Happy New Year

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