Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The QSL cards of Radio Bulgaria

Photo: Desislava Semkovska

In radio amateur circles it is popular to send and receive the so-called QSL-cards – written confirmation of radio communication. The name derives name from the Q-code as "QSL?" means "Do you confirm reception?" and "QSL" means "I confirm reception".


Radio Bulgaria, as part of the family of the Bulgarian National Radio has a long-standing tradition of confirming reception of its broadcasts, first transmitted on short and medium waves, and later online in 10 languages.

After Radio Sofia began to be heard in Europe, in North Africa and North America it also started sending QSL-cards. The series of cards back then were 3 with 36 QSL-cards each. Radio Bulgaria is the direct successor of the broadcasts abroad and continues the tradition of sending confirmations of established radio connection.


In 1992, artist Theodore Ushev created 3 sample QSL-cards, with which he participated in the Canadian "Applied Computer Graphics" competition and won the grand prize with one of them. This card is considered to be the official first QSL card of Radio Bulgaria.


Later, Ushev also designed the series of 6 QSLs called "Monitor Club" and once again one of them placed first at the competition in Canada. All cards are made in the characteristic style of now world-famous Bulgarian artist - a combination of graphic design and rich imagination.


Over the years, Radio Bulgaria continues to send postcards from various series with views, sights and beauties of Bulgaria.

Radio Bulgaria has prepared a gift for its listeners - anyone who wishes can receive the series of QSL-cards designed by artist Theodore Ushev. For this purpose, it is enough to send us an email to our new mailbox for receiving reports on BNR’s broadcasts: reception.report@bnr.bg or send a letter to this address: Bulgaria, Sofia, 1040, Dragan Tsankov Blvd. No. 4, BNR, Desislava Semkovska .

A return address is required.

We expect your letters!

Photos: Desislava Semkovska

Publication in English: Alexander Markov



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

When and why did Radio Bulgaria reach Africa?

The history of the broadcasts for foreign countries of the Bulgarian National Radio, which started short-wave broadcasting in 1936 just a year after the founding of the Bulgarian Radio, abounds with curious and unknown facts for our..

published on 1/23/25 1:15 PM

Bulgaria Today – 22 January 2025

In “Bulgaria Today” on Wednesday, January 22, we bring you, first, the latest news from this country. Next on the show: Multimedia exhibition takes us into the studios, recalls events and voices related to the history of the Bulgarian National Radio...

published on 1/22/25 6:00 PM

Bulgaria Today – 21 January 2025

In “Bulgaria Today” on Tuesday, 21 January, we bring you, first, the latest news from this country. Next on the show: Bulgaria's new government - will it put an end to political chaos or is this only a lull? - Ioan Kolev summarises what the political..

published on 1/21/25 6:00 PM