CURAZAO: Un nuevo radio-paìs. Por Max van Arnhe

Listening on Curaçao, a new radio country

by Max van Arnhem

Readers of the World Radio TV Handbook 2011 noticed a change in the country name of The Netherlands Antilles.

Originally The Netherlands Antilles was a country within The Netherlands and consisted of the islands Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao,

Sint Maarten,Saba and Sint Eustatius. 

On the 1^st of January 1986, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles and officially became a separate country with a special status (“status aparte”) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

On the 10^th of October 2010, the existence of The Netherlands Antilles ended and Curaçao and Sint Maarten got a special status within the kingdom, while the islands Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (the BES Islands) became special municipalities of The Netherlands.

There is a broad spectrum of political sentiment on all the islands, on one side the wish to be a completely independent country (Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten) and on the other side the wish to be part of The Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba).  

The result is that you now find in the WRTH 2012 Aruba (Netherlands), Bonaire (Netherlands), Curaçao (Netherlands), Saba (Netherlands), St. Eustatius

(Netherlands) and St. Maarten (Netherlands) instead of Aruba and The Netherlands Antilles.

Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao (the ABC islands) are located off the coast of Venezuela, while Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba are located about 900 kilometres north of the ABC islands (east of Puerto Rico).

On the ABC islands the languages spoken are Papiamentu and Dutch. Papiamentu is a mix of Spanish, Portuguese, English and Dutch. On the BES islands English and Dutch are spoken.

In 1983 I paid my first visit to Bonaire and Curaçao, while in the last ten years I visited Aruba, Bonaire and frequently Curaçao.

Of course , during all these journeys I took a portable radio with me to explore the radio scene on the islands. As everywhere a lot of things changed.

While in 1983 approximately 13 stations were active on all islands (ABC and BES), nowadays Aruba counts 18, Curaçao 25, Bonaire 8, St. Maarten 9 stations while St. Eustatius and Saba each have one station.

In 1983 on Curaçao I found three stations on medium wave and FM, all other stations were on medium wave only.

Now the situation changed and on Curaçao only CUROM Radio Z86 (PJZ86) is still using mediumwave (860 khz).

In 1983 I paid visits to the medium wave stations Radio Hoyer (Radio Hoyer 1 1010 in Papiamentu and Radio Hoyer 2 1500 khz in Dutch) and CUROM ( 860 khz) and the FM station Radio Korsou FM(93.9 Mhz) that just started as the only station using FM.

On Bonaire, also home of the shortwave relay station Radio Nederland and shortwave and medium wave station Trans World Radio, I visited the tiny medium wave station the Voice of Bonaire (1400 khz).

Several years ago I also visited the former medium wave station Radio Kelkboom on Aruba (1440 khz) and again to Radio Korsou FM.

Aruba still has listed two medium wave stations, which are often more off than on the air.

Founder and owner of Radio Korsou FM, Hans Oosterhof, in the past had a program on the International Waters station off the Dutch coast, Radio Veronica. He often uses his Indonesian name “Suhandi” referring to his radio time in the former Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia 

In the years these stations were still on medium wave, Radio Hoyer and Radio Kelkboom were also heard by DXers in Europe.

The names Hoyer and Kelkboom are the family names of the founders and still owners of the station.

Last November and December I was again on Curaçao and revisited Radio Hoyer which is the first station in the world using solar energy. It has an extensive music collection that is being digitalized. Recently, in December, Radio Hoyer started a new website with lost of historical photos (www.radiohoyer.com).

Also in November I visited FM station Hit 100.3FM which also has a video clip channel, Canal 24, also used for religious broadcasts.

Because of the few stations left on medium wave it will be hardly impossible for DXers to log one of the islands. Considering the location, off the coast of Venezuela, one can imagine that DXing from one of he ABC islands can be very interesting.

Some years ago, while on Curaçao, I concentrated on listening to the tropical bands and it was interesting to find, besides the central and South American stations, quite some stations from Indonesia and also the Solomon Islands. These stations were heard at local dawn.

However, now many stations left the tropical bands and interference on shortwave is a common problem, medium wave was quiet so that was the place to be. At daytime, due to the short distance to Venezuela, many stations are audible with good reception quality.

On the 2nd of December all stations from Venezuela I could hear, were carrying a live transmission of the summit of Latin American and Caribbean States taking place in Venezuela. Long speeches were heard by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

The WRTH indicates that in 2009, The Venezuelan authorities announced the closure of some 240 AM and FM stations for failure to comply with licensing requirements. At time of editing the WRTH 2012, these measurements have still not been carried out. Those stations known to have closed are marked in the WRTH under Venezuela with an *. Indeed, I noticed 820 Radio Guadalupana, Coro already off the air in 2009.

