Topics

1

Pirate Radio History / Vintage reception report MEGA THREAD!

« on: February 05, 2020, 0134 UTC »

I'm starting this thread to post pictures/scans of written reception reports to pirate radio stations. We've all seen QSL cards, but few have seen what the pirate radio operators saw before email: written reception reports from listeners in the age of "maildrops".

I grew up with a friend whose air name was "Doctor Lobotomy". He operated numerous shortwave pirate radio stations in the early 1990's. We lived across town from each other, attended high school together but didn't really know each other until we became acquainted by CB radio in our town. Over time, he revealed he was a shortwave enthusiast, a ham radio operator, and eventually, he revealed he operated pirate radio stations. He was instrumental in my introduction to the hobby that has followed me to this day.. HF pirate listening, utilities, oddities, etc.

I'm starting to scan his absolutely huge collection of reception reports. He's long out of the radio scene but I've been bugging him about putting these out there for a while, since I think they are so cool. Maybe you'll find them interesting? If so, please let me know. If you SEE one of your reception reports, feel free to comment! In the interest of privacy, I'll blur out last names and street addresses but keep town/city names. Unfortunately many of these DXers may have passed, some may have no interest in the hobby anymore, and some may still be here. If I happen to post something YOU wrote and you don't want here, feel free to let me know and I'll gladly remove it.

The reception reports are presented in no particular order. Stations I've identified so far operated by Dr. Lobotomy: Radio Free New England, WGNK, KMRZ, WARI, Alternative Radio International, Lobotomy Radio Network, East Coast Music Radio. Operations were primarily from mid-1991 until late 1993, and sporadically from there until about 1995. Almost all of the broadcasts originated from this bedroom studio in the Boston suburbs. I took this picture of Dr. Lobotomy sometime in probably 1992:



I'll continue to update this thread during 2020 as I have time to scan in a huge collection of reports. Keep checking back! Also, if anyone else has reception reports they'd like to add, feel free!

2

FM Free Radio / FM pirates in the Boston area.

« on: January 10, 2020, 1420 UTC »

Figured I'd start kind of a megathread for FM pirates in the Boston area. The Boston area could roughly be considered anywhere within 495 but we could consider some outlying areas as well. I have been regularly scanning the FM band with the factory radio in my truck and have found a few things so far. I'd like to keep one thread up to date. There was a good page with Boston area pirates at this link: http://www.bamlog.com/bostonlp.htm but it has not been updated in years.

Here's a few logs to start:

88.5 - Big City FM. Dancehall/rap/Caribbean type music with live DJs, professional liners and commercials for events in Boston. Very famous Boston station that was once on 101.3. Listened again this morning. This station fights with the Rockport MA legal Christian operation along the coast. As you go from western Lynn down 128 it occasionally becomes the dominant signal. This station is located in Boston and is probably much stronger in the city but I don't really venture there often. Last heard 1/30/2020 at 9:00 AM.

89.3 - Portuguese language folk music constantly, top of hour IDs, seems fully automated. Clearly audible at Route 3 and 62 in Bedford/Burlington, rumored to be a long running operation in Billerica. Last heard 1/13/2020 at 9:30 AM.

99.9 - [removed, not a pirate, construction permit translator for WJDA]

Other boards to check for pirate Boston pirate radio intel:

https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forumdisplay.php?672-Boston (most active)

https://radioinsight.com/community/board/northeast/boston/ (not as active)

3

Peskies / Spanish 6810 USB

« on: October 19, 2019, 1210 UTC »

I have some Spanish conversation on 6810 USB at 1210 UTC 10/19/2019.

4

Equipment / Help ID my first HF transceiver?

« on: March 27, 2019, 2224 UTC »

Sorry, no pics. You'll have to close your eyes and imagine.

Chris and I were talking about first radios. The first HF radio I had was something my dad bought used for me (he wasn't into radio, somehow I was directed to this by another ham).

We went to this dudes house, and my dad unfortunately took the bait on the most decrepit and weird radio on earth (I didn't know any better either). This radio had the following features:

- We purchased the radio used around 1989.
- Design-wise and functionally, probably dated to the early 80's, possibly a little before, maybe late 70's.
- All solid state.
- I believe it was probably capable of 25-30 MHz for RX and TX.
- May only have been SSB (not really sure on this).
- I *think* it had a blue cover on the top and bottom, and a typical silver faceplate.
- Physically larger than a typical mobile CB, but same kind of layout.
- Red LED segmented frequency display.
- Used toggle switches (I think) for up and down frequency agility, and you had to HOLD the toggle switch while it tuned up or down in either 1 or 5 KHz increments. I can't remember exactly but probably 1 KHz.
- Extremely unstable on both RX and TX, definitely suffered some kind of PLL unlock issue, and temperature related variations.
- Definitely was not a major CB/ham/11m/10m radio brand of the era. It felt more Ten-Tec then Cobra (that's not saying much probably).
- May have had a bailer of some type to tilt the display up when on a desk.
- It was a total piece of crap.

Can anyone, in the recess of their mind, recall what this radio was?

5

General Radio Discussion / Over and out: CB radio-maker struggles to adjust to Trump tariffs

« on: October 09, 2018, 1717 UTC »

Buy that Cobra 29 now before they're gone!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/over-and-out-cb-radio-maker-struggles-to-adjust-to-trump-tariffs/2018/09/23/87cf518a-b6b8-11e8-a2c5-3187f427e253_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.93625116e5f1

CHICAGO — Cedar Electronics has been selling CB radios to American truckers since the 1960s, helping connect the workers who keep the U.S. economy rolling. But these days Cedar’s business isn’t exactly trucking along.

