The first historic activation from the facilities of LRA 36 Radio National “Arcangel San Gabriel” at the Esperanza Antarctic Base (WAP ARG-Ø4) began on Monday, October 9th, with the Special Call L36Z.
Amateur Radio activities,will be carried out with the purpose of contribute to spreading the presence and operation of the only Antarcticbroadcasting radio station.
The operation is in charge of Prof. Juan C. Benavente, LU8DBS (LU8DBS/Z), who is located at Esperanza Base, coordinating the renovation and improvement tasks of LRA36, also operator of LU1ZV and now, with the special prefix L36Z, mostly 20 and 40 meters bands, SSB and FT8. QSL through LoTW, QRZ.COM. (pic aside)
The activation of L36Z is sponsored by the Radio Argentina Abroad Service (RAE), the “Uniendo Voces” project of the National University of Quilmes (UNQ), and has the special collaboration of the Radio Club Grupo DX Bahía Blanca, LU3DXG.
LRA 36, Radio National “Arcángel Sas Gabriel”, is located at 63º 23′ South and 56º 59′ West, in the “Sargento Cabral” blockhouse at Esperanza Base, to the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. In front of the bay is the Antarctic Strait, and the Base is at the foot of Mount Flora, an important paleontological site. It is the only shortwave station that Argentina has in Antarctica, and transmits 15,476 KHz. Since this year, transmissions cover 12 months.
LRA 36 went on the air for the first time on October 20, 1979: at that time on 6,030 KHz, belonging to the Radio Nacional network, linked to the Radio Argentina Exterior service (RAE), whose director is Adrián Korol, LU1CQM.
Another milestone was the first Argentine Antarctic Radio Bulletin (RANTAR), which has been broadcast on LRA 36 and on Radio Amateur bands, since March 2023.
TNX Carlos Almirón LU7DSY