AWR Europe – The History

This article was originally broadcast over AWR in their “Wavescan” program and now forms part of the Radio Heritage Collection ©. All rights reserved to Ragusa Media Group, PO Box 14339, Wellington, New Zealand. This material is licenced on a non-exclusive basis to South Pacific DX Resource hosted on radiodx.com for a period of five years from April 1 2002. Author: Adrian Peterson

The Story of AWR in Europe

As we have mentioned on previous occasions, the first broadcast from Adventist World Radio went on the air from a 250 kW transmitter owned and operated by Radio Trans Europe at Sines in Portugal. This venture from a Deutsche Welle relay station was launched under the leadership of a husband-wife team, Allen & Andrea Steele.

The date for the launching of this new venture was Friday October 1, 1971 and the initial broadcast was beamed to Italy in the Italian language. These broadcasts went on the air without prior publicity and they caught the international radio world unawares.

These new broadcasts were heard in many parts of the world quite early and shortwave listeners in Sweden and Australia notified their radio magazines with their monitoring observations. The weekly publication from the Radio Sweden DX program, “Sweden Calling DXers”, reported the new broadcast venture as “unidentified”.

Likewise in Australia, both Robert Chester and Bob Padula logged the new broadcasts and reported them in the Australian publication, “Australian DX News”. In their next issues, these same two magazines identified these new and unheralded broadcasts as the launching of the new international shortwave service from Adventist World Radio.

The original AWR office was located on the top floor of an apartment building on Rua Braamcamp in Lisbon. The program tapes were delivered to the studio at Sesimbra out from Lisbon from where they were microwaved to the transnmitter site for broadcast. The original QSL card for these new AWR broadcasts back more than 30 years ago is now an item of rarity.

Eight years later, in the year 1979, AWR enlarged its broadcast outreach by placing programming on the second transmitter at Sines. These early AWR broadcasts were on the air from the two transmitters at 250 kW in Sines Portugal until the end of the year 1992.

By that time, AWR was now on the air from other international shortwave stations in Europe. In view of the fact that RTE operated a third transrnitter at Sines as a standby unit, it is quite probable over a period of time that AWR was on the air actually from all three of these units.

Four years after it was launched in Portugal, AWR took out a relay from Radio Mediterranean on the island of Malta. This shortwave station was another Deutsche Welle relay station, though it was closed a few years ago. AWR took out a series of special program relays in mid 1975 for coverage of the Seventh-day Adventist world convention in Vienna Austria.

Ultimately, the Malta transmitter was on the air with AWR programming for a period of eight years. For a period of a year or two, the second 250 kW transmitter at Cyclops in Malta also carried AWR programming.

In the year 1979, AWR took out experimental relays from two different locations in Europe; one was Radio Andorra and the other was Radio Luxembourg. Adventist programming from Radio Luxembourg began in 1947 with the broadcast of the American “Voice of Prophecy” with the legendary Dr. H. M. S. Richards.

However, fifty years later, this program relay was officially recognised as an AWR service. These AWR broadcasts from Radio Luxembourg, mediumwave & shortwave, were on the air for a period of five years.

The Radio Andorra circumstances were quite interesting. The new programming from this exotic little radio station went on the air on Saturday night, September 8, 1979 during a local festival. The sounds of the festival and its fireworks were heard in the background during the inaugural broadcast

Radio Andorra procured two transmtters at 10 kW from Radio Free Europe in Holzkirchen Germany and these were installed in Radio Andorra for the exclusive usage of Adventist World Radio. After a successful series of test broadcasts, the first of these relocated transmitters went into regular service with AWR programming on August 1, 1980.

It is understood that the second unit was in use at times, but not on a regular basis. Radio Andorra was closed by action of the French and Spanish governments on April 2, 1982 and suddenly AWR lost this exotic little radio outlet.

However, some months afterwards, AWR took out a 13 week series of test programs from Radio Milano International in Milan, Italy. These programs were on the air at the end of 1983 and into the early part of 1984.

However, soon after the conclusion of this successful series of test broadcasts, another AWR program was heard from RMI Milan. This was the AWR DX program from Southern Asia under the old title, “Radio Monitors International”.

This DX program was produced in the Poona studios of Adventist World Radio and it was heard on international shortwave, tropical shortwave, mediumwave and FM from the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in Colombo, Sri Lanka for coverage in Asia. The well known broadcaster in the United States, Jeff White, included the DX program, “Radio Monitors International” in his scheduling over several stations in the United States and in the Caribbean. In this way, the AWR DX program, RMI was also on the air from RMI Milan in Italy for a period of more than two years.

Well, that’s as far as we can go today, but on the next occasion when we take up the continuing saga of AWR history under the title “His Voice is in the Air”, we will continue with the story in the European arena.

