2003

The first 2003 broadcast would be a five hour one, planned for February 23rd. However, 2003 turned out to be a year with very little activity.

Much delayed start of the year

Programmes were recorded including the debut show of newcomer Frank Carson. Unfortunately the transmission had to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. And that was that. Following this setback, FRS was aiming at a re-start in September.  Apart from some low power tests, it remained silent for the first 8 months of 2003. Nevertheless the FRSH spirit was still alive. In contrast with the previous two years, FRS was not to be heard in September. Instead a brief 40 minute show was carried out on 6211 kHz on Sunday morning August 31st. That day it was exactly 23 years ago that FRS-Holland began its broadcasting life on the shortwave bands. In the show Peter Verbruggen made the listening audience aware of this memorable fact. The broadcast was repeated in the early evening hours (17.00 UTC). Though the broadcasting power was relatively low, the 6211 signal was well received in different parts of Europe. In the evening hours strong reception was reported in London and Berlin well fitting in with our slogan “From London to Berlin….this is FRS-Holland playing 4 decades of music.” FRS certainly  regretted for being so long off the air.

At long last  there was a bit of positive news: FRS-Holland would return on the airwaves on a ‘good old’ 3rd Sunday, November 16^th,  celebrating its 23rd anniversary. A foreign site was hired and Peter Verbruggen, Bobby Speed and Mark Jones spent that memorable weekend together putting out FRS’  first regular 2003 broadcast. It was a fantastic weekend. Saturday November 15th several tests were carried out after having erected the 48 mb aerial and installing the audio processing equipment and broadcasting equipment. Tests were carried out on 6208 and 6210 kHz. Sunday November 16th FRS took off as early as 06.30 UTC (hoping for Trans Atlantic reception). At 07.45 UTC the Birthday programming started with non-stop music and at 08.52 UTC “Peace” from Peter (not Verbruggen) marked the start of presented  shows. Programming included Mark Jones, Frank Carson and Peter Verbruggen. Two DX Shows were aired including a comprehensive Radio Jackie feature. Programmes closed down after 7 hours on air at just over 13.30 UTC. Until 10.00 UTC propagation was good, after that unfortunately things got worse. In November FRS introduced a new  QSL-Series under the name ‘The FRS Studio Series‘. Each QSL represented a different FRS-Holland recording studio.

More FRS-Holland activity took place on Sunday December 21st  when the traditional X-Mas broadcast was aired on 6210 between 09.00- 13.00 UTC. Later that morning two hours of the broadcast were repeated on 12255 kHz. Christmas Day another two hours were repeated with low power on 6210. 2003 had been a very inactive year with- apart from tests and repeats-  only two (!) regular FRS broadcasts.
December 2003 double-edition 39/40 was the final edition of the  FRS Newsletter. It marked the end of a 21 year period of  subscription-based magazines produced by FRS. It once started with ‘FRS Goes DX’ in 1982 followed by the ‘FRS Newsletter’ in 1997. Mind you: ‘FRS News’- the free newsletter-  would continue focussing on FRS-Holland news only. Apart from time pressure, it appeared less and less radio enthusiasts were interested in subscribing.