The Chicago-headquartered company is racing around Asia looking for other countries to host its manufacturing, after the radios Cedar makes in China and brings to the United States were hit with one of the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariffs this summer, making them more expensive to import.

Rare that CB radio makes any sort of mainstream media appearance so I thought this was interesting. This situation of course has interesting implications across a variety of electronic products sourced from China, not just CB radios.

No strong political comments, please.

6

Other / Alex Jones/Infowars pirate 3962 LSB

« on: October 05, 2018, 1621 UTC »

I'm relunctant to log this as a pirate, since it is inside the ham bands, and it is just a relay of the Alex Jones audio feed. So probably just the usual 75m kooks entertaining each other. But here we go..

Alex Jones/Infowars audio stream, 3962 AM at 1618 UTC on 10/5/2018. Alex rants, including commercials breaks. No ID of the relayer. Very good S9 signal.

7

Huh? / The definitive end-fed dipole discussion.

« on: February 21, 2018, 1713 UTC »

I feel it is important to clear the air about a subject that has been bandied about lately on these here forums. This is regarding the end-fed dipole.

I am the inventor of the end-fed dipole. I have updated my signature (below) to reflect this. Any other claims to the discovery of the end-fed dipole will be vigorously challenged.

There will be a book. But for now, I would like to provide a simple schematic for those who may be interested in building my antenna:

-----------------------------------------------------  <--- radiating element
|
|
|  <--- feedline
|

Should you have any questions, I am here to answer them.

8

22 Meter Band Beacons / BEER is on the air 13566.00

« on: January 26, 2018, 0103 UTC »

BEER is a Black Cat Systems 22m beacon kit (see: https://blackcatsystems.com/rf-products/22_meter_band_part_15_beacon_kit.html) 13566 is the area-ish.

It is assembled and on the air, transmitting from the Boston suburbs. As of 1/25/2018 the antenna is an end-fed 20M dipole not far off the ground. It is outdoors, but not far above the ground right now. Not entirely ideal, but it's possible someone may hear this beacon. Antenna improvements when the weather is warmer.

Valid reception reports will be rewarded with a nice printed QSL card.  Submit reports to: beerusmaximus@gmail.com. An audio recording, SDR capture, or legitimate waterfall screen scrape will get you a card. Note, a postal mailing address is required to receive a card.

Once again, target frequency is 13566.0-ish.

9

General Radio Discussion / Commission’s Pirate Crackdown Continues

« on: July 08, 2017, 0050 UTC »

If you operate an FM pirate in the US, I'd be taking a lot of extra caution at this point. It remains to be seen what the impact on HF pirating might be. My gut tells me that the uptick in enforcement is the result of a backlog of complaints from commercial broadcasters to a much more commercial-radio friendly FCC. I'd like to think this won't trickle down to HF hobby broadcasters, but something to keep an eye on...

It seems we’ve been reporting more about the FCC taking aim at illegal broadcasters under new Chairman Ajit Pai, especially the past few weeks. Thursday, another flurry of pirates were notified they had 10 days to end their operation and respond to the FCC to explain what they were doing operating radio stations without a government license.

http://radioink.com/2017/07/07/commissions-pirate-crackdown-continues/

10

General Radio Discussion / Why am I Still Listening to British Radio in the U.S.?

« on: July 08, 2017, 0042 UTC »

Interesting perspective. I personally listen to a lot of London area stations on their web streams when I want some music discovery. Rinse FM,  Sub FM, etc.

As a born and bred Londoner living in the city, I would listen to the radio for around four hours per day during the week and a little less on the weekend..

..But last year I moved with my job to Brooklyn, and I have yet to hear the same quality of broadcasting in the U.S. Being such a heavy consumer of radio, and a fan of so many American artists, I was looking forward to switching my allegiance to the famous U.S. hip-hop stations...

..But when I listen to HOT 97, Power 105.1 or any similar stations, all I hear are commercials, boring chat, and a few Drake and Migos songs played on repeat..

Full article:

http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2017/07/radio-uk-vs-us-bbc-npr-kcrw-interview

11

General Radio Discussion / The history of UK pirate radio – and why it’s still here

« on: January 20, 2017, 1944 UTC »

Drive around some parts of London today and you’re still liable to hear mainstream radio broadcasts drowned out by fleeting bursts of unfamiliar music.

http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/34394/1/pirate-radio-history-and-future?curator=MusicREDEF

12

Shortwave Pirate / Moonlight Radio 6930 USB 1328 UTC 12/25

« on: December 25, 2016, 1329 UTC »

Choir/Christmas music up on 6930 USB at 1328. S6-S7 in the Boston burbs.

13

Shortwave Pirate / Burn It Down Radio 6945 USB 12/15 0028+

« on: December 25, 2016, 0030 UTC »

UNID 6945 USB 12/25/2016 0028 UTC. Dylan's Blowin in the Wind. Very good S9+10 signal. Burn It Down Radio ID at 0035 UTC.

14

Shortwave Pirate / Northwoods Radio 6935 KHz USB 1139 UTC 10/25/2015

« on: October 25, 2015, 1140 UTC »

"Ticket to Ride" on 6935 KHz USB at 1139 UTC. S5 signal. Northwoods loon IS at 1141 UTC.

15

Shortwave Pirate / Shortwave Ghost 6873 KHz AM 0146 UTC+ 8/1

« on: August 01, 2015, 0146 UTC »

Gunsmoke like music. Huge S9+10 signal. shortwaveghost@outlook.com. "This is show #13".