Topics

181

North American Shortwave Pirate / XYZ SSTV 6925 11/24/12

« on: November 24, 2012, 1622 UTC »

While I was away for Thanksgiving, I left the receiver on & had two SSTV images from XYZ on my computer when I returned home last night. One said Happy ------- de XYZ" and the other was simply "XYZ." I didn't see that anyone else had logged this one, so I felt I should post it. No idea if any programming went along with the images. I think the timestamp on the one was 0245, but the clock on my recording computer doesn't keep time. I guess this is the same station that was last on with digital modes on 1/18/09?

Thanks!
Andrew Yoder
POB 109
BRS, PA 17214

182

North American Shortwave Pirate / 11 Meter Gorilla SSTV 6925 11/8/12 1300-1400 UTC

« on: November 08, 2012, 2317 UTC »

My clock is off on my recording computer, so I'm not quite sure what time this came thru, but it was a single SSTV image for "----- USA, the 11 meter gorilla." DEcent copy, white on a black background with an image of a gorilla. Pretty interesting--had to doublecheck that I hadn't left the radio on 27700 kHz 

Thanks for the image...
Andrew

183

North American Shortwave Pirate / Toynbee Radio: 6925.2, 11/1 0122+

« on: November 01, 2012, 0127 UTC »

Instrumental guitar music, gruff-sounding announcer with IDs and "...how else can you explain the power of my mind?" Muffled audio. Sig started strong, then deep fade.

Thanks for the show!
Andrew

184

Other / Fishermen?: 6925U, 10/31, 1100+

« on: October 31, 2012, 1259 UTC »

English-language QSO, talking about how "you can't get much when it's this rough," etc.

185

North American Shortwave Pirate / Laser Hot Hits relay, 6925U, 9/27, *0201+

« on: September 27, 2012, 0202 UTC »

Very strong with an old show (said on 6275 & via Jolly ROger R). Opening announcement & into Golden Earring "Radar Love"
Thanks for the relay!
Andrew

186

North American Shortwave Pirate / Unid: 6925U, 9/11, 0411+ UTC

« on: September 11, 2012, 0414 UTC »

Someone weak here with OM vocals that sound at least somewhat like Tom Jones...
Please ID. I'm recording it, in case the signal picks up a bit later.
Thanks for the show!
Andrew

187

North American Shortwave Pirate / ? 6930U, 8/10, 0300 UTC

« on: August 10, 2012, 1601 UTC »

Someone here with a weak signal between passing t-storms (so lots of noise). I listened for a couple of min, hit the recorder, & went to bed. Possibly BOR?
Thanks for the show!
Andrew

188

North American Shortwave Pirate / Unid: 6925U, 7/20, 0300 UTC

« on: July 20, 2012, 0302 UTC »

Weak signal in high static crashes. Pretty similar in quality to my receptions of The Machine & Stone Circles Radio over the past two days. I have my doubts that I'll be able to pull an ID out of it, although I can tell that it's music and not talk.

189

North American Shortwave Pirate / Radio Whatever: 6925, 7/16, 2310+

« on: July 16, 2012, 2346 UTC »

Weak signal here with fading & ethereal music. No ID heard, but ID per the station op.
Thanks for the show!
Andrew

190

North American Shortwave Pirate / Lincolnshire Poacher Pirate: 6925U, 7/16, *0132-0143*

« on: July 16, 2012, 0259 UTC »

Fair/good sig, but a lot of t-storm crashes. On with about 3 min or so of the "Lincolnshire" numbers station IS, then a real male announcer trying to sound like a computer voice. Announcement seemed to be primarily to correct logs about the station that was reported as this one at 0630 UTC on 6930 kHz AM last night--that was not this station. Instead, the announcer mentioned that 4 logs of this were of his station. Not sure if I caught all of the dates correctly, but I think they were 7/7, 7/9, 7/12, & 7/14. He also mentioned those who logged him: "Far-ley, Sea-Lord, Yo-der, Smo-lin-ski," etc. Then, a few minutes of the "Lincolnshire" numbers station IS. I heard part of a rock song after this, but I'm not sure if it was the same station & it faded out.