Adventist World Radio in Europe

Time Lines

——————————————————————————————————————
Country Location Unit kW Dates
——————————————————————————————————————
Portugal Sines RTE1 250 1971 – 1992
RTE2 250 1979 – 1992
RTE3 250 Emergency usage

Malta Cyclops RM1 250 1975 – 1983
RM2 250 1977 – 1978

Luxembourg Junglinster RTL 250 1979 – 1984

Andorra Andorra RA1 3.5 1979 – 1982
RA2 10 1980 – 1982
RA3 10 1980 – 1982

Italy Milan RMI1 5 1983 – 1986
RMI2 1 1983 – 1986
===============================================================

Adventist World Radio in Europe

References

——————————————————————————————————————
Country Location Information
——————————————————————————————————————
Portugal Sines RTE construction began 1969; RMI131 1-1-78
RTE test broadcasts began 1970; RMI131 1-1-78
Regular service began June 3, 1970; RMI131 1-1-78
RTE Sines 3 Marconi at 250 kW, RMI131 1-1-78
RTE Sines 6 slewable curtains 1 log periodic RMI 131 ` Special committee formed at GC 10-69; Printed document 3
Plans for leased time RTE approved 18-2-71; Document 3
Studios Lisbon; AWR-E N 11 & 12 72 2
AWR office 7th floor Lisbon; AR 19-12-91 20
AWR at first 20 hours 12 languages; AR 19-12-91 20
AWR on 250 kW Marconi; AR 19-12-91 20
1st program in Italian, October 1, 1970; AR 19-12-91 20
VHF link to Sesimbra 35 kM south; AWR-E N 11 & 12 72 2
VHF link to Sines 85 kM S of Lisbon; AWR-E N 11 & 12 72 2
Steele’s leave for Lisbon; Insight 26-10-71 cover story
Unid religious broadcasts 9670 RTE no ID; RC & BP ADXN
VoH via RTE1 AWR 1st noted Oct 3, 1971; BP RC ADXN
VoH AWR Sines 9670 reported last week unid; SWCDXers
Not yet heard by AMP Pakistan; AMP to Steele 15-10-71
VoH AWR in 14 European langauges; SCDXers 1145
New VoH Sines 9670; R&H 77.14 12-71 125
AWR on the air in 15 languages; FFT early 1972
Tests Europe Africa began March 26 1972 9670; SCDXers
Test broadcasts 9670; EA 79.17 5-72 120
AWR on RTE on 9670 & 9640; EA 79.17 8-73 118
AWR 47 programs per week 17 languages; Tell 10-73 1
AWR Sines 2 channels 9640 9670; Tell, 10-73 3
New QSL card; EA 79.17 11-74 110
AWR, picture Sesimbra studio building; CUM 15-9-76 338
AWR on the air in 14 languages Wiist; AUG 8-3-83 2
AWR mail response 2,000 in 1982; Sheet 3
AWR 4 units 35 languages 500 hrs a week; AR 19-12-91 20
AWR Sines ceased Sun July 5 1992. 9670; DXO 8-92 60

Portugal Sines AWR scheduling
Dates RTE1 RTE! RTE2 RTE2 Reference
1971 Oct 1 9670 RC BP ADXN SCD
1972 9670 Schedule
1973 Jun 3 9670 9640 Schedule
1973 9670 9640 Tell 10-73 3
1974 May 12 9670 Schedule
1975 9670 Schedule 1975 Aug 1 9670 Schedule
1977 9670 Schedule
1978 9670 Schedule
1979 Jan 1 9665 9615 Schedule
1979 Oct 1 9670 9745 9615 Schedule
1980 Sep 28 9670 9745 9615 Schedule
1981 Mar 29 9670 9665 9615 Schedule
1982 Mar 29 9670 15430 9650 9605 Schedule
1983 Sep 30 3 channels 9605 Schedule
1984 Mar 25 9670 9605 Schedule
1984 9670 9605 BDXC
1985 Mar 31 9670 9605 Schedule
1986 9670 9605 WRTVHB
1987 9670 9605 WRTVHB
1988 9670 9605 WRTVHB
1989 9670 9605 WRTVHB
1990 9670 9605 WRTVHB
1991 9670 9605 WRTVHB
1992 9670 9605 WRTVHB

Malta Cyclops DW Malta began regular broadcasts Nov 4, 1974, 3 @ 250
DW Malta 3 @ 250 Telefunken closed 1996
AWR Malta postponed till July 1; AWREN
AWR plans new usage July 1, 1975; AWR documents
AWR plans broadcasts Vienna GC session; AWR news release
AWR broadcasts Malta July 11-17 1975; Allen Steele news release
AWR regular broadcasts Malta began Aug 1 1975; AWR document
AWR via Malta began Aug 1, 1975 6055 kHz; Schedule
AWR begins Malta on 6155 Feb 1, 1976; AWREN Winter 1976
AWR Malta to 9605 or 9690 Feb 15, 1976; AWREN Winter 76
AWR Malta 9635 begins Feb 15, 1976; Schedule
AWR Malta 0700 – 0800 9770 & 9605 April 2 1977; Schedule
AWR Malta Jan 1, 1979 9635 kHz; Schedule
AWR Malta May 6, 1979 6025; Schedule
AWR Malta RM1 on 9665 & 9605 Oct 1, 1979; Schedule
AWR Malta Nov 28, 1980; Schedule
AWR Malta Mar 21, 1981; Schedule
AWR Malta Mar 29, 1982 9615; Schedule
AWR Malta 9615 beginning Oct 3, 1982; Schedule
AWR Malta, no further reports

