Skip to content
YouTube
OFF AIR
Next broadcast Fri 14 Aug · 17:00 UTC · 5970 kHz

Radio Delta AM

Week 8

This week we are broadcasting on 6100 kHz and 12.030 kHz shortwave. Our transmission will begin on February 25th at 6.00 UTC on 6110 kHz. For reception reports or music requests, please send a message to info@radiodelta.am. We’ve been busy selecting new music for our broadcasts this week, and many new tracks have been added to our collection.

On our news page you can read two stories:

  1. from Radio Monique and catch up on the latest developments through videos;
  2. you can also delve into the experiences of our dedicated listener, Lennart Wennberg from Sweden, as he shares his insights on listening to radio stations.

We’ve created exciting videos showcasing the latest updates at Radio Monique. Tune in to 1332 for a week and share your reception reports with us. Stay tuned as we plan to enhance the antenna at Radio Monique next week. Our dipole antenna, currently hanging low, will undergo improvements.

We wish you a delightful listening experience! Your Gateway to Engaging Broadcasts!

Radio Delta AM

Radio Monique – 1332 kHz Velsen (Netherlands)

“Mediumwave antenna structure used by Radio Monique for 918 kHz broadcasting”
“A legendary offshore name, returning to the mediumwave — this time fully licensed.”
— Radio Monique, 1332 kHz

From offshore legend to licensed mediumwave

Few station names carry as much history as Radio Monique 1332 kHz. Now the legendary offshore name has returned as a licensed LPAM station on 1332 kHz.

Once broadcasting offshore alongside Radio Caroline, the station has now reached an important milestone. As a result, Radio Monique has obtained a licensed LPAM authorisation and is once again on the air on 1332 kHz.

Radio Monique 1332 kHz today

Therefore, this moment marks a clear transition. The station has entered a new phase as a fully legal LPAM broadcaster, combining its historic identity with a modern mediumwave operation in the Netherlands.

A new frequency, a stronger signal

The current broadcasting site is located in Velsen, where the setup provides a practical and solid base for mediumwave operation. On 17 February, a key technical step followed when the operating frequency changed from 918 kHz to 1332 kHz.

Because of this move, listeners experienced improved stability and more favourable coverage conditions — an important factor for both local reception and mediumwave DX listening.

Practical engineering, step by step

A refurbished container has been installed at the factory site. It now houses the transmitter and antenna tuning unit, keeping the setup compact, accessible and flexible.

Meanwhile, the existing dipole antenna remains in use. Further optimisation is planned for the summer of 2024, aimed at improving efficiency and refining overall audio performance on mediumwave.

On air: Radio Monique 1332 kHz

Radio Monique – 1332 kHz (LPAM)
Licensed mediumwave broadcast from Velsen

Transmitting with 100 watts PEP, Radio Monique delivers a recognisable and characterful AM sound. Development work continues steadily towards a stable, high-quality signal.

A look behind the scenes

In addition, several videos have been produced showing the broadcast site, antenna mast and technical setup. They offer a clear behind-the-scenes view of a modern LPAM station, built with respect for mediumwave tradition.

Continuing the journey

More updates will follow as Radio Monique continues its journey towards a fully optimised and reliable licensed AM service. A historic name is once again present on the dial — and this time, firmly rooted in the future of mediumwave.

Radio Delta AM

Lennarts passion for shortwave listening in Sweden

I was born in 1959 in a little village outside the town of Umeå in Northern Sweden. My mother and I lived on a small widow’s pension. We didn’t have a car, so I was at home when not in school. Around 1970 I began to listen to foreign radio stations; Radio Luxembourg was a favorite. Little did I know then that this was the beginning of a lifelong journey on the radio waves. Little did I know that about thirty-five years later I would be live on the Voice of America or that Radio Taiwan would broadcast a ten-minute-long interview with me.

My sister gave me a book that would teach me a lot about listening to foreign radio stations as a hobby it was Arne Skoog “Kortvågslyssning som hobby”. (Shortwave listening as a hobby.) This book teached me all about reception reports, QSL-cards etc).

In the 70s there was a lot of radio stations to listen to, many of them had even transmissions in Swedish like: HCJB in Ecuador, Deutschland funk in Cologne, Western Germany, the Vatican Radio, Radio Moscow etc. But of course, the English language was the real key to the world. Without hesitation I would say that BBC World Service was my first university. (And I would add: the way BBC World Service was then, not the diluted politically correct stuff that they have today).

Pop music stations were favorites like: Radio Veronica, Radio Northsea International, Radio Luxembourg, Radio Caroline, but I made a mistake. I thought that they were going to last forever. Of the mentioned stations only Radio Caroline is left, of the mentioned above. More about that later. 

A full-time job, wife, and five children took a big toll. For a couple of decades, I didn’t listen much. Another blow was when a whole lot of shortwave stations did close down for good, like Radio Australia. 

