Getting better every day

As I write this on Tuesday evening, Radio Barones is booming out of the speakers here in the radio room. He was closing down at 2300, but that time has long since gone! I wonder what time he will close down now? Another hour or two maybe?! Take a listen to the reception and a nice, long recording by clicking here

Conditions on MW got steadily better throughout the evening and it's great to start hearing stations with a good strength again. Yesterday signals were arriving here from the Netherlands from around 2000, which is earlier than of late. Let's hope this trend continues. Here are the stations heard over the last few days . . .

Tuesday, July 17, 2012
1620       2106       Barones 55544 music programme
1645       2115       Spakenburg 34533 qsoing
1653       2118       Batavier 32532-44544 music programme
1651       2118       Uniek 32532-35543 music programme
1652       2123       Monte Carlo 32542 qsoing
1640       2124       Toulouse 33533 qsoing
1630       2130       Anton 43533-54534 qsoing
1639       2211       Barcelona 44544-55544 qsoing
1647       2224       Monte Carlo 44544 qsoing
1629       2236       Calipso 54544 report for Barones
1636       2248       Jack Sparrow 34433 qsoing
1653       2249       Jeneverstoker 34433 qsoing
1640       2258       Monte Carlo 55544 qsoing

1647       2321       Casablanca 45534 qsoing 

1655       0005       Monte Carlo 55544 qsoing 

Monday, July 16, 2012
1654       2015       Batavier 45544 music programme

1660       2015       Centraal 35543 music programme

1621       2016       Black Power 33533-44444 testing

1631       2020       Vrije Vogel music programme

1629       2030       Calipso music programme           

1645       2037       Polderman asking for report

1620       2118       Utopia 44434 report for Black Power

Sunday, July 15, 2012

1620       2230       Barones music programme

1656       2236       Golfbreker 35333 qsoing

1646       2236       Casablanca 54534 qsoing

1650       2240       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55544 qsoing

1638       2240       Witte Tornado music programme

1653       2246       Jeneverstoker 24432 qsoing

1651       2304       Uniek 24332-34333 qsoing

Observations

• Uniek was doing well on Tuesday evening with just 90 watts of power. He was competing with Batavier for a while and with some qso stations, but once the frequency was clear he started to come through much better
• On Monday we heard a new station, perhaps called Radio Polderman, although we are not 100 per cent sure
• Black Power was testing on Monday and was followed on the frequency by Utopia who gave a report and then followed up with a music programme
• On Sunday, Golfbreker was coming through loud and clear. Take a listen to the reception here

Just like old times

Well this evening has been very entertaining . . . there was much pirate activity from the Summer Meeting, where lots of familiar faces could be seen on the webcam together with an interesting show on 6325 kHz SW. But, tonight was also a night for good skip conditions on the MW band from the Netherlands to England - at long last. After weeks of poor conditions, it was nice to hear lots of stations . . . 

Saturday, July 14, 2012

1629       1947       Calipso 44544-55555 music programme

1671       1949       Viking 34433-45434 music programme

1638       1952       Orban 44544-55555 music programme

1650       2024       Moby Dick 35433-45434 testing modulation

1665       2027       Polkaman 23422-34433 music programme

1665       2217       DB 33533-54544 report for Viking

1655       2229       Spakenburg 35333 qsoing

1642       2238       Barcelona 44444 qsoing

1675       2240       Albatros 25322-35333 music programme

1645       2242       Spakenburg 45434 qsoing

1636       2242       Romax 33333 qsoing

1640       2254       Barones 55544 qsoing

1638       2301       Napoleon 44444 qsoing

1644       2304       Digitaal 45444 qsoing

1650       2316       Monte Carlo 33533 qsoing

1655       2327       Napoleon 55444 qsoing

1656       2334       Romax 35433 qsoing

1654       2335       Digitaal 44544 qsoing

Observations

• Calipso is still on air now, so it has been a very long programme from his side. The signal arrived in England nice and early and reception was very good. Have a listen here
• Orban was blasting the airwaves for a couple of hours with his trademark superb audio. It really makes you sit up and listen. Superb!
• Nice to hear Barones put in an appearance after his visit to the Summer Meeting. A super signal as ever
• Albatros often amazes with just 75 watts of power, and he was doing a good job on his regular frequency on 1675. He was one of the few stations who will send you a smart qsl card in the mail if you ask nicely . . .
  
  

• There were lots of stations qsoing and some nice signals. Digitaal, in particular, was coming in well. Have a listen here

And here are some logs from Friday evening . . .

Friday, July 13, 2012

1644       2335       Santana 35433-45434 music programme

1630       2340       Polydor 34433 qsoing

1656       2343       Golfbreker 24422 qsoing

1640       2345       Professor Sickbok 34433 qsoing

1653       2346       Jeneverstoker 34422 qsoing

1675       2350       Bravo Sierra weak signal music programme

1636       2350       Jack Sparrow 23422-34433 qsoing

1650       2356       Monte Carlo 44444 qsoing

1645       0010       Casablanca 55544 qsoing

Observations

• Bravo Sierra's signal might have been weak, but he was running only 20 watts, so it was a fine achievement to be heard across the North Sea at a time when conditions were not good
• Casablanca was booming in with a super signal. We made this short video . . .
  
  

Interesting experiment!

As I write this, Radio Utopia is just closing down from a fine music programme on 1630 kHz. And there was an interesting experiment on the broadcast this evening that included a live link-up with me via Skype! It seemed to work well as Utopia had messages via SMS and WhatsApp to tell him that I could be heard!


Conditions on the band are still far from perfect, but here are some recent logs made here in England . . . 

