Late-night polka

I arrived home at around 2345 on Thursday night after a long day at work. With a cup of tea in hand I switched on the old Pye valve radio in the living room (connected to the outdoor Wellbrook loop antenna) and quickly found Monte Carlo bringing a qso with Noordzee to an end. He closed down a couple of minutes later. Then I found Calipso booming away on 1629 with his usual awesome signal. But he too stayed on air for only a few more minutes before closing. A quick tune up the band and I am now listening to Radio Polkaman on his usual frequency of 1665 kHz. He can be heard several times a week, often into the very early hours playing - you guessed it - loads of polka tunes. I know he was using around 35 watts from a PL519 valve in his transmitter a couple of years ago. If he is still using the same equipment, he's doing pretty well as his sinpo right now is peaking at around 34433.

The time is now 0055 and there is a signal just below 1647. It's my friend Radio Soerabaya and he's doing some tests by the sound of it. The signal is between 24332 and 34443 - once again very good for low power of around 80 watts.

I was at home all day on Monday and had the chance to do some listening during the afternoon. At just after 1400 Bluebird was coming through on 1638 kHz and not long later there were several stations qsoing. It's great to be able to hear stations so early in the day now the autumn is here. The long days have plenty of benefits for the pirate listener!

Monday, November 4, 2013

1638       1410       Bluebird music programme

1651       1526       Turfsteker 25342 qsoing

1650       1528       Zwarte Boekanier 35443, 45444 at 1536 qsoing

1620       1532       Digitaal 23322 qsoing

1621       1533       Baanbreker 24332, 34443 at 1550 qsoing

1625       1535       Dageraad 24332 qsoing

1645       1552       Digitaal 35343 qsoing

1638       1723       Bluebird 45444, 55555 at 2110 music programme

1645       2105       Caldera 34543 music programme

1651       2106       Turfsteker 35333 music programme

1630       2121       Kristal 44444 asking for report

1631       2209       Monte Carlo 44444 music programme

1645       2240       Johannes Van Schaffelaar 34333-45444 asking for report

1646       2259       Monte Carlo 45344 qsoing
1665       2340       Philadelphia 24232 music programme

Sunday, November 3, 2013
1512       1750       Tempico 44544 music programme
1647       1750       Witte Tornado 44444 music programme
1620       2144       Napoleon music programme
1655       2216       Studio 69 music programme

Wednesday, October 30, 2013
1655       1440       James Bond 45434- 55555 music programme
1625       1810       Batavier 35333 music programme
1611       1810       Armada music programme
1629       1810       Firebird music programme

Sunday, October 27, 2013
1651       2313       Jeneverstoker 33433 qsoing
1638       2316       Bluebird 55444-55555 qsoing

Monday, October 28, 2013
1620       1637       Digitaal 35443-45444 music programme
1651       1738       Turfsteker 35443-45444 qsoing
1644       1743       Alaska 44444 qsoing
1637       1748       Admiraal 45444 qsoing
1636       1802       Baanbreker 34333 qsoing
1640       1830       Dageraad 44444 qsoing
1611       2120       Armada 34433-44444 music programme