Greetings from the radio room and apologies for the lack of recent blog action from this side. The reason: conditions being unsuitable for listening to the Dutch MW pirates here in England.
I just switched on the radio at 2215 and all I could hear was a Balkan pirate around 1630 kHz and various local noise. And that has been the story for the last few weeks. Couple that with the 48 metre band fading out during the late afternoon, and there hasn't been a great deal to pull me towards the radio just recently. The good news is this has been the same for the last few years and it won't be long before propagation changes and the MW pirates start coming through with consistently good signals.
I was having a tune around earlier in the evening - at about 1700 - and there were some final signals before the conditions changed. I heard the Zwarte Boekanier (who was also using the name Eenzamejager, which means Lonely Hunter in English) qsoing with Osaka and Digitaal. All were coming through really well. And then I heard a somebody around 1637 kHz whistling into a microphone.
At first I thought it was somebody tuning up a transmitter. Then I realised the signal was in SSB, so I switched mode on the radio and heard somebody calling for the Boekanier. There was no station ID, but he was coming through very clearly. Who it was, I have no idea, although there were some Dutch fisherman on 1675 kHz a few minutes later, so just perhaps it was one of them and they had been enjoying some polka sounds and thought they would give a report.
The same thing happened back in the late 1990s on the 76 metre band. There used to a lot of late-night pirate activity around 3945 kHz, where some Scottish fisherman also used to illegally chat to each other from time to time. From listening to them it turned out that they often used to listen to the pirates while they were out in the North Sea. The likes of Live Wire Radio, Subterranean Sounds and the Wizard's Magic Spell could then often be heard sending them best wishes and playing records for them!
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Monday, November 24, 2014
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Back in business
So this afternoon despite having something of a fear of heights I was at the top of a long ladder putting the loop antenna back in place at the top of one of the two masts and aligning it with a northerly direction so it would work in sync with the rotator. I was doing this after being without the loop for a week or two while waiting for a new part. Like I mentioned in my previous post, it has been a frustrating time as I haven't been able to receive signals on MW with anything like their usual strength.
But the good news is everything is working fine now and I am listening to the regular Sunday evening programme of Witte Tornado on 1647 kHz as I write this. And the signal is pretty good, despite propagation conditions not being great for hearing the Dutch pirates - I can hear a legal station from the US on 1610 with a fair signal.
It was also good to hear Matrix for the first time in ages during the late afternoon. Exactly two years ago he was over here in England to celebrate my wedding, so it was fitting to hear him on the radio today.
Earlier in the day I was listening to shortwave with the inverted v antenna. Skip was short during the morning but as we went into the afternoon, stations further afield started arriving with good signals. One of the best of the day was the Free Radio Service Holland, who could be heard on 7700 and 9300 kHz with a repeat of last weekend's programmes that were being aired again due to the SW blackout seven days earlier. I made a recording as Peter Verbruggen handed over to Roger Davis, the voice of Britain Radio International for so many years . . .
But the good news is everything is working fine now and I am listening to the regular Sunday evening programme of Witte Tornado on 1647 kHz as I write this. And the signal is pretty good, despite propagation conditions not being great for hearing the Dutch pirates - I can hear a legal station from the US on 1610 with a fair signal.
It was also good to hear Matrix for the first time in ages during the late afternoon. Exactly two years ago he was over here in England to celebrate my wedding, so it was fitting to hear him on the radio today.
Earlier in the day I was listening to shortwave with the inverted v antenna. Skip was short during the morning but as we went into the afternoon, stations further afield started arriving with good signals. One of the best of the day was the Free Radio Service Holland, who could be heard on 7700 and 9300 kHz with a repeat of last weekend's programmes that were being aired again due to the SW blackout seven days earlier. I made a recording as Peter Verbruggen handed over to Roger Davis, the voice of Britain Radio International for so many years . . .
