Topics

91

European Pirates and Private Stations / Harmony Radio 6309.7 AM 0147 UTC 27 May 2018

« on: May 27, 2018, 0150 UTC »

Lots of static, but some audio making it through. Would be listenable if not for the constant static crashes. Lite music & crooners going back to the '30s for some songs

92

North American Shortwave Pirate / Calvin Coolidge 9025 AM 1300-1400 UTC 20 Mar 2018

« on: March 20, 2018, 1952 UTC »

These types of stations tend to disappear quickly & no one logged it in the past two days, so I thought I missed it. I remembered to turn on the radio this morning before work & I let the recorder run. Just checked the recording. Around 1300, the Coolidge clips started to come through & lasted for about an hour before fading out. The mast of my inverted V got taken out in the first Nor'easter this month, so I'm sure it's not working optimally. Signal was fair at best. BTW, I'd never have figured out that this was Calvin Coolidge just from his voice.

93

General Radio Discussion / Reminder: Next Global HF Weekend is March 30, 31, and April 1

« on: March 17, 2018, 2252 UTC »

Next Global HF Weekend: March 30, 31, and April 1, 2018
It's still a couple weeks away, so be sure to mark the next Global HF Pirate Weekend on your calendar.

The idea behind the Global HF Weekends are to promote friendship through radio around the world. The hope is that listeners will be able to hear different stations and for broadcasters to reach distant locations. Anyone may participate.

The last one, which occurred during the first weekend of November 2017, was very successful. A handful of North American stations were reported on Europe and vice versa. And South American stations were heard in the North. Other stations were active specifically for the weekend, but just for a local or regional audience.

We'll see how many stations show up during the next GHFW. It seems unlikely that stations will be using 13 meters this time and much more likely that stations will be trying the 6900-kHz range and possibly 31 and 25 meters.

March 30, 31, & April 1, 2018
Maybe 15010-15090 kHz, probably 6200-6400 kHz and 6800-6990 kHz

Of course, these were general frequency ranges used by pirates during prior Global HF Pirate weekends. Some stations will surely operate on frequencies and times outside of these ranges. In fact, the way conditions have been lately, frequencies at or below 15 MHz seem like they will be more effective for intercontinental broadcasting. These will be updated on the Hobby Broadcasting (http://hobbybroadcasting.blogspot.com/) blog as it happens and also check the loggings on HF Underground (https://www.hfunderground.com/).

94

North American Shortwave Pirate / Voice of the Yetti Radio 6925 AM 2116 UTC 27 February 2018

« on: February 27, 2018, 2123 UTC »

Warbly sound on freq--the carrier? Music by Joe Walsh, CCR, & TRex so far

95

North American Shortwave Pirate / Old Time Radio 6770 AM 1310 UTC 17 FEB 2018

« on: February 17, 2018, 1424 UTC »

Carrier only, then faded up to a decent signal for the closing credits of an OTR show. Gone when came back at 1420

96

North American Shortwave Pirate / Nuttin' on Shortwave + Crooked Man relay: 6925 AM 1858 UTC 7 Feb 2018

« on: February 07, 2018, 1903 UTC »

Sounded like a talk show being relayed. Some local computer noise on freq. Heard for about a min or two, then gone

1907: same station back on the air with '70s pop-rock (maybe Steely Dan?). Clear IDs at 1955. Thanks for the show!

Crooked Man relay starting at 2011

97

North American Shortwave Pirate / WXZR relay 6925.7 AM 1859 UTC 25 Jan 2018

« on: January 25, 2018, 1911 UTC »

"Meontological Research Radio" Weak/fair with emergency broadcasting network test parody, National Lampoon news, some odd music and IDs. I think this show was from 1990 & I'm not sure if it's ever been relayed since that year. Thanks to the relay station!

98

General Radio Discussion / Next Global HF Weekend: November 3-5, 2017

« on: October 29, 2017, 2204 UTC »

The next Global HF Weekend is a few days away, so I thought it was finally time to mention it here  I've heard from a few station operators and listeners who said they plan to participate, so hopefully it'll be a good time for everyone.
-----------------------------------------

The idea behind the Global HF Weekends are to promote friendship through radio around the world. The hope is that listeners will be able to hear different stations and for broadcasters to reach distant locations. Anyone may participate. I've already heard from a few stations who plan to broadcast and I've been in contact with a number of listeners.

The last one, which occurred during the first weekend of April, resulted in some success with intercontinental broadcasting. Four North American pirates all operated around 0600 UTC between 6920 and 6950 kHz and were heard in New Zealand. A South American station ran 24/7 tests on 6930 kHz across Global HF Weekend and was reported in Germany, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and South America with only 10 watts. One Dutch station was logged in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Kentucky, New York, Maryland, and Virginia. Other stations were active specifically for the weekend, but just for a local or regional audience.

We'll see how many stations show up during the next weekend. It seems unlikely that stations will be using 13 meters this time and much more likely that stations will be trying the 6900-kHz range and possibly 31 and 25 meters.

