"Brexit Radio" follow up (was Brexit Radio 27 apr 2019)

[The Ether Hacker]

I don't really see the point of a political SW broadcast in this day and age. Its nothing that isn't already on you tube or social media and on the internet it would have far more listeners. However, my comments may explain why somebody has decided to set up a TX broadcasting this stuff. I'm not expressing a political view - it cannot be denied that the UK political system is in terrible state and the events that have taken place recently, ie the ignoring of a referendum by MPs are unprecedented, trust in Westminster has never been this low probably in the last 500 years

I agree that internet is more effective for political messages than Shortwave in the First World, in Africa and the Third World it maybe different, due to lack of good internet facilities or censorship by governments. 

However, we simply observe that this is a politically unlicensed station, we simply observe that it is so... irrespective of right or wrong.

Politics not relevant to Pirate Radio is discussed on loads of other online fora.

[Brian]

Laser off air on 6205 so I'm guessing this is their transmitter.

I thought that too, Brian, but I'm not 100% sure about that, it could just be a coincidence... also, currently at 2110 UTC the signal is receiveable in Norwich, Norfolk, and I know that skip distances on 48 meters at this time are around 750 km, so, this would put the possible TX site on the very edge of the West Coast of Ireland, anywhere from the South West to Donegal... also I think they are using a fair amount of power, as other pirate stations, including the silent carrier of Coast FM on 6230 khz are not as strong around Europe as 6210 khz....

... maybe it is a special setup, as the West Coast of Ireland is ideal for daytime coverage of the UK, even with skip zones of  300 km during the daytime, you would cover England, Wales and Scotland from the West coast of Ireland.... clever thinking

There is another Irish SW not on the air tonight, and that's a stronger one ! And wanting to lease air time !

Who?

[ChrisSmolinski]

2225 Weak copy, SIO 111

[The Ether Hacker]

Laser off air on 6205 so I'm guessing this is their transmitter.

I thought that too, Brian, but I'm not 100% sure about that, it could just be a coincidence... also, currently at 2110 UTC the signal is receiveable in Norwich, Norfolk, and I know that skip distances on 48 meters at this time are around 750 km, so, this would put the possible TX site on the very edge of the West Coast of Ireland, anywhere from the South West to Donegal... also I think they are using a fair amount of power, as other pirate stations, including the silent carrier of Coast FM on 6230 khz are not as strong around Europe as 6210 khz....

... maybe it is a special setup, as the West Coast of Ireland is ideal for daytime coverage of the UK, even with skip zones of  300 km during the daytime, you would cover England, Wales and Scotland from the West coast of Ireland.... clever thinking

There is another Irish SW not on the air tonight, and that's a stronger one ! And wanting to lease air time !

Who?

I think Ray means, Harmony Radio ... but I'm sure it is not him.  He is not in the correct area of Ireland, if my skip predictions are correct, also he would need to reset his TX antenna for 6210 khz instead of 5780 khz.  Both Harmony and Laser are off air, but I'm fairly sure Harmony is off air for other reasons. Laser, I don't know

[The Ether Hacker]

Antenna polarization generally gets scrambled when it bounces off the F-Layer

True.
A few years ago I did an A/B test. I ran my 150 watts into the inv V and then the vertical antenna. At about 100 miles, the received signal on the V was an s9. On the vertical it was 0. The difference at greater distances was less.

This makes sense, and can to an extent be due to polarization of TX and RX antenna, but also the vertical will give you less RF power straight up at NVIS type  distances, due to a lower angle radiation, compared to an inverted V or dipole.... and the vertical would hopefully give you a little gain at long skip distances.  However, a vertical should give some high angle radiation, so maybe RX antenna polarisation also played a part?

[Ray Lalleu]

Yes, I was thinking to Radio Harmony. Retuning the antenna is possible (look reports last year).
For the place, I don't know.

[The Ether Hacker]

Yes, I was thinking to Radio Harmony. Retuning the antenna is possible (look reports last year).
For the place, I don't know.

I doubt it is Harmony, I am somewhat aware of the setup, yes the antenna can be retuned with some effort, but Harmony is too near... Laser is a possibility, with no retuning effort... it remains speculation.  Wherever the TX site is, it is very very far westwards in Ireland, in my opinion.

[fox558]

Perhaps Harmony and Laser are off air because of Storm Hannah, strong winds caused power lines down. It could have easily taken down antennas too.
storm hannah report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-48052656