Quiet start to the week

It's 2330 local time in the UK as I write this and the top of the MW is quiet with no pirate signals to be heard so I'm listening to a local Gold station playing 80s music. 

The lack of Dutch stations has got me thinking if it's always so quiet at this time of year, so I've just had a spin back through some logs. Interestingly enough on Monday, November 13, 2017 I noted just four stations - the same as today - while on the corresponding day 12 months earlier my logs show eights stations. Back in 2015 there were seven Dutch pirates heard on this day. Seems like there's not too much to worry about then with no huge dip in activity levels - except having to listen to legal oldies stations late at night!

So, here's what I heard today and over the weekend: 

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Monday, November 19, 2018

1612       1838       Atlantic 33433-44444 testing
1625       1856       Pandora 35443-45444 testing
1644       1912       Vrijevogel 24332 music programme
1636       1938       Mi Amigo 35443 music programme

Observations

• A quiet Monday evening just like last week. Interesting to hear Atlantic testing on 1612 for the first time in a while. Signal and audio was very good on the peaks, although was dipping down sometimes. I suspect conditions were not quite as good as they have been recently

Sunday, November 18, 2018

1620       0600       Interpol 43433-45444 music programme
1620       0710       Noordster 44444 qsoing
1670       1707       Digitaal 45444 music programme
1656       1708       Arizona weak signal music programme
1620       1717       Sapporo 34433 music programme
1647       1728       Witte Tornado 45444 music programme
1626       1734       Uniek 33433-44444 music programme
1660       1831       Meteoor 45444 qsoing
1660       1833       Zee Piraat 25222-35333 qsoing
1660       1841       Vriendschap 35333 qsoing
1637       1844       Drukstroomjager 45444 asking for report
1620       2249       Alabama 45444 qsoing
1630       2251       Toulouse 35333 qsoing
1630       2256       Monte Carlo 25222 qsoing
1620       2304       Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing
1660       2311       Snowman 33333 music programme
1625       2349       Pandora 55444 music programme

Observations

• Plenty going on today as you would expect for a Sunday, starting early and going through to the end of the day. Interpol again kicked things off with a programme on 1620 kHz, followed by a qso featuring Noordster
• Witte Tornado used to be a Sunday regular until receiving a visit from the Dutch telecom authorities. Nowadays they are not often on air, so it was good to catch them this evening on their old channel of 1647 kHz
• There was an interesting qso at dinnertime. Meteoor came up on 1660 kHz calling for Zee Piraat, who duly arrived on the channel for a chat, actually broadcasting from the sea. Twente pirate Vriendschap then joined in and it made a change hearing him at this end of the band as he can usually be heard on 1629 kHz. Drukstroomjager also joined the fun, albeit it down on 1637 kHz. These stations feature on this recording I put together after today's listening sessions

Saturday, November 17, 2018

1625       2220       Alpenjager (Groningen) 35333 music programme
1685       2225       The Ghoul 55555 music programme
1638       2227       Bluebird 45444-55555 music programme
1646       2230       Keizer en Keizerin 34443 music programme
1648       2232       Moby Dick 44444 music programme

Observations

• I hadn't heard Alpenjager in a while, so it was good to catch him today. I'm always struck by how similar his voice is to Jeneverstoker, although I suspect that is down to similar locations and also that the station operators are of a similar age
• The Ghoul on 1685 kHz was from the transmitter that has also recently been airing Bogusman programmes. The signal has been getting out well with good reception across the UK and out into the rest of Europe

Blue Monday

The first day of a new week draws to a close and I've spent the last hour listening mainly to Radio Bluebird on 1638 kHz, who is sending over a good signal tonight. The diet of music has been all Dutch so far, but perhaps some English tunes will follow shortly! While I wait for those, here are some logs:

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Monday, November 12, 2018

1638       2252       Bluebird 45444 music programme
1629       2253       Spakenburg 25222 qsoing
1648       2254       Monte Carlo 25222 qsoing
1628       2259       Monte Carlo 25222-35333 qsoing

Observations

• Conditions seemed to be some way down tonight compared to recent evenings. Spakenburg and Monte Carlo were considerably weaker than usual and Bluebird, while still pretty good, often hits the maximum sinpo reading of 55555 but was peaking at only 45444

