A warm welcome to autumn!

It would be easy to think the MW hobby has fallen by the wayside for me given the lack of action on this blog. It's hard to believe there have been no posts since January, for which I apologise. But it's very interesting to look at the stats and see that my last post has been viewed nearly 6,000 times, I suspect people checking to see if there has been an update. And now there is!

October is traditionally the month when I click into gear and start listening to the radio much more. The days get shorter, the nights get longer, listening conditions from the UK to the Netherlands on MW are infinitely better. I have been listening throughout the year, but I started making notes again last month and will share those with you here.

The listening equipment here in central England remains the same. The antenna is the Wellbrook ALA-1530LN loop antenna and the receiver of choice at the moment is the Lowe HF-225, although there are various other ones to choose from. Maybe, just maybe, I might enter the modern era at some point and purchase an SDR. But nothing beats having the power in your hands - tuning your radio, adjusting in tiny increments - its all part of the experience of being a radio fan.

Freq Time Station name SINPO (type of broadcast)

Thursday, November 20, 202

1611 0625 Eigen Risico 34333 (m)

1636 0652 Torpedojager 34333 (m)

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

1629 1308 Luka weak signal-25442 (m)

1660 1328 Studio 19 weak 25442 (m)

1630 1331 Marskramer 25442 (q)

1638 1332 Batavier 35433 (m)

1655 1340 Baanbreker 25432 (q)

1665 1343 Digitaal 35433 (q)

1629 1444 Brugwachter 25432-35443 (m)

1640 1503 Rode Ster 35443 (m) 

1629 1606 Arona 35333 (m)

1629 1628 Blauwe Fazant 35333 (q) report for Arona

1620 1637 Professor Sickbok 44444 (m)

1647 1708 Moonbreaker 34433-44444 (m)

1632 1719 Eigen Risico 34333 (m)

1671 1729 Wilskracht 24322-34333 (m)

1618 1744 Pontiac 44444 (m)

1611 1813 Dutchman 34333-44444 (m)

1620 1852 Uniek 34333 (m)

1638 1937 Luka 44444 (t)

(m) = station was broadcasting a music programme
(q) = station was qsoing
(r) = station asking for a reception report from another station
(t) = station was testing

Observations

• It’s out of habit that when I sit down at my desk, I switch on the radio. You never know, I always tell myself, there might be some signals to find. However, at 1pm here in central UK, some three hours before sunset I don’t expect to be able to hear the signals that really interest me - Dutch pirates, usually between 1611 and 1700 kHz. But I was in for a surprise today!

• I landed on 1629 kHz and heard a voice I recognised. Then I heard the station identification - it was Radio Luka. He wasn't strong but the signal was listenable on the peaks. I checked up and down the band but no other stations were coming in, although I had seen in various WhatsApp groups that there was activity.

• Fast-forward just 20 minutes and Studio 19 was making his way across from the east part of the Netherlands. And then it was thick and fast . . . before 2pm local time I had also heard Marskramer, Baanbreker and Digitaal in QSO mode, while Batavier had switched on and was spinning some records, including a nice bit of Vengaboys for yours truly!

Inside the studio of Radio Batavier

The transmitting equipment of Radio Batavier

The top of the Radio Batavier antenna mast

• What often happens when signals arrive early in the day is that they disappear mid-afternoon, but not today. They stayed into the evening and, although conditions were not at their best once the sun had gone down, there were plenty of stations on the band to listen to, albeit often with watery rather than solid signals.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

1665 1513 Digitaal 25332, 35443 at 1532 (m)

1629 1604 Casablanca (Twente) 25432 (m)

1620 1648 Ros Am 45434-55555 (m)

1611 1724 Helical 45444 (m)

1647 1728 San Antonio 25322 (m)

1665 1731 Caballero 45444 (m)

1649 1835 Eigen Risico 34433 (q)

1665 1837 Schaduwjager 55544 (q)

1629 1845 Luka 45444 (m)

1620 1905 Mebo 2 24332 

1650 1910 Studio 69 34433 (m)

1620 1945 Marjanne 35333-45434 (m)

1665 1949 Armada 44434 (m)

1674 2002 Armada 45444 (m)

1629 2017 Blauwe Fazant 35333 (m)

Observations

• Sometimes a station switches on its transmitter and within just a few minutes you can make a good guess of who it is. When a signal fired up on 1620 kHz during the early evening it immediately caught my ear as it was strong despite conditions not being the best. Then the music started. Time Passages from Al Stewart was spinning, and the quality really stood out - a lovely depth to the modulation. That got me thinking that there was a high chance I was listening to Ros Am from Friesland. He always packs a killer punch here, and his audio is superb. And, sure enough, a few minutes later came the ID. Very satisfying when you get the correct answer! And a few words on the output from Ros Am . . . every time I hear this station, I really enjoy listening. You can tell it’s been crafted - the retro jingles, the slick style, the great music, the professional sound. If you are somebody who tends to scan the band looking for the next station, next time you hear Ros Am, take a few minutes from tuning around and enjoy the programme. You won’t be disappointed.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

