Transmitting from the Olive Hill

TARRAGONA, CATALONIA — In a city where Roman ruins meet the Mediterranean breeze, radio aficionados find their own citadel atop the Muntanyeta de l'Oliva, the former transmission site of Radio Tarragona. Today, it is the nerve centre of the URE Sección de Tarragona, led by Pascual Enric Arilla Arts (EC3TU) — a steady hand guiding the group with technical rigor and historical awareness.

The section benefits not only from its panoramic high-ground location, but from a deep-rooted culture of experimentation and community involvement. Open twice a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays from 19:00 to 21:00—the clubhouse is a hub for digital modes, contest strategies, and antenna fine-tuning, all filtered through a warm Mediterranean sensibility.

A Signal Steeped in History

The very soil here once channeled AM broadcasts to the province. Now it hosts SSB, CW, FT8 and DMR. Members of the club often reflect this transformation—operators equally fluent in Morse as they are in Python scripts for SDR applications. The Sección serves not only as a technical lab, but also as a cultural anchor, connecting generations of hams in Tarragona and beyond.

President EC3TU is known for his firm commitment to accessibility and knowledge-sharing. From organizing workshops to guiding new licensees, his leadership ensures that the Muntanyeta is never silent, even when the airwaves are.

From the Forum to the Frequencies

Though not the largest section in Catalonia, Tarragona punches above its weight in contests and public demonstrations. Field days, local EMCOMM exercises, and participation in Dia del Radioaficionat Català reinforce its relevance. Their online presence, modest but consistent (usuaris.tinet.cat/uretgn), archives the club’s proud milestones.

In a region where history hums underfoot, it’s only fitting that radio waves—imperceptible yet powerful—continue to ripple outward from the Olive Hill.