torsdag 24 mars 2011

Håkan Widenstedt of the Radio Nord Revival team has died

We have received the tragic news that one of the key members of the Radio Nord Revival team, Håkan Widenstedt, sadly passed away on Monday, March 21. Below is a message from Bernt Nyberg:

I have today spoken with Bengt Meijer, manager of the Teracom shortwave station in Hörby. He confirms that the man who died while working in one of the transmitter masts is our friend Håkan "Xfielder" Widenstedt. Obviously he was sitting on a platform some 60 metres up in the mast dismantling one of the curtain antennas when he suddenly raised and fell down. The security equipment worked and he remained hanging a few metres below the platform. His colleagues instantly brought him down from the mast but his life could not be saved. It is believed that he may have been struck by sudden illness but that has as of yet not been confirmed.

Håkan was very interested in Radio Nord and offshore radio in general. He has been of great assistance with frequency planning for our project, contacts with the licensing authority and antenna calculations. When we finally got on the air on March 8, he sent me loads of short clips of our SW transmission recorded at the Hörby broadcsating station.

I received his latest email at 1007 on the day he died. He told me that he was very busy working with the dismantling of the Hörby broadcasting station and he asked if I was still interested in further radio experiments. "It would be very interesting to hear what ideas and plans you have for the future". He concluded his mail by "I'll get back to you, don't have time to write anything more right now".
What has happened is indeed tragical and it feels most sad that we have now lost a true enthusiast and friend.
Bernt Nyberg

As Bernt writes, Håkan played a very important part in the success of Radio Nord Revival as he was responsible for the frequency planning and also designed the shortwave antenna used. We will carry through the project as planned with further transmissions coming up on May 27-29 but it is indeed sad that Håkan is no longer with us and can be part of the project. Thank you for everything, Håkan, and rest in peace.

torsdag 17 mars 2011

Radio Nord Revival SW transmitter

Many of you have asked about specific technical details concerning the SW transmitter which was used on 6060 kHz. Bernt Nyberg, owner and operator of this transmitter has now created a special webpage where you can find further information about the SW setup and many pics. Check out Bernt's Radio Nord page. On his website http://www.nybergsala.com/ you will find a lot of special technical solutions and services in the field of telecommunications and computer technology.

Final power amplifier tube 4CX15 000 J which was used in the 10 kW SW transmitter used for broadcasting Radio Nord Revival on 6060 kHz. More pics on Bernt's Radio Nord page.

tisdag 15 mars 2011

Vintage Radio Nord sticker


Thanks to Henrik Klemetz for sending in this pic of a Radio Nord sticker which was used to put on envelopes. Henrik tells us that he sent a letter to editor O. Lund-Johansen of the World Radio TV Handbook/WRTH in Copenhagen back in 1961. The envelope fetched a good price a few years ago on Swedish auction site Tradera because of its Radio Nord connection.

måndag 14 mars 2011

Harmonic from Radio Nord Revival

As some of you have noticed, Radio Nord Revival was putting out a signal on the third harmonic of 1512 kHz, 4536 kHz, this weekend. This was due to technical troubles from a relay of the low pass filter. Therefore, the transmissions were stopped earlier than planned not to interfere with any radio services on this frequency. We take this problem seriously and the next time we will see to it that no harmonics at all are produced by using a very efficient low pass filter. On the positive side, the transmitter on 1512 kHz has had a great frequency stability and was on 1512,0001 kHz all the time which is an accuracy not often achieved by broadcasting stations. So we must have done something right :-)

Thank you all for your reception reports and comments. This is most helpful in planning upcoming broadcasts. Some of you have also sent in a small contribution to the project in addition to the return postage and we are very grateful for that. This is a project run by enthusiasts - for enthusiasts.

We are now looking forward to the transmissions on May 27-29. If you have any suggestions and ideas how we can improve our programmes, please let us know. Creative ideas are welcome! Do leave a comment in this blog. You can also mail us at ronny@ronnybgoode.se

söndag 13 mars 2011

Another night with Radio Nord Revival

As propagation was poor last night we will continue for another night on 1512 kHz, until Monday morning. Details of reception are most welcome. If you want a QSL card as confirmation you are welcome to send your reception report to:

Ronny Forslund
Radio Nord Revival
Vita Huset
SE-17995 Svartsjö
Sweden

Return postage is appreciated. E-mail reports can be sent to ronny@ronnybgoode.se and they will be verified by plain emails.  Good listening!

lördag 12 mars 2011

Update: Radio Nord Revival continues!

