LZ2KPK – Amateur Radio Club, Polikraishte Village
LZ2KPK — History of the Amateur Radio Club in Polikraishte Village
On October 10, 1966, a small group of enthusiastic young radio enthusiasts founded organized amateur radio activity in the village of Polikraishte (Veliko Tarnovo district, Bulgaria). Gathering in a small room in a village square house, Boncho Vasilev (LZ2AS – sk), Boyan Adzharov (sk), and Milko Pendov (LZ2UC) set up a modified „Orfeus“ broadcast receiver, a telegraph key, and a audio buzzer, launching code training and shortwave listening activities.
Initial training focused on Morse code classes for local school students. Assisted with components provided by the Veliko Tarnovo regional club LZ2KBA (managed by Ivan Popov — LZ2SA), members built their first transmitter. On January 15, 1968, club station LZ2KPK officially aired with approximately 50 Watts (utilizing a GU-50 power tube) feeding a VS1AA wire antenna.
LZ2KPK’s first homebrew transmitter and „Orfeus“ receiver (1968)
1. Station Facilities and Antenna Systems
The original receiver was later upgraded to a military KV-M and subsequently to a Bulgarian „Signal“ receiver. Community support from the local council, school, and local agricultural cooperative provided funding for major upgrades.
A 10-meter steel lattice mast was erected atop the station building, supporting a massive 4-element Quad antenna for 14/21 MHz with a 9-meter boom length. A 3.5 MHz Delta Loop wire was also deployed.
The youngest operator at age 13, Rumen Sarnov (now LZ2DD)
LZ2KPK’s 4-element 14/21 MHz Quad antenna
2. Training, Contests, and National Conventions
Training programs expanded rapidly, offering yearly classes in Morse code telegraphy and Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF / Foxhunting). Active membership grew to 20 operators, prompting the opening of a second club station under callsign LZ2KAB at the village Youth Center.
Official QSL card of club station LZ2KPK
Operators regularly competed in national HF contests and international DX events. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 1986, Polikraishte hosted the IV National Amateur Radio Family Convention.
Moments from the IV National Ham Family Convention in Polikraishte (1986)
3. Legacy and Polikraishte Callsigns
While formal club operations ceased after 2000, Polikraishte maintained a remarkable radio presence. By 2010, within a village population of ~2,000 residents, 9 individual stations holding 22 callsigns were active:
- Club Stations:
LZ2KPK,LZ2KAB(closed formally in 2000). - Individual Operator Callsigns:
LZ2AS(sk),LZ4WJLZ2UC,LZ2CU,LZ4UCLZ2PS,LZ4UU,LZ2YVV,LZ2CWWLZ2UR,LZ2OR,LZ2HW,LZ2HULZ2DD,LZ2IAA,LZ4ZZ,LZ4ARLZ2DB(sk),LZ2TB,LZ4BW,LZ4BD,LZ2UAALZ2CRA