Sunday, November 11, 2018

1625       2325       Pandora 55444-55555 music programme

Observations

• I was working today and didn't arrive home until late in the evening so by the time I got to my radio the band was quiet - except for Pandora. When there is a powerhouse signal on 1625 kHz and the time in the Netherlands is after midnight, then you can be 90% sure you've found a transmission from Pandora. His superb modulation quality makes it a pleasure to listen to his transmissions through the big speakers down here in the radio room

Saturday, November 10, 2018

1638       2021       Turftrekker 35333 music programme
1647       2022       Kezier en Keizerin 35333 music programme
1620       2330       Moonbreaker 45444 music programme
1685       2330       Bogusman 55555 testing
1625       2330       Polkaman 25222 music programme
1645       2331       Wilskracht 35443 music programme
1652       2331       Moby Dick 34333-55544 music programme
1638       2333       Morgenster 25332-35443 music programme
1615       2334       Gedrocht van Twente weak signal music programme
1636       2344       Montecarlo 35333 qsoing
1620       2359       Vuilnisman 24222-35333 report for Moonbreaker
1620       2359       Montecarlo 33333 report for Moonbreaker
1630       0007       Montecarlo 35333 qsoing

Observations

• Turftrekker has great audio and it was evident again this evening - nice and punchy with plenty of bass, but not too much
• Bogusman was on 1685 kHz again, basically testing the antenna system, which is being refined all the time. Transmitter power tonight was only 25 watts, although there are plans for considerably more
• There was a new name for me tonight with Vuilnisman - Garbageman - popping up on 1620 just before midnight with a report for Moonbreaker. This low-power station, broadcasting from Twente, is apparently not a new pirate but perhaps one that usually broadcasts during the daytime when signals from the Netherlands are unable to reach me

Updating the logs

Greetings from a wet and windy UK. I read this evening that Hungarian shortwave pirate Chaos AM was today closed down by the authorities after a month of regular broadcasts on 6335 kHz. Bad news indeed, and I send best wishes to all involved in the station. 

The pirate scene in the Netherlands continues to tick along nicely, and here are some logs from the past week: 

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Friday, November 9, 2018

1620       1825       De Klap 25332-35343 music programme
1620       1844       Admiraal 35333 report for De Klap
1629       1903       Dolfijn 34333 report for Admiraal
1655       1904       Batavier 35443 music programme
1619       1905       Wegpiraat 34443 asking for report
1653       2315       Monte Carlo 55444 music programme
1638       2315       Morgenster 24222-34333 music programme
1615       2315       Gedrocht van Twente 24422 music programme
1629       2322       Noordzee 34333-45444 report for Montecarlo
1635       2345       Electron 35333 report for Montecarlo

Observations

• De Klap was back on the band this evening with a programme on 1620 kHz. His signal was peaking to something similar to reception a few days ago, and was very listenable. When he closed down, it was good to hear Admiraal pop up with a reception report, and nice to hear him send greetings to me and mention how I was at his place a couple of years ago - I visited him with my old pal Radio Soerabaya en route to the Summer Meeting on what I remember was a very hot day! Anyway, Admiraal was coming in well today and I made a short recording:
  
  
• Another station to come up with a report for De Klap was Dolfijn, who was coming in pretty well. I thought I'd text him a report, so I duly found 'Dolfijn' on my phone and sent him a quick message. What I got back was confusion. It turns out I had actually sent a message to the SW pirate Dolfijn rather than the MW station! Anyway, we had a nice chat and then I sent a message to the correct pirate

Sunday, November 4, 2018

1629       0704       Interpol 35333 music programme
1620       0725       Marconist weak signal music programme
1620       0754       Bootsman weak signal report for Marconist

Observations

• I managed a little early morning listening today, actually raising myself from bed early on a Sunday! I was rewarded with a programme from Interpol and a fair signal on 1629 kHz, but the band was unusually quiet for a Sunday morning. I heard Marconist and Bootsman qsoing just as propagation was making it difficult to receive the Dutch stations, but otherwise there was little activity

