List of Latin American Shortwave Pirates 2022 (old list):
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/Latin_American_Pirate_Radio_StationsThere are many pirate radio stations operating in Latin America, although information is sparsely available online. The vast majority of shortwave pirates in Latin America are from Brazil. They prefer to operate during the daytime, but some do operate at night. The reason for daytime operation on nighttime DX frequencies is uncertain, perhaps to try and limit range to avoid detection by authorities? It is not uncommon to hear relays of MW/FM stations on shortwave from Brazil. These are likely unofficial relays by hobbyists, although their purpose is unknown. Hobby stations sometimes run automated programming and maintain a specific schedule, while the majority produce each program individually and operate irregularly (Like North American or European pirates). Transmitting equipment is usually homebrew and output is about 10 watts AM mode. There are no publications or websites (such as The ACE or HFUderground.com) pertaining to pirate radio in Latin America. Very little information is communicated between stations or listeners. Decades ago, there were many regular broadcast stations on shortwave from Latin America (mostly Peru & Bolivia) that were unlicensed, making them pirates. This was mostly caused by a difficult and lengthy licensing process, which could take as long as two years. These stations have almost completely disappeared from shortwave, with the exception of two stations. Such stations still exist on Mediumwave (AM) and FM. Currently all Latin American pirates on shortwave but those two stations are hobby operations. Below are the most commonly used bands, although stations frequently operate outside them. All broadcasts are in AM mode.
6200-6400 kHz
Popular for Brazilian stations trying to reach a domestic audience. Often relays of legal stations.
6900-7000 kHz
Not as popular as the other bands, mostly used by nighttime stations trying to reach North American listeners. Most popular frequency is 6925 kHz.
7450-8100 kHz
Most used band, popular for Brazilian stations trying to reach a domestic audience during the day. Most popular frequency is 7560 kHz.
9200-9300 kHz & 9900-9990 kHz
Sometimes used by Brazilian stations trying to reach a domestic audience during the day. Near the 31 meter band.
Below is a list of Latin American Pirates active as of 2022. Also included are links to the Wiki articles for the stations (written by me) which often include links or pictures as well as what is written here. "It could be related to other stations" means the station could be the same one as another on the list.
Listed by frequency (nearly all have drifted slightly from the intended frequencies):
Identified stations
4005-Rádio Casa
5900-Rádio Casa
6017-Organización Radial El Prado
6925-Radio Compañía Worldwide (many other frequencies in use, 6925 is most recent)
6935-AD149 Radio
7455-Rádio Casa
7540-Alpha Centauri
8000-Rádio Casa
9216-Rádio Frankenstein (/11990)
9290-Rádio Araucária
9926-Free Rádio Minas Gerais
UNID Stations
4940-"La Montana Colombia" (UNID Venezuela)
6222-UNID #1
6222-UNID #2
6400-UNID #3
6925-UNID #4
6950/6960/6980-UNID #5
7500-UNID #11
7535-UNID #14
7560-UNID #6
7560-UNID #7
7560-UNID #8 (several frequencies in use, 7560 is most used)
7580-UNID #12
7590-UNID #13
7995-UNID #10
8010-UNID #9
AD149 Radio (Argentina)
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/AD149_RadioAD149 Radio is the only shortwave pirate from Argentina. It was first logged in January 2018 but was not identified by North American listeners until January 2019. It is currently active as of September 2022. It exclusively uses 6934.9 (varies about 50 Hz) in AM mode. It plays a variety of music, both English language and Spanish. Broadcasts usually end with the same SSTV image, although others have been used. Some people have been able to obtain eQSL's for reception reports sent to ad149radioam@gmail.com.
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri is a shortwave pirate from Brazil. It has been operating almost non-stop since October 15, 2022 on 7540 kHz AM. It continuously sends SSTV images, mostly Sci-Fi themed and in Scottie 1 (with occasional Scottie DX SSTV, other digital modes, or identifications by a robot YL in English). It has been heard in North America despite only using 10 watts AM. It sometimes suffers from QRM caused by China Radio International on the same frequency. No contact information is known.
