Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Radio Northern Star gathers listeners

Norway

1314 MW/ 5895, "Radio Northern Star" (in Norwegian: "Radio Nordstjernen"), via Bergen Kringkaster broadcasting from Erdal, Norway (Coordinates: 60°26 56,728 N 5°12 59,206 E) (Cf. DX-Window no. 488. Ed) has been heard by DX-ers abroad during more test transmissions since Sep 11 as follows: On 1314 MW in Sweden and the Netherlands. On 5895 in Ural Region (Russia), Voronezh (Ukraine), Greece, Tende (France), Finland, Aaland (Finland), Sweden, the Netherlands and Iceland, but not yet in Denmark or at ECNA sites. Transmission was Morse only, the transmitted string was "VVVVVVVVV DE LKB/LLE LKB/LLE LKB/LLE". (Churchill, Ghibaudo, Løvstrøm, Martinsen, Nilsson and Petersen)


Retired minister Svenn Martinsen - a life-long DXer is in charge. Foreningen Bergen Krigskaster just received a licence from the Norwegian Telecommunication Authority which allows for a 1 kW output on both frequencies. Radio Northern Star is now the only station in Norway broadcasting on MW and SW. 

The station is operated by volunteers. Test transmissions will be announced on their home page  www.bergenkringkaster.no . Operation from the old broadcasting house of Bergen Kringkaster, which is now a local radio museum in Bergen. It can be heard 24/7 on the internet www.northernstar.no

The antenna and transmitter are located in Erdal on Askøy near Bergen. On 1314 MW running about 80 watts with a 15 metres compact antenna of the Tjøstholm/Comrod type, originally used on a ship. For 5895, running about 50 watts with an inverted Y-antenna adjusted for the 49 metre band.

  Future test broadcasts usually on Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday at sunrise Tuesday/Wednesday and sunset Thursday on MW/SW. Some days shortwave may be run all day until around 2100* (sign-off). Dual IDs may be expected. More updated information may be presented on https://www.facebook.com/groups/bergenkringkaster/  . 

Reports preferably with mp3 recording to: report@bergenkringkaster.no. E-mail reports will be answered by e-mail. We will soon also have our own QSL card. If you want a QSL-card, please send written report enclosing Norwegian stamps for foreign postage or 3$ bills, to: LKB/LLE Bergen Kringkaster, P.O. Box  100, N5331 RONG, NORWAY. 

If possible also enclose printed address label to ease our work, as many reports already have arrived! (Løvstrøm and Martinsen, Oct 01)
(DSWCI/DX Window 486)
(image/google earth)