Latest logs from England

Monday, May 28, 2012

1653       2120       Napoleon 45554 music programme

1665       2137       Polkaman 25432-35433 music programme

1629       2138       Powerliner music programme

1643       2145       Monte Carlo 35533-45544 music programme

1619       2208       Atletico 24422 music programme

1646       2245       Casablanca 43534 music programme

Sunday, May 27, 2012

1633       2220       Barcelona 35533-45534 music programme

1648       2225       Napoleon 34543 music programme

1638       2227       Witte Tornado 24522-44544 music programme

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

1645       2150       Euromast 45444 music programme

1633       2133       Barcelona 55344 music programme

1619       2133       Rebel 25332 music programme

Observations

• As we write this entry, Monte Carlo has just closed down on 1643. We usually hear this station qsoing but it was very nice tonight to hear a music programme with mentions for many, many pirates throughout the Netherlands in a similar style to the Zonnester, who can be heard on 1620 on Sunday mornings. It would be nice to hear more of the same please! Conditions on the band this evening have been fair, and Monte Carlo was putting in a fine signal. Take a listen by clicking here
• Superb to hear Napoleon back on the air with programmes tonight and last night (Sunday). It has been some time since we heard his relaxing style at the top of the MW, so welcome back Nappie! The signal was pretty good, and you can listen to a recording here
• Every now and again we get a lot of noise around 1629 kHz. Tonight was one of those nights, and although we could reduce the interference with the MFJ1026, it was still difficult to get a clear copy of Powerliner who was busy on the frequency with a music show. The signal was fair, but the interference just too much
• Atletico was doing well with just 45 watts on 1619. We clearly heard the ID without any help from the chatroom!
• Although solar activity has been stable for the last few days, reception of the Dutch pirates on MW is still up and down. Roll on winter time!

Normal service is resumed!

Well I'm very happy to report that conditions on the MW were something like back to normal this evening with plenty of signals arriving from the Netherlands with good strength. For the last week or so I had been thinking maybe the antenna here was not working properly - but no such problem this evening and even the old 1940s valve receiver was even able to pick up the pirates . . . 

And here are the stations heard at our location in England during the last few days


Saturday, May 19, 2012
1645       2304       Digitaal 54544 qsoing
1653       2305       Barones 55444 music programme
1630       2305       Mondeo 34433-45444 qsoing
1665       2306       Polkaman 24322-35533 music programme
1636       2306       Keizer En Keizeren music programme
1620       2312       Spakenburg 35433-45444 qsoing
1633       2315       Barcelona qsoing 55544
1620       2318       Utopia 33433-44544 qsoing
1620       2322       Zonneschijn 45444-55544 qsoing radiozonneschijn@hotmail.com
1512       0037       Unidentified station mixing with another but very strong on peaks

Friday, May 18, 2012
1640       2349       Batavier 35433 music programme
1665       2350       Polkaman 25342-35443 music programme
1645       0039       Pandora 55444 music programme

Thursday, May 17, 2012
1645       2114       Barones 35533 music programme
1670       2118       Eldorado 25432 music programme
1638       2119       Witte Tornado
1620       2121       Spanningzoeker 34533 qsoing
1675       2123       Albatros weak signal music programme
1665       2144       Polkaman  weak signal music programme
1647       2306       Casablanca 35433-45534 music programme
1635       2308       Zeearend 23432 music programme
1656       2330       Powerliner weak signal music programme
1645       2332       Pandora 35533-45544 qsoing

Observations

• We have been listening late during the evening for the last three nights, and reception on Saturday was best of all, with some fine signals. Digitaal was doing really well and Mondeo was giving maybe the strongest signal we have heard from him
• Zonneschijn was coming in very well during his qso and although we haven't heard this station before, the voice behind the microphone sounded very familiar. Click here for a recording
• If you are up and around very late in the evening, try checking 1645 because Radio Pandora can often be heard. On Friday night he came on to play a few records and had a real powerhouse signal
• Radio Polkaman has been busy for the last few nights, playing his favourite music into the early hours with some very long programmes. His transmitter power is not much but there can be some very nice peaks on his signal. Click here for an example from Friday evening

New blog - not to be missed

Our very good friend Radio Zeewolf has started his own blog with news, reports and videos. Click here to see his page. While the Am Forum is offline, it's another great place to look for your information on the MW scene

That's the way to do it!

