The wonderful world of listening to the radio

Category: Netherlands (Page 1 of 6)

QSL Atlantica AM 1485 kHz

There is low power (100 Watts) and “Real Low Power”. 1485 is the “Real Low Power” AM (LPAM) frequency in The Netherland: stations should have 1 Watt maximum. There are around 25 stations active on this frequency. Unfortunately DX-ers in the Netherlands will typically hear one dominant station only. Outside the Netherlands you might be able to benefit from variations in propagation conditions, enabling you to hear several stations.

On my QTH Radio 182, only 15 kilometers away (basically across the meadow) is dominant. But using my NTi Megaloop FX antenna to “null” them out, there is apparently enough of a signal left for Atlantica AM from Dordrecht. On Sundays that is, because I that’s when they are “on air”.

You can check your reception against Flux Radio, because they broadcast the Atlantic AM transmissions as well. If you receive them, feel free to go to the Facebook page of Cor Hitzerd. That’s how I got in touch:

Following my report I had a nice conversation with Cor. He shared quite a lot about his pirate history, his friends on the air, and how they as pirates promoted lots of Dutch artists. The fact that you can connect to station owners is so nice about DX-ing these days! Cor also sent me a few pictures… here we go:

QSL Polderpop Radio 1134 kHz

For DX-ers and QSL collectors listening to LPAM stations in The Netherlands can be rewarding. First of all because many of them are run by radio enthusiasts who don’t mind taking the time to explain a lot about their station via messenger, whatsapp or email. But also because it is a very dynamic scene.

In 2023 I got a QSL from 1134AM from Ooijen. They are gone and now I can hear Polderpop Radio from Veldhoven on this frequency. Broadcasting with 100 Watt they can be received in reasonable quality 82 kilometers away. That is: during the day, in the evening hours it is usually Radio Kuwait that I find here.

Polderpop Radio has quite a history. They’ve been on cable, mediumwave, internet, DAB+ and now they’re back on AM. Their program focuses on popmusic from Dutch artists. I sent my report via the contact form on their website, and Jacco Hagoort from Polderpop Radio confirmed my reception within a day.

Radio Monique 1332 off-air due to storm damage

This morning I noticed that Radio Monique, a LPAM from Velsen-Noord, The Netherlands, was missing on 1332 kHz. According to their website the New Year Storm hit the antenna with 10 Beaufort, causing significant damage. Moreover, as some fuses blew out as well, there might be electrical damage requiring the installation to be inspected.

While I wish them a speedy return to the airwaves it might be an opportunity to tune in to other stations on this frequency.

QSL Radio Monique Velsen
QSL LPAM station Radio Monique Velsen on their old 918 kHz frequency

QSL LPAM Radio Elvira 1485 kHz

In The Netherlands the 1485 kHz is reserved for 1 Watt LPAM’s. That should make it an interesting frequency, but despite their low power, Radio 182 from Waddinxveen at 15 kilometers from my QTH is so dominant that it blocks other stations. Their signal probably benefits from a good antenna location and only green fields in between them and me.

So when I visited family in Akersloot I decided to test my new Tecsun PL-368 radio, the one I won during the SWL-2024 contest, on 1485 kHz. I was able to pick up Radio Elvira from Heerhugowaard over a distance of 15 kilometers. Just above noise level at a 2dB SNR (it’s a nice feature that the Tecsun displays this info). They replied with a kind email explaining that for some reason their coverage is only 4-5 kilometres north, but significantly better to the south (where I was receiving them).

Radio Elvira has a nice website where they also post some local news. They advertise as “Radio Elvira 1485 Dijk en Waard”. Dijk the dutch word for dike, and Waard the dutch word for polder.

QSL Mike Radio 6275 kHz

A very nice, fully detailed eQSL from Mike Radio. Mike Radio is a Free Radio station operating from the province of Gelderland, The Netherlands. For the Gen Z folks: the station is powered by solar energy!

I sent my report to mikeradio(at)live.nl . UKdxer told me than Mike is one of the younger free radio stations in the Netherlands.

My personal opinion is that rules on hobby broadcasting via MW/SW should be relaxed as apparently nobody seems to care about the interference of PV installations on these frequencies…

Thank you Mike!

QSL Radio Frieloo 6290 kHz

For the reception of Radio Frieloo on 6290 kHz I received a friendly QSL email from the operator. I sent my report to frieloo(at)outlook.com .

Radio Frieloo is a pirate station operating from the province Gelderland in The Netherlands. The operator told me that he is not often in the air. When it is the case it is mostly to test antenna designs. The transmitter is a R&S with 100 Watt as shown in the picture.

R&S SK010 at Radio Frieloo

QSL Golden Oldies Radio 1224 kHz

An e QSL for a new LPAM station from the Netherlands. Golden Oldies Radio from Hoogvliet near Rotterdam started broadcasting on 1224 kHz earlier this year. Power is 100 Watt. Here in Woerden (Hoogvliet is about 45 kms south west from here) reception is good during day time, but in the evening COPE Lugo is causing interference. At the same time it has become more difficult to receive the Radio 1224, another LPAM from Lunteren, some 50 kilometers to the east from my home QTH.

I sent my report to contact@goldenoldiesradio.nl . More info on the Golden Oldies Radio website.

eQSL Dutch LPAM “Golden Oldies Radio” from Hoogvliet on 1224 kHz

QSL Polaris Radio 6390 kHz

I got a nice e QSL document for my reception of pirate radio station Polaris Radio on 6390 kHz. It had with quite a bit of information which I will not share here for obvious reasons. Unlike most pirate stations they are transmitting from the western part of The Netherlands with a maximum power of 2 kW into an inverted V antenna. I sent my report to polarisradio@hotmail.com .

eQSL from pirate radio station Polaris

QSL Cupid Radio 6290 kHz

QSL Cupid Radio 6290 kHz
QSL Cupid Radio from The Netherlands

A birthday present! Upon return from a nice birthday dinner I noticed that I was receiving Cupid Radio on 6290 kHz on my SDR receiver. Dropped an email to cupidradio@hotmail.com which was read during the show. The next day I wrote a full report which was answered with a personal email and this nice QSL card.

I was told that they were operating on 15105 towards the US earlier that evening. They moved to 6290 kHz when the band closed, and that’s where I found them playing hard rock music like AC/DC and Kiss. The power is 500 Watts generated by two Russian GU81 tubes… and I like that sort of technology as that is the sort of stuff that got me into radio! This YouTube video gives you a good impression about the size of these things!

Cupid Radio has a very interesting Facebook page… I encourage you all to check it out! They run SSTV as well, albeit mainly on 13 and 19 m…. I would really like to catch one of those!

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