Once a radio pirate, today a radio teacher

Ian MacRae worked on Radio Caroline during 1966 and 1967 when British offshore radio was at the height of its popularity. In a recent review of “The Boat that Rocked”, he took issue with how the movie portrayed this famous pirate broadcasting operation. Today he’s a “floater” for 2UE radio in Sydney, Australia and runs the Ian MacRae Radio School.

Read the interview with Corey Deitz of About.com

(info via Radio Netherlands Media Network)

Sun July 5

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing Ottawan "DISCO" @ 0735, strong signal. SINPO 54444.

5800: Radio Geronimo heard with oldies @ jingles @ 0910. SINPO 34333.

5810: Radio Orion & Radio Tina with Blondie "Denis Denis" @ 0740 - SINPO 34333.

5810: Radio Telstar South came on after Orion signed off, heard briefly @ 0937 with the Golden Boys but off (faded out?) a few minutes later. SINPO 54444.

6140: MV Baltic Radio via Wertachtal signing on @ 0900 in German and English followed by German song. SINPO 55444.

6210: Radio Paardenkracht heard @ 0745 playing "The Twist" and IDs. SINPO 34333.

6210: Radio Orion and Radio Tina playing Abba "Does Your Mother Know" @ 1140. Fair signal but some fading. SINPO 34433.

6220: Mystery Radio playing the Human League @ 0805, followed by a Radio Marabu programme. SINPO 34333.

6265: Radio 48 heard @ 0950 playing Alice Copper "School's Out," talking about relay of Underground, but signal faded out again a few minutes later. SINPO 34333.

6285: Antonio Radio with Dutch songs @ 0810. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

6289: Radio Mustang with dance music and IDs @ 1340, deep fades and some utility QRM. SINPO 33333.

6310: Grensstad Radio heard talking about summer meeting, playing song "Love Is All" @ 0930, occasional strong SSB QRM. SINPO 33333.

6310: Sonnet Radio moved here @ 2103, still good signal, playing T Rex and David Bowie. SINPO 44444.

6325: Sonnet Radio playing Wang Chung "Dancehall Days" @ 2050. Signal just faded in and now peaking at S9+10dB. SINPO 44433.

6327: Summer Meeting Radio back on the air this morning, playing "Under the Moon of Love" @ 0800. SINPO 34333.

6425: Radio Pionier playing Creedence Clearwater Revival @ 0750, followed by jingle ID. SINPO 34333.

6870: Radio Playback Int heard @ 2040 playing "Voyage Voyage." Good signal but some fading. SINPO 44333.

6925u: Spider Radio with oldies @ 2025. SINPO 24332.

Sat July 4

3898: Radio Piepzender with Dutch music @ 1805, in parallel with station's web stream. SINPO 33333.

3902: Radio Sallandse Boer with Dutch songs, ID @ 2135. SINPO 44333.

3912: Radio Festivum (tent) heard @ 2040 with easy listening music, giving email address. SINPO 33333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 0745 playing Michael Jackson "You're Not Alone." Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

5810: Radio Telstar South playing 60s music @ 0920. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

5825: Radio Rapido (pres) @ 0750 with "Show Me the Way To Go." Fair signal. SINPO 34433.

6220: Mystery Radio & Playback International with Soft Cell "Tainted Love" @ 1755. SINPO 34333.

6265: Radio Underground via Radio 48 with talk about US pirates and reading free radio logs (from this site) @ 0755. SINPO 34433.

6265: Radio 48 heard @ 1135 playing Deep Purple and talking about sunspots. SINPO 34333.

6310: Grensstad Radio @ 1150 playing oldies. Weak signal with fair peaks, ID. SINPO 24332.

6325: Radio Monte Carlo heard @ 1540, weak signal with fading. Closed down soon after. SINPO 24332.

6327: Summer Meeting Radio from the Dutch summer meeting heard @ 1820 with IDs, hotline and email address, playing techno music, then Queen "We Will Rock You." SINPO 34333. To hear recording click here

6870: Radio Playback Int/Mystery Radio playing "Being With You" @ 2050 - running a minute behind 6220. SINPO 44333.

9510: Radio Joystick via IRRS @ 0810 playing Phil Collins. SINPO 34433.