While in 2009 I heard the also in Europe often reported 1470 CBN Valencia  with good strength, now in December 2011, the station was off the air.

Often in local afternoons many stations carry the same program of Radio Nacional de Venezuela and often referring to “el comandante” Hugo Chavez.

Also programs or slogans of stations often refer to the government. Examples are 1070 Mundial Zulia ("Mundial Zulia revolución con impacto social de la mano con el pueblo") and 1280 Radio Trujillo ("Trujillo socialista en la calle").

While listening to stations from Venezuela you may hear the announcement of a classification of the following program, like “El siguiente programa recreativo informativo contiene elementos de lenguaje, tipo A elementos de salud tipo A, elementos sexuales tipo A, elementos de violencia tipo A y B que pueden ser escuchados por ninos , ninas y adolescentes sin la supervisión de sus madres, padres, representantes o responsables” .

In this case the program can be heard by children, adolescents without the supervision of parents, representatives or those who are responsible.

Call signs are less often heard than in the past. Station identifications can often be heard during the programs, not especially at Venezuelan top of the hour (xx+30).

Because of the many stations from Venezuela that are occupying the frequencies, hearing stations from other countries needs some more efforts.

Identifying Venezuela is easy due to the local time of UTC minus 4 and half hours while Colombia has UTC-5 hours.

Also FM reception from Venezuela is possible on the ABC islands, especially stations from Coro are heard daily. The Venezuelan Rumbera Network has its own station on Curaçao on 107.9 FM.

Every time I was on the islands I hoped for Sporadic E FM reception, but I never had luck. 

The following medium wave loggings are an example of what can be heard on Curaçao and don’t pretend to be an overview of real DX-ing. The receiver was a Sony ICF SW7600GR. Interesting is the new 1660 Noti Luz , which also easily can be heard in western Europe.

Notice that 1160 is listed in the WRTH 2012 as Radio Notícias 1160, while I heard identifications as Radio Industrial.

