QSL Archives 6

QSL ARCHIVES

Part 6

This is the sixth in a series representing some of the more fascinating QSL cards and verification letters I received in the 1970's and 80's. The focus in Part 6 is on mediumwave QSLs. 

A Few Words about this Collection

DXing the mediumwave band is something I have not invested much time in over the years. I've "dabbled" in this class of DXing but never seriously got into it. Indeed, I haven't done much serious MW DXing for many years now. I freely admit that I just don't have the patience for it! However, I have always admired those SWLs who have had such wonderful success on that band and I have been fascinated with their antenna experiments, too. And, it seems that there is a bit of a resurgence going on in some parts of the world right now as MW DXing becomes quite popular again.

If you live in parts of the northern hemisphere (Europe or North America for example), it seems that MW DXing is so much more interesting because you can pick up signals for many different countries. 

But, mediumwave DXing is challenging to do from home in the southern part (the bottom!) of Australia. Here in Melbourne, we are far away from....well....just about everywhere! You can hear lots and lots of Aussie stations, some New Zealand broadcasters, but then anything else is really hard!! Getting away from the major capital cities helps somewhat, so overnight DXpeditions are required with large loops or beverage antennas for any degree of success. Some of my early MW QSLs featured below were heard while on DXpeditions in my home state of Victoria. 

The guys living further up the east coast of Australia, or inland and up in the far northern parts of Australia have more variety and somewhat less interference from the high-powered blocking stations in the major capital cities further south. Pacific, US, Asian and Middle Eastern stations can be heard with some effort, with the occasional appearance of African and high-powered Europeans. Generally, however, there are just a handful of Australian DXers regularly pursuing the mediumwave aspect of the listening hobby.

My collection of mediumwave QSLs presented here is a very humble contribution! There are a few Europeans, Middle Eastern and US stations, an African or two, some Asian stations, Pacific broadcasters and one or two Australian/New Zealand broadcasters thrown in for good measure. I am sure that more serious MW DXers will pass over this lot with hardly a glance. But, that's OK! 😁  

However, what never ceases to amaze me are the distances many of these mediumwave signals have travelled to reach my radio here in southern Australia.

All images are clickable to view at a larger size.

See more QSLs at QSL Archives- Part 1, QSL Archives Part 2, QSL Archives Part 3, QSL Archives Part 4 and QSL Archives Part 5

Check back to the MEDXR blog for more QSL Archives - coming soon!

Rob VK3BVW

Radio Tanzania - Dar es Salaam 656 kHz on March 30, 1972

One of my two African QSLs on mediumwave! Distance: 10,950 km (6,804 ml)

Radio Monte Carlo - Monaco 1466 kHz on September 16, 1972

Heard on a DXpedition to Philip Island (south-east of Melbourne). Distance: 16,489 km (10,246 ml)

Radio Moscow - Site unknown 1250 kHz on January 19, 1972

If anyone remembers which transmitter site this was back in 1972, I'd be grateful for the information. It was one of the overseas service transmitters, so I'm guessing somewhere in the east of the old U.S.S.R. On some nights the signal was so strong that it would swamp the Aussie station 2DU Dubbo, New South Wales!

UPDATE:

Jari Lehtinen in Lahti, Finland has checked his 1973 World Radio TV Handbook and notes that Radio Moscow was on 1250 kHz via Vladivostok with 100 kW in those days. Thanks for going back and checking this for me, Jari. Of course, it would have been Vladivostok! That transmitter would have been ideally located, being far enough east and south of the old USSR border with North Korea for good reception into Australia in the evenings.

DLF Deutschlandfunk - Köln, West Germany 1538 kHz on October 15, 1973

Distance: 16,479 km (10,239 ml)

Radio Djibouti (ORTF) - Djibouti, Afars & Issas 1538 kHz on September 16, 1972

My other African mediumwave QSL! Heard on a DXpedition to Phillip Island (south-east of Melbourne). The country is now called Djibouti but in those days (between 1967 and 1977) it was known as the French Territory of Afars & Issas. Prior to that name, it was called French Somaliland. Distance: 11,862 km (7,371 ml)

BBC Eastern Relay - Masirah Island, Oman 701 kHz on April 15, 1972

Distance: 16,460 km (10,228 ml)

Burma Broadcasting Service - Rangoon 955 kHz on September 15, 1972.

