Happy New Year

A very happy new year to you. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed some peaceful time with your families and perhaps a chance to listen to the many pirate stations that were active over the holidays.

I did plenty of tuning around, mainly using the little Lowe HF150 receiver together with the usual Wellbrook loop antenna, and here's what I heard:

Freq       Time       Station SINPO

Thursday, January 3, 2019
1619       1735       Mike 55444-55555 music programme
1656       1737       Digitaal 35333-45454 music programme
1636       1742       Torpedojager (Twente) 35333-45444 testing
1623       1752       Akai 33443
1611       1758       Twentana 44444 asking for report
1624       1902       Pontiac 55444-55555
1638       1903       Morgenster 25222-35333 music programme
1611       1910       Unidentified 24222 report for Pontiac
1645       1920       Concorde weak signal music programme
1629       1930       Astronaut weak signal testing
1650       2029       Digitaal 35333-45444 qsoing
1665       2043       Batavier 25222-35333 music programme
1656       2051       Josje Power 35333 music programme
1625       2055       Pandora 45444 music programme
1620       2116       Sapporo 24222-34333 music programme
1647       2119       Armada 45434 qsoing

Observations

• There was something of a blast from the past tonight when I received the signal of Astronaut for the first time in a long while. It was back in June 2013 that I first heard this low-power pirate and after a spell of silence he was back on air today testing with a self-built 20 watt transmitter housed inside the case of the legendary BC191 military unit. He sent me these pictures which he has kindly allowed me to share on the blog:

• Pontiac was incredibly strong on 1624 kHz, but the station who came up on 1611 to give him a report was much weaker and I struggled to catch the name.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

1629       2028       Twentana 45444 music programme
1643       2028       Vrijevogel 25432 music programme
1656       2029       Digitaal 45444 music programme
1670       2039       Meteoor 45444-55444 qsoing
1670       2042       Zee Piraat 25222-35333 qsoing
1611       2053       Omega 44444 testing
1670       2105       Spanningzoeker 55555 qsoing
1649       2115       Vrolijke Mijnwerker 45444 music programme
1635       2117       Omega 45444 asking for a report
1625       2155       Pandora 45444 music programme
1635       2220       Toulouse 35333 music programme
1620       2239       Dinkelland 44444 music programme
1638       2315       Nachtzwerver 34333 report for Dinkelland
1635       2318       Electron 34333 qsoing
1635       2347       Omega 35333-45444 qsoing

Observations

• Plenty of activity tonight with the very best signal coming from Spanningzoeker up on 1670 kHz. It's not often you hear this power pirate so high up the band, but he was joining a qso between Meteoor and offshore Zee Piraat. 
• Omega popped up on 1611 kHz with a test and jingles giving an email address of radioomega@yahoo.com. He was coming in loud and clear with nice modulation, which could be heard a little later on 1635 during a qso.
• Vrolijke Mijnwerker was on air with a long broadcast which was still going strong at around 0130 on Thursday morning. This was the first time I've heard him for a long while, so welcome back to the band Happy Miner!

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

1631       2000       Barones 44444 music programme
1625       2009       Bluebird 44444-55555 music programme
1647       2203       Concorde weak signal-25332 music programme

Observations

• A quiet start to 2019 which saw Barones and Bluebird with lengthy music programmes. Also on air with a long programme was Concorde. His signal was very weak to start with, but later in the evening reception lifted and he delivered his best signal to this part of England so far, peaking up to a sinpo of 25332.

