The return of Radio Delta

The Dutch pirate MW scene in the 1970s was very different to what we have now. If you think there's lot of stations on air these days, there were even more back then. And you could hear plenty of international programmes with all sorts of music, particularly rock, regularly taking the band by storm.

Radio Johnny Walker was one of the big names and, like many stations of the day, he could be found on 1.3 MHz. Another that could often be heard around this area of the band was Radio Delta from Elburg. They later found their way on to shortwave, where they were last heard nine years ago. But it all started out on MW, although they haven't been heard on the band since the late 1970s. Until now.

Last Friday night (September 23) at just before 2300 UTC a signal appeared on 1650 kHz. Reception here in the UK was fair, with peaks up to a sinpo reading of 35333. There were no announcements, just non-stop music. But, nearly 40 years since they were last on the band, this was the first test transmission from Delta. 

On Monday and Tuesday night there were more tests on the frequency - and these are in preparation for programmes with plenty of chat and English music, harking back to the days when Delta first started out. Transmitter power at the moment is around 150 watts into a 60-metre longwire antenna, but there are plans to increase the output to ensure a good signal into Europe.

These are exciting times . . . the Dutch MW pirate scene could really do with another station catering for an international audience. Roll on the day when programmes start for real.