The country is now known as Myanmar. Distance: 7,946 km (4,937 ml)

CFCN - Calgary, Canada 1060 kHz on November 7, 1973

Distance: 13,891 km (8,632 ml)

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation - Berne 1562 kHz on February 15, 1973

Distance: 16,457 km (10,226 ml)

Vatican Radio - Santa Maria de Galeria 1529 on September 1972

Distance: 16,029 km (9,960 ml)

Tonga Broadcasting Commission - Nuku'alofa 1020 kHz on May 18, 1984

I always enjoy the tropical fruit stamps on this one! Distance: 4,230 km (2,629 ml)

Zahedan, Iran 777 kHz on April 22, 1973

Distance: 11,532 km (7,166 ml)

A similar card was received for Qazvin, Iran 841 kHz on November 8, 1973 - 12,800 km (7954 ml)

ORF - Vienna, Austria 1475 kHz on October 15, 1973 

Distance: 15, 812 km (9,825 ml)

DZXL - Manilla, Philippines 620 kHz on March 17, 1972

Distance: 6,356 km (3949 ml)

KNX - Los Angeles 1070 kHz on January 8, 1973

Distance: 12,779 km (7,940 ml)

KSL - Salt Lake City, Utah 1160 kHz on February 15, 1973

Heard on a DXpedition to Philip Island (south-east of Melbourne). I smiled when I saw the stamped note about insufficient postage. Needed that extra 2 cents worth!! Distance: 13,620 km (8,463 ml)

Central Broadcasting System - Taipei, Taiwan 600 kHz on May 11, 1984

This is a large certificate-style QSL card. Distance: 7,437 km (4,621 ml)

Radio Fiji - Lautoka, Fiji 640 kHz n June 3, 1973

Distance: 3,869 km (2,404 ml)

Saudi Arabian Broadcasting Service - Riyadh 587 kHz on August 12, 1973

Distance: 12,367 km (7,684 ml)

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Broadcasting Service - Sana'a 755 kHz on August 15, 1973

This was at a time when the Yemen Arab Republic (in the north) and the P.D.R Yemen (south) were having on-and-off wars between them. Later, in May 1990 there was a unification of the two countries. Today, Yemen is still a deeply troubled country. Distance: 12,015 km (7,466 ml)

Voice of America - Rhodes, Dodecanese Islands (Greece) 1259 kHz on January 25, 1973

My wife and I were fortunate enough to visit Rhodes in 2009. It is a beautiful and historic island.  Distance: 14,543 km (9,036 ml)

Radio Republik Indonesia - Surabaya 585 kHz on May 17, 1984

Distance: 4,708 km (2,926 ml)

JOBB - Osaka, Japan 830 kHz on September 16, 1972

Distance: 8,133 km (5,053 ml)

JOAK - Tokyo, Japan 590 kHz on January 21, 1972

Distance: 8,202 km (5,097 ml)

JOUB - Akita, Japan 770 kHz on June 3, 1972

Distance: 8,646 km (5372 ml)

JOWF - Sapporo, Japan 1440 kHz on August 28, 1974

Distance: 9,012 km (5,600 ml)

Voice of America - Bangkok, Thailand 1580 kHz on September 15, 1972

Distance: 7,387 km (4,590 ml)

Radio Singapore - 790 kHz on January 21, 1972

Also verified on 990 kHz several months later. Distance: 6,081 km (3,779 ml)

9PA Port Moresby, Territory of Papua and New Guinea 1250 kHz on January 26, 1972

For nearly 60 years (starting in WW1), Australia was the administrator of the "Territory of Papua and New Guinea". This QSL was received three and a half years before PNG established its sovereignty on September 16, 1975. Hence this card comes from the ABC in Port Moresby. The card came with the right date and times but the wrong callsign (should be 9PA, not VLT4) and the wrong frequency. Distance:  3,162 km (1,965 ml)

1YA - NZBC, Auckland, New Zealand 760 kHz on March 3, 1973

Distance: 2,596 km (1,613 ml)

8DR - Darwin, Auatralia 650 kHz on February 19, 1972 - 2kW output

Distance: 3,166 km (1,967 ml)

2DU - Dubbo, Australia 1250 kHz on October 28, 1973

In the evenings, 2DU used to battle it out on 1250 kHz with co-channel stations Radio Moscow's English service (see above) and Papua New Guinea's 9PA Port Moresby. Distance: 685 km (426 ml)

7AD - Devonport, Tasmania 900 kHz on August 29, 1972

Distance: 386 km (240 ml)

The Missing QSLs!