The Netherlands is famed for its hundreds of pirate stations and anybody who has ever visited the country might well have seen some of the impressive antenna masts of the pirates. However, none can rival the impressive structure at Hoogersmilde, which is currently being rebuilt have being destroyed in a fire last summer. It transmits signals of a variety of local and national TV and radio stations. Click here for more pictures and details. 

Many thanks to the Blauwe Piraat for this information

That's better!

Well I'm very happy to report that conditions for listening to the Dutch pirates on MW in the UK have been a good deal better tonight. As I write this, signals are beginning to weaken again, but we heard many more stations this evening that during the previous days, and with better signals. So, here's the rundown on what we heard . . . 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

1643       2103       Schaduwjager 45544 qsoing

1656       2104       Parel Van Twente 35433 music programme

1675       2118       Doctor Einstein 24532-35533 nonstop music

1636       2122       Batavier 35543 music programme

1630       2123       Spanningzoeker 55544-55555 asking for report

1670       2130       Odynn 24432 music programme

1665       2130       Polkaman 34533 music programme

1640       2132       Batavier 35543 music programme

1647       2205       Monte Carlo 34433 qsoing

1640       2211       Doctor Einstein 24532-35533 nonstop music

1645       2221       Vriendschap 23422 qsoing

1630       2252       Relmus weak signal        

Observations

• Tonight's best signal was from Spanningzoeker, who is always strong seemingly whatever the conditions. Click here to listen to a short recording of his signal while qsoing on 1630
• Very nice to hear Odynn on the air for the first time in a while. He was playing plenty of music from the Doors with his new transmitter - and he was a very happy pirate by the end of the evening having received reports from right across Europe
• Parel was busy with a long music show on 1656 with some very nice peaks on the signal. Click here for an example

Another quiet one

Monday evening is coming to a close and it's been another quiet one with very little in the way of activity, mainly due to the poor propagation . . .

Monday, May 14, 2012

1672       2045       Armada 24432 music programme

1640       2200       Unidentified station 45544 music programme

1640       2235       Amigo 24432 report for UNID station

Sunday, May 13, 2012

1628       2235       Euromast 23532 music programme

1633       2235       Barcelona 35533-45544 music programme

1658       2237       Pandora 34533-44544 qsoing

1656       2241       Jeneverstoker 24522 qsoing

Observations

• The unidentified station on 1640 this evening was very strong but signed off with no ID. We made a recording which you can listen to here

From the Radio Netherlands vault

If you were listening to pirate radio stations from the Netherlands during the 1990s you will be familiar with the name Derek Taylor. He ran the Dutch Pirate Radio Service from Preston in the north-west of England, putting listeners and dxers in touch with the pirate operators on the other side of the North Sea. You could not listen to the top of the mediumwave band without hearing his name, together with a mention for his wife Linda.

The Media Network show on Radio Netherlands picked up on this story and on October 18 they ran a feature on Derek and the Dutch pirate radio scene. Click here to listen to the whole show and get a real feeling on nostalgia.

When will conditions improve?

Listeners to the Dutch pirates at the top of the MW band who are living at any distance from the Netherlands continue to struggle with the current propagations conditions which threaten solar blackouts every day. Let's hope things begin to improve soon. We have heard some activity over the last few days, but not nearly as many stations as usual and without the usual signal strengths . . . 

Saturday, May 12, 2012
1650       2208       Santana 33433 music progamme

1655       2210       Einstein 25422 non-stop music

1645       2223       Spakenburg 34433-44444 music programme

1650       2224       Moby Dick 32432 music programme

1665       2226       Polkaman weak signal music programme

1640       2226       UK44? weak signal non-stop music

1645       2307       Eldorado 34443 qsoing

1646       2331       Mustang 35533 qsoing

Thursday, May 10, 2012
1647       2142       Noordzee 45444 music programme

1628       2205       Studio Veronica 24232 music programme

1646       2245       Casablanca 34333-45434 music programme

1628       2305       Jack Sparrow 35543

Observations

• Despite the volatile conditions, Studio Veronica was doing well on Thursday evening with his 20 watts. There were some nice peaks during his long programme
• On Saturday evening, Doctor Einstein was busy with back-to-back music on 1655. I suspect the power was low and, again, the signal came up very nicely on a number of occasions
• 1650 and 1640 were busy frequencies on Saturday. Santana and Moby Dick were sharing 1650 for several hours, while there were also two stations on 1640 for some time, one of which might have been UK44. Although this can be hard to comprehend for us listeners it is possible, given the small size of the Netherlands, that one station operator cannot hear the signal of another station because of skip conditions

