Radio Cristal Internacional

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Por las Rutas de Quisqueya #3

Radio Cristal Internacional

The following item is taken from Relampago DX #114 (December 2000) by Takayuki Inoue Nozaki. It is placed here with permission.
Scanning the past editions of the World Radio TV Handbook, the shortwave outlet can be first found in the 1962 edition, registered under the name of "Emisora HIMS2" on the nominal frequency of 5010 kHz in the 60 meter band with an output of 1 kW. The medium wave outlet was registered as "Emisora HIMS" on the nominal frequency of 580 kHz with an output of 1 kW. Later, the station was listed under the name of "Radio Cristal" between the 1963 and the 1977 edition. After the shortwave outlet was struck off from the World Radio TV Handbook, Radio Cristal continued to be listed on 570 kHz medium wave. With regard to the logging reported by DX enthusiasts, Radio Cristal had been heard on 5010 kHz from the 1960's through the early 1970's. Reportedly, there was usually interference from two Latin American stations operating on the same channel: YVRW Radio Bocon� in Bocon� - Venezuela and OAX8V Radio Eco in Iquitos - Peru.
One of the remarkable events in 1996 on the Latin American broadcasting field would be the reincarnation of an old shortwave outlet transmitting from the heart of the Caribbean. It was on May 23, 1996 that an unfamiliar signal drifting around 5012 kHz came into DXers' notice. Soon it was apparently proven that the shortwave transmission carried the programming of HIBL Radio Pueblo, a commercial station located in Santo Domingo operating on the frequency of 1510 kHz medium wave. After several days of experimental broadcasts with the relay of Radio Pueblo, the shortwave outlet began identifying itself as Radio Cristal International, providing news summary, touristic information about the Dominican Republic, and the typical national music of merengue, mangulina, bambul�, and carabin�.
On Monday in the morning, December 28, 1998, I decided to visit Radio Cristal International, one of the historic stations which came back to the shortwave band in 1990's. Relying on the address mentioned in a telephone directory, I learned that it was situated at Avenida 27 de Febrero No. 514, Edificio Manuel Arsenio Urea�a. I got in a shared taxi on the route of Avenida 27 de Febrero, a main thoroughfare in Santo Domingo. Entering the 6th floor of the building, I found a doorplate showing "Micro Ondas Nacionales" and five station plates at the reception wall: "Galaxia 97.1", "Ritmo 96", "Metro 1120", "Cristal 570", and "Estrella 90.5". I asked to a receptionist at the information desk to confirm that this was the location of the studio of Radio Cristal. He answered me in the affirmative, adding that the whole floor contains the offices and the studios of the broadcasting enterprise "Micro Ondas Nacionales S.A.". I asked for an interview with the director of Radio Cristal International. However, he stated that there was a station called Radio Cristal, but no shortwave station was located there. I could not understand the meaning, and I asked him to look for a person in charge. Shortly later, a director came to the reception, and noted what I was looking for. I learned that Radio Cristal on 570 kHz medium wave, and Radio Cristal International on 5010 kHz shortwave, were owned and operated by totally different companies.
Thanks to a help of the program director, later on, I made contact by telephone with Fernando Herm�n Gross, the program director of Radio Cristal International. Finally in the evening, I made a visit to Radio Cristal International, which was situated at Calle Pepillo Salcedo No. 18, Altos, Ensanche La F�, in Santo Domingo. It was in a two story building, shared with the owner's house and the station facilities. The facilities consisted of an owner/director's office, two operating studios for Radio Pueblo and Radio Cristal International respectively, and a small recording studio. Dario Bad�a (president), H�ctor Bad�a (administrator), Fernando Herm�n Gross (program director), and other staff welcomed my visit to the station, and invited me to participate the evening newscast of Radio Pueblo.
The name and beginning of Radio Cristal is closely related to other broadcasters in Santo Domingo as a link of a long chain of stations with many different names according to the owner of the time. In 1940's there existed a radio station called "HIT El hit del aire" transmitting on the frequency of 1260 kHz with a power of 0.2 kW. Some time before 1960, it changed name again to Radio Comercial and commenced operating from Calle Mercedes No. 122 in Ciudad Trujillo, Distrito de Santo Domingo. This marked the birth of that station with authority which had been granted to Angela Lidia Pichardo Vda. Sanabia. Around the end of 1959, Radio Comercial moved to 1020 kHz when the broadcasting enterprise "Comer-Cris" was established. It was composed of two stations: HIJP Radio Comercial which had been already on the air under the direction of Luis Armando Asunci�n; and HIT Radio Cristal which was newly inaugurated on January 7, 1960, utilizing the frequency left by Radio Comercial (1260 kHz) under the direction of Mario B�ez Asunci�n. Radio Comercial purchased a new transmitter for this change of frequency, while Radio Cristal continued using a homebred transmitter of 0.6 kW.