Fri July 3

3890: Free Radio Victoria heard @ 2200 playing A-Ha "I Call Your Name," ID with email address. SINPO 34333.

3905: Radio Orion & Radio Tina heard @ 1900 with polka. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

3912: Radio Festivum heard @ 2140 with more from Grand Auto Theft. Unid station from previous logs on 3910/11. Audio much better. SINPO 43333. ID from Iann's chat.

3940: Radio Underground heard @ 1845 with talk about analogue switch-off in UK. Fair-good signal but still whistle from station on 3939. Good signal but deep fades. SINPO 43433.

4025: Laser Hot Hits with excellent signal tonight. Heard @ 1855 with Florider "Sugar," talking about the heat. SINPO 54444.

5810: Radio Telstar South with the Golden Boys playing Earth & Fire @ 2020. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

5825: Radio Rapido (pres) heard @ 2155 with oldies. In the clear now - after being sandwiched between strong stations on 5820 & 5830 an hour earlier. Some utility QRM. SINPO 33333.

6220: Mystery Radio with oldies and jingles @ 1835. SINPO 34333.

6240: Radio Dancemodulation heard @ 2040 with dance music, fair signal but noisy. SINPO 34333.

6265: Radio Underground heard with talk about the summer meeting @ 2025. SINPO 34333.

6320: Classic Hits Radio heard testing @ 2045, playing Starship "We Built This City," off few minutes later. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6925u: Spider Radio with oldies @ 2045. SINPO 24332.

Thurs July 2

3905: Radio Fox 48 with rock n roll @ 2145. Lot of static crashes tonight. SINPO 34333. (via Bedford web receiver)

3910: Unid station with soul music @ 2200, sounded like American accents so possible relay. Audio quite bassy. SINPO 34333. (via Bedford web receiver)

3940: Radio Underground heard @ 1955 going through free radio logs, giving out contact details. Fair-good signal but whistle from co-channel station. SINPO 33433. Thanks for the plug!

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing song by the Veronicas @ 1940. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

6220: Mystery Radio/Playback International @ 1945 playing the song "Whodunnit." Live show in parallel with 6870. Good signal but splash from RTE on 6225.

6870: Radio Playback Int in parallel with 6220 @ 1950, playing Shania Twain. Slightly weaker and noisier signal. SINPO 34333.

Area 51 pirate programmes on WBCQ

In the event that you might not know, Area 51 is a program dedicated to pirate programming. This is one of the few place where the ops can get their programming out and not violate any federal laws. This is a great place to hear a lot of different ops in the same place! So, if you are even remotely interested check it out! Well worth our attention and support!

Keep a close eye on the Area 51 program schedule for up to the minute changes and additions. Thanks for all your support. Lw Thanks,

(Mike and good DXing! Rohde, Columbus OH, June 10, NASWA yg via WORLD OF RADIO 1465, DX Listening Digest)

Details on www.wbcq.com and www.worldmicroscope.com

This week on air on 5110 kHz:

• Sunday, 6-8PM eastern United States time (2200-0000 UTC)
• Monday-Friday, 8-10PM eastern United States time (0000-0200 UTC)
• Saturday, 6-9PM eastern United States time (2200-0100 UTC)

Another chance in Europe to hear some of those US pirates!

Wed July 1

3895: Voice of the Netherlands @ 2040 with dance music. String signal. SINPO 54444.

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing the song "One Word" @ 1930. SINPO 44444.

6220: Mystery Radio/Playback Int with a live programme hosted by JJ playing an instrumental tune @ 1925. SINPO 44444.

6310: Cool AM with weak signal @ 2055, heavy static making reception difficult. SINPO 23232.

6870: Radio Playback Int @ 2035 with a US country music show. Good signal. SINPO 44333.

6925u: Spider Radio heard @ 2045 playing Mike Oldfield. SINPO 24332.

Tues June 30

3900: Radio Walrus heard @ 2055 playing "I Am the Walrus." Noisy signal. SINPO 24332. (via Bedford web receiver)

3905: Radio Fox 48 with rock n roll @ 2045. Fair signal. SINPO 33333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits with Tony James playing Kim Wilde "Cambodia" @ 1800. SINPO 54444.

6220: Mystery Radio playing "Smoke on the Water" @ 1745 before JJ came on live at 1755. Fair signal but improving. SINPO 34333.

