Countdown to Christmas

It seems the Dutch pirates are already celebrating the festive season. Today I have heard a colossal 26 different MW pirates from right across the Netherlands - that's the biggest haul for some time and it's been great to hear the band so busy. I'm looking forward to tuning around over the next couple of weeks when holiday mode really does kick in. 

Here are the stations I heard today and over the last week or so:

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Wednesday, December 19, 2018
1645       0734       Zwarte Piraat 25222 report for Utopia
1611       0738       Alabama 35333 qsoing
1638       1452       Sylvania 25442 music programme
1636       1650       Torpedojager (Twente) 35333 report for Sylvania
1650       1702       Pontiac 55444 music programme
1645       1723       Casablanca (Twente) 35343 report for Pontiac   
1630       1725       Pontiac 55444 qsoing
1620       1728       Mustang 35333-45444 qsoing
1619       1735       Wegpiraat 35433 qsoing
1629       1737       Schaduwjager 55444 qsoing
1633       1741       Noordzee 35333 qsoing
1622       1813       Simplex 25222 qsoing
1621       1820       Uitzendkracht weak signal qsoing            
1655       1824       Batavier 35333 music programme
1660       1839       Skywire 25222 music programme
1629       1909       Noordster 45434 asking for report           
1623       1930       Kraanvogel 22222 report for Noordster
1620       1931       Weduwe 45433-55444 music programme
1656       1940       Concorde weak signal music programme
1665       2015       Digitaal 34333-45444 music programme
1655       2021       Ros Am 45333-55555 testing
1638       2110       Morgenster 24332-35333 qsoing
1625       2110       Pandora 45434-55444 music programme
1640       2114       Turfsteker 25222 qsoing
1633       2236       Noordzee 33443-45444 music programme
1630       2307       Monte Carlo 35333-45444 report for Noordzee
1625       2310       Spanningzoeker 55444 report for Pandora
1635       2314       Toulouse 35333-45444 qsoing

Observations

• It was very busy on the band today with something to listen to throughout most of the day. It started off when I heard Zwarte Piraat (a new name for me) and Alabama giving a report to Utopia who had been on air with a programme, although I missed that one.
• Mid-afternoon I heard a weak signal on 1638 kHz, nothing more than a carrier to start with really. However, I stuck with it and as daylight started to turn into darkness, so the signal improved - and I found out I was listening to my old friend Sylvania, who I have happy memories of visiting on one of my first trips to the Netherlands in the mid-90s. He used to be active a lot at the top of the MW band, often at night, but these days he is not so busy on the air and tends to stick to broadcasts during the daytime, which means catching his signal in England is not so easy. The last time I hear him was February 11, 2016.
• When Sylvania closed down various stations came up with reports and a hefty QSO developed. First up was Torpedojager and it made a refreshing change to hear him on air outside of his regular Thursday morning slot on 1636 kHz.
• There was another new name for me later in the day when in response to Noordster asking for a reception report there was a signal on 1623 kHz. I'm pretty sure the name was Kraanvogel. Unfortunately as he was giving his report his signal got hammered by the appearance on 1620 kHz of Weduwe, who was making a rare midweek broadcast. Sunday evenings are usually the time to catch him.
• It was great to hear Ros Am on 1655 kHz tonight. Like many of the signals I heard today, there was a fair amount of fading at times. However, there was also a perfect peak of the maximum 55555 sinpo which was a pleasure to hear - stable and noise-free reception, just like a local station.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

1620       0558       Eskimo 43433 qsoing
1629       0739       Dolfijn 35333 music programme
1638       0744       Alabama 45444 report for Dolfijn
1638       1622       Rebel 25222-35333 music programme
1629       1711       Kaimaan 35333 testing
1625       1740       Pandora 45434 report for Uitzendkracht
1612       1744       Wegpiraat 25332-35333 testing
1660       1747       Digitaal 45444 music programme
1647       1757       Concorde weak signal qsoing
1625       1814       Rebel 25222 qsoing
1622       1817       Simplex 25342 qsoing
1652       1820       Batavier 45444 music programme
1621       1823       Uitzendkracht weak signal qsoing            
1645       1842       Skywire 24222 music programme
1620       1845       Moonbreaker 45444 testing
1645       1904       Oldtimer 34433 testing
1670       1919       Melkbus 25332 music programme
1621       1927       Blauwe Koe 35333-45444 music programme
1632       2235       Noordzee 35333-45444 music programme
1630       2322       Toulouse 45444 qsoing
1630       2327       Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing

