Manx Radio, 1368 kHz

Things changes over time. This blog is dedicated to preserve some memories from radio stations that are no more. One station though is unchanged from 1987 when this QSL is from, and it is of course Manx Radio on 1368 kHz! I use to listen to Manx Radio with my radio in my bed besides me. Also on my car audio system if I am driving early winter mornings. Easy listening with a lot of good music.

RTL Radio Luxembourg, 1440 kHz

It’s hard, if not impossible, to explain the enormous impact this radio station had for mine, and nearby generations during the 50s to the the beginning of the 90s. Imagine Sweden, for instance, had only one radio channel, but there was Radio Luxembourg that aired the heavyweight championship match in boxing between Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson the 26th of June 1959. I think that that was the single moment when most Swedes listened to a foreign radio station.

Every evening Radio Luxembourg played pop music, and was at times heavily promoting some songs. Personally when they played Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” I don’t know how many times every hour, 1970. I also remembered when I heard the announcement over Radio Luxembourg the 16th of August 1977 that Elvis had died.

Please tell us your personal memories of R Luxembourg.

NRK, Norsk Rikskringkasting, 6015 kHz

Norway may be a small country, but they had a significant footprint both on shortwave and mediumwave. On shortwave they had programming both in Norwegian and English. Much was aimed for all the Norwegian seamen all over the world with greetings from families and friends and with music requests. Nowdays seamen connect over the internet… NRK, also had a nice printed magazine for listeners.

Personally most memories of NRK are from mediumwave where they had a very powerful transmitter on 1314 kHz. As a young doctor on call, when I had the rare opportunity to retire to bed I used to listen to NRK 1314 kHz. Even though the room at the hospital was below ground level I had no problems with the reception.

One night the night show hosts had called the Soviet Embassy in Oslo to ask how they were going to celebrate the CIA’s 40th anniversary!

YLE Vaasa 1242 kHz

The nearest radio station outside Sweden was Yleisradio’s Swedish language transmitter in Vaasa. I remember one music request show called “Ungdomens gåva i toner” that sounded a bit old fashioned, as the they talked about “The Slade Ensemble”.