Sun March 15

3890: Free Radio Victoria (pres) @ 0900. Barely audible but Iann logged it earlier. SINPO 24332.

3910: Skyline International Radio playing the song "Borderline" @ 0850. SINPO 34333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing the Carpenters @ 0855. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

5815: Orion Radio with polka @ 0845. SINPO 44433.

6140: European Music Radio via Wertachal signing on @ 1300 with the song "Yellow River" before the final parts of the Radio Jackie story. SINPO 44444.

6205: Radio Suzuki faded in @ 1010, heard with oldies. SINPO 34333.

6210: Misti Radio with IDs and playing oldies @ 0945. Weak-fair signal. SINPO 24332.

6210: Radio Scotland Int heard asking for QSO @ 1040. SINPO 44433.

6265: Antonio Radio with rock @ 0945. SINPO 34333.

6290: Radio Saturnus playing instrumental music @ 0940, some utility QRM. SINPO 33333.

6300: Radio Playback Int moved from 6310, with JJ live playing "Lust for Life" @ 1415. Good signal. SINPO 44433. To hear recording click here

6310: Radio Playback Int with Chris Ise playing "Walking in the Rain" @ 1230. Said in parallel with 6850, which was not heard here at this time. SINPO 34333.

6400: Radio Doctor Tim @ 1405 heard talking. Weak signal with fair peaks. Frequency quite noisy. SINPO 24332. Also heard @ 1440 playing old programme of Starclub Radio. SINPO 34333.

6524: Radio Ramona playing the song "The Heat Is On" @ 1017. Weak signal with fair peaks. SINPO 24332.

6850: Radio Playback Int with oldies @ 0840. SINPO 34333.

6870: Radio Playback Int with the song "No More I Love You" @ 1710. SINPO 34333.

Sat March 14

1620: Radio Technische Man @ 2335. SINPO 34333.
1636: Radio Napoleon @ 2355, some co-channel QRM. SINPO 33333.
1666: Klaas Snoek Radio with QSO @ 2340. SINPO 44333.

3905: Radio Fox 48 playing "Living on a Prayer" @ 1805. Fair sgnal. SINPO 34333.

3932: Bogusman heard @ 1910 talking about the snow the UK had last month and playing alternative music. SINPO 44433.

4025: Laser Hot Hits with Martin Scott playing dance music @ 0845, some SSB QRM. SINPO 33333.

6210: Misti Radio playing "House of the Rising Sun" @ 1200. Weak-fair signal. SINPO 24332.

6325: Radio Monte Carlo heard @ 1100 with instrumental music and IDs, then playing Abba "SOS." Fair-good signal. SINPO 44333.

6376: Radio Dutchwing with IDs and playing the song "Please Don't Go" @ 1105. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6426: Studio 52 heard @ 1640 playing A Flock of Seagulls. SINPO 34433.

6850: Radio Playback Int with "Heaven is a Place on Earth" @ 1655. Fair signal now. SINPO 34333.

Fri Mar 13

3900: Antonio Radio with schlager @ 2015. SINPO 34333.

3905: ROZ heard @ 2050 with a weak signal, music just audible on peaks above the noise. SINPO 24332. Better signal at sign off at 2245 but Russian SSB QRM. SINPO 33433.

3930: Voice of the Netherlands with dance music @ 2250, good signal. SINPO 44333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard playing oldies @ 2020. Not as good signal as previous evenings. SINPO 34333.

Greek pirates

MONITORAGGIO ONDE MEDIE ZONA COSTIERA TARANTO by F. PATRONO

Ciao! This is a list of all the radio stations that can be received in medium and long waves (mw-lw) in Lama (Taranto) in "La Battaglia" zone and in Marina di Lizzano (Taranto) in "le Conche" zone, in the Apulia region, southern Italy, made by Francesco Patrono from Lama (Taranto).(Coordinate) 40 23' 31" North , 17 26' 54" East.

(this is Francesco's observations of Greek pirates)

1620 Radio Ouranio Toxo (Greek pirate from Larisa)
1626 Radiofonikos Stathmos Delta (unidentified Greek pirate)
1630 Radio Asteras (Greek pirate from Kilkis)

Here were received also, periodically, on a frequency included besides 1800 and 1825 kilohertz, in the amount of time between 0430 and 0500 a.m. Italian time [0330-0400 UT], some Morse signals very fast and looped (probably other beacons?) and sometimes, besides a frequency of circa 1720 kilohertz, at 0315 a.m. local Italian time, some short communications in Greek language; probably these are fishermans.

The stations reported in the list from 1620 kilohertz and beyond are three pirate Greek radio stations that cover without obstacles all the Mediterranean area and the northern Europe. In this list we have mentioned only three of them but there are a lot of stations similar like these and is quite impossible to identify them one by one.

