Radio Nederland, a renowned presence on shortwave bands, held significant popularity among enthusiasts of the medium. Its origins trace back to the mid-1920s when Phillips initiated experimental international broadcasts from Holland. By 1927, these broadcasts became regular, with the station adopting the call letters PCJ by 1929. During the tumult of the Second World War, the Dutch government-in-exile collaborated with the BBC to produce and transmit programs. On 15 April 1947, the Stichting Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (Radio Netherlands International Foundation) was established, marking a formalization of its mission. In that same year, Radio Nederland commenced broadcasts in English, Spanish, Dutch, and Indonesian.

However, as the new millennium dawned, the Dutch government embarked on a gradual defunding process for Radio Nederland. By 2014, all programming had ceased, marking the end of an era. In its wake, RNW Media emerged as the successor, focusing primarily on fostering media communities for social change.

Among the myriad programs that captivated listeners, DX Jukebox, and later the Media Network, stood out as favorites among DXers. These programs served as invaluable resources, offering tips and insights into shortwave listening and DXing. Another beloved show, The Happy Station Show, entertained audiences from 1928 to 1995, leaving an indelible mark on the airwaves.

One notable aspect of Radio Nederland was its meticulous verification process, often including transmitter site details on their QSL cards. Over the years, enthusiasts like myself received these QSL cards in response to our reception reports, serving as cherished mementos of our interactions with the station. While I had the pleasure of tuning in to broadcasts from various transmitting stations and relay sites, I never had the opportunity to verify reception from the original site in Hilversum.

Radio Berlin International (RBI) was the official international broadcaster for East Germany (AKA German Democratic Republic or GDR/DDR). It came on the air in May 1959 as a counter to West Germany’s Deutsche Welle. It left the air in 2 October 1990 just before German reunification. One of its transmitter sites, the one in Nauen, is still in use by shortwave broadcasters. They sent the QSLs seen below for my reception reports.

This QSL certificate from America Forces Network (AFN) – Tokyo on 810 is the first QSL in my collection received as an MS .pub (Publication) file. The reception was made via the AcrticSDR in Kongsfjord, Norway. Thank you to TSgt USAF DMA AFN (USA) Candace L. Reese for taking the time to prepare and send the QSL via email.

This is also the first response I have had from the US Forces Radio station on 810 kHz in Tokyo after sending an unanswered report to FEN Tokyo 43 years ago for their 810 outlet.

When we lived in Korea, I prepared several QSLs for Korean radio stations, in particular the local KBS stations, to sign and send back. Below you can see one that I received from KBS Gongju First Radio (KBS 공주 제1 라디오) for a Korean language reception report. The transmitted on 1485 kHz.

I had good luck with this approach with the stations I tried it with.

The translated text of the QSL is found below the images. The card was postmarked at the Gongju Post Office.

         RECEPTION VERIFICATION  
This verifies that Mr. Bill Harms received KBS Gongju Radio 1 as follows: 
- Station name (Callsign): HLQS
- Transmitter Location: 571, Seongwang-dong, Gongju City
- Reception Date: 12 April 1991 
- Reception Time: 12-13 KST
- Frequency: 1485 kHz
         QSL
- Signed: Signature illegible.

RFA (Radio Free Asia) is a great verifier. Over the past few years, several of their QSL cards have made it into my collection. They issue a new QSL once every four months. DXers can send reception reports to RFA’s web form at http://techweb.rfa.org/ or via email to qsl@rfa.org Their postal mail address is Radio Free Asia; 2025 M Street N.W., Suite 300; Washington, DC 20036; USA

NOTE: The reception for the HLAZ Jeju, Korea QSL was made via the Arctic SDR in Kongsfjord, Norway.

This QSL card and a brochure for radio station PPE on 10 MHz at the Observatório Nacional in São Cristóvão near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil arrived today in the mail. Thank you to Ricardo José de Carvalho, Chefe da Divisão do Serviço da Hora for taking the time to sign and send this card. It is the 18th QSL from a time and frequency station in my collection.

Almost every year from the 1990’s to 2009, Radio St. Helena broadcast a special program over shortwave. The event was called St. Helena Day. DXers throughout the world anxiously waited to hear the signal from this station. I heard them five or six times over the years and this was the only QSL I received from them.

