QSLs / ARTICLES

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

QSLs for September 2014

The bulk of the QSLs received for the month of September are from free radio stations logged via remote Web-Radio in Twente, the Netherlands. Again, many of these stations are nearly impossible to receive directly in Malaysia due either to propagation, timing and/or extremely low power transmitters. Their programming is a joy to hear and reminds me often of the earlier days of radio. Best of all, most of these guys -- usually a man show -- will reply with a confirmation, unlike many international and legal broadcasters today.

Radio Monique* (eQSL) transmitting from the North Sea

Baltic Sea Radio* (eQSL) transmitting from Finland

 
Associazione Amici di Italcable* (QSL Card) transmitting  from Viareggio, Italy

Old Time Radio* (eQSL) transmitting from UK



Radio Orangutan International* (QSL email) transmitting from the Netherlands


Elvis & Pony Show* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Deutsche Welle (QSL Card) transmitting from Dhabbaya, UAE
 


Oesterreichisher Rundfunk* (QSL Card) transmitting from Moosbrunn, Austria



Radio Geronimo Shortwave* (eQSL) transmitting from UK





Radio Alice* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Hot Radio* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

NMD Radio* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Free Radio Bumbelstock* (eQSL) transmitting from Germany

Radio Oscar Zulu (Radio Omroep Zuid)* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands



Radio OZRNH* (eQSL) transmitting from Denmark

Radio Gloria International* (eQSL) transmitting from Germany

Radio AC-DC* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Crazy Wave Radio* (eQSL) transmitting from Germany

Radio Batavia* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Westdeutscher Rundfunk* (QSL Card) transmitting from Langenberg, Germany

Odynn Radio* (eQSLs) transmitting from the Netherlands

Voice of Turkey (QSL Card) transmitting from Emirler, Turkey

Radio Adygea (QSL Card) transmitting from Krasnodar, Russia




 
Bangladesh DX Wavescan/AWR (eQSL) transmitting from Agat, Guam

Radio Thailand World Service - HSK9 (QSL Card) transmitting from Udon Thani, Thailand


Voice of Turkey (QSL Card) transmitting from Emirler, Turkey

Radio Aparecida (QSL Card) transmitting from Sao Paulo, Brazil



Radio Slovakia International* via Radio 700 (QSL Card) transmitting from Kall-Krekel,  Germany

Black Bandit Radio* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands



Radio Underground* (eQSL) transmitting from southern England

Radio Jamaica* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Radio Merlin International* (eQSL) transmitting from England

Radio Witte Reus* (eQSL) transmitting from the Netherlands

Radio Arcadia via U-Boat 66* (eQSL) transmitting from Italy



Promised:
Radio Mi Amigo International* (QSL) transmitting via Radio 700, Germany

Radio Bridge Overseas* (QSL) transmitting via Hamburger Lokalradio, Germany

Radio Ukraine International (QSL) transmitting via WRMI, Okeechobee, Florida (USA)

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands

Unresponsive Free Radio Stations in September

There was no response from nearly a dozen free radio stations in the month of September, nor has there been any reply from about as many stations who were logged in August. Again, it may be premature to write them off as no-shows.

Radio Klabautermann (Germany)
Radio Pandora (UK)
Radio Flying Dutchman (The Netherlands)
Radio Carmen (The Netherlands)
Python Radio (UK - email bounced multiple times)
Radio Caroline International (England)
Studio 52/Skyline (The Netherlands)
Radio Altrex (The Netherlands)

NOTE:  All above stations were logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.


Monday, September 29, 2014

Radio Monique

Radio Monique*, transmitting somewhere from "the North Sea" (the Netherlands), was logged on 29 September 2014. Music by Nena and Simple Minds, Scorpions - "Wind of Change", REM - " End of the World", reggae tune "I Need Your Love", old Dutch tune, Rod Stewart - "Reason to Believe", "Suspicious Minds" and frequent station IDs "Radio Monique... Shortwave...from the North Sea" was heard from 19.10 to 19.50 UTC. Reception on 6.300 kHz was (SINPO)34323 -- fair signal strength with fading and atmospheric noise, but clear and audible at times; reception worsened at 19.43 UTC onward to 23211 - long fades and very noisy between peaks of audio.