Free Radio Service Holland 7700 kHz heard in England on November 2, 2014 by Mw_Pirate Fan on Mixcloud
Saturday, November 01, 2014
On the high seas (sort of)
For the last week I've been at sea. Well, my family and I were on some of Britain's canals, gently coasting along at around four miles an hour. And as we relaxed and enjoyed the great weather I noticed a few things that reminded me of the pirate hobby . . .
It's been a little while since I heard Odynn on MW, but he was testing with a new antenna a couple of months ago and will hopefully be active during the autumn and winter months. As for Alaska, looking back at the logs I see it was just about 12 months ago I last heard him, and before that he was making it across the North Sea on New Year's Eve 2012.
Anyway, it was nice to be reminded of the pirates as we meandered along some countryside waterways, and I even managed a little listening with my old Sony ICF 2001d and small portable loop. Now, tuning the bands while inside a metal box isn't ideal and there was all sorts of interference, even with most appliances switched off. So, on Thursday night in the pitch dark I took the receiver and loop outside and sat at the front of the boat and was very surprised to hear some cracking signals, none more so than Professor Sickbok, who was very strong on 1640 while qsoing with Casablanca.
We're back home now and I've been doing some antenna maintenance. Yesterday I replaced the coax cable in the shortwave dipole antenna and tomorrow I'll be reinstalling the outdoor loop antenna which has been on the sidelines for a couple of weeks waiting for a new part. I can't wait to get it back in working order - it's essential for pulling in weaker signals on AM, and I've been lost without it. Trying to listen to MW, for example, with a SW antenna is not ideal and it's frustrating when signals are being received with only a fraction of the strength they should be, together with loads of noise as well. The right antenna for the job is so important . . .
It's been a little while since I heard Odynn on MW, but he was testing with a new antenna a couple of months ago and will hopefully be active during the autumn and winter months. As for Alaska, looking back at the logs I see it was just about 12 months ago I last heard him, and before that he was making it across the North Sea on New Year's Eve 2012.
Anyway, it was nice to be reminded of the pirates as we meandered along some countryside waterways, and I even managed a little listening with my old Sony ICF 2001d and small portable loop. Now, tuning the bands while inside a metal box isn't ideal and there was all sorts of interference, even with most appliances switched off. So, on Thursday night in the pitch dark I took the receiver and loop outside and sat at the front of the boat and was very surprised to hear some cracking signals, none more so than Professor Sickbok, who was very strong on 1640 while qsoing with Casablanca.
We're back home now and I've been doing some antenna maintenance. Yesterday I replaced the coax cable in the shortwave dipole antenna and tomorrow I'll be reinstalling the outdoor loop antenna which has been on the sidelines for a couple of weeks waiting for a new part. I can't wait to get it back in working order - it's essential for pulling in weaker signals on AM, and I've been lost without it. Trying to listen to MW, for example, with a SW antenna is not ideal and it's frustrating when signals are being received with only a fraction of the strength they should be, together with loads of noise as well. The right antenna for the job is so important . . .
Wednesday, October 01, 2014
Antenna work
Today I've been busy with my MW coil antenna, making the earth connections to the mast, and there's not much more to do now. Soon, as well as the loop antenna I use for listening to all the pirates, I'll have the coil antenna in action as well. I used this a couple of years ago for a short time, but the earth I had was minimal so I abandoned it. But this summer I've placed lots of copper pipe in the ground which should help it work better. As many of the Dutch pirates use this antenna to transmit with, I'm hopeful to get an improvement in reception. Also, two good MW antennas on the go will mean that, with the help of the noise cancelling enhancer I've got, it will be much easier to null any unwanted local interference. In short, the antenna situation here will be improved this autumn and I'll be ready to hear lots of pirate signals from across the North Sea.
The band seems to be getting a little busier again following a drop in activity levels following some work from the Dutch authorities, issues warning letters to some MW pirates and paying the odd visit here and there. Also, now the days are becoming shorter, signals can be heard for longer over here, which is a real plus. Whereas during the summer it is often late evening before stations are audible, I can already hear them from around 1700 utc - as the weeks pass by and the clocks change later this month, the signals will start to arrive earlier and earlier.
