Aart - Radio Delta AM

In the age of digital media and streaming services, there’s something truly captivating about tuning into a radio station from far away. Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing such a magical moment with Radio Delta, a station based in Elburg. Join me as I recount my journey of reception, the equipment used, and the delightful surprises that awaited me on the airwaves.

It all started when I, Emiliano Rocchetta, an avid radio enthusiast in Northern Italy near JN54ND, decided to try my luck and explore the world of shortwave radio. Equipped with my trusty Yupiter receiver, I set out for a day of walking in the mountains, ready to capture the beauty of nature and, hopefully, the signals of distant radio stations.

As I tuned my receiver to different frequencies, hoping to catch a unique station, my attention was caught by the familiar sound of Radio Delta on the frequency 12,030 kHz. With an eager smile on my face, I knew I had stumbled upon something special.

The reception was incredible, with a strong and clear signal reaching my antenna. It was as if Radio Delta was right next door, despite the vast distance that separated us. The quality of the transmission was a testament to the station’s dedication and technological prowess.

Accompanied by the stunning landscapes of the mountains, I embarked on a journey of audio exploration. The Yupiter receiver, known for its exceptional performance and portability, proved to be the perfect companion for my adventure. Its compact design and robust features allowed me to easily navigate the airwaves while immersing myself in the scenic surroundings.

The reception quality of Radio Delta was outstanding, with a SINPO rating of 45444. This rating is a standard measure in radio listening, assessing the strength, interference, noise, and overall quality of a particular signal. With such high marks, it was clear that Radio Delta had mastered the art of transmitting their content across vast distances.

At precisely 1030 local time, I hit the record button on my Yupiter receiver, capturing a snippet of Radio Delta’s broadcast. This recording serves as a delightful memento of my encounter with their station, providing a means to relive the experience and share it with fellow radio enthusiasts.

As my time with Radio Delta came to an end, I couldn’t help but be grateful for the opportunity to connect with this remarkable station. I extend my warmest wishes to the entire Radio Delta team for a joyful new year on the shortwave, filled with captivating broadcasts and continued success in their endeavors.

Receiving Radio Delta’s signal on a frequency of 12,030 kHz was a truly extraordinary experience. From the picturesque landscapes of the mountains to the exceptional performance of the Yupiter receiver, every element of this adventure added to the magic of connecting with a far-flung radio station. As I look back on this encounter, I am reminded of the unique and enduring power of radio, transcending geographic boundaries to bring people together through the airwaves.

This is the radio news report for December 25th and 26th, 2023. We have some exciting updates for our listeners during these festive days.

Firstly, please note that there will be no DX show on these days. Instead, we have a special program called ‘5 Decades of Music’ lined up for you. Get ready to enjoy some nostalgic tunes from the past five decades.

Additionally, we have a Christmas surprise program in store for you. We will be featuring a guest DJ who will spin some merry tracks to keep the holiday spirit alive.

For those tuning in today, you can enjoy a day filled with music on the frequencies 6.110 kHz and 12.030 kHz. The 6.110 kHz frequency will continue to play in the evening as well.

During these two Christmas days, we will be playing a selection of songs every hour to honor our loyal listeners from the past year. We want to celebrate and share some memorable moments together.

As an added bonus, if you send us a music request and a reception report during these two days, you stand a chance to win an exciting surprise package from Elburg. In this package, we will delight you with various goodies from the charming fishing village of Elburg and Radio Delta.

Lastly, we encourage you to visit our guestbook and leave a message. We would love to hear from you and know your thoughts about our radio station.

This is the radio news bulletin for December 23rd and 24th, 2023. There have been no technical adjustments made to the transmitters or antennas, and we feel that we are currently able to reach all of Europe with occasional signal strength reaching far beyond Europe. Just last week, we received a message from Chris Mackerell in New Zealand.

Once the weather improves, we will make adjustments to the antennas for 12.030 kHz. You can find updates on our website, and we will also create a blog about the progress.

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy preparing for our Christmas broadcasts on the 25th and 26th of December.

These broadcasts will be filled with delightful surprises for our listeners, including beautiful music and our regular program segments. We hope that our listeners will also share their stories in the future to encourage more interaction.

Last week, the weather in the Netherlands was very poor, with a severe storm bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Fortunately, our antennas did not sustain any damage.

On December 24th, you can also tune in to Radio Telstar (see photo) on 6045 kHz from Nauen, Germany. The Radio Telstar broadcast will begin at 12:00 UTC and continue until 14:00 UTC.

