Signals from the Shaft: Ibbenbüren’s Radio Amateurs Seek New Ground After Coal

Once nestled above the depths of Germany’s coal seams, the DARC Ortsverband Ibbenbüren (N49) stood on solid industrial ground—both literally and figuratively. With the closure of the Morgensternschacht coal mine in 2018, the group lost its elevated perch, its antennas dismantled and its club station shuttered. Yet, as history shows, loss can be a catalyst for reinvention. In the true spirit of amateur radio, N49 is adapting, portable, and persistently on the air.

Though the station atop the mine tower is no more, the club’s voice remains loud—transmitted now with the portable suffix “/p,” a quiet badge of resilience.

Transmission, Transition, and Tradition

Led by Wolfgang Westermann (DL4YWO) and a seasoned team of local enthusiasts, N49 continues to transmit both signals and knowledge. Regular OV evenings—now held in Recke at the home of QSL manager Heinz (DL4YBR)—form the social heart of the group. Training sessions take place each Wednesday at 18:00, guiding newcomers toward the amateur radio license with materials by Eckhart K.W. Moltrecht, a German authority on amateur radio education.

The club remains committed to technological inclusion, welcoming learners from all backgrounds. Practical training complements theoretical instruction, creating a space where learning is as grounded as the antennas they once hoisted high above the mine.

Contesting at Altitude: The SOTA Experiment

Among the club’s more ambitious efforts is its SOTA-Contest, a portable field event set on Rudolfhalde, a scenic summit near Ibbenbüren. The rules are stringent: low power only, no vehicles at the summit, no external power, and no digital modes. It is a contest that celebrates simplicity and discipline—QRP values in their purest form.

Points are awarded not just for contacts, but for style: morse code earns more than voice, SOTA participants score higher, and QRP users gain multipliers. At its heart, the contest is more than a test of gear—it’s a celebration of skill, environmental respect, and radio’s original ethos.

Community over Coal

Though they no longer operate from the symbolic heights of the mining industry, the club has retained its Tecklenburger character: warm, community-driven, and technically proficient. They remain present at local festivals, support public events, and maintain a humble yet ambitious mission—keep the airwaves alive and inclusive.

And while their QSL card may now depict a bygone era, the signal from Ibbenbüren continues—searching, adapting, and reaching ever farther, just as amateur radio always has.