1629 1459 Mosfet 45444 (t)

1620 1530 Rhodos 24332 (m)

1665 1624 Digitaal 45444 (m)

1620 1645 Alabama 44444 (m)

1638 1648 Batavier 45444 (m)

1665 1804 Josje Power 45444 (m)

1645 1927 Nachtrijder 24322 (m)

1673 1946 Armada 44333 (m)

1660 1947 Studio 19 45444 (m)

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

1620 1530 Gouden Sterre 34433, 55555 at 1553 (m)

1665 1616 Union 25332

1647 1717 San Antonio 25332 (m)

1635 1717 Bonanza 44444 (m)

1629 1727 Armada 23332-34433

1611 1841 Luka 44444 (m)

1665 1956 Colombia 45444 (m)

1620 1957 Marjanne 45444 (m)

1692 2030 Black Power 45444 (m)

Observations

• It's always interesting to see and hear how the Dutch pirates are received by listeners in their own country, so here's how Radio Luka was being heard tonight in Assen, courtesy of the Ontvangstrapporten Middengolf Piraten blog:
  
  

Monday, November 10, 2025

1656 1351 Tarzan 35443 (m)

1629 1429 Schaduwjager 35443

1611 1612 Al Capone 35343 (m)

1645 1613 Baanbreker 35443 (m)

1665 1659 Digitaal 45444-55555 (m)

1620 1701 Ros Am 45444-55555 (t)

1629 1702 Rhodos 35443 (m)

1647 1724 San Antonio 24332 (m)

1635 1803 Boomerang 55555 (t)

1656 1809 Skywire 25442 (m)

1647 1813 Moonbreaker 45444 (m)

1629 1830 Bluebird 45444 (m)

1635 1852 Eigen Risico 34333 (m)

1638 1904 Batavier 44444 

1640 1907 Nachtrijder 23322-34443 (m)

1647 2024 Vonkenboer 25332-35333 (t)

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

1620 1600 Alabama 45444-55555 (m)

1638 1602 Moonlight 35433 (t)

1665 1617 Union 25332 (m)

1640 1723 Casablanca 45444 (m)

1629 1737` Turftrekker 44444, 55555 at 2044 (m)

1636 1911 Ijsvogel 35333 (q)

1636 1915 Meteoor 35333 (q)

1647 1940 Armada 35533 (m)

1665 1947 Columbia 44444 (m)

1620 1948 Rhodos 25332 (m)

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

1629 1552 Carolina 35433 (m)

1611 1552 Balconia 24322, 34433 at 1642 (m)

1636 1655 Noordzee 25322 (m)

1620 1659 Robin Hood 25322 (m)

1647 1732 Moonbreaker 35433-45444 (m)

1629 1741 San Antonio weak signal (m)

Monday, November 3, 2025

1665 1615 Digitaal 35433-45444, 55555 at 1754 (m)

1656 1641 Al Capone 25322 (m)

1611 1725 Noordzee 24322-35333 (m)

1629 1741 Bluebird 55444 (m)

1647 1748 San Antonio 25332 (m)

1647 1812 Columbia 45444 (m)

1618 1813 Pontiac 45444 (m)

1640 1838 Casablanca 44444-55555 (q)

1620 1950 Professor Sickbok 45444-55555 (m)

1674 2016 Armada 34333-44444 (m)

Sunday, November 2, 2025

1611 1511 Luka 35443, 45444 at 1800 (m)

1647 1526 Witte Tornado 44444 at 1829 (m)

1638 1549 ZZK weak signal-25322 (m)

1620 1620 Blauwe Fazant 24332, 45444 at 1807 (m)

1638 1718 Schaduwjager 45444 (m)

1811 1803 Philadelphia 24332, 34433 at 1827 (m)

1665 1815 Digitaal 55444-55555 (m)

1627 1824 Eigen Risico 35443 (m)

1640 1854 Nachtrijder 35333 (m)

1620 1922 Houthakker 34443 (m)

Part of the record library in the Radio Luka studio

Records spinning during tonight's broadcast

Saturday, November 1, 2025

1656 1530 Ijsvogel 35443 (m)

1539 1531 Melkbus 24322 (m) 

1620 1534 Uniek 25322, 35443 at 1646 (m)

1635 1541 Bonanza 34443 (m)

1611 1546 Dutchman 25443 (m)

1638 1624 Batavier 24332 low-power test 

1647 1625 Moonshine 35333 (m)

1611 1630 Concorde 25332-35333 (m)

1629 1657 San Antonio 24322 (m)

1638 1715 Mi Amigo 45444  (m)

1648 1719 Rietvink 45444 (m)

1674 1724 Armada 24332-35443 (m)

1665 1813 Digitaal 55444-55555 (m)

1656 1825 Romax 35433-45444 (m)

Observations

• Today was a good day for catching some low-power operations. First up was Melkbus on the in-band frequency of 1539 kHz. It was only 3.30pm local time, but he was coming through with just 75 watts, while an hour later I heard Batavier with a test using just 20 watts. That was shortly followed with a good signal on 1647 kHz from Moonshine in the Veluwe, who was transmitting with 120 watts.

