Good evening from a very hot UK. It seems to have been 30 degrees here for weeks now, and we're set for more good weather. I can't complain after the winter we had, but the soaring temperatures, perhaps coupled with the World Cup, have seen the pirate bands a bit on the quiet side. Take tonight, for example, I switched the radios on at about 2100 UTC and could find only two pirate stations on MW. A look back at the logs from corresponding Monday in 2016 show that I heard seven pirates between 2100 and 2200 UTC. Who can blame pirates for enjoying the weather and watching the football with a beer - I've been doing similar. But, on the up side, when the World Cup is over and the temperatures begin to drop, I'd say the bands will light up again with activity. Here's a look at the stations I've heard recently: FreqTime Station SINPO Monday, July 2, 2018 16352150Bluebird 55444
music programme 16652150Rebel25222 music programme
Observations
Nice to hear Bluebird playing some English music on his show tonight. His signal was very strong as usual on the peaks, although there was plenty of static to contend with at times
Rebel was doing well on 1665. He has 50 watts of power and was breaking through very nicely at times, although he too was suffering from static, which is very much a sympton of the very dry weather we're experiencing
Tuesday, June 25, 2018
16252035Marianne 55444
music programme
16452035Oldtimer 45444
music programme
Thursday, June 21, 2018
16252022Pandora 35433
music programme
16292023Turftrekker
44444 music programme
16202208Anton 45444
music programme
16112208Polkaman
33222-33333 music programme
16352223Monte Carlo45333-45444 report for Anton
16352232Vonkenboer
25222 qsoing
Sunday, June 17, 2018
16552155Snowman 35343
music programme
16112246Polkaman32322-34343 music programme
Observations
Interesting to hear Polkaman trying out a new frequency tonight. He's been using 1665 kHz for as long as I can remember!
Greetings from the UK. It's been a quiet few months for me on the radio front. I often listen a little less during the spring as conditions are far from optimum for tuning the MW band with much longer days and so a smaller window for tuning about. However, the longest day of the year is approaching, which can mean only one thing - the days will be getting shorter again very soon! On Friday evening I dusted the radios and had a tune around to see what I could hear. And there were quite a few stations and some great signals. The powerhouse stations - Barones, Bluebird and Vrolijke Mijnwerker - were typically very strong and it was really good to hear all the voices I know so well for the first time in a while. Here's a rundown of the pirates I listened to as the weekend kicked off:
16351855Bluebird 34443, later 55555 music programme
16421904Kaaiman 24442 music programme
16202218Barones 45444 music programme
16562219Driland 33343-44444 music programme
16462220Vrolijke Mijnwerker55544 music programme
16302224Monte Carlo33343 qsoing
16562235Alabama 44444 report for Driland
16452241Monte Carlo34333-44444 report for Mijnwerker
16652247Polkaman 24322-34333 music programme
1649 2322 Jeneverstoker 24322 qsoing
You can see reception for yourself on this short film I made:
It was good to hear Radio Driland on Friday night - it's often only at Christmas and new year that I seem to hear him. He was suffering splatter from Mijnwerker for some of his transmission, but when his signal was alone it was peaking very nicely, as you can hear on this recording:
We're only just into February but already the days are becoming a little longer and, although that is not ideal for listening to Dutch pirates from our post in the UK, there have been great propagation conditions on the band tonight, making for some good listening.
So, it's time to update the logbook. As usual the antenna here is the Wellbrook ALA1530LN+ together with the Lowe HF225.
I set the computer to record my radio on 1620 kHz this morning and I was rewarded with my first catch of Nordster. The voice was very well known to me, but the first time I've heard this ID. Take a listen to the recording and see if you recognise the man behind the mic!