There has been some excellent propagation just recently as well. Take Sunday evening, when there were some tremendous signals to be heard. Have a listen to this mp3 and you'll see what I mean.
That mp3 kicks off with Quintus, who is followed by Pontiac, Moonbreker, Schaduwjager, Viking, Witte Tornado and Blue Star Star. The standout signals are Pontiac and Schaduwjager. Both are usually very strong here, but they were local quality this time. Amazing!
The band seems to be getting a little busier again following a drop in activity levels following some work from the Dutch authorities, issues warning letters to some MW pirates and paying the odd visit here and there. Also, now the days are becoming shorter, signals can be heard for longer over here, which is a real plus. Whereas during the summer it is often late evening before stations are audible, I can already hear them from around 1700 utc - as the weeks pass by and the clocks change later this month, the signals will start to arrive earlier and earlier.
There has been some excellent propagation just recently as well. Take Sunday evening, when there were some tremendous signals to be heard. Have a listen to this mp3 and you'll see what I mean.
Time now for the latest logs from this side:
Monday, September 29, 2014
1645 1723 Blauwe Reiger 35443 qsoing
1633 1734 Vrijevogel 25222 music programme
1643 1736 Baanbreker 34333 qsoing
1640 1753 Pecon 45434 qsoing
1640 1756 Free Netherlands (Klaverboer) 25222 qsoing
1613 1804 Black Power 45444 short test
1620 1824 Calipso 55444 music programme
1655 1901 Carona 35333-45344 music programme
1646 1902 Zwarte Bizon 45344 qsoing
1655 2150 Wilskracht 35343 music programme
1636 2230 Pandora 55444-55555 testing
1647 2236 Jeneverstoker 35333 report for Pandora
Sunday, September 28, 2014
1620 0510 Santana 45344 music programme
1647 1703 Witte Tornado 35343, 45444 at 1740, 55444 at 1828 music programme
1671 1734 Viking 25332, 45444 at 1900 music programme
1629 1755 Quintus 45434-55444 music programme
1620 1828 Moonbreker 34333-45444 music programme
1636 1830 Schaduwjager 55555 testing
1660 1842 Pontiac 55444-55555 music programme
1655 2211 Vliegende Schotel 35333 asking for a report
1636 2217 Pandora 55444 music programme
1630 2325 Bluestar 35333 testing
Saturday, September 27, 2014
1647 1645 Casablanca 34333 qsoing
1620 1650 Akai 34333 qsoing
1636 1650 Keizer en Keizerin 34343 music programme
1646 1654 Vendor 25342 qsoing
1630 1708 Bonte Specht 25332-35333
1648 1712 Zeewolf weak signal qsoing
1648 1801 Pecon 35333 qsoing
1655 1841 Relmus 45434 music programme
1648 2043 Moby Dick 55444 music programme
1665 2049 Polkaman 25222 music programme
1630 2053 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 43443-54444
1620 2105 Calipso 54444 music programme
1630 2235 Blue Star 35443 testing
1655 2239 Wilskracht 24332-34333 music programme
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
1640 2007 Wadloper 35333-45444 testing modulation
1620 2231 Calipso 55444 music programme
1636 2255 Pandora 45444 report for Calipso
1648 2255 Monte Carlo 35333 report for Calipso
1640 2306 Monte Carlo 35333 report for Calipso
Monday, September 22, 2014
1636 2146 Mi Amigo 25222-35333 music programme
1648 2228 Monte Carlo 35333 report for Mi Amigo
Saturday, September 20, 2014
1629 1907 Quintus 35333 music programme
1645 1908 Batavier music programme
1611 1908 Barones 35333 music programme
1636 1912 Keizer en Keizerin 35333 music programme
1647 2247 Nachtzwerver 35333-45344 qsoing
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
1650 0032 Jeneverstoker 25222 qsoing
1636 2204 Romax 44444 music programme
1620 2205 Calipso 55555 music programme
1650 2205 Mi Amigo 35333
Observations
- Because of the recent AT activity some stations have been changing their name. So, you might hear one that you think is new when actually it's an old hand with a different ID!
