Radio Delta

The history of Radio Delta is vibrant and has fostered many wonderful friendships over the years. 

For the first 45 years, we conducted illegal radio broadcasts, a thrilling period during which we faced the constant risk of being caught by authorities. Unfortunately, this did happen on several occasions. 

In 1975, we started our first Dutch-language broadcasts on Medium Wave, utilizing a French military transmitter, the BC191. This transmitter had a power of 80 watts, allowing us to reach audiences across Europe. 

On April 5, 1981, we launched our first broadcasts on Shortwave, using a bus transmitter with 100 watts. The transmitting tubes consisted of 2 * 807, and we began on the frequency of 6.275 kHz in the 48-meter band. 

On May 28, 1983, we commenced our first broadcasts on the 41-meter band, with frequencies of 7.325 kHz and 7.425 kHz. 

All our transmitters were home-built and primarily tube-based. Over time, we also incorporated factory-made transmitters such as the R&S SK050, R&S SK080, R&S SK1, and the Telefunken S2525. 

We still see our old QSL cards and stickers cherished by various listeners. 

After all these adventures, we remained active on FM for many years, broadcasting every weekend with a group of friends. We also utilized 35 and 60 cm bands to establish remarkable QSO’s throughout the Netherlands. 

In 2017, we planned a return to the Shortwave bands, and on December 23, 2020, we finally gained legal status, allowing us to produce weekly broadcasts in compliance with all relevant international regulations. 

In recent years, we have modernized our transmitters to include Mosfets, making them more energy-efficient and space-saving. Unfortunately, this has meant saying goodbye to a piece of nostalgia. 

All broadcasts were conducted from Elburg, located by the beautiful Veluwemeer.

Our weekly shows are fueled by the unwavering support of our dedicated listeners, who motivate us to ‘Keep the Shortwave Alive‘.

At Radio Delta, we firmly believe that the magic of shortwave never fades away. Join us on this incredible journey and experience the thrill of the airwaves firsthand.

Our broadcasts on weekends are primarily focused on engaging with the European continent. We truly welcome all long-distance reception reports, as they help us gauge our outreach and effectiveness.

To ensure the best possible reception at all times—day, evening, and night—we will be utilizing various frequencies and different antennas. We anticipate using 6.170 kHz during the evening, night, and early morning hours, adapting based on propagation conditions. Additionally, we will primarily use 9.800 kHz and 12.030 kHz during the daytime, with plans for further testing in the coming months.

Our transmitter park has undergone significant upgrades, transitioning from tube transmitters to mosfet transmitters. This change reflects both our need for space and energy efficiency. We are building the transmitters in-house, with plans to increase our output power in the coming years.

Moreover, our antenna system is continuously evolving. Currently, we are utilizing special dipole antennas to enhance our transmission capabilities. We are operating with power levels of up to 4,000 watts PEP, maximizing our signal strength.

Listeners can find our programming schedule on our website, featuring an exciting format with various shows, including “Radio Delta Goes DX,” “Erik’s Shortwave Serenade,” “DJ Hitti’s Crazy Pirate Radio,” “5 Decades of Music,” and “Pure Dutch.”