Second update of the year

Greetings from the radio room high in the sky in the centre of the UK, where I have been busy listening to lots of Dutch pirates since the turn of the year. I promised to update the blog more often during 2024 than I managed last year, so I'm staying true to my word with my second update of the year. Here's what I've heard recently:

Freq Time Station name SINPO (type of broadcast)

Sunday, January 14, 2024

1647 1723 Moonbreaker 44444 (m)

1621 1724 Soto 35443 (m)

1638 1724 Kleine Beer 24442 (m)

1638 2210 Bluebird 55444 (m)

1645 2212 Nachtzwerver 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

• I switched on the radio this evening to find three stations on air. I soon got some identifications, finding out Soto was using 1621 kHz, Moonbreaker was broadcasting on 1647 kHz, and that low-power pirate Kleine Beer was on 1638 kHz. I have heard the Little Bear a few times recently but I didn’t know anything about him and his station. However, I made contact with him through WhatsApp this evening and he tells me that he runs just 100 watts of power, with his coil antenna standing at nine metres high. Many of the Dutch pirates have antennas at great height which often explains why their signals get out so well. However, although the Kleine Beer’s antenna is not so high (the coil sits just above the top of his house), he is still getting a good signal across the North Sea and he was very happy with my report. He even sent across some photos to share with you, and you can see the studio, transmitter and power meter here:
  
  
  
  
  

Saturday, January 13, 2024

1641 1634 Turftrekker 35533-45444, 55555 at 2057 (m)

1629 1649 Tarzan 25332 (m)

1620 1756 Philadelphia 25232 (m)

1620 1833 Delfzijl 44444 (m)

1629 1842 Blauwe Fazant 35333 (m)

1635 1912 Schaduwjager 45444-55555 (m)

1655 2009 Kristal 35443-55444 (m)

1665 2036 Technical Man 45444 (m)

Wednesday, January 10 2024

1638 1802 Mike 45444-55555 (m)

1647 1807 Dikke Berta 45444 (m)

1660 1857 Black Power 35333 (m)

1638 1929 Kleine Beer 25332 (m)

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

1632 1403 Dutchman weak signal (m)

1638 1448 Dikke Berta weak signal

1665 1645 Digitaal 45444-55555 (m)

1629 1646 Optimod 45444 (t)

1638 1647 San Antonio weak signal (m)

1615 1736 Waterman 25322 (m)

1650 1749 Stem vanaf Drenthe 35333-45444 (q) report for Optimod

1665 1756 Armada weak signal (m)

1622 1829 Polkaman weak signal (m)

1640 1841 Nachtrijder weak signal (m)

1620 1934 Marianne 44444 (m)

1665 1946 Kleine Man 45444 (m)

1638 2000 Luka 25222 (m)

Monday, January 8, 2024

1632 1529 Dutchman weak signal-25322 (m)

1620 1529 Zwarte Boekanier 25322 (m)

1646 1534 Eigen Risico weak signal-25322 (m)

1640 1635 Studio Friesland 25442 (q)

1629 1640 Stem van Twente 24332-35443 (m)

1620 1712 Monza 25332-35443 (t)

1637 1712 Lotus 45444-55555 ( r)

1635 1746 Bonanza 35333 (q)

1640 1748 Casablanca 45444-55555 (t)

1629 1748 Schaduwjager 55444-55555 (q)

1631 1754 Lotus 55444-55555 (q)

1640 1814 Nachtrijder weak signal-25322 (m)

1642 1935 Oldtimer 45444-55555 (m)

1629 1940 Mike 45444-55555 (t)

1665 1954 Armada 35333 (m)

1655 2020 Eigen Risico 35333 (m)

Observations

• Again some cracking signals this evening and plenty of maximum sinpos. One of those belonged to Mike Radio, who was on air to test out a transmitter that he wants to sell! He gave out all the details during the broadcast, making this the first time I've heard a sales pitch on air!
• The other big-hitters on air tonight were Oldtimer, Lotus, Schaduwjager and Casablanca. It's been a good while since I heard Hans from Emmen on my radio, so I made a little video of the reception:
• As well as the power stations, there were some low-power operators on air, including Nachtrijder, who I don't hear very often and Studio Friesland, who I was hearing for the first time in several year.

Sunday, January 7, 2024

1635 1657 Moonbreaker 35443, 45444 at 1846  (m)

1647 1657 Witte Tornado 35433 (m)

1665 1658 Digitaal 45444-55555 (m)

1656 1844 Delfzijl 45444 (m)

1695 2210 Korenklopper 45444 (m)

Saturday, January 6, 2024

1629 2125 Turftrekker 35433-45444 (m)

1675 2126 Technical Man 35443-45444 (m)

1645 2127 Yogi Bear 44444-55555 (m)

1665 2128 Digitaal 45444-55555 (m)

1625 2140 Polkaman weak signal-23422 (m)

1620 2156 Philadelphia weak signal-25422 (m)

1629 2215 Blauwe Koe 45434-55555 (m) 

Observations

• Some wonderful signals audible from the Netherlands this evening. Yogi Bear (1645 kHz), Digitaal (1665) and Blauwe Koe (1629) all hit the magical sinpo of 55555 during their broadcasts.