Back in business

Well I can't quite believe I haven't posted on this MW pirate radio blog since the beginning of February - and I must apologise to all our regular readers who have had over four months without any updates. Hopefully, though, you've been following us through our Twitter and Facebook pages, which I have been updating.

Plenty has been happening since I last wrote, including in March the very sad death of Jan, the operator of Radio Wadloper, who was a regular broadcaster at the top of MW band and was always fun to listen to. When you heard Keith Marshall and Only Crying somewhere around 1640 kHz then you knew you had found Jan. 

Over the last few years I've been a regular visitor to the 'Point of the Pier' - the mysterious place mentioned on transmissions from Jan and from his great friend Relmus. So I met Jan plenty of times, often standing alongside him in the Relmus studio and several times at his house, sitting in the garden beneath his mast and also in his studio, where the GU81 valves kept everything nice and warm!

Jan was great fun to be around - a legendary beer drinker who could finish a bottle before I'd taken even a sip. He always had a big smile and a big laugh and seemed to love life. When I saw him he was always interested in what I'd been up to, and I noticed his English improve every time I met him. Sadly, my Dutch stayed at the same very low level!

Jan would often send pictures from the studio when he was live on air, which he would always let me publish here on the blog. Recently Only Crying came up on my Spotify playlist and it made me think of Jan immediately. MW will be a quieter place without him. 

It was a privilege to be at the funeral in Dokkum and to see how many people wanted to pay their respects to a lovely man. It was incredible, with plenty of folk from the pirate scene, together with lots of family, friends and colleagues. 

I wish Jan's wife Janneke and children all the very best for the future. 

Well I might not have been updating the blog very often, but I have been listening to the band, so it's now time to update the list of logs, starting with Saturday night - and don't forget to pop back soon for the latest in Dutch pirate radio news. I will attempt to update a bit more regularly now!

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Saturday, June 22, 2019
1630      1745        Edelkampioen 25442 music programme
1611      1922        Mike 25222-35333 music programme
1660      1946        Digitaal 35333-45444 music programme
1652      2001        Moby Dick 34343, later 55444 music programme
1611      2002        Moonbreaker 25222-35333 music programme
1672      2003        Batavier en De Kat 35333 music programme
1629      2110        Turftrekker 54444 music programme
1665      2111        Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1636      2115        Jeneverstoker 23422 music programme
1673      2120        Concorde 25222-35333 music programme
1638      2120        Morgenster 34443-44444 music programme
1656      2141        Josje Power 24222-34333 testing
1647      2211        Spakenburg 45444 qsoing
1646      2234        Monte Carlo 44444 qsoing
1645      2304        Scotland 45434 music programme
1635      2308        Pandora 55444 music programme

Observations

• It was pretty busy on the band tonight with plenty to listen to. The biggest signal came from Turftrekker on 1629 with powerful modulation to match. 
• Concorde was doing very well, producing a very listenable signal here in the UK. Not so long ago he was using 40 watts carrier power - he has now changed his transmitter and is sending out 200 watts which produced a pretty steady signal and some super peaks.
• Josje Power popped up on 1656 kHz with a test transmission and also had some good peaks, although he was getting some splatter from nearby Moby Dick, who was on 1652 with his regular Saturday night broadcast.
• Great to hear Radio Scotland come up at just after 2300 UTC - midnight here in the UK and 0100 in the Netherlands. I've paid several visits to Albert over the years - I remember visiting with Bill Lewis of Live Wire Radio around 20 years back and I've been there on another couple of occasions as well. There's always lots to see, and you can take a glimpse behind the scenes by visiting the station website here. You'll find all sorts to look at, including this picture of the studio:
  
  

Friday, June 21, 2019

1617      2135        Mustang 55444 music programme
1655      2136        Marskramer 34333-45444 music programme
1673      2136        Batavier 35443-45444 music programme
1611      2139        Belladonna 25222 music programme
1640      2148        Monte Carlo 45444 asking for report
1685      2157        Astronaut 25222-35333
1649      2234        Turfsteker 35333 qsoing
1638      2243        Bluebird 55444 qsoing

Observations

• Tonight's biggest signal came from Mustang, who always packs a punch into my part of the UK and is always worth listening to. At the other end of the scale, it was also great to hear Radio Astronaut who was using just 30 watts of power and managed to get a peak sinpo of 35333 to the antenna at this side. 

