Apologies for the break in service here and the lack of activity on the blog for a couple of weeks. We had some terrible news when my dad was taken into hospital following a stroke and a small bleed on the brain. He also had pneumonia and then contracted Covid-19 while in hospital. In the early hours of Monday, January 18, he sadly passed away after struggling to breath.
As you can imagine I have not felt like doing a great deal while I come to terms with this incredibly sad time. I have, however, been listening to the radio and to the Dutch pirates, while remembering that back in my teenage years my dad would often stop by my bedroom and listen to the booming voice of Radio Barones coming out of my speakers - indeed, the Baro has greeted him on air many times.
I remember also how it was my dad who first took me to the Netherlands when the listening hobby started to take hold. It was 1993 and we were on holiday in Dorset in the south of England, but we combined that break with a trip to the Netherlands, travelling by coach and staying in a little hotel in Noordwijk in the west of the country. This area is not known for its pirate radio activity, with the majority of stations to be found in the north and east. However, with a passion for railways, my dad worked out all the timings for me to travel by train to the east, where I met some of the famous voices that I spent my time listening to.
The first person I met was Radio Delta. Then there was Barones, Hollandia, Utopia and more. Delta also took me by car to the north, where I met Radio Pacman and other pirates. And these friendships from nearly 30 years ago have lasted to this day. All thanks to that first Dutch trip with my dad, where I remember sitting in the hotel bar with a beer of a night-time and him telling me all about the gin for which the area of Groningen was famous - and eating appelgebak in a small cafe in Leiden.
Life will never be the same again, but I have some lovely memories of a dad who shaped my life, gave me passion for my interests and taught me never to give up.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, radio has been a saviour for many people during the lockdowns and curfews of the coronavirus, and again it has helped me over the last weeks. I have received many lovely messages from my pirate friends in the Netherlands, they have played music for me on the air, they have even sent cards to England. Thank you to every one of you - your thoughts and good wishes have been much appreciated.
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| Raising a glass with dad on a late-night railway trip |
And so to the logbook and the stations I've been listening to during the last couple of weeks, along with some recordings:
Monday, February 1, 2021
1632 1512 Karabijn 25332, 45444 at 1548 (r)
1670 1518 Speedygonzales 25332-35333 (q)
1662 1519 Concorde 25222 (q)
1632 1522 Spanningzoeker 35443-45444 (q)
1647 1529 Noordzee 25332 (q)
1633 1552 Noordzee 25332, 45444 at 1712 (q)
1629 1555 Schaduwjager 45444 (q)
1660 1638 Digitaal 35333-45444 (q)
1660 1654 Uniek 25332 (q)
1629 1737 Rebel 25332-35333 (m)
1638 1805 Bluebird 45444-55555 (m)
1650 1808 Wegpiraat 35443 (r)
1657 1819 Telefunken 35333 (m)
1673 1834 Nachtrijder weak signal-25322 (m)
1667 1836 Astronaut 25222 (t)
1620 1837 Admiraal 35443 (r)
1640 1839 Boomerang 53444 (t)
1624 1851 Monza 45444 (q)
1622 1900 Waterman 25322 (q)
1662 1913 Concorde 35443 ( r)
1645 1917 Casablanca 24322 (m)
1629 1920 Monza 45444 (q)
1655 1932 Oldtimer 45434 (m)
1669 1933 Boomerang 55444 (t)
1629 2003 Columbia 45444 (m)
1625 2233 Pandora 55444 (m)
1625 2303 Valencia 34333 (q) report for Pandora
(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
It’s been a while since I heard Karabijn from Twente on my radio, so it was good to catch him this afternoon. He was on 1620 kHz asking for a reception report from any other stations - and that started quite a qso, as Speedygonzales and Concorde were first to come back to him, followed by Spanningzoeker, Noordzee and Schaduwjager.
A few hours later there was some low-power action with a test from Astronaut on 1667 kHz - he was trying out some ancient vt4c tubes in the modulator. He was kind enough to send me the picture below while he was on air. At the same and just a few kilohertz higher up the band was Nachtrijder, spinning some records on 1673 kHz. He uses only around 15 watts, so great that his signal was able to travel right across the Netherlands, the North Sea and into England.
