List of Pirate Radio Frequencies
From HFUnderground
Pirate shortwave broadcasts tend to be on well-known frequencies. This allows listeners to quickly find a pirate station when it comes on the air, as they only have a relatively few number of fixed places to look. Some of the locations on the HF band that are in frequent use as of September 2007 include:
(Updated August 2018)
1710 | AM - Mediumwave pirates |
1720 | AM - Mediumwave pirates - known as the "AM pirate clear channel" |
3375 | AM/USB - used by Amphetamine Radio |
3425 | AM - used by The Crystal Ship (also reported on 3430) |
3465 | AM - reported used in 2017 |
4020 | AM/USB |
4025 | AM/USB |
4060 | AM/USB |
4065 | AM/USB |
4080 | AM/USB |
4085 | AM/USB |
5010 | AM - used by Relay Station |
5015 | AM - used by Relay Station |
5150 | AM - used by Relay Station |
5200 | AM - used by Relay Station |
6150 | AM - used by European Pirates |
6220 | Used by Mystery Radio in Europe |
6750 | AM/SSB - reported in use August 2017 |
6770 | AM - used by Old Time Radio and UNID stations |
6780 | AM/USB - including nearby frequencies 6777 kHz, 6777.7 kHz and 6778 kHz |
6790 | AM/USB - including nearby frequency 6789 kHz |
6850 | usually AM |
6855 | usually AM |
6870 | AM/USB |
6875 | usually AM - noted use by The Crystal Ship (often 6876 kHz or similar close frequencies) |
6880 | usually AM - used by Relay Station (noted use in late 2018) |
6888 | usually AM - noted use by Unknown Name Radio Network |
6900 | usually AM, although 6900 LSB and 6900 USB are both heavily used by Spanish-speaking "peskies" |
6905 | AM - noted use by Unknown Name Radio Network, another commonly use pescadore frequency in LSB mode |
6910 | AM/USB - Used by Seven Trees Radio and Clever Name Radio |
6915 | AM/USB |
6920 | AM/USB |
6923 | AM/USB, previously used by Amphetamine Radio, Fess Parker Radio and others |
6925 | most common frequency - virtually all modes have been heard |
6930 | AM/USB |
6935 | AM/USB |
6940 | AM/USB - noted use by Clever Name Radio |
6945 | AM/USB |
6950 | AM/USB |
6955 | AM/USB |
6960 | AM/USB |
6965 | AM/USB |
6969 | LSB - Used by Cold Country Canada |
6970 | AM - often used by XFM (also heard on 6975) |
6975 | AM - often used by XFM (also heard on 6970) |
6995 | AM/SSB - recently (July 2017) used by KUNT |
7415 | historically, an extremely active frequency, more recently occupied by WBCQ |
7470 | AM - noted use by YHWH religious pirate |
15070 | active in the early 1990's by Europirates and pirates in North America, but recently quiet due to the solar cycle low |
6925 kHz is the most used frequency at this time; however, it's important to note that the list will change. Broadcasters will experiment with new frequencies according to the season, and the appearance of utility, military, and broadcast stations on a favorite spot may also force stations to move to new locations. During periods of minimum solar activity, there has been some movement down to the 3-5 MHz region.
The 43 meter band (6765-7000 kHz) is where most US-based pirates are found, generally clustered around 6925 kHz. Because many pirates use older-generation transmitters, it is not uncommon to find stations on "6925" actually using 6924 kHz to 6926 kHz. AM transmissions operating in the 6924.5 kHz to 6925.9 kHz area are often logged.
Pirates tend to use 5 kHz steps up to 6975 kHz. However, use "split" or "offset" frequencies is also common, examples include 6912.5 kHz, 6969 kHz, 6929.5 kHz, etc. Offset frequencies (for example, 6876 kHz instead of 6875 kHz can sometimes be due to quirks of transmitting equipment).
In late 2018, several stations appeared around 6775-6790 kHz, including 6780 kHz, 6789 kHz, 6777.7 kHz and other nearby frequencies. Old Time Radio or OTR continues to be heard on 6770 kHz AM.
The 43 meter band is also heavily used by so-called "peskies" (a play on the Spanish term "pescadores - meaning "fishermen"), stations engaging in two-way radio chatter in Portuguese, Spanish and other languages (including English). Peskies generally use LSB mode. 6925 kHz LSB is one of the most active peskie frequencies, which can cause serious interference issues for pirates operating in AM mode on 6925 kHz or adjacent frequencies. The area around 6900 kHz (including 6895 kHz and 6905 kHz) are also heavily used by Spanish-speaking stations in both USB and LSB modes. Unknown Name Radio Network has recently started using 6900 despite heavy QRM from SSB traffic on or near 6900 kHz. Other pirates deliberately interfere with pescadore/freebander communications.
Later in the evening when propagation on 43 meters is unfavorable, pirates will sometimes move the lower frequencies, including the 90 meter band (most commonly 3375 kHz, 3425 kHz, 3465 kHz) or the 70 meter band (roughly 4000-4100 kHz).
A good place to look to get an idea of what frequencies are in current use is the HF Underground Shortwave Pirate logging section. and some stations will also announce a broadcast ahead of time on the HFU Broadcast Announcements section.
Euro-Pirate Radio Frequencies
- 3920-3950
- 6200-6300
Previously Active Pirate Radio Frequencies
- 1616 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
- 1620 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
- 1625 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
- 1630 - Used by AM pirates in the 1970s and 1980s
- 6250 - Used in the 1980s
- 6840 - Used Voice of the Voyager and others in the 1980s
- 7425 - The most popular pirate frequency in the early 1980s.
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