Low noise levels, lot of pirate signals

As I mentioned last time, I now have a new radio room, and indeed also a new listening location. Noise levels here are lower, which is very good news. The Wellbrook loop antenna is currently in a temporary spot in the garden, but it's working well and pulling in lots of pirate signal from across the North Sea. Here's what I've been listening to during the last few days:

The listening post

Freq Time Station name SINPO

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

1655 1449 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 35443 (q)

1665 1452 Zwarte Panter (Friesland) weak signal (t)

1650 1452 Rodester 35443 (q)

1647 1457 Noordzee 35443 (q)

1629 1501 Schaduwjager 45444 (q)

1611 1526 Utopia 35443-45444 (t)

1655 1528 Turfsteker 35443 (q)

1638 1609 Interpol 35333 (r)

1642 1703 Barones 35333-45444 (m)

1628 1732 Pontiac 35333-45444 (m)

1629 1824 Monza 45444 (q)

1629 1844 Admiraal 35333 (q)

1656 1846 Concorde 25332-35333 (m)

1617 1941 Turftrekker 45444 (m)

1630 1942 Columbia 35333-45444 (t)

1660 2013 Digitaal 35443-45444 (t)

1640 2036 Harrie 25222 (q)

1645 2041 Astronaut 25222 (q) 

1647 2054 Turfsteker 25332 (m)

1621 2218 Blauwe Koe 45444 (t)

1636 2222 Alabama 55444 (m)

(m) = station was broadcasting a music programme
(q) = station was qsoing
(r) = station asking for a reception report from another station
(t) = station was testing

Observations

• Good to catch some afternoon action today - including Zwarte Panter from Friesland with just 70 watts - when conditions on the band were very favourable. Fast-forward a few hours and they had dropped significantly, with Pontiac and Barones nowhere near their usual strengths while spinning some records on 1628 kHz and 1642 kHz. However, following that dip, signals gradually increased again and the evening ended with a power-packed sound from Alabama on his usual 1636 kHz and from Blauwe Koe with a super signal during an audio test on 1621 kHz.

• Harrie was a rare catch, and the first time I’ve heard him. He was qsoing with low-power station Astronaut.

Monday, December 21, 2020

1629 1506 807 weak signal - 25222 (q)

1629 1509 813 25332 (q)

1629 1515 Boskabouter 25332 (q)

1629 1612 Monza 45444 (q)

1636 1637 Alabama 45434 (q)

1660 1739 Digitaal 45444 (m)

1643 1750 Shetland 25222-35333 (r)

1616 1756 Uniek 25222 (q)

1640 1804 Wegpiraat 25222-35333 (q)

1645 1816 Dageraad 25222 (q)

1655 1839 Kamelenboer 45434 (m)

1645 1856 Kristal 45434 (r)

1647 1900 Armada 35333 (m)

1625 1953 Pandora 35443 (m)

Observations

• There were some afternoon blasts from the past today. Radio 807, 813 and Boskabouter were qsoing on 1629 kHz, and all are stations I remember from many years ago when I was listening to the Dutch MW pirates in the 1990s. I heard 807 a little while back, but Radio 813 and Boskabouter have not been heard here for many years. I'm unsure whether these are the original stations or if it's just their names being reused. Perhaps somebody has some more information?

Sunday, December 20, 2020

1629 1719 Admiraal 35333 (q) 

1647 1723 Witte Tornado 35333-45444 (m)

1611 1723 Uitzendkracht 25222 (q)

1635 1727 Vonkenboer 25222 

1611 1729 Admiraal 35333 (q)

1620 1758 Silvia 25332 (q)

1620 1803 Alabama 35333 (q)

Saturday, December 19, 2020

1615 0719 Turtrekker 55444-55555 (m)

1620 0721 Utopia 34333 (q)

1653 0724 Eigen Risico 34433 (m)

1638 0725 Batavier 24442-34443 (m)

1633 0730 Noordzee 45434 (m)

1645 0733 Casablanca (Twente) (m) 25222-35333

1660 0738 Professor Sickbok 55444 (t)

1670 0739 Melkbus 24222-35333 (m)

1645 0804 Telefunken 35443 (q)

1611 1420 Veluwse Ster 45444 (m)

1617 1447 Black Molly 35443 (m)

1653 1453 Eigen Risico 35443 (m) 

1625 1454 Zwarte Boekanier 35333-45444 (m)

1638 1509 Admiraal 35333 (t)

1657 1621 Digitaal 35333-45444 (m)

1643 1755 Lotus 55444 (r)

1629 1811 Digitaal 45434 (q)

1630 1817 Brugwachter 35443 (q)

1652 2257 Moby Dick 35433-45444 (m)

1655 2302 Batavier 45444 (m)

1625 2308 Uniek 25222-35333 (m)

Observations

• Superb conditions this morning. Turftrekker was incredibly strong on his usual frequency of 1615 kHz, absolutely blasting out of the radio with his power-packed modulation, peaking at the maximum sinpo of 55555. Also putting in a huge signal was Professor Sickbok, testing on 1660 kHz.

• What was fascinating about listening to the Dutch pirates this morning was that they were still audible well after the sun had risen. As my location is not near the sea and it is not possible to receive groundwaves from these stations, I rely on the skywaves, so when the sun rises, the signals disappear. But both Batavier (1638 kHz) and Melkbus (1670 kHz) could still be heard at 0855 local time, and with decent signals. It’s a great time of the year for listening.