Good to catch Melkbus on 1655 this evening, with a signal that was peaking up really well at times. In fact, this was possibly the best I've heard him, helped significantly by the good conditions
The station on 1629 tonight took some identifying. I listened for a while and made some recordings, and after listening back I managed to hear the ID of Moscou Twente
It's rare to catch a Dutch pirate as high as 1715 kHz, but if there is anything above 1675 then it will often be Digitaal on the frequency, and so it was tonight. Free from any other stations and without noise, the signal was coming through particularly well
Vrolijke Mijnwerker often enjoys a chat with his pirate counterparts in the Balkans, and tonight he was on air chatting with Romeo and Kalibar in Serbia. I'm not sure how much each person understood from the other given the language barrier, but these qsos are always fun to listen to
Alabama was interesting to hear at just after 2300 local time here in the UK. This station had been popping up with reports last year, transmitting speech and no music, presumably to keep any local interference at a minimum. However, there was music this evening and a very strong signal
Sunday, February 11, 2018
1629 0640 Polkaexpress 35443 music programme
1620 1848 Weduwe 55444 music programme
1637 1848 Dikke Betta55544 music programme
1647 1849 Armada 45444 music programme
1655 1856 Relmus 45444 qsoing
1655 1901 Batavier 45444 qsoing
1638 2200 Bluebird 55444 music programme
1645 2208 Witte Raaf45444 music programme
Observations
I made extra effort this morning to get up nice and early and have a good tune around on MW before the sun came up. So, out of bed at 0615, cup of tea in hand, I headed to the radio room to hear . . . silence! The band was empty, and a check of the SDR at Twente revealed the same at the Enschede listening post. Usually on a Sunday there is plenty of activity, but today, the opposite. After a little while there was some non-stop music on 1629, which turned out to be Polkaexpress, but nothing like the activity levels I was hoping for. I shall try again next week!
I've seen a few logs for Marconist but never heard the station - until today. Broadcasting from the Veluwe, his signal was arriving here quite well this morning
Thursday, February 1, 2018
1625 0600 Bootsman 24222-44444 music programme
1640 1820 Telefunken weak signal
1645 1821 Batavier 35443 music programme
1611 2003 Zwarte Boer33333 music programme
1638 2004 Nachtzwerver33433 qsoing
1665 2005 Meteoor 45434 music programme
1638 2006 Bluebird 55444-55555 music programme
1623 2015 Zwarte Panter (North NL) 22222-34333 music programme
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
1636 1816 Derdeman 35333-45444 music programme
1620 1816 Verona 23322-35443 music programme
1629 1825 Blauwe Panda34333-45444 music programme
1645 1834 Batavier 35444-45554 music programme
1665 1834 Zwarte Panter (North NL) 35443 music programme
1636 1900 Torpedojager (Twente)45333-45444 music programme
1636 2145 Noordzee 35333-45444 music programme
1625 2218 Pandora 55444 music programme
1625 2229 Monte Carlo45444 report for Pandora
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
1625 1834 Bonanza 55544-55555 qsoing
1629 1838 Moonbreaker 35333-45444 qsoing.
1620 1842 Rebel (Drenthe) 34443-22422 qsoing
1645 1847 Nachtrijder 25322 qsoing
1620 1858 Zwarte Arabier45434-55444 music programme
1630 1925 Malibu 24322-34333 music programme
1625 1937 Marianne 54444 music programme
1655 1957 Batavier 24222-35333
1665 1959 Digitaal 45434 music programme
1640 2005 Vader en ZoonCombinatie35333
1634 2213 Noordzee 35333-45444 report for Marianne
1629 2213 Monte Carlo35333-45444 report for Marianne
Observations
There was a super signal from Moonbreaker this evening on 1629 kHz, the best I have ever heard him. It seems he has made some changes to his earth part of the antenna. Take a listen to the reception:
The Vader en Zoon Combinatie were back on air again tonight, but this station remains a bit of a mystery. Interesting that while they were broadcasting there was another father and son active on the band - Malibu on 1630 and his dad Zwarte Arabier just a few kilohertz down on 1620!
