Logs, Dec. 29 and QSL from King SW

6215,0 . . 1702  . UNID, slow music (Dutch I think), country, some talk heard, but at a much lower level than the music, c/d 1729
6239,9 . . 1733 . Radio Twentana, weak music, c/d before faded in well enough for details, ID via Iann’s chat, 25341
6798,5 . . 1741 . Pink Panther Radio, comic ad, Supertramp “Give a Little”, ID, 24341, up to 24432 by 1900 with “Let it Be”
6245,0 . . 1751 . UNID, techno/dance music for a minute, then c/d, 24341
6245,0 . . 1815 . UNID, presumably the same station back on, techno/dance for 3 minutes, c/d, 35342
6305,4 . . 1820 . Radio Tango Italia, usual tango music/show tunes, 23441, ute QRM
6450,3 . . 1838 . Studio 52, “Bad Moon Rising”,  “Take Me Home Country Roads”, 24341
1638,0 . . 2152 . Bluebird Radio, weak music and talk, ID via Iann’s chat, 24441
6210,0 . . 2200 . Sluwe Vos Radio, Ozzy “No More Tears”, greetings, ID, email, 24442, up to 35442 by 2325
3905,1 . . 2213 . Radio Wilskracht, John Lennon “Imagine”, ID, “Moondance”, 24442, had a long show but was soon covered by hams
6305,7 . . 2306 . UNID, Dutch music and polkas, music was clear, but voice was barely audible, 25442

I was very surprised and pleased to receive a nice reply and this QSL from King SW for my reception yesterday.  Thanks!

Logs, Dec. 27, 28 & 29 (morning), and last Christmas cards

Friday and Saturday nights were fairly quiet on the sw bands, conditions were only average, and there were no signals here on mw.  Sunday morning, however, saw an excellent opening when I got up at 0800.  Of course, it didn't last long, but it was well worth the early rise.

Dec. 27 (additional logs)
1635,0 . . 2021 . Oliebollenbakker Radio, country music and talk heard on a brief fade up,
6300,0 . . 2215 . Radio Nachtpiraat (Night Pirate), dance music, ID, said was short test,  greetings, c/d 2234, 23442
6300,0 . . 2236 . UNID, on for a few minutes with instrumental music and talk, just too much ute QRM to copy,
6299,8 . . 2244 . Radio Zeewolf Int., female pop, talk, but only caught a few words, bad ute QRM, ID via Iann's chat, 32441
6305,0 . . 2258 . Radio Zeewolf Int., ID, email, 34442, just caught a few minutes before I had to leave the radio

Dec. 28
6798,5 . . 1927 . Pink Panther Radio, Gerry Rafferty “Baker Street”, ID, email, greetings, 25442
6910,0 . . 1932 . Premier Radio Int., Genesis “Invisible Touch”, ID, “Power of Love”, 34442, nice, long show, a little weaker at 2100 with “We Love the Pirate Stations”
6324,9 . . 1952 . Radio Norton, polka, 25441, better at 2100 with pop, ID, greetings, 24442
6300,0 . . 2023 . UNID, pop music barely audible under very loud ute
3905,1 . . 2127 . UNID, slow blues song, decent signal strength, but bad QRM from a 2nd station producing a het and multiple hams
6305,0 . . 2112 . Radio Powerliner Int., dance, ID, 35443
6450,4 . . 2120 . Lowland Radio, ID, greetings, said would c/d, 32441, ute QRM, c/d 2122
6735,0u . 2226 . Cool AM Radio, ID, slow pop song, just equal to noise level

Dec. 29
6205,0 . . 0807 . King SW, mellow pop songs, clear ID “This is King Shortwave” at 0811,  35443
6199,5 . . 0815 . Radio Orang Utan, greetings, “Runaway Train”, Dutch song, 24442
6284,9  . .0825 . Radio Powerliner Int., female pop, ID, greetings, 35443
6380,0 . . 0831 . Radio Altrex, dance music, “moo”s, ID, greetings, 35442
6798,5 . . 0841 . Pink Panther Radio, dance, hip hop, 34442
5800,0 . . 0847 . Free Radio Service Holland,  ID,  “Dream Weaver”, 25442, // 7685 barely audible
7685,0 . . 0922 . Free Radio Service Holland, ID, talk in German, historical facts from December 29 of years gone by, 25442

I am a little late posting these last Christmas cards that I received, but it is still the holiday season, so here goes   Thanks to all!

