Pirate tales from the past

Here's a video you must watch with some great stories from the days of MW pirate radio here in the UK . . .

O wow

I've just been listening to 1655 kHz. The station on the frequency was O Superman. The difference with today's broadcast from this Dutch pirate is that he was using only 0.5 watts. I've heard him on the last two Wednesdays - using 20 watts on the first occasion, and then 100 watts last week. Both times I was amazed at the reception considering the output power involved. But tonight has really surprised me.

I remember a few years ago hearing Relmus from Friesland with 800 milliwatts, but to hear a station with 500mw, and broadcasting from further inside the Netherlands is stunning. Take a listen to the recording and be ready for a surprise!

A raid, a comeback and plenty of activity

First, some bad news from across the water in that the AT paid a visit to the Blonde Zwerver on September 30 after reports the station had been causing interference over the PA system at a local church. Other pirates have received warning letters and even a knock at the door from the authorities but continue to broadcast one way or another, so there is always a chance this might not be the end of another station.

Some of you might have seen my recent post about Radio Delta, who used to operate on SW with the P.O. Box 41 Elburg address, and were on MW way back in the 1970s. They have been testing again on 1.6 MHz, trying out different audio processors and the like, and the plans are still there to hit the band with some international programmes.

Dutch pirates in general have long fascinated me. There are some who really capture my imagination for one reason or another though, and one such station is O Superman, also known as OSM Radio. He can be silent for months, then all of a sudden will appear in the air. I've heard him a few times recently, with a simply stunning signal on October 5, even more so when you consider his transmitter power at the time was 100 watts courtesy of two of the famous 807 valves. He was reportedly using 8x807s in his modulator, which explains why the signal meter here was swinging around every time he spoke or played any music. You can see a video and recording below.

Early Sunday morning continues to be a good time to catch Dutch pirates on air, and reception is getting better and better at this time over here in England as the sun rises later and later. The Bootsman was doing good work last Sunday before a nice qso including several other pirates.

Time now to bring the logs up to date:

Monday, October 10, 2016

1632          2105         Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme

1650          2020         Vrijevogel 25222 music programme

1640          2024         Veronica 35333 music programme

1625          2026         Witte Raaf 35333 music programme
1624          2308         Soerabaya 25222-35333 music programme

Sunday, October 9, 2016

1620          0556         Bootsman 35333-45444 music programme

1620          0615         Zwarte Bouvier 25222 report for Bootsman

1620          0637         Noordzee 35333 qsoing

1629          2106         Zwarte Panter (Oldenzaal) 34333-45444 music show

1647          2110         Witte Tornado 45444 music programme
1629          2217         Monte Carlo 35333 report for Zwarte Panter

Friday, October 7, 2016

1645          1709         JB 35333

1620          1715         Sterrekijker 25222 at 1758 music programme

1650          1755         Relmus 25222-35333 music programme

Thursday, October 6, 2016

1636          0603         Torpedojager 25222-35333 music programme

1638          1815         Bluebird 35333-45444 music programme

1630          2108         Alpenjager 35333 testing

1640          2108         Professor Sickbok 45444 qsoing

1645          2110         Turfsteker 25232-35333 qsoing

1645          2113         Noordzee 45444 qsoing

1620          2117         Meteoor 45444 qsoing

1635          2120         Monte Carlo 25332 qsoing

1620          2122         Bonte Specht 25232 qsoing

1640          2127         Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing

1642          2137         Noordzee 45444 qsoing

1625          2218         Pandora 55444 report for Alpenjager

1627          2225         Jeneverstoker 25332-35333 report for Alpenjager

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

1620          1940         Turftrekker 44444 qsoing

1624          1940         Wadloper 44444 music programme

1613          1942         Batavier 23222-34333 music programme

1636          1948         Blauwe Koe 44444 qsoing

1620          1955         Sapporro 32432 qsoing

1629          2014         Barones 54444 testing

1655          2057         OSM 35443-55454 qsoing

1634          2100         Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 music programme

1620          2106         Noordzee 33433-44444 music programme

1640          2110         Anton 44444 asking for report

1640          2130         Professor Sickbok 44444 report for Anton

1636          2130         Toulouse 34433 report for Anton 

1620          2138         Anton 44444 qsoing

1655          2200         Monte Carlo 45333-45444 qsoing

1645          2220         Noordzee 45444 qsoing

1645          2224         Monte Carlo 45444 qsoing

1650          2252         Delta 35443 testing     
     

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

1620          1629         Digitaal 35333 music programme

1638          1630         Sylvania weak signal, 25343 at 1823 music programme

1650          1632         Vendor 25232 

1647          1747         Nachtzwerver weak signal qsoing

1629          1822         Admiraal 25432 qsoing

1633          2153         Barcelona 45433 music programme

1625          2243         Pandora 55434 

Monday, October 3, 2016

1611          1805         Atlantic 54444 music programme

1645          1810         Zwarte Boekannier 44444 music programme

1640          1811         Veronica 34433-44444 music programme

1650          1813         Vrijevogel 34443 music programme

1629          2007         Blauwe Koe 45444 music programme

1665          2030         Zwarte Panter 25222 testing

1634          2112         Bluebird 55555 music programme

1645          2137         Monte Carlo 35443-45444 report for Veronica

1629          2142         Noordzee 44444 report for Veronica

1621          2143         Pioneer 35222-35333 asking for report

1640          2218         Casablanca 55444 qsoing

1629          2232         Monte Carlo 44444 qsoing

1650          2246         Monte Carlo 45444 qsoing 

Sunday, October 2, 2016

1636          1524         Bizon 34433 at 1745 music programme

1647          1542         Witte Tornado much stronger later music programme

1620          1658         Turftrekker 35443 report for Bizon

1625          1732         Turftrekker 25322 qsoing

1625          1736         Sapporro weak signal qsoing

1638          1747         Admiraal 23432 qsoing

1629          1754         Speedygonzales 35333-45444 at 1803 qsoing

1630          1801         Admiraal 35433 qsoing

1629          1810         Barones 45444-55555 qsoing

1635          1826         Havanna 45434 qsoing

1620          2100         Noordzee 34433-44444 qsoing

1615          2113         Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing

1649          2139         Kaimaan 25222 report for Witte Tornado 

1644          2205         Monte Carlo 35333 report for Kaimaan

1611          2212         Pioneer 33333 report for Monte Carlo

1645          2250         Pioneer 35333 qsoing

Friday, September 30, 2016

1629          1640         De Friese Piraat 25322-35333 music programme 

1620          1640         Sterrekijker 25342 music programme

1655          1736         Relmus 25222-35333 music programme

1640          1759         Studio Friesland 25222 report for Friese Piraat

1620          1802         Brandaris 33433 asking for report

1629          1813         Studio Friesland 34333 qsoing

1615          1820         Batavier 34333-44444 music programme

1611          1850         Kooiplas 34333 music programme

1643          1847         Digitaal 55444 music programme

1621          2109         Uniek 35333-45444 music programme

1655          2110         Wilskracht 35333-45444 music programme

1640          2128         Professor Sickbok 55444 music programme

1645          2128         Relmus 33433 testing

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

1629          1752         Blauwe Koe 35333 music programme

1611          1758         Eldorado 44444 music programme

1633          2130         Barcelona 44444 qsoing

1630          2145         OSM 23212, 35433 at 2245 qsoing

1625          2227         Pandora 45434-55444 qsoing

1621          2257         Monaco 35333 qsoing

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

1611          1930         Turftrekker 45444 music programme

1645          1933         Twentana 45444 music programme

1630          1935         Marrianne 35333-55444 music programme

1613          1936         Digitaal 43433 testing

1646          1946         Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 music programme

1646          2110         Turfsteker 25322-35333 music programme

1635          2113         Ruisbreker 35333 music programme

1629          2114         Noordzee 45444 report for Marrianne

1655          2115         Snowman 25322 music programme

1633          2116         Barcelona 54444 qsoing

1665          2122         Polkaman 25322

1629          2145         Snowman 24422 music programme

Monday, September 26, 2016

1640          1543         Professor Sickbok weak signal qsoing

1638          1620         Bluebird 25222 music programme until 2230!

1620          1659         Schaduwjager 35333-45444 qsoing

1633          2152         Barcelona 54444 qsoing

1625          2231         Pandora 55444-55555 report for Bluebird

1650          2249         Delta 35333 testing with non-stop music

Sunday, September 25, 2016

1647          2156         Nachtrijder weak signal qsoing

1630          2156         Driland 44444 qsoing

1645          2202         Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444

1641          2205         Casablanca 55544 qsoing

1655          2220         Driland 45444 qsoing

1611          2243         Technical Man 44444 testing new T antenna

Friday, September 23, 2016

1643          1650         Pecon 25332

1630          1704         Alaska weak signal

1626          1707         Musky weak signal, 25332 at 1803 music programme

1620          1726         Sterrekijker 25232-35333 music programme

1655          1737         Relmus 35333 testing

1611          1838         Turftrekker 54444 music programme

1646          2113         Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 music programme               

1665          2206         Polkaman 25222-35333 music programme

1641          2234         Casablanca 55444 report for Mijnwerker

1650          2257         Delta 35222-35333 testing for first time on MW since 1970s

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

1620          1633         Schaduwjager 35343 qsoing

1625          1649         Akai 25242 qsoing

1620          1652         Skywire weak signal qsoing

1622          1653         Monaco 24332 qsoing

1611          1654         Mike Radio 35443 testing in USB, then AM

1629          1738         Edelkampioen 54444-55555 music programme

Monday, September 19, 2016

1630          1634         Digitaal 25222 testing

1645          1635         Zwarte Boekanier 25222 music programme

Like father like son

A few months ago I started seeing regular logs for a station called the Friese Piraat, but I hadn't managed to catch any broadcasts for myself. However, last Friday the signal was coming through on 1629 kHz and I was able to find out a little more about this recent addition to the MW scene.

Although the signal was not so strong, it was doing pretty well considering the time was well before sunset and that the transmitter power is only 100 watts. As you can see on the video, the signal was coming in better at this time than the station on 1620.

It's not uncommon in the Netherlands for families to be involved together in the hobby, combining to run a station or operating more than one station. However, the Friese Piraat is a little different. Yes, it is a father and son who have put the station on air every week for the last six months, but the son spinning the records is only 13 years old - surely the youngest currently on the MW scene. 

I've often wondered what will become of the hobby in the next 20 or 30 years and thought that perhaps the MW pirate scene will simply fade out. But with the interest in AM being passed down through families despite our digital age, and the next generation of Dutch pirates starting to hit the air - Radio Joey on shortwave is another example - there could be more life in our pastime than plenty of us thought.

And now I can share with you just what the Friese Piraat set-up looks like, from studio through to transmitter and some of the record collection . . .

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