I received an email from the English desk of Radio Romania International announcing their new winter schedule. In the same email they announced that they are working ways to send out digital or eQSLs in 2023. As we are already in the 4th quarter I’m not sure if this is a typo, although I’m still waiting on a 2023 QSL. Anyway it is a pity as I loved the old school QSL they sent, and they were reliable verifiers. Recent budget cuts forced them to close two out of five transmitters. So I guess the move to eQSLs is probably another cost reduction measure.
I started this weblog a few months after I resumed DX-ing. As a result there are a few QSLs that I didn’t post yet. One of those is this comprehensive Word document I received as QSL Torshavn Radio. Torshavn Radio – call sign OXJ – is part of the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) on the Faroe Islands. I received them with a DSC test message on 2187.5 kHz. It is a pity that they forgot to tick the DSC box on the document, but I applaud them for sending this neat QSL. I sent my report to MRCC@vorn.fo.
E-QSL letter from Torshavn Radio, Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but with a very high degree of self-governance. They are not part of the European Union. The debate on whether they should become fully independent of Denmark lingers on… For us DX-ers and QSL-hunters that doesn’t make a difference: the European DX council has long declared it a separate radio country.
The island of Drevnik is located in the Adriatic Sea, west of Split Airport, Croatia. Denis Kosor, Head of the ATC unit for the Split region was zo kind to confirm my reception report of NDB DVN on 418 kHz.
QSL NDB DVI-418 on Drvenik Island for Split Airport
UPDATE!: Earlier I wrote about my recently received QSL for my reception of CBI Sydney on 1140 kHz. In addition to my email (not knowing if it would be answered) I also filled in a web form on the CBC site. Pat from CBC Client Services was so kind to return a detailed email confirming my reception.
I got quite a bit of information about the program I listened to. It was called “Unreserved”. It is a platform for the voice of the indigenous voices of the people in Canada. That also explained why the nice music I listened to was not the usual country or “middle-of-the road” style.
Pat explained that QSL cards were sent in the past. An example from CBW Manitoba 990 kHz was attached. While thanking Pat for taking the time to provide all this nice feedback I also suggested the use of an e-QSL card. It would have taken less time! We DX-ers are usually not part of the target audience of the stations we receive. But I do believe it is important that, as a community, radio stations make a little investment to connect with listeners that tune in to the radio from a more technical perspective. Even if it was only to interest talent for technical careers in support of their stations.
No, not a QSL for CBW Manitoba, but an example from “the old days”
Croatian Airspace is divided over 6 Regional ATC centres, part of Croatia Control. I have had some success in getting QSLs from the Regional Centres. Mr. Gadzic from the Osijek Regional centre was so kind to return a QSL for NDB CE-372 (Osijek/Cepin) and NDB OSJ-422 (Osijek Airport).
QSL for NDB CE-372 and OSJ-422 at Osijek Airport
For who is interested, attached find some details about the Navaids at Osijek Airport.
UPDATE!: I have to admit that I was already hoping for this, because following an email confirmation of my Aasiaat Radio reception I also received a letter by mail. And indeed, Bo Mogensen, head of Kystradio in Greenland (operated by Tusass), was again so kind to send a physical letter as QSL NDB OZN-372 Prins Christians Sund Greenland. Wow!!! Click here for more details about the reception of the furtherst NDB I ever logged.
Thank you Bo for this service, it is so nice to get a QSL/picture of these remote locations!
A very nice QSL letter for OZN Prins Christians Sund, Greenland
Swedavia at Umea Airport sent me a confirmation having received my reception report of NDB WU-329 and VNA-364. I am afraid that I can’t actually call this one a QSL… it is more a “thank you” and polite referral to LFV “Luftfartsverket”. LFV is the organization that remotely operates 16 airports from four control centres in Sweden: ATCC Stockholm, ATCC Malmö, RTC Stockholm and Östgöta Kontrollcentral (ÖKC).
With 1566 and 1578 kilometers from my home QTH these rank pretty high in terms of distance.
I received this beautiful e QSL Radio 1224 Lunteren. With 100 Watts this is one of the many legal LPAM stations that are active in the Netherlands.
Lunteren is only 50 kilometers away from my home QTH. Compared to other LPAM stations reception in Woerden is worse than I would have expected. The city of Utrecht and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug (a slightly – 50 meters – elevated forest area) are in the reception path. My guess is that this plays a negative role.
Operator/owner Teun (who is also a licensed HAM: PA3GDL) writes that they are active for 4 years now. Programs are presented by a team of 12 DJs who work remotely (from their own home) for convenience. You can learn more about Radio 1224 on their website where you can also submit your reception report.
eQSL LPAM Radio 1224 from Lunteren, The Netherlands
A QSL for my reception of two NDB (Non Directional Beacons) servicing Ängelholm Airport in South Sweden: LB-370.5 and AH-417. The numbers indicate the frequency in kHz. These beacons are located at 698 and 696 kilometers from my home QTH.
Email QSL for NDBs LB and AH at Ängelholm Helsingborg Airport
UPDATE!: Today I received another email from the Centrale Milano Team. I received their testsignals – with only 10 Watts – a few weeks ago. I was promised a QSL Radio Centrale Milano 1575 kHz and here it is:
eQSL from Centrale Milano, Alessandria, Italy on 1575 kHz
I’m really pleased with this QSL. It confirmed the low power and it shows the beautiful Cathedral in Milan which I had the opportunity to visit some 20 years ago.
Enzo from Centrale Milano wrote this in his email:
Here our QSL for your archive and some other picture of the studios and myself (Enzo) recently and during the seventies in American Radio Milano. I was a former DJ in many Italian radio station and a speaker/voice actor for many years. Now, my mission is to keep alive the Medium Waves in Italy and in Europe if possible….. with 10w and more (:). We are authorized to use the historical Rai 1575Khz frequency up to 1kw so, it seem it should work very well.
