus for each station from a different continent than your own…

Below the 10 stations and points I collected (it differs somewhat from the 10918 points I was officially awarded, as my distance estimates might be slightly off).

This resulted in a 15th place among 36 participants Worldwide, 11th place in Europe and as I was the only Dutch participant: 1st place in The Netherlands. The winner was “ace DX-er” Christoph Ratzer from Austria with 545863 points, of which 318513 points were picked up for 1 catch! Congratulations! I was very pleased to see my DX friend Patrick Robic picking up 3rd place with 194204 points!

Now I have to say these scores made me aware of the real challenge of this contest. It is called Top 10 DX… but from the scoring I get the feeling that low power is more important than distance (DX). And so a relatively easy catch for me like RealMix Radio resulted in more points than stations from Palau and Guam which, subject to propagation, are not always easy if you also have to write down some proper details.

So that makes you wonder… Christoph knew how to log a station which yielded over 300000 points. Outside Europe that is a station at say 10000 kms with 100 Watt only (10000/0.1 x 3). Inside Europe you are looking for say 3000 kms with 10 Watt only (3000/0.01). DX-ers in the top 4 reported 10 catches with an average between 13000 and 23000 points. So that’s 10 stations with max 1-3 kW at a average distance of 10000 kms. The problem with Top 10 DX is that they don’t disclose which stations were received by any of the participants. Frankly, I’m not sure I like that as it doesn’t help me to get better as a DX-er by learning from others.

My conclusion: if you want to get a high score in the Top 10 DX contest you have to research which stations less than 3 kW outside your continent can be received (and less than 0.3 kW when on your continent). Those are the ones to target, anything else barely adds a significant number of points.

“Will I participate next year?” The answer is “maybe…”. If time permits I will invest in putting together a shortlist of stations that would result in at least 5000 points each. If that is a set I consider viable logging at my QTH I might give it another try. It might also be that I decide that this is just not my type of contest as noise levels block the reception of the few weak stations you need to have for a proper result and I can’t compensate for that by putting in more time and improve my score by adding some – slightly higher powered – stations. And again, the fact that the results of my “betters” are not made public plays a role as well: I do like competition, but more than that I do like helping fellow hobbyists to become better.

So we’ll see. That said, a big thank you to the organizers, it is always good to create challenges for the serious DX-er, and I do know that you also rather spend time behind the radio than processing spreadsheets of contest participants.

QSL TGVE Radio VEA Ciudad de Guatemala 1570 kHz

March 6, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

On March 4th there was a nice opening towards Guatemala on AM. I was able to receive Radio VEA “Voz Evangelica Americana” in a quality good enough for a report. They broadcast with the formal callsign TGVE on 1570 kHz from Ciudad de Guatemala.

I tried to send a report to info@radiovea.org but that bounced. So i tried to send a Whatsapp and that worked! The first reply was a polite answer, but when I asked again for a proper confirmation they were so kind to provide me with a text that looked more like it… and I got a nice Voz Evangelica de América e-sticker as well! The days that reports were received with nice pennants like the one from Radio K’Ekchi’ are behind us… but hey, modern times, move with the tide and this works as well. After my Radio K’ekchi’ QSL (1989) and AWR Guatemala QSL (1992) this is my third QSL from Guatemala.

A Whatsapp QSL for my reception of Radio VEA 1570 AM Guatemala

Radio VEA is a Christian radio station based in Guatemala City. Founded in 1962, it has been on the air for over six decades as an interdenominational ministry dedicated to spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a varied programming lineup that combines biblical teachings, devotionals, Christian music, inner healing programs, family counseling, and wholesome entertainment segments.

QSL Unification Media Group via Tamsui 5900 kHz

March 4, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

Thanks to a tip from Hugo Matten I was made aware of a transmission of the Unification Media Group via the 300 kW Tamsui transmitters in Taiwan.

