Tent building Relmus style

For those at the top of the Netherlands who might be tuning around the FM band this weekend you might just catch the voice of a MW pirate regular. The voice of Radio Relmus will be on air as the Tentebouwer on 90.1 MHz. He sent me over these pics of the antenna mast with three dipoles attached, and of the transmitter

When is a tree not a tree?

While we were in Wales last week something caught my attention on the A487 between Caernarvon and Bangor. I spotted some mobile phone masts. Nothing unusual there. Then I spotted some more and I noticed the tree they were attached to looked a little odd. I stopped the car and had a closer look and then realised the tree was actually fake and exists solely to hide the antennas. I took this picture . . .

I've had a dig around on the internet and it seems these fake antenna trees have been around for years. There are even fake cactus antennas in the US

I wouldn't mind betting some ingenious Dutch pirate tries something similar sooner rather than later!

The holiday season

You might have noticed the blog has been quiet for a little time . . . we've been away on a summer holiday and arrived back home yesterday. We spent a week at a little village in the countryside in North Wales, a few miles from Caernarvon, in a cottage high in the hills. It was about 250 metres above sea level and looking out at the Irish Sea - very picturesque and not a bad location for listening to the radio!

A stunning location in North Wales

We had a tune about on SW and MW most days, and last Saturday (July 27) while sitting in the garden at around 1500 utc we were listening to Focus on 6285 with a pretty decent signal. It is often not until later in the evening the 48 metre band becomes fully open at this time of the year, but Focus was doing a fine job during the afternoon. Also on SW, we heard Mustang several times, always with a booming signal, and Technical Man, also from the east Netherlands, was coming through really well on 6210 on Friday night (August 2).

Listening to Focus on 6285 in the garden in North Wales

We had the trusty Sony 2001D with us, along with our usual small loop antenna for MW. Listening on SW was done with the telescopic and just a few metres of wire, and it was an interesting experiment. At home I have a dipole for 48 metres, and the Wellbrook loop antenna, which is good for all AM frequencies. Many listeners don't have such antennas, though, and instead have just the short wire or telescopic I was using in Wales. So, I was able to get a different perspective on how the SW pirates are received without specialist antennas.

The Irish Sea from our window at sunset

The old Sony in action

Among the pirates heard on MW, all from the Netherlands, were Bluebird, Pandora, Barcelona, Korenklopper, Jeneverstoker, Veronica, Calipso, Monte Carlo, Noordzee, Digitaal, Marianne, Casablanca, Romax, Marskramer (Friesland), Relmus and Vrolijke Mijnwerker. 

Special mention to Relmus, who was running only 150 watts when we heard him from his location in the north of the Netherlands. The strongest of all the stations we heard was Barcelona, although many of the others were doing well despite conditions being variable. Marianne was coming through well, and we made a video of the reception . . .

Summer nights

It's 0045 in the early hours of Tuesday morning as I write this entry on the blog. It's nearly 33 degrees in the radio room and still 21 degrees outside. Today we saw an air temperature well above 30 degrees and it seems the heatwave continues. 

While it's cracking weather for catching some rays, and conditions for listening to the Dutch pirates on MW have been pretty good, there is thunder in the air and lots of static on the band. Still, there have been some good signals, and right now I am listening to one of the best of the day - Radio Pandora, who is booming out on 1636. He is often around at this time of the day, which might be too late for many listeners, but it suits me just fine and I often think how I must be one of only a few listeners tuned in at such an hour. For me, that makes the listening that bit more special.

Here's what I've heard tonight, and some more recent logs . . . 

Monday, July 22, 2013

1629       2021       Calipso 55344 music programme

1636       2022       Mustang 44344 qsoing

1644       2023       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55344 music programme

1655       2025       Relmus 45333 at 2132

1640       2026       Noordzee 22332 qsoing

1633       2035       Barcelona 43333 qsoing

1615       2108       Batavier 55444 music programme

1646       2130       Zwarte Bizon 45344 qsoing

1665       2132       Philadelphia 22232-24232 music programme

1646       2133       Blauwe Reiger 45344 qsoing

1647       2320       Casablanca 43433 qsoing

1636       2322       Pandora 55444

1647       2326       Jeneverstoker 34333 music programme

1655       2327       Monte Carlo 55344 qsoing

1652       2329       Uniek 35343-45344

1625       2333       Monte Carlo 44334 testing

Sunday, July 21, 2013

1636       2300       Napoleon 44444 music programme

1632       2301       Verona 35433-45434 music programme

1655       2326       Jeneverstoker 35333 report for Verona

Saturday, July 20, 2013

1620       2105       Ruisbreker 33533 music programme

1629       2107       Armada 45444 music programme

1648       2111       Moby Dick 55544 testing

1615       2135       Batavier 44544-55544 music programme

1657       2151       Spakenburg 54544 qsoing

1665       2213       Polkaman 35443 music programme

1642       2233       Jevenerstoker 33333 qsoing

1629       2237       Calipso 55555 music programme

1656       2353       Romax 35433-45444 qsoing

1625       2355       Monte Carlo 42543-45544 music programme

Friday, July 19, 2013

1655       2300       Klaas Snoek 55544-55555

1647       2300       Witte Tornado 44544-55444 music programme with lots of English music

