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"Wavescan" is a weekly program for long distance radio hobbyists produced by Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Coordinator of International Relations for Adventist World Radio. AWR carries the program over many of its stations (including shortwave). Adrian Peterson is a highly regarded DXer and radio historian, and often includes features on radio history in his program. We are reproducing those features below, with Dr. Peterson's permission and assistance.


Wavescan 479, March 7, 2004

On the Air in Bahrain

In the earlier part of last year, Radio Bahrain re-activated their shortwave transmitter which had been off the air for several years. In this edition of Wavescan, we take up the story of Radio Broadcasting in Bahrain.

The Middle Eastern country of Bahrain is located in the Persian Gulf, and it is made up entirely of islands, more than thirty altogether. Most of these islands are quite barren, and the total area is about the same size as, for example, the city of Chicago.

This area is very hot in summer, with little rain falling, no more than about three inches a year. However, there are many freshwater springs that provide ample water for the local inhabitants, as well as for animals and the irrigation of large farming areas.

Underground oil was discovered in 1932, and this gave a remarkable impetus to development in the islands of Bahrain. However, the oil supply has since diminished, and Bahrain has turned to oil processing and other forms of commerce and manufacturing. It is stated that Bahrain has the best electricity supply in the Middle East.

The capital city is Manama, on the main island, Bahrain. The total population numbers around half a million, and Arabic is the official language, though there are also many other residents who trace their national origins to India, Pakistan, or Iran.

Bahrain also has a long history, going way back in ancient times to 2000 BC, when the islands were known as Dilmun. Many other nations have dominated the area over the centuries, including Portugal, Persia, Saudi Arabia, and England. They gained independence in 1971.

Somewhere around the year 1920, the first communication station was installed in Bahrain by the Indo-European Telegraph Company, and it was on the air for local and international communication under the callsign VTE. The more modern counterpart was Cable & Wireless, which verified listener reports with a square, folded QSL card.

The first radio broadcasting service in Bahrain was on the air from 1941-1945, and it is presumed that this was a mediumwave facility. Three years later, a shortwave station was noted on the air with daily programming for an hour or two in three languages.

However, it was another seven years before a regular broadcasting service was established in Bahrain, and this was inaugurated on July 21, 1955 with 2 kW on 610 kHz. Programming was mainly in Arabic, with some English and occasional other regional languages. Over the years, Radio Bahrain has increased its output of programming, and today they are on the air with five mediumwave transmitters ranging in power from 1 kW up to 100 kW, as well as five FM transmitters.

Back in the 1970s, a petroleum company launched its own radio station with just 100 watts on 1230 kHz, and a television station ran the audio channel on 570 kHz for local listeners. There was also a Voice of America relay station in Bahrain for 18 months during the first Gulf War, with 25 kW on 1350 kHz. They subsequently donated a 50 kW mediumwave transmitter to the government radio station.

On shortwave, Radio Bahrain took out an experimental relay of their regular mediumwave programming over Radio Kuwait on 6010 kHz in 1991. In August of the same year, Radio Bahrain transferred this programming to their own 60 kW transmitter located at Abu Hayan.

This service was on the air for seven years, and it was terminated in 1997 as no longer being necessary. However, the shortwave service was reactivated last year, and it is now listed as on the air 24 hours daily, with two transmitters at 60 kW on 6010 kHz and 9745 kHz, with programming in Arabic and English.

A few years ago, Radio Bahrain was quite a reliable verifier, and they issued a QSL card with a map of their islands and a list of all mediumwave and shortwave transmitters.