Observations

• Great to catch Eskimo early this morning. It's not often I hear this station, but when I do, it is always way before breakfast - it seems he is a real early bird. Later in the day there were some other rare catches, including Simplex and Uitzendkracht, and it was good to hear Melkbus for the first time in a while.

Monday, December 17, 2018

1620       2145       Soto en Daniel 25222-35333 music programme            
1645       2146       Casablanca (Twente) 25222-35333 music programme
1629       2148       Toulouse 25222-45444 music programme
1630       2242       Monte Carlo 35333 report for Toulouse
1625       2343       Pandora 45444 report for Monte Carlo

Sunday, December 16, 2018
1620       0635       Billy De Bluffer 45444 music programme
1655       0722       Batavier 45434 music programme
1647       0724       Concorde weak signal music programme

Observations

• I just managed a little early morning listening today before a family day with lots of pre-Christmas celebrations. Billy De Bluffer was busy on 1620 kHz - a name from the past and a reminder of his regular broadcasts back in the 1990s.
• Concorde uses only low power - around 40 watts - and the signal today was quite weak here. I'm determined to hear him better though and I'll be gently moving the loop antenna to the optimal position so I can get the best signal possible when I hear him again.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

1620       0645       Zender Johan 55444 report for Barcelona
1620       1541       Poema 25442 qsoing
1638       1545       Polka Express 24442 qsoing
1630       1555       Baanbreker 25442 qsoing
1640       1603       Turfsteker 25442 qsoing
1660       1610       Digitaal 35433-55444 music programme
1652       1645       Batavier 35443-45444 music programme
1646       1656       Zwarte Bizon 34333-44444
1647       1705       Keizer en Keizerin 35333-45444 music programme
1629       1707       Odynn 35333-45444 music programme
1640       1805       Barones 45444 music programme
1635       2257       Electron 35333 music programme
1626       2302       Jeneverstoker 25222-35333 music programme
1625       2322       Pandora 45444 report for Jeneverstoker

Thursday, December 13, 2018
1636       0647       Torpedojager (Twente) 35333-45444 music programme
1621       2030       Turftrekker 45444-55555 testing
1645       2030       Casablanca (Twente) 25222-35333 music programme

Wednesday, December 12, 2018
1620       0600       Rietvink 35333 music programme
1620       0610       Marconist 35343 music programme
1629       2003       Twentana 35333-45444 music programme
1638       2025       Twentana 35333-45444 music programme
1629       2314       Marskramer (Friesland) 45434 music programme

Tuesday, December 11, 2018
1620       0615       Marconist 35343 music programme
1621       1959       Blauwe Koe 34333 music programme
1625       2000       Marianne 44433-45444 weekly music programme

Monday, December 10, 2018
1620       0600       Zender Johan 45434-55444 music programme
1615       1918       Gedrocht 25222 music programme
1645       1921       Oldtimer 45333-45444 music programme
1638       1922       Morgenster 35333 music programme
1643       1924       Vrijevogel 22322 music programme
1628       1924       Marskramer (Friesland) 45433-45444 testing
1633       2015       Bluebird 45444 music programme
1633       2100       Igloo 45434-55444 music programme (via Bluebird)

Observations

• Radio Igloo was back on air this evening with a third programme through the transmitter of Bluebird. All music came from Iglooman's native Sweden and was certainly something different to listen to.