But the children are big now, and one of them is cooking dinner at home, so my available listening time has increased. Although my wife hates hearing my radios sounding. And there is now a difference. In the beginning I could listen to just any radio station and sending reports. Now I would never suffer listening to radio stations from the “axis of evil”, as President George W Bush put it. Instead, I prefer radio stations with which I can have a personal relationship. Radio Caroline is one of the few. But since I first discovered Radio Delta in the summer of 2022, Radio Delta International is my absolute favorite radio station. A station that plays good music, has a very friendly owner and DJ, with whom I can interact with in real time, during transmissions. What can possibly beat that!?  

Radio Delta AM

Week 7

This weekend, you can tune in to Radio Delta on February 18, 2024, on 6110 kHz from approximately 6 UTC to 9 UTC, and also on 12.030 kHz from 9 UTC to 11:30 UTC.

Over the past week, extensive testing has been conducted with the new antennas. The results have not shown improvement compared to the existing antennas. Not every change leads to enhancement. However, a promising discovery was made that the new antenna provides excellent results on the 31-meter shortwave band. Further testing will be carried out to explore this success. Initial plans to utilize the 19-meter shortwave band in the future have been reassessed due to test outcomes indicating it may not offer optimal coverage across Europe. Continuous testing is underway to achieve the best possible outcome.

We express our gratitude to Harri from Oulu for the consistent and enjoyable musical contribution to the ‘Finnish Request’ program, airing from 6 UTC to 7 UTC.

In other news, Radio Monique has recently launched the 1332 kHz mediumwave frequency. Progress has been made with the installation of a new antenna last Saturday, February 17th. Further enhancements, including raising the antenna height and adjustments, are planned in the upcoming months. Visit our website to view new videos showcasing the developments at Radio Monique.

Radio Delta AM

Week 5

This weekend, Radio Delta will only be available on February 4th, 2024, on 6110 kHz starting from 5.00 UTC and on 12.030 kHz at 10.00 UTC.

You can find the definitive show schedule on our website. We have spent some time finding the right balance in terms of timings, frequencies, and show segments to cater to all listeners.

On the website radiodelta.am, you can find more updates about our shows and schedule.

We are introducing a new program segment called “The Records and its History.” This new item will be added to the “5 Decades of Music” program on Radio Delta. In this segment, we will explore the best records released this week, providing background information and playing the songs.

We have received all the necessary components to build the new antennas. We will showcase the progress on our website and create small videos to keep you updated.

In other news, Radio Monique, the famous offshore radio station from the 80s, has undergone some changes. Several members have left, allowing the station to make progress towards the future. They have obtained a new broadcasting license for 1332 kHz medium wave and have prepared the transmitter. However, they still need to make the antenna suitable for broadcasting, which will take some time due to the location and height of the mast. They hope to be back on the air within a month. We wish Radio Monique success with their new setup!

If you have any interesting stories to share, please let us know. We can use them in our radio show. To continue producing great programs on shortwave, we need your help!

Overall, it will be a Sunday to stay home and turn up the radio!

Radio Delta AM

Radio Delta Experiment: Shortwave Comparison

At Radio Delta, our team has been conducting a series of experiments to understand and compare the performance of shortwave radio transmissions. In this blog, we will share with you our findings and the insightful discoveries we’ve made along the way.

We have put together a series of videos that showcase the comparison between the 25-meter shortwave and the 49-meter shortwave. Through these demonstrations, we aim to illustrate the differences in transmission quality and reach between the two bands.

Transmission Details:

– **Radio Delta**: Frequency – 12.030 kHz, Power – 1000 watts (PEP)

– **Radio Mike**: Frequency – 5980 kHz, Power – 1600 watts (PEP)

– **Radio Continental**: Frequency – 5810 kHz, Power – 400 watts (PEP)

One of the key insights we’ve gained during our experiments is the impact of power on transmission strength. We observed that a doubling of power results in only a 3dB increase in strength. For example, if Radio Continental were to use 800 watts, it would be 3dB stronger.

In one of our videos, we demonstrate the significant difference in reception quality within a distance of 750km from Elburg, France. This highlights the impact of frequency and power on the reach and reception of our transmissions.

Interestingly, we found that during the daytime, the 25-meter band often provides clearer reception even at a distance of 500 kilometers. This unexpected observation has sparked further exploration into the specific conditions under which each shortwave band excels.

The entire journey of conducting these experiments has been a learning experience for us at Radio Delta. Our enthusiasm for testing and our commitment to self-built solutions have driven us to understand the nuances of shortwave transmissions, and the outcomes have exceeded our expectations.

As we continue our journey, we are excited about more experiments and experiences that lie ahead for our team at Radio Delta. Our dedication to self-improvement and learning is what motivates us to push the boundaries of our understanding of shortwave transmissions.

We are delighted to have shared this experiment with you, and we look forward to your continued support as we embark on further adventures in the world of shortwave radio.

Stay tuned for more updates, more experiments, and more exciting discoveries from Radio Delta!