A very happy new year to you. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed some peaceful time with your families and perhaps a chance to listen to the many pirate stations that were active over the holidays.
I did plenty of tuning around, mainly using the little Lowe HF150 receiver together with the usual Wellbrook loop antenna, and here's what I heard:
Freq Time Station SINPO
Thursday, January 3, 2019
1619 1735 Mike 55444-55555 music programme
1656 1737 Digitaal 35333-45454 music programme
1636 1742 Torpedojager (Twente) 35333-45444 testing
1623 1752 Akai 33443
1611 1758 Twentana 44444 asking for report
1624 1902 Pontiac 55444-55555
1638 1903 Morgenster 25222-35333 music programme
1611 1910 Unidentified 24222 report for Pontiac
1645 1920 Concorde weak signal music programme
1629 1930 Astronaut weak signal testing
1650 2029 Digitaal 35333-45444 qsoing
1665 2043 Batavier 25222-35333 music programme
1656 2051 Josje Power 35333 music programme
1625 2055 Pandora 45444 music programme
1620 2116 Sapporo 24222-34333 music programme
1647 2119 Armada 45434 qsoing
Observations
- There was something of a blast from the past tonight when I received the signal of Astronaut for the first time in a long while. It was back in June 2013 that I first heard this low-power pirate and after a spell of silence he was back on air today testing with a self-built 20 watt transmitter housed inside the case of the legendary BC191 military unit. He sent me these pictures which he has kindly allowed me to share on the blog:
- Pontiac was incredibly strong on 1624 kHz, but the station who came up on 1611 to give him a report was much weaker and I struggled to catch the name.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
1629 2028 Twentana 45444 music programme
1643 2028 Vrijevogel 25432 music programme
1656 2029 Digitaal 45444 music programme
1670 2039 Meteoor 45444-55444 qsoing
1670 2042 Zee Piraat 25222-35333 qsoing
1611 2053 Omega 44444 testing
1670 2105 Spanningzoeker 55555 qsoing
1649 2115 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 music programme
1635 2117 Omega 45444 asking for a report
1625 2155 Pandora 45444 music programme
1635 2220 Toulouse 35333 music programme
1620 2239 Dinkelland 44444 music programme
1638 2315 Nachtzwerver 34333 report for Dinkelland
1635 2318 Electron 34333 qsoing
1635 2347 Omega 35333-45444 qsoing
Observations
- Plenty of activity tonight with the very best signal coming from Spanningzoeker up on 1670 kHz. It's not often you hear this power pirate so high up the band, but he was joining a qso between Meteoor and offshore Zee Piraat.
- Omega popped up on 1611 kHz with a test and jingles giving an email address of radioomega@yahoo.com. He was coming in loud and clear with nice modulation, which could be heard a little later on 1635 during a qso.
- Vrolijke Mijnwerker was on air with a long broadcast which was still going strong at around 0130 on Thursday morning. This was the first time I've heard him for a long while, so welcome back to the band Happy Miner!
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
1631 2000 Barones 44444 music programme
1625 2009 Bluebird 44444-55555 music programme
1647 2203 Concorde weak signal-25332 music programme
Observations
- A quiet start to 2019 which saw Barones and Bluebird with lengthy music programmes. Also on air with a long programme was Concorde. His signal was very weak to start with, but later in the evening reception lifted and he delivered his best signal to this part of England so far, peaking up to a sinpo of 25332.
Monday, December 31, 2018
1671 1749 Viking en Tante Foeke 25222 music programme
1631 1928 Spakenburg 35333 music programme
1652 1930 Driland 35333-45555 music programme
1645 1958 Ros Am 35333-55444 music programme
1640 0045 Bandoeng 35333 music programme
Observations
- The band was very quiet this evening - the Dutch pirates were seemingly enjoying the countdown to 2019 rather than switching on their transmitters. One station on air, however, was Driland, who is a New Year's Eve regular and was active well into the early hours on Tuesday morning. He was generally putting in a sinpo of 35333, although sometimes it was coming up higher and sounding very good.