Sunday, January 31, 2021
1617 1453 Black Molly 25432-35443 (m)
1625 1842 Batavier 25332-35333 (m)
1662 1844 Concorde 35443 (m) on air until 2240
1635 2242 Electron (q) report for Concorde
Observations
- I didn’t do a great deal of listening today but I heard Concorde on 1662 kHz at around 1845 local time in the UK, and when I came back to the radio a few hours later, he was still there and coming in really well. I have a signal meter here similar to the ones used in many Dutch pirate studios which enables stations to give a signal report in terms of a percentage. Concorde is usually around the 40% mark with me but tonight he was peaking at 60 per cent. Great conditions. You can see the reception on the video I made:
Saturday, January 30, 2021
1667 1733 Digitaal 55444 (t)
1620 1737 Spanningzoeker 54444 (q)
1653 1746 Telefunken 34433 (q)
1620 1750 Eigen Risico 34443-44444 (q)
1629 1808 Schaduwjager 55444-55555 (m)
1648 1828 Keizer en Keizerin 44444 (m)
Friday, January 29, 2021
1660 1429 Digitaal 25222 (m)
1638 1430 Pandora 25442 (m)
1636 1910 Barones 45444 (m)
Thursday, January 28, 2021
1655 1719 Belladonna 35443 (m)
1629 1735 Vrije Vogel 23432 (m)
1620 1736 Zwarte Arabier 55444 (m)
1685 1738 Digitaal 45444 (m)
1645 1751 Kleine Man 44444 (m)
1648 1835 Baanbreker 34333 (m)
1649 1847 Dageraad 44444 (q)
1655 2003 Oldtimer 45434 (m)
1629 2005 Marskramer 45434 (m)
1640 2027 Rebel 22432-33433 (m)
1642 2037 Turftrekker 34443 (m)
1645 2041 Turfsteker 23432 (m)
1638 2043 Boogschutter weak signal (m)
1652 2046 Moby Dick 45434-55444 (t)
1665 2100 Kristal 55444 (m)
1622 2128 Blauwe Koe 55444 (m)
1638 2135 Pandora 45434-55555 (m)
1665 2149 Armada 45434 (q)
1644 2215 Eigen Risico 44444 (r)
1617 2225 Spakenburg 44444 (m)
1654 2243 Eigen Risico 35433 (q)
1640 2340 Monte Carlo 35443 (q)
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
1630 1300 Klaverboer weak signal-25322 (m)
1611 1306 Silvia 25322 (q)
1660 1310 Uniek weak signal-25332 (q)
1617 1328 Black Molly en Zwarte Piraat 35443 (m)
1629 1343 Arizona weak signal (m)
1629 1407 Paradiso weak signal (q)
1633 1435 Noordzee 35333 (t)
1646 1514 Karel Doorman 25222 (m)
1646 1534 Spakenburg 25222-35333 (q)
1611 1600 Horizon weak-25222, 35333 at 1721 (m)
1633 1711 Noordzee 45444 (q)
1646 1710 Avia 35443 (m)
1660 1711 Uniek 25332-35333 (q)
1638 1713 Interpol 55444 (q)
1660 1716 Digitaal 55444 (q)
1624 1750 Batavier 35443 (m)
1653 1754 Telefunken 34443 (m)
1640 1817 Turfsteker 35443 (m)
1636 1819 Sapporo 34333 (m)
1648 1837 Dageraad 33433 (m)
1647 1856 Baanbreker 33433 (q)
1638 1900 Bluebird 44444 (m)
1620 1907 Pecon 44444 (q)
1630 2225 Ros Am 55444 (m)
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
1629 1715 Vrije Vogel 25332 (m)
1638 1725 Ros Am 45444 (m)
1665 1730 Josje Power 45444 (m)
1646 1738 Telefunken 35333 (m)
Monday, January 25, 2021
1613 1503 Alpenjager 25342
1646 1505 Karel Doorman 35443 (m)
1630 1737 Drukstroomjager 45444 (q)
1667 1738 Digitaal 45444 (m)
1620 1738 Zwarte Boekanier 35333 (q)
1640 1744 Casablanca 45434 (q)
1645 1751 Schaduwjager 55444 (q)
1634 1752 Delfzijl 35333 (m)
1655 1753 Belladonna 25222 (m)
1620 1803 Schaduwjager 55444 (q)
1656 1810 Admiraal 25222-35333 (q)
1625 1828 Pandora 35333-45444 (m)
1665 1840 Armada 35333-45444 (r)
1665 1858 Veldwachter 25222-35333 (q)
1665 1902 Meteoor 35333-45444 (q)
1631 1903 Atletico 35433 (q) report for Pandora
1618 2202 Gedrocht van Twente weak signal (m)
1625 2315 Pandora 45434 (m)
Sunday, January 24, 2021
1638 0218 Polkman 25222-35333 (m) close at 0510!