In the charming town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, resides a passionate radio enthusiast named Phil Hayward. From a young age, Phil’s curiosity and love for radio guided him into a world of endless possibilities and diverse stations. In this blog, we will delve into Phil’s journey, reliving the nostalgia of offshore pirates, discovering new radio stations, and witnessing the ever-changing landscape of the radio bands.

Phil’s radio journey began at the age of 14 when he first tuned into the medium wave. However, it was a fortunate encounter with a friend from school that truly awakened his passion. This friend’s father, who had served in the RAF, had a dormant radio set in his garage. When the set was brought back to life, it opened Pandora’s box, revealing a whole new world of radio for Phil and his friend.

In those early days, Phil would spend countless nights listening to offshore pirate stations and local ones on the weekends. The radio bands were a tapestry of diversity, with stations from various locations that Phil had to look up in an Atlas. Each listening session provided an opportunity to collect QSL cards, a tangible memento of his fascinating encounters.

Over time, Phil witnessed the dramatic transformation of the radio landscape. Despite these changes, he found solace in the Mighty KBC, a station that transported him back to the era of Radio North Sea and Veronica. For those who remember Radio Nederland and the DX Juke Box hosted by Jim Vastenhaud, Phil recommends tuning into The Giant Juke Box presented by Eric Van Willegan. The show features a delightful DX radio segment by Peter John, reviving fond memories of those earlier programs.

In recent months, Phil has found himself tuning in to Radio Delta every weekend. The reception on the 12.030 kHz frequency has proven to be remarkably good, surpassing even the 6.110 kHz band. The immersive experience of Radio Delta has become an integral part of Phil’s weekend routine, offering a much-needed escape into the world of radio waves.

As the festive season approaches, Phil sends warm wishes to all creatures great and small, hoping they have a joyous Christmas.

Phil Hayward’s journey through the realm of radio has been one of fascination, discovery, and nostalgia. From the early days of medium wave listening to the ever-evolving radio bands of today, Phil’s passion for radio remains steadfast. As he continues to explore new stations and frequencies, his love for this timeless medium remains as strong as ever.

This is the radio news bulletin for December 16th and 17th, 2023. We are getting closer to our Christmas show on December 25th and 26th. In this show, we will look back on the past year with our listeners at the center.

This weekend is dedicated to our Finnish listeners, who are very active and tune in every weekend. We now have a WhatsApp group of 36 listeners from Finland. You will hear a story from Risto from Finland, who used to have his own radio station called Radio Meteor. We will also share a beautiful poem from Harri from Oulu. He listens every weekend and is a big fan of the radio show “Finnish Request.” The poem reflects on the special friendships that arise through shortwave radio.

We are working hard on developing our new antennas for the 12.030 kHz frequency. We hope this will further improve reception in Europe and especially over slightly longer distances.

The Christmas tree is already up in the studio, and we have bought some lovely gifts for our team members: Emily, Dan, and Thomas. It takes a lot of time to create new content every week to share with you. They manage to make something beautiful each week.

If you have a great story yourself, here’s what you can do: write a short story and send us some photos or videos. We’ll turn it into a wonderful tale for our segment called “Radio Stories.”

Last week, we also received some wonderful audio messages from listeners. You can listen to them on Sunday morning at 8:00 UTC on the 6.110 kHz frequency. We would like to thank the following listeners: Dieter Grund from Hamburg, Ignacio Sotomayor from Spain, and Declan Mayock from Ireland. Will you also contribute something special to Radio Delta?

Harri from Oulu, in North Finland. Tunes in every weekend, with pleasure so grand. A loyal fan of our program, ‘Finnish Request’. Sending us beautiful songs, our hearts are impressed.

We spin his records on our Finnish hour, on 12.030 kHz, with music in power. Weekends filled with WhatsApp chats, so we building a special bond, year after year.

Harri’s passion for cooking, Mexican cuisine, his favorite flavors, a culinary dream. As he listens on Kiwi SDR receivers, or his own world radio, with loop antennas as believers.

We’re grateful for the friendship, so strong, for all those years, where our connection thronged. Even while x-country skiing, Harri’s delight, Radio Delta plays on, keeping his spirits bright.

Harri, we wish you years of joy and delight, with Radio Delta, our virtual team member, so right. Thank you for your loyalty, the friendship we’ve found, together, we make radio waves resound.