QSL Unification Media Group, via Tamsui, Taiwan on 5900 kHz

In addition to the nice eQSL card they made me aware that I used an incorrect name. It is not “National Unity Radio” (which reminds me of NUG Radio broadcasts from Taiwan directed at Myanmar). They would like to be referred to as Unification Media Group (UMG):

Dear Peter Reuderink,

Thank you for listening to our broadcast. We will gladly send you a QSL card to confirm your reception report.

Please note that our organization’s name is Unification Media Group (UMG), not “National Unity Radio.” We are aware that an incorrect name may be appearing in some places, which seems to have been set arbitrarily by the broadcaster facility. We would appreciate it if you could refer to us as UMG in the future.

Best regards,
UMG team

5900 kHz is the frequency on which Overcomer Ministry and Bible Voice broadcast from Kostinbrod in Bulgaria. The transmissions of UMG between 2000 and 2100 UTC should be exactly in between Kostinbrod programs, but my reception still suffered from interference from a Brother Stairs/Overcomer Ministry transmission. At the start of the program the UMG station ID was however an easy catch:

According to their website Unification Media Group (UMG) is a news and entertainment production organization focused on North Korea.
Through video, radio, and online news, UMG brings the latest developments from North Korea to South Korean and international audiences in addition to North Koreans themselves. UMG is helping to increase global awareness of North Korean issues and is arming the people of North Korea with the freedom of information.

While radio has fallen out of favor in much of the world, radio remains the only way to provide North Korean residents with information in real-time. Moreover, since it does not leave behind physical evidence or require expensive technology, it is considered one of the safest and most accessible media platforms in the DPRK. Unification Media Group (UMG) has been broadcasting radio programming to North Korean audiences since 2005. Currently, UMG produces and broadcasts three hours of programming each day, including local and international news, civic education and cultural programs. According to a Gallup survey conducted in 2015, 2-3% of North Korean citizens said they have previously listened to UMG broadcasts. North Korean citizens can listen to UMG’s programming with short-wave radios, and overseas workers can listen to recordings uploaded daily to the UMG website.

QSL All Tribes Radio via Channel 292

March 1, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

A nice eQSL from All Tribes Radio broadcasting via Channel 292, Rohrdorf, Germany on 9670 kHz:

And a brief audioclip of their station ID:

All Tribes Radio is a station with roots in Costa Rica. On their website, which I also used to submit my reception report, you can find a nice narrative their history, which I repeat below:

Broadcasting across the globe on shortwave radio, All Tribes Radio champions world peace through an eclectic blend of culturally diverse music, spoken word, and vintage treasures from the golden age of radio.

We offer a welcoming platform for independent artists who license their work through Creative Commons, while also sharing open-source, public-domain, Copyleft, and other copyright-free content.

Founded in 2008, All Tribes Radio (ATR) streamed Creative Commons music 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to an average of 6,000 listeners per month in more than 120 countries across every continent. With studios in Nosara, Costa Rica, ATR’s signal reached the world via an internet server in Tampa, Florida.

In 2011, streaming gave way to podcasting, resulting in the production of 68 one-hour episodes for iTunes, completed in 2012.

ATR entered a new chapter in 2020 with its first shortwave broadcasts: a weekly one-hour program showcasing Creative Commons music in English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. These were transmitted from WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida, and Channel 292 in Rohrbach, Germany. Unfortunately, the disruptions of Covid-19 brought those broadcasts to an end the following year.

Happily, as of November 30, 2025, ATR has returned to the shortwave airwaves—now transmitting exclusively from Channel 292 with 10 kW of power and a 315º beam aimed toward northern and western Europe. One-hour broadcasts can be heard each Sunday from 1400–1500 UTC on 9670 kHz. Reception reports are warmly welcomed, and e-QSL verification is available.