Sunday, July 8, 2012

1653       2157       Batavier 35232 music programme

1658       2158       Napoleon 45333 music programme

1630       2159       Utopia 34333 music programme

1651       0011       Jeneverstoker report for Utopia

Saturday, July 7, 2012

1611       2210       Barones 44444 music programme

1644       2215       Moby Dick 34333 music programme

1655       2220       Kristal 44333 qsoing

1655       2222       Spakenburg 33333 qsoing

1640       2225       Barcelona 44444 qsoing

1652       2244       Pandora 34333-45334 qsoing

1640       2306       Digitaal 34233 qsoing

1655       2309       Jeneverstoker 23222 qsoing

1630       2311       Salo testing

1650       0010       Montecarlo 35333 music programme

The loop antenna at this side - through the rain!

Observations

• Good to hear some music programmes on Sunday evening. The best signal was coming from Napoleon but Utopia was peaking very nicely. You can listen to a short recording here
• On Saturday evening there was an interesting frequency choice from Barones. It has been some years since I heard him on 1611. The signal was very good at its best and was audible on the Sony portable with no external antenna and also on the Philips B4X23A which we acquired recently
• There was an interesting experiment from Radio Salo on 1630. Using just 30 watts of power his carrier was audible at this side. When the winter and the better conditions arrive, I am sure we will hear some audio as well!

Some recent logs from rainy England

The rain keeps on falling - if only the propagation conditions were winter-like as well!

We have been busy compiling the latest MW Pirate Review over the last few days, but the radio has still been switched on, and here are the stations from the Netherlands we have heard . . . 


Monday, July 2, 2012

1635       2047       Eldorado 25222 music programme

1620       2047       Anton 45333 music programme

1647       2049       Armada 34433 music programme

1660       2055       Centraal music programme

1641       2200       Melbus testing

1629       2212       Calipso 45334 music programme

1636       2234       Jack Sparrow 35322 report for Anton

1640       2235       Barcelona 35333-45344 qsoing

1620       2330       Kruik 25232 qsoing

Saturday, June 30, 2012

1620       2239       Amigo 35233 qsoing

1640       2245       Barcelona 35233 qsoing

1654       2248       Moby Dick 45344 music programme

1636       2249       Jack Sparrow qsoing

1640       2253       Eldorado 35233 qsoing

1629       2302       Calipso 34333-44434 music programme

1636       2340       Spakenburg 33233 qsoing

1665       0018       Polkaman music programme

Friday, June 29, 2012

1646       2100       Vroljke Mijnwerker 45434 music programme

1655       2106       Kristal 33433 music programme

1593       2109       Armada music programme

1638       2111       Wadloper music programme

1620       2114       Black Power 45333-45444 music programme

1670       2121       Matrix 24432 music programme

1665       2140       Polkaman 24332 music programme

1660       2141       Noordzee 45434 music programme

1655       2203       Electron 33333-45344 qsoing      

1636       2205       Barcelona 43333 report for Noordzee

1655       2221       Spakenburg 43333 qsoing

1651       2317       Jeneverstoker 25222 qsoing

1640       0023       Professor Sickbok 33222 music programme

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

1640       2145       Barcelona 45534 music programme

1629       2239       Calipso 45534-55534 music programme

1646       2254       Casablanca 35533-45534 music programme

Sunday, June 24, 2012

1647       2128       Casablanca 35543-45544               

1640       2132       Barcelona 44534 music programme

1655       2136       Kristal 35533 report Casablanca

1663       2139       Polkaman 24532 report for Kristal

1651       2141       Uniek 24532-34433 qsoing

1650       2145       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45534 qsoing

1654       2203       Jeneverstoker qsoing

1645       2221       Napoleon 44544 music programme

1630       2239       Unidentified station Playing Rolling Stones Satisfaction

Monday, June 18, 2012

1655       2001       Witte Raaf weak signal music programme

1646       2031       Zwarte Bizon 24432 qsoing

1636       2048       Mustang 34443-44444 music programme

1646       2050       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 35433 (later 45344) qsoing

1650       2057       Armada 34433 qsoing

1647       2126       Armada 35333 qsoing

1646       2236       Casablanca 45334 qsoing

1645       2248       Pandora 45334 qsoing

Sunday, June 17, 2012

1636       2004       Wadloper 24552 music programme         

1640       2010       Professor Sickbok 24532 music programme

1645       2015       Turftrekker 24422 qsoing

1646       2146       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55544 music programme

1640       2146       Valken Ster 43543 (Friesland)

1646       2259       Casablanca 45434 report for Mijnwerker

1665       2301       Polkaman 35232 music programme

1649       2313       Vliegende Schotel 35333 report for Mijnwerker

Observations from July 2

• Calipso was king of the band this evening with a very nice signal and some fine music on 1629. While he was on air, Radio Morningstar was doing a live video bandscan so it was possible to listen to Calipso being received in the Netherlands as well. Have a look here
• Anton was also coming in well here during his programme before qsoing with Jack Sparrow and Barcelona
• There was an interesting broadcast on 1641. Radio Melkbus was experimenting with just 1 watt of power. Although no audio could be hear at this side, the carrier was audible

July MW Pirate Review now online

It's July 1, and time for a brand new MW Pirate Review!

After a little break, the review is back, bigger and better than ever before. The very latest edition features recordings of dozens of Dutch MW stations made here in the UK and in the Netherlands. There are also recordings of several British MW pirates, as well as much, much more. Click here to start the download

This is edition number 10. If you have missed any earlier reviews, you can download them from these links . . . 

1. April 2012
2. March 2012  
3. February 2012
4. January 2012  
5. December 2011 
6. November 2011
7. October 2011
8. September 2011
9. August 2011