As long as I have been listening to shortwave radio there have been stations representing the opposition in countries where Freedom of Speech is an issue. Radio NUG is representing the National Unity Government of Myanmar. This government opposes the junta in Myanmar, and is recognized by the European Union as the legitimate government of Myanmar. The NUG programs are being broadcast from Paochung , Taiwan in the Burmese language. Currently they are on the air on 11940 kHz, 14:00 – 14:30 h UTC, and 17790 kHz, 02:00 – 02:30 h UTC. Given propagation conditions the first frequency is your best bet in Europe. It is also where I got this QSL Radio NUG 11940 kHz for. At the Radio NUG site you can find a web form to submit your reception report which resulted in this computer generated QSL. Today the site also shows an email address for QSL cards: RadioNUG@MoCITMyanmar.org .
e QSL from Radio NUG, broadcasting from Paochung, Taiwan
Earlier I received a special QSL Radio Taiwan International on 11995 kHz for a report on the German program. Normally this program is broadcast from Kostinbrod in Bulgaria, but in July it was also transmitted from Tamsui, Taiwan.
In August the French program was in the air from Tamsui, also on 11995 kHz. For reports on this transmission another special QSL Radio Taiwan International was awarded. And again via regular mail! Throughout the year you can listen to their French program via the powerful transmitters in Issoudun, France or Kostinbrod, Bulgaria.
Special QSL card for the French program of Radio Taiwan, directly from Tamsui, Taiwan
Earlier this year I received this nice e QSL Olympia Radio with call sign SVO. My report was for a DSC message on 8414.5 kHz. I sent my QSL to olympiaradio@ote.gr . Like in many countries maritime or coastal radio stations in Greece merged into one station: Olympia Radio. Occasionally I do see other MMSI station identifiers popping up like for example Aspropyrgis Radio, but as far as I know everything is centrally controlled since 1998.
e QSL from martime station Olympia Radio/SVO, Greece
As said, in the past there were multiple radio stations. Athens (SVA) was the station operating on both MF and HF. Iraklion (SVH), Limnos (SVL), Kerkyra (SVK), Rhodos (SVR) and Chios (SVX) were operating on MF only. Of those Kerkyra was most frequently received in the Netherlands. Below you can see the QSLs I received in the 80-ies from Athens and Kerkyra Radio.
1982 QSL from Athens Radio SVA, Greece
1988 QSL from Kerkyra Radio SVK, Korfu Island, Greece
I received an email from the English desk of Radio Romania International announcing their new winter schedule. In the same email they announced that they are working ways to send out digital or eQSLs in 2023. As we are already in the 4th quarter I’m not sure if this is a typo, although I’m still waiting on a 2023 QSL. Anyway it is a pity as I loved the old school QSL they sent, and they were reliable verifiers. Recent budget cuts forced them to close two out of five transmitters. So I guess the move to eQSLs is probably another cost reduction measure.
I have QSLs from various program owners that had there programs broadcast via WRMI, Florida, USA. But until now I didn’t manage to QSL the station itself. I was worried my reception reception report of 5050 kHz in March this year would also remain unanswered. But today I got this beautiful postcard QSL. Definitely worth waiting for!
WRMI Florida sent a postcard QSL for my reception report
Radio Taiwan International usually transmits their German program from the Kostinbrod site in Bulgaria. But in July they were also in the air from Tamsui in Taiwan. I received them on 11995 kHz. Reception reports were award with a special QSL Radio Taiwan International.
The special QSL card from Radio Taiwan for the reception of their German program from Tamsui, Taiwan, in July 2023, features the German editorial team.
I received Alcaravan Radio on Sunday night on 5910 kHz. Following a program with Latin American music I heard a DX program “Onda Continua”. In this program they also transmitted their call sign and frequency in CW, so I could practice my morse skills again. The e- QSL Alcaravan Radio 5910 kHz arrived in just two days.
e- QSL Alcaravan Radio, Puerto Lleras, Colombia on 5910 kHz
The DX program was presented by Rafael Rodriguez who is also QSL manager for Alcaravan Radio: rafaelcoldx@yahoo.com . He wrote me that “Onda Continua” is aired on Saturdays and Sundays at 1, 4 and 9 hr UTC.
Radio Piepzender (Peep-sender) is a station that can be heard in the 41 m band during the weekend. The station is also testing on various other bands, but as far as I know there is no regular schedule.
Email QSL from Radio Piepzender, 7405 kHz, Zwolle, The Netherlands
I got this email for my reception report of their transmission on 7405 kHz. As you can see power is 150 watts. The transmitters of Piepzender are quite impressive: robust Rohde and Schwarz.
Stationmanager Henri asked me to make it explicit that reception reports should go to radioqsl@hotmail.com. Other email addresses are not monitored anymore.
You can also get a paper QSL if you send 5 Euro to:
PO Box 2702 6949 ZG HERTEN The Netherlands
Impressive Rohde & Schwarz transmitters of Radio Piepzender, Zwolle
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.
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 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.
QSL Sud Radio Andorra in 1980
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
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…
e- QSL from Atlantic 2000 International, broadcasting via Channel 292
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 3985, 6005 and 7310 kHz via Shortwave Service at Kall-Krekel (12/2010 to 02/2017)
on 9480, then 9485 and 7265 kHz via MV Baltic Radio in Göhren (10/2011 to 01/2016)
on 3955, 6070, 7440 and 9670 kHz via Channel 292 at Rohrbach Waal.
In July 2016 and January 2018, Atlantic 2000 was relayed by the WINB transmitter, located at Red Lion in the USA, on the frequency of 9265 kHz, with a power of 50 kW.
In 2021, several shows were aired by Radio Miami International (WRMI) from Okeechobee in Florida (USA), with a power of 100 kW.
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!
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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