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| 1970s QSL from Radio Luxembourg |
A QSL card? This is a colourful card, usually the size of a postcard,
confirming a radio listener's reception of a broadcast station. Each
card may depict a national landmark, cultural aspect or natural wonder
of a country. In some cases a station's studio, antenna array or name is
represented. Sometimes postage stamps will be duly placed on a card.
For
many international broadcasters, a QSL card serves as a marketing tool
to promote their station or country rather than a means of gathering
data on reception. Other commercial and government television and radio
stations occasionally use a QSL card to measure the size of their
audience and distance.
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| 1970s QSL from Radio Lebanon |
To obtain a QSL card, the listener must provide
specific details about the station. Usually this entails the call sign
of the station, time and date of transmission (designated in Coordinated
Universal Time - UTC), radio frequency, mode of transmission,
reception quality and programme content. This is known as a reception
report.
Almost any station will issue a QSL card,
simply by mailing or emailing the reception report directly to the
station.. Upon verification most medium-wave, short-wave and FM
broadcasters will issue a card. Time and frequency stations, such as
WWVH in Hawaii, will as well. Short-wave marine and aircraft weather
(VOLMET) broadcasters will occasionally confirm, even some Internet,
clandestine and pirate (Free Radio) stations. Amateur radio operators
will too.
All one needs is a good multiband radio, the
patience to listen and -- as with most hobbies -- the enthusiasm to
collect the QSL card, which incidentally derives its name from the
original Q codes used in radio communication and radio broadcasting.
PERSONAL QSL COLLECTIONS
Since
2010, when I resumed the hobby of DXing and QSLing full time, I have
amassed hundreds of verifications. Many duplicate QSL cards in my
collection are in fact more often from the same broadcaster, but for
different transmitter sites. In light of so many national broadcasters
either no longer QSLing or their radio services discontinued, relay sites are the best way to acquire verifiable countries. Here's a look at how some of these broadcasters brand
their station and country.
Deutsche Welle,
always an excellent verifier, confirmed past transmissions for their
broadcasts from Ascension Island, Bonaire, Sines (Portugal), Rampisham
and Woofferton (UK), Dhabbaya (UAE), Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), Kranji (Singapore), Meyerton (South
Africa) and Kigali (Rwanda). Of the remaining transmitter sites, DW
currently relays their broadcasts from Kigali.
Radio Netherlands Worldwide,
another reliable verifier when they were active on short-wave until
2013, issued cards for their relay sites around the world: Santa Maria
di Galeria (Vatican), Bonaire, Talata Volondry (Madagascar), Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), Dhabbaya
(UAE), Medorn (Palau) and Agingan Point (North Mariana Islands).
NHK World - Radio Japan
is another broadcaster that uses multiple relay sites to present their
programmes. Among the sites QSLed are Santiago (Chile), Ascension
Island, Issoudun (France), Wertachtal and Nauen (Germany), Talata Volondry (Madagascar), Dhabbaya (UAE), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Medorn
(Palau), Kranji (Singapore) and Yamata (Japan). The the photography used
in their QSLs can be rather artistic.
Polski Radio
in the past five years relayed broadcasts from Skelton and Woofferton
(UK) and Dhabbaya (UAE). On a rare occasional I received an eQSL among
the traditional QSL cards. On one occasion they even QSLed for an
internet broadcast via Radio 700 in Germany.
Radio Prague International has been QSLed for their internet and short-wave broadcasts. Before termination of their short-wave, this Czech Republic was verified from their Prague site, and more recently via WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida (USA). QSL cards featured former Czechoslovakian airplanes, trains, artists and similar heritage related topics. Souvenir items and stickers were regularly provided with each QSL card.
Radio Slovakia International was first QSLed from their shortwave facility in Bratislava, then subsequently via Internet stream and WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida (USA). Landmarks of Slovakia initially were depicted on their cards, and finally vintage radios made in former Czechoslovakia. Souvenir items, i.e photos of English staff and coins, were occasionally included with each QSL card.
