Tag Archives: Radio Bulgaria

Radio Waves: SAQ UN-Day Broadcast & Test Transmission, Radio Bulgaria QSL 10, Liblice Transmitter Masts Demolition, and Source for Streaming Station URLs

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Paul Jamet, David Iurescia, and Alon for the following tips:

SAQ Grimeton scheduled to air on UN-Day, Oct 24th 2026 (SAQ)

SAQ was put into commercial radio traffic on December 1st 1924, at first on 16.2 kHz. In mid December 1924, the frequency was changed to 16.1 kHz and on Dec 24th 1926 it was changed back to 16.2 kHz. On March 10th 1927 SAQ’s frequency was again changed, this time to 17.0 kHz, a frequency previously used by Italian station IRC in Rome.

Only two weeks later, on April 3rd 1927 SAQ’s frequency was again changed, now to 17.2 kHz, a frequency previously occupied by LPV in Buenos Aires, in order to provide “suitable noninterfering wave channel for new Belgian station ORU Ruysselede”, according to the traffic manager at RCA.
17.2 kHz has since then, except for a short period in the 1950’s when SAQ was transmitting on 17.25 kHz, been the frequency we all now belongs to the historical Alexanderson alternator SAQ at Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden.

On UN-Day, October 24th, 2026, SAQ is scheduled* to spread a peace message to the World on 17.2 kHz CW.

[Click here to view full broadcast and test transmission schedules]

QSL No. 10: 1950 – Establishment of the Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund (BNR News)

Throughout 2026, Radio Bulgaria is confirming listeners’ reception reports with a new series of 12 QSL cards. Each card highlights a significant moment from the history of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Radio Bulgaria, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. At the beginning of each month, we present the story behind the image featured on the latest card.

The tenth QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to the establishment of the Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund

The idea of preserving valuable recordings for future generations dates back to the first director of the National Radio, Sirak Skitnik. At his initiative, tape recorders were purchased specifically for this purpose in 1938. In 1950, an order was issued to establish the Bulgarian National Radio’s Golden Fund, but it began operating systematically and in its current form as a specialized archive in November 1957.

[Continue reading…]

Central Bohemian skyline to lose distinctive landmark when Liblice transmitter masts come down (Radio Prague International)

The two 355-metre-high masts of the Liblice transmitter near ?eský Brod are due to be demolished by controlled explosions in October 2026. In its time, the complex, built in 1976, was the most powerful medium-wave transmitter in Central Europe, with an output of 1.5 megawatts. Czech Radio broadcast from the site until the end of 2021, after which the transmitter was temporarily used by Country Radio. Broadcasting from Liblice finally ended in March 2025.

[Continue reading…]

Free CC0 M3U files of working stream URLs for WiFi radios

Hi Thomas,

Your April post on finding and fixing missing streams on Skytune radios prompted this. I keep a free, open project that may help readers with “add by URL” WiFi radios (CCWiFi3, Ocean Digital, Sangean and others), and with VLC or Kodi.

https://github.com/AlonDrilich/radio-playlists (browsable site: https://alondrilich.github.io/radio-playlists/) publishes M3U playlists every week, built from the public Radio Browser directory: one file per country (170) and per genre (60), only stations that passed the directory’s latest stream check. The data is CC0 and the script is MIT, and you can open any file in a text editor to copy a single stream URL. About 40% of the entries are plain http://, which helps older radios that cannot play https streams.

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Radio Waves: Georgia LPFM Wants More Power, Radio Bulgaria QSL #8, Preserving Radio Mogadishu, Shortwave HQ Updates, and Joining the CIDX

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura, David Iurescia, and Michael Smith for the following tips:

Georgia LPFM Asks FCC to Raise Power Due to Atmospheric Conditions (Radio World)

Valdosta operator says “suspicious phenomenon” is preventing LPFM from reaching potential

[…]WFAG(LP) operates on 89.7 FM with 100 watts of ERP in Valdosta. “Supra 89.7” is licensed to the nonprofit Valdosta Alliance.