Yes, somewhat contradictory information from here now and then :-) But we have now decided to let the stream run overnight on MW 1512 kHz and into Sunday. This is especially interesting as many of you will be able to experience an increase ín signal strength around sunrise Sunday morning. So keep listening and please tell us how you are receiving us. Thank you for your support - this has been a marvellous occasion for us all.

No Radio Nord Revivals transmissions on Sunday

There will be no transmissions from Radio Nord Revival on Sunday, March 13 and we are closing down at 2100 UTC tonight. But we will be back on May 27-29 on both MW and SW.

At sunset you can expect to hear us over larger distances so keep listening. Due to the present propagation conditions our signal will probably be heavily disturbed in some areas by Iran and Saudi Arabia on 1512 kHz.

Reception reports of Radio Nord Revival on 1512 kHz

Sofar we have received reports of reception from Dalarö, Djursholm, Saltsjö Boo, Solna, Uppsala and Huddinge plus two reports from the island of Gotland. Please leave a comment in the blog how you are receiving our signal on 1512 kHz at your location and what receiver and antenna you are using.

If you want a QSL as verification of your reception please include some details of the programme you have heard when sending your reception report. It seems like some hams are forgetting this little detail.... :-)

Keep listening and have a great day! All the best from a sunny Stockholm.

Webstream temporarily down from Radio Nord Revival

Our webstream is temporarily down so at the moment we are on MW 1512 kHz only. However, the webstream will be back in about an hour (maybe earlier) and will continue all weekend. So you can listen in even after our MW transmitter has closed down.

You can also listen to Radio Nord Revival on the web

If you cannot hear us on 1512 kHz but still want to enjoy some radio nostalgia, you can listen to our webstream by using the Streamer softvare. For instructions check out http://radionordrevival.blogspot.com/2011/02/radio-nord-revival-testing-on-web-this.html

Radio Nord Revival on the air!

We are now on the air with 1 kW of power from Kvarnberget. The programme will end a bit earlier than previously announced, at 2100 UTC tonight. Also, the first hour is a music mix and not the programme scheduled. But the rest of the programmes will be aired as scheduled.

fredag 11 mars 2011

Some changes in the programme schedule from Radio Nord Revival

We have been testing tonight but have had troubles downloading the web stream at Kvarnberget. Therefore we have now shut down the transmitter for  today. Tomorrow we will be back on the air from 0800-2100 UTC and programmes will have to be fed from a laptop directly at the transmitter site. According to reports received the signal has been quite good in various parts of Sweden but with some interference from Iran.

This weekend there will be no transmissions on shortwave.

Radio Nord Revival is testing!

Right now testing with low power (25-30 W) from Kvarnberget on 1512 kHz.

Programme schedule for Radio Nord Revival Saturday, March 12

Preliminary programme schedule for Saturday, March 12:

Radio Nord Revival with music, jingles and commercials from original Radio Nord tapes will be broadcast overnight, starting in the evening on Friday 11 as soon as the transmitter has been adjusted and we have maximum signal. All times are in UTC/GMT- for CET/SNT add one hour.

Special programmes (all programmes in Swedish unless otherwise noted):

08.05 The background of Radio Nord, presented by Ingemar Lindqvist 57:00

09.05 De Tio (original recording from Radio Nord).

10.05 Interviews with Radio Nord veterans made by Ronny Forslund on board the s/s Sankt Erik in May, 2010.

12.05 Radio Nord Story by Ingemar Lindqvist in English.

12.40 Interview with Raya Ravell made by Ingemar Lindqvist

13.02 Mum for men show. Original Radio Nord show presented by Larsan Sörenson.

14.05 More interviews with Radio Nord veterans on board the s/s Sankt Erik, interspersed by music from the days of Radio Nord.

15.02 Låten från båten.

16.05 Alla tiders De Tio presented by Ingemar Lindqvist.

18.05 The true pioneer of commercial radio, Nils-Erik Svensson, interviewed by Ingemar Lindqvist and Kenneth Andersson. He started Skånes Radio Mercur in 1958.

