"It's not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on" - Marilyn Monroe

Month: May 2025 (Page 1 of 2)

QSL RNE Galicia La Coruña 639 kHz

Radio Nacional de España is one of the few national broadcasters in Europe that still has a solid mediumwave presence. And they have local programs. Problem for us DX-ers is that the various stations share frequencies, so it’s difficult to identify the individual stations. At 7:45 hours local time however the stations have a local news bulletin and ID:

Artur from Maresme DX was so kind to help me to get a verification for RNE Galicia. Big thanks, it is so nice to make friends in this hobby!

QSL Shortwave Radio Winsen 6160 kHz

Shortwave Radio from Winsen is an easy catch here. For a little compensation they will confirm your report with a traditional QSL card. You can read the details on their website.

old school QSL card from Shortwaveradio.de, Winsen, Germany

The station is located in Winsen “on the river Aller”. So that is the Winsen located 20 km north of Hannover, Germany (there is another Winsen south of Hamburg). They broadcast on 6160 and 3975 kHz. Next to their own program Shortwave Gold there are various other program producers that use the Shortwave Radio facilities.

QSL WLRP Radio Raíces 1460 kHz

A fully detailed email QSL for my reception of WLRP Radio Raíces – La Voz del Pepino – on 1460 AM from San Sebastián, Puerto Rico. I made my reception during my stay in Curacao. A distance of 725 km for a station with 0.5 kW on a small portable receiver isn’t bad, but the fact that it is all over water does help.


Radio Raíces was broadcasting a sort of “Latin Golden Oldies” with amongst others a very nice song “Quizás, quizás, quizás” by Nat King Cole that I didn’t know. They are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year as they started broadcasting in 1965.

The nickname “La Voz del Pepino” for WLRP Radio Raíces is tied to the town’s nickname, “El Pepino.” San Sebastián is commonly referred to as “El Pepino” in Puerto Rico, a name derived from the Spanish word for cucumber, though the exact origin of this nickname for the town is unclear.

I sent my report to radioraices1460(at)gmail.com . While I typically get replies on email reports within a day or so… this one took 9 weeks. So it was a nice surprise!

The new 2018 antenna of WLRP Radio Raíces – La voz del Pepino – 1460 AM, Puerto Rico

Rivne DX Club 14230 kHz

I received a SSTV station with call sign UT1KWA from the Ukraine on 14230 kHz. It turned out to be the Rivne DX club, from Rivne, a city in the northwest of the Ukraine.

Pavlo (UT1KY) is running the station. He is a teacher by profession, but also teaches kids to how to run radio. A very nice initiative as I welcome anything that interests kids in technology! QSL manager for the station is Antonello IK2DUW.

Pavlo also shared some nice pictures of him and kids working at the club, showing some nice awards they got. Given privacy considerations I prefer to share a picture they posted on their website. I think this is Pavlo some years ago. His beard is a bit more grey today (as is my own hair).

The Rivne DX club

Thank you Pavlo for your kind reply, all the best with your initiative and the Rivne DX club. It’s these sort of connects that make our hobby so nice.

QSL SRC FM Tiel 105.1 MHz

Another local FM station close to my QTH is SRC FM. Although local? It is in fact regional and a good example of the new strategy on local radio that is currently being implemented in The Netherlands.

Local radio was legalized in the late 80’s in The Netherlands, and soon every town had their own local FM station, usually partly funded by the local municipality. In those days internet wasn’t common and it was seen as a good vehicle to distribute local news and information. As municipalities merged to promote efficiency (in 1990 The Netherlands had 672 municipalities, today there are only 342) local radio stations merged as well. An example is RTV Krimpenerwaard as you can read in my blog.


But today there is another thing at play. The Association of Dutch Municipalities, together with the Dutch Government and the Dutch Association of Local Radio Stations (NLPO) have agreed to implement a strategy where permits for local radio will be awarded to predefined regions only. From 2028 onward there should be no more than 80 regional FM stations, whereas there are some 200 local FM stations today. The aim is obviously a combination of cost efficiency and the desire to improve the editorial capabilities and quality of the stations. More info about this plan can be found on this web page of the NLPO.

Do I like it? Well, as many local radio stations are depending on tax payers money to make things work I can understand the rationale. And mind you, what started as local radio today is not only radio but TV, web, social media presence as well. At the same time the stations are at risk to lose their local identity which is why they came to be in the first place. The distance to their audience might increase, which by the way is also an often heard complaint about the distance of today’s bigger municipalities and their citizens.