Reception report was emailed on 29 September 2014 and followed up on the following day. On 30 September 2014, Radio Monique replied with an eQSL and message, stating: "Thanks for the mail. You did listen to radio Monique, we confirm that! Great you enjoyed the transmission!  Please be a free member as listener or station of  www.piratesforpeace.tk "

Email:
radiomoniqueradio@hotmail.nl

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Tip & Elvis Show

Tip & Elvis Show*, transmitting from the Netherlands, was logged on 27 September 2014. Uninterrupted music, including Sam Cooke - "Bring It on Home", "Hey Ma-Ma" (Africa beat), Ziggy Marley - "Tomorrow People", Golden Earring - "Another 45 Miles to Go", "You Don't Have to Be the Only One", and more Eighties' tunes, was observed from 19.40 to 20.05 UTC. Reception on 6.205 kHz was (SINPO) 55545 - excellent!

Reception report was emailed on 27 and follow-up email on 29 September 2014. Elvis replied with an eQSL on 5 October 2014.

Email:
t.eshow@hotmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Radio Klabautermann

Radio Klabautermann*, transmitting somewhere in western Germany, 27 September 2014. Polka music, DJ mentioning station ID "Radio Klabautermann...west side of Germany" and "closing down" was from 19.20 to 19.26 UTC. Reception on 6.285 kHz was (SINPO) 55555 - excellent!

Reception report was emailed on 27 and follow-up email on 29 September 2014.

Email:
radioklabautermann@gmx.net

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Radio Pandora

Radio Pandora*, transmitting from the UK, was logged on 27 September 2014. Station ID and DJ chatting between on over dance music, including Joe Jackson's - "When You're Not Around", was heard from 19.05 to 19.25 UTC. Reception on 6.387 kHz was (SINPO) 23332 - weak but audible signal, at times indeciferable due to utility QRM, fading and atmospheric noise.

Reception report was emailed on 27 and follow-up email on 29 September 2014.

Email:
pandoraradio@hotmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Weekend Music Radio (WMR)

Weekend Music Radio (WMR)*, transmitting from Scotland, was logged on 29 September 2014. Between 18.15 to 18.50 UTC, a DJ chatting between songs was observed. Reception on  5.817 kHz was (SINPO) 44444 -- decent signal strength and audio quality.

A WMR hoaxer was also logged on 6.375 kHz with (SINPO) of 34433 -- fair signal strength, occasional utility interference (at 18.30 and 18.35 UTC), fading and atmospheric noise.

Reception report was emailed on 28 September 2014. This eQSL was received on 8 October 2014. Thank you, Jack!

Email:
info@wmrscotland.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Baltic Sea Radio

Baltic Sea Radio*, transmitting from Finland, was logged on 15 September 2014. Content of broadcast from 18.40 to 18.45 UTC included a song, station ID with seagull jingle, then sign-off at 18.45 UTC. Content of programming from 20.40 to 21.00 UTC consisted of station ID, jingles and request for reception reports in English between non-English songs, then sign-off at the end of an accordion / vocal song. Reception on 6.995 kHz in LSB mode (at 18.40 to 18.45 UTC) was (SINPO) 34433; Reception on 6.955 in LSB mode (at 20.40 to 21.00 UTC) was (SINPO) 24332 - weak but audible signal, despite being slightly destorted with atmospheric noise and fading.

Reception report was emailed to Baltic Sea Radio on 16 September 2014. An eQSL was received on 27 September 2014. Thank you, DJ Sailor!

Email:
balticseapirate@gmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Radio Ukraine International (via WRMI)

Radio Ukraine International, broadcasting from WRMI transmitter facility in Okeechobee, Florida (USA), was logged on 25 September 2014. English language news/commentary about Ukraine and narrative with female announcer was observed from 23.30 to 00.00 UTC. Reception on 11.580 kHz at 23.30 UTC was (SINPO) 14331 -- poor signal and barely audible. By 23.45 UTC mostly carrier was present with occasional peaks of audio, but still very poor and remained so up till 00.00 UTC. By then, largely carrier and indecipherable speech was detected until the top of the hour when a Chinese language broadcaster blocked reception. Reception was most likely much better in North America and for the targeted area of Europe.

Reception report was emailed to WRMI and submitted on-line at Radio Ukraine International on 25 September 2014. RUI replied later on the same day promising to send their QSL, saying: "It's a great pleasure to hear from you. You were among the first listeners to respond to us after our first day broadcat on shortwaves. We will surely send you a QSL card and if one day you visit Kyiv, please, feel free to come to your friends from RUI in Khreshchatyk Street." Thank you, Radio Ukraine International! After nearly 1.5 years, a QSL card from WRMI for this RUI broadcast arrived in the mail.

