Great conditions on the band

We're only just into February but already the days are becoming a little longer and, although that is not ideal for listening to Dutch pirates from our post in the UK, there have been great propagation conditions on the band tonight, making for some good listening. 

So, it's time to update the logbook. As usual the antenna here is the Wellbrook ALA1530LN+ together with the Lowe HF225.

Freq       Time     Station SINPO

Monday, February 12, 2018

1620       0600       Nordster 54544 music programme

1640       2014       Veronica 34333-444444 music programme

1645       2015       Oldtimer 45444 music programme

1629       2015       Moscou 25222-35333 music programme

1655       2018       Melkbus 23222-34443 music programme

1625       2024       Lokaal weak signal music programme

1715       2029       Digitaal 45444 music programme

1663       2119       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 qsoing
1645       2210       Ether Snuiver 45444 qsoing
1640       2235       Monte Carlo 45444 report for Veronica

1660       2255       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 qsoing
1638       2306       Alabama 55444 qsoing

Observations

• I set the computer to record my radio on 1620 kHz this morning and I was rewarded with my first catch of Nordster. The voice was very well known to me, but the first time I've heard this ID. Take a listen to the recording and see if you recognise the man behind the mic!

• Good to catch Melkbus on 1655 this evening, with a signal that was peaking up really well at times. In fact, this was possibly the best I've heard him, helped significantly by the good conditions
• The station on 1629 tonight took some identifying. I listened for a while and made some recordings, and after listening back I managed to hear the ID of Moscou Twente
• It's rare to catch a Dutch pirate as high as 1715 kHz, but if there is anything above 1675 then it will often be Digitaal on the frequency, and so it was tonight. Free from any other stations and without noise, the signal was coming through particularly well
• Vrolijke Mijnwerker often enjoys a chat with his pirate counterparts in the Balkans, and tonight he was on air chatting with Romeo and Kalibar in Serbia. I'm not sure how much each person understood from the other given the language barrier, but these qsos are always fun to listen to
• Alabama was interesting to hear at just after 2300 local time here in the UK. This station had been popping up with reports last year, transmitting speech and no music, presumably to keep any local interference at a minimum. However, there was music this evening and a very strong signal

Sunday, February 11, 2018

1629       0640       Polkaexpress 35443 music programme

1620       1848       Weduwe 55444 music programme

1637       1848       Dikke Betta 55544 music programme

1647       1849       Armada 45444 music programme

1655       1856       Relmus 45444 qsoing

1655       1901       Batavier 45444 qsoing

1638       2200       Bluebird 55444 music programme

1645       2208       Witte Raaf 45444 music programme

Observations

• I made extra effort this morning to get up nice and early and have a good tune around on MW before the sun came up. So, out of bed at 0615, cup of tea in hand, I headed to the radio room to hear . . . silence! The band was empty, and a check of the SDR at Twente revealed the same at the Enschede listening post. Usually on a Sunday there is plenty of activity, but today, the opposite. After a little while there was some non-stop music on 1629, which turned out to be Polkaexpress, but nothing like the activity levels I was hoping for. I shall try again next week!

Thursday, February 8, 2018

1655       1825       Batavier 34333 qsoing

1647       1829       Friese Piraat 24222-35333 qsoing

1636       1835       Marskramer (Friesland) 25222-35443 qsoing

1645       1841       Oldtimer 45444 qsoing

1630       1930       Columbia 35333-45444 testing

1638       2208       Bluebird 55544-55555 music programme

1622       2211       Meteoor 45444 qsoing

1625       2216       Vonkenboer 25342-35443

Monday, February 5, 2018

1647       2227       Armada 45434

1638       2228       Bluebird 55444 music programme

1625       2229       Vonkenboer 25222 report for Armada

Saturday, February 3, 2018

1637       0731       Dikke Betta 45444 qsoing

1625       0732       Bonanza 45434 qsoing

Friday, February 2, 2018

1629       0600       Blauwe Panda 33443 music programme

1629       0655       Marconist 33443-44444 music programme 

1623       1856       Pandora 55544 music programme

1658       1858       Relmus 33333-44444 music programme

1654       1908       Vrije Vogel weak signal music programme

Observations

• I've seen a few logs for Marconist but never heard the station - until today. Broadcasting from the Veluwe, his signal was arriving here quite well this morning

Thursday, February 1, 2018

1625       0600       Bootsman 24222-44444 music programme

1640       1820       Telefunken weak signal

1645       1821       Batavier 35443 music programme

1611       2003       Zwarte Boer 33333 music programme

1638       2004       Nachtzwerver 33433 qsoing

1665       2005       Meteoor 45434 music programme

1638       2006       Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme

1623       2015       Zwarte Panter (North NL) 22222-34333 music programme

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

1636       1816       Derdeman 35333-45444 music programme

1620       1816       Verona 23322-35443 music programme

1629       1825       Blauwe Panda 34333-45444 music programme

1645       1834       Batavier 35444-45554 music programme

1665       1834       Zwarte Panter (North NL) 35443 music programme

1636       1900       Torpedojager (Twente) 45333-45444 music programme

1636       2145       Noordzee 35333-45444 music programme

1625       2218       Pandora 55444 music programme

1625       2229       Monte Carlo 45444 report for Pandora

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

1625       1834       Bonanza 55544-55555 qsoing

1629       1838       Moonbreaker 35333-45444 qsoing. 

1620       1842       Rebel (Drenthe) 34443-22422 qsoing 

1645       1847       Nachtrijder 25322 qsoing

1620       1858       Zwarte Arabier 45434-55444 music programme

1630       1925       Malibu 24322-34333 music programme

1625       1937       Marianne 54444 music programme

1655       1957       Batavier 24222-35333

1665       1959       Digitaal 45434 music programme

1640       2005       Vader en Zoon Combinatie 35333

1634       2213       Noordzee 35333-45444 report for Marianne 

1629       2213       Monte Carlo 35333-45444 report for Marianne

Observations

• There was a super signal from Moonbreaker this evening on 1629 kHz, the best I have ever heard him. It seems he has made some changes to his earth part of the antenna. Take a listen to the reception:

• The Vader en Zoon Combinatie were back on air again tonight, but this station remains a bit of a mystery. Interesting that while they were broadcasting there was another father and son active on the band - Malibu on 1630 and his dad Zwarte Arabier just a few kilohertz down on 1620!