Festive noise

With Christmas fast approaching and all manner of festive lights and gadgets in the neighbourhood as people - including us - put up their decorations, there are potentially thousands more power supply units within a small radius from here. All that means a possible increase in noise level. And, sure enough, listening over the last few days has been challenging with various new forms of local interference to deal with. Luckily, I've been able to eradicate much of it, but that requires plenty of regular retuning of the noise canceller unit, which can become tiresome after a while. Living in the middle of nowhere is appealing a great deal right now!

Anyway, here are some logs from this side, including an interesting in-band catch this morning.

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Sunday, December 9, 2018
1395       0750       Energy Power AM 24322-35443 music programme
1395       0818       Studio Dennaker 24322 music programme
1611       1543       Brugwachter 35433 music programme
1619       1754       Soto en Daniel 35443 music programme
1647       1809       Witte Tornado 44444-55444 music programme
1611       1812       Texas 24322 music programme
1620       1815       Weduwe 43443 music programme
1629       1829       Moonbreaker 34333-44444 music programme
1615       2059       Technical Man 35333-45444 music programme
1638       2235       Bluebird 55444 music programme
1648       2244       Monte Carlo 35333-45433 testing 

Observations

• I was down with the radios this morning a little later than I had intended but before sunrise. However, I found no pirate activity on the usual frequencies at 1611 kHz and higher, so I checked out 1395 kHz and was pleasantly surprised to hear Energy Power AM coming in from Ireland. 

• It's quite rare that I can hear this station, which broadcasts every weekend from the Emerald Isle but, according to the station's Facebook page, my reception coincides with a new modulation system that was put into operation on Saturday. 

• I'm not sure what is being used now, but the picture above shows what the setup looked like at the beginning of November. And below is a short recording made this morning:
• As I was listening to 1395 kHz this morning I became aware of a second station on the frequency which became clear as Energy faded down from time to time. It was Studio Dennaker, one of a handful of legal low-power Dutch stations operating on the frequency - not a pirate but certainly sounding like one!
• 1620 kHz was a bit of a mess this evening. Daniel en Soto were broadcasting around 1619 kHz - with a carrier very slowly drifting up the band - and had a decent signal into the UK when a big carrier came up alongside them and Weduwe signed on for a lengthy music programme. The two stations were then battling against each other until Weduwe close down at just after 2000, with the result being a rather unlistenable hetrodyne. They could be separated using filters, but it was far from ideal.

Saturday, December 8, 2018
1647       2032       Keizer en Keizerin 35333 music programme

1655       0038       Snowman 24222-34333 music programme

Friday, December 7, 2018
1620       1830       Mustang 45444  
1647       1842       Admiraal 35443 qsoing

Wednesday, November 21, 2018
1611       1857       Mustang 44444 music programme
1630       1857       Noordzee 35443 qsoing
1645       1859       Casablanca (Twente) 35443 music programme
1629       1900       Dolfijn 34443 qsoing
1611       1915       Utopia 34443-44444 testing

Tuesday, November 20, 2018
1620       0630       Utopia 35333 music programme
1625       2053       Marianne 35333 music programme

Quiet start to the week

It's 2330 local time in the UK as I write this and the top of the MW is quiet with no pirate signals to be heard so I'm listening to a local Gold station playing 80s music. 

The lack of Dutch stations has got me thinking if it's always so quiet at this time of year, so I've just had a spin back through some logs. Interestingly enough on Monday, November 13, 2017 I noted just four stations - the same as today - while on the corresponding day 12 months earlier my logs show eights stations. Back in 2015 there were seven Dutch pirates heard on this day. Seems like there's not too much to worry about then with no huge dip in activity levels - except having to listen to legal oldies stations late at night!