6925u: Spider Radio with oldies @ 2040, weak signal. SINPO 24332.

Mon June 29

4025: Laser Hot Hits paying tribute to Michael Jackson with Martin Scott playing the song "Leave Me Alone" @ 1850, followed by the Jacksons "Can You Feel It?". SINPO 44433.

6220: Mystery Radio with a live programme @ 1845, giving out email address, playing pop - a version of "Right on Time." SINPO 44433.

6925u: Spider Radio with a weak signal @ 2010, playing "Don't Worry Be Happy." SINPO 24332.

Sun June 28

3890: Free Radio Victoria playing non-stop Beatles @ 2040. Fair signal but lot of static. SINPO 34333.

3920: Radio Noorderlicht playing Boney M @ 2145. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

3945: Bogusman with chat and alternative music @ 0855. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 0900 with Gary Drew looking at stations broadcasting on 75 metres and playing r&b. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

5800: Radio Rapido heard @ 2043 playing "Kayleigh." Fair-good signal. SINPO 34333.

5810: Unid station heard @ 1033 playing The Stranglers, deep fades. SINPO 34333.

5810: Radio Telstar South with "The Ballad of Xanadu" @ 2045. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

5815: Orion Radio playing the Beatles "I Feel Fine" @ 0815. SINPO 34333.

6140: Radio Gloria via Wertachtal heard @ 0915 talking about death of Michael Jackson and playing "One Day in Your Life." SINPO 45444.

6210: Radio 48 playing The Undertones "Teenage Kicks" @ 2055 and giving out contact details. SINPO 34333.

6220: Mystery Radio with pop @ 0755. SINPO 34333.

6220: Radio Marabu with oldies and talk in German @ 0805. SINPO 34333.

6265: Antonio Radio with oldies @ 0820. SINPO 34333.

6265: Radio Altrex with oldies @ 2140, splash from Cairo on 6255. SINPO 23332.

6266: Radio Underground playing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" @ 2052. Fair signal. Also mention of next weekend's summer meeting. SINPO 34333.

6310: Unid station heard playing short pieces of music @ 0950. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

7481: Polaris Radio heard @ 1010 playing pop and greeting listeners, slight whistle and fading. SINPO 33333.

Sat June 27

3890: Free Radio Victoria heard playing rock and country music @ 2300. SINPO 44333.

3900: Radio Underground heard @ 2025 playing African music, talking about the weather and giving out email address. Weak signal. SINPO 24332. (via Bedford web receiver)

3904: Polaris Radio heard @ 2250 with instrumental music and IDs, good signal. SINPO 44333.

3945: Bogusman heard reading out listeners' reports, including one from New Mexico, via web receiver, @ 1915, playing the usual alternative sounds. SINPO 34333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing Jim Capaldi "Love Hurts" @ 0750. Good signal with strong peaks. SINPO 44333.

4025: Britain Radio Int via LHH heard @ 2015 with talk about Red Sands Radio and playing the Four Seasons version of "We Can Work It Out." SINPO 54444.

6210: Radio 48 heard with a weak signal @ 0900, playing oldies. SINPO 24332.

6220: Mystery Radio with pop @ 1720. Fair-good signal. SINPO 34433.

6289: Radio Mustang (tent) heard @ 1310 playing schlager, no ID heard. Weak-fair signal. SINPO 24332.

6325: Radio Monte Carlo heard @ 1715 playing Thin Lizzy, followed by ID. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

6553: Galaxy Radio playing Sophie Ellis Bextor @ 2245. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

6650u: Unid station heard @ 2100 playing "I Put A Spell On You." SINPO 34333.

6870: Radio Playback Int heard @ 1925 playing blues music, followed by ID jingle. SINPO 34333.

6910: Cactus Jack Radio heard with ID jingle and song "Don't Play your Rock n Roll To Me" @ 1950. Fair signal with good peaks. SINPO 34333.

6925u: Spider Radio with SSTV and playing oldies @ 2045. SINPO 24332.

Radio Gloria

Radio Gloria International this Sunday

Date - 28 June 2009,

Time - 0900 to 1000 UTC

Channel - 6140 KHz

The transmissions of Radio Gloria will be broadcast over the transmitting station Wertachtal in Germany .

