Tuesday, April 14, 2020

In the air at Easter

I hope you all had a good Easter with plenty of time at home with your families and perhaps a chance to listen to some pirate radio broadcasts. With lockdown due to the coronavirus continuing here in England and across much of Europe it's certainly good to have a hobby to spend plenty of time with and, as you'll see from the stations listed below, there has been plenty of MW activity from the Netherlands over the last few days:

Freq      Time     Station name SINPO Type of broadcast

Tuesday, April 14, 2020
1643      0430      Eskimo 25322-35333 music programme
1645      1726      Wegpiraat 25222-35333 asking for report
1640      1735      Casablanca 45444 report for Wegpiraat
1646      1741      Dageraad 25332 qsoing
1617      1920      Marianne 45434 music programme
1642      2156      Monte Carlo 35333 music programme
1620      2258      Philadelphia 25222 music programme

Observations
●     Eskimo is a station I don’t hear very often, mainly because he seems to operate very early in the morning when I am in bed! However, I caught him today playing some tunes on 1643 kHz before a qso with various other pirates.

Monday, April 13, 2020
1635      2102      Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme
1617      2103      Interpol 25332-35333 music programme

Sunday, April 12, 2020
1512      0430      Mike Radio 34443-45444 music programme
1635      0533      Santana en Cobra 35333 music programme
1646      0536      Vrolijke Mijnwerker 25222-35333 music programme
1620      0543      Noordzee 25222 qsoing
1647      0601      Alabama 35333-45434 music programme
1633      0624      Schaduwjager 45444-55555 qsoing
1617      0628      Noordster 45444 qsoing
1635      0630      Hemmeling 35333 qsoing
1614      0649      Eigen Risico 25222 music programme
1620      1825      Weduwe 44444 music programme
1615      1826      Blauwe Koe 34333-44444 music programme
1671      1827      Viking en Tante Foeke 24232-45444 music programme
1656      1829      Moonbreaker 35333-45444 music programme
1647      1830      Witte Tornado 35333-45444 music programme
1633      1831      Barones 45444 music programme
1612      1831      Akai 32432-33433 music programme
1633      1900      Mondeo 35443-44444 music programme



Saturday, April 11, 2020
1633      0430      Barcelona 45434 music programme
1633      0552      Klaverboer weak signal report for Barcelona
1636      0555      Alabama 35443 report for Barcelona
1636      0603      Romax 35333 report for Barcelona
1617      0612      Eigen Risico 25332 music programme
1611      0625      Zender Johan 35333 qsoing
1635      0625      Havanna 35333-45444 music programme
1615      1845      Turftrekker 35333-45444 music programme
1635      1846      Pandora 45444 music programme
1640      1846      Mi Amigo 34433 music programme
1656      1854      Nachtzwerver 35333 music programme
1611      1854      Zwarte Boer 23432 music programme
1652      2042      Moby Dick 35333-45444 music programme
1645      2056      OSM 45434-55444 600 watts qsoing
1494      2135      Laser Hot Hits 35333-45444 music programme
1620      2144      Philadelphia weak signal music programme
1640      2152      Nachtzwerver 43433 asking for report
1650      2200      Monte Carlo 34333-44444 report for Nachtzwerver
1670      2220      De Kat 24222 music programme
1648      2225      Jeneverstoker 33333 report for Pandora
1633      2242      Polkaman 25222 music programme
1656      2256      Snowman 34333 music programme
1640      2312      Nachtzwerver 35443 qsoing
1640      2314      Monte Carlo 55444-55555 qsoing

Observations
●     It was a busy morning at the high end of the MW band today. Kicking off Easter Saturday early was Barcelona on 1633 kHz - his usual frequency and time of the week. His signal was solid, as was that of Havanna, who later popped up on his regular channel of 1635 kHz to spin some records once Barcelona had gone off air. The signal was still doing well as the clock ticked past 0800 local time here in England (0700 UTC), some two hours after the sun had risen and when most Dutch pirate signals have disappeared from the receivers at this location.
●     I got a message this evening to let me know that a new station was testing on 1512 kHz. Radio Nooitgedacht, not to be confused with the MW stalwart of the same name from the Achterhoek, whose operator sadly died in February 2015. This station is broadcasting from the province of Overijjsel with a power of 40 watts using a coil antenna that is going to be improved upon in the coming weeks. I’ll certainly be listening out for him again.
●     Reception was not so stable during the first part of the evening once the sun had gone down and there was plenty of fading on signals that are usually solid. At their peaks, however, the likes of Turftrekker, Pandora and Moby Dick were all coming in loud and clear. However, by around 2300 signals had started to stabilize and there was some superb reception available. Monte Carlo was all the way up to a sinpo of 55555 at times, while low-power Snowman from Friesland was putting in a very listenable signal.
●     Last time I heard OSM he was running just 20 watts of power. Tonight I noticed a considerably more powerful sound on 1645 kHz and it was O’Superman cranking up the output to 600 watts of carrier from Flevoland. There was plenty of fading on the signal at times, but it was strong and Superman’s voice never fails to put a smile on my face. It was great to be able to send him a direct report as he was talking on air and hear the excitement as he understood his signal was crossing the North Sea loud and clear. The recordings below will give you an idea of reception tonight:







