Strange times

Greetings from a very subdued UK where, just like in the rest of Europe and the world, we are living with the coronavirus pandemic which is having consequences for many thousands of people. The world is changing rapidly and it won't be long until we are on full lockdown here. Many people, including myself, are already working from home while looking after children whose schools have been closed in a bid to combat infection rates.

In such stressful times as we worry about what might happen to us and our families, a little light relief is very welcome, so I've been taking the opportunity to listen to the radio regularly over recent days, mainly using a very fine receiver that has been loaned to me by a fellow dxer while he's not using it. The AOR AR7030 Plus is a complex but wonderful device that is giving me plenty of pleasure - and some frustration! It has a deep network of menus that take some getting used to, but I am getting more familiar with them every day and learning a little more. The good news is that the receiver is very effective on the small part of MW where I tend to listen and has been doing a great job of pulling in plenty of Dutch pirates, as you can see from the latest logs:

Freq      Time     Station name SINPO Type of broadcast

Sunday, March 22, 2020

1640      1824      Professor Sickbok 45444 music programme

1670      1830      Digitaal 44444 music programme

1632      1841      Sapporo 35333 music programme

1671      1845      Viking en Tante Foeke 33433-44444 music programme

1647      1905      Barones 55444 music programme

1640      1914      Moonbreaker 44434 music programme

1630      1928      Columbia 45444 music programme

1618      2149      Zender Johan 55444 qsoing

1494      2158      Coast FM 44444 relay from Ireland

Observations

●     It’s been a while since I heard Columbia on the air, so it was great to hear him tonight. He had a great signal here, which you can listen to on the recording above.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

1615      1829      Derde Man 35333 music programme

1630      1830      Nachtzwerver 33443 music programme

1647      1832      Keizer en Keizerin 44444 music programme

1665      1832      Vonkenboer 25332 music programme

1645      1835      Linda Radio 45444 music programme

1665      1852      Turfsteker 35333 report for Vonkenboer

1665      1859      De Klok 35333 qsoing

1667      1932      Vonkenboer 25332 music programme

1615      2139      Blauwe Koe 45434 music programme

1656      2310      Nachtzwerver 45434

1640      2311      Mi Amigo 42432 music programme

1636      2312      Bluebird 54444 music programme

1494      2349      Laser Hot Hits 44444 Irish relay

Observations

●     Plenty to listen to from the evening right through into the late night today. Linda Radio on 1645 kHz was a tribute broadcast in memory of Jan, the operator of Radio Wadloper, who sadly died a year ago to the day. Jan’s transmitter (below) was fired up and his daughter Linda took the hot seat in the studio, surrounded by family and friends, including Radio Batavier and Relmus. A lovely idea.

●     Laser Hot Hits was active on 1494 kHz via a transmitter based in Ireland that has also recently been relaying Coast FM. Laser has also announced 1530 kHz is in use by the station, although I’ve not heard them on that frequency.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

1512      0557      Mike 44434 music programme

1652      0602      Eigen Risico 35333 music programme

1636      0605      Zeelandia 24222 music programme

1616      0608      Telefunken 25222-35333 music programme

1640      0649      Telefunken 35443 music programme

1671      2012      Twentana 35333-45444 music programme

1658      2114      Orban 45444 qsoing

1638      2117      Bluebird 55444 music programme

1658      2119      Turfsteker 35333 qsoing

1665      2123      Vonkenboer 25332 qsoing

Observations

●     I got an early morning message today from Radio Pacman to let me know there was some interesting activity on 1512 kHz. So, I jumped out of bed, headed to the receiver and found Mike Radio on the frequency coming in loud and clear with his breakfast show! And there was a fair bit of activity up on 186 metres, with Zeelandia a rare catch for me.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

1611      2220      Technical Man 44444 music programme

1656      2222      Snowman 25332-35333 music programme

1642      2222      Monte Carlo 45444 qsoing

1615      2225      Blauwe Koe 54444 music programme

1636      2227      OSM 35333 music programme

1640      2252      Casablanca 55444 music programme

1640      2343      OSM 35333 report for Casablanca

Observations

●     Very good to hear O’Superman on air today. Whenever I hear James Last’s Music Box Dancer at the top of the MW, I can be pretty sure I’ve found a broadcast from OSM. He uses only low power but the signal was coming in well as you can see and hear on the video clip