Logs, Dec. 26 & 27

Dec. 26
I had planned to get up early on Thursday morning to catch some of the SWCH show, but let's just say it didn't work out that way.  By the time I dragged my self out of bed, I only caught audio from Tip and Elvis and a bunch of carriers as the sun came up.  The rest of the day was mostly occupied with family stuff, but I did sneak away to the radio a few times.

6210,0 . . 1038 . Tip and Elvis Show, “I Believe in Miricles”, greetings, ID, 24341
9935,0L . 1139 . Baltic Sea Radio, pop, ID, country, “Caroline”, 24442
6380,3 . . 1906 . Shortwave Combination Holland, weak music and talk mixing with ute, c/d shortly after,
6304,9 . . 1912 . Radio Marabu, easy listening music, ID, occasional loud ute QRM, 24442
6910,0 . . 1950 . Premier Radio Int., “I Shot the Sherrif”, “Baby, I Love Your Way”, ID,  “Merry Christmas (War is Over)”, 33442, ute QRM
6746,9 . . 2003 . Pink Panther Radio, dance, ID, 25442
3904,6 . . 2222 . Radio Underground, Canned Heat “On the Road Again”, ID, 34342

Dec. 27
It was a very quiet day on sw.  Tango Italia and Pink Panther had 49 m all to themselves in the evening!  But Borderhunter Radio had a very interesting test in the afternoon!

21450,0 . 1533 . Borderhunter Radio, long techno song, ID, greetings, 25442, moved to 21455 at 1541, Boston “More Than a Feeling”, Toto “Hold the Line”, up to 35443, then he started a DX test, decreasing power in steps down to 0.5 watts.  He was clear at 3 watts, partial copy at 1 watt, and just occasional words at 0.5 watts.
13960,0 . 1717 . Borderhunter Radio, “Fight for Your Right to Party”, 34443, again reduced power gradually to 0.5 watts, better than 21455, about 90% copy at this level J
13980,0 . 1722 . Sluwe Vos Radio, dance/techno, ID, 25432
3906,0 . . 1922 . Radio Snowball,  just a few traces of music before fading,  nice to hear my friend from Russia back on the air
6747,0 . . 1931 . Pink Panther Radio, ID, 80’s pop, 25442
6240,2 . . 1950 . Radio Tango Italia, usual tango style music, 34442

Logs, Dec. 24 & 25

Christmas Eve was fairly quiet, although I may have missed some stations, as I was doing my wrapping.  Christmas night, however, was crazy on the pirate bands.  Many of the "big guns" were on the air ... Boomerang, Black Bandit, Cupid, Powerliner, Black Arrow, Bluebird on mw, and, of course, Mistletoe.  Lots of great signals and good programs.  And a few lower powered stations doing their best to spread the Christmas cheer.

It was one of the few times that I wish I had a SDR so I could have recorded the whole band.

A big thank you to all stations, large and small.

Dec. 24
6319,9 . . 2021 . Radio Tarzan, barely audible at first, slow music and dance, greetings at 2223 ,c/d 2232,  24341
6285,2 . . 2308 . Focus Int., “Run, Run Rudolf”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, ID, 25442
6290,0 . . 2358 . Radio Mistletoe, “Christmas Polka”, ID, email, 34443
3905

