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RADIO MELODIA

(HJCU & HJQE)

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The following item is taken from pages 186-187 of LA-DXing, 4th Edition (1987), as published by Radio Nuevo Mundo. It was written by Takayuki Inoue Nozaki and is placed here with permission.

In 1979, Radio Melodia changed its 49mb outlet from 6140kHz to 6045kHz and was confirmed in 1980/81 in Japan. After a long absence of SW transmission. Radio Melodia came back on SW outlet, as reported 6045.6kHz in Japan for a few days in November 1986. But they went off the air again afterwards .... Radio Melodia was very famous for the sole "LIDER" network station heard in our country. Network name was changed in 1985 to "Cadena Melodia" to appeal characteristics of the network.

One of the characteristics of Colombian station is that each network has original ID pattern with a theme music, which is given on the hour (or the half hour). La Voz de los Centauros de Villavicencio (5955) which used the same melody as LIDER network theme without mentioning the network, found out to be a I,IDER affiliate, according to the old data of Radio Melodia. Incidentally, ID of "Cadena Melodia" (ex-Cadena LIDER) stations is recorded at studio in Bogota and sent to each affiliate stations.

On July 18, 1985, I visited Radio Melodia, located at Carrera 5a, NO.14-80 in downtown Bogota. They had been located at Calle 61 until they moved to the new building. Radio Melodia occupies the third floor of the building: discoteca, theater, news room, recording room, studios. Studios are equipped with: "Centurion" 6ch console mixer, "Contel" CT101-PB cartridge tape deck, "Sony" 'PC788-4 open tape deck, 2 "Gates" CB1200 disc players, "Sony" TC-1365C radio-cassette for monitoring and "AKG" microphone. Discoteca has various discs of Salsa, Cumbia, Vallenato (Tropical music of coastal region), 'I'ango, instrumental, ballad, etc. Recording studio is equipped with: "Mc.Marti" 13-82 8ch console mixer, "Ampex" ATR700 open tape deck, 2 "Gates" disk players, "NEC" K525E cassette tape deck and "Contel" cartridge tape deck.

History of the station

Radio Melodia was originally inaugurated by Don Jose Venegas on September 19, 1947 as Radio Industrial on 730kliz (1kW) with a schedule: 0500-2400. All night transmission was commenced in 1958 and at the same time station name was changed to Radio Capital by the founder. It was named after Bogota being the capital of Colombia. Incidentally, another HJCA Radio Capital (1250kHz, 10kW, an affiliate of TODELAR network, ex-Radio Guadaira) has nothing to do with the HJCU Radio Capital. On August 14, 1959, present Director Gerente, Sr. Efrain Paez Espitia bought the station) and station name was changed once again to Radio Melodia. Basic station ("Emisora Basica") of Cadena Melodia is installed at five big cities and connected to Bogota by micor wave network. "Emisora Basica" includes: HJCU Radio Melodia de Bogota (730kHz), HJEN Radio Melodia de Cali (620kHz), HJDS Ondas de la Montana - Medellin (1350kHz), HJTE La Voz del Choco-Quibdo (1150kHz) arid HJMH La Voz de Sudamericana - Bucararmanga (1080kHz).

These stations broadcast simultaneously the following information programs produced at Radio Melodia - Bogota or Radio Melodia-Cali: "El Noticiero de la Verdad": 0630-0700, 1230-1330, 1830-1930 & 2330 - 2400. "Cundiamarca al Dia": 0700-0730 (Monday-Saturday). "Bogotoa al Dia" 1330-1400 & 1930-2000 (Monday-Saturday). "Musica y Noticias": 0500-0630 & 0730-0900. 5 minutos con Noticias Mas Importantes": every hour during 1000-1430 & 1700-2200. "Lider del Deporte": 1130-1230 daily.

In addition to these, soccer game relay is in at Emisora Basica on Sundays. These stations transmit 24 hours a day. They also have an FM stereo network specializing music (no news) on FM outlets):
HJMD 96.9MHZ Melodia Stereo FM, Bogota
HJHC 91.7MHZ Caldas Stereo FM, Manizales

Technical Information:

HJCU 730kHz:7 "Telefunkenl- 5OkW transmitter + 1/4 wave 105m high tower antenna.
HJQE 6045kHz: SW transmitter (5kW) was constructed by Colombian engineers in Bogota. Antenna is a 1/4 wave dipole. SW outlet has not been used for years due to problem of deteriorated vacuum tubes.

*Same with other commercial stations located outside the "Llano" and "Amazon" regions where it is necessary for to make use of SW service, it is almost unneccesary for them to transmit on SW, which needs much money for maintenance. SW is a broadcasting media no more to transmit a national (Colombian) image to the foreign listeners.

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This website is maintained by Don Moore,
Association of North American Radio Clubs
DXer of the Year for 1995
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