On September 26, 1961, they moved the studios and offices to the third floor of Edificio Armenteros, situated at Calle El Conde No. 24, in Santo Domingo. At the beginning of 1962, they applied for a frequency change to the "Direcci�n General de Telecomunicaciones". Accordingly in 1963, Radio Cristal was assigned on the frequency of 570 kHz with a new callsign HIMS, and purchased a "Gates" brand transmitter of 1 kW for the medium wave outlet. Meanwhile, the frequency of 1260 kHz was taken over by a new owner, Manuel Mar�a Pimentel, to establish a new broadcaster.
On January 1, 1967, Nobel Alfonso was inaugurated as a new director of Radio Cristal to carry out administrative, commercial operating, and programming reforms. The shortwave service was established on April 5, 1967, in order to enlarge the coverage and to reach more audience living in the remote areas in the Dominican Republic and also abroad. The shortwave outlet was assigned on the frequency of 5010 kHz in the 60 meter band, and operated with a modified "Gates" brand transmitter of 0.8 kW output power. Radio Cristal was a part of the broadcasting enterprise "Comer-Cris, C por A", which was founded and owned by Jos� Brea Pe�a, secretary of industry and commerce of the Dominican government. The broadcasting enterprise was composed of the following stations: HIJP Radio Comercial on 1020 kHz and 4880 kHz in Santo Domingo, under the management of Juan Nova Ram�rez, director; HIMS Radio Cristal on 570 kHz and 5010 kHz in Santo Domingo, under the management of Nobel Alfonso, director; and HIJP Radio Azua on 1490 kHz in Azua, under the management of Tomas Oviedo, administrator.
On January 21, 1969, the ownership of Radio Cristal was transferred from Jos� Brea Pe�a to Elizardo Dickson. At that time, Radio Cristal transmitted at 1100-0500 daily for 18 hours a day, simultaneously on medium wave and shortwave. As many reception reports had been received from Europe, mainly 22:08 04/05/2000 station logotype is occasionally sent from the station.
Opening announcement:
"Inicia su transmisi�n Cristal Internacional en la frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda tropical de 60 metros desde Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana. Esperamos que nuestra programaci�n sea de su completo agrado."
Closing announcement
"Aqu� finaliza su transmisi�n Cristal Internacional en la frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda de 60 metros desde Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana."
Canned Identifications
"Esta es Radio Cristal Internacional en su frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda tropical de 60 metros. Somos la voz de la Rep�blica Dominicana en el exterior, que promueve el turismo y la cultura de la Rep�blica Dominicana. Si desea reportar nuestra programaci�n, escr�banos a nuestro apartado 894 en Santo Domingo. Estaremos muy a gusto de recibir sus correspondencias." "Desde Santo Domingo, transmite Cristal Internacional en la frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda tropical de 60 metros. Si desea reportarnos nuestra programaci�n, escr�banos al apartado postal 894 en Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana, apartado postal 894, Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana." "Cruzamos fronteras, cielos y mares el mensaje fraterno de la Rep�blica Dominicana hacia el mundo a tr�ves de Cristal Internacional, la voz de la Rep�blica Dominicana en el exterior."

Technical Information
HIMI 5010 kHz: is equipped with a transmitter manufactured by Andrez Infante (1 kW), and a 1/2 wave dipole antenna (18 meters high above the ground). The shortwave outlet started its operation in April of 1996.
HIBL 1510 kHz: is used by Radio Pueblo, with a transmitter manufactured by Ram�n Pacheco (10 kW) in 1992 and a 1/4 wave vertical antenna (50 meters high above the ground).
954.60 MHz: is used for shortwave outlet, equipped with a "McMarti" brand transmitter STL10 (10 watts) as a link between studio and transmitter site.
946.60 MHz: is used for medium wave outlet, equipped with a "DB" brand transmitter (10 watts) as a link between studio and transmitter site.
Transmitter site: Villa Mella, Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana. Mail address: Apartado Postal 894, Santo Domingo
Studio: Calle Pepillo Salcedo No. 18, Altos, Ensanche La F�, Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana.

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This website is maintained by Don Moore,
Association of North American Radio Clubs
DXer of the Year for 1995.