550	YVKE Mundial, Caracas	VEN	28	nov	0235	SS male: "colección de oro por YVKE Munidial , 550 AM"	34444
570	Radio Reloj	CUB	29	nov	0055	SS fem timechecks, RR morse ID, and SS news items	33333
590	Radio Continente, Caracas	VEN	1	dec	0101	SS male" Desde la Avenida Francisco Calle La Joya  el Edificio Cosmos, transmite, Radio Continente 5 90 AM emsora matril del Circuito Radial Continente;"  jingle "Circuito Radio Continente CRC"	34444
630	Radio Nacional Venezuela RNV Canal Informativo, Caracas	VEN	29	nov	0035	SS male giving list of cities with their FM frequencies.	344444
640	Radio Portenas, Puerto la Cruz	VEN	2	nov	1436	jingle : "Portenas 6 40" SS male: "  la emisora que …. en oriente, tu emisora, la de siempre".	34444
660	Ondas de los Médanos, Coro	VEN	4	dec	1130	SS male:" ….Ondas de los Medanos, municipio de Miranda con 10.000 Wattios de potencia en antena, Ondas de los Medanos , tu radio popular para siempre, la primerisima de Falcón"
670	Radio Rumbos, Caracas	VEN	4	dec	1131	SS male:"Felices fiestas, Venezuela" "Noticiónes vida, todos los viernes a las siete de la noche por Radio Rumbos, una AM que sigues escucha".  "Esta escuchando exitos de la patria" llanera music	44444
690	Radio Barquisimeto, AM Center, Barquisimeto	VEN	30	nov	2136	SS male : "los titulares de las informaciónes más importantes hacer transmitido en esta emisión, AM center es noticias"	34444
710	Radio Capital, Caracas	VEN	4	dec	1316	Music program "Capitalizando lo nuestro" "en su automovil maneje tranquilo por la via más segura del dial ,  los 7-10 de Capital, la emisora que hace buscarla AM, otra vez"	44444
720	Venezuela Oriente, Porlamar	VEN	2	dec	1601	SS male: "Desde Porlamar, Estado Nueva Esparta, transmite la nueva Venezuela Oriente 7 20 AM Digital, tu Radio Oriente de siempre"	34443
750	Radio Caracas, RCR	VEN			0300	SS male:"RCR 80 anos contigo" "Radio Caracas, radio la pionera en la radio"	34444
780	Radio Coro, Coro	VEN	30	nov	1300	El siguiente programa recreativo informativo contiene elementos de lenguaje, tipo A elementos de salud tipo A, elementos sexuales tipo A, elementos de violencia tipo A, y B que pueden ser escuchados por ninos , ninas y adolescentes sin la supervisión sus madres, padres, representantes o responsables". "Esta emisora Radio Coro luce a su soledaria con los conceptos informaciónes y opiniónes .... en este programa"; Song "Somos Falcón"	44444
790	Radio Minuto, Barquisimeto	VEN	26	nov	2046	SS male: "En Radio Minuto , primera en sintonia, 4 16 minutos"	34443
790	Radio Venezuela 7 90, Caracas	VEN	2	nov	1458	SS male:"publicidad en Venezuela " jingle:  Venezuela 7 90 en la gran Caracas, dando la hora, escuchela 10 y 30 minutos, de la mejor programación"	34444
800	PJB TWR Kralendijk	BES	29	nov	0036	SS religious program	54544
810	Caracol Colombia, Bogotá	CLM	29	nov	0009	SS, adv on Telecom, timecheck, adv's and news on FARC	44444
830	HIJB Santo Domingo	DOM	2	dec	1916	SS male ann: "HIJB informativa, deportiva y musical, diferente a las demas"	34433
830	HIJB Santo Domingo	DOM	26	nov	0200	SS male ann: "en HIJB esta es la hora, diez de la noche, desde Santo Domingo llevandote la mejor música, noticias , deportes,entrevistas y comentarios HIJB 830 en AM en el mismo centro del dial con el mejor sonido y cobertura,  contigo en la Navidad y el Ano Nuevo, HIJB ahora más cerca de tí".	34433
830	Radio 830/ Radio Nueva Sensación, Caracas	VEN	26	nov	2131	SS male:" las cinco y dos minutos, desde Caracas transmite Radio 8 30 con su canción de colección"	34444
850	Radio Fé y Alegria, Maracaibo	VEN	2	dec	1513	SS: male " A toda hora conmigo ". Fem: " las 10 y 33 minutos". male: En Radio Fé y Alegria , Maracaibo 850 se toca y se prende"	34444
860	PJZ86, Radio Curom, Willemstad	CUW	26	nov	2048	Papiamentu program jingle ID "Z 86"	55555
880	Radio Paraguana, Punto Fijo	VEN	2	dec	1516	SS male: "Todas las noticias en sus detalles Ud las leera manana en el Falcóniano, el diario que amanece informando……Radio Paraguana y de fiestas" "Prelumno Navideno 8 80 dando la hora..10 46 minutos, El Informativo Paraguana es noticias"	44444
890	Radio América, Valencia	VEN	4	dec	1120	SS male: "Radio America, 6 y 50 minutos, primer lugar en sintonía"	33433