It depends on the fact that these are not the "radio stations" in the classical sense of the word, but are some radio amateurs equipped with high power and high watt transmitters. Moreover, very often these radio amateurs use the QSO technique; it consists in broadcasting on a determinate frequency (for example 1630 kilohertz) for determinate hours (for example from 0100 to 0400) and then they turn off to allow other radio amateur friends of them to activate their transmitters and to start broadcasting with their station on the same frequency.

Some stations broadcast only music and are "no name" stations, some others use a name and some others still give a mobile phone number so that listeners can request their songs or communicate their QSL reports. Usually, the music proposed by these station is common Greek music (e.g. rembetika, sirtaki, laika and so on) but sometimes there are also amazing disco dance mixes and European 80's rock and pop music. It is possible to receive these stations only with a receiver suitable for x-band scanning (range from 1620 to 1750 kilohertz approx.) from dusk until early dawn.

(F. Patrono, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD)

Thurs March 12

1660: Radio Relmus heard @ 2140 with ID in English, thanks for greeting, playing country music. SINPO 34333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing dance music @ 2120. Good signal. SINPO 44333.

6221: Unid station with a weak signal heard @ 0955, SSB QRM. SINPO 23432.

Wed March 11

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 2100 with Martin Scott playing dance tunes. Good signal but utility QRM. SINPO 43333.

Tues Mar 10

4025: Laser Hot Hits really blasting in, S9+10dB @ 1955, playing rock music. SINPO 54444.

6210: Misti Radio heard @ 0935 with polka and oldies. Fair signal - not bad for only 8 watts! SINPO 34333.

Radio North DX test from Ireland

Radio North in Co. Donegal, Eire is to make a DX test as follows.

DATE: Sunday morning March 15th 2009
TIME: 0200-0600 UT inclusive. There will be voice IDs and CW slow speed IDs every 30m on the hour and on the half hour during their normal overnight music. There will be frequent jingle IDs thrown in between times as well.
FREQ: 846 kHz
MODE OF OPERATION: The station runs 1 kW, and music will hopefully consist of better known pop / oldies.

QSL INFORMATION: Radio North will verify with full data QSL's for this broadcast. E mail address to be announced later this weekend hopefully.

(via Nick Hall-Patch, Victoria, BC, IRCA mailing list via DX Listening Digest)

This is one obviously aimed at North American listeners. Radio North is an unlicensed station broadcasting from the far north of the Republic of Ireland

Mon March 9

3910: Skyline Radio Int heard @ 1735 with polka, co-channel QRM. SINPO 43433.

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing the song "Rock n Roll Dreams Come True" @ 1825. Good signal but some CW QRM and noise level quite high. SINPO 43333.

6210: Misti Radio moved @ 1210 to avoid QRM. SINPO 24332.

6240: Misti Radio with oldies @ 1200, weak signal and some utility QRM. SINPO 23332.

6291: Unid station with religious-type music @ 1105. Weak signal suffering utility QRM. SINPO 23332.

Another offshore radio feature

Another long and interesting article in today's Observer newspaper by Simon Garfield:

The mid 1960s saw an extraordinary explosion of British pop music but the only radio stations broadcasting it were based on 'pirate' ships, like Radio Caroline, anchored off the coast. In his new film The Boat That Rocked, Richard Curtis replays those heady days when music, fashion and youth were redefining British culture. Here, the original pirate DJs revisit their vivid lives of sex, drugs... and music.

Long interview with Johnnie Walker, as well as some quotes from Tom Lodge, Tony Prince and Ronan O'Rahilly:

For full story go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/ 2009/mar/08/pirate-radio-johnnie-walker

(via Mike Barraclough, radioanoraksuk)

Latvia relay project on hold

The Latvian 9290 khz (low powered 10kw) relay project that was due to return to the air in February 2009 is now on hold until later this year as the financial crisis has affected the station.

Let us hope the 9290 khz relay returns later this year.

73s
Tom

(via Tom Taylor)

Sun March 8

3910: Skyline International Radio with polka and ID @ 0845, low modulation. SINPO 34333.

3932: Bogusman heard @ 1925 playing They Might Be Giants and talking about buying records in charity shops. Great signal. SINPO 44444.

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 1115 with dance music. Good signal but some fading. SINPO 44433.

5815: Orion Radio playing "Bad Moon Rising" @ 0840. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

5815: Shortwave Cowboys heard @ 1015 playing "Hungry Heart," giving out email address. SINPO 34333.

6140: Bluestar Radio via Wertachtal signing on @ 1300 and playing a Dutch version of "Una Paloma Blanca." Strong signal - S9+20dB. SINPO 55544.

6210: Radio Geronimo Shortwave with Dave Scott giving out a free radio brainteaser. Good audio. Fair-good signal @ 0850 but faded out after 0900. SINPO 34433.