18.30 Topp 20

20.00 Välkommen ombord presented by Ingemar Lindqvist

22.02 Former Head of News at Radio Nord, Björn F Höijer interviewed by Ronny Forslund in 2010

Radio Nord Revival testing on March 11 from a new location

The medium wave transmitter is now being assembled at Kvarnberget and we expect to begin testing in the afternoon today, Friday 11. Power is 1 kW. A detailed programme schedule will be published as soon as we have maximum signal and the station will be on the air overnight until the regular programmes start tomorrow. Happy listening on 1512 kHz!

onsdag 9 mars 2011

Radio Nord on the Ronny B Goode Show

Those of you who are not yet fed up with Radio Nord nostalgia, why not listen in to The Ronny B Goode Show tonight Wednesday, March 9 at 1900 UTC (20.00 CET/SNT)? Radio Österåker 103.7 (Stockholm), web radio http://radio.osteraker.se/  , also relayed by Radio Merkurs in Riga, Latvia. The programme also contains an interview (in Swedish) with one of the old 'pirates' who worked on board the Bon Jour, Lasse Branje.

Om ni vill höra en av de två "Lassarna" från Radio Nord, Lasse Branje, lyssna alltså klockan 20.00 i kväll onsdag, repris söndag.

Radio Nord Revival QSL

Many of you have asked whether we will verify reception reports and naturally, we will do that! This project is run by radio enthusiasts so we very well understand the importance of a QSL. After all, your observations and reception reports are very valuable for us so it is a courtesy of thanking you for your efforts.

The number of reception reports has been impressive and they still keep on coming in. Keep'em coming - we would very much like to hear how YOU could pick us up at your location. You can mail your reception reports to ronny@ronnybgoode.se There has been a couple of old email addresses which have bounced so  this is the one to use. Also, please write a comment in this blog about how you could hear us, where you are - and, not least: what you thought of the programme.

Reception reports by good, old-fashioned regular mail ('snail mail') can be sent to:

Ronny Forslund
Radio Nord Revival
Vita Huset
SE-17995 Svartsjö
Sweden

A printed QSL card will soon be available. Return postage in some form will be appreciated, either stamps, International Reply Cupons or $. If you are satisfied with an e-mail confirming your report we will gladly respond as time permits. However, I don't really see the point of sending a scan of a QSL card including personal details and reception information via email. If you want a QSL card, wouldn't it be better to have the real thing delivered to your letterbox? Besides, scanning each and every personal QSL just to mail them to you seems a bit overdone - it just adds extra amount of work. It's so much quicker to just put a real QSL card in the letterbox. But of course we will gladly respond with plain e-mails to each and every e-mail report.

Thank you so much for your interest in our Radio Nord Revival project. Your support have made it all worthwhile. We will be back soon - do check out this blog for updates.

tisdag 8 mars 2011

Radio Nord Revival updates

The transmissions with digital radio DAB+ can be heard on the channel ”Radio Nord” in the Stockholm area on a frequency of 12D (229.072 MHz) and in Uppsala on the frequen cy13C (234.208 MHz). You will need a receiver which can receive DAB+ in order to listen.
Mer om Digitalradion
http://www.teracom.se/digitalradio 

Seems like the SW rig on 6060 kHz is doing even better today than during the tests yesterday, judging from all your feedback. Thanks a lot all!

Inslag om Radio Nord Revival kommer i Radio Stockholm efter kl 15.00 i dag tisdag 8 mars med Ronny Forslund och Lasse Branje.

måndag 7 mars 2011

Radio Nord Revival is now testing on 1512 kHz

We are now testing on 1512 kHz from Sala, using a low-powered exciter with 60W PEP so this is a real DX if you can catch it. The aerial is an inverted V, height 45 metres.

Programme schedule for Radio Nord Revival Tuesday, March 8

Here are some details from Tuesday's Anniversary transmissions which will also contain lots of vintage music, Radio Nord recordings, old commercials etc. Times are in UTC/GMT.

08.00 Opening speech by Jan Kotschack (son of  Radio Nord manager Jack S. Kotschack),  followed by the Radio Nord Story in English) presented by Ingemar Lindqvist..

08.47 Opening speech by Jan Kotschack .

08.48 The opening programme of Radio Nord as aired on March 8, 1961, starting with twelve minutes of non stop music prior to the actual programme.