The transmitter power will be 100 000 Watts, and we will be using a non-directional antenna system (Quadrant antenna).

Good listening

73s Tom

(via Tom Taylor)

Fri June 26

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 2130 with a strong signal, playing rock. SINPO 54444.

6220: Mystery Radio with instrumental music @ 2135. SINPO 54444.

Thurs June 25

4025: Laser Hot Hits with REO Speedwagon and talking about the Wimbledon tennis. Good signal. SINPO 44333.

6310: Cool AM with a weak signal - difficult to hear through the crackling @ 2100, occasional peaks of music. SINPO 24232.

6925u: Spider Radio heard @ 2020 playing Blondie "Heart of Glass." SINPO 24332. (via Bedford web receiver)

Wed June 24

3910: Unid station heard playing 80s music @ 2130. Probably same as previous evening with Grand Auto Theft soundtrack, badly modulated. SINPO 44332.

4025: Laser Hot Hits with "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" @ 2135, very strong signal - S9+20dB. SINPO 54444.

6220: Mystery Radio/Playback Int with a live programme, heard @ 2120. Strong signal, parallel with 6870. SINPO 54444.

6870: Playback International/Mystery Radio in parallel with 6220 @ 2125, playing "Get Outta My Car". SINPO 44333.

Tues June 23

3911: Unid station playing soundtrack from Grand Theft Auto @ 2045. Poor modulation - possibly same station as last night. SINPO 34332.

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 1940 with Tony James playing a rare Cliff Richard song from 1970s. SINPO 54444.

6220: Mystery Radio/Playback International with a live programme @ 1930, playing the song "Creatures of the Night", some splash from RTE on 6225. SINPO 43443.

Mon June 22

3899: Radio Baken 16 playing pop @ 2145. Good signal but quite noisy. SINPO 44333.

3900: Radio Norderlicht with report to Baken 16 @ 2150. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

3910: Unid station playing "The Beat Goes On" @ 2200, coming on only 2khz from Fox 48 0n 3912. SINPO 54333.

3910: Radio Fox 48 playing "Mississippi" @ 2215 - other station underneath. SINPO 33333.

4025: Laser Hot Hits playing dance music @ 1930. Good signal, peaking at S9+10dB. SINOPO 44433.

6210: Radio 48 heard @ 0925 playing The Clash "London Calling." I wonder how many times that tape/disc has gone round since Friday night? SINPO 24332.

6220: Mystery Radio with pop @ 1925. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6870: Unid station playing music, talk in Spanish @ 2205 - possibly relay of a local station. SINPO 34333. (via Bedford DX Tuner)

Pirate radio book

New book about pirate radio is coming out called Pop Went the Pirates II: A Definitive History of Offshore Radio.

It is written by former offshore radio broadcaster Keith Skues. It updates the original Pop Went the Pirates, written by Keith, first published in 1994. Read more about it at http://www.popwentt hepirates. co.uk/

(via Mike Terry, radioanoraksuk)

Sun June 21

3897: Radio Bluestar playing Dutch songs @ 1925, ID by woman. SINPO 33333.

3905: Voice of the Netherlands playing Pink Floyd "Money" @ 1930. SINPO 34333.

3920: Antonio Radio playing polka @ 2040, giving out hotline number. SINPO 34333.

3932: MRF Radio with a RNI programme @ 2005. Weak-fair signal. SINPO 24332.

4025: Laser Hot Hits with a David Gates song @ 0810. SINPO 44433.

4025: Britain Radio Int via LHH with a recording of Tony Blackburn & Ed Stewart chatting about their offshore days @ 2200. Signal S9+20dB. SINPO 54444.

5800: Radio Rapido with Sonny & Cher "I Got You Babe" @ 2035. Fair signal. SINPO 34433.

5805: Radio Telstar South playing the Beatles "Nowhere Man" @ 1950, some utility QRM. SINPO 33433.

5815: Orion Radio heard @ 0745 playing CCR. SINPO 34433.

5825: Radio Rapido with Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" @ 0750. SINPO 34433.

6140: European Music Radio via Wertachtal with U2 "A Beautiful Day" and Mike Taylor with the Mailbox programme @ 0902. SINPO 44433.

6202: Radio Scotland Int with Dutch rock @ 0752 and closing down. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6210: Radio 48 playing Black Sabbath @ 0820. SINPO 34433.