I’m not exactly sure how one would quantify the rarity of QSLs, but this one surely ranks high on any rarity scale. Back in December 1977, I caught a signal emerging on 2510 kHz in Korean. After a few moments, I discerned the identification: “KBS Daegu, HLKG.” Instantly, I felt compelled to send them a reception report. Several weeks later, a warmly handwritten QSL letter arrived from Mr. Oh Kap-hwan, the TV transmitting engineer at KBS Daegu. He expressed his surprise as their station typically didn’t handle QSL cards, but rather the main station in Seoul did. Nonetheless, to me, it remains a remarkable QSL.

WJHR is a Christian broadcaster from Milton, Florida. They transmit on 15,550 kHz using SSB mode. They sent a package of various printed materials including a photo of the station’s transmitter for my report.

WRNO, known as the Rock of New Orleans, debuted its rock format in February 1982 under the stewardship of Joseph Costello III. Initially featuring its own unique programming, the station later incorporated content from its counterpart, WRNO-FM 99.5. Alongside airing religious and political broadcasts, WRNO served as the shortwave platform for notable shows like the Rush Limbaugh Show and coverage of the New Orleans Saints Football Team. Among its roster of lessees was Radio Earth.

After facing a setback due to a damaged transmitter, WRNO went off the air for a span of years. In 2001, the station found new ownership in the hands of Good News World Outreach, though efforts to restore operations were hindered by Hurricane Katrina’s impact on the antenna. It wasn’t until 2009 that WRNO began broadcasting regularly once more, now accessible on 7505 kHz.

Notable memorabilia from WRNO’s history includes various QSL cards and a special listener certificate personally endorsed by Mr. Costello. Below, you’ll find examples of these QSL cards issued in response to reception reports, alongside a unique Rush Limbaugh QSL and the aforementioned charter listener certificate.

This is a verification for a reception report of Canadian Forces Network Brunssum, Netherlands, heard on 13 July 1989 on 91.5 MHz. Like my report for AFN-SHAPE Maastrict, my original report must have gotten lost in the mail. They sent a copy of their original answer and a new letter for a follow-up in 1991. This station went off the air in 2014. I am happy with this one.

Radio San Marino International was an unlicensed station which claimed to be broadcasting from the Republic of San Marino. Most of the DX world was not convinced at the time. Instead the consensus was that its signal emitted from Germany. It was widely heard throughout Europe and North America, and beyond in December 1997 on 7580 kHz. I was fortunate to pick them up. They responded with the  following QSL card.

Do any fellow DXers possess QSL cards from the BFBS broadcasts on shortwave during Operation Granby (the British phase of the Gulf War, 1990-1991) or the Iraq War in 2003? If you possess additional details regarding these broadcasts, kindly share them.

Now, onto the intriguing puzzle: where was the transmitter site for the BFBS broadcast during the Gulf War in 1991? My aim is to determine if other DXers caught these transmissions and secured QSL cards. Concurrently, I’m scouring the internet for pertinent information.

During that period, BFBS broadcasts were widely noted and documented by DXers. There was considerable speculation regarding the transmitter’s location, with potential sites including Moosbrunn, Austria; the BBC East Mediterranean Shortwave Relay Station (BEMRS) in Zygi, Cyprus (east of Limassol); Julich, Germany, or even some Merlin Broadcast Ltd. facility.

Fortunately, a crucial clue emerged from the verie signer’s statement on the QSL card, indicating the “site” as Akrotiri, Cyprus. This revelation essentially discounts the BEMRS in Zygi, as Akrotiri lies to the west and south of Limassol, while Zygi is positioned to the east of Limassol.

This map below clearly shows the location of Zygi/Zyyi, where the BBC Shortwave East Mediterranean Relay Site is located and Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, where I believe the BFBS shortwave transmitter was located. Note that City Limassol is in between the two locations.

The QSL letter received by DXer Andree Bollin below sheds more light on the transmitter site that BFBS have used during Operation Granby (Gulf war 1990/1). The verification signer M. E. Townley of BFBS Cyprus revealed some interesting history about BFBS’s broadcasts which were transmitted on Shortwave. More importantly, Townley stated that “the transmitter is located  adjacent to the Akrotiri salt lake in the south of Cyprus and uses a specially designed USB drive into a 10Kw transmitter.  The aerial is a Log periodic array which is directional toward the Gulf. “

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/profiles/Akrotiri/Media
https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/profiles/Cyprus/Media