I received a QSL from Sublime FM 90.7 MHz, broadcasting from IJsselstein, The Netherlands. From September Sublime will no longer be received on FM.
After the allocation of FM frequencies to national and regional public radio there are 9 “packages” of frequencies left for commercial parties. These are sold via an auction mechanism. In the auction of last July “Mediahuis”, the company behind Sublime, gave up the Sublime frequencies. They were taken by newcomer Financial News Radio which acquired the rights until September 2035.
The fact that Sublime will disappear from FM (they will continue on DAB+ and internet streaming) made me send a QSL request to info@sublime.nl . Nowadays nobody at these networks knows what a QSL is, so I had to explain it a bit, after which I received a kind email from Audiohuis.
Email QSL Sublime FM 90.7 MHz (IJsselstein)
Frequencies of Sublime. From September onwards: Financial News Radio
I think I am chasing a QSL LRA36 RN Arcángel San Gabriel for about 40 years now. To be precise, the station started transmitting from Esperanza Base in 1979. That is exactly the year in which I started with my hobby as a 17 year old kid. They featured in every WRTH I bought since…
I heard them once, many years ago. But I never received a reply on my report. On Saturday July 8th this year at 19.00 h UTC I heard them again on the usual frequency of 15476 kHz in USB. I was afraid that I tuned in too late, as reception quality soon deteriorated, and after 19.15 h UTC I couldn’t pick up their signal anymore.
LRA36 RN Arcangel San Gabriel sends a nice PDF as QSL
But during these 15 minutes I heard a conversation between a man and woman, and more importantly: a fragment of a passionate Argentinian ballad. As I could neither specify details of the discussion, nor the title of the song I sent a small MP3 clip along with my reception report. And one month later I got his beautiful PDF as QSL in return.
Clearly the Argentinian government has a geopolitical motive maintaining a shortwave radio station in Antarctica. That said I’m still grateful to the LRA36 team for their commitment to the DX-ing community all these years!
It is not always clear to me when LRA36 is in the air. They seem to have regular programs on Saturday between 18 and 22 h UTC. I also heard that they have programs on Monday and Wednesday evening (UTC). My advice is to monitor DX sites like SWL-ing post, HF Underground or Hard-Core-DX for the latest information. Reception reports can be send to lra36nacional@gmail.com .
Last night I received Taupo Radio, New Zealand, with a DSC message on 8414.5 kHz. Within the hour I received a polite email confirming my reception report via maritime@kordia.co.nz .
Email QSL from Taupo Radio, New Zealand
Now obviously I’m very grateful that operators of Taupo Radio took the time to send me answer. I do realize that replying to reception reports is not their core business. Many stations don’t even bother… But while a reply within the hour is an example of efficiency, it also makes me longing for the old days and it raises some concern…
In 1989 I received Awarua Radio, ZLB. It was one of 4 coastal radio stations in New Zealand, and it was the one that covered HF. So with proper propagation conditions you could pick up their CW signals. Yep, we were still on morse code. I think rationalization kicked in between 1991 and 1994, and 4 stations became one: Taupo Radio. And in itself that was not a bad thing. You can learn a bit more on this site about NZ coastal radio station history and here on Awarua Radio in particular.
At the time my reception report took about three weeks to land on their desk and another three weeks for an envelope to drop in the mailbox. The days we worked with printers if not typewriters. When there was no email and we had to rely on airmail. But I received a comprehensive letter with lots of information about the station, their transmitters, the receivers (JRC NRD515s – nice detail is that I made today’s Radio Taupo reception on my 30 years old JRC NRD 535!). And a beautiful QSL card that displayed pride in the coastal radio stations of New Zealand.
Proud of your Coast Radio Station… the QSL of Awarua Radio shows it!
And that is what is lacking today. Call me an old dude, a radio geek whatever… but I do think it is an opportunity missed. Driven by efficiency and bureaucrats who don’t understand the difference between a Volt and an Ampere there is no more space and time for pride and passion in engineering and technology and what it brings society… How much effort would it take to just include one promotional picture in an email from an interested listener? Promotion has never been so easy… And that – as a PhD Physics and retired technology manager – worries me… How are we going to foster interest in engineering studies so much needed in western society? Your thoughts? Leave a comment!
The back of the QSL: Awarua Radio was the HF presence in a network of 4 coastal radio stations
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 .