- Ros Am was on air for a while on 1645. He had been making changes to his audio and was sounding superb after some adjustments. Here's to lots of international programmes this year with that famous voice and slick presentation.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
1655 1930 Barones 45333-55444 music programme
1621 1936 Turftrekker 45333 music programme
1635 2005 Ruisbreker 33222 music programme
1629 2104 Vriendschap 34333 music programme
1645 2110 Batavier 44333-44444 music programme
1621 2116 Blauwe Koe 35333-45444 report for Turftrekker
1630 2136 Ijsvogel 54444 report for Vriendschap
1629 2137 Noordzee 42442 report for Vriendschap
1629 2141 Alabama 45444 report for Vriendshap
1647 2149 Armada 45333 report for Vriendschap
1640 2215 Ijsvogel 54444
1636 2231 Hooiberg 35333 qsoing
1629 2240 Noordzee 44444 music programme
1638 2247 Bluebird 55444 music programme
1655 2304 Alabama 45444 report for Barones
Observations
- Reception conditions were way down at the start of the evening owing, I believe, to a solar flare. However, as time went on, the signals improved to something like their usual standard.
- The festive season often brings out stations not regularly heard and I had wondered if we might get a chance to hear Ijsvogel (Kingfisher in English) at some point. And, sure enough, he arrived on the band tonight with a big signal during a qso on 1630 kHz and later a short test on 1640.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
1611 1943 Noordster 35333 music programme
1633 1944 Odynn 25332 music programme
1647 1944 Keizer en Keizerin 24222-34333 music programme
1671 2010 Viking en Tante Foeke 25322 music programme
1648 2047 Moby Dick 34333 music programme
Friday, December 28, 2018
1625 2322 Hooiberg 35333 qsoing
1626 2334 Jeneverstoker 25222 qsoing
1618 2340 Turftrekker 44444 qsoing
1625 2348 Pandora 44444 qsoing
Thursday, December 27, 2018
1629 1405 Edelkampioen 25442, 45444 at 1435 music programme
1640 1500 Blackstone 25442 report for Edelkampioen
1650 1504 Digitaal 35443 report for Edelkampioen
1629 1507 Schaduwjager 45444 qsoing
1620 1508 Marconist 25442 qsoing
1629 1510 Kaimaan 25442
1620 1513 Edelkampioen 55555 qsoing
1640 1519 Digitaal 55555 qsoing
1646 1629 Cabellero 34443 qsoing
1640 1531 Casablanca 44444 testing
1620 1535 Vendor 24442 music programme
1635 1536 Digitaal 45444 qsoing
1650 1555 Blonde Piraat 25342 qsoing
1647 1557 Armada 25342 qsoing
1611 1619 Veluwse Ster 34333-44444 testing
1637 1732 Dikke Betta 45444 music programme
1615 1832 Spanningzoeker 55444 music programme
1629 1840 Flevojager 35333-45444 music programme
1629 1903 Marconist 25332 report for Flevojager
1615 1906 Turftrekker 55444 qsoing
1668 1907 Batavier 45444 music programme
1638 1942 Morgenster 24332-35333 music programme
1647 2107 Armada 45434 testing modulation
1640 2305 Turfsteker 34333 qsoing
1640 2307 Professor Sickbok 55444 qsoing
1635 0007 Polkaman 35343 report for Professor Sickbok
Observations
- A very busy day on the band with non-stop action from just after 2pm here when signals started arriving here in the UK. The first station heard was Edelkampioen, and his signal soon improved and was hitting a sinpo of 45444 at 2.35pm. When he closed down there were plenty of stations ready to give him a report, including Caballero, who had been absent for some time with a broken antenna, and the well-known voice of Blonde Piraat.
- A station identifying as Veluwse Ster was heard on 1611 kHz, although I don't have any information about him.
- Flevojager isn't a regular on the band, so it was good to catch him with a programme on 1629 kHz and a very nice signal.
