Guido Schotmans writes: Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal (RVi) will cease to exist after 31 December 2011. That also means that the Wolvertem transmitter (near Brussels) operating on 927 kHz will be switched off on 31 December at 23:59:59 hours local time. Norkring is the owner of the transmitter. It is unclear if they will put airtime on the market for rent. Mails to them are left unanswered. But I think the transmitter is in bad shape. It is left on the air at night with unmodulated carrier since several weeks ago. We have seen this too during extremely cold periods in recent winters. So I think there are no plans to use the site for other purposes.
On RVi’s website will only be mentioned that the service has ceased while Radio 1 and 2 are now available worldwide via the internet and satellite.
Here are a few pictures of the antennas at Wolvertem :
- http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/22935817.jpg
- http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/27136164.jpg
- http://www.project208.com/belgium-meise-wolvertem-drijpikkelstraat-pictures.html
In Google Maps : http://g.co/maps/6h5ad
and in Bing Maps : http://bit.ly/tIlTQK
(Source: Guido Schotmans)
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on Nov 30th, 2011 at 14:55
I expect most people who used to listen to RVI’s English programmes didn’t know the station was still on air; I certainly didn’t. To me, RVI closed years ago.
on Nov 30th, 2011 at 15:10
So we lose another SW service as well as a local AM transmitter in NW-Europe.
on Nov 30th, 2011 at 17:08
I thought they were already off air for a few years now. How many listeners did they have 2?
on Nov 30th, 2011 at 18:05
I wonder if the Flemish environment organsations are aware of the most inefficient and polluting heating system in the country.
Leaving a TX on to avoid moisture problems when re started is outragious. Installing a few electrical fires is still not very green, but much better then broadcasting dead air for hours and hours every day.
When I leave my car on all night to avoid starting problems I might even be fined by the police!
on Dec 1st, 2011 at 09:04
The shortwave service was already dropped a few years ago. What was left was only some Dutch language programmes on 927 kHz, on satellite and via the internet.
on Dec 1st, 2011 at 09:06
This station great to a new commercial station, even 2 stations with a power of 50 kW each.
on Dec 2nd, 2011 at 14:36
Just to let you all know I will be posting recordings of David Monson when he hosted Brussels Calling on Belgium Radio International soon at the PCJ site.
on Dec 5th, 2011 at 23:17
Does the end of RVI have anything to do with the incoming Belgian government?
on Dec 6th, 2011 at 09:24
@ James.
No, this was decided moths ago. The VRT wants a new extra television channel and RVi will be sacrificed tor that.
on Dec 6th, 2011 at 20:28
More news and exclusive pictures here.
http://www.radiovisie.eu/be/nieuws.rvsp?art=00088837#replyform
on Dec 7th, 2011 at 13:05
Yes TV is -sexy- and certainly not AM radio.
927 is almost dead now, hardly any signal here in central Holland.
on Jan 8th, 2012 at 11:09
I used to listen to Radio Vlaanderen over the Satelite dish (Astra) And I miss it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on Jan 8th, 2012 at 13:09
Just do a search scan. VRT Radio 1 and 2 are now freely available via Astra 1L on 12.722 GHz h, their encryption has been lifted on 29 Dec. Until then anything in this multiplex was encrypted, so one could completely ignore it before. These two channels are stereo, a bit muffled and muddy due to an insufficient bitrate (160 kbps), but that’s still much better than poorish 64 kbps mono.
Perhaps VRT should have placed announcent loops on the old, RVI-branded channels for some time instead of just shutting them down.