Malta Cyclops AWR scheduling
Dates RM1 RM1 RM2 RM2 Reference
1975 6055 Schedule
1976 6155 Schedule
1977 9605 9635 9770 Schedule
1978
1979 9635 6025 Schedule
1980
1981
1982 9615 Schedule

Luxembourg Junglinster
Voice of Hope on Radio Luxembourg in late 1940’s; Appeal Sheet
Voice of Prophecy began RTL 232 & 7100 kHz 31-3-47; Edwards, Hello America
Later added Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian; Note
English programs on RTL approx 1960; AR 2-2-84132-20
German on RTL begins Jan 1, 1979, Sun 0520-0530 1440 6090; Schedule
German Stimme Der Hoffnung on RTL joins AWR Jan 7, 1979; AWREN 8-4 1
German on RTL Sun 0520 – 0530 1440 6090; Schedule May 6, 1979
German on RTL Sun 0520 – 0530 1440 6090; Schedule Oct 1, 1979
New GC English program for RTL Sep 26, 1983, 26 weeks; AR 28-7-83 744-24
AWR in English from Luxembourg began Oct 24, 1983; AR 19-1-84 87-31
AWR English on MW only 1440; Messenger
English on RTL 1st time in 25 years; AR 2-2-84 132-20
English series concluded in April, 1984; Messenger 6
Voice of Hope on SW concluded from RTL, now only MW 1984; ADXN 1-85

QSLs issued for AWR Broadcasts on Radio Luxembourg

———————————————————————————————

Year Month Date kHz kHz UTC Listener Country
———————————————————————————————
1979 Jan 28 1439 0520 Reiners Germany
1979 Mar 4 6090 0520 Gibbs England
1980 Apr 6 1440 0522 Peterson England
1980 Apr 6 6090 0522 Peterson England
1980 Sep 20 6090 0420 Reinersch Germany
1984 Apr 15 1440 0415 Reinersch Germany
1985 Jun 23 1440 0620 Kleffel Germany
6090 Craighead USA
==============================================================

Andorra
1 @ 3.5 kW installed at Radio Andorra 1977; Maes TDP 1998 6
3 kW fed into rotatable yagi style log periodic; ADDX 1982
1st AWR test Sep 8 79 2000 UTC 10:00 pm local, 3 kW 6215 kHz; AWREN 9-2
1st AWR tests 3 kW 6215 began Sept 8 1980; AR29-11-79 `312-32
AWR began regular Radio Andorra 3 kW beginning Feb 1980; AWREN 10-80 4
AMP QSL 3kW 6219 25-3-80; QSL card
AWR regular from Radio Andorra beginning Feb; AR 19-6-80 813-21
R Andorra install higher powered unit AWR sole usage; AR 29-11-79 1312 -32
New equipment purchased from VOA West Germany; AWREN 10-80 1
2 @ 10 kW Collins 208U-10 installed 1980; Maes TDP 1998 6
2 @ 10 kW from RFE Holzkirchen; ADDX 1982
Either of 10 kW fed into fixed dipole; ADDX 1982
Antenna tower 22 m high; AWREN 10-80 1
2 @ 10 kW installed for AWR by Radio Andorra; AWREN 10-80 1
AWR tests newer more powerful transmitter/antenna expected 7-80; Myer letter
Tests from new 10 kW began on approx July 22, 1980; AWREN 10-80 1
Regular broadcasts expected from August 1, 1980; Myer letter
10 kW units began regular service Aug 1, 1980; AWREN 10-80 1
Radio Andora closed shortly after 1900 April 2 1982; ADDX 1982
3 SW transmitters at time of closure; ADDX 1982

Italy Radio Milano International Zinasco Milan
Test broadcasts 7295 kHz Sunday 1200 – 1400 UTC; Schedule Winter 1984
Series of 13 test broadcssts in spring 1984; Hansjorg Biener document
Radio Monitors International on Radio Earth; SWG 10-84 32
RMI on Radio Earth; AWREN Winter 1985


QSLs issued for AWR Broadcasts on Radio Milano International

———————————————————————————————-
Month Date Year kHz kHz UTC Listener Country
———————————————————————————————-
Nov 13 1983 7295 1202 – 1250 Gibbs England
Nov 27 1983 7295 1315 Volk Germany
Nov 27 1983 7295 1215 Volk Germany
Dec 25 1983 9295 1515 – 1535 Gomez Spain
Jan 15 1984 9295 1210 – 1240 Parker Wales
Jan 22 1984 7295 9810 0800 – 1300 Drescher Germany
Jan 22 1984 7295 9810 1000 – 1300 Drescher Germany
==============================================================

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