RTBF International has confirmed that its shortwave transmissions [currently on 9970 kHz] will cease as of 2215 UTC on 31 December. Transmissions will continue on the mediumwave transmitter in Belgium on 621 kHz, on FM 99.2 MHz in Kinshasa, and via the AB3 satellite in Africa. It’s not clear if the station will continue to use the Hotbird satellite in Europe, as the website only says that listeners in Europe can listen via the Internet, either streaming or on demand.
(Source: RTBF website)
on Jan 2nd, 2010 at 13:21
As a German expat listener on the Spanish Costa Blanca I think it is a shame that RTBF closed down on shortwave. The signal on 9970 kHz was always strong and completely free from any kind of interference. Using a very high quality Eton E1 shortwave receiver which I bought for 600 euros 2 years ago, I used to listen in order to refresh and upgrade my rusty knowledge of French which I studied at school more than 30 years ago. RTBF audio quality was comparable to that of a local medium wave station, and with the synchronous detector switched on, distortion was zero. I think that more and cheaper analogue high-quality shortwave or worldband receivers should be put on the market, because it seems that the worldwide DRM project is dead in the water, given that after many years of preparation there are still no affordable stand-alone DRM receivers available. If you want to listen to international broadcasters on the Internet, you need mains electricity, a telephone line, an internet connection, a computer with soundcard and in addition, you have to pay an Internet service provider. The electricity consumption of a computer with monitor is much higher than that of a shortwave or worldband receiver which allows you to listen to the world immediately, at the switch of a button.
Jürgen Thiel
on Jan 2nd, 2010 at 22:12
Concerning Hotbird: Yesterday RTBF International could still be heard on Hotbird, at least it seemed so on a quick check. But RTBF Sat, the satellite TV service, is indeed gone.
on Nov 1st, 2010 at 17:11
As of November 2010 RTBF International is no longer in the Hotbird satellite. I am an Andalusian working in Brussels and I go back home to Cadiz every month. I used to get the RTBF in short wave with a Sony ICF-SW7600G and the signal was fantastic: as said here it was as good as local RNE in AM. RTBF in satellite TV has also been switch off. Shame on the French Community for cutting the two only links to get Belgian news in Europe.
on Nov 1st, 2010 at 17:30
The RTBFi website gives the following satellite information:
Satellite Atlantic Bird 3
Fréquence 3727 MHz
Bande C
Position Orbitale : 5°Ouest
Polarisation : RHCP (circulaire droite)
Modulation QPSK
Débit symbole: 29.95 Mbaud
FEC 7/8
SID : 109
PID Audio : 159
on Nov 1st, 2010 at 19:29
A C-band signal for coverage of both Europe and Africa, requiring a dish of at least 180 cm size. DW and RFI use this multiplex for signal distribution to Africa, too.