Dec. 25 
6295,0 . . 1508 . Radio Boomerang, traces of music and talk, 14341
6298,0 . . 1651 . Magic AM Radio, weak music, just fading in and c/d 1655, ID via Iann’s chat,
6205,0 . . 1794 . Black Bandit Radio, weak music, just fading in when killed by Iran sign on at 1722
6910,0 . . 1938 . Premier Radio Int., Def Leopard “Love Bites”, ID, time check, Bon Jovi “Living on a Prayer”, 35443
6240,0 . . 1950 . Black Bandit Radio, buts of old country songs, including “Dueling Banjos”, “I Will Always Love You”, ID, greetings, “The Most Beautiful Girl”, asking for reports to Dr. Tim chat, “Rawhide”, 44443
6300,0 . . 2011 . Radio Mistletoe, Dutch? Christmas music, ID, 24442
6304,9 . . 2020 . Radio Marabu, easy listening songs, ID, 24442, up to 44443 at 2315 with ID, “Thunder Island”
1629,0 . . 2058 . Oliebollenbakker Radio,|”Midnight Special”, “The Gambler” Johnny Cash “Blue Train”, “Land Down Under”, ID, greetings, 25432
6260,0 . . 2126 . Cupid Radio, ID, “Happy Christmas (War is Over)”, greetings, “Life is Life”, 35443
6300,0 . . 2201 . Radio Boomerang, ACDC “Thunderstruck”, dance, polka, 44443
6210,0 . . 2208 . Sluwe Vos Radio, dance, greetings and Christmas wishes, ID, 35442
6238,0 . . 2227 . Black Bandit Radio, dance, country, ID, 45444
6270,0 . . 2234 . Radio Black Arrow, “Sympathy for the Devil”, ID, greetings,43443
3900,0 . . 2239 . Radio Mistletoe, Elvis “Here Comes Santa Claus”, ID, email, 34442
3890,0 . . 2255 . Radio Boomerang, ID, said was short test, Exile “Kiss You All Over”, 44443
6300,0 . . 2300 . Radio Powerliner Int., pop, “The Grinch”, ID, Doors “LA Woman”,  35343
6270,0L . 2352 . Over 60 Degree Radio, piano music, just above the noise, ID via Iann’s chat
6209,0 . . 2358 . Crazy Wave Radio, had been at noise level for hours, finally faded in enough to catch an ID, pop, 25331
6290,0 . . 0010 . Radio Mistletoe, “Santa Claus’ Party”, Bing Crosby “Mele Kalikimaka”, “Here Comes Santa Claus”, 44443
6295,0 . . 0019 . Radio Verona, music and talk, caught ID, greetings and email at 0026, Dutch music, polka, closing announcements at 0115, 22441
1638,0 . . 0124 . Bluebird Radio, polkas, greetings, ID, good, steady signal, 34443

Merry Christmas

To all those who believe in the true spirit of free radio, and particularly to all my friends in Europe ... the only true free radio community ... have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Logs, Dec. 21-23 and more Christmas cards

Dec. 21
6910,0 . . 1744 . Premier Radio Int., very weak at first, ID 1810, up to 34442 by 1930, “Hang on Sloopy” at 1948
6280,4 . . 1834 . Radio Tango Italia, usual tango music, 25341
6300,0 . . 1840 . Radio Powerliner Int., playing Artem’s Christmas show, weak at first, up to 35442 by 1915, into polka at 1929, ID, c/d 1931
5800,5 . . 1909 . Radio Tower, ID, greetings, said would c/d, 25442, c/d 1911
6450,2 . . 1933 . Studio 52, pop music and talk, s3-4 signal but utility QRM, 23441, a little better at 2012 with greets to Lowland,
6300,0 . . 2132 . Radio Mi Amigo, just a few traces of music, ID via Iann’s chat
6293,2 . . 2140 . Radio Sallandse Boer, 80’s pop, hip hop, Axel F, 24441,  moved to 6318,2 at 2151, 23441, ute QRM
3904,6 . . 2312 . Radio Underground, slow music by a woman, jingle ID, 24441

Dec. 22
6199,6 . . 0806 .Radio Orang Utan, greetings to listeners, ID, Dutch song, 34442
6305,0 . . 0814 . Radio Etherfreak, weak music and talk, ID via Iann’s chat
6265,0 . . 0820 . Radio Nora, greetings, ID, rock song with long drum solo, 33552, QRM from ute on 6263
6295,0 . . 0827 . Radio Waldmeister, ID, blues, 33442
6215,4 . . 0838 . King SW, slow music, talk a little weaker, 34442, pop/dance at 0859
6305,0 . . 0906 . NMD Radio, polka, ID, greetings, 23441
6255,0 . . 0939 . Radio Cassanova, ID, greetings, Dutch music, 23441, QRM from Korea on 6250
6285,0 . . 1002 . Radio Telstar, Dutch music, ID popped out, weak as the band was fading, 24341, signal audible past 1050
6379,9 . . 1009 . Radio Scotland Int., dance music, ID, greetings, c/d 1028 after ID/email with bagpipes, 34442
6139,9 . . 1040 . Radio Scotland Int., back on with dance, 24342
18905,0L.1055 . Baltic Sea Radio,  pop music, seagull ID, Stray Cats “Rock This Town”, “Born to be Wild”, 25542
13960,0 . 1759 . Borderhunter Radio, long techno instrumental, “What I Like About You”, greetings, ID, 45444
6245,0 . . 1838 . Zeewolf Radio, ID, greetings, dance music, c/d 1843, 25342
6910,0 . . 1853 . Premier Radio Int., ID, greetings, “Black Magic Woman”, 35443
3904,6 . . 1931 . Radio Underground, polka music, talk by a familiar voice, high noise level on the band, 25341
6240,4 . . 2000 . Radio Tango Italia, usual tango music, 34442,
1638,0 . . 2012 . Bluebird Radio, Dutch music, ID, greetings, 25441
6210,0 . . 2023 . Sluwe Vos Radio, pop/rock, ID, greetings, email, Genesis “I Can’t Dance”, 34442, signal slowly faded, but back at 2205 with ACDC “Highway to Hell”
3904,6 . . 2120 . Radio Underground, back on, Dutch music, ID with echo, 35342
4029,0 . . 2150 . Laser Hot Hits, pop, ID, country, 25341, poor signal but much better than 4026, which has suffered from ute QRM