●     Also coming in very well indeed tonight was Casablanca on 1640 kHz

Monday, March 16, 2020

1634      2004      Bluebird 55544 music programme

1647      2004      Twentana 45444 music programme

1655      2026      Vrolijke Mijnwerker 35333 music programme

1640      2040      Spakenburg 44444 music programme

1647      2115      Orban 54444 testing

1611      2147      Utopia 34333-44444 report for Orban

1611      2234      Alabama 55444 report for Utopia

1642      2245      Monte Carlo 35433

1638      2338      Bluebird 55444 music programme 

Sunday, March 15, 2020

1617      0611      Noordster 55444 music programme

1638      0614      Interpol 45444 music programme

1613      0640      Eigen Risico 34343 report for Noordster

1645      0647      Marconist 35343 report for Noordster

1618      0648      Hemmeling 24332 report for Noordster

1615      2115      Blauwe Koe 55444 music programme

1644      2116      Curacau 35333-45444 music programme

1660      2117      Vonkentrekker 24222 music programme

1665      2137      Vonkenboer 25332 music programme

1636      2149      Alabama 55544 report for Curacau

1670      2251      Monte Carlo 34333-44444 report for Vonkenboer

1636      2317      Monte Carlo 35333 report for Alabama

Saturday, March 14, 2020

1634      1926      Bluebird 55444 music programme

1647      1927      Yogi Bear en Einstein 35443-45554 music programme

1655      1928      Moonbreaker 35443 music programme

1638      1938      Boogschutter 23322 music programme

1645      1950      Polydor 33433-44444 music programme

1616      2002      Schaduwjager 55544 testing

1617      2046      Blauwe Piraat 24223-35333 report for Schaduwjager

1616      2049      Witte Duif 25332 report for Schaduwjager

1630      2109      Concorde 34443 music programme

1615      2130      Boomerang 55444 asking for report

1665      2150      Vonkenboer 25332 music programme

1655      2220      Turfsteker 35333 music programme

1655      2254      Vonkenboer 24332 qsoing

1665      2256      De Klok 34333 qsoing

Thursday, March 12, 2020

1633      1730      Belladonna 25342 music programme

1635      1817      Baanbreker 23332

1645      1822      Hennie Veldwijk 25222 qsoing

1618      1839      Hengelo 25222-35333 music programme

1687      1840      Armada 45434 testing

1657      1844      Pecon 45434 qsoing

1655      1856      Eigen Risico 35333 qsoing

1636      1921      Santana en Cobra 35333-45444

1611      1958      Eldorado 45444 music programme

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

1665      2115      Kristal 45444 music programme

1638      2246      Bluebird 55444 music programme

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

1617      2025      Marianne 45434-55444 music programme

1655      2218      De Kat 25332 music programme

Monday, March 9, 2020

1638      2112      Bluebird 55444 music programme

1647      2115      Oldtimer 45444 music programme

1665      2118      Armada 45434 music programme

1618      2119      Enschede 25322 FM station relay

1669      2209      Armada 45434 qsoing with Serbia

Sunday, March 8, 2020

1634      0624      Hemmeling 35333 music programme

1617      0632      Noordster 45333-45444 report for Hemmeling

Saturday, March 7, 2020

1635      1740      Barones 45444-55555 testing/music programme

1647      1801      Keizer en Keizerin 34443 music programme

1640      1810      Ruimzicht 24432 music programme

1665      1839      Nachtzwerver 34333 music programme

1615      2032      Turftrekker 55444-55555 music programme

1630      2037      Marskramer 43433-45444 music programme

1647      2050      Moonbreaker 44444 music programme

1650      2107      Jeneverstoker 23432 music programme

1656      2109      Test Piraat weak signal music programme

1640      2120      Mi Amigo 44444 report for Moonbreaker

1651      2155      Eigen Risico 34433 music programme

1635      2252      Lotus 55444 asking for report

1640      2310      Monte Carlo 44444 report for Lotus

1618      2312      Akai 32322 qsoing

1633      2340      Polkaman 25222-35333 music programme

Thursday, March 5, 2020

1647      1733      Vendor 34333 music programme

1638      1811      Eigen Risico 34333 music programme

1715      1816      Telefunken 24332 music programme

1647      1903      Nachtzwerver 34443 qsoing

1645      1906      Baanbreker 24332 qsoing

1642      1955      Drukstroomjager 54444 testing

1645      2000      Orban 55444 asking for report

1653      2010      Drukstroomjager 55444 testing

1633      2012      Dolfijn 35443-45444 music programme

1655      2014      Meteoor 35443-45444 report for Drukstroomjager

1638      2150      Bluebird 55444 music programme

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

1617      2040      Turftrekker 55444 music programme

1632      2044      Concorde 34333 music programme

1638      2044      Boogschutter 25222 music programme

1670      2047      Mexicano en Speedy Gonzales 45444

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

1617      2116      Marianne 45444 music programme

1614      2208      Blauwe Fazant 33433 report for Marianne

1645      2208      Monte Carlo 45444 report for Marianne

1640      2242      Anton 45434 report for Monte Carlo

1635      2303      Electron 35333 qsoing

1638      2310      Bluebird 55444 qsoing

Thursday, February 20, 2020

1641      2040      Marskramer 35333-5434 music programme

1635      2040      Bluebird 35433-45444 music programme

1611      2049      Zwarte Boer weak signal music programme

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

1640      2240      Monte Carlo 35343 qsoing

1631      2245      Spakenburg 44444 qsoing with new antenna for first time

1635      2252      Electron 34443 qsoing

1656      2253      Snowman 25232-35333 music programme

1494      2254      Coast FM 45444 music programme relay

1645      2255      Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

1660      1911      Buzz FM 35443 music programme

1644      2220      Professor Sickbok 55444 music programme

1494      2229      Coast FM 34433 music programme relay

1638      2254      Bluebird 55444 music programme

Observations

●     It’s not often I hear activity from this side of the North Sea these days, but today there was an appearance from Buzz FM on 1660 kHz and a relay of Coast FM on 1494. Buzz was a big noise on the FM scene in the East Midlands during the 1990s and featured several voices who have since become well known on the shortwave bands. This broadcast came from a transmitter belonging to one of those guys, while the activity down on 1494 was coming from the Republic of Ireland.