So, here's what I heard today and over the weekend: 

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Monday, November 19, 2018

1612       1838       Atlantic 33433-44444 testing
1625       1856       Pandora 35443-45444 testing
1644       1912       Vrijevogel 24332 music programme
1636       1938       Mi Amigo 35443 music programme

Observations

• A quiet Monday evening just like last week. Interesting to hear Atlantic testing on 1612 for the first time in a while. Signal and audio was very good on the peaks, although was dipping down sometimes. I suspect conditions were not quite as good as they have been recently

Sunday, November 18, 2018

1620       0600       Interpol 43433-45444 music programme
1620       0710       Noordster 44444 qsoing
1670       1707       Digitaal 45444 music programme
1656       1708       Arizona weak signal music programme
1620       1717       Sapporo 34433 music programme
1647       1728       Witte Tornado 45444 music programme
1626       1734       Uniek 33433-44444 music programme
1660       1831       Meteoor 45444 qsoing
1660       1833       Zee Piraat 25222-35333 qsoing
1660       1841       Vriendschap 35333 qsoing
1637       1844       Drukstroomjager 45444 asking for report
1620       2249       Alabama 45444 qsoing
1630       2251       Toulouse 35333 qsoing
1630       2256       Monte Carlo 25222 qsoing
1620       2304       Monte Carlo 35333 qsoing
1660       2311       Snowman 33333 music programme
1625       2349       Pandora 55444 music programme

Observations

• Plenty going on today as you would expect for a Sunday, starting early and going through to the end of the day. Interpol again kicked things off with a programme on 1620 kHz, followed by a qso featuring Noordster
• Witte Tornado used to be a Sunday regular until receiving a visit from the Dutch telecom authorities. Nowadays they are not often on air, so it was good to catch them this evening on their old channel of 1647 kHz
• There was an interesting qso at dinnertime. Meteoor came up on 1660 kHz calling for Zee Piraat, who duly arrived on the channel for a chat, actually broadcasting from the sea. Twente pirate Vriendschap then joined in and it made a change hearing him at this end of the band as he can usually be heard on 1629 kHz. Drukstroomjager also joined the fun, albeit it down on 1637 kHz. These stations feature on this recording I put together after today's listening sessions

Saturday, November 17, 2018

1625       2220       Alpenjager (Groningen) 35333 music programme
1685       2225       The Ghoul 55555 music programme
1638       2227       Bluebird 45444-55555 music programme
1646       2230       Keizer en Keizerin 34443 music programme
1648       2232       Moby Dick 44444 music programme

Observations

• I hadn't heard Alpenjager in a while, so it was good to catch him today. I'm always struck by how similar his voice is to Jeneverstoker, although I suspect that is down to similar locations and also that the station operators are of a similar age
• The Ghoul on 1685 kHz was from the transmitter that has also recently been airing Bogusman programmes. The signal has been getting out well with good reception across the UK and out into the rest of Europe

Blue Monday

The first day of a new week draws to a close and I've spent the last hour listening mainly to Radio Bluebird on 1638 kHz, who is sending over a good signal tonight. The diet of music has been all Dutch so far, but perhaps some English tunes will follow shortly! While I wait for those, here are some logs:

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Monday, November 12, 2018

1638       2252       Bluebird 45444 music programme
1629       2253       Spakenburg 25222 qsoing
1648       2254       Monte Carlo 25222 qsoing
1628       2259       Monte Carlo 25222-35333 qsoing

Observations

• Conditions seemed to be some way down tonight compared to recent evenings. Spakenburg and Monte Carlo were considerably weaker than usual and Bluebird, while still pretty good, often hits the maximum sinpo reading of 55555 but was peaking at only 45444

Sunday, November 11, 2018

1625       2325       Pandora 55444-55555 music programme

Observations

• I was working today and didn't arrive home until late in the evening so by the time I got to my radio the band was quiet - except for Pandora. When there is a powerhouse signal on 1625 kHz and the time in the Netherlands is after midnight, then you can be 90% sure you've found a transmission from Pandora. His superb modulation quality makes it a pleasure to listen to his transmissions through the big speakers down here in the radio room