900	Mara Ritmo 900	VEN	4	dec	1315	song : "noche buena"; SS male: En diciembre que canta todo lo demas nos llegan Venezuela para Ritmo 900"; "en de fiesta  con las orquestras para Venezuela, Mara Ritmo 900"
910	RQ910, Caracas	VEN	28	nov	0240	"En RQ910, 10 8 minutos, jingle" AM Center"	34444
930	Radio Maracay,Maracay		30	nov	2110	SS male: "Los farmaceuticos, agentes , duenos de farmacias del estado de Aragua presentan…….."	34443
940	Radio Punto Fijo,Punto Fijo	VEN	30	nov	2145	SS male :" En Radio Punto Fijo, las 5 15 minutos" llanera px "Valores Venezolanos".
950	Radio Popular, Caracas	VEN	28	nov	0209	SS male: "La Hora Popular 9 39 minutos"	34444
960	Venezuela Llanera, Acarigua	VEN	30	nov	2108	jingle" Venezuela"	34444
990	Radio Tricolor, Barquisimeto	VEN	2	dec	1527	SS male: "En esta Navidad, Radio Tricolor , tu AM 990, es tu mejor compania"…"Tricolor 990, Venezuela, once y uno, ya viene el ano nuevo, faltan 29 días, publicidad………"	34444
990	Radio Tropical, Caracas	VEN	30	nov	1224	SS male: " Desde Caracas,Venezuela, transmite Radio Tropical, YVRC, 930 AM"	44444
1010	Radio Aragua, Cagua	VEN	2	dec	1532	SS male: " Radio Aragua mil diez"	34444
1020	Alegria 10-20, Chicacoa	VEN	30	nov		SS male: "Alegria 10-20, siempre al lado de su pueblo"	34433
1020	Radio Calendario, Maracaibo	VEN				jingle "CRC"; SS: "Calendario 10-20 AM , más Continente", jingle " CRC"  El siguiente espacio es un programa mixto de producción nacional  que contiene elementos de lenguaje, salud, sexo y violencia  que puede ser recibido por ninos , ninas y adolescentes sin la supervisión de madres, padres, representantes o responsables".
1050	R Educativa 1050, Caracas	VEN	4	dec	1120	SS male fem: Educativa 10-50 AM con la tradición"	34444
1060	Radio Amanacer	DOM	30	nov	2158	jingle :"Buenas tardes, Radio Amanecer, la voz de esperanza" SS male: "Esta es Radio Amanecer…...FM y 1060 kiloherz…..Radio Amanecer, la voz de esperanza"	34423
1060	WCGB, Juana Díaz, Ponce	PTR	2	dec	1557	SS male: : WCGB siempre en… dando en su comunidad"..."WCGB 10 60, Juana Díaz, Ponce"	34443
1070	Mundial Zulia, Maracaibo	VEN	30	nov	1214	SS male:" Estas escuchando por Mundial Zulia expresión socialista con José Luis Mendez"; "Mundial Zula revolución con impacto social de la mano con el pueblo"	44444
1070	Mundial, Zulia, Maracaibo	VEN	4	dec	1330	SS male: " Revolución a tu Navidad, Revolución a tus sentimientos, lleno de paz  y felicidad su hogar", SS male:"En Navidad YVKM Mundial sistema Radio Mundial de la mano con la alegría , de la mano con el pueblo" Jingle "YVKM Mundial"	34444
1080	Radio Barcelona, Barcelona	VEN	4	dec	1330	SS male: "En Barcelona, 8 en punto";  Esta es una emisora popular, Radio Barcelona 10-80"
1080	Radio Venezuela, Maracay	VEN	30	nov	2027	SS male: "Venezuela 1080, presenta a gozar muchachos de siempre" music program	44444
1090	Deportes Unión Radio, Caracas	VEN	30	nov	1133	SS male: "Transmite Circuito Deportes Union Radio,  Deportes Union Radio 10-90 en Caracas, Deportes Union Radio 11-10 en Valencia, Portenas 1040 en Puerto La Cruz ,  Deportes Union Radio 1000 en San Cristobal , Turismo Estereo 100.1 FM en Margarita y  Zuliana 7-40 Maracaibo , es el Circuito Deportes Union Radio"	34444
1110	Radio Carúpano, Carúpano	VEN	30	nov	2120	SS male: "Servicio publico de Radio Carupano, 11-10 AM"	34443
1130	Radio Ideal, Maíquetia	VEN	28	nov	0211	SS male:"la combinación ideal para su vida es Radio Ideal 1130 AM las 24 horas del día sintonizada con la vida"	44444
1150	Ondas del Caribe, Punto Fijo	VEN	30	nov	1153	SS "Caribe 1150, 7 y 23 minutos"	34444
1160	Radio Industrial, Guarenas	VEN	28	nov	0202	SS male "Los Leones de Caracas ... en el territorio de RI, W ..zero, Radio Industrial con la de animación y comentarios Deportes Union Radio. Ahora la emoción de los Leones de Caracas que vive traves de RI, W ...zero, Radio Industrial"	33433
1200	Radio Tiempo, Caracas	VEN	29	nov	0051	SS male ann: "Radio Tiempo, todo el tiempo"	44444
1280	Radio Trujillo,Trujillo	VEN	26	nov	0200	SS male:"Radio Trujillo, dando la hora, 6 y 20 minutos" Fem program preview: "Trujillo socialista en la calle"	34433