The SRC FM coverage area… big than a province (FMLIST)

Let’s look at how SRC FM became so big. And why wouldn’t I try to do this using an AI tool: Grok. After all, we live in 2025! Here we go!

The success of SRC: from local radio to regional broadcaster.

The growth of Stads Radio Culemborg (SRC) from a local radio station in Culemborg to a regional broadcaster covering West Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, Neder-Betuwe, and Vijfheerenlanden reflects a strategic expansion driven by collaboration, mergers, and a national push for professionalized streekomroepen (regional broadcasters). Below is a detailed account of SRC’s evolution based on available information:

1. Origins as Stads Radio Culemborg

  • Foundation: SRC began as Stads Radio Culemborg, a local radio station focused on serving the municipality of Culemborg. Its early operations were centered on providing local news, music, and community-focused content, typical of small-scale municipal broadcasters in the Netherlands.
  • Scope: Initially, SRC’s coverage was limited to Culemborg, with programming that included local news, events, and a music format emphasizing “Goodfeeling” and 50% Dutch-language music. It operated on FM frequencies (e.g., 105.8 MHz for Culemborg) and local television channels.

2. National Push for Streekomroepen (2016–2017)

  • NLPO and Streekomroep Formation: The Stichting Nederlandse Lokale Publieke Omroepen (NLPO), in collaboration with the VNG (Association of Netherlands Municipalities) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), developed a plan in 2016–2017 to consolidate approximately 230 local broadcasters into about 80 regional streekomroepen. This was aimed at achieving economies of scale, professionalization, and future-proofing local media. SRC’s region, designated as “streek 28,” included Vijfheerenlanden, Culemborg, West Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, and Neder-Betuwe.
  • Catalyst for Growth: This national policy provided the framework for SRC to expand beyond Culemborg, encouraging collaboration with other local broadcasters in the Rivierenland region.

3. Collaboration and Mergers (2019–2021)

  • Formation of SRC as a Regional Brand: SRC evolved into a regional broadcaster through a partnership between three entities:
    • Stichting Publiek Omroep Buren, Culemborg, Vijfheerenlanden en West Betuwe (SPO-BCVW): This foundation covered Buren, Culemborg, Vijfheerenlanden, and West Betuwe.
    • Stichting Publieke Omroep Tiel (SPO-Tiel): This represented Tiel’s local broadcasting interests, previously served by Stads TV Tiel.
    • Nova Media Producties: A media production entity contributing to the joint programming.
  • Merger with RTV Betuwe (2019): A significant milestone was the merger between SRC and RTV Betuwe, a broadcaster serving parts of the Betuwe region. This merger brought staff, expertise, and infrastructure from RTV Betuwe into SRC, strengthening its regional presence. For example, Carolien Krouwel, a TV presenter and editor, transitioned from Stads TV Tiel to RTV Betuwe and continued with SRC post-merger, highlighting continuity in personnel.
  • Unified Branding: The collaboration adopted the SRC brand (likely derived from Stads Radio Culemborg) for all media output across radio, television, and online platforms. This included a shared news platform on src.fm, a dedicated SRC News App, and coordinated programming for the six municipalities.

4. Competition and Expansion into Buren, Tiel, and Neder-Betuwe (2021)

  • Competition with RegioTV Tiel: SRC’s expansion was partly fueled by its successful bids for local broadcasting licenses, often at the expense of competitors like RegioTV Tiel.
    • Buren (2021): SRC, under the SPO-BCVW banner, won the local broadcasting license for Buren, defeating RegioTV Tiel. The Buren municipal council favored SRC due to its perceived organizational stability and transparency, while RegioTV Tiel faced criticism for withholding financial details and lacking a cooperative approach.
    • Neder-Betuwe: Similarly, SRC secured the broadcasting rights for Neder-Betuwe, outcompeting RegioTV Tiel and Nova Media. Initial support for RegioTV Tiel waned after new information raised doubts about its reliability, leading the council to choose SRC.
    • Tiel: Tiel was already part of SRC’s coverage through SPO-Tiel, which had roots in Stads TV Tiel. The merger and collaboration formalized SRC’s role as Tiel’s primary broadcaster.
  • West Betuwe: West Betuwe was included in SRC’s coverage through SPO-BCVW, aligning with the regional framework of streek 28.

