Tag: MW (Page 11 of 15)

QSL Radio Centrale Milano 1575 kHz

August 31, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

Within a day I got an email QSL for Radio Centrale Milano 1575 kHz. Thanks to a tip in Hugo’s DX Hoekje I learned that they are testing on 1575 kHz.

You can already listen to Centrale Milano via an internet stream. The station intends to start broadcasting via mediumwave from Alessandria, Italy, as well. Despite a power of only 10 Watts and a distance of 840 kilometers the reception was pretty good August 28th, 23h UTC. During the tests the station transmits a pulse with increasing pitch. That results in a very interesting waterfall on the HDSDR as you can see in the picture below. But it is even nicer to view and listen to a little YouTube clip I made.

Centrale Milano, Alessandria, Italy, testing on 1575 kHz

In the email reply on my reception report Enzo at Radio Centralo Milano wrote:

Yes, we are testing our site near to Alessandria where we are authorized to use the 1575khz formerly in charge of the Italian Rai and now assigned to us.

The test are performed with a 50mt folded dipole and 10w carrier. We are authorized to 1kw and it seem we will reach you again probably much better ! The regular programs currently available online will be soon activated replacing the test tones and increased (in quality and number of direct ‘on air’) starting from January next year.

I’m 60y/o, owner of the radio and very happy to meet person as you, with your passion for the radio. Congratulations for you ability to capture a so low signal coming from so far away !

You will receive soon our QSL, for the moment thanks again and stay tuned !

QSL Radio Andorra via Kall-Krekel 3985 kHz

August 18, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

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.

QSL Radio Andorre — Email from Aqui Radio Andorre program

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.

QSL Radio Andorra 1980 — QSL card for my reception of Radio Andorra in 1980. They were also broadcasting on SW 6220 kHz those days.

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.

The love of my life… on top of the Envalira, in the 80-ies

Gold 1548 kHz off air end-September

August 17, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 4 Comments

Other Gold mediumwave stations closed already in June this year. Gold 1548, servicing London from the Saffon Green transmitter, will follow end-September (source: Ydun’s Medium Wave Info).

Before the merger of many independent local radio stations in the United Kingdom this was the transmitter of Capital Radio. With 97.5 kW this station was significantly more powerful than other ILR stations and easy to receive here in The Netherlands. The higher power probably has to do with the size of the London area and the urban environment.

In the 1980s I had a lot of fun chasing the different ILR (and BBC) local radio stations. The stations all had their own local identity and studios and hadn’t merged into larger conglomerates yet. Below you can see the Capital QSL I received in 1980. Had it been a post stamp it would have been a collector’s item given the apparent misprint of the frequency. Truth be told, I regularly get confused with the 1458, 1485, 1548 and 1584 frequencies myself.

QSL Bremen Rescue 2187.5 kHz

August 5, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

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 .

QSL MRCC Bremen 2187.5 kHz — QSL from MRCC Bremen on 2187.5 kHz.

QSL Kossuth Rádió 540 kHz

August 4, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 4 Comments

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.

eQSL Kossuth Radio, Solt 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.

QSL Witte Tornado 1647 khz

August 4, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 3 Comments

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 Witte Tornado and Lady 1647 kHz — QSL from Witte Tornado and Lady, a Dutch pirate station on 1647 kHz

QSL 16 Gwendoline Street via IRRS-NEXUS 1323 kHz

August 4, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

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)

QSL Radio Rossii Pridnestrovsky Radiotelecentr 999 kHz

August 1, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 1 Comment

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.

QSL COPE Valencia on 1296 kHz

July 31, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 2 Comments

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.

email QSL COPE Valencia 1296 kHz — email QSL for COPE Valencia on 1296 kHz

QSL LPAM Radio Monique on 918 kHz

July 29, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 1 Comment

When I returned to the hobby I learned that low power broadcasting on AM was legalized in the Netherlands. One of the first stations and QSLs I received was LPAM Radio Monique on 918 kHz. Once broadcasting as an offshore pirate from the famous radio ship “Ross Revenge” they now settled in Velsen-Noord. (Velsen-North is the part of Velsen north of the Noordzeekanaal – North Sea Channel – connecting Amsterdam to the North Sea – got it?)

With their antenna on top of an industrial building in Velsen, providing good grounding, they enjoy quite a big reception area despite their low power of only 100 W. Much to the frustration of other LPAM stations in The Netherlands using the same frequency. For us DX-ers the good news is that they issue a nice eQSL card witnessing their heritage. Send your reports to studio@radiomonique.am.