Email (WRMI):
info@wrmi.net

Website (Radio Ukraine International):
www.nrcu.gov.ua/en/163/


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Old Time Radio

Old Time Radio* transmitting from the UK with a home-brew transmitter of 7 watts, was logged on 17 September 2014. Oldies music, including Scott McKenzie - "If You Come to San Francisco", Ricky Nelson - "Travelin' Man", Monkees - "Daydream Believer", Jimmy Charles - "A Million To One", Neil Sedka - "Next Door to an Angel", "Dear One Stole My Heart Away", Brenda Lee - "I'm Sorry", Nat King Cole - "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer", Sonny & Cher - "The Beat Goes On", Beach Boys - "Surfer Gir", Four Seasons - "Rag Doll", Sergio Mendes - "The Look of Love", was monitored from  16.20 to 17.00 UTC. Oldies continued well after 17.30 UTC. Reception on 6.744 kHz was (SINPO) 34322 - fair signal strength with long fades and atmospheric noise; QRM at 16.48 UTC.

Reception report was emailed on 24 September 2014. David replied with this eQSL and message later in the evening, saying: "Yes, I can confirm that it was my OTR station that you heard. I use Twente as a monitor in early evening until it fades and then use the Global receiver at Rimini Italy. I have a draft QSL that I am sending you. I am in fact in the UK. I am operating with seven watts output power from a vintage home-brew transmitter and a laptop using software (Optimod type) compressor / limiter called 'Stereo Tool'. All the best."

Email:
oldtimeradio@yandex.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Radio Orangutan International

Radio Orangutan International*, transmitting from The Netherlands, was logged on 20 September 2014.  Radio Caroline jingles and station ID  "shortwave from the Netherlands...Radio Orangutan", mixed between The Police - "Roxanne", Johnny Cash - Live version of "A Boy Named Sue", Status Quo - "Rockin All Over the World" and many Dutch songs, was observed from 15.40 to 16.30 UTC. Reception on 6.290 kHz was (SINPO) 24322 -- weak signal strength, static bursts, long fades and barely audible at times.

Reception report was emailed on 21 September 2014. Freddy at Radio Orangutan replied with an eQSL message on 23 September 2014.

Email:
radioorangutan@hotmail.nl

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Elvis & Pony Show (Mustang Radio)

Elvis & Pony Show*, transmitting from Mustang Radio studio in eastern Netherlands, was logged on 24 August 2014. Elvis Radio DJ was guest at Mustang Radio from 16.20 till 16.50 UTC. Pop/Rock Classic tunes were heard, including Rolling Stones - "Angie", U2 - "With or Without You",  Rolling Stones - "Painted Black", Animals - "House of the Rising Sun",  Pink Floyd - "Another Brick in the Wall", AC/DC and similar tracks, between occasional IDs for "Elvis & Pony Show...from eastern Holland". Reception on 6.950 kHz was (SINPO)  45544 -- good signal strength and good audio clarity with minor fading.

Reception report was emailed to Elvis Radio and Mustang Radio on 25 August 2014. Elvis Radio replied on 13 September, mentioning he was a guest and I should contact Mustang Radio. A follow-up email was sent on 14 September 2014, On 23 September Herman at Mustang Radio replied with a brief message and this eQSL.

Email:
mustangradio@live.nl

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.  

Monday, September 22, 2014

Radio Bridge Overseas

Radio Bridge Overseas in a broadcast via Hamburger Lokalradio* (Goehren, Germany) was logged on 21 September 2014. An informative and entertaining programme of Zimbabean music, current events and cultural features was monitored from 12.00 to 13.00 UTC. Broadcast was exclusively in the German language and wonderfully insightful.  Reception on 9.485 kHz (SINPO) 55545 -- excellent reception except for occasional fading.

Reception report was submitted to Radio Bridge Overseas on 22 September 2014. Report was also submitted to Hamburger Lokalradio, thinking Radio Bridge Overseas would not confirm. Well, guess what? K.J.Schmidt / RBO Managing Editor ret. replied later in the day with this email: "Thank you for confirming reception. QSL-card will be sent to your postal address." QSL card arrived in the mail on 7 October 2014.