- It was good to hear Blauwe Reiger for the first time in a while on Monday. Also good to catch Wilskracht a little later in the evening. When I was in the Netherlands in August I was driving around with Relmus and we went down the street where Wilskracht lives. I was looking at his antenna when we suddenly noticed the man himself chatting to his neighbour! We had a little talk, and that was another Dutch pirate I've had the pleasure of meeting. Strange for him that a listener from England should suddenly be driving past his home!
- On Sunday morning I set the computer to record 1620 kHz from 6am local time (0500 utc) thinking I might hear Zonnester with his regular programme. When I listened back to the recording, there was indeed a station on the frequency, but it was Santana and with a fine signal, too
- Moonbreker was a new name for me on Sunday evening. He was broadcasting from Twente and giving out the email address moonbreker@gmail.com
- On Saturday it was good to hear Zeewolf on MW for the first time in a while. Although the signal was weak, it was around 1700 utc and so still early and before the sun had set. He was using only 40 watts
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
The Calipso jukebox
Monday night has been exceptionally quiet at 1611 kHz and upwards. In fact, I've been tuning around since 2100 and, over three hours later, I've heard only three stations. It seems most operators are still lying low.
One who has been braving the airwaves is Calipso, who is just about to close down on 1620 kHz as I write these words. He's been playing requests throughout the evening and pumping a strong signal into the UK. As our regular reader Terry from Bristol commented on my last post, Calipso is always heard well in the UK, and tonight was no exception, as you can hear from this recording . . .
There was a nice surprise on 6397 kHz at around 0900 utc on Monday morning when Good Ship Venus was playing out a programme of Weekend Music Radio that aired over the weekend. The signal from Scotland was very good here, and further evidence that propagation is changing as the summer drifts away and autumn starts to arrive.
Like I say, MW has been quiet recently because of all the AT activity and I haven't posted any logs for some weeks, so let's bring things up to date:
Monday, September 15, 2014
1620 2112 Calipso 55444-55555 music programme
1636 2229 Mi Amigo 24322-34333
1630 2254 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444-55555
Saturday, September 13, 2014
1620 1828 Calipso 55544-55555 music programme
1637 1831 Keizer en Keizerin 35343 music programme
1611 2021 Turftrekker 34443-55544 qsoing
1630 2021 Pioneer 35333 testing
1648 2021 Moby Dick 45444-55544 music programme
1620 2029 Schaduwjager 55444 qsoing
1620 2034 Akai 34333-45444 qsoing
1629 2057 Python 25222 testing
1651 2156 Turfsteker 33433-44444
1666 2219 Digitaal 55444 music programme
1628 2219 Zwarte Panter 24332-35443 music programme
1641 2222 Monte Carlo 55444 qsoing
1655 2226 Turfsteker 34443-44444 qsoing
Thursday, September 11, 2014
1650 2005 Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1629 2046 Golden Oldy (Atletico) 25222-35333 music programme
1655 2158 Plof Kip (Witte Kat) 35333 qsoing
1654 2201 Studio 69 35333-45444 qsoing
1621 2205 Pioneer 35333 testing
Monday, September 8, 2014
1633 1940 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 report for Vrijvogel
Sunday, September 7, 2014
1655 2050 Studio 69 35333-45444 music programme
1638 2055 Bluebird 45444-55555 music programme
1665 2057 Polkaman 34333 music programme
1647 2057 Witte Tornado 45444-55444 music programme
Saturday, September 6, 2014
1620 2043 Schaduwjager 55444-55555
1611 2044 Barones 44444-55544 music programme