Saturday, November 10, 2018

1638       2021       Turftrekker 35333 music programme
1647       2022       Kezier en Keizerin 35333 music programme
1620       2330       Moonbreaker 45444 music programme
1685       2330       Bogusman 55555 testing
1625       2330       Polkaman 25222 music programme
1645       2331       Wilskracht 35443 music programme
1652       2331       Moby Dick 34333-55544 music programme
1638       2333       Morgenster 25332-35443 music programme
1615       2334       Gedrocht van Twente weak signal music programme
1636       2344       Montecarlo 35333 qsoing
1620       2359       Vuilnisman 24222-35333 report for Moonbreaker
1620       2359       Montecarlo 33333 report for Moonbreaker
1630       0007       Montecarlo 35333 qsoing

Observations

• Turftrekker has great audio and it was evident again this evening - nice and punchy with plenty of bass, but not too much
• Bogusman was on 1685 kHz again, basically testing the antenna system, which is being refined all the time. Transmitter power tonight was only 25 watts, although there are plans for considerably more
• There was a new name for me tonight with Vuilnisman - Garbageman - popping up on 1620 just before midnight with a report for Moonbreaker. This low-power station, broadcasting from Twente, is apparently not a new pirate but perhaps one that usually broadcasts during the daytime when signals from the Netherlands are unable to reach me

Updating the logs

Greetings from a wet and windy UK. I read this evening that Hungarian shortwave pirate Chaos AM was today closed down by the authorities after a month of regular broadcasts on 6335 kHz. Bad news indeed, and I send best wishes to all involved in the station. 

The pirate scene in the Netherlands continues to tick along nicely, and here are some logs from the past week: 

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Friday, November 9, 2018

1620       1825       De Klap 25332-35343 music programme
1620       1844       Admiraal 35333 report for De Klap
1629       1903       Dolfijn 34333 report for Admiraal
1655       1904       Batavier 35443 music programme
1619       1905       Wegpiraat 34443 asking for report
1653       2315       Monte Carlo 55444 music programme
1638       2315       Morgenster 24222-34333 music programme
1615       2315       Gedrocht van Twente 24422 music programme
1629       2322       Noordzee 34333-45444 report for Montecarlo
1635       2345       Electron 35333 report for Montecarlo

Observations

• De Klap was back on the band this evening with a programme on 1620 kHz. His signal was peaking to something similar to reception a few days ago, and was very listenable. When he closed down, it was good to hear Admiraal pop up with a reception report, and nice to hear him send greetings to me and mention how I was at his place a couple of years ago - I visited him with my old pal Radio Soerabaya en route to the Summer Meeting on what I remember was a very hot day! Anyway, Admiraal was coming in well today and I made a short recording:
  
  
• Another station to come up with a report for De Klap was Dolfijn, who was coming in pretty well. I thought I'd text him a report, so I duly found 'Dolfijn' on my phone and sent him a quick message. What I got back was confusion. It turns out I had actually sent a message to the SW pirate Dolfijn rather than the MW station! Anyway, we had a nice chat and then I sent a message to the correct pirate

Sunday, November 4, 2018

1629       0704       Interpol 35333 music programme
1620       0725       Marconist weak signal music programme
1620       0754       Bootsman weak signal report for Marconist

Observations

• I managed a little early morning listening today, actually raising myself from bed early on a Sunday! I was rewarded with a programme from Interpol and a fair signal on 1629 kHz, but the band was unusually quiet for a Sunday morning. I heard Marconist and Bootsman qsoing just as propagation was making it difficult to receive the Dutch stations, but otherwise there was little activity

Saturday, November 3, 2018

1620       0708       Rietvink 33433 report for Marconist
1616       1615       Drukstroomjager 35543 music programme          
1655       1635       Concorde weak signal qsoing
1646       1638       Zwarte Bizon 25332 qsoing
1620       1652       Eldorado 25332-35333 testing
1656       1653       Nachtzwerver 25442 qsoing
1647       1705       Keizer en Keizerin 33333 music programme
1629       1707       Edelkampioen 55444 music programme
1615       1741       Gedrocht van Twente weak signal report for Eldorado
1637       2344       Montecarlo 45444 qsoing
1661       2344       Viking en Tante Foek 44444 music programme
1648       2346       Moby Dick 44444 music programme
1636       2347       Spakenburg 45444 qsoing
1653       2349       Nachtzwerver 44444 qsoing
1625       2354       Snowman 25322 music programme
1620       2359       De Klap 34433 qsoing

