Logs 8 Jan 2021

1620 2030 Radio Ruimzicht. SINPO 44433.
1640 1740 Ros AM Radio. SINPO 54444.
1645 1654 Radio Turfsteker. SINPO 44433.
1670 2049 Radio Vonkentrekker. SINPO 33433.
1674 1747 Radio Digital. SINPO 54444.
3935L 1732 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 55444.
5015 1539 Radio Deltracks (pres). SINPO 34433.
5780 1725 Radio Harmony. SINPO 54444.
5790 1600 Radio 319. SINPO 44433.
6205 1608 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 34333.
6260 1522 Misti Radio. SINPO 34433.
6260 1545 Radio Tidalwave. SINPO 54444.
6270 1718 Premier Radio. SINPO 33433. Splash from 6280 
6280 1515 Coast FM Tenerife via relay. SINPO 54444.

Radio Black Molly eQSL

 

I've received an eQSL from Dutch medium wave pirate Radio Black Molly. Many thanks. 

Logs 7 Jan 2021

1629 1658 Radio Schaduwjager. SINPO 55444. QSO
1645 1651 Radio Boomerang. SINPO 55444. QSO
1655 1654 Radio Digital. SINPO 54444. QSO
1655 1719 Radio Belladonna. SINPO 34433.
3935L 2127 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 44433.
5140 1623 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 24332.
6260 1609 Radio Monique. SINPO 44433.

Shortwave pirates heard in 2020

The year 2020 was one most of us would rather forget. But in lockdown it did give us more opportunity
for radio listening. I've been through my logs for the past 12 months to see how many European pirate stations I've heard, and how it compares to previous years.

In 2020, I logged 153 different shortwave pirates, which (surprisingly) is down from 183 in 2019, while in 2018 it was 179. The majority of these stations came from The Netherlands - 74, but that was down from 95 in 2019.

The list includes stations that might have only been on air once or twice during the year, and others which were heard regularly, such as Laser Hot Hits, Radio Merlin and Charleston Radio Int.

Some operators like to use more than one name - Radio Johnny Tobacco can be heard IDing as Radio Black Bandit or Radio Abu Dhabi. I've counted these as one station.

Pirate activity from the UK was up from the year before, from nine in 2019 to 12 last year. One station, XTC, who has been around since the 1990s, became quite a regular on the 48 metre band, and I've already heard him a few times this year. 

Activity from Ireland increased from six stations in 2019 to 12 last year, although most of these tended to play non-stop music and ID jingles, rather than produce actual programmes.

The final figure is a rough guide to free radio shortwave activity over the past 12 months. It doesn't include relays of internet or FM stations. Other stations might have been on the air in 2020, but I didn't hear them.

Also I haven't included relays from licensed stations, such as Radio Piepzender or Channel 292.

Country breakdown (figures for 2019 in brackets)
The Netherlands 74 (95)
Unknown 26 (40)
United Kingdom 12 (9)
Germany 12 (15)
Ireland 9 (6)
Italy 9 (9)
Finland 2 (2)
Belgium 2 (2)
Czech Republic, Portugal, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Greece (1 each)

The UK stations I logged were: The Bodge, Radio Duck, Radio Jennifer, Laser Hot Hits, Little Feat Radio, Radio Merlin Int, Radio Nova, Radio Pamela, Radio Pandora, Radio Parade Int, Wizard FM & XTC.

For my list of European shortwave pirates heard in 2020 click here

The MW Free Radio blog has done his annual survey of the Dutch MW pirates he heard in 2020. To see his list go to https://mwfreeradio.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-class-of-2020.html

It is good to see free radio activity is still strong so keep tuning in to the pirates and let them know you're listening either by email or through Iann's pirate chat room.

Logs 6 Jan 2021

5140 1640 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34433.
5780 1210 Radio Harmony. SINPO 55544.
6205 1629 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 54444.
6305 1200 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 44433.
6612 1145 Radio Pamela. SINPO 34333.
6946 1333 Radio Enterprise. SINPO 34433.
6934U 2224 "Insurrection Radio" (USA). SINPO 24432. Talking about the dramatic events in Washington today

Logs 5 Jan 2021

1617 1736 Radio Black Molly. SINPO 44433.
1634 1749 Radio Schadwjager. SINPO 55444.
1643 1755 Radio Telefunken Int. SINPO 34433.
1645 1758 Radio Valencia. SINPO 34433.
1660 1731 Radio Digital. SINPO 54444.
3935L 1228 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 35443.
5140 1709 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34333.
5726 1035 Radio Pamela. SINPO 33433.
5780 1047 Radio Harmony. SINPO 55444.
5790 1725 Radio 319. SINPO 44433.
6205 1220 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6305 1214 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 44433.