5. Programming and Infrastructure Development

  • Multi-Platform Presence: SRC established itself as a 24/7 broadcaster across radio, television, and online platforms. It operates on multiple FM frequencies (e.g., 95.6 MHz for Vijfheerenlanden, 105.5 MHz for Tiel, 106.4 MHz for Buren Oost and Neder-Betuwe) and television channels (e.g., Ziggo channel 43 for Buren, Neder-Betuwe, West Betuwe, and Tiel).
  • Content Expansion: SRC’s programming grew to include regional news (broadcast hourly from 06:00 to 23:00), cultural events like the Fruitcorso, and specialized shows like the “Oranje Top 30” for Dutch music. It also introduced a SRC TV Magazine and covered local sports, politics, and community initiatives.
  • Audience Engagement: A listener survey confirmed SRC as the number-one radio station in the region, boosting its credibility and reach. The station actively solicits community input for news tips and event coverage, fostering local engagement.

6. Professionalization and Future Ambitions (2022–2026)

  • Professional Newsroom: SRC has been building a professional newsroom to deliver in-depth, objective, and locally rooted journalism. This aligns with the NLPO’s goal of making streekomroepen more robust and competitive in a changing media landscape.
  • Planned Consolidation (2026): SPO-BCVW, SPO-Tiel, and Nova Media Producties aim to fully merge into a single streekomroep by mid-2026, streamlining operations under the SRC brand. This move is part of the national streekomroep reform, with the Second Chamber approving plans in October 2023 to reduce the number of local broadcasters to 80 by 2026.
  • Digital Innovation: SRC has embraced digital platforms, including src.fm, social media, YouTube, and a dedicated News App, to reach broader audiences. This digital shift has been crucial for engaging younger viewers and adapting to modern media consumption trends.

7. Impact of RegioTV Tiel’s Challenges

  • Weakened Competitor: The decline of RegioTV Tiel, particularly after losing broadcasting rights in Buren and Neder-Betuwe, indirectly aided SRC’s growth. RegioTV Tiel’s organizational issues, lack of transparency, and failure to collaborate with SRC (e.g., rejecting a proposed merger in Buren) allowed SRC to consolidate its dominance in the region.
  • Market Consolidation: SRC capitalized on RegioTV Tiel’s setbacks to secure a wider audience and municipal support, positioning itself as the primary media outlet for Rivierenland.

8. Current Status (2025)

  • Regional Reach: SRC now serves Buren, Culemborg, Neder-Betuwe, Tiel, Vijfheerenlanden, and West Betuwe, covering a diverse region with tailored news and programming. Its studio is based in Culemborg (Stationsplein 11A), but its coverage spans the entire Rivierenland area.
  • Community Focus: SRC remains committed to hyper-local content, covering everything from municipal politics to cultural events like the restoration of a 400-year-old bell in Deil or the Fruitcorso. Its critical and objective reporting has earned it a strong reputation.
  • Sustainability: By 2025, SRC is well-positioned as the leading streekomroep in its region, with plans for further integration and professionalization by 2026. Its success is attributed to strategic partnerships, a clear regional vision, and adaptability to both traditional and digital media.

Conclusion

SRC’s transformation from Stads Radio Culemborg to a regional broadcaster for West Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, and Neder-Betuwe was driven by:

  • National Policy: The NLPO’s streekomroep initiative provided the framework for regional expansion.
  • Mergers and Collaboration: The 2019 merger with RTV Betuwe and partnerships with SPO-BCVW, SPO-Tiel, and Nova Media Producties expanded SRC’s reach and resources.
  • Competitive Wins: Securing broadcasting licenses in Buren and Neder-Betuwe over RegioTV Tiel solidified SRC’s regional dominance.
  • Professionalization: Investments in a robust newsroom, multi-platform content, and digital innovation ensured SRC’s relevance and sustainability.

This growth reflects a blend of strategic opportunism, community engagement, and alignment with broader media reforms in the Netherlands.

Well that was easy! Thank you Grok!

To cover the region SRC FM is active on 6 frequencies. I sent a report for my reception of SRC FM on 105.1 MHz, as with 40 kms the transmitter in Tiel is a bit more “DX” than the transmitter in Vianen (only 17 kms). Mr. Kans was so kind to confirm my report with a brief reply on my email to info@src.fm .