1625 0510 Marconist 35333 (q) report for Polkaman
1616 0621 Waterman 24222 (m)
1620 0631 Noordster 45444 (q)
1625 0643 Rietvink 35333 (q)
1655 0643 Belladonna 35333 (m)
1640 0658 Jeneverstoker 24222 (q)
1638 1322 Bluebird 25222 (t)
1611 1341 Veluwse Ster weak signal-25332 (m)
1625 1825 Turftrekker 45444 (m)
1640 1830 Belladonna 35333 (m)
1647 1830 Witte Tornado 45444 (m)
1655 1831 Oldtimer 45444 (m)
1638 2140 Bluebird 55444 (m)
1655 2143 Witte Raaf 44333-44444(m)
1625 2146 Sapporo 35333 (m)
1512 0620 Blauwe Piraat 24432-34443 (m)
1625 0650 Marconist 35333 (q)
1620 0716 Eigen Risico 34443 (q)
1670 1830 Digitaal 55444 (m)
1636 1832 Mi Amigo 45444 (m)
1665 1847 Uniek 35333 (q)
1652 1849 Jeneverstoker 25332 (m)
1659 1852 Digitaal 35333 (q)
1630 1854 Saporro 34433 (m)
1687 1900 Witte Reus 25222 (m)
1629 2210 Blauwe Koe 45444 (m)
1655 2210 Yogi Bear en Einstein (m)
1665 2329 Monte Carlo 35333-45444 (q)
Friday, January 22, 2021
1666 1745 Digitaal 45444 (m)
1657 1751 Blackstone 35443 (q)
1620 1755 Derde Man 35333 (m)
1653 1811 Shetland (Telefunken) 35443 (t)
1649 1835 Dageraad 35443 (m)
1615 1840 Zwarte Boekanier 45444 (r)
1640 1845 Casablanca 55444 (q)
1625 1845 Batavier 35333-45444 (m)
1625 1850 Zwarte Boekanier 44444 (r)
1646 1852 Dageraad 44444 (r)
1636 1903 Delfzijl 44444-55444 (t)
1643 1909 Orban 55444 (m)
1647 2308 Witte Tornado 55444 (t)
1655 0017 Avia 35333 (m)
1635 0103 Polkaman 35333 (m)
1620 0551 Noordster 55544 (m)
1628 0656 Hemmeling 44444 (q)
1611 0659 Eigen Risico 34433 (q)
1620 0659 Blauwe Piraat 34333 (q)
1625 0702 Marconist 45434 (q)
1616 0708 Waterman weak signal-25222 (m)
1640 1609 Barones 45444-55444 (m) later on 1632
1641 1800 Schaduwjager 55444 (m)
1611 1823 Eigen Risico 35443 (m)
1641 1832 Barones 45444 (q)
1625 1842 Sapporo 25222-35333 (m)
1660 1857 Josje Power 45444 (t)
1675 1922 Digitaal 45444 (m)
1630 1926 Mondeo 44444 (m)
Saturday, January 16, 2021
1655 0630 Josje Power 45444 (m)
1633 0633 Barcelona 55444 (m)
1625 0634 Rietvink 44444 (m)
1620 0634 Batavier 34433-44444 (m)
1633 0652 Alabama 55444 (q)
1633 0705 Noordzee 44444 (m)
1645 0726 Bonte Specht 34333-44444 (q)
1611 0728 Pontiac (m) 54444
1627 0740 Hemmeling 45444 (q)
1643 0745 Avia 25332 (m)
1632 0746 Vendor 33433 (m)
1611 0748 Blauwe Piraat 23432 (q)
1612 0757 Eigen Risico 23432 (q)
1635 1517 Schaduwjager 35443 (q)
1673 1519 Digitaal 35333, 45444-55555 at 1639 (m)