1665       2304       Polkaman 34433 music programme

1654       2305       Jeneverstoker 34433 report for Klaas Snoek

1630       2337       Zeehond 35443 music programme

Thursday, July 18, 2013

1645       2149       Eldorado 44444-55544 qsoing

1615       2149       Batavier 44434-55444 testing

1621       2150       Ruisbreker 25322 music programme

1665       2155       Philadelphia 24322 music programme

1650       2156       Monte Carlo 33433 qsoing

1654       2158       Jeneverstoker 35433-45444

1645       2201       Noordzee 45444-55444 qsoing

1638       2202       Sluwe Vos 34333 qsoing

1654       2204       Monte Carlo 55444 qsoing

1657       2206       Houstonpiraat (Black Bandit) 55444 music programme

1620       2218       King (Atletico) 24222-34232 with Albatros in studio

1648       2229       Casablanca 55444 music programme

1620       2232       Blauwe Bulldog 35533-44444 asking for report

1651       2301       Uniek 33433 qsoing

1645       2310       Johannes Van Schaffelaar 33433-44444 qsoing

Monday, July 15, 2013

1638       2219       Bluebird 55544-55555 music programme

1655       2220       Witte Raaf 45434-55544 music programme

1665       2220       Philadelphia 24422 music programme

1629       2221       Astronaut 22432 music programme

1633       2226       Noordzee 43544 qsoing

1629       2233       Noordzee 54544 qsoing

1620       2242       Noordzee 44444 qsoing

Sunday, July 14, 2013

1615       2120       Blauwe Panter 34222 music programme

1646       2120       Witte Tornado 45434 music programme

1646       2218       Jeneverstoker 35333-45444 music programme

Observations

• I try to listen to the Dutch pirates every day on MW, and so I hear many stations. However, every now and again I catch one I've not heard before. Last Thursday it was Blauwe Bulldog who found his way to my radio for the very first time. I heard he was using around 100 watts, and he was peaking very nicely on the Lowe HF225. On the same evening Johannes Van Schaffelaar was another new name for me, although I get the idea this was another station using a different name. This happens quite often and is something to watch out for
• I heard only three stations during the late evening on Sunday, but Verona is one I don't hear often and he was arriving across the North Sea really well. I made a recording, which you can listen to here
• Witte Tornado is a regular on Sunday evenings, with a long programme on 1647. However, they were busy on the frequency last Friday, and with plenty of English music too, together with the usual good signal. Great to hear more and more English speaking on the microphone too!

The log list

It's been a while since I posted any logs so, from a sultry England, here's what I've heard over the last couple of weeks. Receiving equipment here is the Lowe HF225 and outdoor Wellbrook loop antenna. As ever, all times are UTC

The Wellbrook loop antenna here against the summer sky

Friday, July 12, 2013

1646       2225       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55534 music programme

1611       2225       Napoleon 34433-44444 music programme

1620       2226       Torpedojager 34433-45444 music programme

1636       2227       Mustang and Vloedgolf 55534 music programme

1665       2228       Polkaman 25322-35333 music programme

1627       2255       Electron 45434 report for Mustang

1640       2311       Professor Sickbok 55444-55555 report for Mijnwerker and music programme

1650       2313       Jeneverstoker 33333 report for Mijnwerker

1655       2313       Wilksracht 35333 report for Mijnwerker

1647       2344       Soerabaya 23332 qsoing

1645       0029       Soerabaya 35333 qsoing

Monday, July 8, 2013

1638       1950       Bluebird 35454 (55555 at 2027) music programme

1611       1952       Nova 4 45454 music programme

1633       2005       Vrijevogel 24442 music programme

1647       2223       Noordzee 54544 music programme

1656       2228       Studio 69 music programme

1665       2235       Philadelphia 24342 music programme

1620       2241       Pandora 55544 report for Bluebird

1650       2242       Jeneverstoker 35343 report for Bluebird

1647       2249       Casablanca 55534 reporting

1629       2254       Calipso 55555 qsoing

Sunday, July 7, 2013

1638       2358       Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme

Saturday, July 6, 2013

1665       2331       Polkaman 24322-34333 music programme

1656       2332       Romax 34333-45444 music programme

1648       2332       Moby Dick 44444 music programme

1638       2332       Bluebird 54544 music programme

1640       2341       Veronica 35333-45444 music programme

1650       2354       Jeneverstoker 33433

Friday, July 5, 2013

1625       2017       Batavier 35333 at 2047, 44444 at 2121, 55544 at 2204 music programme

1655       2018       Relmus 35433 at 2043, 45544 at 2108 music programme

1646       2019       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45434 at 2027, 55544 at 2113 music programme

