A Special QSL Card: Remembering the BBC and Deutsche Welle DRM Partnership

Many thanks to SWling Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who hares the following article and notes:

I enjoyed this beautifully illustrated article: Snail Mail QSLs – A Few Stories from a Bygone Era

I’m also taking up the invitation to share a memorable QSL card of my own.

I’ve received hundreds of QSL cards by snail mail. After some hesitation, I’ve chosen a QSL card that I received quickly (in 6 days) but which reflects a time when two very important international radio stations were strong believers in Digital Radio Mondial (DRM):

Testimony of a Joint BBC / DW DRM Programme for Europe

by Paul Jamet

My most memorable QSL card bears witness to the collaboration between the BBC World Service (BBC-WS) and Deutsche Welle (DW). These two broadcasters launched a major radio project in the late 2000s: a joint shortwave transmission in DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), aimed at providing a high-quality digital service for Europe.

The BBC and DW established a partnership to pool their transmission capabilities and deliver a single digital stream (in English) across Europe. Transmission sites located in Sines (Portugal), Woofferton (United Kingdom), and Moosbrunn (Austria) were used to ensure broadcasting from 06:00 local time until midnight.

This is why I invested around €300 in purchasing a DiWave 100 receiver to listen to this programme, broadcast using a technology that both broadcasters were intensively testing at the time. The AFS function—Alternative Frequency Switching or Signalling—allowed the receiver to automatically follow frequency changes throughout the day without any manual intervention. The programme originated alternately from Berlin or London, on one or more frequencies transmitted from the sites mentioned above.

This QSL card, along with the screenshot from the DiWave 100 that enabled me to obtain it, stands as evidence of a broken dream [mainly due to the rise of streaming, but also the lack of DRM receivers].

The BBC and DW eventually abandoned the project. In terms of digital broadcasting, DAB+—a technology stemming from the European Eureka project—has become dominant across Europe. Today, the BBC World Service, and especially Radio Romania International, continue to broadcast daily to Europe. TDF (Télédiffusion de France) is conducting trials on various frequencies from its Issoudun transmission centre.

Today, I still believe in DRM. This technology uses HF bands and makes it possible to cover vast areas with a single transmitter, while offering significantly improved listening conditions and additional services such as text transmission (Journaline), images, and emergency warning messages (EWF technology).

References :

DW And BBC Join Forces On DRM
https://www.drm.org/dw-and-bbc-join-forces-on-drm/
EWF – Emergency Warning Functionality
https://www.drm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DRM-EWF-Emergency-Warning-Overview-v2.pdf
NAUTEL – DRM
https://www.nautel.com/products/digital-radio/drm/

“The Secret Listeners”

2 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David, who writes:

Hello Thomas.

This might be of interest to other subscribers who fall into the intersection of a Venn diagram where radio types meet military historians.

Kind regards

David

Thank you, David! We actually shared this video last year, but it’s such a good one, I thought it’d be worth reposting.

90 Years of Radio Prague: Founded to Fight Nazi Propaganda

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for sharing the first installment of a fascinating look at how Radio Prague became a powerful weapon against Nazi propaganda in the years leading up to World War II.

You can read the full article here, and/or listen to the Radio Prague Episode below:

An antidote to the heatwave

Leave a reply

Hi to all SWLing Post community. Here’s what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to the shortwaves this week.

On Wednesday 15th July 2026, at 0200 hrs UTC on 9395 kHz on WRM I we have WHFM – Herman’s Radio and Record Room. This is another show in a series of programmes by DJ Frederick Moe in memory of his father Herman (1919-2001) and features mid-century sounds including country, jazz, folk and easy listening.

Later, that day at 2000 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz/6160 kHz via Shortwave Gold, we bring you the repeat of Skybird Jams from last week. The show is entitled “Music to increase your attention span” with DJ Frederick and mixes from Justin Patrick Moore and One Deck Pete. In other words, they’ll be extended tunes (we’re talking over 7 minutes here) and ‘jam bands’ on your shortwave dial on a Wednesday evening. Tune in and enjoy the sound of even more Skybird Jams.

While on Saturday 18th July at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 19th July at 1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and 2000 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz/6160 kHz, we have another episode of the show called Wave. This show is an antidote to the other wave we’re experiencing here at the the moment (the heatwave!) so expect chilled out tunes, sounds from the shade, cool breeze classics and stone cold anthems! Tune in and let the radio lower the temperature a good few degrees at your location.

For more information on all our shows, please write to us at [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

FastRadioBurst23

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Various Broadcasters (July 11, 2026)

Leave a reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report.

Carlos notes:

Climate change El Niño via UNID/Paraguay, Radio Splendid/Argentina & Super Rede Boa Vontade/Brazil

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio 10 (July 11, 2026)

Leave a reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report.

Carlos notes:

Malvinas: Tierra del Fuego denounces warship, Radio 10, Argentina, 710 kHz AM

Click here to view on YouTube.

Radio Bulgaria’s Latest QSL Card Celebrates the Historic TULAN Receiver

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for sharing the latest installment in Radio Bulgaria’s 90th anniversary QSL card series. This month’s card highlights the TULAN radio receiver—produced by Bulgaria’s first radio receiver factory and now prized by vintage radio collectors. The accompanying article explores the company’s history and explains how listeners can obtain this attractive new QSL card by submitting a reception report.