The arrival of autumn

The leaves are on the ground, the nights are getting longer, and the signals are getting stronger. It's my favourite time of year and I've been listening to the Dutch pirates most afternoons and evenings recently, so time to update the blog!

Freq Time Station name SINPO

Thursday, October 27, 2022

1710 1645 Digitaal 45444-55555 (m)

1645 1721 Telefunken 25332-35333 (m)

1657 1832 Batavier 35443 (m)

1638 1856 Nachtzwerver 25222-35333 (m)

1620 1900 Houthakker 25222 (m)

1629 1901 Vrije Vogel 25222 (t)

1645 1956 Frieloo 25222-35333 (m)

1665 1957 Kristal 25222 (m)

1725 1958 Non-stop music ABC 50s stream 35443

1635 2103 Pandora 55444-55555 (m)

1684 2105 Noordzee 34443-44444(m)

1512 2259 Marskramer 34333 (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

• Propagation was much more variable tonight than for the past few evenings. While Digitaal hit the maximum sinpo of 55555 during the late afternoon, it was largely downhill from there with few stations managing to significantly break the noise barrier. Batavier did best of all, peaking at 35443, a similar signal to that on 1725 kHz when the unidentified station playing 50s music was back in the air.
• Later in the evening, however, some sort of normality was restored with Pandora on 1635 kHz - playing some great classic rock with his trademark powerful modulation - and Noordzee on 1684 kHz coming in with strong signals. Whenever I hear Noordzee, I always remember the time I visited him back in the 1990s along with Radio Utopia and we watched about a dozen 807 valves glowing a lovely blue colour in time with the music while he was transmitting! Happy days.
• I noticed recently that Radio Frieloo has been active, and it was good to catch his signal today on 1645 kHz. The signal was peaking pretty well. I found this video on YouTube of his signal a few months back, made by Radio Delta in Elburg:
  

• My day ended by listening to Marskramer on 1512 kHz with a nice signal. There was some fading up and down, but the peaks were very good. He was saying that he was using this channel rather than his usual 186 metres as his transmitter for higher up the band had modulation problems.

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

1710 1557 Digitaal 25322, 35333 at 1645, 55555 at 1814 (m)

1642 1645 Twentana 35333, 35443 at 1853, 45444 at 1934 (m)

1629 1652 Vrije Vogel weak signal-25222 (m)

1611 1657 Mosfet 34333-55444 (t)

1620 1710 Skywire weak signal-25222

1655 1828 Turfsteker 25222-35333 (t)

1625 1943 Waterman 33433 (m)

1645 1956 Turfsteker 35333-35443 (m)

1635 2001 Bluebird 55444 (m)

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

1636 1636 Bonanza weak signal (m)

1665 1659 Pacman Show 25222, 35333 at 1723 (m)

1647 1728 Nachtzwerver weak signal (m)

1630 1744 Boomerang 45444 (m)

1660 1813 Studio 19 25332 (m)

1670 1814 Odynn 25332-35333 (m)

1647 1835 Eigen Risico 25222-35333 (m)

1628 1835 Turftrekker 35433 (m)

1617 1836 Marianne 45444-55555 (m)

1725 1856 Non-stop music ABC 50s stream 25222-35333

1665 1924 Odynn 25332-35333 (m)

1638 1935 Luka weak signal (m)

Observations

• An interesting evening with a welcome appearance from Odynn on 1670 kHz (later 1665 kHz) being one of the highlights. He was peaking with a sinpo of 35333 on what was often quite a noisy band with signals fading up and down.
• It is not often that I include unidentified stations in my logs, but the one up on 1725 kHz deserves a mention. There are few stations that venture this far out of the traditional 186 metre band, and at first I thought this was a Balkan pirate. However, fellow radio fan Maurits noticed the non-stop British music and identification for ABC 50s, and it soon appeared that this was actually a stream from an internet station, and so very likely a station testing. No idea who it was, but this all adds to the mystery and one of the reasons the hobby can be so enjoyable.

Monday, October 24, 2022

1620 1648 Al Capone 25342-35333 (m)

1665 1718 Black Power 35333-45344 (t)

1648 1723 Perenboom 25222-35333 (m)

1635 1750 Bluebird 55444-55555 (m)

1647 1824 Oldtimer 45444 (m)

1615 1852 Waterman 23222-35333 (m)

1665 1916 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 (t)

1651 2143 Jeneverstoker 24332 (q)

1648 2150 Strandjutter 35443 (q)

1655 2204 De Kat 25222 (m)

1494 2227 Rock Revolution 25322-35333 (m)

Observations

• Different names are always very welcome and there were some rare catches for me this evening. First up it was the turn of Waterman on 1615 kHz. It is not often that I am able to receive this low-power station, but he was actually peaking quite nicely here. The same goes for Strandjutter later in the evening, who hit a top sinpo of 35443.
• De Kat is another station I don’t often hear, so it was good to catch him spinning some records on 1655 kHz to end the evening.

