Waves in the Highlands: EA5RCL and the Rural Renaissance of Radio

LLÍRIA, VALENCIA — In the undulating hills north of Valencia, where almond trees watch over Roman ruins and music still rings in the air, a small but vibrant beacon pulses out across the ether. The Camp de Túria – Los Serranos section of URE, known by its callsign EA5RCL, is reviving amateur radio in rural Spain—not by resisting change, but by quietly embracing it on their own terms.

A Club Rooted in Territory

Headquartered in Centre Cívic El Prat, a modest civic center in Lliria, the club serves more than just hobbyists—it cultivates community. Under the guidance of Francisco Javier Sánchez Castelló (EA5LN), the section has become a meeting point for seasoned DXers, weekend contesters, and curious newcomers alike.

Their weekly gatherings (Saturdays 17:00–20:00) blend technical experimentation with social connection—two sides of the same coin, according to the club’s philosophy. The space itself reflects this: divided into a “Zona Social” for conversation and mentorship, and a “Zona de Radio” for hands-on operating and real-time learning.

From Signals to Strategy

EA5RCL does more than make contacts. Their 2024 projects include portable operations, digital mode workshops, and open house days aimed at youth and local institutions. They maintain a well-organized blog and a public calendar, hallmarks of a club that understands that radio in the 21st century must coexist with Google Calendars and WhatsApp groups.

Still, their heart remains on the airwaves. With their IM99RP04eh locator, members routinely reach out from Lliria to the world—bringing the mountainous terrain of Los Serranos into dialogue with distant stations across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

The Humble Modernist

EA5RCL embodies a form of amateur radio modernism: unflashy, functionally elegant, and deeply rooted in local identity. In a landscape too often dominated by high-budget expeditions or online spectacle, Lliria’s radio club offers a quieter counterpoint—one where civic tradition meets VHF propagation, and where innovation begins, as it always has, with curiosity.