SES - 100 years radio communication history: PA100PCG, PA100M and PA100K

100 years radio communication history between Indonesia and The Netherlands

Two radio-organisations in The Netherlands, VRZA (national) and RCL (local), will activate three Special Event Station to celebrate 100 years of radio communication history on May 5, 6 and 7, 2023:

PA100PCG
PA100M
PA100K​

The history and background

In the early 20th century, exchanging telegrams between The Netherlands and Indonesia was only possible on an English cable connection. A German cable connection was later also used, but the outbreak of the First World War made the disadvantages of dependence on foreign cable connections increasingly apparent.

Shortly before the First World War, plans for a wireless connection were drafted and immediately after the war, the plans were put into effect. The construction of the long-wave transmitter station (callsign PKX) at Malabar near Bandung (Java, Indonesia) started as early as 1917. The operating frequency would be 17 kHz.



Because full-duplex connections between Indonesia and The Netherlands was a prerequisite, the receiving station was finally built in Rancaekek. At least 50 kilometres from the transmitter at Malabar, to keep interference limited from the large transmitter power of 2.4 MW.

In The Netherlands, the construction of the reception station for telegraphy signals from Malabar started in 1919 at the small town of Sambeek near Boxmeer and for the very same reasons as in Indonesia situated 50 kilometres away from the transmitter site at Kootwijk.



In 1918 the construction of the transmitter site (callsign PCG) and its antennas at Kootwijk near Apeldoorn started and lasted until 1923. Six steel lattice masts of each 211.6 meters tall were ordered in Germany in September 1918, since there was no such supplier to be found in The Netherlands. About 380.000 cubical metres had to be moved to lay out and level the transmitter site. The six lattice masts carried a long-wave umbrella antenna. Inside the main building (Building A) two 400 kW Telefunken machine transmitters were placed.



On 5 May 1923, the radiotelegraph connection was put into operation by sending a telegram from Indonesia with congratulations to the Queen in The Netherlands.




Three Special Event Stations 2023 in The Netherlands

For the occasion of 100 years radio communication history between Indonesia and The Netherlands three Special Event Stations will be activated:

From the location of the former reception station: PA100K and PA100M.

- websites:
QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/PA100K
QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/PA100M
Direct: https://rclb.nl/mk

- public activities [1]: 5, 6 and 7 May 2023

From the location of the former transmitter station: PA100PCG.

- websites:
QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/PA100PCG
Direct: https://rclb.nl/km

- public activities [1]: 6 and 7 May 2023

On 6 May 2023 we will transmit several official telegrams in telegraphy from Indonesia to The Netherlands and likewise from The Netherlands to Indonesia, the same way as officially was done 100 years ago.

We will have an official telegram of the Dutch ambassador in Indonesia Mr. Grijns, to send to the Indonesian ambassador Mr. Mayerfas in The Netherlands. The answer of Mr. Mayerfas will be send back to Indonesia.

For PA100PCG and the Indonesian counter station(s) we will transmit the official telegrams both ways on 6 May 2023 from 12:15 to 13:00 UTC. For PA100M and PA100K and the Indonesian counter station(s) we will subsequently transmit the official telegrams both ways on 6 May 2023 from 13:15 to and 14:00 UTC.

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Summary

For the occasion of 100 years radio communication history between Indonesia and The Netherlands three Special Event Stations will be activated: PA100PCG, PA100M and PA100K.

History. In both countries a high power transmitter- and a corresponding reception station were established in 1923 at a long wave frequency of 17 kHz. At those days referred to as PKX (Malabar, Indonesia) and

PCG (Kootwijk, The Netherlands). These stations and their operators were pioneers in the field of long-range long-wave telegraphic communication.

Special Event Stations. The three Special Event Stations will start at 5, 6 and 7 May 2023 with public activities and will continue activation from different locations during the rest of the month of May and June 2023. The public activities will take place from the locations of the former transmitter station and the former reception station.

From the location of the former reception station: PA100K and PA100M.

- websites:
QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/PA100K
QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/PA100M
Direct: https://rclb.nl/mk
- public activities [1]: 5, 6 and 7 May 2023

From the location of the former transmitter station: PA100PCG.

- websites:
QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/PA100PCG
Direct: https://rclb.nl/km
- public activities [1]: 6 and 7 May 2023
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On behalf of the national Dutch radio society VRZA and the local radio club RCL.



Bas, PD7BDN

Jan, PA2P


[1] After the public activities the above-mentioned stations will stay active from individual
amateur radio locations throughout the months of May and June 2023.