Radio Bulgaria
was an excellent verifier until their final transmission in 2012. Presently their transmitter site in Kostinbrod/Sofia is utilized by various broadcasters, i.e. Bible Voice Broadcasting, The Overcomer
Ministry and ESAT.
Radio Romania International,
transmitting from Galbeni and Tiganesti, is one the few East European
stations still in operation, and will routinely lease their Tiganesti facility to other broadcasters, notably IRRS.
Radio New Zealand International,
one of my favorite stations, is strictly homegrown and operates from
Rangitaiki. I am particularly fond of their QSL series "Sounds Like Us".
These QSls feature characteristics related to New Zealand in the form
of a radio. Take a look at my previous comments
HERE. Suffice it to say,
creative stuff!
Voice of Russia
for the most part transmitted from various transmitter sites around the
country. Between 2010 till the end of their short-wave service in 2014,
one of their more interesting QSL series was the commemorative Soviet manned
space flight featuring Yuri Gugarin. Besides Taldom/Moscow, VoR could be heard
from Cita, Samara, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk-Oyash, Krasnodar, Serpukhov,
Petropavlovsky-Kamchatsky and Vladivostok. Having said this, VoR
transmissions also radiated from Yerevan (Armenia), Dushanbe-Yangiyul
Tajikistan), Kishinev-Grigoriopol (Republic of Moldova) and Baoji Xinjie
(China).
Russian stations other than Voice of Russia issued QSLs too. Among these were
RWN Russian Standard Frequency & Time Service (Moscow),
St. Petersburg Regional Centre - VOR (St. Petersburg).
Tartastan Wave and
Radio Rossi (Moscow-Taldom). Interestingly, many regional affliliate stations of Radio Rossi were regularly received in Malaysia. Attempts to obtain QSLs from them were unsuccessful. Of the former Soviet stations QSLed, only
Radio Ukraine International was obtained, and it regrettably for an Internet broadcast, a few years after their short-wave service ceased.
China Radio International
QSL card in recent years has depicted the various ethnicities within
the country. Like the Voice of Russia, CRI and CNR have transmitter
sites around the country, including Beijing, Lingshi, Nanning, Jinhua,
Shijiazhuang, Kashgar (Xinjiang), Hohhot and Hailar (Inner Mongolia
Automous Region). CRI has also QSLed for
China Tibet Broadcasting, China
National Radio, Beibu Bay Radio, PBS Sichuan 2 (Chengdu), PBS Quinghai
(Xining), PBS Xinjiang (Urumqi), PBS Xizang (Lhasa-Baiding, Tibet) and
PBS Gannan (Hezuo). CRI has used transmitter relay sites in Spain,
Cuba, Mali and Albania where Chinese nationals are employed.
Radio Taiwan International
actively promotes their natural wonders, historical landmarks and
culture too. QSLs for special broadcasts occasionally depict RTI transmitter sites, including Tanshui, Tainan and Paochung.
Interestingly, like mainland China, Taiwan has a few private short-wave
broadcasters like
Sound of Hope, Fu Hsing Broadcasting Station, Voice of
Guang-hua and
PCJ Radio International, who will QSL for their respective stations.
Voice of Vietnam
in an effort to promote their country has issued QSL cards in various
languages, featuring national landmarks and cultural aspects. Besides
domestic transmitter sites in Hanoi and DacLac (in former South
Vietnam), VoV has QSLed for relay broadcasts from Moosbrunn (Austria) and Woofferton (UK).
Voice of America
since 2010 has issued QSL cards depicting their transmitter relay sites
from around the world. Aside from their only domestic transmitter --
the Edward R. Murrow facility -- in Greenville, North Carolina, VOA/IBB
broadcasts have been QSLed for Bonaire, Santa Maria di Galeria (Vatican),
Kuwait, Botswana, Sao Tome Principe, Iranawila (Sri Lanka), Udon Thani
(Thailand) and Tinang (Philippines). As most listeners know specific VOA/IBB
broadcasts to Asia were axed in 2014.
