The history of Bayrak Radio on Cyprus Island is very interesting and sometimes even dramatic. In Dec. of 1963 fighting had broken out between the Turkish and Greek communities and the UN peacekeepers forces were deployed in 1964. Even before the conflict was over, a small group of engineers and technicians were asked to set up the Turkish radio station.
At that time the Turkish Cypriots were forcibly excluded from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, where the Greek and Turkish Cypriots had worked together. The station was supposed to announce the Cyprus Turkish People's existence on the island and make their rightful voice heard. From the British Army they got a transmitter and some parts, but the equipment was on the Greek side.
They secretly organized the arrival of these things, which weighed around 1000 kilos. About 30 people worked night and day on the project. On Dec.23, 1963 the Voice of Turkish Cypriot Freedom Fighters went on the air calling "Bayrak-Bayrak-Bayrak" on 1400 kHz at a very low power.
The transmission was on the medium wave, because there were not any shortwave radios in Turkish Cypriot homes. The station was in the garage of one of the Turkish leaders. A 40 meter-long wire antenna was in use, and for the power supply 120 car batteries were used. It was a big job in the workshop for building and repairing radios for the Turkish villagers. Later the station was moved into a building of the Post Office in Nicosia. So, times in the beginning for Bayrak Radio were very difficult!
But quite soon in the next year of 1964 Bayrak Radio was heard internationally in Turkish, Greek, and in English on SW - 6700 and 7275 kHz. Then for over ten years the radio had operated on a makeshift basis, using slightly different frequencies - 6150, 6159 and 6279 kHz.
In 1974 the Turkish military had occupied much of the North-Eastern part of the island and it had created many changes :1. The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus was founded; 2. The Bayrak Radio & Television Corporation (BRTK)
was organized; 3. The Bayrak Radio International station begin to operate. With this new name BRI became an independent association -
The Voice of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, BRTK.
History of Bayrak Radio on Cyprus Island Part 2
The station underwent many technical improvements; its power went up from 7,5 / 10 kW to 25 kW; for some years its air-time was 25 hours in Turkish, Greek, German, French, Arabic, English and even in Russian.
Their programs consisted of information and entertainment aimed at bolstering national pride and reducing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot communities. Propaganda with news, views, interviews
The station was a prime DX target for decades, especially for the American DXers, but in Europe the power of 10 or 25 kW made its signals audible almost everywhere.
Of course, there were some periods of time when the station was off the air for a long duration. For example, in the BCDX for Jan. 2012 a report appeared about the station being upgraded with a new antenna system and that was why it could work in 2011 with reduced power of 4 kW. Also, it was expected to be on air in March of 2012. But alas, it never happened! In the same BCDX for Jan. 2013, the Head of the Transmission Department of the BRI wrote :
"The Radio Bayrak transmitter is still on the air with reduced power. The damage to the antenna system appeared to be bigger than anticipated. Some repair job was done, but it still needed a lot of renovation. There was, however, a big discussion going on about cutting the expenses in all areas, due to the recent economic crisis. The Government was considering to close down the shortwave services."
Since then nothing was heard about the station. In the EiBi frequency list for Oct.30, 2011 - Mar.25, 2012 Radio Bayrak International was on 6150 kHz; that was the last time it was seen ! Now here is something about the Tx site location of the station: some sources tell us that Radio Bayrak was listed in 1976 at Yeny Iskele; another one informs that on Oct.25, 1983, the new transmission center was established near Yeni Iskele for broadcasting on medium wave of 1098 kHz and on short wave of 6150 kHz, 7,5/10/25 kW. In the GE image we can see this site : 35 17'40"N - 33 54'58"E.
(shortwave sites/Nordx)