Saturday, November 3, 2018

1620       0708       Rietvink 33433 report for Marconist
1616       1615       Drukstroomjager 35543 music programme          
1655       1635       Concorde weak signal qsoing
1646       1638       Zwarte Bizon 25332 qsoing
1620       1652       Eldorado 25332-35333 testing
1656       1653       Nachtzwerver 25442 qsoing
1647       1705       Keizer en Keizerin 33333 music programme
1629       1707       Edelkampioen 55444 music programme
1615       1741       Gedrocht van Twente weak signal report for Eldorado
1637       2344       Montecarlo 45444 qsoing
1661       2344       Viking en Tante Foek 44444 music programme
1648       2346       Moby Dick 44444 music programme
1636       2347       Spakenburg 45444 qsoing
1653       2349       Nachtzwerver 44444 qsoing
1625       2354       Snowman 25322 music programme
1620       2359       De Klap 34433 qsoing

Observations

• Plenty of activity today, with signals arriving first thing in the morning and then from mid-afternoon as the sun was going down. King of the band in terms of signal and modulation was Edelkampioen, who was booming in over here with very fine audio - a real depth, making it a pleasure to listen to. I visited him at his studio a couple of years back, accompanied by Barones and Poema, so it's always great to hear him on air, sitting in the studio where I sat!
• Concorde is a name I've seen in various logs, but today was the first time I heard this station, reportedly broadcasting from the Acterhoek. With the sun still to fully go down when I heard him, the signal was only weak - I'm sure it will be considerably better with propagation at the optimum
• There was another new name for me today as well with De Klap. Reportedly running somewhere in the region of 200 watts, the station was qsoing with Spakenburg and Nachtzwerver and coming in with a pretty good signal. Hopefully I'll be hearing this one again soon as well

Friday, November 2, 2018

1609       1821       Mustang 44433-54444 testing
1635       1821       Havana 55555 qsoing
1629       1823       Pandora (Friesland) 25222 music programme
1640       1823       Turfsteker 35333 testing
1620       1825       Blauwe Panda 25332-45444 music programme
1655       1849       Batavier 44444 music programme
1662       1851       Digitaal 54444 testing
1611       1916       Unidentified 24222 music programme
1620       1930       Batavia 35333 music programme
1610       1945       Arizona weak signal report for the station  on 1611
1671       2256       Odynn 34433-44444 music programme
1656       2300       Rebel (Drenthe) 35333 music programme

Observations

• Plenty to listen to this evening, with Mustang catching the attention on an usual frequency of 1609 kHz. It's often tricky listening when pirates are broadcasting near to the legal stations on 1602 and, although Mustang was fading down sometimes, he was generally doing very well, with his punchy audio powering through. He was testing a new modulation system, which he then tried out on shortwave, using 4010 kHz, where his signal was even better - more stable and free from interference
• A few days ago we logged Ome Wil on 1629 kHz, noting that he uses the name Pandora sometimes - not to be confused with the Pandora who uses 1625 often very late at night. Tonight, he was identifying quite clearly as Pandora, although once again his modulation was low and I couldn't quite make out the telephone number that was being announced. Turn it up please!

• Some time ago Odynn told me he had plans to upgrade his transmitter to something in the region of 250 watts. Well, he has done it and the new rig was on 1671 kHz and putting a nice signal into the UK:
  
  
• Arizona is a station I don't catch very often, so it was a pleasure to hear him on 1610 kHz in qso with a station who had been on 1611 with a music programme, although I couldn't quite catch that one's name

Late-night listening

I made a trip to Wales with the family on Thursday, so there wasn't a great deal of time for radio listening. However, I had a quick tune around late in the evening and found some activity at the top of the MW band. Here's what I heard:

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Thursday, November 1, 2018

1615       2310       Gedrocht van Twente 25222-35333 music programme
1638       2315       Morgenster 45444 qsoing
1625       2317       Noordzee 45444 qsoing
1625       2321       Montecarlo 45444 qsoing
1638       2345       Bluebird 55444 qsoing

Observations

• Gedrocht van Twente was on 1615 kHz once again tonight. That's the fourth day in a row I've heard them, but what is interesting is that I've heard very little talking on the microphone - it would be good to hear some voices every now and again, although I have a suspicion the team might be a little too busy with the beers to give much thought to the programming output! From what I understand Gedrocht is also active on the air during the daytime, signing on early and closing down late - usually at around 0100 UTC. This is quite rare for a MW pirate as transmissions are usually sporadic and for a few hours at the most.
• Nice to catch Morgenster on 1638 kHz. He was putting in a fine signal during his qso with Noordzee and Montecarlo. Bluebird was sending over his usual powerhouse signal when he popped up with a report and a few records.