Conditions have been very favourable in the last couple of weeks for tuning the Dutch pirates and I've managed to hear plenty of stations, including some new names. I've been recording some signals, too, which I will share with you, together with a video I made in the early hours of last Sunday morning while tuning about the band. And, I am able to share with you a video made in the studio of Radio Batavier recently while the station was on air. Have fun listening and watching - and catching up with my logs:
1640 1844 Vader en Zoon Combinatie33343-44444 music programme
1645 1846 Oldtimer 45434 music programme
1654 1849 Vrije Vogel23222 music programme
1625 2332 Pandora 55444 music programme
Observations
Another new name on the band this evening. 1640 kHz was the frequency and the station was Vader en Zoon Combinatie. Stations will often announced a location, and the city of Coevorden in the north-east of the Netherlands was given. As well as music, comedy clips were being played and the general sound seemed to suggest this station has arrived on MW from the FM scene. Let's hope we hear them again soon.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
1629 0709 Vriendschap 34443-44444 qsoing
1635 0712 Havanna 55555 qsoing
1635 0715 Kwiksilver 45434 qsoing
1629 0718 Edelkampioen 55544 qsoing
1627 0732 Palingvisserweak signal qsoing
1620 0734 Blauwe Piraat23322-34433 qsoing
16220738Kleine Jopieweak signal-24222 qsoing
Observations
I set the alarm clock for 0630 this morning and managed to drag myself to the radio for around 0700. Early on a Sunday morning is often a busy time for Dutch pirates. There is usually a station or two on air with a music programme and you can guarantee a qso will follow - this often involves a good number of stations. Today that number hit seven as operators chatted away following a programme from Edelkampioen, who was sending out his usual killer signal to the UK. As ever, Havanna was very strong, hitting the maximum sinpo of 55555. As well as the big signals there was some interest from some low-power operators. It's always nice to catch Blauwe Piraat, and his signal peaked up very nicely. Using less power, said to be 20 watts, was Kleine Jopie, who I have not heard for a long while, and there was a new name in Palingvisser (Eel Fisher). I don't have any more details about this station just yet, but I'll be listening for him again next Sunday morning and hopefully there will be some more information to give soon.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
1629 1800 Dolfijjn 34443-44444 music programme
1635 1800 Keizer en Keizerin35333 music programme
1645 1801 Casablanca (Twente)23422-34433 music programme
1625 1821 Pandora 44444 testing
1670 1830 Viking en Tante Foeke25222 music programme
1620 1838 Admiraal 33433 report for Pandora
1655 1855 Relmus 44444 music programme
1648 2350 Moby Dick44444 music programme
1621 0011 Turftrekker 55444 music programme
1665 0012 Polkaman 24222-35333 music programme 1633 0027 Jeneverstoker 34333 music programme
Friday, January 19, 2018
1629 1801 Mike 45444 testing
1653 1808 Batavier 35333 music programme
1620 1809 Musky 34333
1635 2206 Zwarte Panter from B4 studio 35333 music programme
1620 2208 Utopia 32432-44444 music programme
1645 2211 Meteoor 45444 testing
1629 2216 Noordzee 22322-34333 music programme
16202228Twentana 34333 music programme
Observations
There was a party in the Batavier studio tonight during a live broadcast on 1635 kHz and, with permission, I can share with you a film that was made during the transmission. So, enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the studio, transmitter and what goes on when a Dutch pirate is on air!
Sunday, January 14, 2018
16320649Kwiksilver 44444 qsoing
Saturday, January 13, 2018
1637 0659 Dikke Betta55444 qsoing
1620 0703 Eldorado 55444 music programme
1645 0704 Rocking Billy 35333 qsoing
1634 0707 Barcelona 55444 qsoing
1620 0825 Utopia 23432-34443 testing
1620 1554 Poema 35333-45444 music programme
1655 1601 Columbia 33333 music programme
1647 1614 Admiraal weak signal report for Columbia
1610 1616 Texas weak signal qsoing
1629 1626 Turftrekker 35323 report for Poema
1626 1632 Poema 35333-45444 qsoing
1620 1634 Desperado weak signal music programme
1629 1645 Edelkampioen 45434-55444 qsoing
1611 1806 Noordzee 35333 music programme
1647 1815 Nachtzwerver 24322 testing
1636 0009 Romax 33433-44444 qsoing
1648 0010 Moby Dick43433-44444 music programme
1655 0010 Wiite Raaf44433-44444 testing
1626 0012 Twentana 44433-44444 qsoing
1640 0012 Melkbus 24332 music programme
1647 0018 Jeneverstoker weak signal music programme
Friday, January 12, 2018
1645 1740 Friese Piraat35333 music programme
1629 1756 Dolfijn 34333-44444 music programme
1645 2215 Monte Carlo35333-45444 asking for report
1645 2325 Meteoor 44444 qsoing
1630 0025 Noordzee 34443-44444 qsoing