Free Rádio Minas Gerais
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/Free_R%C3%A1dio_Minas_GeraisFree Rádio Minas Gerais is a shortwave pirate from Minas Gerais, Brazil. It operates on 9926v kHz in AM mode. Modulation was already poor in August 2022 and has deteriorated significantly as of October 2022. Reception on KiwiSDR's in Brazil is very poor, suggesting the use of low power (as is typical for Brazilian pirates). It operates daily during the daylight hours in Brazil. Due to poor reception and the total lack of information online, little is known about the station. The identity of the station is based on the list of Brazilian shortwave pirates by Daniel Wyllyans.
La Montana Colombia
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/La_Montana_Colombia"La Montana Colombia" was the name used to refer to an unidentified religious pirate operating on 4940 kHz AM. In September 2022 another TDoA was run using a better selection of receivers and the station was found to be in Venezuela (not Maico, Colombia). It is not known who operates the station or where its exact location is. The name "La Montana Colombia" originated when the station advertised a Colombian religious movie called "La Montana" and this was mistaken as the identification. The station operates 24/7. It seems that it uses relatively high power and or an unusually efficient antenna because it can be heard with a good signal nightly during winter in North America. Frequency is very stable and is close to 4940.00 kHz. It normally relays the programs of Fuerza de Paz and has also been mistakenly identified as such. One listener contacted the QSL manager of Fuerza de Paz about the station and received a reply stating that Fuerza de Paz does not operate the station or know its identity and the programs are taken from a website. Music played on the station is a mix of Colombian and Venezuelan origin. The station appears to be operating from an area very close to the border between those two countries. It has been heard giving the Venezuelan time, originally causing people to think that it is located in that country. No station identifications are ever given. Some have speculated that its reason for not providing an identification or contact method is to prevent DXers from bothering it with reception reports.
Organización Radial El Prado
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/Organizaci%C3%B3n_Radial_El_PradoOrganización Radial El Prado is a shortwave pirate from Colombia. It operates on 6017 kHz with seemingly low power. It has been operating for a year as of April 2022. Broadcasts usually consist of old Colombian music with almost no announcements. When the announcer does talk, he uses reverb effects and sometimes has feedback in the audio. A sports program has been heard once. Broadcasts start around 2230 or 2330 UTC and end around 0200 or 0300 UTC or even later (as late as 0530 UTC has been observed). It operates almost daily as of October 2022. The station also operates "Prado Stereo" on 88.1 MHz and "Musical Stereo" on 98.1 MHz (also as a pirate). Its purpose is not clear as it does not seem to be a hobby operation, it does not air commercials, and it does not air religious or political programming. It can often be heard okay in North America, especially the eastern part. It is believed to be broadcasting from the municipality of Palermo in the department of Magdalena. It is believed that its intended audience is in the nearby cities of Soledad and Barranquilla in the department of Atlantico. It has been very careful not to mention any contact information.
Radio Compañía Worldwide
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/Radio_Compa%C3%B1%C3%ADa_WorldwideRadio Compañía Worldwide is a shortwave pirate radio station from Chile. It has verified reception reports sent to rcwradio@gmail.com with an eQSL. It uses low power and is occasionally logged in North America in the winter season. Recently, programming has been entirely relays of professional stations (Radio & TV). It is unclear how long RCW has existed, but it has existed at least since December 2012 and its website says "© 1988-2022 Radio ZIV International-San Franisco-Chile". As of October 2022, it has recently been operating on 5810 kHz, 6210 kHz, 6925 kHz and 7610 kHz in AM mode. The frequency is generally very stable and accurate. Most broadcasts are announced on their Facebook page. Information from their Facebook page is below.
"RCW RADIO COMPAÑIA WORLDWIDE The international Chilean radio service.
It is a FREE radio station that was born from the unfortunate and constant disappearance of Onda Corta stations, whose mission is to keep Chile in the HF bands and to disseminate cultural, informative and musical programming. RCW is, up to now, together with RTE 5825 kHz, the only stations in the country that broadcast on Short Waves bands after the closure of the CVC Calera de Tango Broadcasting Center. In the creation of RCW, it is undeniable to recognize that it was inspired by the old Dutch RNW Radio Nederland Wereldomroep, its clear influence being noticeable in our programming and corporate figure.
Our shortwave transmitting centers named after Chilean heroes are: ◇ Rodríguez Erdoíza Station, currently in Stand By, has a power of 45 Watts AM (0.045 KW) with a G5RV inverted V-type dipole antenna capable of emitting in bands of 90, 75, 49 and 41 meter band. This station is powered to excite up to 150 effective watts. ◇ General Carrera Station, currently in service, has a power of 45 AM watts (0.045 KW) with an extended dipole antenna for the 43 and 41 meter band. This station is equipped to emit up to 1 kW of effective power from 49, 43 and 41 meters bands.
