Latest logs from England

Monday, May 28, 2012

1653       2120       Napoleon 45554 music programme

1665       2137       Polkaman 25432-35433 music programme

1629       2138       Powerliner music programme

1643       2145       Monte Carlo 35533-45544 music programme

1619       2208       Atletico 24422 music programme

1646       2245       Casablanca 43534 music programme

Sunday, May 27, 2012

1633       2220       Barcelona 35533-45534 music programme

1648       2225       Napoleon 34543 music programme

1638       2227       Witte Tornado 24522-44544 music programme

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

1645       2150       Euromast 45444 music programme

1633       2133       Barcelona 55344 music programme

1619       2133       Rebel 25332 music programme

Observations

• As we write this entry, Monte Carlo has just closed down on 1643. We usually hear this station qsoing but it was very nice tonight to hear a music programme with mentions for many, many pirates throughout the Netherlands in a similar style to the Zonnester, who can be heard on 1620 on Sunday mornings. It would be nice to hear more of the same please! Conditions on the band this evening have been fair, and Monte Carlo was putting in a fine signal. Take a listen by clicking here
• Superb to hear Napoleon back on the air with programmes tonight and last night (Sunday). It has been some time since we heard his relaxing style at the top of the MW, so welcome back Nappie! The signal was pretty good, and you can listen to a recording here
• Every now and again we get a lot of noise around 1629 kHz. Tonight was one of those nights, and although we could reduce the interference with the MFJ1026, it was still difficult to get a clear copy of Powerliner who was busy on the frequency with a music show. The signal was fair, but the interference just too much
• Atletico was doing well with just 45 watts on 1619. We clearly heard the ID without any help from the chatroom!
• Although solar activity has been stable for the last few days, reception of the Dutch pirates on MW is still up and down. Roll on winter time!

Normal service is resumed!

Well I'm very happy to report that conditions on the MW were something like back to normal this evening with plenty of signals arriving from the Netherlands with good strength. For the last week or so I had been thinking maybe the antenna here was not working properly - but no such problem this evening and even the old 1940s valve receiver was even able to pick up the pirates . . . 

And here are the stations heard at our location in England during the last few days


Saturday, May 19, 2012
1645       2304       Digitaal 54544 qsoing
1653       2305       Barones 55444 music programme
1630       2305       Mondeo 34433-45444 qsoing
1665       2306       Polkaman 24322-35533 music programme
1636       2306       Keizer En Keizeren music programme
1620       2312       Spakenburg 35433-45444 qsoing
1633       2315       Barcelona qsoing 55544
1620       2318       Utopia 33433-44544 qsoing
1620       2322       Zonneschijn 45444-55544 qsoing radiozonneschijn@hotmail.com
1512       0037       Unidentified station mixing with another but very strong on peaks

Friday, May 18, 2012
1640       2349       Batavier 35433 music programme
1665       2350       Polkaman 25342-35443 music programme
1645       0039       Pandora 55444 music programme

Thursday, May 17, 2012
1645       2114       Barones 35533 music programme
1670       2118       Eldorado 25432 music programme
1638       2119       Witte Tornado
1620       2121       Spanningzoeker 34533 qsoing
1675       2123       Albatros weak signal music programme
1665       2144       Polkaman  weak signal music programme
1647       2306       Casablanca 35433-45534 music programme
1635       2308       Zeearend 23432 music programme
1656       2330       Powerliner weak signal music programme
1645       2332       Pandora 35533-45544 qsoing

Observations

• We have been listening late during the evening for the last three nights, and reception on Saturday was best of all, with some fine signals. Digitaal was doing really well and Mondeo was giving maybe the strongest signal we have heard from him
• Zonneschijn was coming in very well during his qso and although we haven't heard this station before, the voice behind the microphone sounded very familiar. Click here for a recording
• If you are up and around very late in the evening, try checking 1645 because Radio Pandora can often be heard. On Friday night he came on to play a few records and had a real powerhouse signal
• Radio Polkaman has been busy for the last few nights, playing his favourite music into the early hours with some very long programmes. His transmitter power is not much but there can be some very nice peaks on his signal. Click here for an example from Friday evening

New blog - not to be missed

Our very good friend Radio Zeewolf has started his own blog with news, reports and videos. Click here to see his page. While the Am Forum is offline, it's another great place to look for your information on the MW scene

That's the way to do it!

The Netherlands is famed for its hundreds of pirate stations and anybody who has ever visited the country might well have seen some of the impressive antenna masts of the pirates. However, none can rival the impressive structure at Hoogersmilde, which is currently being rebuilt have being destroyed in a fire last summer. It transmits signals of a variety of local and national TV and radio stations. Click here for more pictures and details. 

Many thanks to the Blauwe Piraat for this information

That's better!

Well I'm very happy to report that conditions for listening to the Dutch pirates on MW in the UK have been a good deal better tonight. As I write this, signals are beginning to weaken again, but we heard many more stations this evening that during the previous days, and with better signals. So, here's the rundown on what we heard . . . 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

1643       2103       Schaduwjager 45544 qsoing

1656       2104       Parel Van Twente 35433 music programme

1675       2118       Doctor Einstein 24532-35533 nonstop music

1636       2122       Batavier 35543 music programme

1630       2123       Spanningzoeker 55544-55555 asking for report

1670       2130       Odynn 24432 music programme

1665       2130       Polkaman 34533 music programme

1640       2132       Batavier 35543 music programme

1647       2205       Monte Carlo 34433 qsoing

1640       2211       Doctor Einstein 24532-35533 nonstop music

1645       2221       Vriendschap 23422 qsoing

1630       2252       Relmus weak signal        

Observations

• Tonight's best signal was from Spanningzoeker, who is always strong seemingly whatever the conditions. Click here to listen to a short recording of his signal while qsoing on 1630
• Very nice to hear Odynn on the air for the first time in a while. He was playing plenty of music from the Doors with his new transmitter - and he was a very happy pirate by the end of the evening having received reports from right across Europe
• Parel was busy with a long music show on 1656 with some very nice peaks on the signal. Click here for an example

Another quiet one

Monday evening is coming to a close and it's been another quiet one with very little in the way of activity, mainly due to the poor propagation . . .

Monday, May 14, 2012

1672       2045       Armada 24432 music programme

1640       2200       Unidentified station 45544 music programme

1640       2235       Amigo 24432 report for UNID station

Sunday, May 13, 2012

1628       2235       Euromast 23532 music programme

1633       2235       Barcelona 35533-45544 music programme

1658       2237       Pandora 34533-44544 qsoing

1656       2241       Jeneverstoker 24522 qsoing

Observations

• The unidentified station on 1640 this evening was very strong but signed off with no ID. We made a recording which you can listen to here

From the Radio Netherlands vault

If you were listening to pirate radio stations from the Netherlands during the 1990s you will be familiar with the name Derek Taylor. He ran the Dutch Pirate Radio Service from Preston in the north-west of England, putting listeners and dxers in touch with the pirate operators on the other side of the North Sea. You could not listen to the top of the mediumwave band without hearing his name, together with a mention for his wife Linda.

The Media Network show on Radio Netherlands picked up on this story and on October 18 they ran a feature on Derek and the Dutch pirate radio scene. Click here to listen to the whole show and get a real feeling on nostalgia.