16360028Marskramer 35333 music programme
Thursday, January 11, 2018
1625 1739 Pandora 45444 music programme
1629 1833 Spakenburg 35333-45444 qsoing
1647 1841 Telefunken weak signal testing
1629 1846 Blauwe Panda25222 qsoing
1620 1851 Moonbreaker 32332 qsoing
1629 1858 Moonbreaker 35333-454444 music programme
1624 1901 Batavier 44444 music programme
1633 1904 Blauwe Panda24222 qsoing
1633 1921 Morgenster 25222-35333music programme
1655 2040 Digitaal 45444 qsoing
1665 2042 Meteoor 35333-45444 qsoing
1655 2052 Meteoor35333-45444 qsoing
16382205Bluebird 45444 music programme
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
1645 2000 Oldtimer 35443 music programme
1616 2006 Malibu 25332 testing with 65 watts
1690 2012 Digitaal 45444 testing
1655 2020 Wadloper 45434 testing new modulator
1636 2227 Vrolijke Mijnwerker55434 music programme
1645 2227 Ros Am45433-55544 testing close at 0042
1620 2231 Utopia 33433-44444 music programme
1630 2256 Noordzee 33333 testing
1641 2325 Casablanca 44444
Monday, January 8, 2018
1645 1900 Oldtimer 35333-45444 music programme
1654 1902 Vrijevogel weak signal music programme
1636 2225 Vrolijke MIjnwerker55434 music programme
1620 2227 Mi Amigo33333-34443 music programme
1647 2230 Batavia 25222 music programme
1650 2234 Monte Carlo23222-34443 music programme (antenna low)
Sunday, January 7, 2018
1629 0600 Mike 45434 music programme
1620 1743 Polka Express25222-35333 music programme
1621 1855 Orion 25222-35333 report for Polka Express
Saturday, January 6, 2018
1620 1645 Technical Man34333-44444 music programme
1629 1645 Edelkampioen 55444-55555 music programme
1646 1648 Zwarte Bizon35333 qsoing
1635 1711 Keizer en Keizerin 24222-34333 music programme
1655 1711 Columbia 34333 testing amplifier
1656 1756 Digitaal 35333-45444 report for Paradiso
1621 1838 Turftrekker 44444 music programme
1656 1844 Klabautermannweak signal music programme
1620 1902 Moonbreaker 35333 music programme
1645 1903 Friese Piraat35333 report for Edelkampioen
1611 1952 Twentana 34333-44444 music programme
1621 2200 Turftrekker 44444 music programme
1655 2259 Dinkelland 45444 testing
1615 2300 Bluebird 44444 music programme
1626 2301 Uniek 33433-44444 music programme
1630 2303 Zwarte Panter from B4 studio 34333-44444 music show
1611 2309 Utopia 33433-44444 report for Twentana
1637 2313 Digitaal 45434 music programme
1636 0057 Vrolijke Mijnwerker 55444 music programme
Rewind to this time last year as we began 2017. I reported here that during the previous 12 months I had heard 167 Dutch MW pirate stations at our location in England, a figure that included a few operating with second names and the odd one from over the border in Germany. At the end of January 2017 I wrote how during that single month I had monitored broadcasts from 101 pirates - 98 individual operators - and speculated that perhaps by the end of 2017 I might have hit a double-century. I might not have reached 200 Dutch MW pirates, but an examination of my logs for the year reveals 172 names on the list, just topping the total for the previous year and not far away from the 185 stations I heard during 2015. Given the upsurge in activity from the Dutch authorities and their campaign to silence illegal broadcasters on AM, this figure is very impressive and suggests the scene is still thriving. Sure, we don't have anywhere near the amount of stations broadcasting what we used to call 'international music programmes' - a mix of music from across the ages with announcements in English aimed at an audience overseas; there are plenty of stations concentrating solely on what has often been labelled 'agricultural music'; there are some stations who broadcast only to test equipment that have made for other pirates, and there are some who use the band just for qsoing. However, there is no denying that interest certainly remains at a decent level in the Netherlands for switching on an illicit transmitter every now and again and having a chat with another operator or playing some music. How many people are actually listening to these broadcasts is an interesting subject. I was talking recently to Radio Barones about this. He is of the opinion that it's a small list of listeners, most of whom can be found lurking in the well-used pirate chatroom. I like to think, however, that there is a band of people out there who remain hidden, subterranean and never revealing their identity, but tuning in to these pirate broadcasts in the very true sense of the word 'pirate'. In fact, I know somebody who fits into this category. His favourite station is actually Radio Barones and he's been listening for many years, often making recordings, but never contacting the station and making himself known. I hope there are many other people like this and I have a hunch there are. And so to the list of pirates I heard in England during 2017. Have a browse and see how many you recognise . . .