RCW is small among the small Shortwave stations but prides itself on being a radio that helps keep this important but underrated form of broadcasting alive.
GREETINGS FROM SAN FRANCISCO IN CHILE ... 73!"
Rádio Araucária
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/R%C3%A1dio_Arauc%C3%A1riaRádio Araucária is a shortwave pirate from Brazil. It operates from 09:00 UTC to 23:00 UTC daily on 9289.92 kHz. Programming is Brazilian music (varied genres, often instrumental) with frequent canned identifications. It is located in the Praná state of Brazil. It uses low power and AM mode and has never been logged direct in North America due to its operating hours. Contact information is not known. More information below is from the source in Links.
"Rádio Aucária is a 'free' station, which operates on the frequency of 9,290 kHz, from somewhere in southern Brazil. It is noted for having an original and differentiated cultural program, composed of popular and regional songs, something quite unusual to hear on conventional broadcasters. Rádio Aucária is maintained by pure passion for radio and has no commercial advertisements, nor broadcasts Ideologies. It helps to promote DXing in Brazil with "Shortwave Bulletin", produced by DX Club of Brazil."
Rádio Casa
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/R%C3%A1dio_CasaRádio Casa is a shortwave pirate from Brazil. It operates on 4005, 5900, 7455, and 8000 kHz (AM mode). It uses low power (about 15 watts), making reception outside of Brazil poor. During the winter season 7455 kHz & 8000 kHz usually have some very weak audio in North America. Other frequencies are usually poorly heard outside of Brazil. It broadcasts the same programming on 4005, 5900, and 7455 kHz simultaneously. 8000 kHz carries separate programming. Frequencies are slightly variable (about 100 Hz above the intended frequency, drifts a little over time). It broadcasts 24/7 as of October 2022, although not all frequencies are always in operation (but at least one frequency is in use at any time). Programming is mostly American popular music with frequent canned identifications in Portuguese. Its sounds very similar to a typical American FM radio station. It could easily be thought to be an unlicensed professional station, but it carries no advertisements. The total bandwidth of the signal on each frequency is 12 kHz. The station also broadcasts online and claims to have the call sign ZYW685 for 8000 kHz. Rádio Casa has its own Facebook page and website. Some people have been able to obtain eQSL's for correct reception reports sent to radiocasaam@gmail.com.
Rádio Cidade Oldies
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/R%C3%A1dio_CidadeRádio Cidade Oldies is a Brazilian shortwave pirate radio station. It has operated on many unusual frequencies, but 10215 kHz is the most recently used (June 2022). It first operated in 1998 on 8000 kHz with 20 watts. Audio is in AM mode with a very unstable carrier. Programming is a mix of American oldies music, Latin American music, and comedy programming in Portuguese. The station was heard operating 24 hours a day from 26 March 2022 until 30 April 2022 with no station identifications. It briefly reappeared on 1 June 2022 but went off the air again. Its email address is cidadeoldies@live.nl, although there is no documentation of anyone successfully contacting them with it.
Rádio Frankenstein
https://www.hfunderground.com/wiki/index.php/R%C3%A1dio_FrankensteinRádio Frankenstein is a shortwave pirate from Brazil. It has only been logged twice, once in May 2022 on 11990v kHz and once in October 2022 on 9216.17 kHz. Programming has been old music, news, and talk programming in Portuguese (a radio drama?).
UNID #1
UNID #1 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was heard on September 1, September 2, and October 10, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil) with a relay of a licensed Brazilian station. Modulation was poor and the carrier drifted around 6222.36 kHz (AM mode).
UNID #2
UNID #2 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was heard on October 1, October 2, and October 11, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil) with a relay of a licensed Brazilian station. Modulation was much clearer than UNID #1 and the exact frequency was stable on 6222.48 kHz (AM mode).
UNID #3
UNID #3 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was heard on September 24, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil) with a relay of a licensed Brazilian station on 6400 kHz AM. It has not been heard before or since.
UNID #4
UNID #4 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was heard on September 14, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil and as a carrier in North America) with a program of Brazilian music (no announcements) on 6925 kHz AM. It has not been heard before or since.