Dec. 23

6306,3 . . 1940 . Radio Malibu, Christmas music, greetings, c/d 1953, 23442

6304,9 . . 2001 . Radio Marabu, became audible when Malibu c/d, pop and slow music, ID on a peak, almost covered by ute, 22441

6206,6L . 2031 . Over 60 Degree Radio, playing Artem’s Christmas show, just above the noise, ID via Iann’s chat

6285,2 . . 2042 . Focus Int., pop music, ID, weak signal and bad ute QRM, 23441

A big thank you to all the friends who have sent Christmas cards over the past few days.  

Logs, December 19 & 20, and more Christmas cards

Dec. 19
6285,1 . . 2221 . Cupid Radio, closing announcements, greetings to listeners in Iann’s chat, c/d 2223, 34432
4005,2 . . 2344 . Radio Evorpa, barely audible under utility at first, peaked around 0020 with Russian pop and rap, faded 0049, 33442 peak

Dec. 20
6242,0 . . 1837 . Radio ACDC, Ram Jam “Black Betty”, ID, 24341
3905,0 . . 1934 . Skyline Int, Radio, greetings to chat, ID, “Cocaine”, polka, “Little Green Bag”, 34342
6285,4 . . 2013 . Radio Tango Italia, usual tango music, 25442
6300,0 . . 2017 . Radio Quintus, Dutch pop, instrumental, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”, ID, greetings, website, long show of country music, 34442
6940,0 . . 2052 . Trans Europe Radio, slow music, just above the noise, c/d 2057, ID via Iann’schat
6325,0 . . 2119 . Radio Rainbow Int., greetings, ID, Phil Collins “Against all Odds”, 24331, c/d suddenly 2130
6940,0 . . 2133 . Trans Europe Radio, back on, instrumental music, Dutch songs, 25331, c/d 2344
6305,0 . . 2147 . Radio Powerliner Int., polka, Dutch music, ID, greetings, 25431
6300,0 . . 2156 . Radio Rainbow Int.,, Spice Girls, ID, email, 25431
6300,0 . . 2319 . Radio Verona, music popping out of the noise on peaks, ID via Iann’s chat
6290,0 . . 2328 . Odynn Radio, weak music, ID popped out on a peak, 25331

Christmas is definitely one of my favourite times, thanks in part to the wonderful Christmas cards and greetings.  Thank you to all.

Christmas greetings

A sincere thank you to all who have sent Christmas cards and greetings.

Here are a few that I have received so far.

Artem's World of Music Christmas Show and new QSLs from RWI, Witte Raaf and Oliebollenbakker

My friend Artem from Moscow has produced a very special World of Music show, dedicated to Christmas music.  There are Christmas greetings from far and wide in a variety of languages, and some very nice music to go with them.  I won't spoil the surprise, but regular visitors to Iann's chat room will recognize many of the people doing the greetings.   Definitely one of my favourite World of Music shows so far, and well worth a listen.

You can download the show for personal listening or relay at http://www.sendspace.com/file/nyt7ff

I have also been fortunate to receive some new QSLs this week.

Radio Waves Int. sent me another package, including 2 QSLs for my receptions November 23 & 24.  These shows were "via pirate relay somewhere in Europe".  (Perhaps the pictures on the QSL are a clue?)  Thanks Terrible Twins.

Radio Witte Raaf also sent me a new QSL for my reception last weekend.  (Yes, I have blurred a certain portion for security.)  He is one of the many free stations from Friesland.  Thanks Theo!

Finally, Oliebollenbakker is back with his annual Christmas broadcasts.  A true sign that Christmas is coming on the pirate bands.  He was nice enough to send me a QSL featuring these special holiday treats.  Thanks!  (I think that Oliebollenbakker is actually the longest Dutch word that I have learned that I don't have to check spelling, hi)