My Address Is In This Graphic

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Por las Rutas de Quisqueya #3 Radio Cristal Internacional The following item is taken from Relampago DX* #114 (December 2000) by Takayuki Inoue Nozaki. It is placed here with permission.* Scanning the past editions of the World Radio TV Handbook, the shortwave outlet can be first found in the 1962 edition, registered under the name of "Emisora HIMS2" on the nominal frequency of 5010 kHz in the 60 meter band with an output of 1 kW. The medium wave outlet was registered as "Emisora HIMS" on the nominal frequency of 580 kHz with an output of 1 kW. Later, the station was listed under the name of "Radio Cristal" between the 1963 and the 1977 edition. After the shortwave outlet was struck off from the World Radio TV Handbook, Radio Cristal continued to be listed on 570 kHz medium wave. With regard to the logging reported by DX enthusiasts, Radio Cristal had been heard on 5010 kHz from the 1960's through the early 1970's. Reportedly, there was usually interference from two Latin American stations operating on the same channel: YVRW Radio Bocon� in Bocon� - Venezuela and OAX8V Radio Eco in Iquitos - Peru. One of the remarkable events in 1996 on the Latin American broadcasting field would be the reincarnation of an old shortwave outlet transmitting from the heart of the Caribbean. It was on May 23, 1996 that an unfamiliar signal drifting around 5012 kHz came into DXers' notice. Soon it was apparently proven that the shortwave transmission carried the programming of HIBL Radio Pueblo, a commercial station located in Santo Domingo operating on the frequency of 1510 kHz medium wave. After several days of experimental broadcasts with the relay of Radio Pueblo, the shortwave outlet began identifying itself as Radio Cristal International, providing news summary, touristic information about the Dominican Republic, and the typical national music of merengue, mangulina, bambul�, and carabin�. On Monday in the morning, December 28, 1998, I decided to visit Radio Cristal International, one of the historic stations which came back to the shortwave band in 1990's. Relying on the address mentioned in a telephone directory, I learned that it was situated at Avenida 27 de Febrero No. 514, Edificio Manuel Arsenio Urea�a. I got in a shared taxi on the route of Avenida 27 de Febrero, a main thoroughfare in Santo Domingo. Entering the 6th floor of the building, I found a doorplate showing "Micro Ondas Nacionales" and five station plates at the reception wall: "Galaxia 97.1", "Ritmo 96", "Metro 1120", "Cristal 570", and "Estrella 90.5". I asked to a receptionist at the information desk to confirm that this was the location of the studio of Radio Cristal. He answered me in the affirmative, adding that the whole floor contains the offices and the studios of the broadcasting enterprise "Micro Ondas Nacionales S.A.". I asked for an interview with the director of Radio Cristal International. However, he stated that there was a station called Radio Cristal, but no shortwave station was located there. I could not understand the meaning, and I asked him to look for a person in charge. Shortly later, a director came to the reception, and noted what I was looking for. I learned that Radio Cristal on 570 kHz medium wave, and Radio Cristal International on 5010 kHz shortwave, were owned and operated by totally different companies. Thanks to a help of the program director, later on, I made contact by telephone with Fernando Herm�n Gross, the program director of Radio Cristal International. Finally in the evening, I made a visit to Radio Cristal International, which was situated at Calle Pepillo Salcedo No. 18, Altos, Ensanche La F�, in Santo Domingo. It was in a two story building, shared with the owner's house and the station facilities. The facilities consisted of an owner/director's office, two operating studios for Radio Pueblo and Radio Cristal International respectively, and a small recording studio. Dario Bad�a (president), H�ctor Bad�a (administrator), Fernando Herm�n Gross (program director), and other staff welcomed my visit to the station, and invited me to participate the evening newscast of Radio Pueblo. The name and beginning of Radio Cristal is closely related to other broadcasters in Santo Domingo as a link of a long chain of stations with many different names according to the owner of the time. In 1940's there existed a radio station called "HIT El hit del aire" transmitting on the frequency of 1260 kHz with a power of 0.2 kW. Some time before 1960, it changed name again to Radio Comercial and commenced operating from Calle Mercedes No. 122 in Ciudad Trujillo, Distrito de Santo Domingo. This marked the birth of that station with authority which had been granted to Angela Lidia Pichardo Vda. Sanabia. Around the end of 1959, Radio Comercial moved to 1020 kHz when the broadcasting enterprise "Comer-Cris" was