Dutch pirates heard in England this month

It's been a while since I posted some logs on the blog, so let's put that right with the stations I've heard over the last couple of weeks. As usual, the antenna here is the Wellbrook 1530LN-1 and I've been using the Lowe HF150 to do most of my listening recently

Freq       Time      Station SINPO

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

1620       1635       Interpol 35353 qsoing

1638       1637       Kaaiman 35333 music programme

1643       1638       Marskramer 35333 music programme

1613       1644       Digitaal 45444 qsoing

1620       1938       Speedygonzales en Mexicano 45333-45444 testing

1629       1944       Blauwe Koe 35333 music programme

1655       1945       Wadloper 35333, 45444 at 2046 music programme

1625       2007       Pandora 34333-44444 music programme
1629       2120       Noordzee 45444 music programme

Observations

• Good to start hearing stations at just after 1630 UTC with Interpol, Kaaiman, Marskramer and Digitaal all coming in pretty well. It's not often I hear Interpol - in fact, looking back at the logs, the previous time I heard him was way back in December 16, 2015. 
• Conditions gradually improved throughout the evening and Noordzee was doing particularly well as the evening action started to quieten down

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

1630       1930       Marianne 55444 music programme

1645       2039       Ros AM 45434 testing 

1616       2040       Blauw Kous 55444 music programme

1638       2220       Bluebird 55444 music programme

Observations

• A couple of new names this evening, kicking off with the mysterious Blauw Kous (Blue Stocking). There were no announcements and the ID was given only in Iann's Pirate Chat. I have a strong feeling this was actually another MW regular using a different name while testing. Let's see if we hear the station again at some point, perhaps with a working microphone!
• Ros Am was another new addition to the log book (although he had been heard previously with non-stop music). There were a couple of announcements during this test transmission and an email address of rosamradio@gmail.com was given. The operator of this station has a fair bit of experience on the MW band and it's good to hear him with this latest incarnation. It would be great to hear some full programmes

Monday, October 23, 2017

1645       1855       Oldtimer 45444 music programme

1655       1900       Rebel 25232 music programme

1620       1901       Digitaal 45434-55444 music programme

1615       1905       Turftrekker 54444 testing

1634       1932       Blauwe Koe 35333-45444 music programme

1640       2012       Bluebird 55444 music programme

Sunday, October 22, 2017

1655       2110       Wilskracht 35333-45444 music programme

1611       2115       Rebel 24222-34333 music programme

1625       2121       Pandora 55444-55555 music programme

Saturday, October 21, 2017

1629       0555       Edelkampioen 55444 music programme

1648       2230       Moby Dick 44444 music programme       

1640       2233       Electron 44444 qsoing

1629       2236       Akenzo 35333-45444 testing

1633       2236       Noordzee 33443 qsoing

1620       2238       Johan 55444-55555 testing

1629       2257       Noordzee 35443 music programme

1638       2354       Jenverstoker 23222-35333 music programme

Thursday, October 19, 2017

1620       2245       Utopia 35333-45444 music programme

1633       2248       Barcelona 55555 music programme

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

1634       2018       Barones 45444 music programme

1643       2038       Ros AM 34433-44444 audio test of non-stop music

1625       2054       Bluebird 55444 music programme

1646       2056       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 testing

1646       2214       Rebel 24332-34333 report for Mijnwerker

1638       2228       Bluebird 55555 report for Mijnwerker

1641       2237       Casablanca 45444 qsoing

1633       2239       Vonkenboer 35333 qsoing

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

1632       1740       Uitzendkracht 25442

1644       1743       Friese Piraat 35333-45434 asking for report 

1620       1803       Centurion 25322 from North NL

1640       1806       Rebel 25232 music programme

1655       1850       Batavier 55444 music programme

1660       1852       Veldwachter 34333-44444 qsoing

1666       1857       Meteoor 55444 qsoing

1645       1900       Vonkenboer 25332 qsoing
1665       1903       Digitaal 44444 qsoing