1643 2046 Batavier 35333 music programme
1648 2046 Moby Dick 55444 music programme
1635 2053 Yogi Bear 23322-44444 music programme
1653 2054 Nachtzwerver 25332-35333 music programme
1656 2113 Nachtzwerver 25332-35333 music programme
Monday, September 1, 2014
1638 2140 Bluebird 45444-55444 music programme
1620 2146 Spanningzoeker 45434-55544 qsoing
1647 2154 Monte Carlo 34333-44444 qsoing
1648 2227 Casablanca 45434 qsoing
1620 2228 Soerabaya 25222 qsoing
1620 2240 813 25222 qsoing
1650 2250 Spanningzoeker 55444 qsoing
1634 2305 Jeneverstoker 35333 qsoing
Thursday, August 14, 2014
1611 2116 Armada 24322-35333 music programme
1620 2117 Calipso 55544-55555 music programme
1655 2117 Mohammed Ali, Drentse Variant & James Bond 55444-55555 music
show for Carona
1640 2118 Noordzee 35333-45444 music programme
1625 2119 Atletico 23322-34443 music programme
1645 2120 Batavier 25222-35433 music programme
1663 2201 Nachtzwerver 25222-35333 testing
1637 2205 Toulouse 35443-45444 report for Noordzee
1620 2216 Montecarlo 44444 report for Noordzee
1636 2217 Repower 35433 report for Toulouse
1636 2226 Romax 35433-45444 qsoing
1655 2230 Carona 45444 report for James Bond etc
1648 2232 Jeneverstoker 35433 report for James Bond etc
1663 2246 Monte Carlo 35433-45444 qsoing
1620 2350 Soerabaya weak signal
1650 0010 Jeneverstoker 25332-35333 testing
1636 0039 Pandora 44444-55444 report for Jeneverstoker
Saturday, August 9, 2014
1476 1950 Edelkampioen 33533-45544 music programme
Friday, August 8, 2014
1620 1908 Sterrekijker 35453 music programme
1620 1956 Calipso 35453
1645 1908 Relmus 35453 music programme
Thursday, August 7, 2014
1611 2115 Brugwachter
1620 2120 Schaduwjager 55444 qsoing
1620 2126 Meteoor 35333-45343 qsoing
1671 2126 Armada 35333-45444 music programme
1638 2126 Bluebird music programme
1654 2127 Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1629 2129 Atletico 25222-35333 music programme
1615 2150 Polkakanon 25232 music programme
1662 2154 Wilskracht 34333 qsoing
1655 2331 Studio 69 45333-45444 qsoing
One who has been braving the airwaves is Calipso, who is just about to close down on 1620 kHz as I write these words. He's been playing requests throughout the evening and pumping a strong signal into the UK. As our regular reader Terry from Bristol commented on my last post, Calipso is always heard well in the UK, and tonight was no exception, as you can hear from this recording . . .
Like I say, MW has been quiet recently because of all the AT activity and I haven't posted any logs for some weeks, so let's bring things up to date:
Monday, September 15, 2014
1620 2112 Calipso 55444-55555 music programme
1636 2229 Mi Amigo 24322-34333
1630 2254 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444-55555
Saturday, September 13, 2014
1620 1828 Calipso 55544-55555 music programme
1637 1831 Keizer en Keizerin 35343 music programme
1611 2021 Turftrekker 34443-55544 qsoing
1630 2021 Pioneer 35333 testing
1648 2021 Moby Dick 45444-55544 music programme
1620 2029 Schaduwjager 55444 qsoing
1620 2034 Akai 34333-45444 qsoing
1629 2057 Python 25222 testing
1651 2156 Turfsteker 33433-44444
1666 2219 Digitaal 55444 music programme
1628 2219 Zwarte Panter 24332-35443 music programme
1641 2222 Monte Carlo 55444 qsoing
1655 2226 Turfsteker 34443-44444 qsoing
Thursday, September 11, 2014
1650 2005 Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1629 2046 Golden Oldy (Atletico) 25222-35333 music programme
1655 2158 Plof Kip (Witte Kat) 35333 qsoing
1654 2201 Studio 69 35333-45444 qsoing
1621 2205 Pioneer 35333 testing
Monday, September 8, 2014
1633 1940 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 report for Vrijvogel
Sunday, September 7, 2014
1655 2050 Studio 69 35333-45444 music programme