Monday, December 31, 2018

1671       1749       Viking en Tante Foeke 25222 music programme
1631       1928       Spakenburg 35333 music programme
1652       1930       Driland 35333-45555 music programme
1645       1958       Ros Am 35333-55444 music programme
1640       0045       Bandoeng 35333 music programme

Observations

• The band was very quiet this evening - the Dutch pirates were seemingly enjoying the countdown to 2019 rather than switching on their transmitters. One station on air, however, was Driland, who is a New Year's Eve regular and was active well into the early hours on Tuesday morning. He was generally putting in a sinpo of 35333, although sometimes it was coming up higher and sounding very good. 
• Ros Am was on air for a while on 1645. He had been making changes to his audio and was sounding superb after some adjustments. Here's to lots of international programmes this year with that famous voice and slick presentation.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

1655       1930       Barones 45333-55444 music programme
1621       1936       Turftrekker 45333 music programme
1635       2005       Ruisbreker 33222 music programme
1629       2104       Vriendschap 34333 music programme
1645       2110       Batavier 44333-44444 music programme
1621       2116       Blauwe Koe 35333-45444 report for Turftrekker
1630       2136       Ijsvogel 54444 report for Vriendschap
1629       2137       Noordzee 42442 report for Vriendschap
1629       2141       Alabama 45444 report for Vriendshap
1647       2149       Armada 45333 report for Vriendschap
1640       2215       Ijsvogel 54444
1636       2231       Hooiberg 35333 qsoing
1629       2240       Noordzee 44444 music programme
1638       2247       Bluebird 55444 music programme
1655       2304       Alabama 45444 report for Barones

Observations

• Reception conditions were way down at the start of the evening owing, I believe, to a solar flare. However, as time went on, the signals improved to something like their usual standard.
• The festive season often brings out stations not regularly heard and I had wondered if we might get a chance to hear Ijsvogel (Kingfisher in English) at some point. And, sure enough, he arrived on the band tonight with a big signal during a qso on 1630 kHz and later a short test on 1640.

Saturday, December 29, 2018
1611       1943       Noordster 35333 music programme
1633       1944       Odynn 25332 music programme
1647       1944       Keizer en Keizerin 24222-34333 music programme
1671       2010       Viking en Tante Foeke 25322 music programme
1648       2047       Moby Dick 34333 music programme

Friday, December 28, 2018
1625       2322       Hooiberg 35333 qsoing
1626       2334       Jeneverstoker 25222 qsoing
1618       2340       Turftrekker 44444 qsoing
1625       2348       Pandora 44444 qsoing

Thursday, December 27, 2018
1629       1405       Edelkampioen 25442, 45444 at 1435 music programme
1640       1500       Blackstone 25442 report for Edelkampioen
1650       1504       Digitaal 35443 report for Edelkampioen
1629       1507       Schaduwjager 45444 qsoing
1620       1508       Marconist 25442 qsoing
1629       1510       Kaimaan 25442
1620       1513       Edelkampioen 55555 qsoing
1640       1519       Digitaal 55555 qsoing
1646       1629       Cabellero 34443 qsoing
1640       1531       Casablanca 44444 testing
1620       1535       Vendor 24442 music programme
1635       1536       Digitaal 45444 qsoing
1650       1555       Blonde Piraat 25342 qsoing
1647       1557       Armada 25342 qsoing
1611       1619       Veluwse Ster 34333-44444 testing
1637       1732       Dikke Betta 45444 music programme
1615       1832       Spanningzoeker 55444 music programme
1629       1840       Flevojager 35333-45444 music programme
1629       1903       Marconist 25332 report for Flevojager
1615       1906       Turftrekker 55444 qsoing
1668       1907       Batavier 45444 music programme
1638       1942       Morgenster 24332-35333 music programme
1647       2107       Armada 45434 testing modulation
1640       2305       Turfsteker 34333 qsoing
1640       2307       Professor Sickbok 55444 qsoing
1635       0007       Polkaman 35343 report for Professor Sickbok

Observations

• A very busy day on the band with non-stop action from just after 2pm here when signals started arriving here in the UK. The first station heard was Edelkampioen, and his signal soon improved and was hitting a sinpo of 45444 at 2.35pm. When he closed down there were plenty of stations ready to give him a report, including Caballero, who had been absent for some time with a broken antenna, and the well-known voice of Blonde Piraat.
• A station identifying as Veluwse Ster was heard on 1611 kHz, although I don't have any information about him.
• Flevojager isn't a regular on the band, so it was good to catch him with a programme on 1629 kHz and a very nice signal.
• It had been over a year since I last heard Professor Sickbok so it was a surprise to hear him back on the band tonight. He always used to have a big signal, and it was just the same this evening.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

