Messages

166

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Laser Hot Hits 6210 AM 1652 utc 25 Jun 2019

« on: June 25, 2019, 2315 UTC »

Must be on 6210 to avoid that spitting ute on 6202.5 ish
That utility is another thing that serves no purpose and shouldn't be there.

I think so too.

167

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Laser Hot Hits 6210 AM 1652 utc 25 Jun 2019

« on: June 25, 2019, 2234 UTC »

Announcing 6205, but on 6210 right now.

Coming through well on Bedford SDR.

LADY dj

168

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Energy FM 6230 AM 20:54 UTC

« on: June 25, 2019, 2153 UTC »

Seems ok at the moment the SSB idiots have gone away some time ago. Why don't they QSY off to the amateur bands. They shouldn't be there


Agreed.

169

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Radio Merlin Int. 6305 AM 1111 utc 25 Jun 2019

« on: June 25, 2019, 2147 UTC »

With efficient antenna a reduction from 150 watt to 20 watt only leads to a 9db fall in signal strength so if Radio Merlin registers a signal strength of S9+10db with 150 watt, it's strength will still be S9+1db with just 20 watt... but with much less chance of neighbour interference... so propagation conditions are much more of a factor in a strong signal than transmitter power.  The big stations have to make a lot of effort and power to get signal strengths of S9+40db using massive antenna networks and 100kw or more.

The high power Dutch pirates must generally live areas not close to neighbours.... eventually with high RF power it is inevitable to cause QRM in the surrounding area.

I agree with what you say.

Low power works well with an efficient aerial when the propagation conditions are favorable where the broadcast emanates from.

170

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Energy FM 6230 AM 20:54 UTC

« on: June 25, 2019, 2124 UTC »

6230 has been a rotten channel for unlicensed operators for yonks. The other week when Energy FM returned they were adjusting their output power and settled on intermediate power. The S meter of the SDR soared as the reception improved suddenly while dominating the QRM when the power was suddenly increased.

A change of frequency is essential. 

171

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Re: Re: Radio Merlin Int. 6305 AM 2046 utc 24 Jun 2019

« on: June 25, 2019, 0938 UTC »

I apologise for being somewhat paranoid.

Thanks for your reassurance.

The reason for suddenly going off could have been a power cut or a transmitter fault or an aerial fault or an unexpected knock at the door, among some other possibilities.

Over and out.

172

European Pirates and Private Stations / Radio Merlin Int. 6305 AM 0724 utc 25 Jun 2019

« on: June 25, 2019, 0851 UTC »

Thx for the link.

Merlin closed down abruptly during a song 'lolly, lollipop' sung by a female.

That would have been around 0724 UTC.

I hope it wasn't because of a bust by OFCOM!

(subject edited by moderator Ray)

173

Equipment / Directivity of HF dipoles

« on: June 25, 2019, 0357 UTC »

Yep, your reply is informative, and I agree totally with your analysis.

I think it's worth adding that the physical characteristics of his half-wave dipole, namely 4 metres off the ground and slung in an east-west direction must necessarily make it directional as a north-south RF radiator for 6 megs.

I reckon if said radiator were slung higher, it would be less directional up to a critical vertical height when it would become directional again above said critical height.

My memory ain't the best these days, but it tells me for a non-directional dipole, it should be non-sloping and about a quarter of a wavelength off the ground.

If the station were located in the UK, the op would be well advised to sling his half-wave dipole in a north-south direction were his target listenership eastern seaboard North American DXers, of course located across the pond from him.

Any thoughts on what I have added?

Over and out. 

(From thread R. Merlin on 24 Jun 2019, subject edited by moderator Ray)

174

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Re: FAO 'UNLICENSED AM MODE OPERATORS'

« on: June 22, 2019, 1829 UTC »

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/interference-enforcement/spectrum-offences/illegalbroadcast

Copied and pasted from the ofcoM link above is the following:.

Summary of offences

Anyone involved in illegal broadcasting is committing a criminal offence and could face up to two years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. See sections 36 to 38 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.

You may be committing an offence if you know, or have reasonable cause to believe, that unauthorised broadcasts are being made, and you:

•   keep a station/apparatus available for its use;
•   allowing your premises to be used;
•   advertise;
•   promote;
•   provide content;
•   or otherwise enable the broadcasting, including managing or rendering any service that will facilitate the operation.

'Think' may not turn out to be exact! Unlike my grammatical assessment of ofcoM's 'Summary of offences'!