1638 2055 Bluebird 45444-55555 music programme
1665 2057 Polkaman 34333 music programme
1647 2057 Witte Tornado 45444-55444 music programme
Saturday, September 6, 2014
1620 2043 Schaduwjager 55444-55555
1611 2044 Barones 44444-55544 music programme
1643 2046 Batavier 35333 music programme
1648 2046 Moby Dick 55444 music programme
1635 2053 Yogi Bear 23322-44444 music programme
1653 2054 Nachtzwerver 25332-35333 music programme
1656 2113 Nachtzwerver 25332-35333 music programme
Monday, September 1, 2014
1638 2140 Bluebird 45444-55444 music programme
1620 2146 Spanningzoeker 45434-55544 qsoing
1647 2154 Monte Carlo 34333-44444 qsoing
1648 2227 Casablanca 45434 qsoing
1620 2228 Soerabaya 25222 qsoing
1620 2240 813 25222 qsoing
1650 2250 Spanningzoeker 55444 qsoing
1634 2305 Jeneverstoker 35333 qsoing
Thursday, August 14, 2014
1611 2116 Armada 24322-35333 music programme
1620 2117 Calipso 55544-55555 music programme
1655 2117 Mohammed Ali, Drentse Variant & James Bond 55444-55555 music
show for Carona
1640 2118 Noordzee 35333-45444 music programme
1625 2119 Atletico 23322-34443 music programme
1645 2120 Batavier 25222-35433 music programme
1663 2201 Nachtzwerver 25222-35333 testing
1637 2205 Toulouse 35443-45444 report for Noordzee
1620 2216 Montecarlo 44444 report for Noordzee
1636 2217 Repower 35433 report for Toulouse
1636 2226 Romax 35433-45444 qsoing
1655 2230 Carona 45444 report for James Bond etc
1648 2232 Jeneverstoker 35433 report for James Bond etc
1663 2246 Monte Carlo 35433-45444 qsoing
1620 2350 Soerabaya weak signal
1650 0010 Jeneverstoker 25332-35333 testing
1636 0039 Pandora 44444-55444 report for Jeneverstoker
Saturday, August 9, 2014
1476 1950 Edelkampioen 33533-45544 music programme
Friday, August 8, 2014
1620 1908 Sterrekijker 35453 music programme
1620 1956 Calipso 35453
1645 1908 Relmus 35453 music programme
Thursday, August 7, 2014
1611 2115 Brugwachter
1620 2120 Schaduwjager 55444 qsoing
1620 2126 Meteoor 35333-45343 qsoing
1671 2126 Armada 35333-45444 music programme
1638 2126 Bluebird music programme
1654 2127 Kristal 35333-45444 music programme
1629 2129 Atletico 25222-35333 music programme
1615 2150 Polkakanon 25232 music programme
1662 2154 Wilskracht 34333 qsoing
1655 2331 Studio 69 45333-45444 qsoing
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Worrying times
I've been a little quiet with my words on the blog in the last few weeks - there's always something to keep me busy. But I've been tuning the bands and doing plenty of radio listening, although the top of the MW in particular has gone very quiet of late. The reason: the Agentschap Telecom (AT) has been very active in the Netherlands.
In the last few years the proliferation of high-power FM pirates has kept the AT very busy, but as more and more of these stations have been taken off air while fines become ever bigger, it seems attention has been turned to pirates broadcasting on MW.
A few weeks ago I heard that Radio 0511 was taken off air, a station that has been broadcasting every Sunday for some time. Another who can be heard with a regular weekend programme is Radio Sanussie on 1512. However, I understand they had a visit from the AT last Sunday. From what I hear, other stations who have been told to cease transmissions include Denappel, Sterrekijker and Bluebird. They could also be facing payment of a hefty fine.
So, if you think MW is a little quiet when you are tuning around for pirates, increased AT activity could be the reason as stations take a slightly lower profile.
In the last few years the proliferation of high-power FM pirates has kept the AT very busy, but as more and more of these stations have been taken off air while fines become ever bigger, it seems attention has been turned to pirates broadcasting on MW.
