The wonderful world of listening to the radio
e QSL from Radio Mexico 6285 kHz. A Free Radio station from North West Germany. I sent my report to Mexico1955 (at) web.de . Operator Georg has built the transmitter himself using circuit boards from Greece. The transmitter has an output of 350W (200 W PEP).
It took 36 weeks, but worth waiting for: a real postcard QSL confirming my reception of NDB MIQ-426 “Mike for Ingolstadt”. I sent my report to DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung) in Langen, Germany. The beacon is located south of Ingolstadt, and you can actually see it driving on highway A9 between München and Ingolstadt (east of the highway).
Not sure where the “for Ingolstadt” comes from. The beacon is close to Ingolstadt airport. But it is not aligned with the runways and serves as a high and low level enroute navigation beacon according to ourairports.com .
A QSL for Jake-FM heard on Channel 292, broadcasting from Ingolstadt, Germany. I sent my report to qsl@jake-fm.de . Jake-FM is basically a hobby internet station. As the operator Michael Fischer writes on the Jake-FM website: Why another internet station? Because the operator enjoys it!
The station got his name from a local cult-music bar “Black Jake”. FM was added because it sounds better than Jake-digital or Jake-internet, and stands for Fabelhafte Musik (Fabulous Music).
From their website: JAKE-FM’s basic program consists of a non-stop music mix that emphasizes Classic Rock, but also includes many other genres, such as blues, soul, pop, oldies. Under no circumstances will you hear hits, folk music, hip-hop, techno or the latest chart noise here.
JAKE-FM can be heard on the “real” radio every 4th Sunday of the month via Channel 292. From 2 p.m. local time on the frequency 6070 kHz with the “JAKE-FM – Shortwave Show”. It’s repeated the following Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (may be postponed). Check Jake-FM website or Channel 292 for the latest info.
Not sure if Bogusman still is active as a pirate station, it definitely used to be, but I sure liked their program on Channel 292, Germany. While some stations merely mimic Radio Caroline, Bogusman brought nice “alto” pop from the 80-ies.
I sent my report to: differentradio@yahoo.co.uk.
Atlantic 2000 international announced that they will be on-air this weekend:
Saturday October 14th, from 08:00 to 09:00 UTC
on 6070 and 9670 kHz + internet
Shortwave broadcast come from the transmitter in Rohrbach Wahl, Germany
Visit their site for more details: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr/
Thanks to a tip from Artur at Maresme DX I tuned in to a program of Radio Andorre. This program, broadcast via Kall-Krekel at 3985 kHz, told about the history of Radio Andorra. I really recommend to visit their website to get acquainted with the history of this radio icon. Unfortunately there no stations other than on FM in Andorra these days. So it is difficult to get anything else than an amateur radio QSL from this tiny mountain country in the Pyrenees.
In 1939 Jacques Tremoulet, who owned several private stations in France, founded Radio Andorra. The main reason for this was that he feared prohibition of his stations in France whereas the country (principality) of Andorra had a special – independent – status.
During WWII, thanks to the neutrality of Andorra, the station continued broadcasting without control from neither France nor Germany. But after the liberation of France problems started for Radio Andorra. Tremoulet was accused of collaboration for his attempts to preserve his stations in the occupied territory. He was sentenced to death and sought refuge in Spain and Switzerland until he was acquitted in 1949.
That did not put an end to the “war” between the French government and Radio Andorra. Aiming for full control over radio in France the government initially jammed the station with transmitters in Bordeaux and Paris. When the court found this unlawful the French government decided it was better to beat Radio Andorra through competition. Ultimately this resulted in the start of Radio des Vallée, later renamed to Sud Radio in Andorra. But not after the French government closed the border with Andorra for a year to frustrate the operation of Radio Andorra and to put pressure on Andorra to allow construction of this new station. In 1961 both stations got a license to operate for a period of 20 years.
In 1981 the government of Andorra decided not to renew the contracts of Radio Andorra and Sud Radio, as they wanted to establish their own radio company… And that was the end of medium and shortwave broadcasting from Andorra. Fortunately I have my QSLs and I can say that I traveled through Andorra, crossing the Port d’Envalira with my wife on bicycle…. but that was, like my QSLs, years ago.
I received this e- QSL from Atlantic 2000 International for my reception of their program transmitted via Channel 292, Rohrbach-Waal, Germany. What I like about their program is the music selection which also features French popular music. When I was young we heard much more French chansons on the radio…
With the e-QSL I also received some information in French about this station which has a 45 year old history. About as long as my own radio/DX-ing career! I took the liberty to translate some of it here:
After broadcasting on FM from 1978 to 1982, Atlantic 2000 International was heard for the first time on shortwave on June 6, 1982, on 7325 kHz. The following shows aired monthly until July 1988 with 25 and 30 W transmitters.
After more than 19 years of absence, Atlantic 2000 returned to the airwaves on October 28, 2007, on 6280 and 6210 kHz.
From 2008 to 2010, Atlantic 2000 broadcast its programs from Italy, on the transmitters of Mystery Radio, then Radio Amica.
From December 2010, our programs were broadcast from Germany by
different relay stations:
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 (which will be a topic of my next post). 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.
Having sent my report I should be informed about future broadcasts, which I will post accordingly on this blog. Stay tuned!
I received this beautiful QSL card DCF77 Time-Signal on 77.5 kHz by mail. The transmitter is located in Mainflingen, Germany. The QSL was accompanied by a folder on how time is managed. I also received a 2009 magazine from the PTB (Physikalisch-Technischen Bundesanstalt) with a special topic on 50 years of DCF77. This magazine is also available online. I sent my report to dirk.piester@ptb.de .
As you can read on the QSL there is no voice announcement of the time. Instead the date and time are transmitted by in code through the interval between second markers (0.1 s = “zero”; 0.2 s = “1”). You can see this in my waterfall map below. The gap prior to second 53 and 57 is twice as big. At the minute there is no gap.
Earlier this year I received this beautiful QSL Bremen Rescue 2187.5 kHz. I really appreciate DSC stations (and other stations) that offer this service. Somehow I do hope that it helps younger people to develop an interest in the hobby and therefore in radio and electronics. I sent my report to mail@mrcc-bremen.de .
HCJB, “Heralding Christ Jesus Blessings” or “The Voice of the Andes” from Ecuador was the 4th QSL I received for my reception on the family radio back in 1979. At the time I could barely believe that I had just received a station from so far away. But it definitely contributed to me becoming a DX-er!
Operating since 1931 HCJB was the first Christian Radio Emmisary in the world. In 2009 the HCJB station was dismantled for the construction of the new Quito city airport. With satellite, FM and internet emerging it was thought that media consumption altered. Focus was on “planting” HCJB programs at local stations in local languages.
So I guess HCJB Deutschland is part of the heritage. With a 1.5 kW transmitter from Weenermoor, Germany, just across the border with the Netherlands in Ost Friesland they broadcast the Christian message. For my reception of their program on 5920 kW Mr. Mark-Torsten Wardein sent me a nice QSL card, a letter, a CD and additional info about their station.
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