QSL FROM DUTCH MEDIUM WAVE LOW POWER STATION ‘ BACKYARD AM’

A nice DX station (for me at least hi!) is Backyard AM from Zaandijk, which can only be received on 1116 kHz during the weekend and during the day! The power is 50 watts and the distance is +- 217 km from my hometown. After a few weeks of trying I had ‘bite’ on January 8 around 13h00 and was able to jot down and record some useful reception details! It was rewarded with a nice e-QSL!

SSTV IMAGES SENT ON 145,800 MHz FROM THE ISS SPACECRAFT TOWARDS EARTH

Between December 26 and 31, 2021 a series of 12 SSTV pictures were sent non-stop from the ISS on their trusted 145,800 MHz. My Kenwood R-5000 was therefore on standby every time the spacecraft flew over Europe. I was able to decode almost all of them completely, only number 1 of the series didn’t quite get through!

SOME BEAUTIFUL AWARDS RELEASED FOR THAT OCCASION

Quite a few aerospace organizations and SSTV clubs from different countries issued special Awards for this marathon broadcast for those who could receive one, several or all images!:

QSL FROM SAQ – GRIMETON CHRISTMAS EVE 2021 TRANSMISSION ON 17.2 KHZ

On December 24, 2021 there was the annual traditional Christmas Morse broadcast of the “World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station – SAQ” on the very low frequency 17.2 kHz. Remarkable this time was the beautiful/high signal that morning!

On this ‘Youtube’ link: https://youtu.be/n_-4TmSXrX8 you can see a short movie of the broadcast on the Perseus SDR receiver. It’s a recording at the begin of the official broadcast.

On this link : https://www.dropbox.com/s/c86691fnmspggl6/SAQ%2017.2%20kHz%2024.12.21%20-%2008.00%20UTC.mp3?dl=0  you can listen to a mp3 audio recording with the message of this broadcast I have received at 08.00 UTC in Veurne, Belgium with a 380 meter long Beverage Antenna!

And finally, on this recording you can hear the signing off at 08.05 UTC: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ekamx0xjfvp84de/SAQ%2017.2%20kHz%2024.12.21%20-%2008.05UTC%20Signing%20off.mp3?dl=0.

QSL FROM DUTCH LOW POWER STATION ‘ RADIO SCHALKHAAR’

On Sunday, December 19, 2021 it was ‘a fight’ on 675 kHz between Radio Calypso and Radio Schalkhaar AM. For example, at times it was difficult to hear which station actually came through. Fortunately, we can check it on the web stream. Schalkhaar AM has been using a new antenna, which clearly proves its usefulness! The distance between the city Schalkhaar and my hometown Veurne is +- 277 km.

A ‘THANK YOU’ MESSAGE FROM DUTCH LOW POWER STATION ‘RADIO ELVIRA’

Radio Elvira can only be heard on Sundays from Heerhugowaard (Netherlands) with 1 watt on 1485 kHz! But on November 14, 2021 the broadcasts were also forwarded via the Radio Eye AM transmitter, which can be heard from Alkmaar (NL) with 100 watts on 1134 kHz. I sent a report for those broadcasts, which was answered with a simple ‘Thank you’ and a nice picture!

QSL FROM DUTCH SHORTWAVE STATION ‘SUNLITE RADIO’

I received a nice e-QSL letter and extensive interesting information from the new licensed Dutch short wave station Sunlite Radio that can be heard recently on 5955 kHz. The QSL and the information is really an example for other radio stations that don’t care about handling reception reports. It is satisfying that a reception report is really appreciated. Currently they are broadcasting with 70 watts, but the aim is to be on the air around Christmas with 400 watts. Between 10.00 and 11.00 UTC I usually note fair to good reception. Here’s a recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xiax6wwhtyj2u1h/Sunlite%20Radio%205955%20kHz%2005.12.21%20-%2011.00%20LT.mp3?dl=0. The QSL address is qsl(at)sunlite.nl.