11.00 News bulletins every hour on the hour. These are current news, not the ones from 50 years ago :-)

11.05 Radio Nord Story presented by Ingemar Lindqvist..

13.00 Mum for men - recorded promotional show for a well-known deodorant by Radio Nord DJ Larsan Sörenson.

19.00 Radio Nord Story presented by Ingemar Lindqvist.

Frequencies are MW 1512 kHz and SW 6060 kHz plus relays at various times over other stations.

Further Radio Nord Revival relays

Radio Nord Revival will also be relayed by the DAB+ network of Teracom on March 8. In addition, our programme will be carried on March 9 starting at 1500 CET by Hitz FM, Tranås and on Sunday, March 13 starting at 0948 CET by Radio Nostalgi, Kungsbacka.

Modulation tests until 1500 UTC today

Our modulation tests will continue at least until 1500 UTC on 6060 kHz. Sofar we have received around 30 reception reports from most of Europe. Tonight we will be testing on MW 1512 kHz. Keep listening and thanks for your support!

Modulation test now running on 6060 kHz!

Radio Nord Revival is now testing on SW 6060 kHz so do tune in and please let us know how our signal is coming through in your area. We are especially interested in reports about the audio and modulation quality. Good listening!

söndag 6 mars 2011

Test transmissions on SW coming up soon....

Bernt Nyberg of Sala reports that the aerial for the SW transmitter will have to be moved as it was probably the fact that the antenna was located too closely to his workshop that caused the transmitter to shut itself down.

The aerials for both SW and MW will now be moved out into a logging coupe some 150 metres from the house and if everything goes well test transmissions could take place in the evening on Monday, March 7. We should be on the air as planned on March 8 at 0848 UTC/GMT (0948 CET). Below a pic of the SW transmitter. It is a Collins 208U-10-A with exciter TD90 from Swedish SRT.


Ljungbykanalen återutsänder Radio Nord Revival

Ytterligare en station har anmält sitt intresse för att sända ut Radio Nord-premiären: Ljungbykanalen 95.8. Stationen sänder den första timman från kl 10.00 tisdagen den 8 mars och hörs även via webben.

Vill även din station återutsända Radio Nord Revival? Kontakta Göran Lindemark för närmare information.

Test transmissions update

Yesterday, Saturday March 6, the antenna was erected at Kvarnberget, Vallentuna (northeast of Stockholm). Unfortunately, the exciter for the MW transmitter is not yet ready but it will be in time for another test transmission on MW 1512 kHz from this location. On March 8 a test will be made from the SW site at Sala instead, but with lower power.

The aerial at Kvarnberget is a 37 metre vertical and there is also an extensive ground net at the site. On March 6, the ATU was tuned so that an SWR of 1.1 was achieved. Brief tests with a few miliwatts were then made.

The SW rig on 6060 kHz was supposed to be tested on March 6 but there has been some technical troubles with the transmitter. Hopefully this will be solved soon - we will let you know as soon as we are ready to switch on! With a bit of luck it may be already today Sunday.

Tore Andersson, chairman of the Swedish Ham Radio Association, with the ATU (antenna tuning unit). Tore is in charge of the transmissions on 1512 kHz from Kvarnberget.

torsdag 3 mars 2011

Temporary broadcasting license received

We just got the confirmation from The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) that our application for MW 1512 kHz and SW 6060 kHz has been approved. On March 8 at 0848 UTC/GMT (0948 CET) we will start by broadcasting the opening of Radio Nord just as it was aired on this date in 1961. We will also make some short test transmissions on these frequencies before our regular programme starts.

If you catch our signal please comment in this blog and let us know how well you can hear us in your area. QSL cards will be available later.

onsdag 2 mars 2011

Relays of Radio Nord Revival on March 8

The following stations will be relaying our stream on Tuesday, March 8, starting about 12 minutes before 10.00 CET (09.00 GMT/UTC). We will then be broadcasting the start of Radio Nord at the same time as it was done 50 years ago.

All these stations have their own webstreams so you can listen in wherever you are in the world:

Radio Merkurs, Riga 1485 kHz http://www.radiomerkurs.lv/

Cityradion, Gävle 102.7 http://www.cityradion.nu/

Radio Lidingö 97.8 www.radiolidingo.se/

Radio Österåker 103.7 http://radio.osteraker.se/

Further details about the upcoming transmissions on medium wave (MW) and short wave (SW) soon.