Peter's DX Corner

"It's not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on" - Marilyn Monroe

Tag: SW (Page 13 of 15)

QSL Radio Igloo via WRMI 5950 kHz

August 12, 2023 / / 0 Comments

I received a this nice e- QSL from Radio Igloo. Via WRMI 5950 kHz they brought a program about Britt Wadner, owner of offshore pirate Radio Syd. In 1962 Radio Syd was the successor of Skånes Radio Mercur, the first Swedish pirate station. The popularity of pirate radio is easily understood if you know that Swedish National Radio played a maximum of 60 minutes of recorded music a day, with only two or three “pop songs”.

QSL Radio Igloo via WRMI
QSL Radio Igloo via WRMI showing Britt Wadner and the radio ship.

Unfortunately for me Radio Igloo targeted North and South America from the WRMI location (Okeechobee, Florida, USA). In combination with some propagation disturbance that night it made it difficult for me to really understand the details of what was said about Britt Wadner and her ship. But the 60’s music was very enjoyable.

Hopefully there will be broadcasts targeted to the European audience in future, as happened in the past using a transmitter in Europe. Reports to radioigloo@gmail.com are welcome. Please do specify not only technical details but let them know what you think of program content.

QSL LRA36 RN Arcángel San Gabriel

August 8, 2023 / / 0 Comments

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.

QSL LRA36 Antarctica 15476 kHz
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 .

Woerden – Esperanza Base : 13916 km

QSL Taupo Radio 8414.5 kHz

August 7, 2023 / / 2 Comments

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 .

QSL email Taupo Radio DSC New Zealand
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.

QSL Awarua Radio 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!

QSL Awarua Radio New Zealand
The back of the QSL: Awarua Radio was the HF presence in a network of 4 coastal radio stations

QSL Radio Vanuatu 7260 kHz

July 30, 2023 / / 1 Comment

As far as I know Radio Vanuatu only recently started to award eQSLs. I heard them in the past, but never managed to receive a QSL. I did not have my old reception reports available anymore. And as you never know for how long the station will continue to issue eQSLs I decided to make an exception and tuned in via a KiwiSDR in Brisbane, Australia on 7260 kHz. In very good quality I listened to an enjoyable progamme bringing reggae and world music with news on the hour. One day later the QSL arrived by email. Thank you to Mr. Warren Robert for making the QSL available!

eQSL Radio Vanuatu (VBTC) on 7260 kHz
eQSL Radio Vanuatu 7260 kHz

QSL Palavra Alegre 9765 kHz

July 28, 2023 / / 0 Comments

For my reception report to contato@palavraalegre.com.br I received a friendly email announcing that a QSL card was to be sent. And indeed a few weeks later I received a traditional and beautiful QSL card by mail.

The station is also referred to as Madagascar World Voice and operated by World Christian Broadcasting. They are also the organisation behind KNLS from Alaska. Because of their extremely northern location in Alaska they sought a second transmitter site in the southern hemispere. Construction started as early as 2006 but was delayed due to cyclones and national political issues in Madagascar. Broadcasts started in 2016. Palavra Alegre is the name of their Portugese programme directed to Brasil, but note there are also 6 African countries with Portugese as the official language.

QSL Palavra Alegre 9765 kHz

QSL KTWR Guam 9900 kHz

July 8, 2023 / / 2 Comments

For my reception of their program in Korean language I received this detailed e-QSL from KTWR Trans World Radio Guam.

eQSL TWR Asia from Guam showing their antennas in Guam
eQSL KTWR Guam details
Detailed eQSL from KTWR Guam

Checking my files I found that it was almost 40 years ago that I QSL-ed KTWR Guam for the first time. This is the card I received for my reception on 11840 kHz, December 30th, 1983.

1984 QSL card from KTWR Trans World Radio Guam

QSL HCJB Deutschland Weenermoor 5920 kHz

July 5, 2023 / / 0 Comments

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.

Honiara Radio, Solomon Islands on 12577 kHz

June 27, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Soon after my return to the hobby a couple of months ago I picked up my interest for maritime radio as well. Thirtyfive years ago I received stations in morse code with CW and VVV markers. This allowed me to to QSL countries that were almost out of reach otherwise: D4A Cabo Verde, P2M Port Moresby, 3DP Suva…

But CW is gone, and DSC is what we got in return. And during the winter months I managed a couple of nice receptions on 2187.5 kHz in particular like Aasiaat Radio. But on the higher frequencies I was less successful, apart from nice catches like Charleville/Wiluna and Valparaiso. Despite the distance those stations are quite common however.

But since last week conditions are great. In the community I see DSC loggins from all over the world were made in Europe. My personal best catch was Honiara Radio from the Solomon Islands, the reception looked like this with the YADD decoder:

TIME: 2023-06-26 06:16:21 FREQ: 12577.0 DIST: — Km
SYMB: 120 120 053 080 008 005 030 108 000 055 070 000 010 118 126 126 126 126 126 126 126 122 107 122 122
FMT: SEL
CAT: SAF
TO: SHIP,538008053,???
FROM: COAST,005570001, UNID
TC1: TEST
TC2: NOINF
FREQ: —
POS: —
EOS: ACK
cECC: 107 OK

And yes, it read UNID. But the DSC community made me aware that 005570001 is MRCC Honiara, Solomon Islands! The ship contacted was a bulk carrier “Golden Pearl” on the Coral Sea. The emails are out, letters soon to be followed. Let’s see if I can QSL this one!

QSL SM Radio Dessau 9670 kHz

June 13, 2023 / / 0 Comments

More or less by accident I tuned in to a program of SM Radio Dessau via Channel 292 on 9670 kHz. I couldn’t find this slot on the SM Radio Dessau website. And did not see it on Channel 292 website either.

I received a repeat of a show from April 2021. Two hours later I heard the same show on 6070 kHz, which is in line with the schedule posted by SM Radio Dessau.

Anyway, within a day I received this beautiful eQSL card, with a bit of local flavor from Max Berger. Thank you so much!

QSL SM Radio Dessau via Channel 292
QSL SM Radio Dessau via Channel 292
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