Radio Libertad de Trujillo, one of the classic shortwave stations in the Department of La Libertad, made its first appearance on the nominal frequency of 4910 kHz in December 1951. The shortwave outlet OAX2K apparently had been active during the golden years of shortwavers (1960's-1970's), and was widely heard in the USA and Europe. At the initial stage of its shortwave activity, the station had never been audible in Japan, but its broadcasting career was finally observed on variable frequency between 4910.8 kHz-4910.6 kHz when its shortwave transmission was resumed again in mid December 1983 after decades of silence.

The station has never been tunable with robust signal, and always with an interference from the distinguished Ecuadorian station, Emisoras Gran Colombia which was active on the frequency of 4910.7 kHz. Radio Libertad de Trujillo has remained in the 60 meter band irregularly from December 1983 through November 1989. At that time, the morning transmission was began at 1000 with a pleasant folklore program "Amaneciendo" which was conducted by the station owner, Carlos Burmester Barrionuevo.

On October 17, 1985, I visited Radio Libertad de Trujillo, located at Jirón Zepita No.450 in downtown Trujillo. The station building was named "Edificio Burmester", whose first floor was occupied by the installation of Radio Libertad: studio/control room for live programs, recording studio, rustic auditorium, reception room, record library, gerente's office and interestingly an old studio of Radio La Hora. The old editions of WRTH describe that Radio La Hora formerly operated on the nominal frequencies of 980kHz (0.4kW) and 4915kHz (0.5kW). It was another part of the same broadcasting enterprise, but it has not been on the air since about 20 years ago.

The station owner said hopefully that Radio La Hora would return into operation when the financial situation is retrieved. According to the official list of registered broadcasting stations, issued by the MTT (Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones) on 17/01/95, the MW outlet of Radio La Hora is still listed on 980kHz, but its SW frequency was already deleted. Compañía de Radiodifusión S.A. was officially founded on December 15, 1951, being the second oldest commercial broadcasting station in the Department of La Libertad. (The pioneer station in the department is Radio Trujillo which nowadays operates only on 1070kHz mediumwave with callsign OAX2B. A long time ago it had also broadcast on various shortwave frequencies: 3230 kHz, 5225 kHz & 6057 kHz. It was nominally licensed to broadcast on the frequency of 6165 kHz in the 49 meter band with callsign OAX2A.)

The station takes the honorable name of the department "La Libertad" with the hope of being the liberty voice of the people. Radio Libertad de Trujillo began its first transmission on 1160kHz, using a tiny transmitter of an output of 0.3 kW which was originally built by engineer Carlos Aparicio Bouby. A few years later the shortwave transmission was commenced to enlarge its broadcasting coverage, and it was especially designed to get more audience living in the remote communities and villages in the Department of La Libertad and other neighboring departments. Besides broadcasting the programs through mediumwave and shortwave, the station has made another endeavor to get furthermore audience out of the way. An old version of the recorded ID announces (see below ID text) that they have the repeaters at the public markets of satellite districts of Trujillo.

Each market is equipped with a radio-receiver (whose dial is fixed on 1160kHz) to receive the signal of Radio Libertad, and loudspeakers to emit its programs. Although the repeating system is quite simple, it has been effective measure to provide the daily programs for the urban people including market workers and customers. ID text:
"Transmite Radio Libertad de Trujillo, la voz del pueblo y la juventud simult neamente en onda la rga y corta: OAX2C 1160 kHz y OAX2H en 4910kHz. Simultaneamente con sus estaciones en los mercados de La Esperanza, El Porvenir, Laredo y Huanchaco. Son exactamente las (time check)."

As of October 1985, Radio Libertad de Trujillo has broadcast at 1000-0600 daily, providing current international and national news, market information, financial analysis, current affairs, sports news, commentaries, health tips, music shows, light entertainment and social service. The station has carried an his torical newscast "La Voz de la Calle" which began its operations on October 10, 1955, to offer better and more up-to-date coverage of news, comments and current affairs from the street. It was on the air at 1630-1900.

Technical Information of Radio Libertad de Trujillo OAX2C 1160 kHz: "Philips do Brazil" (1kW) brand transmitter made in 1952 & "PET RICK" (10kW) brand transmitter made in 1982, feeding a 1/4 wavelength vertical antenna (64m high). OAX2K 4910kHz: "FRANVEL" 500W transmitter, connected into a 1/2 wavelength dipole antenna (5m high). The station identified itself its callsign OAX2H, but it was formerly assigned to another sister station Radio La Hora. The transmitter plant is professionally equipped with 3 generators of 10kW out put to continue the transmission in the case of emergency, and is located at Callejón La Matilde (Fdo Cortijo).

Information by Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, Japan, 1996