1611 1625 Eigen Risico 35443 (m)
1620 1638 Uniek 34333 (m)
1648 1703 Keizer en Keizerin 45444 (m)
1612 1709 Soto 35333 (m)
1631 1730 Ros Am 55444 (m)
1627 1733 Alaska 45444 (m)
1660 1832 Dageraad 35333 (t)
1660 1838 De Klok 25322 (r)
1615 1845 Utopia 45444 (t)
1658 1855 Turfsteker 35443 (m)
1635 1920 Jeneverstoker 24332 (m)
1629 1929 Admiraal 35443 (m)
1629 2001 Monza 35333-45444 (q)
1670 2159 Mexicano en Speedygonzales 55444 (m)
1655 2204 Yogi Bear en Einstein 45444-55555 (m)
1625 2206 Turftrekker 55444 (m)
1632 2206 Woutster 44444 (m)
1670 2253 Vonkentrekker 24222 (m)
1625 2340 Blauwe Koe 45434 (q)
Friday, January 15, 2021
1620 1535 Scotland 35443-45444 (q)
1646 1540 Karel Doorman 25342 (m)
1611 1541 Zwarte Panter (Oldenzaal) weak signal (m)
1665 1545 Blackstone 35333 (q)
1620 1551 Alabama 45444-55555 (m)
1631 1612 Ros Am 45444-55555 (t)
1646 1648 Karel Doorman 35443 (t)
1635 1657 Lotus 55444-55555 (r)
1675 1725 Nachtzwerver 25222 (q)
1665 1731 Digitaal 45444 (q)
1655 1735 Belladonna 35443 (m)
1638 1750 Armada 25222-35333 (m)
1646 1750 Telefunken 35333 (m)
Thursday, January 14, 2021
1645 1235 JB 25332 (m)
1646 1308 Karel Doorman 25222-35333 (m)
1662 1309 Josje Power 25222-35333 (m)
1625 1400 Alaska 35443 (m)
1647 1402 Armada weak signal-25332
1638 1538 Bluebird 45444-55555 (t)
1662 1554 Spakenburg 35333 (q)
1647 1557 Armada 25332-35443 (m)
1662 1602 Concorde 35443 (q)
1630 1603 Vrije Vogel 25332 (m)
1662 1608 Interpol 45444-55555 (q)
1625 1634 Alaska 35333 (q)
1645 1636 Casablanca (Twente) 25222-35333
1660 1649 Digitaal 45444 (m)
1618 1654 Pontiac 55444 (m)
1638 1712 Armada 35333-45444 (m)
1620 1725 Schaduwjager 55444 (q)
1647 1725 Telefunken 35443 (m)
1620 1729 Uniek 34433 (q)
1625 1732 Kwiksilver 35333-45444 (q)
1645 1749 Skywire 25222-35333 (m)
1624 1810 Batavier 24222-45444 (m) with 100 watts
1619 1829 Alaska 35443 (m)
1638 1859 Bluebird 55444 (m)
1630 1925 Sapporo 34433 (m)
1629 1948 Blauwe Koe 45444 (q)
1646 1955 Eigen Risico 35333 (m)
1655 2038 Meteoor 45444 (m)
1647 2259 Spakenburg 45434 (m)
1635 2300 Marskramer 35443 (m)
1647 2302 Noordzee 45444 (q)
1625 2325 Bluebird 55444 (m)
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
1625 1624 Pandora 55444 (m)
1642 1624 Dageraad 35333 (q)
1645 1627 Skywire 25332 (q)
1636 1635 Dageraad 24222 (q)
1660 1824 Concorde 35333 (m)
1611 1838 Utopia 35333 (t)
1632 2120 Woudster 35443-45444 (t)