• Black Power had a pretty good signal here, but even better in the north of the Netherlands. Have a listen to this reception from Maurits in Assen:

  
  

Friday, October 21, 2022

1695 1328 Digitaal weak signal (m)

1630 1719 Vrije Vogel 35333 (m)

1634 1759 Boomerang 45444 (t)

1620 1806 Philadelphia 25222 (m)

1639 1806 Yogi Bear 34333 (m) 

1655 1807 Nachtzwerver 25222-35333

Thursday, October 20, 2022

1660 1634 Josje Power 35333 (m)

1636 1657 Twentana 35333 (m)

1695 1659 Digitaal 45444 (m)

1666 1824 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 35333-45444 (m)

1620 1940 Houthakker 25222-35333 (m)

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

1645 1544 Strandjutter weak signal (m)

1695 1623 Digitaal 45444 (t)

1647 1720 Armada 34333 (q)

1665 1723 Black Power 35333 (m)

1636 1804 Romax 25222-35333 (q)

1641 1807 Batavier 25222-35333 (m)

1618 1836 Marianne 35333-45444 (m)

Monday, October 17, 2022

1620 1650 Napoleon 25222-35443 (m)

1629 1651 Professor Sickbok 35443 (m)

1640 1713 Pacman Show 25222 (m)

1635 1847 Bluebird 45444-55555 (m)

1660 1852 Concorde 25322-35333 (m)

Sunday, October 16, 2022

1700 1552 Digitaal 35443 (m)

1635 1559 Barones weak signal-25222, 35443 at 1708 (m)

1625 1730 Sapporo 25332-35333 (m)

1620 1731 Al Capone 24322-35333 (m)

1645 1828 Witte Tornado 35443-45444 (m)

1655 2249 Witte Raaf 35433-45444 (m)

Saturday, October 15, 2022

1700 1602 Digitaal 55444-55555 (m)

1620 1717 Twentana 24332-35333 (m)

1637 1741 Dikke Bertha 35443 (t) mod test with low power and low antenna

1440 1817 Energy Power Am 24432 (m)

Friday, October 14, 2022

1620 1703 Pacman Show 35333-45444 (m)

1645 1704 Telefunken 25332 (m)

1665 1704 Josje Power 35333-45444 (m)

1640 1704 Nachtrijder weak signal

1629 1735 Vrije Vogel 25222 (m)

1611 1748 Mustang 33533 (m)

1635 1759 Pandora 45434-55444 (t)

1646 1804 Mustang 45434-55444 (m)

1700 1811 Digitaal 55444-55555 (t)

Thursday, October 13, 2022

1695 1625 Digitaal 45444-55555 (m)

1648 1639 Perenboom 35333 (m)

1615 1639 Stem Van Twente weak signal-25222 (m)

1685 1649 Noordzee 35333 (t)

1629 1659 Napoleon 34333-45444 (m)

1635 1803 Bluebird 55444 (m)

1643 1804 Batavier 45444 (m)

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

1695 1611 Digitaal 25432, 55555 at 1941 (m)

1620 1834 Al Capone 35333 (m)

1638 1840 Boogschutter 35333 (m)

1655 1934 Yogi Bear en Batavier 45444 (m)

1667 1944 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 (m)

1650 1947 Turfsteker 35333 (m)

1629 1950 Spakenburg 35333-45444 (m)

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

1695 1631 Mike 35333 (m)

1620 1648 Interpol 35453 (q)

1629 1650 Schaduwjager 35333 (t)

1620 1651 Twentana 25432 (q)

1647 1653 Eigen Risico 25222 (m)

1641 1815 Marconist 34433-45434 (m)

1618 1841 Marianne 35443 (m)

1700 1845 Mike 35333 (q) calling Balkan pirates

1655 1956 Witte Raaf 35333-45444 (m)

1630 2012 Sapporo 25332-35333 (m)

Monday, October 10, 2022

1665 1727 Admiraal 35333 (q)

1620 1732 Spanningzoeker 45444 (q)