Friday, June 14, 2019

1635       2201       Pandora 55444 music programme
1645       2202       Kachelboer 55444 music programme
1620       2203       Gedrocht 24332 music programme
1630       2204       Zwarte Panter 23322 music programme
1640       2230       Professor Sickbok 44444 music programme
1631       2304       Jeneverstoker 34333 qsoing

Wednesday, June 12, 2019
1638       2002       Bluebird 45444 music programme
1647       2002       Ros Am 35333-45444 testing
1673       2041       Armada 35333-45343

Tuesday, June 11, 2019
1638       2118       Ros Am 35333 testing

Sunday, June 9, 2019
1665       1955       Digitaal 35343 music programme
1647       2010       Witte Tornado 35443, 45444 at 2057 music programme
1673       2048       Concorde 25332 music programme
1620       2055       Musky 24332-35443 music programme
1617       2101       Spakenburg 35333-45444 music programme
1611       2125       Spakenburg 35333-45444 music programme
1638       2126       Mustang 45444 music programme
1670       2153       Concorde 35333 music programme
1611       2214       Monte Carlo 35333 report for Spakenburg
1611       2225       Zender Johan 54444 qsoing
1645       2230       Turfsteker 24332
1660       2232       Monte Carlo 45444 music programme
1610       2253       Soto 24332 report for Musky
1620       2306       Jeneverstoker 24332 report for Musky
1638       2310       Turfsteker 35343 qsoing

Saturday, June 8, 2019
1652       2140       Moby Dick 45444 music programme
1647       2140       Keizer en Keizerin 35333-45444 music programme
1638       2140       Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme
1620       2141       Ruimzicht 35333 music programme
1636       2142       Romax 42442 testing
1665       2146       Digitaal 45333-45444 music programme
1665       2204       Monte Carlo 45333-45444 report for Digitaal
1642       2205       Alabama 54444 report for Digitaal

Friday, June 7, 2019
1673       2018       Digitaal 35443 music programme
1640       2023       Morgenster 35443 music programme
1655       2130       Kristal 35433 music programme

Thursday, June 6, 2019
1642       2105       Morgenster 35443 music programme

Wednesday, May 15, 2019
1631       1930       Golfbreker 35443 testing new transmitter
1645       1932       Casablanca (Twente) 25442 music programme
1645       1946       De Klok 25242
1620       1951       Gedrocht van Twente 25232 music programme
1670       2000       Melkbus 25332 music programme
1630       2145       Anton 45444 music programme
1664       2200       Paradiso weak signal music programme
1640       2237       Casablanca 55444-55555 report for Anton

Sunday, May 12, 2019
1637       1900       Digitaal 35333 music programme
1647       1915       Witte Tornado 35343. Later 45444 music programme
1655       2005       Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1635       2010       Bluebird 45444 music programme
1642       2032       Barones 35333-45444 music programme

Saturday, May 11, 2019
1656       2130       Sluwe Vos 35333 music programme
1638       2207       Spakenburg 45433-55444 music programme
1647       2214       Keizer en Keizerin 34433-44444 music programme
1638       2246       Spanningzoeker 55444 report for Spakenburg
1640       2249       Professor Sickbok 45433-45444 report for Spakenburg
1648       2256       Digitaal 45434 report for Spakenburg

Saturday, May 4, 2019
1665       2140       Batavier 35222-35333 music programme
1629       2142       Blauwe Koe 34433 music programme
1652       2142       Moby Dick 45444 music programme
1635       2220       Bluebird 55544-55555 music programme

Friday, May 3, 2019
1615       2026       Turftrekker 55444 music programme
1637       2027       Morgenster 35443 music programme
1655       2027       Batavier 35333-45444 music programme
1629       2035       Jeneverstoker 24432-34443 music programme
1645       2101       Mustang 55444 testing

Thursday, May 2, 2019
1673       2047       Armada 45433-45444 music programme
1635       2048       Bluebird 55544-55555 music programme
1645       2049       Boer Piet 25222 music programme
1655       2124       Kachelboer 55444 music programme

Wednesday, May 1, 2019
1611       1831       Noordster 35443 qsoing
1649       1834       Kachelboer 35443 qsoing
1630       1838       Meteoor 35443 qsoing
1644       2115       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55534 music programme
1615       2119       Batavia 25322-35333 music programme

Tuesday, April 30, 2019
1617       1922       Marianne 55444-55555 music programme
1670       2109       Concorde 25222-35333 music programme

Sunday, April 28, 2019
1647       2204       Witte Tornado 35343-45444 music programme

Sunday, March 31, 2019
1635       2035       Bluebird 55444 music programme. Later 1638
1647       2038       Witte Tornado 45444-55444 music programme
1650       2055       Yogi Bear 44444 testing
1665       2145       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 calling Serbia
1635       2223       Pandora 44433 report for Bluebird

Friday, March 29, 2019
1655       2005       Relmus 35333-45444 music programme
1636       2010       Barones 55444-55555 music programme
1620       2022       Eldorado 54444 music programme
1639       2025       Morgenster 35333-45444 music programme
1673       2103       Armada 55444 music programme
1610       2110       Mustang 54444 music programme
1662       2155       Kristal 34333-45444 music programme
1633       2220       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 report for Baro
1615       2225       Blauwe Koe 45444-55444 music programme
1655       2250       Black Bandit 35333-45444 report for Relmus and music programme
1635       2355       Bluebird 55444 music programme

