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With the weekend just hours away here in the U.S., time to consider a check over the next couple of evenings for pirate radio activity on shortwave radio. I usually begin checking by about 2200-2300 UTC, and they may pop up late into the wee hours.While ocassionally a operator may announce via an email newsgroup he's about to begin programming, or may currently be "on the air." It is rare though, that a pirate radio operator will stick to a regimented broadcast schedule. You may hear pirates during the week, though most broadcast on weekends and major holidays. With that in mind, there may be special programming into Monday's Jan. 19 U.S. national holiday on Sunday and Monday evening.
Pirates usually can be found anywhere from 6925 kHz, (AM or USB) plus or minus 30-40 kHz, so a slow bandscan may bring some results. In recent weeks, DXers have logged Captain Morgan, Northwoods Radio, Random Radio, Wolverine Radio, WTPR (Tire Pressure Radio), Voice of the Abnormal, Tangerine Radio, Radio Morania, Old Turkey Radio, and WMR (We Monkeys Radio).
As for reception reports to pirate radio station, some have begun including their email address during the broadcast, while others may request posting your log at the Free Radio Network website at http://www.frn.net/ Others will give their "maildrop address" during the broadcast, so don't forget to include three first class stamps for US maildrops or $ 2.00US. I always unclude a self-addressed-envelope too.
US pirate operators are currently using the following maildrop addresses:
P.O. Box 1, Belfast, NY 14711
P.O. Box 109, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214
P.O. Box 146, Stoneham, MA 02180
P.O. Box 293, Merlin, Ontario NoP 1W0 Canada
Good luck on your search for the bizarre! Let me know how bizarre things get from your listening post.
Gayle Van Horn
A selection of logs from Free Radio Weekly # 674
All times UTC
Radio Azteca 6925USB *1650-1722* 1/1/09 SIO 242. Bram Stoker with his typical program of humor about DXing. Said to be Program #28. Long segment about Monique the mailwoman. Says that he did not hear from George Zeller or Ron Hunzinger this time. Top 10 nicknames for Bill Clinton. Mr. Rogers discusses pooping. Cameo ID by Jack Boggan of WLIS. Plenty of audio bridges from the Rocky and Bullwinkle show as usual. Belfast addr. (Zeller-OH)
WBNY 6924.8 AM 01/06/09 21:32-22:17 SINPO 43333. Monkey whisperer Program came on after WDDR sign off. WBNY New years show and Ragnar's Monkey Shuffle programs followed. (Ragnar-MI
Euro pirate activity
6317: Radio Blue Boy (tent) heard at 1330 with non-stop schlager, no IDs heard. Fair signal but poor modulation. SINPO 34433.
http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/
Radio Ramona pirate shortwave
You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzExiybAETg
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3905: Cupid Radio (via Netherlands) playing rock music at 2120. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.(http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/)
Cupid Radio at You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkSXbcK-GLc&NR=1
Pirate Radio Alfa Lima International
You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JSDY9jilTc&feature=related
The day the BBC's ship came in
Article in The Guardian newspaper, London, about offshore radio and the BBC, tying in the release of the film The Ship That Rocked later this year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/12/radio-bbc-pirate-stations
http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/
Pirate QSLs
Radio Shadowman, (via Netherlands) 6300 KHz, confirm with e-QSL in 15
days. Report with audio file sent via email at: radioshadow...@hotmail.com
Pic available here:
http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/6309689.html
(Francesco/playdx2003)
Channel Z: 6925 Full data very nice color pirate ship QSL. Said 20 watts via homemade Commando transmitter. Veri-signer Z. In seven days for an e-mail report. Thanks! Nice to actually get a hardcopy QSL through the mail again (Yoder,PA)
Radio Quintus: 6300 date/freq. only eQSL sheet & “photo card.” 200 watts from Rohde & Schwartz SK010 ex-German military transmitter. In only 4 days for e-mail report. Thanks! (Yoder,PA)
(Andrew Yoder/Cumbre DX)