1665 1734 Zeewolf 25222 (q)

1620 1740 Al Capone 35333 (q)

1629 1742 Mike 35333 (m)

Sunday, October 9, 2022

1629 1730 Ros Am 35333-45444 (t)

1645 1817 Nachtzwerver 35443-45444 (m)

1634 1830 Eigen Risico 35333 (m)

Saturday, October 8, 2022

1675 1523 Noordzee 25322 (m)

1655 1535 Rietvink 25332 (m)

1635 1548 Havanna 35343 (r ) report for Noordzee

1635 1556 Bluebird 25322 (q)

1647 1601 Kezier en Keizerin 25222, 35333 at 1748 (m)

1620 1713 Dikke Bertha 35333 (t)

1635 1722 Pandora 35443 (m)

1640 1739 Veronica 25222 (m)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

1670 1626 Noordzee 25242 (t)

1620 1715 Al Capone 25342 (m)

1655 1751 Rietvink 35333 (m)

1630 1811 Columbia 35333-45444 (m)

1647 1831 Nachtzwerver 35433 (m)

1655 1837 Meteoor 45444 (q)

1655 1846 Zeepiraat 25322 (q)

1655 1853 Turfsteker 25222 (q)

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

1629 1559 Spanningzoeker 25232-35343 (q)

1640 1603 Musky weak signal (q)

1629 1609 Boerenzwaluw weak signal (q)

1630 1613 Noordzee weak signal (q)

1620 1613 Schaduwjager 35443 (q)

1611 1621 Zwarte Man weak signal-25222 (q) 

1636 1634 Noordzee 25232 (q)

1645 1643 Telefunken weak signal (q)

1652 1727 Eigen Risico 25332-35333 (m)

1638 1731 Drukstroomjager 45444 (t)

1672 1725 Armada 35443 (m)

1629 1804 Mike 35333-45444 (m)

1620 1805 Houthakker 35333 (t) from Friesland

1639 1807 Tahiti 25222-35333 (m)

1618 1829 Marianne 44444 (m)

1647 1830 Luka weak signal-25222 (m)

1648 1857 Perenboom 35443-45444 (m)

Observations

• My biggest haul of logs for a while on what was an enjoyable afternoon/evening of listening. New names are always a welcome addition to the scene, and Houthakker was a new one today as this station from Friesland made the transition from live streaming to the more traditional method of broadcasting. The signal here was pretty good, and even when Marianne switched on to 1618 kHz at around 1830 UTC, Houthakker could still be heard just 2 kHz away on 1620.
• Musky and Boerenzwaluw are lesser heard stations over here, so it was good to catch them even though the signals were weak, which was to be expected due to the time of day.

Monday, October 3, 2022

1638 1751 Nachtzwerver 35443 (q)

1647 1752 Oldtimer 45444 (m)

1655 1751 Avia 25342 (m)

1638 1756 Luka 25322 (q)

1631 1805 Boomerang 55444 (t)

Friday, September 30, 2022

1618 1715 Zwarte Boekanier 25222-35333 (m)

1638 1716 Boogschutter 25222 (m)

1657 1716 Concorde 25222-35333 (m)

1625 1716 JB 25222 (m)

1629 1744 Mike 35333 (m)

Thursday, September 29, 2022

1645 1735 Avia 34333 (m)

1649 1736 Eigen Risico 34333

1620 1739 Luka 25222 (m)

1665 1802 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 (m)

1640 1810 Batavier 45444 (m)

1655 1828 Marskramer 35443-45444 (m)

1625 1833 Meteoor 45444 (q)

1625 1835 Blauwe Piraat 35333 (q)

1625 1837 Tempelier 35333-45444 (q) 

1618 1842 Zwarte Boekanier 35333-45444 (q)

1625 1843 Zee Piraat 25322 (q)

1695 2029 Digitaal 55444 (m)

1638 2040 Osaka 35333-35443 (m)

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

1620 1804 Mike 35333 (m)

1629 1805 Vrije Vogel weak signal (m)

Friday, September 23, 2022

1618 1609 Zwarte Boekanier 25222 (m)

1629 1611 Vrije Vogel weak signal (m)

1620 1752 Mike 35443 (m)

1635 1802 Boomerang 34333-45444 (m)

1647 1803 Avia weak signal-25332 (m)

Thursday, September 22, 2022

1665 1523 Digitaal weak signal, 25332 at 1547 (m)

1684 1619 Noordzee weak signal (m)

1640 1640 Batavier 25222 (m)