6210: Time Radio with oldies @ 1020. SINPO 34333.

6215: Radio King Shortwave (tent) with rock @ 0930, splash from Mystery. SINPO 23332.

6220: Mystery Radio with pop @ 0935. SINPO 34433.

6240: Misti Radio (tent) with pop @ 0910, utility QRM. SINPO 33333.

6240: Delta Radio with oldies and jingle ID @ 1005, co-channel with Misti Radio. SINPO 33433.

6255: Unid station playing instrumental music @ 1120 then Nena "99 Luftballons" before closing down. SINPO 44444.

6265: Antonio Radio with Dutch songs @ 0915. SINPO 44433.

6282: Radio Zodiac heard with IDs and playing rock music @ 1035. Fair signal with fading. SINPO 34433.

6285: Radio Borderhunter playing "Down Bring Me Down" @ 0900. Usual excellent signal and audio. SINPO 54444.

6300: Radio Merlin with rock music @ 1135 and finally fading in here. SINPO 34433.

6307: Radio Skywire with rock, ID and off @ 1000. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6310: Radio Condor with dance music @ 0905. SINPO 34333.

6310: Radio Malaisy playing pop @ 1250 - very similar in style to Mystery. Fair-good signal. SINPO 34433.

6325: Radio Mia with a weak signal, just caught ID @ 1145. SINPO 24332.

6380: Premier Radio Int back on the air, heard @ 0855 playing Status Quo "Down Down" followed by jingle ID. Off shortly after 0900. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

6524: Radio Delta Lima playing "Yes Sir I Can Boogie" @ 0925. SINPO 34333.

6850: Radio Playback Int playing rock @ 0920. SINPO 34333.

Sat March 7

3900: Radio Skyline Int heard @ 1800 with 60s music and ID. SINPO 43333. Also heard @ 1810 in QSO with Sallandse Boer.

3905: Voice of the Netherlands playing bagpipe music @ 1735. Good signal, some SSB QRM. SINPO 43433. By 1750, SSB stopped signal peaking at S9+10dB.

3924: Radio Fox 48 heard @ 1845, signal just above the noise level. SINPO 24332.

4025: Laser Hot Hits back on the air. Heard @ 1740 with a Big Audio Dynamite song. It's the first time I've heard on shortwave for two months so good to have them back. SINPO 44444.

6202: Unid station playing Dutch songs @ 1400, off at 1405 with no ID. SINPO 44444.

6205: Radio Suzuki with oldies @ 1055, testing new sound processor. SINPO 34333.

6215: Radio King SW (tent) with music @ 1000. Poor conditions - could just hear music on peaks. SINPO 24332.

6220: Mystery Radio with a live programme presented by Chris Ise playing dance music @ 1820 and giving out email address. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

6240: Misti Radio with oldies and polka, utility QRM. Heard at 0835 with SINPO 33433.

6282: Radio Black Power heard @ 1230 playing the song "Lessons in Love." Good signal - possibly station heard earlier on 6285. SINPO 44444.

6285: Unid station playing Abba @ 1045. Good signal but off a few minutes later with no ID. SINPO 44444.

6310: Radio Condor with dance music @ 0915. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6325: Radio Lowland heard @ 1415 playing oldies, asking for QSO. Fair-good signal. SINPO 33433.

6375: Radio Monte Carlo with oldies @ 1025. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

6376: Radio Dutchwing playing polka @ 0925, some problems with the mic. SINPO 34333.

6850: Radio Playback Int heard @ 1715 with a live programme presented by JJ, playing oldies. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

9510: Radio Joystick via IRRS with dance music @ 0930. SINPO 43433.

Fri March 6

1620: Radio Titanic heard @ 1915 with ID in English and giving out hotline number, playing schlager. SINPO 34333.

1653: unid station with polka @ 1930, QRM from another Dutch station on 1655. SINPO 33333.

1662: Radio Boomerang playing dance music @ 2130 followed by ID. SINPO 34333.

1663: Radio Klaas Snoek with report for Boomerang @ 2145. SINPO 34333.

1665: Radio Relmus with schlager @ 1925. SINPO 34333.

Ofcom calls for crackdown

Ofcom in the UK have called for a renewed crackdown on illegal broadcasters and pirate radio stations claiming that their signals can risk lives by interfering with emergency service frequencies and block legitimate stations.

According to Ofcom figures, there are more than 150 pirate radio stations operating across the UK, half of which operate in London and the South East of England.

Read the full story at:

http://radiotoday.co.uk/news. php?extend.4467

(Radio Today via Mike Terry, radioanoraksuk)

Most of these are found on FM, with the majority in London

Two more pirate radio features

A couple more reports from the BBC:

Pirate radio "puts lives at risk"
Includes a video report on an actual raid.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/technology/7919748.stm

The pirates' view of pirate radio, includes two video reports
different to the police raid one on the previous story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/technology/7920067.stm

(via Mike Barraclough, radioanoraksuk)

Tues March 3

3900: Radio Skyline heard @ 1925 with oldies. Good signal. Also heard @ 2011 with report to Boomerang. SINPO 44433.

