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"Wavescan" is a weekly program for long distance radio hobbyists produced by Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Coordinator of International Relations for Adventist World Radio. AWR carries the program over many of its stations (including shortwave). Adrian Peterson is a highly regarded DXer and radio historian, and often includes features on radio history in his program. We are reproducing those features below, with Dr. Peterson's permission and assistance.


Wavescan N668, December 12, 2021

Dogs, Birds, a Volcano, a Radio Station On a Small Island Off the Coast of Africa

It was at 3:13 pm on Sunday, September 19 (2021), that a massive volcanic eruption began at the Cumbre Vieja Volcano on La Palma Island in the Canary Islands, 60 miles off the west coast of North Africa. More than 22,000 earthquakes were measured in the first week of seismic activity; volcanic ash and a turbulent cloud of volcanic gas rose 4 miles high; 6,000 people. including 400 tourists, were evacuated to a neighboring island; twin lava flows up to a quarter mile wide have engulfed villages and small towns; and the lave flow has reached the oceanside, with the resultant chemical reaction coughing out dangerous toxic gases. Large blocks of lava the size of a three-story building have been seen rolling down the hillside.

Audio Insert: REE recent news report.

As seen at night time on La Palma Island, the pyrotechnic display in brilliant colors of fiery white and volcanic red is most spectacular, were it not for the tragic loss of homes and possessions and animal life, though fortunately no human life has been lost. According to the latest news reports, the vigorous volcanic activity still continues.

Two dogs were trapped upon a small grassy patch, with a flow of lava around them. Local authorities fed and watered the dogs with the use of a drone, though they were subsequently rescued surreptitiously by unnamed personnel.

The name for the Canary Islands is derived from the Latin word for dog, canis, of which there were several breeds in early historic times. The popular yellow bird, the canary, was also found on these islands, and they were introduced through Spain to Europeans in general. The bird was named the Canary because it came from the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, and the island cluster is made up of eight major volcanic islands, together with an unnumbered host of smaller islands and ocean rocks. The original inhabitants were tribal peoples from the nearby African continent, followed subsequently by European peoples from the Iberian peninsula.

The total population in the Canaries is more than two million, and their income is derived from agriculture and tourism, with normally 12 million holidaymakers visiting each year. There are two capital cities in the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz on Tenerife and Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.

The island of La Palma, which is enduring the volcanic upheaval, is different from Las Palmas, which is a city on a different island (Gran Canaria). The island called La Palma is a volcanic island that rises four miles above the sea floor. It is noted for its series of natural and manmade water tunnels and irrigation canals.

For the first 40 years of its radio history, La Palma Island was dependent upon local reception of programming from mediumwave broadcasting stations that were installed upon other islands in the Canary Island cluster. However, around 1960 a radio broadcasting station was installed on La Palma Island, and interestingly, it was a shortwave station.

La Voz de la Isla de la Palma was a low powered station with just 350 watts in the 7 MHz shortwave band. The initial frequency was listed as 7385 kHz, and soon afterwards it was shown as 7390 kHz, though subsequently the operational channel was adjusted to 7345 kHz. The shortwave station on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands was on the air for a decade or so, and it was replaced by a mediumwave unit in 1966.

The initial channel for La Voz de la Isla de la Palma on mediumwave was 1385 kHz, though four years later this was changed to 1098 kHz. Likewise, the original callsign was ECS16, though subsequently this was officialized as RNE5, indicating in reality a relay service from the government radio service in Madrid Spain.

The usage of mediumwave on La Palma was phased out around the turn of the century, and all local radio coverage on the island, government and commercial, is now on standard FM.

While we are still talking about the Canary Islands, would you believe it, there is a Canary Island in the Australian state of Victoria. This Canary Island is a small inland island formed by the Loddon River, 160 miles northwest of the state capital Melbourne. Ten people live on this island, and there is a community church building, but no radio station.

As seen at night time on La Palma Island, the pyrotechnic display in brilliant colors of fiery white and volcanic red is most spectacular, were it not for the tragic loss of homes and possessions and animal life, though fortunately no human life has been lost. According to the latest news reports, the vigorous volcanic activity still continues.

Two dogs were trapped upon a small grassy patch, with a flow of lava around them. Local authorities fed and watered the dogs with the use of a drone, though they were subsequently rescued surreptitiously by unnamed personnel.

The name for the Canary Islands is derived from the Latin word for dog, canis, of which there were several breeds in early historic times. The popular yellow bird, the canary, was also found on these islands, and they were introduced through Spain to Europeans in general. The bird was named the Canary because it came from the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, and the island cluster is made up of eight major volcanic islands, together with an unnumbered host of smaller islands and ocean rocks. The original inhabitants were tribal peoples from the nearby African continent, followed subsequently by European peoples from the Iberian peninsula.

The total population in the Canaries is more than two million, and their income is derived from agriculture and tourism, with normally 12 million holidaymakers visiting each year. There are two capital cities in the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz on Tenerife and Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.

The island of La Palma, which is enduring the volcanic upheaval, is different from Las Palmas, which is a city on a different island (Gran Canaria). The island called La Palma is a volcanic island that rises four miles above the sea floor. It is noted for its series of natural and manmade water tunnels and irrigation canals.

For the first 40 years of its radio history, La Palma Island was dependent upon local reception of programming from mediumwave broadcasting stations that were installed upon other islands in the Canary Island cluster. However, around 1960 a radio broadcasting station was installed on La Palma Island, and interestingly, it was a shortwave station.

La Voz de la Isla de la Palma was a low powered station with just 350 watts in the 7 MHz shortwave band. The initial frequency was listed as 7385 kHz, and soon afterwards it was shown as 7390 kHz, though subsequently the operational channel was adjusted to 7345 kHz. The shortwave station on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands was on the air for a decade or so, and it was replaced by a mediumwave unit in 1966.

The initial channel for La Voz de la Isla de la Palma on mediumwave was 1385 kHz, though four years later this was changed to 1098 kHz. Likewise, the original callsign was ECS16, though subsequently this was officialized as RNE5, indicating in reality a relay service from the government radio service in Madrid Spain.

The usage of mediumwave on La Palma was phased out around the turn of the century, and all local radio coverage on the island, government and commercial, is now on standard FM.

While we are still talking about the Canary Islands, would you believe it, there is a Canary Island in the Australian state of Victoria. This Canary Island is a small inland island formed by the Loddon River, 160 miles northwest of the state capital Melbourne. Ten people live on this island, and there is a community church building, but no radio station.