Radio Free Asia
was also affected in the cuts. Lao, Bangla and Vietnamese language
broadcasts were discontinued, leaving Burmese, Uyghur, Tibetan, Chinese language
broadcasts. Fortunately I have
QSLs to show for RFA transmissions from Sitkunai (Lithuania), Ulaan
Baator (Mongolia), Tinian and Agingan Point (North Mariana Islands),
Trincomalee and Iranawilla (Sri Lanka), Tanshui (Taiwan), Kuwait,
Dushanbe-Yangiyul (Tajikistan) and Dhabbaya (UAE).
Adventist World Radio,
like so many evangelical broadcasters, i.e WYFR, Bible Voice
Broadcasting, FEBA, FEBC, The Overcomer Ministry, PanAmerican
Broadcasting, is an excellent verifier and heard from many transmitter
sites worldwide. Inasmuch as my interest has been more in QSLing their
myriad sites, rather than their programming, I have received AWR verifications
for broadcasts from Moosbrunn (Austria), Nauen and Wertachtal (Germany), Agat (Guam),
Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) and Okeechobee, Florida (USA).
WYFR - Family Radio used to be a dominant evangelical voice on shortwave until their demise in 2013. Their broadcasts were relayed from Ascenion Island, Montsinery-Tonnegrande (French Guinea), Bao-Zhong (Taiwan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan). Transmissions originated from their home site in Okeechobee, Florida (USA), and still does from WRMI who presently owns their former facility.
Vatican Radio,
the voice of Catholicism along with Radio Veritas, has broadcast from
transmitter sites other than Santa Maria di Galeria. An excellent
verifier, I have received confirmations for their broadcasts from
Talanta Volandry (Madagascar), Tinang (Philippines) and Tashkent
(Uzbekistan).
Radio Habana Cuba,
a powerhouse broadcaster in the Americas, is quite the DX catch in
South East Asia. Their transmissions as well as those of Radio Nacional
Venezuela and Radio China International have been QSLed from Habana.
Brazilian stations -- many operating below 50 kW -- are received in South East Asia, depending on the time of the year and propagation. Among the stations QSLed to date are
Radio Aparecida (Sao Paulo), Radio 9 de Julho (Sao Paulo), Radio Guaruja (Florianopolis), Radio Trans Mundial (Santa Maria-Camobi), PPE Observatorio Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) and 250 kW powerhouse,
Radio Nacional da Amazonia (Brasilia). Recent loggings include Radio Itatiaia (Belo Horizonte MG), Radio Marumby (Curitiba), Rádio Bandeirantes (Rio de Janeiro) and Radio Nacional da Brasilia.
All India Radio,
a broadcaster relatively easy to hear but difficult to QSL, is received
both on short-wave and medium-wave in Malaysia. While I have received
many domestic AIR transmissions from around India and adjacent
islands, I have managed only to obtain QSLs from transmitter sites in
Aligarh, Bangalore, Delhi, Panaji (formerly Goa), and
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation offers a colourful series of eQSLs and QSL cards, depicting heritage landmarks, landscapes and SLBC transmitter sites. Over the past four years I have been fortunate to receive verifications for SLBC transmitter sites in Ekala and Trincomalee. Should one be unable to receive SLBC, Adventist World Radio and PCJ Radio International relay their broadcasts from Trincomalee, the former Deutsche Welle site. All QSLs from SLBC and PCJ Radio are confirmed by veri-signer Victor Goonetilleke. IBB also relays VOA, RFA and RFE/RL broadcasts from Iranawila.
Voice of Turkey
is another excellent verifer with equally impressive QSLs, depicting
their nation's history, landmarks and culture. All transmissions
originate from their powerful 500 kW transmitter site in Emirler.
Voice of Mongolia, transmitting solely from Ulaan Baator, is a reliable and consistent verifier. In an effort to promote tourism in Mongolia, QSL cards often portray landscapes and cultural aspects of the country. All QSLs have been sent by registered mail to my home, both for internet and short-wave broadcasts.