So, let the shortwave carry our words afar, to Harri in Oulu, where radio stars are. Tuning in, with love and cheer, Radio Delta, forever, we hold you dear.

In this post, we delve into the fascinating world of radio through the experiences of Risto, a passionate radio enthusiast from Raisio, southwestern Finland. From his childhood memories to his own broadcasting endeavors, Risto’s journey showcases the allure and power of this timeless medium.

Risto’s love for radio began during his childhood in the 1950s. He vividly remembers listening to the longwave station from Lahti and cherishes the memories of his father attempting to catch broadcasts from the Melbourne Olympics on shortwave. These early encounters sparked Risto’s interest in the world of radio.

As the 60s rolled in, Risto’s fascination with radio expanded to the realm of pop music. Radio Luxembourg quickly became his favorite station, delivering the latest hits and fueling his passion for music. Additionally, he found joy in tuning in to Radio Sweden’s Saturday Show program, further immersing himself in the wonders of radio.

Risto’s interest in radio took an adventurous turn when he discovered the realm of sea pirates. Stations like Radio North Sea and Radio Caroline captured his imagination, and he regularly tuned in to their captivating broadcasts. These offshore stations offered a unique and rebellious charm to the world of radio.

With the dawn of the 70s, Risto’s curiosity expanded to landbased pirates. He started exploring these renegade broadcasters and eventually became determined to try broadcasting himself. Constructing transmitters with power ranging from 8 to 100 Watts, Risto launched his own station, Radio Meteor, alongside its sister station Scanwood, in 1980. This venture proved to be a creative outlet for his passion for radio.

Despite the end of his pirate broadcasting days due to a raid in 1995, Risto’s enthusiasm for radio has not waned. He continues to enjoy listening to landbased pirates, as well as exploring other radio stations. One of his current joys is the increasingly good reception of Radio Delta on his receivers. Not only that, but Risto has remote listening sites in Raisio, Paimio, and Korpilahti, and his Kiwi receivers are frequently online. To keep up with his radio adventures, you can visit Risto’s pirate log page at pirateradiolog.blogspot.com

Risto’s story is a testament to the enduring allure and impact of radio. From his childhood fascination to his own broadcasting endeavors, his passion for this medium has shaped his journey. The world of radio, with its diverse programming and ability to connect people across distances, continues to captivate both Risto and countless others worldwide. So, let us join Risto in extending warm greetings to all Radio Delta listeners from Finland and celebrate the magic of radio together.

There’s a man named Gunter. With his own free radio station, called Radio Hitmix. He’s known as the audio controlle dienst, mixing tricks.

Gunter loves to tune into Radio Delta, you see. And jokes about the baby monitor’s battery. On July 1st, 2023, he went live in Radio Delta’s studio. A beautiful video was made, a memory to glow.

A fan of Cora’s single, “Amsterdam,” he truly adores. Every week, we have Whatsapp chats galore. Gunter enjoys a beer, listening to friends like Radio Akenzo. And he’s great friends with Tina and Jurgen from Radio 60, you know.

But above all, Gunter’s heart belongs to Radio Delta. He never misses a week, it’s a tradition he’ll never let go. And as he listens to the sounds, his love for Netherlands grows. Especially for the clogs, as he adores them from his toes.

So, dear listeners, join Gunter on his journey through the air. At Radio Hitmix, filled with joy and flair. Tune in, have fun, and let the music play. Because Gunter, the audio controlle dienst, will lead the way.

Thank you for tuning in, don’t forget to stay connected. Visit radiodelta.am, where memories are collected and remember, Gunter’s passion for radio will forever last. As he dances in his Dutch clogs, embracing the Netherlands’ past.

Photo’s: They are sent by Gunter, you can hear radio Hitmix sometimes on the airwaves.

This is the radio news bulletin for December 9th and 10th, 2023.

This weekend, there will be a fantastic event in Elburg called “Winter in the Vesting.” This is a charming winter event in the fortified town of Elburg, reminiscent of the year 1900. Our beautiful old city serves as a stunning backdrop, and as you walk through the streets and alleyways, there is something to see or experience everywhere. The event is organized by the residents, many of whom dress up in the style of 1900. Some wear exquisite Victorian dresses, while others dress as poor beggars. There is plenty of entertainment, including music, dance, and theater. Food and drinks are also available, and you can warm yourself by one of the many fire pits with mulled wine, hot chocolate, or other delicious treats. You can find some beautiful photos of this event on our website, radiodelta.am.