3900: Radio Boomerang with a strong signal @ 2000 giving report to Radio Noorderlicht. SINPO 54444.

3903: Voice of the Netherlands with a very short report @ 2021. SINPO 44433.

6240: Misti Radio playing Meat Loaf @ 0935, occasional utility QRM. SINPO 33433.

Police track rise of pirate radio

Pirate radio stations are booming across the UK, but so are police efforts to catch the perpetrators.

Some 707 stations were raided in 2007, with 881 targeted in 2008, and police say they have a 100% conviction rate.

Read the full story at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/uk/7920241.stm

(via Mike Terry, radioanoraksuk)

Another Boat That Rocked Trailer

A second trailer has been released for the forthcoming film The Boat That Rocked. See it on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb0LX7BrbBQ

Here are the release dates:
UK 3 April 2009; Australia 9 April 2009; Germany 16 April 2009; Netherlands 16 April 2009; Austria 17 April 2009; Denmark 17 April 2009; Finland 17 April 2009; Norway 17 April 2009; Sweden 17 April 2009; Belgium 22 April 2009; France 22 April 2009; Russia 30 April 2009; Argentina 28 May 2009; Brazil 29 May 2009; Spain 29 May 2009; Turkey 19 June 2009

Also Known As: Merirosvoradio Finland; Radio Encubierta Spain; Radio Rock Revolution Austria (dubbed version)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1131729/releaseinfo

Described as "A period comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960s."

(via Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD)

No release date for the USA and Canada yet, but I'm sure it will follow.

Sun Mar 1

3900: Radio Fox 48 playing techno @ 1755. Just audible under the noise. SINPO 24232.

3901: Bluestar Radio with schlager @ 1715. SINPO 34333.

3930: Lady Continental and Bluestar Radio with schlager @ 2130, woman talking in Dutch. Good signal. SINPO 44333.

5800: Orion Radio heard @ 0845 with "The Voice" by John Farnham. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

5800: Shortwave Cowboys after Orion signed off with ID @ 0955 and playing Nena. SINPO 34333.

5815: Radio PCN playing Boney M @ 1305. SINPO 34333.

6140: MV Baltic Radio via Wertachtal signing on and playing rock music. SINPO 54444.

6205: Radio Paardenkracht playing the Rolling Stones @ 0850. SINPO 34433.

6220: Mystery Radio with pop @ 0855. SINPO 44444.

6220: Radio Marabu via Mystery Radio with Louis Armstrong @ 0950. SINPO 34433.

6240: Misti Radio with oldies @ 0900, some utility QRM. SINPO 23432.

6250: Delta Radio playing the Bangles @ 0915, co-channel utility QRM. SINPO 33433.

6265: Antonio Radio with 60s music @ 0905. SINPO 44433.

6282: Radio Borderhunter with a long summer meeting promo @ 1010, strong signal. SINPO 54444.

6285: Radio Scotland heard playing instrumental music @ 1210, jingle ID and off at 1225. SINPO 44444.

6291: Radio Cochiguaz moved from 6308, heard @ 1015 with IDs in Spanish, pan pipe music, utility QRM and some splash from Borderhunter. Fair peaks but deep fades. SINPO 23432.

6297: Delta Radio heard playing rock @ 1420. Fair-good signal but deep fades. SINPO 33433.

6300: Unid station heard @ 1030 with pop. Moved to 6295 @ 1035. SINPO 54444. Possibly Boomerang.

6300: Radio Merlin faded in @ 1140, playing The Ruts "Babylon Burning." SINPO 44433.

6308: Radio Cochiguaz heard briefly @ 0910 with ID by woman in Spanish and South American music. Faded down again. SINPO 24332. Probably via relay in Europe.

6310: Radio Condor playing dance music @ 1055, god signal but co-channel QRM from weaker station. SINPO 43443.

6310: Delta Lima Radio (tent) playing non-stop oldies @ 1135. SINPO 34333. Condor signed off.

6310: Radio Malaisy with dance music, splash from 6313. SINPO 43433.

6314: Radio Alice heard @ 1410 playing French polka, heard @ 1430 on 6313. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

6370: Unid station with polka @ 1440, underneath strong utility. SINPO 23432. Maybe Brigitte?

6425: Free Radio Victoria playing oldies, including "Pretty Flamingo" @ 0940. SINPO 34333. ID heard @ 1030, greeting Jaroslav, utility QRM at this time. SINPO 33333.

6880: Radio Playback International's signal struggling @ 1730. Heard with weak signal, playing oldies, PBI jingles. SINPO 23332.