KBS World Radio in the Republic of Korea readily confirms with QSL cards depicting Korean pop culture, current events and recently their 60th anniversary. Besides transmitting from Kimjae, KBS World Radio has relayed German language broadcasts from Woofferton (UK). KBS World Radio has even QSLed a BBC transmission orginating from Kimjae, although it was not stated on the card. Radio Canada International also used the Kimjae facility to relay their programming before ending their short-wave service, and they too were an excellent verifier.
Voice of Korea in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is as different as day and night from KBS World Radio. Programming is strictly government issue with DPRK political agenda and patriotic music regularly featured, not just on the radio but their QSL cards as well. Monuments to their glorious leaders are usually depicted on each card. VoK and affiliated government stations around the country are received on several short-wave bands in South East Asia. VoK as QSLed for Pyongyang Broadcasting Station in Kanggye.
Low-powered stations
operating with less than 20 kW are always a challenge, both to listen
and QSL. Among these prized stations I count
Radio Verdad (Guatamala),
Alcaravan Radio (Colombia), Radio Oriental (Ecuador), WWV and WWVH
(Colorado and Hawaii), CHU (Canada), American Forces Radio (Diego
Garcia and Guam), Radio Dunamis Shortwave (Uganda) Radio Spaceshuttle
(pirate from Finland), The Cross (Federated States of Micronesia), Radio
Vanuatu, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Republik
Indonesia (Kalimantan, Maluku Utara, Papua Barat, Sulawesi, Java and
Sumatra), National Broadcasting Corporation, Wantok Light and Radio Fly
(Alotau, Port Moresby, Kiunga, Rabul, Jomba and Vanimo in Papua New
Guinea) and many Brazilian broadcasters.
Clandestine stations with programming to Africa, Myanmar, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kampuchea, China, Sarawak (East Malaysia), Iran and northern Iraq are received easily in South East Asia. Obtaining a QSL often proves more difficult, but is generally possible if transmission originates from Media Broadcast GmbH in Germany and TeleDiffusion de France. Of the many stations logged, I count the following among my confirmations:
Radio Asena (Kostinbrod), Radio Bar-Kulan (Meyerton), SW Radio Africa (Meyerton), Democratic Voice of Burma (Yerevan), Radio Shiokaze (Yamata), Radio Voice of Martyrs (Tashkent), North Korea Reform Radio, Radio Oromiyaa - ORTO (Addis Ababa-Gedja), Media Radio Mehr Iran (Issoudun), Radio Hilaac (Issoudun), Afia Darfur (Issoudun), Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo (Issoudun), Radio Biafra London-WRN (Wertachtal), Sawtu Linjila Radio (Wertachtal), Radio Dardasha 7 (Wertachtal), Radio Impala (Talata Volondry), Radio Dialogue (Talata Volondry), Voice of Tibet (Talata Volondry), Radio PMR Pridnestrovie (Tiraspol), Radio Tamazuj (Dhabbaya), Radio Dabanga (Dhabbaya), Radio Free Sarawak (Palau and Tiganesti), Radio Oromgenati (Tiganesti), Radio Miraya (Slovakia), Radio Free Chosun (Dushanbe-Yangiyul), and
Radyo Denge Mezopatamya (Ukraine)
Specialty QSL cards of test transmissions and one day radio events occasionally air over short-wave. This may be more common in Europe with low-powered transmitters than anywhere else, and certainly not in my quarter of Asia. I have unfortunately missed many of these broadcasts, but have been fortunate to catch and receive confirmations for
DX-Antwerp Special 30th Anniversary Broadcast (Issoudun and French Guiana), Rhein Main Radio Club Special (Lithuania), Hamburger Lokalradio test transmission (Gohren/Schwerin), WWV test transmission on 25 MHz (Fort Collins, Colorado), PCJ Radio International test transmission (Taiwan and Trincomalee) and
BBC/Babcock test transmission for British Antarctica Survey (Woofferton and Dhabbaya).
To see these and other QSLs individually follow this
LINK.
Voice of Turkey (QSL card) transmitting from Emirler, Turkey