Adje Van Der Steur
Admiraal
Akenzo
Alabama
Alaska
Alice
Alpenjager (Groningen)
Anton
Arizona
Armada
Atlantic
Atletico
Bandoeng
Barcelona
Barones
Batavia
Batavier
Bizon
Blackstone
Blauwe Daihatsu
Blauwe Koe
Blauwe Panda
Blauwe Piraat
Bluebird
Bootsman
Brandaris
Brugwachter
Capri
Carona
Casablanca (Emmen)
Casablanca (Twente)
Centurion
Charlie Brown
Columbia
Curacau
Dageraad
Daniel en Soto
De Kat
Derdeman
Desperado
Digitaal
Dikke Betta
Dinkelland
Dolfijn
Drukstroomjager
Edelkampioen
Eldorado
Electron
Eskimo
Friese Piraat
Golfbreker
Havanna
Horizon
Ijsselstein
Interpol
Jack Sparrow
JB
Jeneverstoker
Johan
Jonge Boer
Johnny Camaro
Kaaiman
Kachel Boer
Kamelen Boer
Keizer en Keizerin
Kooiplas
Kristal
Kruik
Loreley
Lotus
Malibu
Marianne
Marskramer
Melkbus
Meteoor
Mi Amigo
Mike
Moby Dick
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Monza
Moonbreaker
Morgen Ster
Moscou
Musky
Nachtzwerver
Napoleon
Noorderzon
Noordzee
Odynn
Oldtimer
Oliebollen
Bakkers
Omega
Orion
Osaka
OSM
Paradiso
Pecon
Pereboom
Pioneer
Polidor
Polkaman
Pontiac
Professor Sickbok
Quintus
Rebecca
Rebel (Drenthe)
Rebel (Friesland)
Reintje
de Vos
Relmus
Rode Rover
Rodester
Romax
Ros Am
Ruimzicht
Ruisbreker
Sallandseboer
Sapporo
Santana
Schaduwjager
Schorpioen
Scotland
Silvia
Skywire
Snowman
Spakenburg
Spanningzoeker
Speedygonzales
en Mexicano
Skywire
Sterrekijker
Sterrenboog
Technical Man
Telefunken
Torpedojager (North-west Overijjsel)
Torpedojager (Twente)
Toulouse
Transparant
Turfsteker
Turftrekker
Twentana
Uitzendkracht
Uniek
Uruguay
Utopia
Veldwachter
Verona
Veronica
Viking en Tante Foek
Voice Of The Netherlands
Vonkenboer
Vriendschap
Vrij Drenthe
Vrijevogel
Vrolijke Mijnwerker
Wadloper
Waterman
Weduwe
Wegpiraat
Wilskracht
Witte Raaf
Witte Tornado
Yogi Bear en Einstein
Zeewolf
Zonnester
Zwarte Arabier
Zwarte Bizon
Zwarte BMW
Zwarte Boer
Zwarte Bouvier
Zwarte Panter (North Holland)
Zwarte Panter (Oldenzaal)
Zwarte Schaduw There you have it - a bumper year for the Dutch MW pirates. If you've got more to add to the list, perhaps some recordings that we could use on the blog, or any questions, please get in touch. You can email as ever, and you can find us on Facebook and Twitter
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