Thanks for the show & please QSL, if you do that sort of thing.
Andrew Yoder
POB 109
BRS, PA 17214

191

Other / MARS ops on 6845U & 4458U

« on: May 19, 2012, 0021 UTC »

Just tuned in to a MARS net on 6845 kHz USB at 0000 UTC. Looks like 6840-6850 kHz should be avoided by pirates. While they were on, a few of them jumped down to 4458 kHz USB for an antenna test. I don't think that anyone's using 44XX kHz period, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

192

Equipment / Hallicrafters HT-40 transmitter 80-10m FS

« on: April 18, 2012, 2355 UTC »

I posted this ad on the FRN & FRC for sale areas, but I'm not sure if anyone is checking them on a regular basis. My apologies if this is the wrong place to post a classified ad. I'll delete it if everyone would rather it be removed. Otherwise, just contact me with questions, etc.

---------------------------------------------------
1960s Hallicrafters HT-40 transmitter $40 + shipping. This is one of a few different crystal-controlled AM/CW novice transmitters from the ‘60s that pirates collectively called “shoebox transmitters” in the ‘80s & early ‘90s.

Condition: Missing the case & original knobs have been replaced. How could someone lose the case? I ran it into a dummy load and it fires up fine. Not sure exactly how much power it’s putting out, but I think it was about 30-40 watts peak on 43m & maybe about 10-20 watts on 15m (21 MHz)

The audio to this transmitter is input through an obsolete microphone connector on the back. I alligator-clipped an audio cable to the transmitter (bypassing the connector) and played music. The modulation sounded OK…screen modulation, restricted for voice use, and using the carrier-controlled scheme.

Application: I could see someone really enjoying using this as either a first transmitter or for use on the higher-frequency bands. It’s a great price for all of the frequencies in which this could be used. Because it’s missing the case, it’s not exactly a good transmitter to either let sit where anyone could touch it while it’s operating or for mobile operation. I could imagine it being kept at someone’s cabin or powered shed…it uses 110 VAC, but only draws about 90 watts in, so it could be run on a battery & most inverters as well.

Reliability: Didn’t hear any hum from the electrolytic caps, so my thought is that they’ll last for years. But if you want to be safe, replace them. I didn’t test the tubes, but the crystal oscillated, audio sounded decent, and the power output seemed pretty good, so I didn’t feel like there was a reason to test them.

Media: Photos available upon request. I might be able to do a video, too. Still experimenting with that…

Shipping/packing: I’m planning to double box it. These don’t weigh much for “boat anchors,” I’ve seen them listed at about 19 lbs. online, apparently mostly the power & modulation transformers.

I'll include a copy of the manual & a couple of FT-243 crystals

193

General Radio Discussion / 2012 Pirate Radio Annual ready for pre-orders

« on: April 12, 2012, 1114 UTC »

Just letting you know that the 2012 Pirate Radio Annual is *finally* going to the printer and is available for advance sales. This year’s edition contains an interview with Harri Kujala, a comparison of Channel Z transmitters by Chris Smolinski, an in-depth look at the shortwave activities of The Minority Association (Resurrect Dead) in the early ‘80s, and more bits. Of course, it also contains the beginner’s shortwave listening information and biographical entries on 154 shortwave and (in one case) AM pirates heard in North America in 2011 and also on 20 of the most widely heard (in North America) European pirates. It contains 94 images from 92 different stations.

This year’s edition is 186 pages, but because I reduced the point size slightly, it contains much more information that the previous years’ books.

Of course, the book also contains an audio CD, with 71 minutes of audio from 79 different pirates. Almost all of the audio was either created or broadcast in 2011.

The advance price (until May 10) of the 2012 PRA is $15 + $3 shipping in the US ($4 shipping to Canada, $10 to Europe, Australia, Japan, etc.). After May 10, the price will be $16 + shipping.

The money can be sent via PayPal to: info /at/ hobbybroadcasting.com and checks or money orders can be sent to:

Cabinet Communications
POB 109
Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214

Thanks to all for your patience and assistance!

194

North American Shortwave Pirate / WMPR: 6955, 3/24, 2318+

« on: March 24, 2012, 2324 UTC »

Duran Duran "Please, Please Tell Me Now" ID & now another '80s dance song. Really nice signal, but a lot of T-storm QRM.
Thanks for the show!
Andrew

195

North American Shortwave Pirate / WBNY 6264, 3/24, 2120-2140

« on: March 24, 2012, 2323 UTC »

Fair/Good signal here, but heavy T-storm QRM made copy tough. Talent show segments, Off after some sort of numbers stations parody.

Thanks for the show!
Andrew