One of the ‘difficult’ mediumwave DX targets here in Austria is Chile. First and foremost, because the few stations there share the frequencies with other transmitters from South America and use relatively low transmission power. On top of that, I haven’t had a good South American antenna in recent years with which I could go ‘hunting’ for Chile during the best possible reception period in spring. By setting up my AziLoop antenna, which can be rotated 360° electronically, I was finally able to make a serious attempt at this major target this spring. 

In fact, there are only two stations: Radio Festival on 1270 kHz, a long-established station from Viña del Mar, also known as ‘La Radio en Colores de Chile’. Unfortunately, Radio Provincia from La Plata also broadcasts on the same frequency, and always offers a much stronger signal from almost the same direction. The second option for receiving Chile here in Austria is Radio Cristo llama al Pecador on 1570 kHz from Rancagua, the capital of the Región del Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins. However, Radio Carraviz from Juliaca in southern Peru also broadcasts on 1570 – and this station can very often be received strongly in Salzburg. 

Nevertheless, this frequency seemed the most worthwhile to me, partly because the offset of Radio Cristo llama al Pecador, at 1570.039, is a considerable distance from the Radio Carraviz signal and is therefore clearly visible in the waterfall display of the SDR software. I have now been tracking the signal closely for many days; it was easy to see, but the audio was very difficult to make out. Here we must thank the developers of the specialist mediumwave programmes Jaguar and WavViewDX; without their help, one would never be able to see and hear such weak signals in the mediumwave band with this clarity!

Last Sunday, after 01:30 UT, the signals from Argentina were stronger than those from Peru further north, making the search worthwhile. Finally, at 01:52 UT, the signal from Rancagua in Chile was stronger than the Peruvian one on the same frequency for two minutes. And although I don’t usually use the stations’ audio streams for comparison, it paid off here – exactly the same folk music was being played in the stream! Even though I didn’t hear a station announcement, it was clear that the signal on 1570 kHz had come from Chile.

Thanks to the help of Thomas Nilsson and Hans Ostnell from the Arctic Radio Club, I was able to make contact with Pastor Angel Arenas Montecinos, who confirmed the reception:

Bendiciones señor Ratzer.

Le cuento que si es nuestra radio 1570 am de aquí de rancagua sexta region de nuestro país chile .Y le agradezco por darnos esta alegría a nosotros de saber que tan lejos se esté escuchando nuestra señal. 

Un abrazo grande y muchas bendiciones.

English translation:

God’s blessings, Mr Ratzer.

I would like to inform you that this is our radio station 1570 AM here in Rancagua in the Sixth Region of our country, Chile. And I thank you for giving us this joy of discovering how far our signal can be received.

A warm hug and God’s blessings.

Such wonderful confirmation is the reward for all the work at the station, for the many hours spent trying to improve the reception equipment in the hope of perhaps making mediumwave signals from other continents more audible. And such a rare reception is also motivation to listen again every day and find new stations. Our very special hobby can be so wonderful!

73, Christoph Ratzer