The Bergen Broadcasting Association (FBK), where I am CEO/Editor-in-chief, is operating a local radio station on FM (88.6/93.8/100.3 MHz) and an AM/medium wave station on 1314 kHz. We also have a Shortwave station on 5895 kHz.
FBK is actually operating the only remaining AM stations on the Norwegian mainland*).
The second AM/medium wave transmitter on "Askøysenderen" operated on the Norwegian frequency 1611 kHz from the summer of 2014 to August 2019 with 70 watts, and then with 750 watts until the end of 2023.
It is now back on the air. Yes, we have moved the fine station Radio Northern Star (RNS) a bit further down the medium wave band to 1575 kHz, 190 metres!
The station is radiating the international program of RNS, with announcements in 8 languages //5895 kHz.
We started on Thursday, August 21st at 1940 UTC thanks to great efforts from LB6II and a couple of sponsors. Adjustments followed on Friday, August 22nd.
1575 kHz was allocated to us in early June 2025 after we had applied to NKOM in 2024 with three frequency alternatives. A 6-year licence was subsequently granted by the Norwegian Media Authority.
The 1575 licence is for 6 years and currently allows a transmitter power of 1 kW ERP.
The application and coordination process took a very long time and required a lot of patience, but was carried out very professionally by NKOM with strict adherence to all deadlines for objections from neighbouring countries. However, there were no objections and no competing applications.
We are very grateful to the Norwegian media authorities who have shown us so much trust for 13 years now by granting another broadcast license to transmit from the old Askøy Kringkaster/Bergen Mellombølgesender which originally broadcast NRK Bergen Lokal until May 22, 1966 and NRK Riks until November 1, 1978.
Our fine radio amateurs have been crucial in making this happen.
At the same time as 1575 started, we announced in the DX press and to DX correspondents that we intended to start broadcasting on the new 1575 in early autumn 2025, initially //5895 kHz.
It is possible that more AM frequencies will be advertised in Norway in due course. It is good that the media authorities are still focusing on this band.
Initially, our 2 kW transmitter will be used, initially with approx. 500 watts, eventually up to @750 watts, and the previous inverted V antenna from 2014 that was used for 1611 has been put back into use. Any need for modifications to the antenna will be considered over time.
At 1611, the "inverted V" antenna had a modest performance over Western Norway during the day, but it had a very good skywave and was heard in Canada and 15++ other countries, between Finnmark and Sicily.
The antenna seems to have the best coverage towards the northwest/southeast.
The 1611/1575 and 5895 stations have been operated by a Co-Op within FBK for the past 3 years, which has contributed a lot of effort and finances.
The 1314 station with FBK's Bergen Kringkaster program is running with better sound and higher power than before.
We hope for support from radio amateurs, DXers, the local radio stations, as well as more sponsors and other radio enthusiasts who want to contribute.
It is important to be on the AM bands. The range is unmatched and it is becoming more and more important to be on the alert.
Finally a little history: According to the Copenhagen Plan which was in force until 23rd November 1978, Norway had two transmitters (LKF Fredrikstad 10 kW and LKN3 "Nordkapp" (Honningsvåg) 2 kW) on 1578 kHz and these shared the channel with RAI Genova/Portofino in Italy 50 kW (+19 low-power transmitters) and Emissora Ass. do Lisboa in Portugal 10 kW. These former Norwegian sites were even monitored in Australia and New Zealand.
On the side was 1575 Sharjah Broadcasting 50 kW and 1580 VOA Ban Pachi 1000 kW which were also often heard. So the channel will be less crowded now!
We send our best regards to other official users of 1575 in Italy, Spain and England.
We hope we are heard far away!
So far listener reports have been received from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Correct reception reports should be sent to styret2025 at bergenkringkaster.no and 1000 at northernstar.no and will be answered with eQSL.
*) Svalbard Kringkaster on 1485 kHz in Longyearbyen, which broadcasts NRK P1, is still broadcasting. It has been improved and is now heard regularly in North America.
SvennM
CEO/Chief Editor
Bergen Broadcasting As
(Facebook post by Svenn Martinsen, August 24th)
(Mike Barraclough/BDXC)_