QSL NDB NOR-372 Nordholz

February 27, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

To my big surprise I received 4 QSL cards, the real stuff, by mail, from the Deutsch Flugsicherung. I sent my reception reports in 2023… 2 years ago. But they were worth waiting for:

The first one was for NDB NOR on 372 kHz. This beacon belongs to the Nordholz Naval Airbase. Or in proper German: “Fliegerhorst Nordholz”. I like this “Horst” as it translates as “Nest of a predatory bird”, although I recognize that since WW2 it suffers a bit from a certain connotation.

NDB Nordholz and Nordholz Airport (courtesy: Skyvector)

Fliegerhorst Nordholz stands as one of Germany’s oldest aviation facilities, with its origins tracing back to December 17, 1912, when the Imperial German Navy established it as a key site for naval aviation. The base was initially serving as a major airship port for Zeppelins during World War I. It housed units for both the Navy and Army, supporting reconnaissance and bombing missions with rigid airships like the famous Zeppelin L 3 making early landings there.

After the war, in compliance with the Treaty of Versailles, several Zeppelins were destroyed on-site by their crews in 1919. The interwar period saw shifts in control, and during the 1930s, the Luftwaffe repurposed and expanded the site under code names like “Neckar,” using it for fighter and other operations throughout World War II. Post-1945, the base fell under American occupation briefly, hosting U.S. fighter units like P-47 Thunderbolts before being handed to the RAF, which dismantled much of the infrastructure.

Today, in 2026, Nordholz remains the central hub of the German Navy’s Marinefliegerkommando (Naval Air Command), hosting Marinefliegergeschwader 3 “Graf Zeppelin” and Marinefliegergeschwader 5. Marinefliegergeschwader 3 operates Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (with the transition to the advanced P-8A Poseidon underway, as the first examples arrived in late 2025) alongside Dornier 228NG for pollution control and surveillance. Marinefliegergeschwader 5 handles helicopter operations, including the NH90 Sea Lion for transport and the new NH90 Sea Tiger for anti-submarine and anti-surface roles, with deliveries progressing to replace the aging Sea Lynx fleet.

QSL NDB RE Reykjanesskóli 316 kHz

February 22, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

The name of the NDB RE Reykjanesskóli on 316 kHz is a bit misleading, and that is augmented by the fact that it belongs to Reykjanes Airport. That might make you think it is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the South East of Iceland, where you find Reykjavik Airport and Keflavik Airport. And if you ‘google’ for Reykjanes Airport you end up finding many links to either of the these two.

But this Reykjanes Airport is located in the West Fjords region, in the NW corner of Iceland. To avoid confusion the ICAO locator “BIRS” is often added to the name when reference is made to Reykjanes Airport.

Location of Reykjanes Airport (BIRS) bottom right. The larger Isafjordur Airport is seen top left.

The airport is nothing more than a landing strip. There is no infrastructure, the only service offered is a wind vane on a pyramid with the last two letters of the ICAO locator code -BIRS- to let you know you found it.

If I’m not mistaken the beacon itself can be found across the road of the Reykjanes Hotel. It is a dipole antenna. On the Google Streetview photo below you see one of the suspension masts, the feed point to the dipole, and the hotel in the background. The building with the exhaust on top of it seems to be a generator for the hotel and most likely also the beacon, and there is a little diesel storage tank to the right (just outside the picture).

NDB RE Reykjanesskoli on 316 kHz (Googlemaps)

Below you can see the beacon signal as received with Pskov software, and the QSL signed and sent by Mr. Hjalti Geir Guðmundsson from Isavia Navaid Division.

QSL NDB MN-382 Mynes

February 14, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

I was really pleased with the reception of NDB MN Mynes at 382 kHz, as it is definitely one of the Icelandic NDBs that is more difficult to receive in The Netherlands. On the Pskov recording below their signal can be seen, It is a bit different from other Icelandic beacons as they use a negatively keyed carrier.