QSL Rick FM Uithoorn 106.3 MHz

Back to my exploration of the local radio scene around Woerden. Today I listened to Rick FM, the local radio station for Uithoorn and De Kwakel. Marco from Rick FM was so kind to reply to my reception report.

Rick FM is owned by Stichting Radio RIK. I couldn’t find where the acronym RIK stands for. What I do know is that Rick FM started some 40 years ago as pirate radio station Radio Cyclus in De Kwakel. Which is not uncommon.

Like many other stations Rick FM is professionalizing and at the same time has to safe costs. So it is cooperating with 4 other stations in the area:

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal 104.2 MHz

Yesterday there were quite good tropospheric conditions toward the UK. On 104.2 MHz I heard a program in a language that I didn’t immediately recognize. It turned out to be BBC Radio nan Gàidheal broadcasting in Gaelic language.

By clicking on above picture or this link you can hear my YouTube clip with their station ID.

On 104.2 MHz BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is broadcasting from the Meldrum transmitting station, built in 1950 near the village of Oldmeldrum. 752 kilometers from my QTH. In lesser quality I also heard this station on 103.7 MHz from Forfar, a little bit more to the south.

The Meldrum Transmitting Station in Scotland

QSL Radio Eule München 1500 kHz

I really wanted to get a QSL from Radio Eule München as this station ticks so many boxes. It is low power (only 10 Watt), from abroad and with 648 kms at quite a bit of distance given its power. But more importantly, it is an initiative of enthusiastic people at the Deutsches Museum in Munich who want to promote technology to get young people interested.
It wasn’t easy though to receive this one as 1500 kHz is a frequency on which I always experience heavy pulsating noise as if it was digitial communication (source unknown). And this winter, when conditions were favourable, WFED from Washington was often stronger. I even heard Radio Santa Rosa from Peru before I caught Radio Eule. So maybe this is one of these stations that are easier to catch in summer?

eQSL Radio Eule 1500 kHz

Luise Allendorf-Hoefer, Dipl.-Ing., Kuratorin Nachrichtentechnik und Elektronik (Curator News Technology and Electronics) at the Deutsches Museum was so kind to confirm my report. Luise is also HAM radio amateur under DL4LA. The Deutsches Museum website has a nice page dedicated to this station including a clip on how to build your own AM receiver! Munich is a city worth visiting I can tell you, and while you are there, spend some time at this museum as Germany has a technology tradition more than any other European country.

QSL Radio Buenos Aires 1350 kHz

One of the stations I heard during my stay on Curacao earlier this year was LS6 Radio Buenos Aires on 1350 kHz. Yes, with 50 kW this is one of the stronger stations in South America, but I was still very pleased to hear this one over 5300 km on my small Tecsun PL368 with standard antenna. Radio Buenos Aires has been received in the Netherlands as well, so that’s my next goal. So far Radio Z100 Milano has prevented me from doing so.

email to QSL my reception of LS6 Radio Buenos Aires

As my emails to the address advertised on the Radio Buenos Aires website bounced I asked my radio friend Néstor Damián Fischetto if he knew a contact. Which is how I learned that mr. González might confirm my report. Thank you so much Néstor, and of course thank you mr. González.

I don’t have a lot of information about the history of Radio Buenos Aires. LS6 is their call sign and according to Wikipedia the station was active under various names before it was acquired by Radiodifusora Esmeralda S.A in 1999. As a significant portion of this company is owned by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (a Brazilian entity), there is some controversy as Argentinian law apparently prohibits foreign religious organizations to own media licenses… The program I listened to was neutral, with popular music and news.

QSL Radio Aalsmeer 105.9 MHz

Radio Aalsmeer, a local FM radiostation, is only 23 kilometers away from my QTH. But on 105.9 MHz it sits exactly between Radio Ronde Venen on 106.MHz (8 kms away) and RTW FM on 105.8 MHz (18 kms away). Both are quite a bit stronger here. Fortunately SDR console allows to limit the bandwidth to 0.1 MHz and while it did compromise quality a bit it wasn’t difficult to receive Radio Aalsmeer.

I sent my report to info info@radioaalsmeer.nl . Elbert who is secretary of the station and also works at the news desk was so kind to confirm my reception.

The Studio’s Aalsmeer building

Radio Aalsmeer is broadcasting from the studios of Joop van den Ende, the famous Dutch media producer who founded Endemol and Stage Entertainment. He bought the former flower auction site and transformed it to Studio’s Aalsmeer. And that’s where it all started.

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