Here is a list of other stations that I logged in "the old days". These QSLs have over time become lost, damaged or given away to other card collectors.

DZCH Manila, Philippines 1600 kHz on September 15, 1972 -  6,356 km (3,949 ml)

JOIB Sapporo, Japan 750 kHz on January 3, 1973 -  9,007 km (5,597 ml)

JOSF Nagoya, Japan 1330 kHz on November 8, 1973 -  8,167 km (5,075 ml)

JOCB Nagoya, Japan 910 kHz on February 15, 1973 -  8,168 km (5,075 ml)

KUAM Guam 612 kHz on August 29, 1984 -  5,701 km (3,542 ml)

Radio Pyongyang 655 kHz on February 19, 1972 - 8,786 km (5,459 ml)

Mauritius Broadcasting Corp 683 kHz on March 30, 1972 - 8,484 km (5,272 ml)

Batra, Egypt 621 kHz on August 29, 1984 - 14055 km (8,734 ml)

KSAR Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands 740 kHz on April 15, 1972 - 7,360 km (4,573 ml).
On May 14, 1972, one month after reception of KSAR, the Ryukyu Islands were returned to Japan.

KPT Bangkok Thailand 705 kHz on June 3, 1972 - 7,408 km (4,603 ml)

Radio Noumea, New Caledonia 670 kHz on August 19, 1972 - 2,654 km (1,649 ml)

KHVH Honolulu, Hawaii 1040 kHz on September 16, 1972 - 8,858 km (5,504 ml)

WSZO Majuro, Marshall Islands 1440 kHz on February 17, 1073 - 5,678 km (3,528 ml)

Sharjah Broadcasting Corp 1575 kHz on February 15, 1973 - 11,709 km (7,276 ml)

KFI Los Angeles CA, USA 640 kHz on February 17, 1973 - 12,753 km (7,924 ml)

KFAC Los Angeles CA, USA 1330 kHz on February 17, 1973 - 12,753 (7,924 ml)

Radio Bucharest (Dom Svce), Romania 854 kHz on February 15, 1973 - 15,010 km (9,327 ml)

Radio Kuwait (Dom Svce) 540 kHz on August 27, 1984 - 12,570 km (7,811 ml)

XEPRS Tijuana, Mexico 1090 kHz on February 17, 1973 - 12,764 km (7,931 ml)

Qadima, Israel Broadcasting Authority 737 kHz on April 22, 1973 - 13,831 km (8,594 ml)

Radio Malaysia - Ipoh, Malaysia 550 kHz on April 21, 1973 - 6,568 km (4,081 ml)

Radio Malaysia - Segamat, Malaysia 621 kHz on August 12, 1984 - 6,266 km (3,893 ml)

ORTF - St Pierre, Reunion Island 665 kHz on June 3, 1973 - 8,579 km (5,330 ml)

Radio Tunisia - Tunis 629 kHz on August 12, 1973 - 16,109 km (10,010 ml)

Ras-as-Zawr, Saudi Arabian Broadcasting Service 1440 kHz on August 28, 1984 - 12,387 km (7,697 ml)

Qatar Broadcasting Service 674 kHz on August 15, 1973 - 12,027 km (7,474 ml)

RAI Bologna, Italy 1115 kHz on October 22, 1973 - 16,165 km (10,044 ml)

Skopje, Yugoslavia 809 kHz on October 23, 1973 - 15,312 km (9,514 ml)

Radio Republik Indonesia - Jakarta 1334 kHz on November 10, 1973 - 5,244 km (3,258 ml)

Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia 750 kHz on February 20, 1974 - 5,474 km (3,401 ml)

AIR - Calcutta, India  (now known as Kolkata since 2001) 1130 kHz on March 3, 1974 - 8,977 km (5,578 ml)

TRT - Antalya, Turkey 891 kHz on August 16, 1984 - 14, 378 km (8,934 ml)

End of Part 6 in this QSL Archives series.  MORE QSLs COMING SOON.

See more QSLs at:

QSL Archives - Part 1

QSL Archives - Part 2

QSL Archives - Part 3

QSL Archives - Part 4
QSL Archives - Part 5

QSL Archives - Part 6