1647       1232       Witte Tornado 25442, 45444 at 1735 music programme
1635       1237       Roderover 35453-45554 music programme
1625       1238       Derdeman weak signal music programme
1660       1632       Digitaal 35333 music programme
1630       1723       Pontiac 45434-55555 music programme
1640       1736       Blackstone 24432 report for Pontiac
1620       1831       Weduwe 43433-54444 music programme
1655       1834       Batavier 45434 music programme
1664       1856       Concorde weak signal music programme
1664       2137       Rebel (Friesland) weak signal music programme
1647       2309       Alabama 45444 report for Witte Tornado
1625       2340       Pandora 44333-55444 qsoing
1636       2344       Pioneer 45434 testing
1621       2344       Turftrekker 55444 qsoing

Observations

• It's not very often, even during winter, that Dutch MW signals can be received here before around 2pm. However, today it was different with Witte Tornado coming in from just after 12.30, although it took a few hours for the signal to peak. This husband and wife combination are far from as active as they used to be since they were visited by the Dutch authorities on October 8, 2017, but they made the most of this transmission and were on air for over 12 hours.
• Power station Roderover was strong at just after 12.30pm and remained strong. I remember this name from the early days of my pirate listening so it's always a trip down memory lane when such pirates can be heard again.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

1647       1257       Kezier en Keizerin 45444 at 1929 music programme
1620       1607       Twentana 35333 music programme
1629       1800       Moonbreaker 35443 music programme
1630       1919       Schaduwjager 55444
1614       1919       Twee Gebroeders 25222 music programme
1636       1937       Hooiberg 44444 music programme
1665       2025       Batavier 44444 music programme
1695       2028       The Ghoul 55555 music programme
1655       2040       Ros Am 55444 music programme
1633       2057       Barones 54444 music programme
1670       2106       Batavier 55444 music programme
1638       2310       Bluebird 55444 music programme
1655       2310       Alabama 55444 music programme
1624       2312       Barones 55444 music programme
1625       0013       Pioneer 45434 testing

Observations

• I managed a little listening during the Christmas Day festivities and among the stations I heard was Twee Gebroeders for the first time. From what I understand this low-power pirate has been very quiet since being caught by the AT on February 23, 2014, so it was especially good to hear them today when they were broadcasting safe in the knowledge that they would be extremely unlucky to receive a visit from the authorities.
• It's been a good while since I heard Pioneer from Rotterdam. He was testing tonight with pretty good results into the UK.

Monday, December 24, 2018

1656       1430       Nachtzwerver 25342 music programme

1635       1437       Ruisbreker 25342 music programme

1640       1519       Casablanca 45444 asking for report

1647       1908       Armada 45434 music programme

1655       1920       Concorde weak signal music programme

1625       2155       Pandora 45444 music programme

1648       2158       Oldtimer 45434 music programme

1656       2201       Oliebollenbakkers 45434-55444 music programme

1638       2236       Morgenster 25222 music programme

Sunday, December 23, 2018

1620       0659       Uniek 35333 music programme
1629       0700       Mike 55444 music programme
1629       0801       Scotland 35333 report for Mike
1629       0811       Antonio weak signal qsoing
1670       1600       Moscou 25222 testing
1611       1600       Vloedgolf 35333 testing
1647       1612       Concorde weak signal
1611       1702       Batavia 25222 music programme
1629       1705       Jack Sparrow 35333-45444 music programme
1638       1828       Bluebird 55444 music programme
1645       2258       Toulouse 35333
1645       2306       Alabama 45444 report for Toulouse
1620       2345       Vuilnisman 25222-35333 qsoing

Observations

• Hearing Scotland with a report for Mike this morning was a pleasant surprise. This veteran pirate is more often heard on the shortwave bands but was delivering a decent signal into the UK just as the sun was rising.
• There were some appearances today from stations I haven't heard in ages, including Moscou, Vloedgolf and Jack Sparrow. Hopefully they will be back on air again soon

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