Mr. Hjalti Geir Guðmundsson from Isavia Navaid Division was so kind to confirm my reception:

eQSL letter for the reception of NDB MN on 382 kHz

If my information is correct, NDB MN is located a little bit to the NE of Egilsstaðaflugvöllur, or Egilsstaðir Airport, and serves as an approach beacon. The airport is a single-runway airport, initially gravel, but with asphalt since 1990.

Despite the fact that the only scheduled carrier is Icelandair with 2-3 flights a day to Reykjavík, it is not without significance. Egilsstaðir serves as a diversion airport for Keflavik International Airport located 415 kilometers southwest of Egilsstaðir. During the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in 2010, many flights were diverted to Egilsstaðir airport due to ATC restrictions because of volcanic ash. At some point in time there were 3 bigger airplanes parked on the airport, and that was news in the local media.

Three airplanes at Egilsstaðir airport: a record in 2010

QSL Radio Elvira 1224 kHz

February 12, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

In 2024 I received Radio Elvira from Heerhugowaard, broadcasting with 1 Watt on 1485 kHz. This frequency is reserved for 1 Watt LPAMs in The Netherlands. I made my reception during a stay with my father in law in the province of North Holland. There was no way that I can receive them at my QTH, 70 kilometer away, as another 1 Watt station, Radio 182, is dominant here at only 15 kilometers distance.

eQSL for Radio Elvira, Heerhugowaard, 1224 kHz

But a few weeks ago I received a message inviting me to tune in to their new frequency of 1224 kHz when I was in the area again. But as I realized that a move to 1224 kHz meant that they increased power I answered that I should be able to hear them here in Woerden. The answer I got was: “forget it, in Utrecht Radio 1224 wiil be dominant:

“Never underestimate an old man with a radio!” I thought, and I turned the loop antenna north, nulling Radio 1224 from Lunteren to the east. And there was Radio Elvira with their program “The Lunchbreak” as you can hear on the MP3 recording: “De Lunchbreak bruist over het water van de Noordzee, 48 uur per dag, 9 dagen per week, dit is Patrick Jacobs!”

And so I got my QSL. You can learn more about Radio Elvira on their website. The Dutch LPAM scene is always nice to monitor!

QSL NDB CP 386 kHz Constable Pynt / Nerlerit Inaat

February 11, 2026 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

Receiving signals from the Arctic is always something special as they originate from very remote and often special locations. My reception of NDB CP Constable Pynt / Nerlerit Inaat on 386 kHz is no exception. Below my Pskov recording of the NDB CP signal (with red marks to emphasize the -.-. .–. morse code for CP)

Pskov recroding of NDB CP Constable Pynt / Nerlerit Inaat on 386 kHz

The Nerlerit Inaat airport was built in 1985 by the US oil company ARCO in connection with oil exploration in Jameson Land. It was sold to Greenland in 1990. The airport has around 15 employees, who have their home within the airport area.

QSL for NDB CP Nerlerit Inaaat Airport 386 kHz… although the frequency quoted is wrong

No other settlement is reachable by road, making the airport possibly the one with smallest population reachable by road in the world. There is a road to a seaport around 2 km south of the terminal building, and some other roads in the area.

Nerlerit Airport and the NDB (green circle) at Constable Point (courtesy: OurAirports)

With connecting flights to Akureyri and Reykjavik in Iceland the airport acts as stopping off point for a number of expeditions into Jameson Land and Northeast Greenland National Park. More importantly maybe, it connects by helicopter to the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, with a population of 325 (in 2025). The settlement is situated 40 kilometers south east of the airport. The name Ittoqqortoormiit means “big house dwellers” in the Eastern Greenlandic dialect.

Ittoqqortoormiit was founded in 1925 by Ejnar Mikkelsen and some 80 Inuit settlers (70 persons from Tasiilaq and four families from western Greenland). They were brought on the ship Gustav Holm and settled 400 kilometres south of the last known Inuit settlement in northeastern Greenland. The settlement was encouraged by colonial power Denmark who at the time wanted to increase their presence in North Eastern Greenland.