Website:
www.radiobridge.net

Email:
radiobridge@aol.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands. 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Geronimo Shortwave

Geronimo Shortwave*, transmitting from England, was logged on 21 September 2014. DJ Dave Simpson was heard chatting between rock songs, including Chris de Burgh – "Waiting for the Hurricane", Pink Floyd - "Relic", Atomic Rooster, The Kinks, The Who - "Squeeze Box", Barclay James Harvest - "Rock n Roll Woman", Jethro Tull - "Living in the Past" and Simon & Garfunkel - "The Only Living Boy in New York", from 17.10 to 18.00 UTC. Reception on 6.280 kHz was (SINPO) 34333 -- fair signal strength with fading and atmospheric noise, otherwise clear and audible speech. Later in the day, a rebroadcast was observed on 5.801 kHz.

Reception report was emailed the following day, 22 September 2014. Chris Watson, engineer for RGSW, replied with this email later in the day, stating: "We did receive your report and thank you. Please be patient. We have had a lot of reports for Sunday's broadcast and you will receive a reply later today or during this week." An eQSL from RGSW did indeed arrive later on the same day.
Email:
geronimoshortwave@hotmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Hamburger Lokalradio

Hamburger Lokalradio*, transmitting from Goehren, Germany, was logged on 21 September 2014. A recitation of German and English poetry with commentary in German, followed by contemporary jazz was observed from 11.30 till 12.00 UTC. At the top of the hour until 13.00 UTC, Radio Bridge Overseas highlighted music, arts and craft programmes about Zimbabwe. Reception from 11.30 to 13.00 UTC on 9.485 kHz was (SINPO) 55545 -- excellent reception except for occasional fading.

Reception report was emailed the following day.

Email:
redaktion@hamburger-lokalradio.de

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Hot Radio

Hot Radio*, transmitting from the Netherlands, was logged on 17 September 2014. Rap / contemporary pop / dance music, including the song "Feel Good", was observed along with station IDs ("Hot Radio...Shortwave") from 15.55 until 16.07 UTC. Station ID and jingle, request for reception reports and email address was announced just before sign-off at 16.07 UTC. Reception on 6.293 kHz was (SINPO) 34333 -- fair signal strength, long fades and atmospheric noise.

Reception report was emailed on 18 September 2014. An eQSL depicting a topless, tattooed and pierced piratetress, along with stickers for Cool AM and Hot Radio, was received on 19 September 2014. The eQSL is "Hot", Andre. Thank you for the confirmation!


Email:
info@hotamradio.tk

 *Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

NMD Radio

NMD Radio*, transmitting from the Netherlands, was logged on 9 September 2014. Instrumental, polka and country & western music, including "Orange Blossom", was heard between DJ conversing in Dutch from 15.50 till 16.15 UTC. Reception on 6.290 kHz was (SINPO) 34343 -- fair to good signal strength, occasional QRM and atmospheric noise, clear audio;

Reception report was emailed to NMD on  9 September 2014. An eQSL was received on 18 September 2014, along with this message: "Thanks for the report. QSL is late. Sorry. We live in the Netherlands. TXer out is 50 watt; antenne is 23 mtr wire." Thank you, Frits!
Email:
nmdradio@hotmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Free Radio Bumbelstock

eQSL from Free Radio Bumbelstock
Free Radio Bumbelstock*, transmitting from central eastern Germany, was logged on 17 September 2014. The station was quite possibly heard before 17.00 UTC, but too weak to identify. Around 17.00 till 17.12 UTC transmission from this low-powered station improved, allowing reception of DJ announcing frequency, email address for reception reports, imminent closure and later transmissions. DJ played "What A Wondeful Feeling", chatted a bit before stating "Bye-bye", then played a final song, "Hotel California".  Reception on 6.206 kHz was (SINPO) 24322 - weak, very noisy and fading, but audible and clear at times

Reception report was emailed shortly after the transmission on 17 September 2014. An eQSL (Number 14) was received on 18 September 2014, along with a message profiling the station, transmitter and operator.

Paper QSL from Free Radio Bumbelstock
DJ Carston had this to say about the station, "'Free' and 'Radio' is clear, 'Bumbelstock' is our local word for Löwenzahn also called Pusteblume. I like this flower!". Hence, this is the rationale for the name of the station and the flower depicted on the eQSL. 

He went on to say, "You listen(ed) to me with my new transmitter -- just a DDS AM transmitter, plus a little amp made from two IRF510 transistors. Next part will be a little tube tx with 5 Watt carrier. Antenna is a resonant dipol 15m up in the air."

Thank you for the reply and eQSL, Carsten. I look forward to receiving your paper QSL in the coming weeks. QSL card #014 arrived in my letterbox on 15 October 2014. Again, many thanks, Carsten! Hope to catch you on air again. 73s!!!

Email:
freeradiobumbelstock@hotmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.