Logs 4 Jan 2021

1630 1753 Radio Weg Piraat. SINPO 44433.
1638 2156 Radio Bluebird. SINPO 55444.
1647 2143 Radio Armada. SINPO 44433.
1655 1738 Radio Yogi Bear. SINPO 54444.
1655 2150 Radio Delfzijl. SINPO 54444.
3935L 2138 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 54444.
5140 1807 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34333.
6140U 2224 Mix Radio Int (USA) (tent). SINPO 22432. Co-channel with China R Int. Music heard on USB, but not LSB

Logs 3 Jan 2021

1655 1720 Radio Belladonna. SINPO 34433.
3920 1225 Radio Piepzender. SINPO 35433.
3935L 1231 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 35443.
5015 1026 Radio Deltracks. SINPO 34433.
5780 1050 Radio Harmony. SINPO 55444.
5820 1218 Radio Saturnus. SINPO 34433.
5880 1045 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
5995 1020 Radio Face de Blatte (tent). SINPO 34433.
6095 0954 Radio Scotland Int. SINPO 55444.
6205 1038 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 54444.
6255 1213 Free Radio Victoria. SINPO 44433.
6275 1015 Time Radio. SINPO 34433.
6275 1238 XTC. SINPO 44433.
6275 1454 Radio Lowland. SINPO 34433. Using 10W
6275 1513 Radio Zeewolf. SINPO 34433. Report to Lowland
6285 1008 Premier Radio Int. SINPO 34433.
6285 1208 Radio Baken 16. SINPO 44433.
6295 1248 Panda Radio. SINPO 34433.
6305 1003 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.
6320 1440 Radio Joey. SINPO 44433. 
6330 1400 Radio Batavia. SINPO 54444.
6450 1422 Radio Discovery. SINPO 34433.
6875 1032 Radio Europe (Italy). SINPO 24332.
6920L 1440 Radio Jan Van Gent. SINPO 35443.
6940 1055 Radio Nova (UK). SINPO 44433.

Radio Delta eQSL

 

An eQSL received from new Dutch low power shortwave station Radio Delta who has been testing on 6020 kHz. Email address is radiodelta@icloud.com. The station is also on Facebook. 

Logs 2 Jan 2021

1648 1929 Radio Keizer & Keizerin. SINPO 33333.
1660 1654 Radio Concorde. SINPO 44433.
1685 1722 Radio Digital. SINPO 44433.
3905 1922 Radio Fox 48. SINPO 24332.
3935L 1215 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 35443.
5140 1648 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 24332.
5780 1144 Radio Harmony. SINPO 54444.
5790 1138 Radio 319. SINPO 34433.
5880 1150 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
6045 1157 Radio 60 via Nauen. SINPO 55544.
6205 1205 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44444. 
6305 1129 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.

Logs 1 Jan 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1633 1733 Radio Schadwjager. SINPO 54444.
1633 2210 Radio Mi Amigo. SINPO 34433.
1660 1625 Radio Belladonna. SINPO 44433.
1673 1637 Radio Concorde. SINPO 34433.
3920 2202 Studio Continental via Piepzender. SINPO 54444.
3935L 1414 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 44444.
5140 1433 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34333.
5780 1010 Radio Harmony. SINPO 54444.
5790 1005 Radio 319. SINPO 44433.
5810 1400 Mike Radio. SINPO 55444.
5850 1435 Radio Aristona. SINPO 34333.
5880 1015 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
6020 1028 Radio Delta. SINPO 35443.
6130 0955 Radio Casanova. SINPO 45444.
6205 1020 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6240 1406 Radio Dr Tim. SINPO 34333.
6280 1645 Radio Atlantic 2000. SINPO 34433. Relay?
6285 0950 Radio Baken 16. SINPO 44433.
6295 1502 Radio Enterhaken. SINPO 24332.
6305 0959 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.

Logs 31 Dec 20

1625 1700 Radio Barones. SINPO 54444.
1655 2239 Radio Turfsteker. SINPO 34433.
1670 1803 Radio Viking (pres). SINPO 44433.
3935L 1507 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 44433.
5780 1413 Radio Harmony. SINPO 44433.
5790 1420 Radio 319. SINPO 24332.
5880 1425 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
5140 1516 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 24332.
6205 1458 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 34433.
6291 1406 XTC. SINPO 34433. Off 1412
6305 1431 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433. Via NW Ireland SDR

Logs 30 Dec 20

1620 1720 Radio Duranza. SINPO 54444.
1620 1724 Radio Weg Piraat. SINPO 44433. QSO
1620 1737 Radio Uniek. SINPO 34433. QSO
1630 1737 Ros AM Radio. SINPO 44333.
1645 1711 Radio Twentana. SINPO 44433.
1663 1702 Radio Digital. SINPO 44433.
3920 1636 Radio Gaar via Piepzender. SINPO 55444.
5140 1432 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34333.
5790 1610 Radio 319. SINPO 54444.
5880 1424 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
6155 1632 Radio Fox 48. SINPO 33433. Co-channel QRM
6205 1415 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6291 1350 XTC. SINPO 34433. Off 1407. Good peaks
6305 1408 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.

