During the summer, and sometimes during winter high pressure weather conditions, we could receive TV channels from other countries. The proximity to the European continent meant we received two East German channels in black and white and three West German channels in color. In those days, Germany was divided, and these two parts used different color TV systems.
To my parents’ consternation, I put large antenna constructions on the roof of our house. And after a while, I succeeded in bringing even more exotic channels in our house. In addition to more East European TV signals, we could also watch TV from Spain and Italy. A very special event occurred in June, 1978, when I succeeded in receiving an Icelandic test card.
The most challenging task for a DXer in Europe has always been to be able to receive a trans-Atlantic signal. After reading about this in one of the few books that existed at the time about TV DXing, receiving trans-Atlantic broadcasts became my quest. I believe that I did succeed for a short while, somewhere in the lower VHF bands. Using my (in those days) well-trained eyes, I saw what I think was a North American station identification sign. But to be honest, I’m not 100 percent sure that I really saw that sign deep down in the noise a quarter of a century ago. Sometime you just see what you want to see.