Free radio pirates on medium and short wave messageboard of alfa lima

Hi everyone:

Not as many stations active this week as last, but still some good listening. Thanks to Borderhunter, RFV, Spaceman and the "unknown" op on 3910 for some great late night programming. Thanks as well to Nova, The Poet and The Captain for the "heads up" about their shows by email.

The unknown signal heard on 6309/6310 Wednesday (and again later in the week) is puzzling, unless Sonnet is airing old shows. If anyone thinks they may be able to identify the "organ grinder" IS, I can send an audio file.

Some good news! I have identified my UNID of April 4 on 6210. It was Radio 48 testing with 4 watts! A new QRP record for me from Europe.

Monday, May 25
6850 2330 WBNY (US), poor signal, usual monkey program, reportedly all day marathon, 24341
6925 2345 WBNY relay (US), Music by The Monkees, jingle ID, "Cows with Guns", (apparently a relay by Radio Oz) 34343

Tuesday, May 26
6925u 0035 Dead Cat Radio (US), old french songs at first, finally an ID at 0104. 34443
6876 0200 The Crystal Ship (US), "Promised Land", Ray Stevens "The Streak" (first time heard in decades), BTO and Iron Butterfly, ID 0221, 44333

Wednesday, May 27
6309 2349-0055 UNID 2349, "organ grinder" interval signal. 0000 Old pirate show? Lots of music (60's/70's), jingle IDs (I heard 962 twice. The station name did not seem to be Caroline, maybe Mi Amigo?) Songs included "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" "Willie and the Hand Jive". Live speech (religious?, heard "path of righteousnous") at 0012 for 1 minute. 0042 talk by man and woman (non-English, sounds like Spanish or Italian to me). 0046 one final song 0049 "organ grinder" interval signal, 0055 c/d. (I thought it might be Sonnet with an old show. Sent an email, but no reply yet.) 34342

Thursday, May 28
6220 2155 Mystery Radio, music, canned ID, 44343
6280 2200 Radio Free Victoria, old rock and roll, ID, 34442
6309 2239 Sonnet Radio Europe, no ID but recognized DJ Mike's voice. weaker than usual, 24341

Friday, May 29
6925u 0040 Thinking Man Radio (US), Old speeches, music, ID, email, 34343
4025 0140 Laser Hot Hits, very happy to hear them back on air, weak but readable, 24441
6925u 0200 Barnyard Radio (US), talk by Chuck Manson, music, 24342
6925u 2030 Spider Radio (tent), pop music (Dire Straits "Walk of Life"), very weak, heard rarely at this time due to late sunset here. 24441
6220 2130 Mystery radio, Pop Music, 44443
6990 2200-2237 Cactus Jack Radio, relay of "La Nueva Voz de Canarias Libre" until 2230, pop music and 2 IDs. 34343

Saturday, May 30
6925u 2030-2130 Spider Radio, pop muisc, sign off at 2130 with signature trumpet music 24441
6220 2035 Mystery Radio, Chris Ise live, early fade in today, 24442 now, better later
3920 2147-2350 Borderhunter, faded in long before other stations on 76 m, dance and pop music, IDs, Thanks for the greetings. up to 44443.
6265 2235-0200 Radio 48, weak music, no ID, but partial phone number at 2337 (confirmed by email). 24341
3919 2352 Sallendse Boer, music, report to Borderhunter 34442

Sunday, May 31
3890 0003 Radio Free Victoria, Music, finally faded in. 23441
3945 0012 Bogusman, music by XTC, talk 34342
6310 0030 UNID (Sonnet?), barely audible, music and talk, sounded like the DJ had a British accent, but so weak it was hard to be sure.
6925 0035 MAC Radio (US), Ultraman show, ID as "MAC Radio", email. 34443
6925u 0125 Long Range Radio (US), Warren Zevon music, ID at 0134 and off, reportedly from California. 44444 !
6925u 0136 Thinking Man Radio (US), on immediately after LLR, ID, REM "The One I Love", 44444
6925u 0240 Blue Ridge Radio (US), ID, "from high atop the Blue Ridge Mountains", 34443 until 0246 when second station signed on, then 32441
3900 2130-2310 Radio Spaceman, music, IDs, faded in early, 44444 at 2300
3920 2130-2200 Borderhunter, techo music, ID, greetings, c/d 2200, 24442
3910 2200-2340 UNID, music, no ID heard, suffering from terrible ham QRM on this frequency, 32441

Monday, June 1
6310 0015 UNID, barely audible again tonight, continuous talk, almost sounded like a phone in show!, pirate or maybe spur???
6925 0030-0041, UNID, barely audible music, slightly variable frequency, (suspect Captain Morgan) c/d 0041
6876 0200 The Crystal Ship (US), "London Calling", "Mexican Radio", ID 34443
6925 0228 UNID, barely audible music, slightly variable frequency, (presumed Captain Morgan using only 10w, based on email tip)

Cheers,
Terry

Hi Terry,

I get that 6309~6310 one the odd time too. Especially the other day when we had some good over-the-pole DX (wee morning hours of May 31st).

What I heard sounded Dutch to me and no ID.

If it's a spur, it's a doozy!

Cheers!

I posted the following 28 May at 0036 as UNID on 6309:

"Nice signal here on 6309.0, now 0033 UTC and have been hearing it for a good 30-minutes, but being hammered by static crashes from the seemingly endless thunderstorms in the area the past 5 days or so. Sonnet Radio Europe? But signal is quite a bit stronger than SRE has ever been here. "

I got absolutely no response to this post, so I am now deleting it. This is not the first time I have posted an UNID here and asked for help in ID'ing it, and had absolutely no response. This is very frustrating, especially as in this case where Terry posted it and did get a reply. Sometimes I wonder whether posts from U.S. listeners are not considered as "worthy" as others, so my posts here are now few and far between.

Hi avranesjr,

Terribly sorry for that. I didn't reply because I didn't see it

I don't read every post here and probably wouldn't have seen this one if I didn't have in my mind today, "Hmmm, I wonder if he heard that odd...."

I shall be more dilligent from now on

Cheers!

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the log.

73's
Frans.
www.summermeeting.net

Hello Avranesjr,

At 24 UTC and on week nights, most european listeners are sleeping !
... while the 48 mb waves are skipping over them !

Even sooner, there are terrific strong signals on many SW frequencies here, and not many receivers can cope with that to unearth underground stations on the same bands. And add the splashes from Cairo on 6290 and 6860 ...

So don't expect much help from us that late.... Sorry

Yesterday was a great day at the mailbox!

I received a very nice QSL and letter from Borderhunter for my very first pirate reception, back in February. It brings back great memories of discovering Iann's chat room and meeting Frans and Alex. The card has been copied and posted in a special frame in the middle of my "QSL wall". (I copy all my QSLs on good photo paper, then seal the originals in plastic bags.)

I also received an amazing QSL package from WBNY, my first American pirate (also heard in February). Besides a nice letter and 8.5 X 11, very colorful QSL, I also got a bag of pirate "booty", including a pirate flag, a pirate yoyo, an eyepatch, a pirate ring, a spyglass, gummy skulls, a compass, a mini sword, pirate money, a Canadian chocolate "loonie" and a treasure map. Perphaps my favouite, however, was the 4 "Commander Bunny for President" bumper stickers.

I have received many, many very nice QSLs in the last few months from dozens of stations, and I thank all of the operators who have taken the time and trouble to send them.

There is something special about my first pirates, though, and to receive such nice QSLs from both my first European and American pirates on the same day was quite a treat. Thanks Frans and "Bunny".

Cheers, Terry