1636       2026       Keizer En Keizerin 23322-34333 music programme

1665       2049       Philadelphia 24322 music programme

1630       2101       Akai 34433-44444 testing

1635       2155       Sluwe Vos 24322 music programme

1665       2212       Polkaman 25332-35433 music programme

1625       2220       Noordzee 34333-45444 music programme

Thursday, July 4, 2013

1611       2106       Anton 34333-44444 music programme

1620       2106       Napoleon 33433-55544 music programme

1629       2107       Armada 35333-44444 music programme

1640       2107       Professor Sickbok 45434-55444 music programme

1650       2107       Kristal 45444-55444 music programme

1625       2125       Batavier 45444-55544 music programme

1657       2128       Studio 69 25332-35333 music programme

1512       2135       Unidentified station Non-stop music from The Classics    

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

1629       2139       Calipso 55444-55555 music programme

1655       2139       Oldtimer 45444 music programme

1615       2159       Batavier 45544-55544 testing new modulator tubes

1653       2200       Klaas Snoek 54444 report for Oldtimer

1638       2220       Sluwe Vos short music programme

1650       2319       Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing

Monday, July 1, 2013

1609       2015       Black Power 34443 music programme

1655       2016       Studio 69 24222-34333 testing

1636       2017       Nooitgedacht 35333-45444 music programme

1636       2040       Napoleon 35333-35343 report for Nooitgedacht

1665       2108       Philadelphia 23222 music programme

1640       2121       Monte Carlo 24222-34333 asking for report

1655       2159       Relmus 45334 report for Studio 69

1647       2159       Monte Carlo 45344-55444 qsoing

Sunday, June 30, 2013

1647       1902       Witte Tornado 25342 (45554 at 2017) music programme

1665       2015       Polkaman 25452 music programme

1656       2016       Studio 69 25442 music programme

1652       2017       Uniek 24322-34433 music programme

1640       2017       Wadloper 35433-45444 music programme

1625       2018       Noordzee 35333 music programme

1512       2018       Tempico 33433-54544 music programme

1635       2046       Admiraal 34333 asking for report

1640       2307       Relmus 35433-45434 music programme

1638       2350       Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme after Relmus closed

Observations

• There were some big signals on the band tonight (Friday). Vrolijke Mijnwerker was the usual power-packed strength, and Mustang and Vloedgolf were doing a fine job with a very similar signal. Wilskracht was putting in one of the best signals I have ever heard from him and Professor Sickbok was sounding very powerful on 1640 - hitting the maximum 55555 sinpo - but with wide audio, splattering beyond 1650
• As I write these words at 0050 UTC, Torpedojager is still going strong on 1620. During the winter I often hear him on a Thursday morning, so it makes a change to hear him at this time of the day
• Great to hear Soerabaya tonight and with a super signal - again, possibly the best I have heard from him. It is only when you get a decent signal that it is possible to appreciate the quality of the modulation, and it sounded good here, with some nice bass but no distortion

• Bluebird has been very busy during the last week or so, always on 1638 and always with a big signal here in England. His programmes often last for many hours. I have also heard him during the daytime on several occasions recently, using the SDR in Twente
• Im always interested to hear stations in-band, and I am curious to know who it was testing on 1512 on Thursday, July 4. They were playing non-stop music by The Classics and coming in pretty well over here
• Studio 69 has been using a different transmitter recently - the Skanti TRP5000, running at 50 watts. It looks like this . . .

Skanti TRP5000

Only in the Netherlands

Antenna masts are everywhere in the Netherlands. Some are hidden away off the beaten track while others are there for all to see. Check out this video clip. You might be mistaken for thinking you see the mast of a legal radio station, but no - this mast belongs to an FM pirate station running 15kw of power!

Quiet start to the week

As I write these words I'm listening to Readymix on 6450 kHz in the shortwave band. He's a regular on MW but he occasionally goes international and he's putting in a decent signal right now. 

Around an hour ago there was a blast from the past on MW. I was tuning around and heard Billy Joe Royal with Down In The Boondocks. Back in the 90s I used to hear this track pretty much every day on 1636 kHz. Nearly 20 years later I was hearing it again, and on that same frequency. I was thinking... could this possibly be Radio Nooitgedacht. And then I heard this. 

Great to hear this famous regular station from the past, especially as I have visited him several times, most recently a couple of years ago. Perhaps we'll hear some more from him over the coming weeks?

On Sunday night signals started to arrive from across the North Sea at around 1900. I'm sure this is a little earlier than has been the case in recent weeks, and I guess the Dutch pirates will very steadily start to be heard even earlier now we have gone past the longest day of the year.

While I was watching some of the closing action from Glastonbury last night I had a WhatsApp message from Relmus asking if I could hear his signal on 1640. I had a check and, sure enough, there he was and with a great signal. No surprise in that as this power pirate always comes in well here. But, he was strictly low power this time, running around 150 watts. He even sent me a picture to prove it - he was using his very first MW transmitter and it was doing a fine job . . . I wouldn't want to touch any of those wires though!

The original Relmus MW transmitter