Via Mr. Ivan Kovacs (Kovacs.Ivan@mtva.hu) I received my third QSL for a Hungarian medium wave transmitter. Kossuth Rádió, the first national radio program of Hungary is broadcast via a transmitter in Solt in central Hungary. With 2000 kW it is the most powerful station in Europe. And with 304 mtrs the antenna is also one of the highest structures. Of course it targets Hungary, but also the Hungarian speaking minorities in many other countries in Central and East Europe. Kossuth Rádió is named after Lajos Kossuth, a famous politician who fought for freedom of the press in Hungary.
e QSL Kossuth Radio, Solt, Hungary 640 kHz
The eQSL for Kossuth is red, similar eQSLs from Nemzetiségi Rádió and Danko Rádió are orange/green and purple. I think I’ve seen a green eQSL for Petöfi on the internet, but like Bartók Radio that’s FM, and not as easy to receive overhere in The Netherlands.
I received this beautiful e QSL from station Witte Tornado (White Tornado) and Lady. A pirate station operating from Almelo, The Netherlands, on 1647 kHz. Operator Gerard informed me that they are on air every 2nd Sunday from 17:00 to 00:00 h local time.
If you want the email address, drop me a note via a comment on this mail.
QSL from Witte Tornado and Lady, a Dutch pirate station on 1647 kHz
As a follow up to my previous post: I received a kind email from Stephen Jones (gwendolinestreet(at)gmail.com), the producer of “16 Gwendoline Street”. I received this program via IRRS-NEXUS, Italy, 1323 kHz. Stephen wrote that the program I received a program that was made by Rose from Radio Northern Europe International while he was visiting a poetry festival on the Isle of Wight.
“16 Gwendoline Street” has been on air via IRRS since 2007. Focus is mainly on a core group of dedicated listeners to what Stephen describes as “Loosely Arts based”.
A QSL card from 16 Gwendoline Street (via: qsl-review.blogspot.com)
Last Sunday (not on Saturday as indicated in the email below) I tuned in to NEXUS IBA from Villa Estense, Italy, on 1323 kHz. Prior to Glenn Hauser’s “World of Radio” at 20 h UTC, and “AWR Wavescan” at 20:30 h UTC I received a program called “16 Gwendoline Street”. I can’t find a lot of information about this program, but they brought a beautiful selection of Japanese music. I sent them an email so stay tuned.
Below my QSL Nexus IBA on 1323 kHz with some additional information. As the information is available on the internet as well I regard the “privacy notice” footer as a mere formality.
Listening to the radio can bring you very close to current affairs. For my report on a Radio Rossii program transmitted on 999 kHz I received this QSL from Pridnestrovsky Radiotelecentr (prtc@idknet.com). The Radiotelecentr also broadcasts programmes of Vesti FM (1431 kHz) and Trans World Radio (1548 kHz).
QSL Radio Rossii Pridnestrovsky Radiotelecentr 999 kHz
Pridnestrovsky Radiotelecentr is located near Grigoriopol in Transnistria, a small strip of land between the river Dniestr and the border with Ukraine. Transnistria literally means “across the Dniestr. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1990 this part of the former Moldovan Soviet Republic broke away. They hoped to stay within the Soviet Union. In 1992 a military conflict ended with a ceasefire and the creation of a demilitarized zone. The region which calls itself the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic has since been autonomous but is not recognized by any UN member state. It is still seen as part of Moldova.
In 2022, while the Russian invasion in Ukraine took place, a wave of attacks struck Transnistria. Two blasts on April 26th destroyed the two most powerful antennas of the radio station. There are different views on who was behind the attacks. From the email I received it is clear what the station administration thinks of it.
In less than one hour after sending my report I received a QSL COPE Valencia on 1296 kHz. My reception was confirmed with a QSL by Carlos Corral from the local technical department who also confirmed my report for COPE Murcia. Thank you Carlos!
COPE is an acronym for Cadena de Ondas Populares Españolas. This nation wide network is established by the Spanish Episcopal Conference – the catholic bishops in Spain – with the intent to bring religious programs. Since 1980 the network evolved to a more generalist radio. They still bring religious programs though, and the church has a prominent spot on the COPE website.
BDXC : SWL 2262 PRe VERON : NL 14228 If you want to get in touch, just leave a message on one of my posts. Please note that I don't publish email addresses of verifiers which are not part of the public domain. So if you don't see the QSL address, just leave a message and I'll get back to you.
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