Tag: Pirate (Page 1 of 2)

QSL Mike Radio 6275 kHz

October 6, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

A very nice, fully detailed eQSL from Mike Radio. Mike Radio is a Free Radio station operating from the province of Gelderland, The Netherlands. For the Gen Z folks: the station is powered by solar energy!

I sent my report to mikeradio(at)live.nl . UKdxer told me than Mike is one of the younger free radio stations in the Netherlands.

My personal opinion is that rules on hobby broadcasting via MW/SW should be relaxed as apparently nobody seems to care about the interference of PV installations on these frequencies…

Thank you Mike!

QSL Radio Frieloo 6290 kHz

September 27, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

For the reception of Radio Frieloo on 6290 kHz I received a friendly QSL email from the operator. I sent my report to frieloo(at)outlook.com .

Radio Frieloo is a pirate station operating from the province Gelderland in The Netherlands. The operator told me that he is not often in the air. When it is the case it is mostly to test antenna designs. The transmitter is a R&S with 100 Watt as shown in the picture.

QSL Radio Joey 6395 kHz

September 8, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 3 Comments

A nice colorful eQSL from Radio Joey on 6395 kHz. All I can tell you is that Radio Joey is a pirate station from The Netherlands (as shown on the QSL) which also shows the hotmail address.

QSL Radio Cuckoo 6295 kHz

September 5, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

A traditional QSL postcard from Radio Cuckoo on 6295 kHz. Radio Cuckoo is a pirate station broadcasting from Ireland using a home-built tube transmitter. They broadcast popmusic from the 80-ies. Reception quality suffered from some noise, but the way “Cuckoo” was pronounced made it easy to catch the identification.

I received their new QSL (see below) as well as their old QSL card plus sticker within a week after sending my report to radiocuckoo(at)yahoo.com . Thank you Dave!

QSL Music Wave Radio 3940 kHz

August 27, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 1 Comment

A QSL from Music Wave Radio, a pirate station on 3940 kHz. The transmitter location is a bit unclear. Some sources state that it is Belarus, with programs produced in Russia. Anyway, it is definitely not the eastern part of The Netherlands, the UK where most of my pirate QSLs come from.

When I listened Music Wave Radio was broadcasting Russian pop and rock music. Shazam helped me out to identify some titles and artists, but I still had to decipher them from cyrillic script. Apparently I passed the test because operator Evgeniy confirmed my reception report with in a day. I sent my report to podradio@mail.ru.

QSL Xenon Transmitting Company 6205 kHz

August 21, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

A QSL from Xenon Transmitting Company on 6205 kHz, broadcasting from England, United Kingdom.
I sent my report to xtcshortwave@googlemail.com .
As they write in their email:

XTC (full name the Xenon Transmitting Company) has been on the air since 1993. We like to talk about various subjects rather than just play music. XTC does not have a regular schedule, but we try to be on the air over the Bank Holidays, Easter and Christmas.

If you google ‘UK Free Radio Shortwave Memories from the 1990’s’ you will find a very good blog which has more information about XTC and other stations that were active during that decade.

QSL Cupid Radio 6290 kHz

August 2, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

A birthday present! Upon return from a nice birthday dinner I noticed that I was receiving Cupid Radio on 6290 kHz on my SDR receiver. Dropped an email to cupidradio@hotmail.com which was read during the show. The next day I wrote a full report which was answered with a personal email and this nice QSL card.

I was told that they were operating on 15105 towards the US earlier that evening. They moved to 6290 kHz when the band closed, and that’s where I found them playing hard rock music like AC/DC and Kiss. The power is 500 Watts generated by two Russian GU81 tubes… and I like that sort of technology as that is the sort of stuff that got me into radio! This YouTube video gives you a good impression about the size of these things!

Cupid Radio has a very interesting Facebook page… I encourage you all to check it out! They run SSTV as well, albeit mainly on 13 and 19 m…. I would really like to catch one of those!

QSL Radio Batavia 6280 kHz

May 29, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

QSL Radio Batavia 6280 kHz. I received a brief email and an e-QSL card for my report to radiobatavia@hotmail.com . Radio Batavia is a pirate station operating from the Netherlands. They use a home made tube receiver on an inverted V antenna 2×12 meter. When I listened to them they played a Radio Batavia song.

QSL FRS Holland 5940/7405 kHz

May 16, 2024 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

I received a paper QSL card, nice letter and sticker for my reception of FRS Holland on 5940 and 7405 kHz. I sent my report to P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, The Netherlands, and added 5 Euro. They also have an email address frs@frsholland.nl and a new website: https://frsholland.nl/

The station started in 1980, and has been off and on in the air. On their website you can find plenty of info about the rich history of this station. They welcome QSLs, also for reports from WebSDRs. If you want to receive a hard copy (paper) QSL please make sure to included 3 Euro or USD to cover return postage. More info on: https://frsholland.nl/qsl-policy/

The QSL that I received is on glossy paper, A5 format, printed on both sides. You can actually choose a QSL card design from their collection of legacy QSLs. The one I received was #5 showing the Akai tape recorder used to produce jingles.

It looks like the next broadcasts of FRS Holland are scheduled for July 21st and 28th, do check their website!

QSL Radio Igloo via WRMI 5950 kHz

August 12, 2023 / Peter Reuderink / 0 Comments

I received a this nice e- QSL from Radio Igloo. Via WRMI 5950 kHz they brought a program about Britt Wadner, owner of offshore pirate Radio Syd. In 1962 Radio Syd was the successor of Skånes Radio Mercur, the first Swedish pirate station. The popularity of pirate radio is easily understood if you know that Swedish National Radio played a maximum of 60 minutes of recorded music a day, with only two or three “pop songs”.

QSL Radio Igloo via WRMI showing Britt Wadner and the radio ship.

Unfortunately for me Radio Igloo targeted North and South America from the WRMI location (Okeechobee, Florida, USA). In combination with some propagation disturbance that night it made it difficult for me to really understand the details of what was said about Britt Wadner and her ship. But the 60’s music was very enjoyable.

Hopefully there will be broadcasts targeted to the European audience in future, as happened in the past using a transmitter in Europe. Reports to radioigloo@gmail.com are welcome. Please do specify not only technical details but let them know what you think of program content.