Observations

• Plenty of activity today, with signals arriving first thing in the morning and then from mid-afternoon as the sun was going down. King of the band in terms of signal and modulation was Edelkampioen, who was booming in over here with very fine audio - a real depth, making it a pleasure to listen to. I visited him at his studio a couple of years back, accompanied by Barones and Poema, so it's always great to hear him on air, sitting in the studio where I sat!
• Concorde is a name I've seen in various logs, but today was the first time I heard this station, reportedly broadcasting from the Acterhoek. With the sun still to fully go down when I heard him, the signal was only weak - I'm sure it will be considerably better with propagation at the optimum
• There was another new name for me today as well with De Klap. Reportedly running somewhere in the region of 200 watts, the station was qsoing with Spakenburg and Nachtzwerver and coming in with a pretty good signal. Hopefully I'll be hearing this one again soon as well

Friday, November 2, 2018

1609       1821       Mustang 44433-54444 testing
1635       1821       Havana 55555 qsoing
1629       1823       Pandora (Friesland) 25222 music programme
1640       1823       Turfsteker 35333 testing
1620       1825       Blauwe Panda 25332-45444 music programme
1655       1849       Batavier 44444 music programme
1662       1851       Digitaal 54444 testing
1611       1916       Unidentified 24222 music programme
1620       1930       Batavia 35333 music programme
1610       1945       Arizona weak signal report for the station  on 1611
1671       2256       Odynn 34433-44444 music programme
1656       2300       Rebel (Drenthe) 35333 music programme

Observations

• Plenty to listen to this evening, with Mustang catching the attention on an usual frequency of 1609 kHz. It's often tricky listening when pirates are broadcasting near to the legal stations on 1602 and, although Mustang was fading down sometimes, he was generally doing very well, with his punchy audio powering through. He was testing a new modulation system, which he then tried out on shortwave, using 4010 kHz, where his signal was even better - more stable and free from interference
• A few days ago we logged Ome Wil on 1629 kHz, noting that he uses the name Pandora sometimes - not to be confused with the Pandora who uses 1625 often very late at night. Tonight, he was identifying quite clearly as Pandora, although once again his modulation was low and I couldn't quite make out the telephone number that was being announced. Turn it up please!

• Some time ago Odynn told me he had plans to upgrade his transmitter to something in the region of 250 watts. Well, he has done it and the new rig was on 1671 kHz and putting a nice signal into the UK:
  
  
• Arizona is a station I don't catch very often, so it was a pleasure to hear him on 1610 kHz in qso with a station who had been on 1611 with a music programme, although I couldn't quite catch that one's name

Late-night listening

I made a trip to Wales with the family on Thursday, so there wasn't a great deal of time for radio listening. However, I had a quick tune around late in the evening and found some activity at the top of the MW band. Here's what I heard:

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Thursday, November 1, 2018

1615       2310       Gedrocht van Twente 25222-35333 music programme
1638       2315       Morgenster 45444 qsoing
1625       2317       Noordzee 45444 qsoing
1625       2321       Montecarlo 45444 qsoing
1638       2345       Bluebird 55444 qsoing

Observations

• Gedrocht van Twente was on 1615 kHz once again tonight. That's the fourth day in a row I've heard them, but what is interesting is that I've heard very little talking on the microphone - it would be good to hear some voices every now and again, although I have a suspicion the team might be a little too busy with the beers to give much thought to the programming output! From what I understand Gedrocht is also active on the air during the daytime, signing on early and closing down late - usually at around 0100 UTC. This is quite rare for a MW pirate as transmissions are usually sporadic and for a few hours at the most.
• Nice to catch Morgenster on 1638 kHz. He was putting in a fine signal during his qso with Noordzee and Montecarlo. Bluebird was sending over his usual powerhouse signal when he popped up with a report and a few records.