1290	Radio Puerto Cabello, Puero Cabello	VEN	26	nov	2139	SS male: En Tejerias, Rancho Grande, Valle Seco y Piedras Blancas,  Radio Puerto Cabello siempre dando la hora, las cinco 9 minutos"	44444
1300	Recuerdos 1300, Caracas	VEN	30	nov	2203	SS male: "somos primeros en todo".."Recuerdos musicales que dejaron ….en tu vida en Recuerdos 1300, tu AM Center"	34444
1320	Radio Apolo, Turmero	VEN	30	nov	2223	SS: " cinco y 53 en Apolo primerisima , en Apolo viajando con el recuerdo"	34444
1350	Radio Falcón, Puerto Cumarebo	VEN	28	nov	2352	SS male: "Esta sonando la vuestra, Radio Falcon 13-50 en Amplitud Modulada".	34433
1360	Eco 13-60, Pereira	Colombia	28	nov	0153	SS male : "música que nos te gusta 13-60 AM"	34433
1380	Ondas del Mar, Puerto Cabello	VEN	4	dec	1321	SS female: " Ya regresamos en dia al dia por …….Ondas del Mar 13-80 AM, la primera con los mejores"; SS male: "Ondas del Mar 13-80, las 8  51 minutos"	44444
1400	Em Mariana de Bogotá, Bogotá	CLM	1	dec	0057	SS male ann on Juan Pablo Segundo	34422/3
1410	Radio Simpatía, Valera	VEN				jingle" 1410 , Radio Simpatía", SS male: esta en sintonia de www.radiosimpatia.com.ve	33433
1420	Radio Sintonía, Caracas	VEN	30	nov	0225	SS male: "Es la radio que cada día se oye más, porque cada día se oye más, es la radio que tu escuchas porque te escuchas, es Sintonía, 1420 AM"	34444
1430	Radio Bahía, Puerto La Cruz	VEN	30	nov	2124	SS male: "noticias, noticias en Radio Bahia", "siempre primero con Bahia"	34443
1450	Radio María, Caracas	VEN	26	nov		SS male: "Estas en sintonia de Radio María, 1450 AM"	34444
1470	Radio Vibración, Carúpano	VEN	26	nov	2033	SS male: "Radio Vibracíon 14-70"	24432
1470	Union Radio Cultural	VEN	30	nov	1131	SS male :"Union Radio Cultural 14 70 AM …" bad modulation	34433
1490	La Dinámica, Caracas	VEN	30	nov	1203	jingle:"la hora Dinamica" SS male:" siete y 33 minutos, Radio Dinámica 14 90 AM, la estacion que transmite palabras de vida"	34444
1500	Radio Dos Mil, Cumaná	VEN	26	nov	1058	SS male: "Radio Dos Mil, la emisora del pueblo"; jingle "Radio Dos Mil" SS male: "Los problemas populares en contacto directo con Dos Mil"	34444
1500	Radio Dos Mil, Cumaná	VEN	30	nov	2128	SS male: "Radio Dos Mil, YVRZ 1500 kilocyclos, el sonido más agradable de su radio .. El siguiente es un programa  informativo de producción nacional independiente bajo el numero de registro 19284 contiene elementos de lenguaje tipo A y B, tipo A elementos de salud tipo A, sexo tipo A,  violencia tipo A y B que pueden ser escuchados por ninos , ninas y adolescentes con la supervisión de sus padres, representantes o responsables".  Aquí Informativo Dos Mil con las noticias más importantes del día, un resumen noticioso completo en la emsiora de ahora Radio Dos Mil, Informativo Dos Mil , Senoras y senores muy buenas tardes, bienvenidos al informativo Dos Mil de hoy miercoles 30 de Noviembre de 2011 a traves de Carnaval 99.3 FM en Carupano y Radio Dos Mil en Cumana." Fem: "cinco dos minutos"  Male:" Estos son los titulares de las informaciónes más importantes en el Informativo  Dos Mil por Carnaval y Dos Mil".	44444
1540	ZNS1, Nassau	BAH	25	nov	2300	EE: BBC news, 2330 local news program with local adv's ; 2345 fem:"it is approaching 15 minutes before the seven o'clock hour, stay tuned, sports is up next" local adv's, sports; 2356 male reading family news; 0000 EE male" You are listening to the national voice, 15 40 AM, 104.5 FM, your public service broadcast station" music	44444
1660	Noti Luz	PTR	1	dec	0159	SS male: "Aluzando Puerto Rico con tres senales poderosas, estas son las emisoras WGIT.." than sudden off for several seconds ,followed by: "..Puerto Rico con la verdad,  Noti Luz 16-60 , Noti Luz 16 -60, la unica emisora que ... más de tres cientos .... variadas al día. Una prensa ... politicas y con un gran sentido de responsabilidad social,  esta es Noti Luz 16 60". SS political talks; "sacando a la luz , las noticias que otras esconden, Noti Luz , Noti Luz 16-60";	44444
1660	Noti Luz	PTR	25	nov	2210	SS male :" Searan la luz en Puerto Rico, una nueva prensa libre….una prensa ... politica , una prensa con no esta contaminada con las agendas que construyen las valores familiares.  Veremos una luz al final del camino, nace Noti Luz 16-60 AM"	34444