November 3-5, 2017
Maybe 15010-15090 kHz, probably 6200-6400 kHz and 6800-6990 kHz

Of course, these were general frequency ranges used by pirates during prior Global HF Pirate weekends. Some stations will surely operate on frequencies and times outside of these ranges. In fact, the way conditions have been lately, frequencies at or below 15 MHz seem like they will be more effective for intercontinental broadcasting. These will be updated on the Hobby Broadcasting (http://hobbybroadcasting.blogspot.com/) blog as it happens and also check the loggings on HF Underground (https://www.hfunderground.com/).

99

North American Shortwave Pirate / Old-Time Radio unid 6770 AM 2205+ UTC 21 Oct 2017

« on: October 21, 2017, 2212 UTC »

Good signal with Wild Bill Hickock show & ad for Kellogg's cereal. Thanks for the show!

100

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / T-368

« on: October 08, 2017, 0313 UTC »

I received a call tonight from a radio hobbyist who had recently been at a hamfest in NJ. There, he saw someone who had a T-368 transmitter that had recently been restored at the Tobyhanna Army Depot & had its audio opened up to 6 kHz. He said that it has spares, which I assume means a full extra set of tubes? My friend said that he'd tell others about it, so he told me & ask if I knew anyone interested. Because of the price and the weight, I don't. But I asked it was OK if I post it here.

This T-368 was made by B&W (I don't which version it is) & I believe it's capable of about 500 watts carrier from 1500 kHz to 20 MHz. They're huge beasts & about the closest that the Americans have to the German Rohde & Schwartz transmitters that the Dutch pirates use.

Anyway, the asking price on this transmitter is $2,000. I don't know if that's negotiable. I assume part of the price is because it was refurbed by the Army. My friend said he'd send the contact info of the guy who's selling it, so if you're interested, I can pass it along.

Neither I nor my contact have any actual connections to the sale of this equipment, but they *are* really cool pieces of equipment that I hear about more often than I see.

101

North American Shortwave Pirate / Liquid Radio 6925 AM 0040+ UTC 4/26/17

« on: April 26, 2017, 0042 UTC »

Big carrier up here a few times, but I've been hearing faint music for a few minutes

102

European Pirates and Private Stations / Cupid Radio: 15074.6 AM, 4/1, 1440+

« on: April 01, 2017, 1443 UTC »

Cupid Radio (ID per op) starting to fade in here, with a YL vocal pop song. I've got some local noise on the freq, but others should be able to hear it well

103

North American Shortwave Pirate / Moonlight Radio 6925 USB 4/1 1330 UTC

« on: April 01, 2017, 1330 UTC »

Weak, funk with sax. ID per station, who said it was a James Brown song. Thanks for the QSL & the info!

104

General Radio Discussion / Global HF Pirate Weekend coming up: March 30-April 2

« on: March 26, 2017, 1911 UTC »

Just a reminder that the next Global HF Weekend is coming up: March 30-April 2, 2017

Finnish DXer Harri Kujala started the weekends (the 1st weekend of April & the 1st weekend of November) about five years ago & I said I'd write about them. The idea was for listeners in faraway areas to be able to hear broadcasts that normally would not be audible (or barely so)--all while promoting cooperation among those in the hobby. In those first GFWs, some transatlantic QSOs were established and stations from Europe & North America were reported in Russia, India, Ukraine, Japan, and other countries.

I'd expect that some stations will post schedules on HFU. I'll also be tracking the broadcasts and schedules on my blog, so if any stations send schedules to me, I'll post it, but without the station name: just date, time, frequency. This will be especially handy for those stations who choose to operate outside of Harri's suggested 19m and 13m frequencies. Given the lack of sunspots and the low solar activity, 9, 11, 13, and 15 MHz might be better choices than 21 MHz.

Here's the rest of the general info:

March 30-April 2, 2017
General frequency ranges:
   15010-15100 kHz
   21455-21550 kHz

Basic schedule:
   European morning, 0800-1200 UTC from Europe to Asia/Japan/Oceania.
   European afternoon, 1200-1600 UTC from Europe to North America and vice versa.
   European night, 2200-2400 UTC from North America to Asia/Oceania.

Of course, these are general frequency ranges where pirates have broadcast during prior Global HF Pirate weekends. Some stations will surely operate on frequencies and times outside of these ranges. These will be updated on HF Underground (https://www.hfunderground.com/) and on the Hobby Broadcasting (http://hobbybroadcasting.blogspot.com/) blog as it happens.

105

North American Shortwave Pirate / OTR unid: 6770 AM, 12/7, 1305+

« on: December 07, 2016, 1422 UTC »

Pretty good signal here, but some local noise is making clear reception a bit difficult. "I saw him raise his right hand and make a stabbing motion." I couldn't quite copy enough info to figure out which show this was. Hopefully, the local noise will disappear soon & give me a chance to hear it better later.

Thanks for the show; nice to hear again.
Andrew