Logs 29 Dec 20

1665 2117 Radio Kristal. SINPO 54444.
1670 1631 Radio Digital. SINPO 55444.
1686 2133 Radio Armada. SINPO 44433.
3935L 2104 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 44433.
5140 1543 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 44433.
5880 1300 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
6155 1611 Radio Fox 48. SINPO 23432.
6205 1240 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6305 1250 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.
6450 1535 Radio Discovery. SINPO 23432.

Radio Blackstone & Radio Voyager eQSLs

 

A couple of eQSLs received recently. One from Radio Voyager for a Christmas programme on 6275 and the other from Radio Blackstone, who I heard on 1660 kHz. Many thanks.

Logs 28 Dec 20

1611 1645 Radio Utopia. SINPO 34433.
1614 2009 Radio Tidalwave. SINPO 44433.
1638 1629 Radio Nordsee. SINPO 34433.
1645 1657 Radio Twentana. SINPO 54444.
1670 2002 Radio Digital. SINPO 54444.
3920 1725 Studio Continental via Piepzender. SINPO 54444.
3935L 1045 Zenith Classic Radio. SINPO 35433.
4872 1201 Radio Mystery 21. SINPO 34433.
5140 1010 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34333.
5880 1001 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34333.
6205 0950 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6297 1623 Radio Enterhaken. SINPO 34433.
6305 1033 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 24432.
6315 1015 Radio Olympia. SINPO 44433.
6320 1027 Radio Olympia. SINPO 34433. Change of frequency

Logs 27 Dec 20

3920 1000 FRS Holland via Piepzender. SINPO 35433. One of four frequencies in use
3920 1640 Radio Classic Sunday via Piepzender. SINPO 54444.
3935L 1006 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 45444.
4875 1633 Radio Mystery 21. SINPO 54444.
5140 1042 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 24332.
5790/5810 0956 FRS Holland. SINPO 55444.
5880 1018 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
6120 1024 Radio 319. SINPO 45444.
6205 1012 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 43433.
6210 0950 Radio King Shortwave. SINPO 33433.
6260 1651 Radio Zeewolf. SINPO 34433.
6275 1031 Radio Ronalisa. SINPO 34433.
6285 1520 Odynn Radio. SINPO 34433.
6305 0945 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.
6380 1509 Radio 319. SINPO 44433.
7700 0955 FRS Holland. SINPO 45444.

Logs 26 Dec 20

1625 1805 Radio Barones. SINPO 54444.
1647 1813 Radio Keizer & Keizerin. SINPO 34433.
3900 1438 Radio Batavia. SINPO 44433.
3900 1712 Radio Borderhunter. SINPO 54444.
3901 2023 Radio Jingle Bells. SINPO 23332. Bursts of utility
3920 1512 Radio Piepzender. SINPO 44433.
3935L 1423 Zenith Classic Rock. SINPO 54444.
4875 1216 Radio Mystery 21. SINPO 34433.
5015 1222 Radio Deltracks. SINPO 34433.
5140 2031 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34333.
5780 1210 Radio Harmony. SINPO 54444.
5880 1203 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34333.
6020 1155 Radio Delta. SINPO 45444.
6205 1055 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6210 1040 Radio King Shortwave. SINPO 33433.
6260 1230 Radio Ronalisa. SINPO 24332.
6270 1247 Radio Dr Tim. SINPO 24432.
6275 1713 Radio Voyager. SINPO 44433.
6280 1138 Radio Batavia. SINPO 54444.
6295 1033 Radio Johnny Tobacco (pres). SINPO 54444.
6305 1143 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.
6320 1411 Radio Joey. SINPO 44433.
6321 1237 Misti Radio. SINPO 24332.
6875 1047 Radio Europe (Italy). SINPO 34333.

Logs 25 Dec 20

🎄 MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! 🎄

3905 1640 Radio Borderhunter. SINPO 44444.
3905 1656 Radio Fox 48. SINPO 34333.
3920 1225 Radio Piepzender. SINPO 54444.
3935 1530 Radio Batavia. SINPO 54444.
5030 1219 Radio Deltracks. SINPO 34433.
5140 1455 Charleston Radio Int. SINPO 34433.
5780 1155 Radio Harmony. SINPO 54444.
5880 1112 Radio Rock Revolution. SINPO 34433.
6205 1212 Laser Hot Hits. SINPO 44433.
6240 1057 Free Radio Victoria. SINPO 44433.
6260 1105 Radio Ronalisa (pres). SINPO 23332.
6265 1232 Bordershop Radio. SINPO 34433.
6275 1503 Radio Fox 48. SINPO 24332.
6280 1200 Panda Radio. SINPO 34433.
6285 1440 Radio Quadzilla. SINPO 44433. He told me he was testing old transmitter of Radio Silverback
6285 1046 Radio Johnny Tobacco. SINPO 54444.
6295 1051 Radio Cuckoo. SINPO 54444.
6295 1430 Radio Johnny Tobacco. SINPO 54444. Change of frequency
6305 1206 Radio Merlin Int. SINPO 34433.

Christmas greetings from Texas Radio SW & Irish Paul