6220: Mystery Radio/Radio Playback Int heard @ 1915 with a live programme, playing the Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls." In parallel with 6870. SINPO 44433.

6266: Radio Underground giving out phone number, signing off @ 1940. SINPO 34333. Programme on a loop - heard again at 2025 playing XTC "Making Plans for Nigel."

6280: Radio Merlin with country music @ 0755. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

6289: Radio Mustang with a weak signal @ 1335, and occasional utility QRM. SINPO 23332.

6294: Unid station heard @ 1135 playing instrumental music, some talk but too much fading to catch ID, off a few minutes later. SINPO 34322.

6310: Classic Hits Radio on a new frequency with ID and giving out email address, playing the song "More More More" @ 0900. SINPO 34333.

6325: Radio Waves Int (tent) playing Barry White @ 0800. Weak signal. SINPO 23332.

6325: Radio Mustang playing polka @ 1715, fair signal but also co-channel utility QRM. SINPO 33433.

6375: Radio Hamamelis (tent) heard @ 0935. Weak signal. ID from Iann's chat. SINPO 24332.

6395: Cool AM with "Whiter Shade of Pale" @ 2000. Utility QRM. SINPO 33333. Moved a minute later to 6310 (34333).

6399: Radio Baken 16 with ZZ Top @ 0805. SINPO 34333.

6870: Radio Playback Int with a live programme @ 1920, playing Abba, in parallel with 6220 but not so good. SINPO 33333.

6910: Cactus Jack Radio playing Roxy Music "Avalon" @ 2010. Fair signal but quite noisy frequency. SINPO 34333.

6925u: Spider Radio with oldies @ 2020, weaker tonight. SINPO 24332.

Sat June 20

3905: Radio Oscar Zulu playing Chic @ 1855, then Plastic Bertrand "Ca Plane Pour Moi," and IDs. Weak-fair signal. SINPO 24332. (via Bedford web receiver)

3905: Radio Fox 48 playing AC/DC @ 2235. Fair signal but noisy. SINPO 34232.

4025: Laser Hot Hits heard @ 0810 with Tony James playing an Elton John song. Strong signal. SINPO 54444.

5810: Radio Telstar South playing 60s music @ 2045. Strong signal tonight. SINPO 54444.

5825: Radio Rapido playing oldies @ 2125, fair signal but splash from 5830 until 2130. SINPO 33333.

6210: Radio 48 playing Bryan Ferry @ 0805. Fair signal. SINPO 34433.

6220: Mystery Radio with ID jingle and playing the Bee Gees "Night Fever" @ 1837, some splash from Radio 48 on 6210. SINPO 33433.

6240: Radio Altrex with oldies and greeting listeners @ 2150. Fair signal. SINPO 34333. Moved to 6265 @ 2200 to avoid utility. SINPO 34333.

6310: Radio Northcoast heard @ 1350 with oldies. Fair signal with good peaks. SINPO 34333.

6310: Radio Condor with dance music @ 1535. Fair signal but some fading. SINPO 34333.

6310: Radio Fox 48 playing Joan Jett @ 2105. SINPO 34333.

6325: Radio Waves Int heard @ 1850 playing a French song, followed by ID. Weak signal. SINPO 24332. (via Bedford web receiver)

6395: Cool AM with the song "Big John" @ 2135. Utility QRM. SINPO 23332. Moved to 6310 @ 2255, playing Kylie Minogue & Nick Cave. SINPO 24332.

6400: Unid station playing Whigfield "Saturday Night" @ 1450. Off at 1505, no IDs. SINPO 34333.

6400: Radio Underground (tent) giving out hotline number, asking for reports, suffering RF problems. SINPO 34333.

6430: Free Radio Victoria playing Dutch songs @ 2215. Good signal. SINPO 44433.

6554: Radio Galaxy with dance music @ 2245. Weak signal. SINPO 24332. (via Bedford web rx)

6870: Radio Playback Int with an American radio show @ 1840. SINPO 34333.

6910: Cactus Jack Radio playing instrumental music @ 2050, fair signal but quite noisy. SINPO 34333. Heard on 6313 @ 2110.

7490: Voice of the Netherlands testing, heard @ 1515 playing The Hollies. SINPO 35333.