Friday, October 31, 2025

1647 1606 Witte Tornado 25442, 35443 at 1634 (m)

1623 1611 King Kong 45444 (m)

1593 1618 Balconia 34433 (m)

1611 1619 Philadelphia 24332 (m)

1656 1630 Tarzan 35434-45444 (m)

1665 1641 Union weak signal-25222

1618 1645 Mike 44444-55555 (m)

1629 1707 Batavier 45444-55555 (m)

1638 1736 San Antonio 25332 (m)

A look at the Greek-made transmitter of Radio King Kong

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

1652 1604 Romax 24332-35333 (m)

1629 1614 Blauwe Fazant 35443, 45554 at 1641 (m)

1660 1625 Digitaal 55444 (q) report for Romax

1647 1658 San Antonio 24322 (m)

1620 1705 Ros Am 44444 (m)

1629 1718 San Antonio 25322 (m)

1638 1747 Eigen Risico 34433 (m)

1651 1845 Rockerfeller 45434 (m)

1656 1845 Skywire 34333 (m)

1620 1900 Blauwe Fazant 45434 (q) report for Ros

1620 1926 Zorro 45444 (m)

1611 1940 Noordzee 34443-44444 (m)

1629 1944 Luka 45434 (m)

Observations

• Romax has constructed a new antenna following damage from a recent storm, and it was certainly doing a good job this afternoon. At just after 4pm local time he was coming through quite well and I could hear him talking clearly about my visit to his studio some years ago with Radio Barones.

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

1656 1642 Digitaal 55555 (m)

1629 1707 Vonkenboer 25332-35443 (m)

1665 1747 Armada 25222 (m)

1611 1751 Helical 45444 (q)

1611 1800 Meteoor 45444 (q)

1647 1804 Moonbreaker 45444-55555 (m)

1665 1815 Spanningzoeker 35333-45344 (q)

1665 1849 Caballero 45444 (q)

1629 1919 Blauwe Fazant 35333-45434 (m)

1620 1934 Marjanne 454444-55555 (m)

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

1629 1607 Twentana 35433, 55544 at 1909 (m)

1611 1608 Digitaal 45434 (m)

1647 1657 Schaduwjager 45434 (m)

1620 1712 Ros Am 45444-55555 (t)

1655 1802 Batavier 45444-55555 (m)

1638 1820 Turftrekker 55444-55555 (m)

1611 1834 Philadelphia 34333 (m)

Observations

• This was a night for big signals. Very big signals. As you can see from the sinpo reports, various stations hit the maximum numbers throughout the evening. What is interesting when such great reception is possible, is to listen to the modulation and how the stations sound.

• Twentana, Schaduwjager, Batavier, Turftrekker and Ros Am were packing a big punch but all sounded very different - each with their own unique sound. This isn’t so easy to detect if you are using only the in-built speaker on your receiver, so if you are able to, then do try to connect hi-fi speakers and you’ll add a whole new realm to your listening experience. Some of the audio from these stations is quite staggering and well worth appreciating as much as possible.

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

1620 1636 Robin Hood 25442 (m)

1656 1638 Nova 4 25442 (m)

1651 1643 Rockerfeller 44444 (m)

1611 1724 Luka 44444 (m)

1635 1724 Bonanza 35443-45444 (m)

1665 1731 Meteoor 44444 (q)

1647 1731 Kentucky 24432 (m)

1611 1820 Ros Am 54444-55555 (m)

1620 1854 Marjanne 45444-55555  (m)

Monday, October 20, 2025

1620 1612 Professor Sickbok 35443 (m)

1670 1612 Melkbus 25332-35333, 45444 at 1914 (m)

1629 1623 Schaduwjager 45444-55555 (q) report for Sickbok

1647 1625 Al Capone 35333 (m)

1665 1638 Armada 25332 (m)

1629 1654 Bluebird 35434-45444 (m)

1647 1730 Romax 35333 (m)

1620 1748 Luka 35433-45444 (m)

Observations

• An interesting evening on the band, largely spent listening to Radio Melkbus on 1670 kHz. At just after 5pm local time here in the UK his signal started to arrive. A couple of hours later after the sun had gone down, he was noticeably stronger, peaking at a sinpo of 45444, which is impressive. Even more impressive when you consider the transmitter power is just 200 watts, working with the inverted L antenna sitting at 16 metres off the ground at the high point.