A few weeks ago I heard that Radio 0511 was taken off air, a station that has been broadcasting every Sunday for some time. Another who can be heard with a regular weekend programme is Radio Sanussie on 1512. However, I understand they had a visit from the AT last Sunday. From what I hear, other stations who have been told to cease transmissions include Denappel, Sterrekijker and Bluebird. They could also be facing payment of a hefty fine.
So, if you think MW is a little quiet when you are tuning around for pirates, increased AT activity could be the reason as stations take a slightly lower profile.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Back from pirate land
So it's been a little while since I posted on the blog. The reason? A holiday in pirate land! It had been a couple of years since we visited the Netherlands, so on July 30 we headed across the North Sea for a week in the sun and to visit some pirate friends.
I must say a very big thank you to Radio Batavier, Relmus, Barones and Zeewolf for being so kind with looking after me and wife and two girls so well and for making sure we had a great time. Thank you also to everyone else we visited who made sure our trip was just perfect.
We travelled all around the Netherlands, starting in the west and moving via the north to the east. We visited plenty of pirates and even had a party with Barones when broadcasters from across the country visited and drank some beers into the early hours of the morning. In fact, it was 0500 when I finally got to bed that day!
Here's the lowdown of the pirate operators I met during our seven-day stay in the Netherlands. Hopefully I haven't missed anybody off the list!
Another interesting trip we took was with Foppe of Radio Batavier to Harlingen where we saw the lightship Jenni Baynton, home to Radio Waddenzee. Although it was all locked up when we visited in the harbour, it will be out at sea from next Wednesday as it broadcasts live from the ocean for 11 days. Here are a few photos I took . . .
We also paid a short visit to the transmitter site of Radio Waddenzee. Interestingly, some of the pirate antennas I've seen in the Netherlands are somewhat higher . . .
Once again, a big thank you to everybody who we spent time with during our holiday. And apologies we never got to see some of the people we would have liked - there never seems to be enough time. Hopefully we will return soon and continue our pirate tour!
I must say a very big thank you to Radio Batavier, Relmus, Barones and Zeewolf for being so kind with looking after me and wife and two girls so well and for making sure we had a great time. Thank you also to everyone else we visited who made sure our trip was just perfect.
We travelled all around the Netherlands, starting in the west and moving via the north to the east. We visited plenty of pirates and even had a party with Barones when broadcasters from across the country visited and drank some beers into the early hours of the morning. In fact, it was 0500 when I finally got to bed that day!
Here's the lowdown of the pirate operators I met during our seven-day stay in the Netherlands. Hopefully I haven't missed anybody off the list!
Akai
Arabier
Barones
Batavier
Calipso
Einstein
Foxfire
Havana
MRF
Arabier
Barones
Batavier
Calipso
Einstein
Foxfire
Havana
MRF
Napoleon
New Wave
Powerliner
Relmus
Sluwe Vos
Snowman
Yogi Bear
Wadloper
Wilskracht
Witte Reus
Zeewolf
Zwarte Non
New Wave
Powerliner
Relmus
Sluwe Vos
Snowman
Yogi Bear
Wadloper
Wilskracht
Witte Reus
Zeewolf
Zwarte Non
And there were plenty of antennas to see belonging to pirates we didn't have time to meet, as there were other things to do. For example, we visited the great Waarbeek family fun park in Hengelo and the Speelstad Oranje theme park, which Herman of Radio Zeewolf arranged and took us to. It was perfect for the children, and a great day for the adults too. And we also managed to get a close-up look at the incredible 300-metre radio mast nearby at Smilde, which is billed as being the most important in the country, serving no end of local radio and tv stations. In July 2011 it was hit by fire and collapsed, but to look at it now, you would never know . . .
We also paid a short visit to the transmitter site of Radio Waddenzee. Interestingly, some of the pirate antennas I've seen in the Netherlands are somewhat higher . . .
Once again, a big thank you to everybody who we spent time with during our holiday. And apologies we never got to see some of the people we would have liked - there never seems to be enough time. Hopefully we will return soon and continue our pirate tour!
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