In a letter addressed to Chairman Brendan Carr, the alliance’s general manager, Paula Greer, said that the “serious, suspicious phenomenon of apparent ‘ducting’” or “illegal broadcasting” has been preventing the community project from maximizing its potential. [Continue reading…]

QSL Card No. 8: First Bulgarian radio manufacturing factory (Radio Bulgaria)

The eighth QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to Svetozar Prenerov’s first Bulgarian radio manufacturing factory.

In 1925, Svetozar Prenerov, an engineer who had just completed his education in France, received an invitation to take part in the Philips project to manufacture radio sets in the Netherlands. However, the young engineer turned down this tempting offer, deciding instead to manufacture radio sets in his homeland. Thus, in 1925, the ‘Elektron’ craft workshop began operations under the leadership of Svetozar and his brother Veselin, producing ‘Universal’ linear radio sets. [Read more at Radio Bulgaria…]

Safeguarding memory before it disappears – Preserving the Radio Mogadishu archive (UNESCO)

Click here to watch on YouTube.

ShortwaveHQ Database Updates

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael (KM7FMJ), who notes that his ShortwaveHQ directory has recently received a number of updates. Most notably, the site’s search now draws from the full EIBI A-26 schedule, with more than 4,800 entries covering 309 stations. Check it out here!

Join the CIDX

If you aren’t already a member of the Canadian International DX Club (CIDX), one of the many excellent international shortwave radio clubs, here’s a good example of what you’re missing. The August 2026 issue of the CIDX Messenger runs an impressive 73 pages and includes a feature asking, “Do People Still Listen to the Radio?“, a look at why young Africans continue to listen to radio, Canadian Radio News, and much more. The CIDX also hosts monthly Zoom meetings, with the next scheduled for August 16. All of this is available to members for a very modest membership cost. If you’re not a member, consider joining and supporting one of the organizations that continues to keep the international DX community connected. Click here to check out the CIDX!

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

2 Replies

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.

Click here to check it out at Radio Bulgaria.

Radio Bulgaria: QSL Card Features Radio Sofia’s 1939 Broadcast Van

Celebrating 90 Years of Radio Bulgaria’s English Voice

Radio Bulgaria Marks Its 90th Anniversary with a New QSL Card Series

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following update and QSL card images related to Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Radio Bulgaria.

As Radio Bulgaria looks ahead to its 90th anniversary in 2026, Bulgarian National Radio has announced a new commemorative QSL card series for listeners who submit reception reports. The series will include 12 different QSL cards, each highlighting a key moment from the history of BNR and the Radio Bulgaria service. According to BNR, a new card will be released each month, along with a short publication explaining the historical background behind the featured image.

One of the cards commemorates Bulgaria’s first radio transmission in 1929, an important milestone that marked the beginning of organized radio broadcasting in the country. Additional background articles from BNR revisit the early days of Radio Bulgaria and trace how the service evolved into an international broadcaster with listeners around the world.

Paul also points to a broader retrospective titled “BNR at 90 – A Story of Pride and No Prejudice,” which looks back on nine decades of Bulgarian National Radio. The piece reflects on BNR’s history through periods of political change and technological transition, while underscoring the role of public broadcasting in preserving culture and maintaining a connection with international audiences.

Attached at the top and bottom of this post are two QSL cards from Paul’s own collection.

Many thanks again to Paul for sharing both the news and the QSL images!

Radio Bulgaria celebrates 89 years of broadcasting

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Vintage Radio Bulgaria QSL Card

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares the following item from Radio Bulgaria:

Happy 89th, Radio Bulgaria!

16 February marks the anniversary of BNR’s multilingual programme

On February 16, Radio Bulgaria celebrates its 89th anniversary. Throughout these years, our multilingual media has been not only a channel of information, but also an invaluable link with our audience around the world. Today, Radio Bulgaria offers rich journalistic content, including programmes for the Bulgarian diaspora, as well as for foreigners in Bulgaria and abroad. We are active on social media in 11 languages and connect with our listeners through modern digital platforms. The greatest reward for our small team is the trust and affection of our numerous listeners and users from all over the world. [Continue reading…]