Month: May 2024 (Page 1 of 2)

1287 kHz changes: Kilrock and Unique

May 31, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

As announced earlier: from June 1st Kilrock Radio on 1287 kHz will be off air as the owner of this LPAM station is moving house. At the same time Unique Gold, currently active on 675 kHz from Wijchen, is planning to add 1287 kHz from Malden. Given the proximity of Wijchen to Malden my guess is that they will use this frequency to broadcast another of the 4 audio streams Unique produce.

I suggested that this might create a conflict with Kilrock Radio when they resume broadcasts. The answer I got from Unique is that they deliberately waited for Kilrock to go off the air. And the owner of Kilrock apparently moves to the province of Zeeland (further away) and might even come back on a new frequency (they have to reapply for a license). If that is the case it will be interesting to see if they retain the name Kilrock Radio, as the “Kil” in Kilrock refers to the river “Dordtsche Kil” close to their current location.

QSL Unique Gold 675 kHz

May 30, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

I received a polite email as QSL for my reception of Unique Gold on 675 kHz. Unique Gold is a LPAM (100 Watt) station in Wijchen, about 66 kilometer away from my QTH. As is the case with a few other stations from that area their signal is surprisingly strong. I suspect that the rivers flowing through the central part of the Netherlands help to promote propagation. And they have antenna at 70 meter height next to a lake. I sent my report to info@unique.am .

Hans Coenen of Unique Gold also told me that they are planning to start broadcasts on 1287 kHz as well. That will create a bit of a conflict with Kilrock when they return on the air after the relocation.
UPDATE: I learned that Kilrock might relocate to the province Zeeland. In that case there is probably no conflict, they might even apply for a new frequency. Will be interesting to see if they retain their old name, as “Kil” refers to the geographical area they are broadcasting from.

Unique Gold is one of 4 radio streams offered by Unique via the internet and they are also active on DAB. You can read more about this station on: https://unique-fm.nl/en/who-we-are/ .

QSL Radio Batavia 6280 kHz

May 29, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

QSL Radio Batavia 6280 kHz. I received a brief email and an e-QSL card for my report to radiobatavia@hotmail.com . Radio Batavia is a pirate station operating from the Netherlands. They use a home made tube receiver on an inverted V antenna 2×12 meter. When I listened to them they played a Radio Batavia song.

QSL Radio Mi Amigo 6085 kHz

May 27, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

A QSL Radio Mi Amigo 6085 kHz via Kall-Krekel in Germany. Funny thing is that this is my first Radio Mi Amigo QSL. I know for sure that I have sent various reports to “Radio Mi Amigo” programs in the distant past.

Lion Keezer was so kind to reply to my reception report within a day. Lion grew up with the pirate stations in the 60ies, and in 1972 he stepped on board Mi Amigo for the first time.

I don’t think that following their off shore days the organizations presenting themselves as Radio Mi Amigo were very professional. But today that is definitely very different. Radio Mi Amigo connects with their audience through their website, newsletter , via Facebook and via Twitter and Instagram.

Some of their programmes can be listened to via Mixcloud. And if you are interested in off shore radio in the 70-ies, please do check out the iBook: ‘Pirate Radio Ships in the 70s’

QSL Johnny Tobacco Radio 6275 kHz

May 25, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

A QSL for Johnny Tobacco Radio on 6275 kHz. At first I thought I received Akenzo, which is also broadcasting on this frequency.

Johnny Tobacco runs a 1.5 kW transmitter on a dipole. And yep it was “booming in”. Location is in the north east of the Netherlands. I heard “Abu Dhabi” as an alternate ID. I got the address through this excellent website: https://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/

QSL PowerRumpel via Channel 292

May 23, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 1 Comment

QSL PowerRumpel via Channel 292, Germany. PowerRumpel is a program maker that has been active via Channel 292 for quite a while. But somehow I had never listened to them. I was pleasantly surprised this weekend tuning into their program telling the story of the Rain Man movie and playing music from the sound track.

The QSL nicely reflects the program content. I sent my report to radiopr@partyheld.de . Their coming broadcasts are scheduled on 6070 kHz for each 2nd Sunday of the month on 18 h UTC, with a repeat on the next Friday, also on 6070 kHz, 18 h UTC. Theme of the June broadcast will be the movie Barfuss (Barefoot).

QSL Atlantic 2000 Int. via Channel 292

May 22, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

e QSL Atlantic 2000 for their May 17th broadcast via Channel 292

I’m not always DX-ing, sometimes I just like to listen to shortwave radio. Atlantic 2000 International, broadcasting via Channel 292 is one of my favourites. This is a QSL for the Atlantic 2000 International broadcast in May.

On their website you can learn that the name Atlantic 2000 is much older than 45 years. That name belonged to a station broadcasting from San Sebastian to the French Atlantic Coast, with roots going back to Radio Andorra. Following the death of dictator Franco this station was closed in 1975 by the Spanish government. The FM broadcasts from the French Atlantic coast starting in 1978 were a tribute to this station.

QSL Zender Zanussi & Radio Hercules 819 kHz

May 21, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

With Impact AM from Wassenaar frequently dropping off the air, I had the opportunity to listen to, and QSL Zender Zanussi & Radio Hercules on 819 kHz. I sent my report to radio819am@hotmail.com .

Zender Zanussi & Radio Hercules is (are) operated by two brothers Johan and Andre. On Saturdays Johan runs Radio Hercules playing English music mainly. On Sundays Andre runs Zender Zanussi with with mainly Dutch music. And indeed I heard Zender Zanussi with polka music (the music typically played by pirate stations from the Netherlands) and some German classics as well.

Johan and Andre have been active in the pirate scene since 1977. But like a few other stations in the eastern part of the Netherlands they used the opportunity created in 2016 to start a legal 100 W LPAM operation. They are active on 819 kHz since December 2023 from the village of Mastenbroek, Overijssel province, The Netherlands. In the western provinces of the Netherlands Impact AM is usually dominant on 819 kHz. The other LPAM station “Studio Denakker” from Klazienaveen is apparently not active yet.

QSL Radio Casanova Int. 6060 kHz

May 20, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

Last weekend I was able to receive Radio Casanova International on 6060 kHz. This is a legal shortwave station broadcasting from Winterswijk in The Netherlands. They are in the air on 6020 and 6060 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They use 400W, 1600 PEP via an inverted V antenna. Within a few hours I received their beautiful eQSL via radiocasanova@hotmail.com .

Despite their strong signal the reception quality was a bit compromised due to interference from solar panels as it was a sunny day.

QSL FRS Holland 5940/7405 kHz

May 16, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

I received a paper QSL card, nice letter and sticker for my reception of FRS Holland on 5940 and 7405 kHz. I sent my report to P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, The Netherlands, and added 5 Euro. They also have an email address frs@frsholland.nl and a new website: https://frsholland.nl/

The station started in 1980, and has been off and on in the air. On their website you can find plenty of info about the rich history of this station. They welcome QSLs, also for reports from WebSDRs. If you want to receive a hard copy (paper) QSL please make sure to included 3 Euro or USD to cover return postage. More info on: https://frsholland.nl/qsl-policy/

The QSL that I received is on glossy paper, A5 format, printed on both sides. You can actually choose a QSL card design from their collection of legacy QSLs. The one I received was #5 showing the Akai tape recorder used to produce jingles.

It looks like the next broadcasts of FRS Holland are scheduled for July 21st and 28th, do check their website!