Friday, April 10, 2020
1615      2202      Technical Man 44444 music programme
1635      2203      Bluebird 54444 music programme
1655      2203      Barones 55444 music programme
1620      2205      Philadelphia weak signal music programme
1670      2206      Monte Carlo 35333
1660      2221      Vonkentrekker 25322 music programme
1633      2246      Polkaman weak signal music programme



Thursday, April 9, 2020
1636      0710      Torpedojager 24332 music programme
1642      1823      Twentana 35443 music programme
1634      1844      Marskramer 34333-45444 music programme
1655      2046      Vonkenboer 25332 qsoing
1655      2051      Turfsteker 25332-35443 qsoing
1640      2119      Professor Sickbok 34333-45444 music programme
1620      2143      Polkaman 24322 music programme
1654      2205      Jeneverstoker 25332-35333 report for Marskramer
1650      2210      Monte Carlo 34333-44444 asking for report
1640      2227      Casablanca 55444-55555 report for Professor Sickbok
1647      2230      Professor Sickbok 44444 report for Monte Carlo
1638      2303      Philadelphia weak signal music programme

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
1617      1810      Eigen Risico 25442 music programme
1635      2211      Bluebird 45444-55555 music programme
1631      2214      Polkaman 23432 testing with 50 watts
1656      2215      Snowman 25442 music programme

Tuesday, April 7, 2020
1655      1807      Eigen Risico 24442 music programme
1617      1843      Marianne 35443-45444 music programme
1670      1844      Digitaal 35333-45444 music programme
1644      2132      Vrolijke Mijnwerker 35443 qsoing
1638      2135      Philadelphia 25332 music programme
1645      2135      Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing

Monday, April 6, 2020
1635      1815      Bluebird 35433, 55444 at 2058 music programme
1614      2034      Twee Gebroeders 23432 music programme
1647      2036      Oldtimer 35333 music programme
By at

5 comments:

  1. CharlieWednesday, 15 April 2020 at 10:01:00 BST

    Hi David

    Hope you and yours are managing to keep well.
    During my Covid-19 recuperation I have been doing a fair bit of free radio related reading and listening.

    Long story short but when reading about the late Mr. Nooitgedacht(Johann?) I saw the mysterious name of Derek Taylor! Is he still around? At one point in the late nineties I doubt there was a name heard more on the bands than his.
    Interesting that Media Network, in their subtly patronising tone, also picked up on his DPRS service and MW obsession.

    Best wishes to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MW Pirate FanWednesday, 15 April 2020 at 20:12:00 BST

      Hi there Charlie

      Very nice to hear from you, but sorry to hear you've been hit by Covid-19. I hope you are making a swift recovery and feeling better by the day.

      Yes, Derek certainly was a huge fan of the scene. I met him several times back in the day, famously when we visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach with Gertie from Radio Delta in the Netherlands!

      I wrote about Derek on the blog a couple of years ago: https://mwfreeradio.blogspot.com/2017/01/remembering-dprs.html

      Have a look at the comments at the end of that post - you'll find them interesting!

      Barones sometimes plays that Media Network clip about the DPRS - it always makes me smile.

      Here's hoping you're on the mend. Keep reading and listening!

      Delete
    2. CharlieThursday, 16 April 2020 at 11:47:00 BST

      Hi David, or should I call you John!

      Very interesting about Mr. Taylor. When in or passing through Preston I often wonder what became of him.

      Perhaps when life eventually returns to some normality you could visit the Pleasure Beach again.

      My recovery is going ok thanks. Managed to get some fresh air today and aside from feeling rather tired and weak, my symptoms have all but gone. I was very lucky.

      Stay well, and keep in touch.

      Delete
  2. CharlieWednesday, 22 April 2020 at 23:00:00 BST

    Hi again David

    I have just chanced upon an internet copy of Pirate Chat from 1996. What days they were, with so many UK big hitters - Armadillo, Subterranean, Live Wire, Blackbeard, WMR, and WMS - active nearly every weekend, and often also during the week. An honourable mention too for Borderhunter. An absolute golden age of free radio. Regards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MW Pirate FanWednesday, 6 May 2020 at 16:34:00 BST

      Happy days back then! I'm still in touch with Armadillo and Blackbeard - and every now and again with WMR and Live Wire. I'm told that Subterranean Sounds still listens around from time to time although has no plans to return. But you never know...

      Delete

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