Well worth a listen

For the offshore radio fans among you . . . Radio Salo sent me this YouTube link that is well worth listening to. It's a piece of music you will recognise if you ever listened to Radio London - and in perfect quality without the jingles you usually hear

MW Pirate Review

Many of you will know that we produce an MP3 download once a month with an audio review of the previous month's activity on the pirate scene with many recordings made here in England and elsewhere around the world. The May edition will be available soon. In the meantime, if anybody has missed previous editions, here are the links to download them:

Edition 1: August 2011

Edition 2: September 2011

Edition 3: October 2011

Edition 4: November 2011

Edition 5: December 2011

Edition 6: January 2012

Edition 7: February 2012

Edition 8: March 2012

Edition 9: April 2012

Poor propagation continues

Reception of the Dutch pirates at the top of the MW band continues to be difficult in England this week as the propagation is poor. There have been some good peaks, but signals are variable and even the stations running more power have been struggling. However, here is what we have heard during the last few days . . .

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

1660       2113       Euromast 35533 music programme
1672       2114       Armada 35533 testing
1628       2118       Centraal 24532 qsoing
1646       2233       Casablanca 35533 qsoing
1650       2242       Jeneverstoker 25542 qsoing
1645       2321       Pandora 35543 qsoing

Monday, May 7, 2012

1645       1941       Witte Raaf 34533 music programme

1672       2113       Armada 33533 music programme

1639       2117       Dageraad 23532-34543 qsoing

1647       2119       Monte Carlo 45554 qsoing

1631       2123       Vrije Vogel 23532 qsoing

1633       2137       Barcelona 45554 qsoing

1646       2304       Casablanca 35533 qsoing

1645       2333       Pandora 45544 qsoing

1638       2335       Underground weak signal trying different antennas

1656       2338       Jeneverstoker weak signal qsoing

Sunday, May 6, 2012

1647       2313       Casablanca 34533 qsoing              

1645       2320       Pandora 34533-45544 qsoing

Observations

• Casablanca, Jeneverstoker and Pandora are becoming regular with their late-night qsos. Because of the conditions, signals have been down on usual, although Pandora has still been peaking particularly well
• Underground from England was switching between vertical and dipole antennas on Monday evening, although propagation made it difficult to judge which was best. The station had earlier been on 1476 kHz. Also active from the UK with a special Bank Holiday appearance on 648 kHz was Radio Albatros, although we were unable to hear him at our location
• One of the best signals we heard on Monday evening came from Monte Carlo. You can hear how the reception sounded by clicking here

Conditions not great tonight

Tuning in to the top of the mediumwave band at around 2300 UTC on Saturday evening, conditions were not good and stations whose signals are usually strong were much weaker. The noise level was also considerably higher than usual. This is what we have heard:

Saturday, May 5, 2012
1621       2318       Spakenburg 24432-34443 qsoing

1656       2320       Romax 24432 qsoing

1630       2323       Mondeo 23422 qsoing

1645       2328       Monte Carlo 24432-34443 qsoing

1656       2343       Jeneverstoker weak signal qsoing

1640       2347       UK44 23322 music programme then qso

1665       2350       Polkaman 24432 music programme

1646       0006       Powerliner weak signal qsoing

1512       0013       Studio Jaknikker 23422-34423 music programme

Observations

• Comparing Spakenburg's signal to the one received 24 hours earlier suggested that propagation conditions were not optimal for reception of Dutch pirates here in the UK this evening
• Nice to hear Mondeo for the first time in a while. Let's hope signals are stronger next time he is on air
• Very interesting tonight on 1512. The frequency is not usually good for night-time transmissions, but with different propagation Studio Jaknikker was coming in quite well
• While the MW stations were generally struggling to make an impact here, there was plenty of late-night activity on shortwave from the Netherlands, with Tower (6300), Spaceman (6308), Flying Dutchman (6325 USB) and Ascona (6375) all coming in very well indeed, along with Relmus on 5800 and then 5775

Friday night is radio night!