The frequency 12.030 kHz has proven to be very effective in terms of reach and reception reports. It is likely to become the base frequency for Radio Delta. The coverage is wider, and we have more listeners during the day than on 6.110 kHz. We are currently building a new antenna for 12.030 kHz, which we hope to test within 8 weeks to further improve reception in Europe. Once the antenna is ready, we will also increase the output power of this transmitter.

Our Radio Delta Jingle package has been expanded with 40 new jingles. Our radio format “5 decades of Music” is at the core, but each program component now has its own jingle package. Additionally, there will always be a connection between the shortwave listener and our Radio Delta Community.

On our website, you will find more and more information about our broadcasts and listeners. We will also start posting a “Radio Poem” and a “Radio Story” weekly. In the coming period, we will further update the website to make it more interactive with our listeners.

Lastly, some less pleasant news about “Radio Monique Internationaal.” In recent years, this LPAM station legally broadcasted on the middlwave frequency 918 kHz. You could occasionally hear Radio Monique Internationaal on our shortwave frequencies as well. This former offshore station had made memorable broadcasts from the Ross Revenge during the 80s, alongside the well-known sound of “Radio Caroline.” In recent years, a transmission location in Velsen with a 50-meter-high mast and an inverted V antenna was used. The transmission power was 25 watts carrier.

Unfortunately, the owner of Radio Monique and the team at “Radio Delta” had to make the decision to permanently shut down the transmitter on 918 kHz on Thursday afternoon. Furthermore, all digital programs on radiomonique.am will go off the air from December 11th, 2023. However, there will still be a non-stop program available. The reason for this decision can be summed up briefly: an internal coup took place, where some individuals showed their worst sides. They turned out to be not “Friends of the Radio,” but as we say in the Netherlands, “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.” The future of “Radio Monique Internationaal” is now uncertain, but as has happened before, the station may come back even stronger than ever. Of course, this can only happen once the “Wolves” have been removed.

Photo’s: Broadcasting location Radio Monique International 918 kHz from Velsen in the Netherlands. Als some views from the place we made the photo’s.

My name is Pekka and I have been a radio enthusiast for over 50 years now.

I was born in the summer of 1964. I spent my early years dismantling all the radios in the house and “adjusting” them, trying to get foreign radio stations to sound better. Usually, it did not go well and daddy had to buy a new radio. That happened many times.

I remember as a little boy (around 10 years old), carrying a Sankyo radio-cassette recorder with me, and when the evening darkened, I tried to show and tell my friends how unbelievable it is that Radio Luxembourg plays rock music, and the station can be heard all the way here in Finland. I don’t remember anyone getting excited about it, which I didn’t understand at all.

So, I started the hobby of dx-listening as a young boy. First came listening to foreign service radio stations and sending reception reports to them. It already very early felt like hearing a new country was “the thing.” Gradually, on medium wave (MW), the Brits caught my interest and have been close to my heart ever since. North American radio seemed very difficult to hear in the early years, but slowly they accumulated too. There are also QSL treasures from the medium wave Afro stations – in a shoebox where I keep the QSL cards from the early years.

I stopped dxing for a little while (35 years!) when I went to study and work to a different town. Then suddenly I had got myself couple of kids and a lovely wife and years went by. We are still happily married but children are all grown up now and moved away from their childhood home. That is why I now have more spare time and I discovered radios and dxing again.

I love to build different kind of antennas and experiment with them. Today’s dx-listening is not just listening to radio but also fighting against radio frequency interference (RFI) and I am proud to say that I am highly skilled in that field by experience. I read and learn from the internet all kinds of things in that matter and I can’t wait to test something new.

Remotely controlled KiwiSDR receivers are also my passion. I have set up half a dozen of them for others to enjoy. It is a radio receiver that you can listen to via internet. You only need a computer with internet and a browser, no other software. In terms of education, I am an IT technician. It also helps.

Radio Delta has become my favorite radio station. I listen to it every Saturday and Sunday if I am not at work. Radio Delta has gathered voluminous and keen fan club with members all around the world. In Finland we have a Whats App -group with 34 members from which many listen to Radio Delta at weekends. We chat with Mr. Delta during the broadcast and send music requests to the studio. Many of them we can hear on Sunday’s “The Finnish Hour” which is exceptional and very unique radio program in the history of short wave radio.

From me to you, A Very Merry Christmas and A Prosperous New Year.

Pekka, Kotka from Finland.