1620 1719 Admiraal 25332 (m)

1629 1756 Turftrekker 35443 (q) report for Admiraal

1620 1756 Alabama 35443-45444 (q) report for Admiraal

1653 1805 Marconist 35443 (q) report for Admiraal

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

1660 1645 Concorde weak signal-25332 (m)

1638 1647 Twentana 35333-45444 at 1744, 55555 at 1913 (m)

1625 1701 Stem van Twente weak signal (m)

1672 1713 Armada 35443-45444 (r )

1611 1722 Zwarte Boer 25322 (m)

1623 1759 Mike 45444 (m)

1657 1910 Turfsteker 35433-45444 (t)

1665 1918 Digitaal 45444-55555

1647 1923 Luka 24322 (m)

1647 1934 Kristal 45333-45444 (m)

Observations

• One of the things about logging stations is that by the very nature of the hobby, you often don’t actually listen to each one for that long at a time, although I do always try as best as I can to do this. Today the band was a little quieter, however, which gave me plenty of time to listen to Mike Radio on 1623 kHz. To sit back, enjoy the fine signal and great audio was a pleasure. And when he closed down, I moved up to Twentana on 1638 kHz and did the same. I reckon this is the best I’ve ever heard him - again, superb audio, and peaking at the maximum sinpo of 55555.
• At just after 7pm UTC, I came across a station playing Bruce Springsteen on 1657 kHz. Immediately I thought it was Turfsteker - he often plays music from The Boss, and he often uses this frequency. I sent him a message to ask, and he confirmed it was his transmitter I was listening to. And again, he was coming in particularly well, peaking at 45444, which I think is another record for this low-power station at my location.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

1636 1630 Moonbreaker 25442 (q)

1634 1632 813 weak signal (q)

1620 1736 Alabama 45444 (m)

1638 1755 Zwarte Panter (North NL) 24442

1639 1825 Tahiti 25222 (m)

1618 1842 Marianne 43444 (m)

1635 1842 Bonanza 25322-35333 

Monday, September 19, 2022

1617 1725 Zwarte Boekanier 25332 (m)

1647 1759 Oldtimer 35333, 45444 at 2001 (m)

1640 1800 Veronica 25442 (q)

1627 1806 Baanbreker 25442 (q)

1624 1810 Zwarte Boekanier 25332 (q)

1620 1934 Zorro 25332-35333 (m)

1665 1934 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 (q)

1654 1934 Eigen Risico 35333 (m)

1670 1948 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 (m)

1670 2025 Noordzee 35333-45444 (q)

1494 2047 Rock Revolution 25432 (m)

1633 2112 Ros Am 35333-45444 (t)

1673 2121 Digitaal 55444 (m)

1642 2128 Jeneverstoker 25222 (q) report for Oldtimer

1642 2133 Monte Carlo 45444 (q)

Sunday, September 18, 2022

1670 1731 Digitaal 35443, 45444 at 1815 (m)

1636 1815 Twentana 35443 (m)

1621 1818 Soto en Daniel 24222-35333 (m)

1649 2000 Eigen Risico 35443 (m)

1662 2002 Josje Power 45444 report for Digitaal (q)

Thursday, September 15, 2022

1636 1729 Moonbreaker 35333 (m)

1620 1730 Al Caponecheer 25222 (m)

1630 1731 Dikke Bertha 45444-55544 (m)

1645 1803 Bluebird 45444 (m)

1655 1804 Marskramer 45444-55544 (m)

1647 1840 Luka 24332 (m)

1621 1845 Turftrekker 44444 (m)

1640 1906 Turfsteker 34333-45444 (m)

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

1662 1726 Josje Power 25332-35333, 45444 at 1831 (m)

1618 1827 Ruimzicht (Coevorden) 23332 (m)

1645 1906 Turfsteker 35333 (q)

1629 1911 Luka 25222 (m)

1620 1923 King Kong 24232-35333 (m)

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

1618 1929 Marianne 35333-45444 (m)

1638 1930 Bluebird 35333-45444 (m)

Sunday, September 11, 2022

1640 1828 Batavier 35333 (m)

1630 1834 Mondeo 25332-35333 (m)

1660 1936 Studio 19 25332 (m)

Saturday, September 10, 2022

1655 1755 Yogi Bear 25242 (t)

1629 1848 Quintus 25332 (m)

Monday, September 5, 2022

1611 1844 Zwarte Man 35333 (m)

1647 1845 Oldtimer 35333 (m)