UNID #5
UNID #5 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was first heard on September 17, 2022 and has been heard four times since. It was first heard by listeners in North America on 6980 kHz AM and was assumed to be a North American station. When it first appeared, it seemed to be testing by playing a loop of very simple piano music for a long period of time. The first three of its broadcasts all consisted of this piano music loop and the fourth broadcast was a program of music by Nelson Gonçalves. No talk or identifications were ever heard. It only uses three frequencies, 6979.8 kHz, 6960v kHz, and 6950v kHz. Modulation on 6979.8 kHz is okay with a slightly variable carrier and slight distortion. Amplitude Modulation on the other two frequencies are very poor, distortion is very bad and there are multiple carrier-like lines on the waterfall image. The actual carrier appears weaker than the others. The other carriers produce only a slight buzz listening in AM mode, despite appearing much stronger than the intended audio. Listing in SSB is impossible, it produces even stranger sounding audio with a lot of buzz. The station is often mistaken for something on 6960/6950 LSB. It has been heard twice using FM mode with relatively good (and wide) modulation. It appears to be using crystals (based on it being stuck to 3 offset frequencies), although an AM/FM crystal-controlled transmitter is very unusual.
UNID #6
UNID #6 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was heard on October 6, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil) with a program music by The Police. Once the list of songs being played reached the end it started playing them from the beginning again. The program is similar to some heard from UNID #8 but the modulation and frequency stability from UNID #6 was far worse. The intended frequency appeared to be 7560 kHz AM, but it drifted as low as 7558.8 kHz.
UNID #7
UNID #7 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was heard on September 30, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil) with a program of music by Raul Seixas on 7560 kHz AM. The program is similar to some heard from UNID #8, but it was operating simultaneously with UNID #8 (with a different program on each). Although that makes it very unlikely they are the same station, it is not impossible.
UNID #8
UNID #8 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil. It was first logged on September 1, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil) and has been heard several times since. Modulation is usually very good (although sometimes under or over modulated) and frequency stability is also relatively good. It follows a format of mostly 70s/80s rock music (both English language and from Brazil) although other genres have been heard as well. It often focuses on a specific artist for part of a broadcast and then starts the playlist from the beginning again once it has played through until it moves on to a different selection of music. It has not been logged in North America, but it has been heard on European KiwiSDRs (but not logged by any listeners there). It often plays time announcements that consist of a few musical notes then a man announcing the local time in Portuguese. Jingles have been heard multiple times, but they are too distorted to understand (or even determine for sure if they are identifications). It operates on various frequencies around and on 7560 kHz.
UNID #9
UNID #9 is an unidentified shortwave pirate, likely from Brazil. It was first logged on September 4, 2022 (via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil), although it may have been active long before then. It usually only appears as a carrier on 8010.07 kHz, a signal strong enough to produce any audio is rare. It operates 24/7.
UNID #10
UNID #10 is an unidentified shortwave pirate, likely from Brazil. It was heard on October 8 & 9 2022 with a program of music on 7995.5v AM. It operated late at night in Brazil, so NVIS was no longer possible, and reception anywhere became difficult. It was heard as a carrier in Brazil and North America with very weak audio in Ireland (although still too weak to determine anything about the music). On its first day of operation, it went off air mid song after suddenly developing severe FMing modulation for about 10 seconds. The second day it also went off air mid song, but modulation was back to usual. No identifications were heard, and it has not been heard before or since.
UNID #11
UNID #11 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil that operates on 7499.90 kHz. It was heard on October 8-9 2022 (non-stop) via KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil and as a carrier in North America (on 7499.90 kHz). It was playing recording of "Los Santos Rock Radio" a radio station from the video game "Grand Theft Auto". It could be related to other stations.
UNID #12
UNID #12 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil that operates on 7580 kHz. It was heard on October 9 with a program of music and a weak signal on KiwiSDRs in Southern Brazil. It could be related to other stations.
UNID #13
UNID #13 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil that operates on 7590 kHz. It was heard on October 21 with a program of (English language) music. It could be related to other stations.
UNID #14
UNID #14 is an unidentified shortwave pirate from Brazil that operates on 7534.90 kHz. It was heard on November 3, 2022 with a program of old (English language) country music. It could be related to other stations.
Topic: List of Latin American Shortwave Pirates 2023 (Read 2389 times)