Observations

• Friese Piraat was coming in very well considering the low power used and the time of day. Here's how the studio was looking at the time of the broadcast:

Sunday, October 15, 2017

1624       2123       Uniek 25222-35333 music programme

1645       2127       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 35333 report for Mi Amigo

1640       2150       Casablanca 35333-45444 report for Uniek

1616       2155       Uruguay 25222 qsoing

1641       2159       Vonkenboer 25332 qsoing

Thursday, October 12, 2017

1655       1655       Batavier 35443 music programme

1627       1750       Barones 45444 reporting

1629       1845       Edelkampioen 55444 music programme

1620       1915       Barones 35333-45444 testing 

1629       1955       Mi Amigo 35333 testing

Observations

• Barones was trying out a new full size 180-metre loop antenna this evening, testing alongside his usual inverted L design. Although there was not much difference in signal here, reports in Scandinavia were particularly impressive. There are reportedly some improvements to make to the loop, so it will be fascinating to see just how good the antenna turns out to be. Very few Dutch MW pirates use such a design because of the large amount of space needed, so good to Barones trying something rarely tried elsewhere

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

1630       2025       Marianne 55444 music programme

1611       2030       Zwarte Boer 24222 music programme

1636       2105       Noordzee 45444 report for Marianne

1630       2114       Monte Carlo 45444 report for Marianne

Monday, October 9, 2017

1629       1905       Blauwe Koe 35333 music programme

1670       1906       VOTN 35333-45444 music programme

1645       1937       Kristal 45444 asking for report

1625       2120       Pandora 55444 music programme

Sunday, October 8, 2017

1647       1810       Witte Tornado 45444 music programme 

1668       1815       Kachel Boer (Blue Star) 35343 music programme

1647       1850       Nachtzwerver 35333 programme

1638       1951       Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme

1655       2015       Wilskracht 35333 music programme

1620       2021       Rebel 25232 music programme

1647       2125       Nachtzwerver 35343 asking for report

Farewell Jack Donio

Last Friday morning came the sad news that Jack Donio of Radio Morningstar had died at the age of 71. 

Jack was known in pirate circles as an innovator and produced captivating programmes that drew an enthusiastic audience. He could often be seen in his studio while on air as he live streamed his broadcasts. He was associated most with 1611 kHz, his regular frequency, which I often listened to via the SDR at Enschede. Jack also broadcast on shortwave, where his fascinating transmissions could be heard further afield.

Jack last tweeted @JackDonio on October 9, thanking everybody for their birthday greetings a day earlier.



Condolences to Jack's family, and thank you for all work pirate work over many years.

Witte Tornado raided

Greetings from the UK. First, apologies for my extended summer break! I've been busy with work recently, although propagation conditions during the warmer months are never great for listening to the Dutch pirates.

Since I last wrote on here there are been plenty of activity, but not the sort we particularly want to hear about. 

A couple of weeks ago, Friesland pirate Yogi Bear had a visit from the Agentschap Telecom after a night-time MW broadcast and was warned that further transmissions would result in a fine; Luxemburg also had a visit and a warning, and this evening the AT were active in Almelo, effectively closing down long-time regular Sunday evening pirate Witte Tornado.

Having started out as pirates on FM in 1980, station operator Gerard and his wife Marion switched to MW in 2009 and have been broadcasting every week on 1647 kHz for the last eight years, rarely missing a Sunday and presenting a programme for several hours with a mix of Dutch and English music. They attracted a sizable audience of local and international listeners with a signal that was always very strong here in England.

The station remained on air during and after the raid, but at around 1850 UTC a final announcement was made and Witte Tornado closed down for the final time . . .




UPDATE

The couple must now wait for an official letter from the AT which will tell them of any penalty they must pay and what conditions have been imposed on them. The standard here is a warning of a 2,500 euro penalty if they are heard broadcasting again within the next five years. As soon as I know the contents of the letter, I will update the blog.

We wish Gerard and Marion the best of luck for the future.