established. It was composed of two stations: HIJP Radio Comercial which had been already on the air under the direction of Luis Armando Asunci�n; and HIT Radio Cristal which was newly inaugurated on January 7, 1960, utilizing the frequency left by Radio Comercial (1260 kHz) under the direction of Mario B�ez Asunci�n. Radio Comercial purchased a new transmitter for this change of frequency, while Radio Cristal continued using a homebred transmitter of 0.6 kW. On September 26, 1961, they moved the studios and offices to the third floor of Edificio Armenteros, situated at Calle El Conde No. 24, in Santo Domingo. At the beginning of 1962, they applied for a frequency change to the "Direcci�n General de Telecomunicaciones". Accordingly in 1963, Radio Cristal was assigned on the frequency of 570 kHz with a new callsign HIMS, and purchased a "Gates" brand transmitter of 1 kW for the medium wave outlet. Meanwhile, the frequency of 1260 kHz was taken over by a new owner, Manuel Mar�a Pimentel, to establish a new broadcaster. On January 1, 1967, Nobel Alfonso was inaugurated as a new director of Radio Cristal to carry out administrative, commercial operating, and programming reforms. The shortwave service was established on April 5, 1967, in order to enlarge the coverage and to reach more audience living in the remote areas in the Dominican Republic and also abroad. The shortwave outlet was assigned on the frequency of 5010 kHz in the 60 meter band, and operated with a modified "Gates" brand transmitter of 0.8 kW output power. Radio Cristal was a part of the broadcasting enterprise "Comer-Cris, C por A", which was founded and owned by Jos� Brea Pe�a, secretary of industry and commerce of the Dominican government. The broadcasting enterprise was composed of the following stations: HIJP Radio Comercial on 1020 kHz and 4880 kHz in Santo Domingo, under the management of Juan Nova Ram�rez, director; HIMS Radio Cristal on 570 kHz and 5010 kHz in Santo Domingo, under the management of Nobel Alfonso, director; and HIJP Radio Azua on 1490 kHz in Azua, under the management of Tomas Oviedo, administrator. On January 21, 1969, the ownership of Radio Cristal was transferred from Jos� Brea Pe�a to Elizardo Dickson. At that time, Radio Cristal transmitted at 1100-0500 daily for 18 hours a day, simultaneously on medium wave and shortwave. As many reception reports had been received from Europe, mainly 22:08 04/05/2000 station logotype is occasionally sent from the station. Opening announcement: "Inicia su transmisi�n Cristal Internacional en la frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda tropical de 60 metros desde Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana. Esperamos que nuestra programaci�n sea de su completo agrado." Closing announcement "Aqu� finaliza su transmisi�n Cristal Internacional en la frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda de 60 metros desde Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana." Canned Identifications "Esta es Radio Cristal Internacional en su frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda tropical de 60 metros. Somos la voz de la Rep�blica Dominicana en el exterior, que promueve el turismo y la cultura de la Rep�blica Dominicana. Si desea reportar nuestra programaci�n, escr�banos a nuestro apartado 894 en Santo Domingo. Estaremos muy a gusto de recibir sus correspondencias." "Desde Santo Domingo, transmite Cristal Internacional en la frecuencia de 5010 kHz banda tropical de 60 metros. Si desea reportarnos nuestra programaci�n, escr�banos al apartado postal 894 en Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana, apartado postal 894, Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana." "Cruzamos fronteras, cielos y mares el mensaje fraterno de la Rep�blica Dominicana hacia el mundo a tr�ves de Cristal Internacional, la voz de la Rep�blica Dominicana en el exterior." Technical Information HIMI 5010 kHz: is equipped with a transmitter manufactured by Andrez Infante (1 kW), and a 1/2 wave dipole antenna (18 meters high above the ground). The shortwave outlet started its operation in April of 1996. HIBL 1510 kHz: is used by Radio Pueblo, with a transmitter manufactured by Ram�n Pacheco (10 kW) in 1992 and a 1/4 wave vertical antenna (50 meters high above the ground). 954.60 MHz: is used for shortwave outlet, equipped with a "McMarti" brand transmitter STL10 (10 watts) as a link between studio and transmitter site. 946.60 MHz: is used for medium wave outlet, equipped with a "DB" brand transmitter (10 watts) as a link between studio and transmitter site. Transmitter site: Villa Mella, Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana. Mail address: Apartado Postal 894, Santo Domingo Studio: Calle Pepillo Salcedo No. 18, Altos, Ensanche La F�, Santo Domingo, Rep�blica Dominicana. This website is maintained by Don Moore, Association of North American Radio Clubs DXer of the Year for 1995.