Let's hope they are equally sloppy when it comes to catching 'UNLICENSED AM MODE OPERATORS' and their supporters

175

European Pirates and Private Stations / Ofcom way of thinking about the law

« on: June 22, 2019, 1110 UTC »

https://www.achimbrueckner.de/freeradio/php/wordpress/?p=460694

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/interference-enforcement/spectrum-offences/illegalbroadcast

Copied and pasted from the ofcon link above is the following:
.

  Summary of offences
Anyone involved in illegal broadcasting is committing a criminal offence and could face up to two years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. See sections 36 to 38 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
You may be committing an offence if you know, or have reasonable cause to believe, that unauthorised broadcasts are being made, and you:
•   keep a station/apparatus available for its use;
•   allowing your premises to be used;
•   advertise;
•   promote;
•   provide content;
•   or otherwise enable the broadcasting, including managing or rendering any service that will facilitate the operation.

Golly gosh! - food for thought for ALL OF US!

In the light of the above, I think it is unwise if 'UNLICENSED AM MODE OPERATORS' transmitting from the UK choose to air programmes that include opinions of their presenters on controversial political issues of the day, such as BREXIT and the use of cannabis as a recreational or medical drug. Best to avoid annoying those who have the law on their side!


  edit by Ray  (subject changed for this part, after split)
was : Re:FAO 'UNLICENSED AM MODE OPERATORS'

176

European Pirates and Private Stations / FAO 'UNLICENSED AM MODE OPERATORS'

« on: June 19, 2019, 2201 UTC »

I have listed particular 'distress' frequencies below for the attention of 'unlicensed AM MODE operators'. Please avoid the use of these frequencies, especially those in bold type.

Your signals might travel up to thousands of miles when long skip conditions prevail, and you could conceivably be preventing a 'distress' call from being received.

So, give the frequencies below a 'berth' of at least 5 kHZ if you are transmitting with 100 watts or less, and 10 kHZ if you are using kilowatts of output power.

The MF/HF DCS distress and calling frequencies are:
2187.5 kHz, 4207.5 kHz, 6312 kHz,
8414.5 kHz, 12577 kHz 16804.5 kHz

Telephony distress traffic is conducted on:
2181 kHz, 3023 kHz, 4125 kHz, 5680 kHz
6215 kHz, 8219 kHz 12290 kHz and 16420 kHz.

The Telex distress traffic uses:
2174.5 kHz, 4177.5 kHz, 6268 kHz,
8376.5 kHz, 12520 kHz and 16695 kHz.

177

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Johnny Tobacco 6300 AM 1950 UTC 1 June 2019

« on: June 02, 2019, 1213 UTC »

2023 Jeans on - David Dundas
2027 Shadows type instrumental
2030 We'll meet again - Vera Lynn
2033 TX switch off

Yep, I heard that transmission too, but only the part that you heard that I have underlined above.

A superb signal via a Swiss SDR.

Thanks for posting regarding the station's name and announcements.

A pity he never mentioned the station's contact details before switching off! 

178

Huh? / Re: Brexit on radio (was LHH on 28 Apr 2019

« on: May 30, 2019, 1817 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/u-k-broadcasters-vary-in-concern-about-brexit

I think Peter Moore has the credentials to be PM = Prime Minister.

Good to see he has expressed his opinion on behalf of  Radio Caroline, unlike those other (fence-sitting) licensed broadcasters!   

179

European Pirates and Private Stations / Radio Merlin Int. 6305.1 AM UTC 0722 07 May 2019

« on: May 07, 2019, 0743 UTC »

SIO 444

Peaking S7, sometimes S3

Excellent modulation!

SDR in Switzerland, Lanzenhausern.

Song by Little Feat, according to announcer.

Song '5.7.0.5.' by City Boy, 1970's circa.

Station ID including phone number, breakfast show announced.

Rock song

Song Free Bird by Lynryd Skynryd

Song Stairway to Heaven

e-qsl please to: ralec12@yahoo.com or to dianfengyy@163.com 
 

180

Huh? / Re: Brexit on radio (was LHH on 28 Apr 2019

« on: May 01, 2019, 0349 UTC »

Here in China, locals who follow international politics look down very much on the turmoil in the British parliament.

When the current foreign secretary visited Beijing and introduced his Chinese wife as a Japanese lady to the Chinese cadres, the Chinese media had a feeding frenzy.

I was hauled over the coals by the local public security, 3 days of interviews with my Chinese wife present, and at last I was forced to sign and fingerprint about 25 letters of apology, because my new passport's starting date was prior to the expiry date of my old one, and I had exceeded the 10-day period to visit them to get my new residence permit. I couldn't avoid this time delay because my new passport was issued in the UK and then sent by courier service to Beijing, where I collected it after rail travel to the sloppy outsourced agent there acting for HMPO. When I initially applied for my new passport in Beijing, my old passport was returned to me intact!