List of Pirate Radio Frequencies

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|3390 kHz
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|AM/USB - used by [[Old Time Radio]] in February 2019
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|AM/USB - used by [[Old Time Radio]] in February 2019 and March 2019
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|3425 kHz   
|3425 kHz   

Revision as of 13:35, 5 March 2019

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 include:

Last updated: March 2019

1610-1700 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates (see also 1710 kHz and 1720 kHz)
1710 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates
1720 kHz AM - Mediumwave pirates - known as the "AM pirate clear channel"
3375 kHz AM/USB - used by Amphetamine Radio
3390 kHz AM/USB - used by Old Time Radio in February 2019 and March 2019
3425 kHz AM - used by The Crystal Ship (also reported on 3430)
3440 kHz AM/USB - reported use in 2018
3465 kHz AM - reported use in 2017
4015 kHz AM/USB - used by Amphetamine Radio and others
4020 kHz AM/USB
4025 kHz AM/USB
4060 kHz AM/USB
4065 kHz AM/USB
4080 kHz AM/USB
4085 kHz AM/USB - used by X-FM in late 2018
4140 kHz AM/USB - used by Mix Radio International
4145 kHz AM/USB - used by Mix Radio International
5010 kHz AM - used by Relay Station
5015 kHz AM - used by Relay Station
5150 kHz AM - used by Relay Station
5200 kHz AM - used by Relay Station
6150 kHz AM - used by European Pirates
6220 kHz Used by Mystery Radio in Europe and other European Pirates (see 49 meters below)
6750 kHz AM/SSB - reported in use August 2017
6770 kHz AM - used by Old Time Radio or OTR, considered to be OTR's "home channel"
6780 kHz AM/USB - including nearby frequencies 6777 kHz, 6777.7 kHz, 6778 kHz and 6779 kHz
6790 kHz AM/USB - including nearby frequency 6789 kHz
6805 kHz AM/SSB (repored use by UNID Europirates)
6815 kHz AM (repored use by UNID Europirates)
6840 kHz AM
6850 kHz usually AM
6855 kHz usually AM
6870 kHz AM/USB
6875 kHz usually AM - noted use by The Crystal Ship (often 6876 kHz or similar close frequencies)
6880 kHz usually AM - used by Relay Station (noted use in late 2018)
6885 kHz AM/USB
6886 kHz AM/USB - used by Mix Radio International in October 2018
6888 kHz usually AM - noted use by Unknown Name Radio Network
6890 kHz AM/USB
6900 kHz usually AM, although 6900 LSB and 6900 USB are both heavily used by Spanish-speaking "peskies"
6905 kHz AM - noted use by Unknown Name Radio Network, another commonly use pescadore frequency in LSB mode
6910 kHz AM/USB - Used by Seven Trees Radio and Clever Name Radio
6915 kHz AM/USB
6920 kHz AM/USB
6923 kHz AM/USB - used by Amphetamine Radio, Fess Parker Radio, Yeah Man Radio and others
6925 kHz most common frequency - virtually all modes have been heard +/- 1-2 kHz
6927 kHz AM - noted use by Yeti Radio in 2018
6930 kHz AM/USB
6935 kHz AM/USB - Latin American pirates can also be heard here
6940 kHz AM/USB - noted use by Clever Name Radio
6945 kHz AM/USB
6950 kHz AM/USB
6955 kHz AM/USB
6960 kHz AM/USB - noted use by Radio Illuminati
6965 kHz AM/USB
6969 kHz LSB/USB - Used by Cold Country Canada and others
6970 kHz AM
6973 kHz AM - Latin American pirates can also be heard here, specifically Lupo Radio
6975 kHz AM/USB - often used by X-FM (also heard on 6970)
6985 kHz AM - Latin American pirates
6995 kHz AM/SSB - recently (July 2017) used by KUNT
7415 kHz historically, an extremely active frequency, more recently occupied by WBCQ
7425 kHz historically, an extremely active frequency prior to the movement down to 43 meters
7465 kHz AM - noted use by YHWH religious pirate (September 2018)
7470 kHz AM - noted use by YHWH religious pirate
15070 kHz 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, when operators are using older-generation or crystal controlled homemade equipment it is not unusual to see carrier frequencies close to, but not exactly on, 6925.0 kHz.

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 (75 meters)
  • 6100-6400 (49 meters or 48 meters)

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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