Monday, March 18, 2019
1645       2145       Casablanca (Twente) 35333 music programme
1635       2245       Pandora 45434 music programme

Saturday, March 16, 2019
1660       2110       Kristal 45444 music programme
1647       2112       Keizer en Keizerin 35443 music programme
1615       2115       Blauwe Koe 35333-45444 music programme
1642       2200       Moby Dick 44444 music programme
1635       2214       Pandora 55444 music programme
1660       2228       Concorde 25332 music programme
alteration

Sunday, March 10, 2019
1645      2005       Barones 45444 music programme
1611       2020      Veluwse Ster 25332 music programme
1636       2220      Jeneverstoker 25332
1638       2236      Dr Bloe 35333-45444 report for Stoker
1620       2242      Gedrocht van Twente 24332 music programme
1635       2350      Pandora 45444 music programme

Tuesday, March 5, 2019
1635       1755       Pandora 35443 qsoing
1655       1855       Pecon 35443 qsoing
1615       1857       Gedrocht van Twente weak signal music programme
1617       2056       Marianne 45434 music programme
1633       2057       Horizon 25322 music programme
1643       2058       Ros Am 45434 music programme
1665       2058       Twentana 45444 music programme
1633       2211       Noordzee 45444 qsoing
1635       2214       Electron 35333 qsoing

Wednesday, February 27, 2019
1646       2225       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444-55555 music programme
1662       2230       Armada 44333-55444 music programme
1660       2248       Monte Carlo 35333 report for Armada
1645       2319       Monte Carlo 45444 report for Vrolijke Mijnwerker

Saturday, February 23, 2019
1631       1905       Uniek 35443-45444 music programme
1647       1907       Keizer en Keizerin 35333-45444 music programme
1655       1910       Batavier 45444 music programme
1618       1912       De Klap 25332 music programme

Wednesday, February 20, 2019
1618       2240       Spakenburg 45444 music programme
1628       2244       Marskramer 35343 music programme
1611       2247       Gedrocht van Twente weak signal music programme
1636       2316       Jeneverstoker 25222-35443 report for Marskramer
1635       2320       Marskramer 35333-45444 qsoing
1645       2334       Soerabaya 25432 music programme

Sunday, February 17, 2019
1611       1744       Interpol 44444 music programme
1635       1747       Havana 55444 music programme
1611       1806       Mondeo 34433-44444 music programme
1655       1809       Batavier 45444 music programme
1632       1833       Derde Man 34333-45434 music programme
1637       1900       Dikke Betta 55444-55555 music programme
1620       2008       Akai 35333 music programme
1656       2009       Mustang 45434-55444 testing
1645       2245       Jan De Roos 45434 music programme

Saturday, February 16, 2019
1638       1850       Barones 45444-55555 music programme
1611       1855       Technical Man 45444 music programme
1647       1857       Keizer en Keizerin 35333-45444 music programme
1655       1858       Batavier 45444 music programme
1631       1859       Uniek 35333 music programme
1620       1902       Sapporo 35333 qsoing with Lokaal
1620       1906       Lokaal weak signal qsoing            
1631       1910       Polkaman 22432 music programme
1611       1926       Twentana 35333-45444 music programme
1617       2105       The Ghoul 55555
1638       2120       Bluebird 55444 music programme
1665       2207       Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1652       2225       Moby Dick 45333 music programme
1645       2309       Dinkelland 45444 testing
1645       2346       Spakenburg 45444 report for Dinkelland
1646       2347       OSM 43443-44444 report for Dinkelland
1646       2352       Technical Man 44444 report for Dinkelland
1645       0008       Monte Carlo 34433 qsoing
1645       0027       Nachtzwerver 35443 qsoing

Friday, February 15, 2019
1629       2307       Eldorado 45444 music programme
1655       2308       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 music programme
1640       2320       Concorde 25332 music programme

Thursday, February 14, 2019
1611       1945       Zwarte Boer 25432-35433 music programme
1644       1955       Ros Am 45444-55555 testing
1638       2000       Morgenster 35333 music programme
1620       2015       Sapporo 35443-45444 music programme
1665       2130       Batavier 35333-45454 music programme
1629       2203       Noordzee 45434 qsoing
1635       2220       Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme
1650       2225       Professor Sickbok 45444 music programme

Tuesday, February 5, 2019
1637       2035       Turftrekker 25222-35333 music programme
1617       2040       Marianne 45444 music programme
1642       2045       Concorde weak signal music programme
1635       2224       Monte Carlo 35333-45444 qsoing
1646       2227       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 music programme
1633       2227       Noordzee 35333-45444 qsoing