- It had been over a year since I last heard Professor Sickbok so it was a surprise to hear him back on the band tonight. He always used to have a big signal, and it was just the same this evening.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
1647 1232 Witte Tornado 25442, 45444 at 1735 music programme
1635 1237 Roderover 35453-45554 music programme
1625 1238 Derdeman weak signal music programme
1660 1632 Digitaal 35333 music programme
1630 1723 Pontiac 45434-55555 music programme
1640 1736 Blackstone 24432 report for Pontiac
1620 1831 Weduwe 43433-54444 music programme
1655 1834 Batavier 45434 music programme
1664 1856 Concorde weak signal music programme
1664 2137 Rebel (Friesland) weak signal music programme
1647 2309 Alabama 45444 report for Witte Tornado
1625 2340 Pandora 44333-55444 qsoing
1636 2344 Pioneer 45434 testing
1621 2344 Turftrekker 55444 qsoing
Observations
- It's not very often, even during winter, that Dutch MW signals can be received here before around 2pm. However, today it was different with Witte Tornado coming in from just after 12.30, although it took a few hours for the signal to peak. This husband and wife combination are far from as active as they used to be since they were visited by the Dutch authorities on October 8, 2017, but they made the most of this transmission and were on air for over 12 hours.
- Power station Roderover was strong at just after 12.30pm and remained strong. I remember this name from the early days of my pirate listening so it's always a trip down memory lane when such pirates can be heard again.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
1647 1257 Kezier en Keizerin 45444 at 1929 music programme
1620 1607 Twentana 35333 music programme
1629 1800 Moonbreaker 35443 music programme
1630 1919 Schaduwjager 55444
1614 1919 Twee Gebroeders 25222 music programme
1636 1937 Hooiberg 44444 music programme
1665 2025 Batavier 44444 music programme
1695 2028 The Ghoul 55555 music programme
1655 2040 Ros Am 55444 music programme
1633 2057 Barones 54444 music programme
1670 2106 Batavier 55444 music programme
1638 2310 Bluebird 55444 music programme
1655 2310 Alabama 55444 music programme
1624 2312 Barones 55444 music programme
1625 0013 Pioneer 45434 testing
Observations
- I managed a little listening during the Christmas Day festivities and among the stations I heard was Twee Gebroeders for the first time. From what I understand this low-power pirate has been very quiet since being caught by the AT on February 23, 2014, so it was especially good to hear them today when they were broadcasting safe in the knowledge that they would be extremely unlucky to receive a visit from the authorities.
- It's been a good while since I heard Pioneer from Rotterdam. He was testing tonight with pretty good results into the UK.
Monday, December 24, 2018
1656 1430 Nachtzwerver 25342 music programme
1635 1437 Ruisbreker 25342 music programme
1640 1519 Casablanca 45444 asking for report
1647 1908 Armada 45434 music programme
1655 1920 Concorde weak signal music programme
1625 2155 Pandora 45444 music programme
1648 2158 Oldtimer 45434 music programme
1656 2201 Oliebollenbakkers 45434-55444 music programme
1638 2236 Morgenster 25222 music programme
Sunday, December 23, 2018
1620 0659 Uniek 35333 music programme
1629 0700 Mike 55444 music programme
1629 0801 Scotland 35333 report for Mike
1629 0811 Antonio weak signal qsoing
1670 1600 Moscou 25222 testing
1611 1600 Vloedgolf 35333 testing
1647 1612 Concorde weak signal
1611 1702 Batavia 25222 music programme
1629 1705 Jack Sparrow 35333-45444 music programme
1638 1828 Bluebird 55444 music programme
1645 2258 Toulouse 35333
1645 2306 Alabama 45444 report for Toulouse
1620 2345 Vuilnisman 25222-35333 qsoing
Observations
- Hearing Scotland with a report for Mike this morning was a pleasant surprise. This veteran pirate is more often heard on the shortwave bands but was delivering a decent signal into the UK just as the sun was rising.
- There were some appearances today from stations I haven't heard in ages, including Moscou, Vloedgolf and Jack Sparrow. Hopefully they will be back on air again soon
