Waringarri Media is heard for around 300 kilometres from our broadcast studios in Kununurra, but thanks to so-called DXing enthusiasts we are being received as far away as Japan. That’s a distance of 5,500 kilometres or 3,420 miles.

Mr Hideki Watanabe, a 60-year-old DXer living in Chiba prefecture in Japan, has just sent us a Reception Report as part of his rather niche hobby of collecting Verification (QSL) Cards or Letters from various radio stations all over the world.

Waringarri Media has been broadcasting since late 1987 and is considered WA’s first ever Aboriginal Community Radio station. In 2027 we will celebrate 40 years since our first broadcast on local ABC radio before obtaining our very own license as 6WR Waringarri Radio on 693AM in 1992.

We also broadcast on 102.1FM in Wyndham and are waiting for a response from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to broadcast FM in Kununurra, which will give us better all-round stereo sound, especially for music lovers.

But you don’t have to be an old wireless fanatic DXer to hear us around the world, because today we Live Stream digitally via our website – Simply click on LISTEN LIVE on our front page.

See Mr Watanabe’s email to us below and a few photos he sent us, along with more information about the fascinating world of DXers.

WHAT IS DXYING?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DXing

DXing, taken from DX, the telegraphic shorthand for “distance” or “distant”, is the hobby of receiving and identifying distant radio or television signals, or making two-way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio, citizens band radio or other two-way radio communications. Many DXers also attempt to obtain written verifications of reception or contact, sometimes referred to as “QSLs” or “veries”.

The practice of DXing arose during the early days of radio broadcasting. Listeners would mail “reception reports” to radio broadcasting stations in hopes of getting a written acknowledgement or a QSL card that served to officially verify they had heard a distant station.

Collecting these cards became popular with radio listeners in the 1920s and 1930s, and reception reports were often used by early broadcasters to gauge the effectiveness of their transmissions. Although international shortwave broadcasts are on the decline, DXing remains popular among dedicated shortwave listeners. The pursuit of two-way contact between distant amateur radio operators is also a significant activity within the amateur radio hobby.

Waringarri Media is considering potentially creating a QSL profile on some available platforms to reward long distance users in the spectrum game.  QSL cards are physical or digital verifications exchanged in the amateur radio and shortwave listening (SWL) communities to confirm a two-way contact or signal reception.

For DXers (operators contacting distant stations), these cards serve as treasured proof for prestigious operating awards like the DXCC. Logbook of the World (LoTW): The official ARRL system used by DXers worldwide to log contacts and achieve digital awards securely.eQSL: A widely used electronic QSL system offering quick turnaround times for confirmations.QRZ.com: A popular online amateur radio hub that facilitates both paper QSL routing and digital confirmations.

RECEPTION REPORT

Dear Sir,

It is my pleasure of having an opportunity to send you this Reception Report. My name is Hideki WATANABE, a 60-year-old Japanese man living in Chiba pref., Japan.

One of my favorite hobbies has been to collect Verification (QSL) Cards or Letters from various radio stations in all over the world.

Indeed, I have collected more than 250 cards or letters from over 80 countries since I started this hobby in 1980. You also might have received some Reception Reports from DXers like myself. 

Please verify my reception with your QSL card or letter. If you ever do not have one, please write a simple note confirming my reception.

It would be appreciated if you would describe the reception data,  i.e., date, time, frequency… recognize what I wish to receive. I am sorry to bother you, but your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.

Your verification would be great highly valued as a permanent  exciting record of my reception of your station. Because you’re  the first Kununurra station for me. Is this the first report you  have received from my country?

Now, I would like to provide following information that would be necessary for you to confirm my reception. Station:

Radio Station 6WR Frequency: 693.0 kHz

Date: May 17, 2026

Time: 11:59-12:04 (UTC)

Language: English

Reception Condition: poor condition.

Receiver: Microtelecom, model Perseus (Software Defined Radio.)

Antenna: Beverage on the Ground antenna, 90 meter long, 1 meter high.

Details of program that I listened is as follows.

Time(UTC) Contents of the Program

11:59 Traditional Music.

12:01 Announcement by female voice “6WR, Waringarri Radio” then Country Music.

*I attached the Audio file recording. Please play to the mp3!

This file is recorded announcements at 12:01.

[0693kHz_6WR_AUS_20260517_1201.mp3]

I believe the above information is good enough for you to confirm my reception

Thank you for taking your time to read my report. I am looking forward to receiving a Verification (QSL) email, Card or Letter from you soon.

Sincerely,

Hideki WATANABE

Hideki WATANABE

6650-8 Ohara

Isumi Shi

Chiba Ken

298-0004 JAPAN.