We did a little listening during the evening after arriving home from work. Here are the stations heard from the Netherlands:

Friday, May 4, 2012

1680       2156       Relmus 24322 music programme
1645       2156       Turftrekker 34333-35443 music programme
1635       2158       Grutte Pier 44434-45434 music programme
1645       2202       Spakenburg 42443
1665       2203       Polkaman 24432-34433 music programme
1629       2205       Powerliner 22322 music programme
1625       2211       Spakenburg 44444-55444 short music programme
1640       2259       Telstar 33433 music programme
1655       2338       Jeneverstoker 24422-35433 qsoing
1645       2343       Powerliner 24332 qsoing
1646       0025       Casablanca 45444 asking for report
1645       0031       Pandora 55544 qsoing

Observations

• The most incredible reception tonight was Relmus on 1680. Okay, the SINPO was not massive at 24322 - but the power was very small. In fact, he was running just 4-5 watts and it was possible to copy pretty much all of his announcements. After he closed down he switched to shortwave for a short broadcast on 5810 kHz where reception was also very good with around 14 watts. The antenna is certainly doing a great job 
• Nice to hear Spakenburg on air this evening. He quickly moved from the busy 1645 down to 1625 where reception was excellent. Click here to listen to just how good it was. Many thanks for the mentions about this blog! 
• Grutte Pier often has a fine signal here in England and tonight was no exception. Listen to our reception by clicking here
• As well as Relmus, there was low-power action from Powerliner, Jeneverstoker and Polkaman. Proof that when conditions are right, high power is not necessary

A quiet night on the band

There was very little activity this evening and a lot of static at the top of the mediumwave band making listening very difficult. However, a couple of stations from the Netherlands were coming through the noise:

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

1669       2200       Eendracht 25222 music programme

1654       2244       Turfsteker 25232 asking for report

Observations

• Very nice to hear Eendracht for the first time in a long while. It was a shame the listening conditions were not a little easier

Plenty of strong signals

Tuesday, May 1, 2012
1646       1930       Orban 55544-55555 asking for report

1647       2003       Armada 35333-45444 qsoing

1646       2008       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55544 qsoing

1629       2040       Rebel 24322 music programme

1624       2044       Underground short broadcast

1627       2044       Noordzee 54444 qsoing

1660       2054       Centraal 34333 music programme              

1653       2055       Readymix 34433 qsoing

1647       2104       Noordzee 55444 qsoing

1512       2116       Studio Jaknikker 33533 music programme

Observations

• Strongest signal on the band tonight belonged to Orban, who had his trademark superb modulation quality and depth booming loud and clear on 1646. A long recording of Orban, followed by Armada and Vrolijke Mijnwerker can be downloaded here
• Here's a short video of Mijnwerker's signal in the Netherlands, courtesy of Radio Salo
• Rebel was doing very well with around 30 watts during his music programme
• More and more stations seem to be using 1512. The trouble with the channel for reception in the UK is that several legal European stations are audible during darkness and stations from the USA can be heard on 1510. Studio Jaknikker was peaking well this evening, although the other stations were constantly fading in and out

Back home - to more rain!

So today we are back home again after driving through the wet weather! The Lowe HF225 and outdoor loop, which you can see in the picture, are now back in action!

Not too much listening this evening, but here are the stations heard on our regular equipment:


Monday, April 30, 2012
1654       2212       Turfsteker 24332 qsoing

1656       2214       Jeneverstoker 24322-35333 qsoing

1646       2215       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55544 qsoing

1647       2220       Montecarlo 44444-55444 qsoing

1629       2223       Calipso 55544 qsoing

1646       2230       Casablanca 42443-55544 qsoing

1645       0004       Pandora 55544 qsoing

Observations

• On an evening of qso activity, Vrolijke Mijnwerker, Calipso and Pandora were blasting in here strongest of all, with Pandora sounding particularly powerful, both in terms of signal and modulation quality
• Nice to hear Turfsteker again, with a power announced as 50 watts