Moscow: The Capital’s Call Sign

In the sprawl of Moscow, where digital networks hum and fibre optics pulse beneath the pavements, one might imagine amateur radio to be a quaint relic. Yet behind the brick walls at Novotetërki Street, No. 1, a small but determined cadre of operators keeps the city’s analogue voice alive.

Leadership in the Airwaves

The Moscow City Branch of the Union of Radio Amateurs of Russia is steered by Sergey Leonidovich Kulyov (UA3AP) — a figure whose call sign is as well-known on the bands as in the clubroom. His leadership is reinforced by deputy chairman Leonid Vitalievich Radchenko (RA5A) and a council that reads like a condensed logbook of Moscow’s most active operators: R2BW, RW3ATR, R2BFL, R5CA, R3BC, and others.

Oversight comes from Vladimir Viktorovich Belokon (RN5A), whose remit as auditor ensures that the club’s administration runs with the same precision as a contest-grade station.

The QSL Bureau and Qualification

The branch’s QSL Bureau, managed by Mikhail Illarionovich Klochkov (RW3ATR), is the city’s postal hub for radio confirmations — where a handshake in the ether becomes a tangible card in hand. The Qualification Commission operates partly remotely, with exams and certifications coordinated via email — a nod to modern convenience in a tradition-bound hobby.

Open Doors, Set Hours

For those who prefer face-to-face interaction, the club is open Wednesdays (15:00–20:00) and Saturdays (11:00–17:00). The same schedule applies to QSL card distribution, ensuring that visitors can leave with both advice and tangible proof of their on-air activity.

A City of Many Signals

While the branch does not publish a fixed “round table” frequency, its operators are regular presences on HF and VHF — blending Moscow’s high-density modernity with the enduring appeal of a voice carried by the ionosphere. In a capital city crowded with channels, the amateur bands remain a space where conversation is unmediated, unrecorded, and uniquely human.