2UW Sydney, NSW

2UW Sydney, NSW.

AM Radio Station 2UW was initially owned and operated by Otto Sandel and commenced broadcasting as a “B Class” station on 13 February 1925 on 1125 kHz. On 1 September 1935, the frequency changed to 1110 kHz and in 1978 changed again to 1107 kHz. It was one of the first stations in Australia to operate 24 hours a day and was transferred to the FM band in 1994 as Mix 106.5mHz.

HISTORY:

Otto Sandel was a prominent radio experimenter and at the age of 17 was granted a
“B Class” broadcasting licence and started transmitting from his room at a Manly boarding house. [1] The transmitter he used was possibly the 10 Watt one he displayed at the Wireless Exhibition, Sydney, in December 1923.[2] The radio station moved to his father’s house in Victoria Road, Belleview Hill and went commercial on the 13th of February 1925 with the call sign 2UW. He suspended the antenna from 130 foot masts at each end of the house and one room was set up as a studio and another as a transmitting room. For power he used a 7.5hp generator set up in a shed in the back yard.[1] Initially transmitting 14 Watts he moved up to 400 Watts and used the slogan ”The little station with the big kick”. Otto also started manufacturing and repairing radio sets and with this in mind he moved his transmitter into the T&G building in Elizabeth Street, Sydney which had a showroom to display his products.

In December 1926 he set up Sandel Radio Ltd. to sell the radios he manufactured. The company was liquidated in November 1927. [3] In 1936 he started Otto Sandel Ltd. to manufacture radios.

2UW was sold by auction in July 1928.[4] It was purchased by Radio Broadcasting Ltd. and was sold to the Australian Broadcasting Company in June 1933.[5]

2UW was one of two Sydney AM radio stations to be successful in bidding for the right to convert to FM, and on the 30 April 1994 commenced transmission on 106.5 MHz on the FM band.[6]

[1] The Sunday Herald (NSW) Oct 1, 1950, Page 3.
[2] Sydney Mail (NSW) Dec 5, 1923, Page 10.
[3] The Sunday Morning Herald (NSW) Nov 2, 1927, Page 12.
[4] Smith's Weekly (NSW) Jul 7, 1928, Page 1.
[5] The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW) Jun 15, 1933, Page 7.
[6] Sydney Morning Herald, Apr 30, 1994, page 4.

Here you find 3 models, 3 with images and 0 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.
All listed radios etc. from Broadcasting Stations